Riiiiiiight

In our Sunday School class yesterday we discussed Matthew 18:1-4:

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
(KJV)

Before we read the passage, the guy who was teaching asked us to list characteristics or qualities of children, which he then wrote on the board. So people started saying things like "Humble," "Loving," "Innocent," "Trusting," "Great Budgeters," "Can Fly," etc.

Finally I raised my hand and asked, "You're looking for good qualities, right?"

Because seriously. Do these people even know any kids? It seems like every time we cover the "become as a little child" concept people sort of lose all touch with reality and start listing every desirable character trait they can think of, even if those traits are developmentally impossible for children to possess.

And really, I know kids are darling. I am moved to weepy tears and ovary spasms sometimes at how sweet and precious and loving Savvy and Ethan can be. But then there are those other moments when they do things like knock each other over and throw tantrums and spit in their mother's face on purpose.

So it's kind of funny to sit in these classes and hear people spouting on, all tearful, about how selfless children are. Because hi, kids are the most selfish beings on the planet. I'm not knocking them when I say that, I'm just saying that developmentally that's where children are--everything is all about them. And maybe we have so many rosy-colored illusions because most of us are childless and didn't just spend all morning chasing after shrieking naked peanut-butter-smeared monkey children who drove us to the brink of insanity while we contemplated just locking them in the cellar and going to church our own dang selves so we might actually get something out of it this week.

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Content, quite.

Finally, I have pushed one of my H2 subject close to a quality grade. My Biology improved by 21 marks, from 36 to 57! It's a good C, which is not bad. I topped the class, too, plus, only 13 people got grades A to C. LOL. I guess meditation did really helped, it just gives you a sense of ever-lasting peace and heightened awareness and concentration, which made studying a breeze, well, quite. But still, I fucking flunged maths. =( But Sin Yi is helping me out. Thanks already!

Speaking of meditation, I am still on to the idea of that 3 day long retreat next year. I'm testing out various methods now whenever I am free and trying to get used to sitting still for long periods of time, thus far, quite successful. =)

Was chatting with another Swede flourisher, who is also into philosophy, blasphemy, politics, libertinage, all things preverse, had a good long chat with him. He's Magnus, same age as me, an anarcho-capitalist. I foresee a great friendship ahead. He's almost like an exact same replica of myself, lol, except I am not sure if he is as passionate about metal as me. But still, this is a good omen already.

Another thing, Vika and me have decided to send each other an arcane thing called snail mail! I am hyped. I went to buy some Singapore postcards just now and intend to write her a personal letter by hand. (since how long have you written a letter and send it via post, people?) Isn't that sweet friendship? Awww. Soon, I will own a postcard (and hopefully, some other paraphernalia *Water/Brick/wood from Gondola/bird dropping(s) at the City Square*) from VENICE. Are you jealous yet?! Muahaha! *inserts Evil laughter #666*

Life is starting to get better, I feel,
LingNemesis

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I have to own this book.

I spotted Pauline Reagan's The Story of O at Kinokuniya this afternoon, I could not believe my very pair of eyes.

Kind of regretted not buying it. Because my wallet wasn't agreeing on this purchase, god damn the school's new cafe, it caused a temporal bankruptcy. Ugh.

I need it. Soon!

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Brokeback Magic Mountain

Cracks me up, all the time.

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I am one who bikes

I bought a bike over the weekend. I just wanted something for going around town because it seems silly for me to be using gas to traverse the whole 3 miles to work. Especially since they've set up booths at the gas stations where you can drop off your first-born in exchange for filling up your tank.

I was nearly seduced by the beautiful cruisers in the stores now and was especially tempted when Cicada bought her Guido. I had visions of me riding around like an Amsterdam resident among the canals with fresh flowers and maybe a baguette or crack pipe in the bike's basket.

And why does bike-shopping have to be such a complicated thing nowadays, anyway? When you're 10 it's not that hard. You go down to K-Mart and you get a bike that is the color you like. And then that is your bike. The End. Now it's all mountain bikes and road bikes and cruisers and cross bikes and all this mess that I just can't keep track of. It's like buying a car or picking a health-care plan.

In the end I found a Specialized Expedition at Al's Sporting Goods here in Logan. Turns out Al's was founded 85 years ago by a guy named Alvin Moroni Larsen. (Could he be more LDS?) Their staff are very good and they're running a promotion where I got $50 in store credit to buy a lock, pump, helmet, etc. Spitfire went with me because she knows more about bikes than I do. My bike is made for lazy people who don't want to hunch over, don't want sore buttocks, and have no intention of riding anywhere to do with heights or cliffs. (Me . . . me . . . me . . . )

The tires are a little bit tougher, though, so I can still take it on the River Trail, whatever that is. (Note: Oh. I guess this is what it is.)

I bought a helmet because I am One Who Approves of Helmets. Only when it actually came down to trying them on in the store I realized something else: Helmets are lame. They look stupid and they ruin your hair. And I don't think I want to be turning up to work in the mornings with ruined hair. Not sure what I'll do about that. At least mine is moderately cute as far as helmets go. It's a kid's helmet (it does fit, though) and is light blue with pretty yellow flowers and butterflies painted on. Also I got a bell. The bell put my B-in-L over the edge, but I maintain that it's a safety measure.

Just to bother him, I might get a basket for the front and hot-glue pink plastic daisies to it. And maybe get some pink & white streamers for the handlebars.

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Get your indignation handy

Because you're going to need it.

So I have this friend. To preserve her privacy we'll call her Chessica. She is in her mid-twenties, very cute, very nice, and very single. Her younger sister has just become unofficially engaged. This is the time when people buy dresses and plan weddings and schedule venues but are not actually engaged because there is no ring.

I have no patience for those people. If he asks and she says yes, you're engaged. So quit being all coy about it.

Anyway, I believe I have already discussed how it's sometimes traumatic for us older sisters to have our younger sisters get married first. Yes, you have to just suck it up and get over it, but the length and severity of the process is different for everyone. So, Chessica is doing her best to have a good attitude & be happy for her sister & help out with the preparations.

Apparently, though, younger sis is not so much bothered about wedding preparations and so Mom is feeling like she needs to get a handle on everything nowrightnow! So she calls on responsible, reliable Chessica for assistance.

(Note: How happy am I now that my wedding wasn't the first one? Very. Because that mess was crazy and now mine won't be. As much. Plus I'll being hiring out for all services and will make everyone sign contracts with their own blood.)

Now we come to the extra fun. Here is Chess, trying to have a good attitude and not take her younger sister's impending nuptials as a sign that she is doomed to spinsterhood and cats. Mom calls up and tells her that a local bridal shop is having a sale, but that the Bride-to-be is too busy to go try on dresses. So what they've decided would be best is if Mom and Chessica go to the bridal shop. C can try on the dresses and Mom will take pictures for Sis to approve.

[pause]

Now . . .

[pause]

See . . .

[still pausing]

YEAH. If my mom ever approached me with such an idea (not that she ever, ever would, because my mom is sane), I don't even know how I would respond. There would be explosions and balls of flame and faces melting off, though. My sister Jenny says her response would include the words of "Go to hell" somewhere in there for sure.

I mean, really. Going to try on wedding dresses is supposed to be this big fun deal--when you're the bride. Otherwise you're just this sad body double thinking, "Have I just jinxed myself?" as you look toward a future of other acts of surrogacy, like when the bride doesn't want to show up for her own engagement pictures and asks you to be the stand-in and she'll just Photoshop her face on later, or when she decides that she doesn't want to get stretch marks so how about you just carry her children, or possibly when she has a "headache" she'll call up and ask you to just come over and . . . you get my point.

And yes, Little Miss Bridezilla, I am talking about you. It was your idea to have Chessica try on dresses for you since you were too busy making out with your fiance or whatever, and then when your mom called to say that C refused because she wasn't comfortable with that and it might be hard for her, you responded with, "Why should that be hard for her?"

Also? The bride is 23. I was expecting her to be 19 when I heard about the crap she's trying to pull.

So the best bit hasn't even happened yet. A few days later C's parents came over to talk to her. She thought they were going to apologize for being insensitive. Instead, they told her that they were very concerned about her attitude and didn't see why she was making such a big deal out of everything and her sister can totally see that C isn't happy enough for her and is worried that C is going to sabotage her wedding with such a bad attitude.

Shunned. All of them.

Because "being happy for your sister" clearly means "doing the bride's work for her" and other humiliating services that will require therapy afterwards. I think C should just boycott the whole thing and spend the wedding day lounging on a Hawaiian beach somewhere drinking slushy fruit drinks brought to her by hot smooth-skinned men with great shoulders. No AK-47s needed.

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Pieces of Strange

Behold the power of Kev's filmmaking skillzorz!

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Short and probably not sweet

Sorry this is short and lame but I've got buttloads of work to do. If you want to see the rest of my DC pictures you can click on the new Flickr badge in my sidebar. If you select the "Travel" set w/the white flower they'll be there. I was quite happy with some of them.

Report on the last day of the Computers in Libraries 2007 Conference:

Keynote speaker was John Van Oudenaren from the Library of Congress, talking about the World Digital Library project. The project is to create a free massive digital library of items contributed from all over the world--images, music, video, books, everything. There's a very cool video about it here. Just watch it if you like stylish, cool commercials. I'm a sucker for those things. (Note to England: I loved your commercials. They were better than ours.)

Favorite quote of the day came from LibraryThing creator Tim Spalding: "The library is the most fun you can have with your pants on." His point is that library catalogs need to be more fun to reflect the true, practically-without-pants nature of libraries.

For the techies out there, I went to a session entitled "Tech Freebies." The session was conducted by librarians who have started holding short classes to teach people how to use things like Blogger, Flickr, The Gimp, and other good freeware or Open Source programs. They keep up on what's newancool by following these sites:

Slashdot
PC Magazine or PC World
SEOMoz's Web 2.0 Awards
Time Magazine's 50 Coolest Websites (2006 issue)
Filehippo (freeware)

And then suddenly it was all over, and I was left feeling sad. I perked up, though, when I met up with the delightful Abby in DC. We went to dinner at Clyde's where my freaky long-fingernailed male server kept being weird and not taking my plate away even though I positioned my fork and knife in the unmistakable "I am finished" position. I would've taken it out of his tip but I was feeling generous. We both had the crabcake sandwich, and then for dessert I got the strawberry tart and Abby had the almond-lemon cake. Both were fabulous.

Then to the Washington DC Temple for a session. That was always "my" temple when we lived on the east coast but I was too young to go in. And then we moved away. So now I've been inside and it's beautiful. It's just too bad that I spent most of the session nodding off and/or hallucinating. Please don't shun me in the manner of Dwight K. Shrute. ("Shunned. Unshunned!")

Next morning I had a few hours to sightsee before my flight and that's where most of the Flickr pics are from.

I walked around the National Mall
Visited the World War II memorial
Skipped the National Archives because the entire student population of California was waiting in a line that encircled the building. Will have to just go watch National Treasure instead to see the Declaration of Independence. Also I've seen it once before so it's okay.
Saw the "Treasures of America" exhibit at the Air & Space Museum (and then I got the crap outta there because I think every 5th grader in the country and possibly some other countries' 5th-graders were in there, shrieking loudly)
Enjoyed the comparative quiet of the National Gallery of Art
Finally had the crack-filled PB&J at Potbelly's as recommended by Cicada
Marveled at how many people were out jogging at 11am. Do they not have jobs? Do they work funny hours? How is this possible???

Decided that DC is not like London. It's not this place of fashion or theatre or gastronomy. It's a bunch of government buildings and museums. New York is like London. And yet DC is this huge tourist destination for people from all over the world and I find myself wondering what it is that entices them. Is it because they're visiting New York already and might as well hit DC while they're at it? Cicada thinks it's because all the museums and memorials are cool and free. She might have a point there. Everything else there will bankrupt you, though.

So. My question to you non-Americans out there is this: Are you interested in visiting Washington DC? If so, why?

Here endeth my trip report. Which turned out to be not brief at all. Must get back to work now.

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Holy Loki!

Yes, it is a piece of clothing. Sheer pleasure for the eyes.

Fucking Odin, I would have never thought of such a wicked thing.

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Only in Alaska

I'm back safe from DC, but I have to run to work so will write a more detailed report (w/pictures) later. For now, here's an entry from the cookbook my mom just mailed me. It's the stake cookbook. (Translation: we call a congregation a "ward," and several wards make up a "stake.")

The title of the book is "A Taste of Heaven: a collection of recipes from Anchorage, Alaska." I think though for this to be true then your idea of heaven must consist of beef, salmon, and fat. Which, for many Alaskans, it does. Here is my hands-down favorite entry.

Canning Moose

Clean gristle and hair off moose after butchering. Cut into bite-size pieces. Place 1/2 tsp salt into bottom of sterile pint jar. Pack into jar within 1 inch of top. Process according to canner directions. Only in Alaska! This process makes the moose real tender and makes wonderful stews.

And I think that's really all there is to be said. Also?

The seafood section (which is huge) is made up entirely of salmon and halibut recipes, with a few shrimp ones tossed in for good measure.

The book is 270 pages. There are 6 vegetable recipes.

My mom contributed a few of our family's favorites, and my sister Jenny included a recipe of Jamie Oliver's that she uses. When you find the recipe in the cookbook the submitter is listed as "Jamie Oliver." So I bet now there are all these people out there going "Hmmm, that Sister Oliver sure can cook! I wonder what ward she's in?"

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Pain - Shut Your Mouth (Live)

Seriously underrated. Pain is almost comparable to Rammstein. I see great future in this band.

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Vindicated.

So the Virginia Tech Killer kid wrote a play called after a rock n roll song from Guns' N Roses - Mr. Brownstone, the whole world is going to point their fingers at the violent, anarchic nature of rock/alternative/metal music now?

This finger-pointing never ceases. Once in Comlubine Schooting, Mister Marilyn Manson and Rammstein got blamed for influencing the two killers because of their lyrical theme and all. Blame! Blame! Keep blaming! We are all dead-end kids anyway. See why the that South Korean kid got so infuriated? Stereotyping, classification of people, the entire act of discrimination. Fucking stop the blaming, assholes.

And, Mister Bush, fucking use your brain. If I were you, I will put forth a nation-wide ban of all firearms, no exception to anyone. It's a simple matter, why let it repeat again and again? I lament.

Anyway, I have not touch any form of fast food for the past 2 weeks. Personally, I think it's an achievement, especially in a world where you see those golden arches every-fucking-where you go. ^^ Also, not to forget, this is another programme that the magnanimous Big Brother has planned for the interns for all Outer Party members, we are required to stop all input of proletariants' lifestyle habits and all. Now, our diet consisted of Vic Set Meal, Vic Gin, Vic Cigs, new videos on our telescreens, 7 new razors free-of-charge, and the increased frequency of Two Minute of Hate sessions. It was rumoured that there were spontaneous demostrations outside the MiniLuv complex, the interns were seen parading bloisterously with extreme joy and gratitiude while brandishing their new razors and cigs. Some of the witnesses even saw a couple of the interns stamping on pictures of Goldstein and spitting on it with increasing frevour.

Haha! I love my personal devil's adovcate.

And, also, I started learning some latin and greek some weeks ago. Both awesome.

I have also started, or rather, re-started my meditation habits, thanks to the inspiration of Ram Bahadur Bomjan. I've been in a state of emotional equilibria for half a month now, this is good. Usually, when people pisses me off, I'd have violent imagery in my mind, like smashing their heads with glass bottles, visualising the foes being used as sexual slaves in Hell, stabbing them to death with swords, or if I am pissed with the school, I will visualise the school grounds on fire, and me grinning evilishly. But no! I have no haboured such thoughts for an amazingly half a month! I usually have an average of 2 to 3 imageries per day, and I have none now! This is amazing. Hehe. *continues meditation*

The dharma is complete,
Ling

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Dissection - Maha Kali Live

I was lazy to change songs on my player one day while studying, this song was playing. I checked the player later to see what song is it, to remember it and to place it in my bookmark list. Then, I fell in love with it. Maha Kali, come to me!

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Blogging CiL 2007, Day 2

I've been wondering what I should say about the shootings in Virginia, and all the memorials and moments of silence being held today. And maybe it's inappropriate of me to talk about my sightseeing and my conference in light of what else is going on. But the thing is, I did have a really good day today, even if I did spend part of it being sad about what happened and praying for the families of the students who were killed. So I'm going to talk about some of the good things that happened.

This conference is great and I want to keep coming back every year. Not sure how likely that is, but I'll push for it. Today I learned more about Web 2.0 and how to create a library website specifically for teens and how to successfully implement change & help people transition into a new way of doing things in the workplace. I went to one session planning to learn about how to bring about innovation in libraries and instead learned about falling asleep in my chair. Which was really too bad. But at least I stayed in my seat rather than walking out like a bunch of other people did. Only maybe they had a point, because they probably slipped into a more interesting session and enjoyed the next 40 minutes rather than hallucinating through them.

Then I went shopping.

The Crystal City Metro station

I took the Metro to Foggy Bottom and then walked over to Georgetown. I didn't have a lot of time, which is not even fair because I could have spent hours in Georgetown. I loved all the beautiful red brick buildings and the parks and the Old Stone House. I loved that they have all my favorite stores there even if I only had time to go into H&M. (I found a very cute skirt there that makes me think of Cicada. Maybe this means she will try to steal it from me. Must be on my guard.) I also loved that it was Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's. I got the peanut butter swirl one, on account of peanut butter & chocolate are hands-down the best flavor combination on Earth.

Foggy Bottom Homes

More Foggy Bottom homes

Park at the beginning of Georgetown--I guess I lied about all the blossoms being blown off. Just most of them have been.

Sorry there aren't any real Georgetown pics, but I had to book it to get back in time. Part of me wanted to just forget the rest of the day and stay there, but I figured I'd better be Responsible. And it's a good thing I did go back, because not only did I learn cool things but after the sessions there was this exhibitor reception where people walked around with even more trays of goodies, like artichoke aioli and real crab cakes and mushroom dumplings. Heaven, I tell you.

Met up with Abby for dinner at the Lebanese Taverna in Pentagon City. We had:

• Fatayer B'sbanigh (fried pastries filled with spinach, onions, pine nuts and sumac)
• Kibbeh Yoghurtlieh (kibbeh balls topped with toasted pita and warm yogurt sauce and pine nuts)
• Lamb Kabob (marinated lamb grilled and served w/rice and grilled veggies)

Turns out I love me some Lebanese food--everything was great. I got to use my per diem money on that because it was food. Afterwards we went to World Market next door and guess what else is food?

• 1 container Ghirardelli Premium Hot Cocoa--chocolate hazelnut flavor
• 2 100g bars Cadbury Whole Nut chocolate
• 3 packs McVitie's digestives in milk chocolate, plain chocolate, and chocolate caramel
• 2 160g jars Double Devon Cream for putting on scones

Yep. Totally counts. Per diem is my favorite.

After World Market we drove around Old Town Alexandria & some of the nearby neighborhoods. Could not stop gawking at the beautiful old buildings and multi-million dollar homes. I really should be living somewhere with old buildings because clearly it's in my blood. And no, disintegrating barns do not count, Logan.

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=)

I am absolutely delighted at the prospect that the new cafe at my school, also known to SRJCians as Good News Cafe, sells professional tea at an affordable price of $1.20. And, besides, so cool is their menu! Baked potato, muffins, salad, sandwiches that actually look tempting, a counter that looks professional. Tea enthusiasts from SRJC, like myself, now have a place to indulge their parched throats and then, subsequently, suffer from a throat orgasm. They store tea packs from Earl Grey to English Breakfast to Deejarling to Ceylon. A real pleasure and sight to behold and taste. Plus, the cups they use are not the usual tacky ones you see in school canteens. They are the ones that resemble from coffeeplaces, a real breakthrough in the school eatery history. Monumental it was, I went berserk and plunged myself into the *long* queue and gotten myself English Breakfast. Sat down on one bench and stared at the lonely steaming cup as if I were some sexual predator, ready drink it up good and dry. After much fumbling with the sugar packs, I took a legendary sip. I looked up with my spectacles fogged with the tea's condensation with a ear-to-ear jackass smile, this is the first time this year I felt fulfilled in the school premises. Heh. I forsee myself a tea-o-phile regular at that cafe. It's a good future, too. Tea-drinking.

Tea is good. Tea is God. Tea is infallible. Tea is everything to you. Tea never betrays his Country. Tea is doubleplusgood. Tea refuses to be drank by dirty proletariats. Tea is adovcated by The Party for increased work productivity and awarness of dissents. Tea is unlimited in supply. Tea sourges the tongues of UnTruthful Thoughtcriminals. Tea is good. Drink Tea. Today.

====

As you have observed, my ranting skill improved by leaps and bounds. This is a predicted outcome of being a comrade at the Newspeak Dictionary. You just cannot stop rumbling on and on, because why? Word count is essential for medals!

Tea-lover, I wonder if Tea has an extra-martial affair, if he did, I will fight for my rights,
Ling
"Tea is the definition of Love."

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Blogging Computers in Libraries 2007, albeit in a slackerly and biased manner

So I'm in Arlington now. The weather is still horrible. So horrible that no one wants to go aside because they'll freeze to death. Or the wind will just push them out into traffic and they'll die that way. The howling wind actually woke me up during the night, and now it's forcing its way into my room through the heating vents. I can hear the shrieks of the people outside whose skin is being flayed right off. There's a chance of snow tonight. Tomorrow I will have to find an umbrella. And a hat. And gloves. And possibly a sealskin.

Good thing I've been to DC before and won't have this to look back on as my only visit. Last night Abby (the Abby who sometimes comments here) picked me up and drove me around to see the monuments all lit up at night, which was lovely of her. Three cheers for Abby!

And it's a good thing this conference is so great. You might not want to hear about it but I'm going to tell you anyway. Feel free to skip the bits that don't interest you.

Day 1

Opening Keynote — Web 2.0 & the Internet World
Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet & American Life Project

The keynote speaker was really good. Those who are interested can read the official CiL blog, which gives better notes & links. He did mention 6 hallmarks of the Web 2.0 world which should matter to libraries:

1. The Internet has become the computer. (People rarely use computers now without using the Internet.)

2. Americans are creating and sharing content online.

3. Users are accessing content created by others.

4. People are creating networks to share what they know or feel online. (Examples: tagged content, amazon reviews, blog comments)

5. Tens of thousands of people participate in peer-to-peer exchanges, open source, and grid computing.

6. People are customizing their online experiences.

He also mentioned 5 challenges as given by librarian Pam Berger

1. Navigation: moving from linear to nonlinear

2. Context: teaching people to see connections and larger pictures when much of the information they receive is in snippets

3. Focus: getting people to refrain from always being in a state of "continuous partial attention" and instead engaged in deep thinking

4. Skepticism: learning to evaluate information

5. Ethical behavior: understanding the rules of cyberspace

Rainie mentioned Dooce in passing as one of his favorite websites. He said the author "was a stewardess with Delta" and was fired for writing about work on her blog. Which, wow. You'd think if her site was one of his favorites then he would have gotten that bit right. Also, stewardess? They're called flight attendants. I refrained from raising my hand in front of 2500 people and calling out, "Actually, that's not correct. Heather B. Armstrong was a web designer in LA when she was fired." I'm sure a few people had the urge. I did whisper it to the person next to me though, because I'm just rabidly anal about being right like that.

Session 1
Library 2.0: Building Communities, Connections, & Strategies
Ken Roberts, CEO, Hamilton Public Library

I want to move to this place. He talked about building partnerships and used the example of how their library system and their City got together to create this massive website. People get on there and look up "swimming lessons" and get not only books about swimming from the library catalog but also information about swimming lessons offered through the City and swimming lessons offered by the YMCA and other community sources. So he talked about what you need in place if you're going to succeed at partnerships and what the challenges are, etc.

Also, the moderator looked so very English to me. I stared at her, trying to put my finger on what it was. I think it was her hair, and maybe her mouth. Part of it might have been that I know English people who look just like her. She got up to speak and guess what? She's from London. I totally called it.

Session 2
Pimp my Firefox
Jessamyn West, Librarian.net

Hee. This one was just all kinds of fun. Jessamyn's presentation is up here, and if you use Firefox and haven't pimped it out yet then you should really go take a look. I can't wait to work mine over & then get started on the patron computers at the library. If you don't use Firefox (Mom, Dad, you know I'm looking at you right now) then please start.

The only thing that marred the presentation was that the woman next to me was wearing some kind of sticky-sweet perfume or talcum powder. It was not a nice smell. I wish women wouldn't do that, even if they are from Eastern Europe as I later learned that this woman was.

Sesson 3
Yeah, I kind of skived off there and gave myself a long lunch. Cicada recommended Potbelly Sandwich Works so I went there. Loved the toasty bread. Didn't get the crack-filled PB & J sandwich like she told me to, but I probably should have. It isn't every day that people sneak crack into my foods. At least I don't think it's every day.

Session 4
Cool Tools & Toolkits for Webmasters
Jeff Wisniewski, Web Services Librarian, University of Pittsburgh
Darlene Fichter, Head, Indigenous Studies Portal, University of Saskatchewan
Frank Cervone, Assistant University Librarian for Information Technology, Northwestern University

I'm not even going to try doing links to all of these. Maybe later if I get ambitious I will. Some are for web designers (or bloggers) but others are just cool.

Yahoo! Pipes
Google My Maps
Yahoo! Design Pattern Library
www.whatismyipaddress.com
The Rasterbator
Firefox Web developer/Accessibility Toolbar
Zamzar: free online file conversion
Gliffy: create flowcharts & floor plans
Firefox Linkify
Firefox Link Checker
Pixer.us: online image editor for quick fixes
Trailfire: creat Web tours & leave notes
MysterTones
MyBlogLog
Twitter
CrazyEgg
Swive
Many Eyes
Google Webmaster Toos
Google Site Map Buider
Open Source Web Design (www.oswd.org)
Open Source Clipart (openclipart.org, freedigitalphotos.net)
Gvisit.com
last.fm
Site Advisor (Firefox extension)
Grazr

Session 5
Gaming & Libraries: Engaging Strategies
Jenny Levine, Internet Development Specialist & Strategy Guide, ALA

This one was really interesting. She said we tend to think of gamers as "teenage boys alone in the basement," but that pretty much everyone is a gamer of some kind. If you've ever played a game on your computer or on the Internet then you are one. She says we should recognize this as librarians and start offering services to attract gamers and get them coming to the library, or just to tap in to the gamers among the library's existing users. We can do this through:

Collection development
Supporting the culture of gaming
Reader's advisory--ask kids what kinds of games they play, this will tell you what stories they might like
Non-computer games--some gamers just like to compete
Open Play
Tournament Play--gets people gaming together and interacting with groups they might not normally associate with
Bibliographic Instruction--make a game out of it
Game Creation
Participation Gap
Lifelong Learning

This makes me think that we really need to do something with this at my library. And by we I mean me. Which is funny considering how little I care about video games. But we have these boys who come in every day to play on our computers and I'm sure there would be interest if we started doing some fun stuff like that.

Session 6
Was a poor choice because it did not relate to me at all and was also boring. The only exciting bit was when a woman got a call on her cell phone, answered it, and then stood by the wall with her finger in her ear to block the sound of the speakers as she carried on a conversation. Could not. Even. Believe it. Neither could the other attendees--we all just sat there stunned with wide eyes and open mouths. The people sitting near hear kept hissing "SHHHhhh!" but she paid them no mind. She eventually finished her conversation and sat back down.

Exhibitor Reception
I ate coconut prawns and other fabulous crudites. And I chatted with Tim Spalding, creator of LibraryThing. Yeah I did. Turns out they're doing this cool new thing where libraries incorporate LibraryThing into their catalogs, so when people search the catalog it shows them similar items and tags in the sidebar. It's much cooler than I made it sound just now. You can read about it here if you want.

Tomorrow I'm going to attend the Keynote and then skip the next two sessions. Don't judge me. I now know what happens when you attend sessions that are neither interesting nor relevant, namely paralysis and death and rude cell-phone-talkers. I'm going to try to get in some sightseeing if the wind doesn't prevent me from being able to walk forward. Seriously, people, this weather is Nas. Ty.

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Maybe you will have seen this coming

Here is my brief review of Ragtime, which I saw at the Eccles theatre in L**** on Friday night.

(And yes, I'm in DC now at the conference but will blog more about that later. Am on my (self-extended) lunch break. Also, it is freezing and windy and raining here. And all the cherry blossoms have blown away. Which is crap.)

Highlights of Ragtime:

Beautiful, beautiful music
Great large cast, including the same actor who played Colehouse Walker Jr. when Jen and I saw it at the Hale Center Theatre in West Jordan a couple of years ago. He was even better this time, which made Jenny even more bitter about missing it.
They used the actual swearwords in this one instead of cleaning it up like they did at the Hale, only don't even get me started about that whole thing. It's a rant for another time.
Our seats were $8.

Lowlights of Ragtime:

We were late. And no, I don't even want to get into it. I wasn't driving--I'll just leave it at that. I have never been late to a play before and it's just an awful experience. And since I generally feel that people who are late to plays should be hit in the face with bricks and then turned out onto the street, it was doubly awful to have to be one of those people. We had to stumble up staircases in the pitch dark and then were sat after the opening number.
Our seats were so high up (next to the last row in the balcony) that the catwalk across the stage blocked some of the action--like, say, any action occurring in the back half of the stage.
The tech crew deserved to be kicked in the teeth. The spotlights came on about 4 feet to one side of the actors and they were late in turning on the microphones. So you'd have someone onstage narrating or singing away and we couldn't hear it until about 15 seconds in when the tech guys paused their game of Risk or whatever.

Back to highlights: The balcony section didn't give a standing ovation. But this kind of worried me. Because if Utahns don't give a standing ovation does that mean that they actually hated the play? Or were they just miffed because they couldn't see or hear half of it? Or possibly they're just learning taste and discretion, but I kind of really doubt that.

This last one I'm not sure about where to place, so here goes: During the play I noticed that some of the actors playing black people seemed, well, paler. But I figured the casting people probably couldn't afford to be picky about that since they're looking for people of color in a valley that is predominately peopled with Hitler Youth lookalikes. The actor playing Booker T. Washington, though (a small but important part with some singing lines) seemed a very strange color to me. He also seemed about 3 inches high, but that was due to my seats being in the nosebleed section.

Anyway, after the play finished they did that embarrassing thing where they have the cast stand there on your way out so you're walking through this Gauntlet of Awkward. As I tried to avoid making eye contact with the performers, I noticed a tall, blue-eyed, lantern-jawed man wearing dark-brown face paint. My first thought: "Oh no they didn't." But yes. They did. I'm pretty sure that was Booker T.

Booker T. Washington, played by a white guy in blackface.

Nice.

There was no picture of the actor in the program, which pretty much confirms my suspicions.

And now I have to get back to the conference, which is pretty darn great so far. Will report later.

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Happy Friday

So my Brit friends will know all about this but for those who don't, I'm posting a Catherine Tate "Lauren" sketch. She's pretty much hysterical, but I beg you not to watch any of the "Nan" sketches because they're really foul. Seriously. Just don't. I would also like to mention that girls like Lauren exist and were on pretty much every bus I ever rode while I was there.

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Happy Friday II

Here's a recent sketch she did with Tony Blair for Comic Relief. Enjoy!

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Long rant ahead. You have been warned.

You Are 98% Non Conformist

You're incredibly strange. And a weirdness like yours takes skill to cultivate! No one really understands you. And you're cool with that. You just hope you never have to understand them!

Are You a Nonconformist?

Firstly, I am really honoured to have that high percentile. [big smile] My efforts ain't gone to waste.

Secondly, I am so inspired *still* from Ram Bahadur Bomjan, that I am comtemplating taking classes in meditation and learning it the proper way. I remind you, I'm not a wannabe or poser who gets influenced easily, as you can draw conclusions from the above online test, I'm not that sort of weaked minded person who gets manipulated by the capitalistic world we are in now. =) And, besides, I do always feel I have a higher spiritual calling to fulfill, and I used to read shitloads of New Age/Metaphysics, it's time to get proper. Yep, so I plan to learn meditation - Buddhistic styled, and have a 3 day long stint of continous meditation (Yes, you read it right, 3 days without stop/food/water). In fact, I am really very hyped up to do it now, at this very moment. However, unfortunately, I'd have to adjourn it to a much farther date due to my hectic schooling schedule. Will do it early next year, in a monastery. I will have to try very hard to convince my parents that I am not insane or mad though, and that will be doubly/triply a tough task to accomplish. But I am determined enough. I have in mind the aims of this big spiritual plan I am set to execute. They are: To have a peace of mind finally after 12 years of formal MOE Education, I want to have a retreat. I have a basic foundation of what my philosophical stance will be, I think a intense meditation will benefit and enhance this set of beliefs I hold. Lastly, I want a personal spiritual challenge. Sigh, I will have to wait until next year to do it. And, I hope my parents allow this unusual request. [waits]

From that, I came up with one fitting conclusion: The huam destiny is forever limited by the idiocracy of bureaucractic processes and the sheer excesses of stupidity and lack of foresight. [I claim copyright of that line, if you thought of copying it.]

Next, Jaspas have left Singapore Mainland for his National Service at noon today. I felt quite devoid now, I will have one less person to chat with. Until 2 more weeks, that is. [can't wait to see his new image, with the shaven head and tanned body] To have a final swansong for him, I met up with him yesterday to watch Smokin' Aces. Convoluted, weird plot, it was. And, the flourishes performed by the Bucks were the most sloppy ones I have ever seen done by The Twins. But again, Jaspas commented, "Of course lah. He's comtemplating suicide. Don't expect him to do [air-flourish a perfect kryptonite]" I nodded. lol.

"Thou shalt not speakth of mundane issues here." have been the motto of my blog with effect from today onwards, reading blogs that only describe teary break-ups, busy school lives, sucky grades and annoying parents must have been a great bore, aren't they? Heh.

On the other hand, I have finally attained the title of ''Glorious Citizen of Oceania-3rd Class" last week. It was good. Now, I am 24 posts away from being transferred into The Outer Party, where I am required to slog my life away for the benefit and honour of BB for a generous duration of 18 hours a day and then enjoy equally magnanimous gifts of Victory Gin, half-broken cigarettes and a new Telescreen, and the prestigious Two Minute Hate ceremonies. I cannot wait. I'm not trying to sound sarcastic. I am being doubleplushonest now. Vika told me that she re-read 1984 again a few days ago. I said, "I read Goldstein's The Theory and Practice Of Oligarchical Collectivism once a few days, so I can fully maximise my emotions during Two Minute Hate sessions." Vika said, "You win XD." Thank you. My faith in Ingsoc is unshakable, not a mere bit.

My brother commented it's a waste of money to buy Sunn o)))'s album, I beg to differ. It's a good diversity to my collection and it's good mugging music. I win. Haha.

Next, I recently burrowed a hell lot of books from the college library. I am really amazed (and slow to realise) that they store such awesome obscure stuff in the rusty corners of the shelves, which include, "Astrophysics", "Latin and Greek roots in The English Language" and "Star Names and Their Lores." to name a few. I consectively burrowed "A guide to Astrology.", "A Guide of Facism." and "Latin and Greek Roots in The English Language." in the span of 1 week. Heh. I'm a whore for books, you would have probably realised. Now, the library doesn't suck so much now, plus the fact they have a brand new copy of 1984, all the better. [Vic to BB!]

Next week is JC2 Common Test 2, weird, I feel rather prepared even without much mugging. Good sign or not? I don't know. I must thank my Chemistry tutor for drilling so hard on Organic Chemistry, I am 90% sure I have committed all the facts and stuff to my long-term memory. It's queer, I used to despise her, all the bureaucratic checking of work and crap, it did pissed me off a bit. I guess that is the love-hate relationship of schooling. Still! Mine leans more towards hate. For Biology, it has always been a case of remembering how the teachers described and their often-ugly diagrams, their voices are my writing cue cards. I am personally inspired by Jaspas for maths. GP. Newspeak Dictionary. Economics. The Great Mdm Sadiaah. She seriously pwnzorz most teachers. She requires nothing but a single marker and she could come up with things just like that *snap my fingers*. She is Solman Economics Textbook itself. Infallible. Ok, too epic. *stops*

Another note on my academia life. Considering I am one self-confessed slacker of a group member in Project Work who surfs net all the time during PW and spends time text messaging, getting a grade C is not bad already. Now, I have a cumulative 10 points ready in my University entry point bank, which requires a healthy 70 points for a direct safe unquestioned place in any course. I am 60 points away, thereabout. I admit I'm in a danger. *dies* Studies = spawn of Satan. Ugh.

I think there's limiting factor in my flourishing now. Everything stagnates, I'm practising the same old fucking moves over and over again. Jaspas said, "Don't let it be your saturation point, not so fast." I agree. I need The Trilogy to re-inspire me, to make me feel n00b once again. The cuts in the DN Trilogy Trailer was delicious enough.

I haven't touched a drop of Tea since weeks ago. This is not good, definitely. I need to get my lazy arse out of that chair and buy a dozen of stachets. Like. Now. *continues to sit here*

The process of reading Palanhiuk's Haunted was a whacked one, eg. "hacking off toes to fight hunger because the landlord - Mr. Whittier died". It was very ROFL-inducing, not to mention the Foot Reflexology lady which made the most impression on me. Speaking of books, I haven't went to the national libraries for months now, showing how filthy rich I am, getting books from bookstores. ^^ Thank you. :D I am thinking whether I should get Hunters of Dune, I actually sat down and thought the opportunity costs not because I lack the money. Because the book is written by Brain Herbert The Son and Kevin J. Anderson, of the latter, cannot write sci-fi for nuts. It's a risk to get it, but I need more Dune to satisfy my Spice-Agony. My eyes are forever stained blue and orange stimultaneously from the melange and Water of Life respectively. Lol.

I think I have ran out of things to rant about. Scheisse.

Lastly, being a Word-whore, influenced by Newspeak Dictionary forums, let me count the words here, it brings a grand total of 1361 words!

Yours,
Ling "Nemesis"
Friday the 13th.

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In which I see and hear horrifying things

Every time I go home my mom asks me to take a look through her massive closet that is bigger than my current bedroom. The idea is that I will weed her clothing collection, which I am more than happy to do. My mom has so many cute new things now that they have real stores in Alaska. These clothes look great on her. So I don't feel at all bad about tossing out the stuff that screams "room mother" or "Women's Conference participant" or "stuck in 1993."

Last time I showed no mercy. She could only keep one denim jumper--the rest had to go. Ditto on the high-waisted pleated khaki pants. And pretty much any high-waisted pleated thing, since they are all of the devil and want nothing more than to make everyone's butts look huge. And then laugh and make those beeping noises that trucks make when they back up. Mom fussed and fretted over the huge pile of clothes I was collecting. I ripped down all the wire coat hangers and told her she wasn't allowed to use them anymore and could just give them back to the dry cleaners if she doesn't like wasting them. Also nasty Christmas sweaters. I tried to take those out back and burn them but she caught me at it.

Then we come to the vests. You know what kind of vests I'm talking about (waistcoats for my British friends). They were really big in about 1990. And now middle-aged ladies are still stuck on the idea. Also they still wear the same hairstyle they had in 1990, which is a completely different tragic story. My mom doesn't do that though. Her hair is very nice.

Anyway. The vests. It's the ones that elementary school teachers and PTA moms wear over their white turtlenecks with the buttons in the shape of apples, or schoolhouses, or farm animals. The one in the pic below is newer and not as hideous, but you get the idea. My mom used to make them for every holiday and had about 15 hanging up in her closet. I knew we were in for a fight, there.

I pointed out to my mother that she no longer works at an elementary school and therefore has no reason to look the part. I chucked them all out but since I never actually saw any of them make it to the thrift store it's entirely possible that she snuck them back upstairs. And maybe they're hanging there now in their buttoned glory, while other, cuter clothes pretend like they don't see them.

I chatted with Spitfire about this recently and asked if she remembered The Vests.

Spitfire: "Uh, yeah I remember them. Every time she made one for herself she would make me one too."

Me: "Wait, are you serious?"

Spitfire: "Oh yeah. And I would tell her I liked it because I didn't want to hurt her feelings, even though I was 13 years old and she was dressing me like I was 6."

Me: "Maybe it's because you were the size of a 6-yr-old."

Spitfire: "Yeah, maybe. I had the vests with the farm animals and everything."

Later I talked to Jenny about this. Because that's what we do in my family: talk about each other.

Me: "So did you know that Mom used to make Spitfire those awful vests with the farm animals?"

Jenny, laughing evilly: "OH yeah. And when she would make them I would tell Spitfire how pretty I thought they were. And how she should definitely wear them to school."

Me: "What the crap? Why would you do that?"

Jenny: "Hey. That's what you get when you freaking pinch me on the inside of my arm. She did it all the time and never got in trouble. Well who's laughing NOW??!??"

Then there was all this cackling and possibly thunder and lightening and other evil sounds.

Me: "Oh my gosh. That is so wrong and you're probably going to hell."

Jenny: "See? That's why we tried to borrow your clothes all the time. It wouldn't have killed you, you know."

It's crazy the kind of family stories that are coming out now--things I never noticed happening because I was too busy being scholastically minded and self-absorbed.

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Wordless Wednesday

Or at least mostly wordless, anyway. Let's see who can put the best story together out of these pics from the weekend.







Possible titles:

What the crap did I just step on???
The Whitest Whitey of them all
Huffing and Puffing
Why Nem's Chacos need to be resoled (or replaced) because she almost went skidding of the edge of a cliff, which put her in a most foul humor

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Classic bread pudding

As requested, here's the recipe

Classic Bread Pudding
Serves 8

For individual bread puddings, divide the mixture among eight buttered six-ounce ramekins; bake for 40 minutes.

2 TBS unsalted butter, softened, for baking dish
12 ounces bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (they recommend brioche or challah)
2 cups milk
3 cups heavy cream
4 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 TBS pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup raisins, optional
1 cup boiling water, plus more for pan

1. Butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish; set aside. Put bread in a large bowl; set aside. Heat milk and cream in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until just about to simmer; remove from heat.

2. Whisk eggs, yolk, sugar, salt, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Whisking constantly, pour cream mixture in a slow, steady stream into egg mixture. Pour over bread; fold to combine. Let stand 30 minutes, tossing and pressing occasionally to submerge bread.

3. Meanwhile, soak raisins in 1 cup boiling water for 30 minutes.

4. Drain; stir raisins into bread mixture. Preheat oven to 350 F. With a slotted spoon, transfer bread to buttered dish; pour liquid in bowl over top. Using spoon, turn top layer of bread crust-side up. (If you're cool, you'll skip the raisin and scatter really good chocolate chips in there instead.)

5. Set dish in larger roasting pan; transfer to oven. Pour boiling water into pan to reach about halfway up sides of dish. Bake until golden brown, about 50 minutes. Let dish cool on a rack 10 to 20 minutes.

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Things needed for an Easter feast

1. A beautiful and professional table setting. Or, failing that, a white bed sheet, makeshift candlesticks, and plastic Easter grass. It's best if one can spill sparkling red grape juice on said Egyptian cotton bed sheet and then have a very special Easter meltdown. That's my crystal from Prague, though, and I love excuses to bring it out. Spitfire bought me those beautiful cherry blossom plates, earning her favorite sister status.

2. Fabulous company in the form of Spitfire. I invited my roommates but they had other, lesser Easter plans.

3. Terracotta pots with Cadbury mini eggs. I gave these to my roommates and Spitfire & was very impressed by my own cuteness. Then I called up Martha Stewart to brag and totally made her cry.


4. Deviled eggs. Lots and lots of deviled eggs. I garnished half with nutmeg & sea salt and the other half w/dried thyme. Fresh thyme would have been better but I'm poor. I've decided that deviled eggs don't count as real food, because I never get full and can always eat more. They're like popcorn that way. And pumpkin pie.


5. Chicken breast and roasted veggies with a Dijon-garlic vinaigrette. My potatoes never quite got crispy and no I don't want to talk about it. Everything else was great.


6. Bread pudding with Ghirardelli chocolate chips. The chocolate chips were for Spitfire, who thinks everything is better with chocolate chips--including vegetables and Cheerios. I got the recipe out of an old Martha Stewart magazine and will be happy to put it up here if people want it. Also, it makes an excellent and healthy breakfast. Just think of all the healthy things that are in there: Milk, eggs, bread, heavy cream . . . it's like French toast that wants only to love you and hold you and whisper sweet forbidden things in your ear.

I served the pudding with strawberries, vanilla bean ice cream, and obscene sounds of pleasure.

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If I look like a zombie today

It's because I was up till 3:00am. Ever since Tusk mentioned ITV's Jane Austen Season in the UK I've been dying to see what they're up to. They've redone Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey. (They're also showing the 1996 Emma starring Kate Beckinsale before all the plastic surgery and tanning--back when she was cute.) I cursed my fate as one who now dwells on the absolute wrong side of the pond.

But.

It turns out that there are wonderful people out there who have already put all three of them up on YouTube. I love you, wonderful people! After reading Tusk's review of Persuasion I couldn't resist checking it out. And once I did I couldn't stop.

First off, I love the story of Persuasion. And now that I'm an old maid of 27, like its heroine, I can identify with it a bit more than I could back when I was 18 and thought 27-yr-old single LDS women (if such things existed) were probably rounded up and shipped off to some failure farm in the desert.

Basic synopsis: Nineteen-year-old Anne is persuaded to call off her engagement to Captain Wentworth because he's this young sailor with no money and no future and it's the middle of a war. Eight years later, after no contact, they end up back in the same social circle. She's still single, knows she passed up her chance for happiness, and has resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood looking after the selfish pack of freakshows that is her family. He's now rich, eligible, sought-after, and completely bitter towards poor sweet Anne. Did I mention that he's hot? Because he is. But of course he still loves her, and of course they eventually end up back together. And of course I totally cried at the end.

As an adaptation I don't think it quite holds up to the 1995 Ciaran Hinds version--lots of things get left out. But the music and scenery are lovely and the acting is great. The leads are younger, which better represents their ages in the book. I really liked Sally Hawkins as Anne Elliot. I would never call her plain or aged-looking, but she has an expressive face that lets you know what Anne is going through.


As for Captain Wentworth, Oh. My. Gosh.

He was the reason I was up till 3:00am with a heaving bosom. I don't even go for blond men, but I will make a big, big exception for my new friend Rupert Penry-Jones. At one point he and Anne stared at each other all close-up and I may have possibly shouted "Oh my gosh make out. Make out! Make out make out make out!!" because I just could not stand the tension and the hotness and my brain was about to explode. Seriously. I'll be watching that one over and over again just for him.

In the beginning Anne tells Lady Russell (the one who persuaded Anne to break off the engagement) that she would have been happy if she had gone ahead and married Capt. Wentworth all those years ago. Lady Russell tries to give Anne the "Hey, you're young and pretty and will definitely find someone one of these days" pep talk. But Anne just gives her this sad smile and says, "I'm twenty-seven years old." Bwah hah hahah! And Lady Russell is all, "Yeah, true point. You're screwed and I'm talking out my ear."

So now I think anytime people ask me if I'm dating anyone, I'll answer with a sad, brave smile and say, "I'm twenty-seven years old."

And that will be the end of the conversation.

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Buddha Boy In Nepal

Truly awe-inducing.

I await His Buddhahood and The Revolution. 2012.

Inspired I am, should I get back what I used to do in my early teenage years? To read books on Buddhism, to *try* to meditate? But I have previously and privately renounced all religions already, how? Hmm. That is a lesser known fact of LingNemesis, heh. ^^ Now you know me better. =P

All in all, I hail Ram Bahadur Bomjan. I wish Him all the best in his journey and of course, success, in the end.

Fellow supporter,
LingNemesis.
"To inspire me is a hard thing to accomplish, this boy must be something."

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Sunn o))) Black One

Having recently acquired this twisted work of an music, I must say it really added alot of value to my Metalhead br00tal/kvlt Index.

It fucks up your mind like never before, as if stirring your brain matter with a spoon at full speed, then flinging them overhead and then splattering it on the barren walls in its final glory. It is that bad. So Vika is right.

Other than that, I have finished *finally!* Chapterhouse Dune, embarked on Chuck Palanhiuk's Haunted now, it looks promising.

School again, tomorrow. Endless toil. I don't get it.

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Apocalyptica feat. Nina Hagen - Seemann (live)

Interesting rendition of Seemann. Witchy looking singer though.

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Rammstein

New found love for this song.

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Incensed.

Recently, things have been such a blur around me, the school, the people, the fake smiles I put on for people, the even more pretentious laughter I had, the work I have incessantly scribbled and of course, that constant shift of consciousness and unconsciousness during school.

The dread of school, the dudgery of it. Dull as an old knife. Monotonous as a speech giver.

Every week, I embraced the thought of a good weekend out with friends, just chilling, chatting, flourishing, drinking (sometimes), and just leaving my mind away from school and all its related issues, for a while.

But now, those once-fun, worth waiting for congregations are dwindling to their demise, the perpetural sense of staleness around, we meet, asked the same questions, got the same answers, talked about almost the same things, went to the same places, did the same things. Nothing is exciting any longer.

Plus the fact that two of my favourite hang out(s) has closed down, namely Street Magic and Tricky Business, made everything worse. I started my *awesome and very fruitful* forary into the world of magic and flourishes there, had many great memories and laughs with the shop demostrators like Daniel and Ada. They showed me alot, and taught me alot, and last but not least, cheered me up despite over-charging of their services. I couldn't be the Ling Nemesis now if weren't for Street Magic, I'd be a hermit who listens to metal and can't do any shit. The memories of my first stage flourish experience at Magic Unlimited 2005 was bittersweet, those back stage trembling, those damnable new decks, the cheers from the crowd, the fact that I showed the general public that girls can flourish. It was really an heart warming sensation.

Tricky Business. Another place brimmed with memories. Jimmy and Mark. Those 2 guys made my year in 2006, endless laughter over lame jokes in the small shop, the whole fabrication of Jimmy being my Godfather and Mark liking me and causing Daren to be envious of him, it was too funny, I played along. We went out to eat often, watched movies, drank (alittle!). Jimmy even gave me a Christian name, he wanted to call me Monday. I insisted on Alexis. There were no apparent conclusion to this naming session. What used to be a Must-visit place whenever I am in Bugis was no longer now, I am incensed over the sorrowful fact that I will enjoy less laughs now. I seriously wish I could go back, to listen and be amused by Jimmy's jokes.

I now declare social life is inversely proportionate to age.

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I am a healthy and self-actualized individual

Awhile back Cicada set me up with a very nice guy. We went out a few times and, although he eventually decided not to pursue anything with me, he was perfectly lovely in every other respect. And I guess he got in touch with Cicada recently to be sure they're still okay. I heard about it later through IM.

Cicada: [Boy in question] said that he hopes he and I can still be friends.

I told him that just because he didn't choose to marry my most wonderful and perfect and lovely friend doesn't mean that he and I can't be friends.

Me: Hah hah. I was wondering if you guys were back in touch. And I'm glad that you can be so noble.

Cicada: And then I told him that you'll probably name your first cat [BiQ].

Me: Bwah hah hahah!

Cicada: And your second cat [BiQ] II.

And your third cat [BiQ] III.

Me: Yes. And then I'll get them all neutered.

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Actually, I do mind.

I would like to share a little tidbit from Miss Manners' Basic Training: Communication (1997). She is addressing cell phone etiquette.

Miss Manners understands that for the owners of portable telephones the number-one etiquette hazard is embarrassment. There is hardly any more public wallflower than the person who is obviously lugging around telephone equipment than never seems to ring. No one should have to be stuck with having to talk to the person he or she is actually with.

It is, of course, Miss Manners' duty to sympathize with all etiquette problems. But she allows herself some discretion about which ones to suffer over first. In the manner of peripatetic telephones, she worries first about the nonusers present who are being annoyed.

So do I, Miss Manners. So do I. Also, it is so much worse now. I don't know why this is, but people whom I consider to be well-mannered individuals throw the rules completely out the window when it comes to cell phones. So. I would like to present the rules here, just in case there are people out there who A) do not know them, or B) don't think said rules apply to them (hint: they do).

1. Turn your phone off the second you step into a museum, church, restaurant, theatre, library, waiting room, or other public place frequented by actual civilized people. My library doesn't have a cell phone rule, even though it really should, which means that I get to hear cell phones ringing merrily at all hours of the day and people chattering on about things we shouldn't be hearing, like custody battles and which brother is trying to stiff his siblings out of their inheritance. Today a woman was asking me a reference question when her cell phone went off--loudly. I then had to sit there with the Eyebrow of Death and wait for her to stare at it and debate whether or not to answer it. And I've said this before but some of you haven't listened --sending text-messages during church is tacky. And so are you if you do it. And you'll make Jesus cry.

2. If your phone rings during a live performance, you deserve to be slapped. If it rings again during the same performance, you deserve to be slapped by every member of the audience, the cast, and the orchestra. And anyone else who just happens by and wants to smack you.

3. Do not have personal or emotional conversations on your cell phone in public. None of us want to be held hostage by your drama. We shouldn't have to listen to any of your cell phone conversations, actually. So find yourself a corner and use it. Wait until you get off the airplane to start making calls. I've listened to about a million "Yeah. Yeah, I just landed in Columbus. We're just taxiing on the runway now. Yeah. So I'm calling to tell you that. Because it makes such a difference that you know this now, rather than 5 minutes from now. And I want everyone else on this plane to know I'm so special that entire teams of people need to be apprised of my every move" calls, and I would be just fine with never hearing one again.

4. Ditch the annoying ringtones. What are you, twelve? I'm going to be additionally irritated if I have to listen to some stupid song when your cell phone goes off.

5. Stop screaming into your phone. You don't need to do that.

6. Do not even think about using your cell phone when you're at the check-out stand. That is so incredibly rude to the person who has to be polite to you even though you don't have the courtesy to acknowledge her presence. She would be perfectly justified in cramming that thing in your ear. The other day I worked the circulation desk and had to help a lady who remained on her phone and never once looked at me. She has no idea how close she came to getting clubbed like a baby seal with her own phone.

7. Do not have drawn-out cell phone conversations if you are with guests. And yes, the people in the car with you are guests--or at least they can't choose to be somewhere else. I've been stunned on occasion when I've set out with a friend only to be ignored while they have a merry cell-phone conversation with someone else. Because guess what? You, the person you're calling, and me do not = a happy threesome. It equals you being rude and me wondering why I'm even there.

Now. Let's all do our best to make the world a better and more considerate place and stave off the public slappings, shall we?

Thank you.

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Pics from conference weekend

Spitfire and I drove down to Provo over the weekend to watch the General Conference sessions with Jenny & her family. For my friends who are not LDS, it's a Church-wide conference held the first weekend of April and October. Talks are broadcast from SLC to the congregations all over the world. In UT they show the conference sessions on TV, but it's a bit difficult to pay strict attention with little kids around. It's also difficult to pay attention when you've just had a fabulous Jenny-made breakfast and you're on a comfy couch with the sun resting on you and lulling you into a coma, but that's my own problem. I was awake, though, for the talks that were probably written specifically with me in mind and that kicked my butt a little bit. Like the one where Elder Holland pointed out the problem with praising God and then mocking His children with the same mouth. Ouch.

On Sunday we took the kids over to the Provo Temple grounds to show Savannah the tulips--all one of them. I guess the tulips are shy this year.

The tulip

Spitfire & Savvy, who wore a very fetching ensemble including a big yarn scarf.

Me & Ethan at Kiwanis park. Picture by the talented & award-winning photographer Ed McCulloch w/my crappy camera.

Ed & Ethan & some random missionaries

Jen trying to distract Savvy from her running around & screaming goals.

Me, Savvy, & my fab new skirt

Could not get enough of these trees. They were everywhere.

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