Off to DC
To the Anthropology Meetings.
Be back soon.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Thanksgiving 2007
A walk in the park.
Company: two dogs.
Soundtrack:
Miles Davis - Sketches of Spain
Keith Jarrett - The Köln Concert
Yes, this is Manhattan.
It should probably be called the forgotten corner.
You might say, how can it be forgotten if no one ever knew about it.
But the Wappani knew about it: they called this place Shorakapok and lived in the caves found here.
I am glad it is forgotten, but I honor the Wappani on this day of Thanksgiving.
A walk in the park.
Company: two dogs.
Soundtrack:
Miles Davis - Sketches of Spain
Keith Jarrett - The Köln Concert
Yes, this is Manhattan.
It should probably be called the forgotten corner.
You might say, how can it be forgotten if no one ever knew about it.
But the Wappani knew about it: they called this place Shorakapok and lived in the caves found here.
I am glad it is forgotten, but I honor the Wappani on this day of Thanksgiving.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Weather
The sun returned today. Good thing I mentioned that I missed it yesterday. Speaking of weather, you know who would make a great weather person?
I hate how weather people say the temperature as though it were the most amazing thing in the world. It doesn't matter whether it is cold or hot, whether it is far from the norm or just what is expected. I guess newscasters do that in general. I hate that false emphasis on everything. I believe Steve Martin mocked this in his film LA Story.
I also hate how local news now teases you throughout the telecast with bits of weather. They force you to watch inane bits or abuses of tragedy just so you know whether you should take your raincoat or not.
Which brings me to this. You know who else would make a great weather person?
Lewis Black.
Quick, direct, no BS weather.
I can only dream.
The sun returned today. Good thing I mentioned that I missed it yesterday. Speaking of weather, you know who would make a great weather person?
Steven Wright
I hate how weather people say the temperature as though it were the most amazing thing in the world. It doesn't matter whether it is cold or hot, whether it is far from the norm or just what is expected. I guess newscasters do that in general. I hate that false emphasis on everything. I believe Steve Martin mocked this in his film LA Story.
I also hate how local news now teases you throughout the telecast with bits of weather. They force you to watch inane bits or abuses of tragedy just so you know whether you should take your raincoat or not.
Which brings me to this. You know who else would make a great weather person?
Lewis Black.
Quick, direct, no BS weather.
I can only dream.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Sparsity
Who knew that was a word? My spell check seems to be ok with it (it doesn't like ok, though). It seems like I used to be comfortable here and putting random thoughts, whine about a unimportant grievance, or just letting my brain fart away. I do not do that anymore. It is true that I am busy - four classes, job applications, a stalled research project, and general life demands will do that to you. However, I have time to dilly dally in other brief and random endeavors, so why not here. Is it the pressure I put on myself to spew something worthwhile? Have I - gasp - become self-conscious? Or have I just become bored with this medium (I do bore easily)? Truth is, I do not know.
But here I am...probably because I am home alone. The dogs are here, but Sara is off to San Antonio to see her grandmother, father, and family.
I thought I would have more free time, but so much crap has piled up and there are so many random errands that need to be run that I have been as short on time as ever.
Who knew it was so complicated to send a large envelope to Canada via priority mail with a way to track it? Tip: it is worth the extra few dollars to send it express (not that it really is express - it take 5 business days). Why? Montreal is much closer to New York than California, where I can send something overnight.
Just to let you know, avoid the Inwood post office station in NYC. I will spare the details. If you want to know, ask.
Why are people so unaware of others around them? Different post office: a woman took five minutes trying to decide between the Christmas knit stamps and the Madonna and Child stamps. In the end, she decided that she didn't like either and got THREE regular stamps. Mind you, that was the only window open and there was a line out the door. I thought the woman in front of me was going to strangle her. That would have been entertaining and worth the wait. I think she was 90 - the strangler, not the indecisive one.
I miss the sun. It went missing a few days ago.
I gave my Introduction to International Studies classes a naturalization test during our lecture on immigration. Based on the results, most of them need to be deported. They probably would also do poorly on the English language test and they might have a hard time showing their attachment to the Constitution (since most of them are quite ignorant of what it states) and proving their "Good Moral Character".
Most of my students' knowledge of geography is also abysmal.
What is even more discouraging is that NJ is supposed to have one of the better secondary education systems.
Our dogs are healthy - determined by a recent vet visit. They are also quite cooperative. The impressed the vet.
We put the notes left by our dog-walker praising them on the fridge.
I bet Zeus is smarter than some of my students. He definitely is more worldly - he's been to 3 countries and 27 states.
I like The Hives new album and I have rediscovered The The.
It's time to eat dinner.
Who knew that was a word? My spell check seems to be ok with it (it doesn't like ok, though). It seems like I used to be comfortable here and putting random thoughts, whine about a unimportant grievance, or just letting my brain fart away. I do not do that anymore. It is true that I am busy - four classes, job applications, a stalled research project, and general life demands will do that to you. However, I have time to dilly dally in other brief and random endeavors, so why not here. Is it the pressure I put on myself to spew something worthwhile? Have I - gasp - become self-conscious? Or have I just become bored with this medium (I do bore easily)? Truth is, I do not know.
But here I am...probably because I am home alone. The dogs are here, but Sara is off to San Antonio to see her grandmother, father, and family.
I thought I would have more free time, but so much crap has piled up and there are so many random errands that need to be run that I have been as short on time as ever.
Who knew it was so complicated to send a large envelope to Canada via priority mail with a way to track it? Tip: it is worth the extra few dollars to send it express (not that it really is express - it take 5 business days). Why? Montreal is much closer to New York than California, where I can send something overnight.
Just to let you know, avoid the Inwood post office station in NYC. I will spare the details. If you want to know, ask.
Why are people so unaware of others around them? Different post office: a woman took five minutes trying to decide between the Christmas knit stamps and the Madonna and Child stamps. In the end, she decided that she didn't like either and got THREE regular stamps. Mind you, that was the only window open and there was a line out the door. I thought the woman in front of me was going to strangle her. That would have been entertaining and worth the wait. I think she was 90 - the strangler, not the indecisive one.
I miss the sun. It went missing a few days ago.
I gave my Introduction to International Studies classes a naturalization test during our lecture on immigration. Based on the results, most of them need to be deported. They probably would also do poorly on the English language test and they might have a hard time showing their attachment to the Constitution (since most of them are quite ignorant of what it states) and proving their "Good Moral Character".
Most of my students' knowledge of geography is also abysmal.
What is even more discouraging is that NJ is supposed to have one of the better secondary education systems.
Our dogs are healthy - determined by a recent vet visit. They are also quite cooperative. The impressed the vet.
We put the notes left by our dog-walker praising them on the fridge.
I bet Zeus is smarter than some of my students. He definitely is more worldly - he's been to 3 countries and 27 states.
I like The Hives new album and I have rediscovered The The.
It's time to eat dinner.
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