Friday, June 25, 2004
"HELLO!" How many ways can you say hello? I figured out recently that I can say hello in 10 different languages: Hindi, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Hebrew, Hawaiian, Mandarin, Japanese, and Fijian. Which seemed impressive until I acknowledged that I don't remember (or never learned) how to say hello in Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, or Malay. I do know some Malay/Indonesian words, most of which are food words such as Nasi for rice, mee goreng for fried noodles, ayam for chicken, etc.. My knowledge of Thai and Vietnamese is pretty much limited to food too.
Steal a poll: I stole this off Marjorie's blog ;-)
Where Were You When...
The Questions:
1. Where were you when you heard that Ronald Reagan died?
It was only a week ago, but oddly, I don't remember where. I think it was at work, and I saw it on the Yahoo home page.
2. Where were you on September 11, 2001?
Atlanta. Marjorie called and woke me up and told me to go turn on the TV.
3. Where were you when you heard that Princess Diana died?
Lulu's Bait Shack in Buckhead, in Atlanta.
4. Do you remember where you were when you heard Kurt Cobain had died?
At work. That very night, I went and saw Frank Black with the Ramones. Frank Black, when he was with the Pixies, was a huge influence on Kurt Cobain, and their album Surfer Rosa is usually quoted as the inspiration behind Nevermind. So I thought he would say something about it, but he didn't. All Joey Ramone said was something like, "Too bad about Kurt Cobain. Still, he did go out in the true punk style."
5. Take one for The Gipper: What'?s your favorite flavor of jelly bean?
Once you go black, you never go back.
6. Where were you when Magic Johnson announced he was retiring from the NBA due to AIDS?
I remember first hearing about it after coming back from a work trip to Italy.
7. Where were you when Reagan was shot?
Don't remember.
8. Where were you when the Challenger exploded?
I was witness! I was going to school in Orlando, and had worked at the space center the summer before. I actually came out to watch the launch, despite the fact that it was 9 a.m. and freezing. I was maybe 50 miles away. I watched the smoke trail rise, and when it started to bend the wrong way, someone else who was standing nearby said, "Is it supposed to do that?" And I said, "No, it's not supposed to do that..." I ran back to my dorm room to catch what was happening on TV.
9. Where were you when the 0J verdict was announced?
In Vicenza, Italy, working on the NATO base. I watched the verdict with pretty much a whole platoon of soldiers, of mixed race. There wasn't much a reaction from anyone, beyond a collective sort of "Huh".
Where Were You When...
The Questions:
1. Where were you when you heard that Ronald Reagan died?
It was only a week ago, but oddly, I don't remember where. I think it was at work, and I saw it on the Yahoo home page.
2. Where were you on September 11, 2001?
Atlanta. Marjorie called and woke me up and told me to go turn on the TV.
3. Where were you when you heard that Princess Diana died?
Lulu's Bait Shack in Buckhead, in Atlanta.
4. Do you remember where you were when you heard Kurt Cobain had died?
At work. That very night, I went and saw Frank Black with the Ramones. Frank Black, when he was with the Pixies, was a huge influence on Kurt Cobain, and their album Surfer Rosa is usually quoted as the inspiration behind Nevermind. So I thought he would say something about it, but he didn't. All Joey Ramone said was something like, "Too bad about Kurt Cobain. Still, he did go out in the true punk style."
5. Take one for The Gipper: What'?s your favorite flavor of jelly bean?
Once you go black, you never go back.
6. Where were you when Magic Johnson announced he was retiring from the NBA due to AIDS?
I remember first hearing about it after coming back from a work trip to Italy.
7. Where were you when Reagan was shot?
Don't remember.
8. Where were you when the Challenger exploded?
I was witness! I was going to school in Orlando, and had worked at the space center the summer before. I actually came out to watch the launch, despite the fact that it was 9 a.m. and freezing. I was maybe 50 miles away. I watched the smoke trail rise, and when it started to bend the wrong way, someone else who was standing nearby said, "Is it supposed to do that?" And I said, "No, it's not supposed to do that..." I ran back to my dorm room to catch what was happening on TV.
9. Where were you when the 0J verdict was announced?
In Vicenza, Italy, working on the NATO base. I watched the verdict with pretty much a whole platoon of soldiers, of mixed race. There wasn't much a reaction from anyone, beyond a collective sort of "Huh".
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Steal a poll: I stole this off Kristen's blog
Where Were You When...
The Questions:
1. Where were you when you heard that Ronald Reagan died?
2. Where were you on September 11, 2001?
3. Where were you when you heard that Princess Diana died?
4. Do you remember where you were when you heard Kurt Cobain had died?
5. Take one for The Gipper: What'?s your favorite flavor of jelly bean?
6. Where were you when Magic Johnson announced he was retiring from the NBA due to AIDS?
7. Where were you when Reagan was shot?
8. Where were you when the Challenger exploded?
9. Where were you when the 0J verdict was announced?
My answers:
1. Where were you when you heard that Ronald Reagan died?
In our apartment here in Singapore. Hardly a shock, the man had been suffering from Alzheimer's since his second term in office.
2. Where were you on September 11, 2001?
At the "Babies Can't Wait" office in Decatur, GA. I was given an assessment to a little guy who ended up graduating from our program when the first plane hit the World Trade Center, I remember thinking it must have been a small two seater before seeing the footage on television. I watched the towers go down minutes later with my horrified co-workers on the office tv used for conferences. I had to stay at work the rest of day and maintain some type of surface normality. To add to the amazing stress of the day, Mark and I heard from his best friend that evening that another one of our friends had gone into a coma and wasn't expected to survive. Luckily, our friend lived and is okay today.
3.Where were you when you heard that Princess Diana died?
I remember this perfectly. I was in New York, in Times Square with Kristina. We read the news along the ticker tape. It was something like 1am or later, in the middle of the summer. I remember going down to wait for the subway after reading the news.
4. Do you remember where you were when you heard Kurt Cobain had died?
I'm shocked I don't remember the exact moment I heard about this. I was/am a big Nirvana fan. The memory seems vaguely confused with Jerry Garcia's death, they died the same year a few months apart. That seems sad to associate the death of these two, but.... What's funny is that I can remember the exact moment I first heard "smells like teen spirit". I was in Hasting's Music in Fayettevile, Arkansas, and I remember thinking the song was amazing. I may have purchased Nevermind then, if not it was only days later.
5. Take one for The Gipper: What'?s your favorite flavor of jelly bean?
I like the pina colada jelly bellys, and the watermelon flavour.
6. Where were you when Magic Johnson announced he was retiring from the NBA due to AIDS?
Don't know.Somewhere in Atlanta.
7. Where were you when Reagan was shot?In Augsburg, Germany where my family was stationed at the time. This is another confused memory where I'm not sure if I'm remembering remembering the Reagan shotting or John Lennon being shot, again they happened within a few months of each other. I remember feeling sad and confused about them both, butJohn Lennon being shot was more tragic to me, even at 10 years old.
8. Where were you when the Challenger exploded?
Home in Shirley, Massachusetts. I was home taking a sick day or skipping school (I think it was a legitimate sick day) and remember watching it over and over again on the news crying. My mother had been away on a business trip and I can remember picking her up at Logan airport with my dad and telling her the news. Did it really happen that way mom?
9. Where were you when the 0J verdict was announced?
I don't remember where I was when the verdict was announced, probably at home because if I'd been panicked about riots (I lived in Atlanta), I'd remember it. I do remember where I was when the Bronco chase took place: I was at work at Rocky's. It was a relatively busy night, I remember the restaurant being mostly full, and everyone's attention riveted to the television.
Feel free to copy the poll and post your own responses in the comment box. Or e-mail your poll to me or Mark and we'll post them.
Where Were You When...
The Questions:
1. Where were you when you heard that Ronald Reagan died?
2. Where were you on September 11, 2001?
3. Where were you when you heard that Princess Diana died?
4. Do you remember where you were when you heard Kurt Cobain had died?
5. Take one for The Gipper: What'?s your favorite flavor of jelly bean?
6. Where were you when Magic Johnson announced he was retiring from the NBA due to AIDS?
7. Where were you when Reagan was shot?
8. Where were you when the Challenger exploded?
9. Where were you when the 0J verdict was announced?
My answers:
1. Where were you when you heard that Ronald Reagan died?
In our apartment here in Singapore. Hardly a shock, the man had been suffering from Alzheimer's since his second term in office.
2. Where were you on September 11, 2001?
At the "Babies Can't Wait" office in Decatur, GA. I was given an assessment to a little guy who ended up graduating from our program when the first plane hit the World Trade Center, I remember thinking it must have been a small two seater before seeing the footage on television. I watched the towers go down minutes later with my horrified co-workers on the office tv used for conferences. I had to stay at work the rest of day and maintain some type of surface normality. To add to the amazing stress of the day, Mark and I heard from his best friend that evening that another one of our friends had gone into a coma and wasn't expected to survive. Luckily, our friend lived and is okay today.
3.Where were you when you heard that Princess Diana died?
I remember this perfectly. I was in New York, in Times Square with Kristina. We read the news along the ticker tape. It was something like 1am or later, in the middle of the summer. I remember going down to wait for the subway after reading the news.
4. Do you remember where you were when you heard Kurt Cobain had died?
I'm shocked I don't remember the exact moment I heard about this. I was/am a big Nirvana fan. The memory seems vaguely confused with Jerry Garcia's death, they died the same year a few months apart. That seems sad to associate the death of these two, but.... What's funny is that I can remember the exact moment I first heard "smells like teen spirit". I was in Hasting's Music in Fayettevile, Arkansas, and I remember thinking the song was amazing. I may have purchased Nevermind then, if not it was only days later.
5. Take one for The Gipper: What'?s your favorite flavor of jelly bean?
I like the pina colada jelly bellys, and the watermelon flavour.
6. Where were you when Magic Johnson announced he was retiring from the NBA due to AIDS?
Don't know.Somewhere in Atlanta.
7. Where were you when Reagan was shot?In Augsburg, Germany where my family was stationed at the time. This is another confused memory where I'm not sure if I'm remembering remembering the Reagan shotting or John Lennon being shot, again they happened within a few months of each other. I remember feeling sad and confused about them both, butJohn Lennon being shot was more tragic to me, even at 10 years old.
8. Where were you when the Challenger exploded?
Home in Shirley, Massachusetts. I was home taking a sick day or skipping school (I think it was a legitimate sick day) and remember watching it over and over again on the news crying. My mother had been away on a business trip and I can remember picking her up at Logan airport with my dad and telling her the news. Did it really happen that way mom?
9. Where were you when the 0J verdict was announced?
I don't remember where I was when the verdict was announced, probably at home because if I'd been panicked about riots (I lived in Atlanta), I'd remember it. I do remember where I was when the Bronco chase took place: I was at work at Rocky's. It was a relatively busy night, I remember the restaurant being mostly full, and everyone's attention riveted to the television.
Feel free to copy the poll and post your own responses in the comment box. Or e-mail your poll to me or Mark and we'll post them.
Mr. Nutty. The last time I had a night off from Marjorie, I ended up going to the library. Last night, though, I didn't even make it that far. I stayed at work until 11:15, writing. I'm a wild man!
I did manage to knock out 1350 words of a story idea I've been bouncing around. That's still short of the daily average that's required (1667) for completing a 50,000-word novel in a month, but I still felt pretty good about myself afterwards. I'd say the story is about two thirds done.
I'm still going to workshop it before any of you all will ever see it. I found a pretty good on-line SF workshop that I've joined. They require you to critique other's works if you want yours critiqued, and so I've written up a few. Let me just say that I won't be the worst writer there. I won't be the best either, but I think I'll improve a lot.
I did manage to knock out 1350 words of a story idea I've been bouncing around. That's still short of the daily average that's required (1667) for completing a 50,000-word novel in a month, but I still felt pretty good about myself afterwards. I'd say the story is about two thirds done.
I'm still going to workshop it before any of you all will ever see it. I found a pretty good on-line SF workshop that I've joined. They require you to critique other's works if you want yours critiqued, and so I've written up a few. Let me just say that I won't be the worst writer there. I won't be the best either, but I think I'll improve a lot.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Quitters Inc, part II. Moving is a good time for new beginnings. It's also a good time for endings. The following are things that I've resolved to give up once we get to Australia:
Packaged ramen-style noodle soups. I love them; I never outgrew them after college. But they're just too artery-clogging.
Polo shirts. I've always been indifferent about them but Marjorie hates them so away they go.
On line "Boggle"-type games. I've played Playsite's TangleWord and Yahoo's Word Racer for about eight years. Playsite tells you how many games you've played, total, and based on that I computed that I've spent scores of days playing. I don't regret it; as leisure-time activities go, you could do worse than one that increases your vocabulary. But it's time to move on.
Ellipses (...), emoticons (;-), and leaving the subject off sentences, as if I'm writing a postcard (e.g. "Woke up late today. Went to the store."). None of these are particularly bad, I don't think. But by damming up some of my usual forms of expression I hope to rechannel some of it down other paths.
Soda.
Crap TV. I'm not opposed to TV; one can learn a lot from it. Or, just be entertained by it. But I could stand to be a little more selective.
Blogging during working hours. ;-)
Two more weeks before we leave Singapore. Today is a particularly nasty air quality day here as the entire island is covered with a smoke haze blown over from fires in Sumatra, Indonesia. The fires are apparently started by farmers (slash and burn agriculture anyone?)and are technically illegal, but clearly the government is unwilling or unable to do anything about it.
I've been thinking a lot about our time in Singapore,trying to compartmentalize the experience into things I've learned, things I still have no clue about (and I'll never know what I missed, will I?), and things that have become "normalized". There are so many things that seemed bizarre when we first got here that don't even phase us now, for instance:
Many people here use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun, this is partly for shade, and also partly to avoid tanning. Skin whitening creams sell big here.
There aren't many dogs in Singapore. It's very rare to see stray dogs here (although they're common in other places we've been in Asia). Lots of people are afraid of dogs here and will literally cross the street to avoid them. Cats on the other hand are very common. A lot of food centres have cats that hang out. The cats here look different than north American cats too, the cats here have smaller heads. I call them the "microcephalic cats".
Most of the time Singaporeans don't know where we're from based on our accents. I've had many people ask me if I'm British or Australian. This seemed odd to me at first, but then I realized I was being stupid and that I would have no idea where in Asia a person might be from based on the way they spoke English (although I'm getting better at this).
There are a lot of things like this, most of which we've probably already written about. I'm so ready to leave here at the moment. I wonder what we'll end up missing.
I've been thinking a lot about our time in Singapore,trying to compartmentalize the experience into things I've learned, things I still have no clue about (and I'll never know what I missed, will I?), and things that have become "normalized". There are so many things that seemed bizarre when we first got here that don't even phase us now, for instance:
Many people here use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun, this is partly for shade, and also partly to avoid tanning. Skin whitening creams sell big here.
There aren't many dogs in Singapore. It's very rare to see stray dogs here (although they're common in other places we've been in Asia). Lots of people are afraid of dogs here and will literally cross the street to avoid them. Cats on the other hand are very common. A lot of food centres have cats that hang out. The cats here look different than north American cats too, the cats here have smaller heads. I call them the "microcephalic cats".
Most of the time Singaporeans don't know where we're from based on our accents. I've had many people ask me if I'm British or Australian. This seemed odd to me at first, but then I realized I was being stupid and that I would have no idea where in Asia a person might be from based on the way they spoke English (although I'm getting better at this).
There are a lot of things like this, most of which we've probably already written about. I'm so ready to leave here at the moment. I wonder what we'll end up missing.
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Poker face. Ben Affleck has apparently just won $356,000 in a poker tournament.
This makes sense to me. To be good at poker, you must not let your face betray your emotions. KIND OF LIKE AFFLECK DOES IN HIS FILMS.
This makes sense to me. To be good at poker, you must not let your face betray your emotions. KIND OF LIKE AFFLECK DOES IN HIS FILMS.
Historic. Today mankind entered space for the first time the right way -- privately. This is how space will be won. A huge milestone in mankind's history. "Mike Melvill" is the name of your lucky first astronaut.
A banner game. Who is the man? I ask again, WHO IS THE MAN?
Everyone was pulling for me to get a hat-trick. I didn't have a chance until the very last play of the game, when a corner kick came straight to my foot. Caught it on the full volley and shanked it wide, and the ref blew the whistle.
An injured teammate was taking pictures too, and said he got both my goals. Soon, I will bore you not just with words, but with pictures!
Ventz PM beat Kuay's Team 2-0. Mark S scored both our goals
[...]
PM also played well in taking the lead with Mark scoring with a Maradona-ish (v England in Mexico WC) run from midfield. He doubled our lead with a header from a corner. We did well to contain them in the 2nd half as our oppoents raised their game and in the end no more goals were scored.
Everyone was pulling for me to get a hat-trick. I didn't have a chance until the very last play of the game, when a corner kick came straight to my foot. Caught it on the full volley and shanked it wide, and the ref blew the whistle.
An injured teammate was taking pictures too, and said he got both my goals. Soon, I will bore you not just with words, but with pictures!
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Boxing day. We're starting to pack boxes in preparation for mailing them down. Well, okay, Marjorie's started the packing, but I'm offering helpful critiques. Somehow we managed to accumulate quite a load of stuff, without ever buying much here. It's going to be at least 15 good-sized boxes to mail, in addition to our big suitcases and carry-ons.
Happily, while packing, Marjorie came across the pair of glasses I bought in Barcelona that disappeared during our last move and that we thought were gone forever. Hooray!
Yesterday we visited Jurong Bird Park for the last time. They have a new Lorikeet exhibit that's very cool. It's a huge aviary with hanging walkways connect five towers a hundred feet off the ground. Although, these birds won't be as exciting to us soon; they seem to be everywhere down in Melbourne.
Happily, while packing, Marjorie came across the pair of glasses I bought in Barcelona that disappeared during our last move and that we thought were gone forever. Hooray!
Yesterday we visited Jurong Bird Park for the last time. They have a new Lorikeet exhibit that's very cool. It's a huge aviary with hanging walkways connect five towers a hundred feet off the ground. Although, these birds won't be as exciting to us soon; they seem to be everywhere down in Melbourne.
Look at this sorry lot. A photo of my soccer team. This is obviously a pre-game photo, as there is no sweat, blood, or wheezing. We put all the young 'uns in the front row because it would take ten minutes for us geezers to straighten out our legs again after squatting like that.
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Schmegeggie. I don't know if I have a Yiddish gene or what, but I've always loved Yiddish/Jewish jokes. I wonder if this runs in my family. Marjorie apparently has the gene too; this whole subject came up from a book she's reading, "Portnoy's Complaint", which also reminded her of similar jokes in "The Autograph Man".
These jokes, are each from Arthur Naiman's "Every Goy's Guide to Yiddish", except the last, which is from Leo Rosten's "The Joys of Yiddish". These pop up occasionally when you log into a Unix machine; they're part of the Unix "fortune" program.
These jokes, are each from Arthur Naiman's "Every Goy's Guide to Yiddish", except the last, which is from Leo Rosten's "The Joys of Yiddish". These pop up occasionally when you log into a Unix machine; they're part of the Unix "fortune" program.
A man goes to a tailor to try on a new custom-made suit. The first thing he notices is that the arms are too long.
"No problem," says the tailor. "Just bend them at the elbow and hold them out in front of you. See, now it's fine."
"But the collar is up around my ears!"
"It's nothing. Just hunch your back up a little ... no, a little more ... that's it."
"But I'm stepping on my cuffs!" the man cries in desperation.
"Nu, bend you knees a little to take up the slack. There you go. Look in the mirror -- the suit fits perfectly."
So, twisted like a pretzel, the man lurches out onto the street. Reba and Florence see him go by.
"Oh, look," says Reba, "that poor man!"
"Yes," says Florence, "but what a beautiful suit."
Murray and Esther, a middle-aged Jewish couple, are touring Chile. Murray just got a new camera and is constantly snapping pictures. One day, without knowing it, he photographs a top-secret military installation. In an instant, armed troops surround Murray and Esther and hustle them off to prison.
They can't prove who they are because they've left their passports in their hotel room. For three weeks they're tortured day and night to get them to name their contacts in the liberation movement. Finally they're hauled in front of a military court, charged with espionage, and sentenced to death.
The next morning they're lined up in front of the wall where they'll be shot. The sergeant in charge of the firing squad asks them if they have any lasts requests. Esther wants to know if she can call her daughter in Chicago. The sergeant says he's sorry, that's not possible, and turns to Murray.
"This is crazy!" Murray shouts. "We're not spies!" And he spits in the sergeants face.
"Murray!" Esther cries. "Please! Don't make trouble."
One of the oldest problems puzzled over in the Talmud is: "Why did God create goyim?" The generally accepted answer is "somebody has to buy retail."
Shamus, n. [Yiddish]:
A shamus is a guy who takes care of handyman tasks around the temple, and makes sure everything is in working order.
A shamus is at the bottom of the pecking order of synagog functionaries, and there's a joke about that:
A rabbi, to show his humility before God, cries out in the middle of a service, "Oh, Lord, I am nobody!" The cantor, not to be bested, also cries out, "Oh, Lord, I am nobody!"
The shamus, deeply moved, follows suit and cries, "Oh, Lord, I am nobody!" The rabbi turns to the cantor and says, "Look who thinks he's nobody!"
The first riddle I ever heard, one familiar to almost every Jewish child, was propounded to me by my father:
"What is it that hangs on the wall, is green, wet -- and whistles?"
I knit my brow and thought and thought, and in final perplexity gave up.
"A herring," said my father.
"A herring," I echoed. "A herring doesn't hang on the wall!"
"So hang it there."
"But a herring isn't green!" I protested.
"Paint it."
"But a herring isn't wet."
"If it's just painted it's still wet."
"But -- " I sputtered, summoning all my outrage, "-- a herring doesn't whistle!!"
"Right, " smiled my father. "I just put that in to make it hard."
Tuesday is my day of pain. For some reason, I always feel my Sunday soccer game on Tuesday, especially around lunch. I got compliments on how well I played, but we lost. The heat index beforehand, I heard, was 105. I felt my years, especially in the second half.
If Blogger is supposedly owned by Google now, why is there no way for me to search our archive of past blogs? The Google site itself doesn't even index them. Strange, but they DO seem to be archived on MSN.
We had our final Singapore games night last night. For diarist reasons, in attendance were Ken, Nora, Matt, Kim, Flip, Karen, and Loretta. We'll miss the old crowd. It was a lot of fun.
If Blogger is supposedly owned by Google now, why is there no way for me to search our archive of past blogs? The Google site itself doesn't even index them. Strange, but they DO seem to be archived on MSN.
We had our final Singapore games night last night. For diarist reasons, in attendance were Ken, Nora, Matt, Kim, Flip, Karen, and Loretta. We'll miss the old crowd. It was a lot of fun.
Saturday, June 12, 2004
We went and saw the Tiger lillies last night. The were very entertaining and rather deviant, especially for Singapore. We knew about the event from our friend Ken, who had seen them in Chicago. That will probably be the last cultural event we attend here as we have 25 days and counting now...
Friday, June 11, 2004
Immigrants always seem to know more about the politics of their adopted countries than the locals do. Well, we didn't learn too much about Singapore's, probably due to the lack of a debating opposition. But Marjorie has charged ahead in learning about Australia's, to the point of impressing an Australian we met recently. Me, I can name only the president, and not tell you much else.
That is, before today. I'm actually familiar with a guy who will soon be running for parliament -- Peter Garrett, the former front man for Midnight Oil. By all accounts his election will be uncontested.
I saw them, phoo, must've been back in 1989 or so, at Visage in Orlando. I have only three recollections from the show:
1. I sold an extra ticket, that I bought for $12, outside before the show for $22.
2. Peter Garrett stopped the show for a minute or so to explain a bit about the Aboriginal rights issue, his pet project.
3. It was hot as blazes, and he kept flinging cups of water into the grateful crowd.
Based on #2 and #3, I think he may be an okay guy.
That is, before today. I'm actually familiar with a guy who will soon be running for parliament -- Peter Garrett, the former front man for Midnight Oil. By all accounts his election will be uncontested.
I saw them, phoo, must've been back in 1989 or so, at Visage in Orlando. I have only three recollections from the show:
1. I sold an extra ticket, that I bought for $12, outside before the show for $22.
2. Peter Garrett stopped the show for a minute or so to explain a bit about the Aboriginal rights issue, his pet project.
3. It was hot as blazes, and he kept flinging cups of water into the grateful crowd.
Based on #2 and #3, I think he may be an okay guy.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Greetings, greetings fellow stargazers! Yesterday Venus passed between the Earth and the Sun. As the last time this happened was 1882, no living person had ever seen it before.
Ostensibly, all it looks like is a tiny black dot on a big orange one. This is probably why I don't own a telescope -- unless you own a Hubble, all you'll get to see is tiny dots, or if you're lucky, slightly larger fuzzy dots, all while you're out in the cold getting bitten by mosquitos. One can easily find much better eye candy on-line.
I'll still probably get a telescope someday. There's something appealing about self-directing your search, and witnessing things first-hand.
But astronomy is a feast for the mind, not the eyes. What was amazing about the Venus transit was not that we could witness it, but that we could predict it with such accuracy, and know that it is not a harbinger of doom, but just a coincidental syzygy. Knowing that Venus is only a little smaller than Earth, we can, for a moment, try to grasp the immensity of the Sun.
Part of me regrets that we're not moving to Australia's capital, Canberra. While by most accounts it is a whirling pit of despair, they do do a lot of astronomy that I would love to be a part of.
Ostensibly, all it looks like is a tiny black dot on a big orange one. This is probably why I don't own a telescope -- unless you own a Hubble, all you'll get to see is tiny dots, or if you're lucky, slightly larger fuzzy dots, all while you're out in the cold getting bitten by mosquitos. One can easily find much better eye candy on-line.
I'll still probably get a telescope someday. There's something appealing about self-directing your search, and witnessing things first-hand.
But astronomy is a feast for the mind, not the eyes. What was amazing about the Venus transit was not that we could witness it, but that we could predict it with such accuracy, and know that it is not a harbinger of doom, but just a coincidental syzygy. Knowing that Venus is only a little smaller than Earth, we can, for a moment, try to grasp the immensity of the Sun.
Part of me regrets that we're not moving to Australia's capital, Canberra. While by most accounts it is a whirling pit of despair, they do do a lot of astronomy that I would love to be a part of.
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Not much has been happening as you can tell by the lack of blog entries. I had to work Saturday (our first real demo), and we spent Sunday just bumming around the pool. I feel like I should write about something, but what?
I know! I'll tell you of my secret life... as a woman.
The Virtual Tourist web site is a respository for people's travel photos, stories, and tips. You can include a picture of yourself if you like, and many people do. On any given day you can browse the pictures of everyone whose birthday is that day, or you can just browse by country or whoever's logged on.
There were some complaints about losers using the site as a place to try to chat up women. So a few years back I created a female persona there, just to see what sort of responses I would get. I Googled on "blond" and "model" and came up with this picture (I've lost track of who she really is, but my apologies if you're reading this and it's you).
As a control in my experiment, I created a guy persona as well, using a picture of a guy slightly better looking than me.
I set their "birthdays" as the next day and waited. There were no surprises. The hot chick got about 20 birthday greetings to the hot dude's 10. One guy wrote about two pages worth, that was really rather creepy. To this day she still gets regular mail, while he gets almost none.
They both just had their "birthday"; this year, she got 8 greetings to his NONE.
It's all harmless enough, I guess; nobody's been persistent or harassing. It's been a little eye-opener, I guess, because I could see how this sort of thing could really get to you, if it happened all the time, or in person. I never respond. I thought I could but I really don't know how to "write women".
Here's a few samples of the mail she gets. Names have be omitted.
HOT destinations! Woo!
What every woman wants; someone who doesn't bite...
I think this was supposed to be poetry.
This guy is a biker with a beard.
Zoiks!
I know! I'll tell you of my secret life... as a woman.
The Virtual Tourist web site is a respository for people's travel photos, stories, and tips. You can include a picture of yourself if you like, and many people do. On any given day you can browse the pictures of everyone whose birthday is that day, or you can just browse by country or whoever's logged on.
There were some complaints about losers using the site as a place to try to chat up women. So a few years back I created a female persona there, just to see what sort of responses I would get. I Googled on "blond" and "model" and came up with this picture (I've lost track of who she really is, but my apologies if you're reading this and it's you).
As a control in my experiment, I created a guy persona as well, using a picture of a guy slightly better looking than me.
I set their "birthdays" as the next day and waited. There were no surprises. The hot chick got about 20 birthday greetings to the hot dude's 10. One guy wrote about two pages worth, that was really rather creepy. To this day she still gets regular mail, while he gets almost none.
They both just had their "birthday"; this year, she got 8 greetings to his NONE.
It's all harmless enough, I guess; nobody's been persistent or harassing. It's been a little eye-opener, I guess, because I could see how this sort of thing could really get to you, if it happened all the time, or in person. I never respond. I thought I could but I really don't know how to "write women".
Here's a few samples of the mail she gets. Names have be omitted.
Hi
I am N----- from Bangalore, India.
i love to travel in India. Especially to places like Goa, Ooty, Kodaikanal,
Coorg and Kerala.
I am very familiar with these HOT destinations in India.
If you would want to travel to India, think of me.
Especially if you love trekking and deep forests
write to me on n-----@yahoo.com so that accessiblity will be easier.
I am 30 and i would love to be your friend.
love
N-----
HOT destinations! Woo!
Hi there..Hopin not offendin u. Actually, we have not had a chance to get to
know each other so far!. But while browsin virtualtourist web site, I have just
noticed that ur birthday is today. Hence, I said to my self, hey man..do
something useful..why don't u congratulate that woman on her spectacular day?.
I really do wish u a wonderfully great birthday filled with happiness & joy.
By the way, I'm M---- who likes to make friendship with nice ppl around the
Globe. I do have a broad spectrum of hobbies including traveling.
Above all, I neither fight nor bite..hehehe.
Pls. if u r willing to get to know each other, drop me a
line..Many thanks..
take care..
Best Wishes, M----
What every woman wants; someone who doesn't bite...
IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY
Today is your special day,
so celebrate in your favourite way.
As time goes bye,
The years begin to fly.
But, you're only as old as you feel,
even when grey hair begins to yield.
Life is full of ups and downs
But, always wear a smile, instead of a frown.
Many wishes for days to come
and may your birthday be a very
extra special one.
I think this was supposed to be poetry.
Hi fellow(what's is the female gender for that term?) Floridian. I'm over here
in Venice a hop ,skip and ok a two hour ride from you. Saw your pic and wanted
to say hi and (now this is my male chauvinistic side ) WOW......beautiful
(refering to you of course)
Have a great day.....B---
p.s. I moved here last year from NJ....lol
This guy is a biker with a beard.
I saw your lovely picture and wanted to send you a greeting.
My name is [woman's name]. I have lived in Paris for the past 3 years surviving
as an artist/photograher and now I am back in the US in Virginia, taking care of
my dear cousins home and two beautiful dogs while he is in flying in Iraq.
I would love to visit Florida. Hope to hear from you:) You would make a
beautiful model to sketch and paint:)
Zoiks!
Friday, June 04, 2004
How did you spend your Vesak Day? We went to Mailboxes Etc and bought some boxes. I took a nice nap, then we went and had pizza at Casa Roma. On to the ex-pat board's Wednesday Night Drinking Club for a quick pint. All day we both had the Kinks' "Afternoon Tea" stuck in our heads.
We must have done something right, as today was full of good portents. I got my first nibble on a job, and have an interview set up for the day after we land. We got our application to set up a mailbox down there to send stuff to, and it looks like it will be no problem. And at the local grocery store, Marjorie found the beer that was our staple back in Atlanta, Bass, that we'd actually resorted to smuggling in on a few occasions
We must have done something right, as today was full of good portents. I got my first nibble on a job, and have an interview set up for the day after we land. We got our application to set up a mailbox down there to send stuff to, and it looks like it will be no problem. And at the local grocery store, Marjorie found the beer that was our staple back in Atlanta, Bass, that we'd actually resorted to smuggling in on a few occasions
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