Friday, January 30, 2009

Plans for the future


It is starting to become apparent to me that many of my friends may soon move away. I may be left alone with no job and no one to speak of (I mean, I know my parents aren't moving anywhere, but that's besides the point). So I decided that if in 7 years or so, if I'm not doing anything I'm happy about, I will either, a. Move to Montreal and / or b. get a pet sloth.

Look at those arms for hugging!!

Recording Artist

One time, I helped my friend Kamran record an album. Of course, I mean I contributed a very small amount of noise. However, I'm pretty excited about it.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Water Tower Mysteries




So once upon a time I wondered how water towers made any sense. Sure, releasing water from a great height will create great pressure, but what about the energy it takes to get it up there in the first place? My first stab at solving this mystery was to ask the friend I always ask the random things I am wondering about. He was unsure, and told me he could make something up. (I appreciate this, as I had other go-to people who simply would make something up, lie about it;....totally lame). So I did what any distinguished intellectual would do in my situation: I googled it. This is my understanding now.

Water flows from the treatment facility to a pump. From the pump, the water goes where it needs to, according to residential need. When supply exceeds need, the excess water is pumped up into the tower. If need exceeds supply (say, during peak times when everyone is showering for work), then the lacking amount is drawn from the tower. Also! If the power goes out, The water tower contains enough water to supply its households for one day (and of course, gravity does not require electricity to work).

Letters of Apology



Chere Amie

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Twenty Four

Surfing Synchronicities

After signing up for a Couch Surfing Account, I found a few people I knew, and befriended them. One was a girl who works at the library, someone I've always thought I could be friends with (but how does one get past the librarian - patron wall?) She sent me a message asking me if I was going to the Couch Surfing gathering later that week. She gave me the address and the number of the person who had told her about it. The address seemed familiar, it was at least close to where my friend since 1st grade lives in Albany. I figured if that friend didn't know about it, she should be invited, so I called her up. Turns out, she was hosting it.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Touch Buddies

I was thinking recently that instead of the hookup friend that has become so popular in our society, what I really want is a touch buddy, someone to hold my hand, stroke my arm, and pet my hair. I shared this with a friend who confided that she had begun to feel that way right before she dated [insert name of regretted ex here]. Should I take this as a bad sign?

Thursday, January 22, 2009

The joys of subbing

I had to teach a lesson on cyber-bullying today. This video was part of a power point I had to show. It was the highlight for me. (Please take note of the obviously scandalous picture she posts)

Couch Surfing.

After briefly discussing my road trip, a friend suggested I check out the website Couch Surfing. It seems much less sketchy than craigslist, a better idea than paying for a hostel (your couch surfing host will show you his or her insider spots in the city), and I found some people I know in real life on the site, which always eases the soul.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Obligatory Inauguration Post

Tuesday, like most Tuesdays, I subbed. Unlike most Tuesdays, this one happened to be inauguration day. Unlike most inauguration days, I actually watched the TV coverage this time. During the last period of the day, sitting in the library with three students, I found myself asking one of them to keep his voice down and 'stop swearing in the library'. Clearly, school isn't for swearing, especially not the library. He didn't see it this way. "Obama president now! Black people do what'ere they want! ........we 'gon paint the white house black. We'll call it the black house."

I, of course, felt obligated to inform him that Obama's momma's white. He decided that instead of painting the house gray, it would be half black, half white, and Obama would sleep in the center.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Fast Approaching

If anyone asks you what to get me for my birthday,



When I spent some time sniffing around his Brooklyn gallery, I noted that my favorites were Greenbriar 1968 and Winter 1972 with Under the Arbor and In the Library falling close behind. You know. If anyone is asking.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Stalking on a new level

Or maybe it doesn't have to be that creepy...


So you sign up for this code, and you can assign this code a website, which could be your facebook page or really any website you wanted. The code is a bullseye type black and white pixel thing, and you don't have to wear it on your clothing. So other people who know about this have an application downloaded on their cellphones, take a picture of your circle, which when done crisply, leads them to your website. I suppose this could be used for good, but the clothing sold by W-41 is a) creepy as well as b) not that interesting. I don't see why I couldn't put this logo on something else. Also, how creepy would it be to photograph someone's back to check their facebook page to maybe send them a message: "Hey, I'm right behind you". Horror movie in the making?

This site doesn't seem to advocate the clothing aspect.

Recycle This

I sent in a suggestion to How Can I Recycle This? about a week ago, and the other day they posted it. So far, no one has answered the call. Can you?

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Everyone's Waiting


We finished watching six feet under today. I went on youtube and watched the end again and cried all over again. I'm not 100% sure why, perhaps because it makes me feel like my life is ending.

Friday, January 9, 2009

the best job ever

I wore wind pants and a sweatshirt to work today.
I subbed for a gym teacher.
Not that positions are plentiful, but this might be the best job in all of academia.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

quotation marks

This "news story" is absolutely ridiculous.


Also, my friend informed me that the horrific creatures I find hiding in my house are underwhelmingly called "house centipedes"
And if those images don't freak you out, watch some videos. Apparently, they eat other bugs. Frankly, I'd rather live with a few extra flies or spiders.

Monday, January 5, 2009

More Paper Things

Folding Paper...

This guy has amazing mathematical origami, along with instructions.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Saturday, January 3, 2009

My sketchiest friend

So I guess it isn't as easy to pretend you are a sub as I had imagined. Or maybe he just did it wrong. Either way, why is it that I hadn't heard of this sooner?

Paper Cut

All I want to do lately is make things by cutting paper. I'm super into these illustrations by Yulia Brodskaya.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Come again?

Ben Gibbard and Zooey Deschanel are engaged. I don't quite know whether to feel overwhelmed with cuteness or perhaps if I should now discredit all of Gibbard's lonely lyrics.

Hop Along Queen Ansleis

Have you heard her?

she plays with a full band now, but this solo set with some old songs was a special new years treat.