Monday, May 12, 2008
the first step is completed, but
i still haven't made my secret purchase yet. tomorrow for sure.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
random things: pot and polar bears*
* i have no idea hwo these things go together or how they even caught my eye today.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
barbara walters
with all the talk about her, it occurred to me today that barbara walters is one of those people who are referred to by both first and surnames. it's "barbra walters" just like it is always "harrison ford."
i am sure there are others, just need a minute or two to think about it. similar thing that happens with deniro. it cracks me up when people refer to him as 'bob' in interviews.
i am sure there are others, just need a minute or two to think about it. similar thing that happens with deniro. it cracks me up when people refer to him as 'bob' in interviews.
Monday, May 05, 2008
housing is 42%
and we are only supposed to spend up to 30% on housing costs! well, that's affordable housing.
i love this nifty chart from the NYT. you can see how much the average American spends on different things and it gives a reflection of how much prices have gone up or down in the past year (given the percent change in what was spent).
click the link to see the interactive chart.
it takes money to draw attention to an issue
states are releasing prisoners early in order to ease their budgets :
"But the states' conversion to that view has less to do with a change of heart on crime than with stark fiscal realities. At a time of shrinking resources, prisons are eating up an increasing share of many state budgets."
"But the states' conversion to that view has less to do with a change of heart on crime than with stark fiscal realities. At a time of shrinking resources, prisons are eating up an increasing share of many state budgets."
recycling
this little article offers ideas for 20 things you can use twice before tossing. the list includes things likes newspapers and plastic bags that people know about, but also business cards, tissue boxes, strawberry baskets, and citrus peels.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
t-shirts i’ve seen and liked
Jesus loves you, but I'm his favorite.
I HEART pro-choice girls.
I HEART pro-choice girls.
Friday, May 02, 2008
how do you spell whoa?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
regarding the teen queen
i have only one opinion on the miley cyrus photo controversy: if the media had not made a big deal about it, her young fans would have probably never even knew the photo was taken. i mean, who reads vanity fair? or better yet, who among the age group that adores miley reads vanity fair?
politics
i have refrained from writing anymore on the hillary-obama nonsense, primarily because i think too much of it is out of hand. what i am thinking, however, is that by the time either one of them receives the nomination for democratic candidate, there will be little time left for a campaign against mccain.
he must be loving this.
he must be loving this.
Monday, April 28, 2008
via email, i thought this was cute
Sunday, April 27, 2008
onto a new week
this weekend was eventful! the little girl's birthday party and all associated events went well this weekend. she had lots of fun and ended up with lots of stuff, of course. i am actually looking forward to getting back to the normal routine of reading and writing papers. oh, that's almost over, too! yipee.
oddee
since a friend of mine approaching an engagement, here's 10 bizarre wedding rings.
there's also these stupid warning labels that gave me a chuckle. i especially like the one that says "Use care when operating a car" (on a bottle of dog's pills) and "We are sorry that our president is an idiot, we did not voted for him" (on an american clothing label, in french).
there's also these stupid warning labels that gave me a chuckle. i especially like the one that says "Use care when operating a car" (on a bottle of dog's pills) and "We are sorry that our president is an idiot, we did not voted for him" (on an american clothing label, in french).
Thursday, April 24, 2008
i guess this is in chicago
what an awesome pic.
you definitely have to click this one and see it at full size.
[via j-walk, with a clever caption.]
friday five, though it is not friday
What do you see when you are looking out of the window closest to you? the other side of the apartment building, sometimes a kitty in the window over there.
Who was the last person coming into your room? my daughter.
What is the most predominant colour around you? white, the walls are white.
What is right behind you? two reclining chairs and a stack of board games.
What is on today's calendar sheet? my daughter's birthday is today!!
Who was the last person coming into your room? my daughter.
What is the most predominant colour around you? white, the walls are white.
What is right behind you? two reclining chairs and a stack of board games.
What is on today's calendar sheet? my daughter's birthday is today!!
mythbusting
this site debunks those mom-isms we've all heard so much about. read the list, then think of calling your mother to remark, "so there." here's a few:
cracking knuckles does not lead to arthritis.
sitting too close to the tv will not make you go blind.
chewing gum will not get stuck inside your stomach.
coffee will not stunt your growth.
carrots will not improve our vision.
you can't get warts from a toad.
cracking knuckles does not lead to arthritis.
sitting too close to the tv will not make you go blind.
chewing gum will not get stuck inside your stomach.
coffee will not stunt your growth.
carrots will not improve our vision.
you can't get warts from a toad.
Monday, April 21, 2008
miss bimbo
well, lookie here. another thing i do not like at all.
Miss Bimbo, an online game, that encourages young girls to buy their avatars plastic surgery to be the "hottest, coolest, most famous bimbo in the whole world."
recent media attention has obviously encouraged some changes in the game. on the front page: "...we have decided to remove the option of purchasing diet pills from the game. We apologise to any players whom this may inconvenience but we feel in light of this weeks proceedings it is the correct action to take."
Miss Bimbo, an online game, that encourages young girls to buy their avatars plastic surgery to be the "hottest, coolest, most famous bimbo in the whole world."
recent media attention has obviously encouraged some changes in the game. on the front page: "...we have decided to remove the option of purchasing diet pills from the game. We apologise to any players whom this may inconvenience but we feel in light of this weeks proceedings it is the correct action to take."
guns on campus
there was similiar talk around here [i'm not sure when, maybe after VA tech last year?]. i do not like the thought of this at all.
Students want chance to defend themselves
Students want chance to defend themselves
Thursday, April 17, 2008
three recycled links
considerate thieves
have you ever looked up the definition of 'the'
random points
have you ever looked up the definition of 'the'
random points
Labels: three things
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
McMansions
it's funny how families are getting smaller and homes are getting larger. this article is an old one, but the point is still valid. given the housing market now, i guess many of these homes are just sitting there.
Behind the Ever-Expanding American Dream House
Behind the Ever-Expanding American Dream House
quote for the day
Monday, April 14, 2008
you are going to die
this "accurate" watch reminds me of one of my favorite songs from the doors. it is called "someday soon" and features the line, "and I hate to remind you but you're going to die."
my mother used get so upset with me for singing this song. but it is the truth!
barbershop talk
at the sociology meetings i attended last week, there was a woman presenting on the damaging effects of incarceration. i, of course, ate it up. she mentioned that inmates are often trained in cosmetology and barbering in prison, but were restricted from holding a barbers licence once released. how ironic! i find this very interesting, and now must research this to see if it is true in all states.
i will let you know.
update: well, it's true in New York.
i will let you know.
update: well, it's true in New York.
Labels: crime and social justice
Friday, April 11, 2008
rules of thumb
No black person has ever used the term "Bumfuck, Egypt."
this made me laugh so hard... i'm sitting in a hotel room in richmond (in town for sociology conference). i thought this would be a great time, since i am alone in a strange town, to make some progress on my papers that are due next week. but i am thinking of sleeping all night instead. wait- dinner first.
this made me laugh so hard... i'm sitting in a hotel room in richmond (in town for sociology conference). i thought this would be a great time, since i am alone in a strange town, to make some progress on my papers that are due next week. but i am thinking of sleeping all night instead. wait- dinner first.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
for some reason, numbers count
as a group, we decided mid-way through the semester to track the readings for the three classes and divvy up the notes to make life easier on us all. in doing this, two of my classmates, the one from state and the one who likes sex workers,* designed a spreadsheet to do this.
i noticed it shows a total of 3,368 pages that we read since beginning this system. not too bad.
* i gave pseudonyms to my classmates as i thought they may not enjoy their business being spread via my blog. for those in the know, however, these names are not only telling, but quite comical.
i noticed it shows a total of 3,368 pages that we read since beginning this system. not too bad.
* i gave pseudonyms to my classmates as i thought they may not enjoy their business being spread via my blog. for those in the know, however, these names are not only telling, but quite comical.
Monday, April 07, 2008
gender trumps race
race may be easier to overcome than gender. i believe i have mentioned before of my discussions with students, etc. who believe that we will have a black male president before a female one. [these discussions took place well before either was a possibility.] i just recently had a conversation with a man who felt the opposite. but the author of this article doesn't seem to agree.
i have recently studied how the brain categorizes to save energy and how this, over time, has influenced our stereotypes of groups of people. the author points out that experiments have shown that the brain categorizes people by race in less than 100 milliseconds, about 50 milliseconds before determining sex. evolutionary psychologists believe we’re "hard-wired to be suspicious of people outside our own group, to save our ancestors from blithely greeting enemy tribes of cave men. In contrast, there’s no hard-wired hostility toward women, though men may have a hard-wired desire to control and impregnate them.
Yet racism may also be easier to override than sexism. For example, one experiment found it easy for whites to admire African-American doctors; they just mentally categorized them as “doctors” rather than as “blacks.” Meanwhile, whites categorize black doctors whom they dislike as 'blacks.' ...
"The challenge for women competing in politics or business is less misogyny than unconscious sexism: Americans don’t hate women, but they do frequently stereotype them as warm and friendly, creating a mismatch with the stereotype we hold of leaders as tough and strong. So voters (women as well as men, though a bit less so) may feel that a female candidate is not the right person for the job because of biases they’re not even aware of."
see, Hillary never had a chance.
i have recently studied how the brain categorizes to save energy and how this, over time, has influenced our stereotypes of groups of people. the author points out that experiments have shown that the brain categorizes people by race in less than 100 milliseconds, about 50 milliseconds before determining sex. evolutionary psychologists believe we’re "hard-wired to be suspicious of people outside our own group, to save our ancestors from blithely greeting enemy tribes of cave men. In contrast, there’s no hard-wired hostility toward women, though men may have a hard-wired desire to control and impregnate them.
Yet racism may also be easier to override than sexism. For example, one experiment found it easy for whites to admire African-American doctors; they just mentally categorized them as “doctors” rather than as “blacks.” Meanwhile, whites categorize black doctors whom they dislike as 'blacks.' ...
"The challenge for women competing in politics or business is less misogyny than unconscious sexism: Americans don’t hate women, but they do frequently stereotype them as warm and friendly, creating a mismatch with the stereotype we hold of leaders as tough and strong. So voters (women as well as men, though a bit less so) may feel that a female candidate is not the right person for the job because of biases they’re not even aware of."
see, Hillary never had a chance.
Monday, March 31, 2008
thank goodness it's monday
i've seen the Chuck Lorre "vanity cards" at the end of his eipsodes (currently they are The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men on mondays). these go by so fast, i am never able to read them. alas, now i know what it is they say. apparently, he posts each of them on his website.
last week's vanity card for The Big Bang Theory is so juicy it was censored by CBS. it has to do with a joke in the episode "where Cousin Leo blames his fake drug addiction on a molester named Chaplain Horrigan. Lorre writes, 'In the original shooting script the make-believe molester was called Father Horrigan.' But, he says, CBS didn't want to offend Catholic viewers by suggesting that priests are known for molesting little boys." this is the card featured to the left. you can read them all at the link, many are quite hilarious and there were others that have been censored as well. read number 199, it also tells what CBS would not allow on last week's Two and a Half Men. [via tv squad]
i love Dr. Pepper news
i am a self-proclaimed diet dr. pepper addict so this story caught my eye. and it is quite strange. Dr. Pepper is offering a free can of soda to everyone in America if Guns 'n Roses' album Chinese Democracy is released by the end of 2008.
"The company press release reads in part: 'It took a little patience to perfect Dr Pepper's special mix of 23 ingredients, which our fans have come to know and love... So we completely understand and empathize with Axl's quest for perfection -- for something more than the average album. We know once it's released, people will refer to it as 'Dr Pepper for the ears' because it will be such a refreshing blend of rich, bold sounds -- an instant classic.'"
apparently the album has been in production since the 90s and has cost $13 million thus far. wow. that's worth a dr. pepper.
"The company press release reads in part: 'It took a little patience to perfect Dr Pepper's special mix of 23 ingredients, which our fans have come to know and love... So we completely understand and empathize with Axl's quest for perfection -- for something more than the average album. We know once it's released, people will refer to it as 'Dr Pepper for the ears' because it will be such a refreshing blend of rich, bold sounds -- an instant classic.'"
apparently the album has been in production since the 90s and has cost $13 million thus far. wow. that's worth a dr. pepper.
where do your federal tax dollars go?
this pie chart shows where our tax dollars go (2006, i believe). and it shows what it is the government does. if more money equals priority (as in denoting what is most important) then we are all in trouble.
the military spending isn't really surprising, but look at all the interest paid on the national debt.
just...can't...focus
this has been happening to me more and more. i think i am encountering information overload.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
incarcerex
felt like wasting time
What Punctuation Mark Are You?: You Are a Colon
You are very orderly and fact driven.
You aren't concerned much with theories or dreams... only what's true or untrue.
You are brilliant and incredibly learned. Anything you know is well researched.
You like to make lists and sort through things step by step. You aren't subject to whim or emotions.
You get along best with: The Semi-Colon
You are very orderly and fact driven.
You aren't concerned much with theories or dreams... only what's true or untrue.
You are brilliant and incredibly learned. Anything you know is well researched.
You like to make lists and sort through things step by step. You aren't subject to whim or emotions.
You get along best with: The Semi-Colon
Labels: quiz
Monday, March 24, 2008
vintage computer pictures
this page is great, showing all kinds of pictures of people with old computers.
this one isn't really of computers (i assume that's a typwriter-type thing and a cassette recorder) but i just love this old pic!
do you believe in god?
this site allows you to vote and then you can see the breakdowns per country. of course this is unscientific, but neat to see the comparisons.
the US is at 50-50 at the time that i clicked, the world at 45% yes and 55% no.
the US is at 50-50 at the time that i clicked, the world at 45% yes and 55% no.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
happy easter
Friday, March 21, 2008
tv news, kind of
i read that Martha Byrne, who plays Lily Snyder on As the World Turns, has quit the show . i remember watching her on that show growing up. but that is not important to me. what is? click the link to take a look at the picture they used of her! freakishly airbrushed.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
it's been a while
you woud think that with springbreak (for me) last week, i would have had moments to post up here. but, no.
the news is just more of the same lately. screwey politicians and swat teams. oh,and people who feel that $48.6 million makes you have to fly coach.
there's also an appalling Dear Abby column about a man's wife who is raped by his brother.
How's Your Spelling?: You got 9/10 correct.
and a quote from Edna St. Vincent Millay: "It's not true that life is one damn thing after another; it is one damn thing over and over."
the news is just more of the same lately. screwey politicians and swat teams. oh,and people who feel that $48.6 million makes you have to fly coach.
there's also an appalling Dear Abby column about a man's wife who is raped by his brother.
How's Your Spelling?: You got 9/10 correct.
and a quote from Edna St. Vincent Millay: "It's not true that life is one damn thing after another; it is one damn thing over and over."
it's exactly midnight
and it's still 70 degrees outside. that's nice.
Friday, March 14, 2008
adorable photo of the day #26
Thursday, March 13, 2008
google is funny
1. Go to http://www.google.com/
2. Type “find chuck norris” into the search box
3. Press the “I”m feeling lucky” button
4. Feel the awesome.
[via]
2. Type “find chuck norris” into the search box
3. Press the “I”m feeling lucky” button
4. Feel the awesome.
[via]
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
attempted capital murder
in Dallas, a woman threw her two young children from a freeway overpass during Wednesday's morning rush before leaping off herself. all three survived.
they say there was no reason. she did this while the father of the boys was paying for gas.
there has to be more of this story than just this.
they say there was no reason. she did this while the father of the boys was paying for gas.
there has to be more of this story than just this.
i guess these girls are not getting these diseases from boys
a new study of teen girls:
At least one in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease ... nearly half the blacks studied had at least one STD. That rate compared with 20 percent among both whites and Mexican-American teens, the study from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found. [via]
At least one in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease ... nearly half the blacks studied had at least one STD. That rate compared with 20 percent among both whites and Mexican-American teens, the study from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found. [via]
criminal background checks for profs
how is this for a quote of the day:
"screening out criminologists with arrest histories is sort of like screening out economists who've handled currency."
- - christopher uggen
"screening out criminologists with arrest histories is sort of like screening out economists who've handled currency."
- - christopher uggen
Labels: quotes
Thursday, March 06, 2008
forbes billionaires
$58 billion is no longer enough to be ranked the richest man in the world. bill gates falls to number three on the list, behind warren buffet and carlos slim helú.
and there's this gem:
and there's this gem:
For the first time ever, the number of billionaires Forbes could identify crossed into four figures, reaching 1,125. The total net worth of the group is $4.4 trillion, up $900 billion from last year.i was excited when my income went into five figures.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
i hope this is a joke
but the article doesn't make it seem so. via j-walk:
chicao may ban little plastic baggies, saying they are 'marketing 101' for drug dealers.
what would mothers use for lunches?
chicao may ban little plastic baggies, saying they are 'marketing 101' for drug dealers.
what would mothers use for lunches?
Hillary picks up some slack yesterday
people are speculating that we just may see a Obama-Clinton or Clinton-Obama ticket in november, and point to the fact that Hillary may be open to it. this race for president has not once ceased to amaze me.
it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood
for some reason i have the Mr. Roger's song in my head. yes, it is very nice outside.
and it reminds me that Fred Rogers was the commencement speaker at my college graduation.
and it reminds me that Fred Rogers was the commencement speaker at my college graduation.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
essure
i've been seeing these commercials for essure, a female sterilization method for permanent birth control. so i checked it out. from their website:
The Essure procedure is 99.80% effective based on 4 years of follow-up. Essure is the first and only FDA approved method of female sterilization. There were zero pregnancies in the clinical trials.if there were no pregnancies, then how is it only 99.8% effective? did someone die?
Friday, February 29, 2008
happy leap day
they say that Superman was born on leap day.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
the candidates on choice
Mike Huckabee endorses 'personhood' amendment. and believes Roe should be overturned.
Ditto for John McCain is extremely pro-life. and loyal to the right to life movement.
Hillary Clinton believes in choice. and feels that "Roe v. Wade isn't just binding legal precedent, it is the touchstone of our reproductive freedom, the embodiment of our most fundamental rights.
Barack Obama's also for choice: "But we also know that Roe v. Wade is about more than a woman's right to choose; it's about equality.
keep in mind that many more issues go with the opinions on choice than just abortion. it's also about sex education, family planning (contraceptives), etc. for more, click here.
Ditto for John McCain is extremely pro-life. and loyal to the right to life movement.
Hillary Clinton believes in choice. and feels that "Roe v. Wade isn't just binding legal precedent, it is the touchstone of our reproductive freedom, the embodiment of our most fundamental rights.
Barack Obama's also for choice: "But we also know that Roe v. Wade is about more than a woman's right to choose; it's about equality.
keep in mind that many more issues go with the opinions on choice than just abortion. it's also about sex education, family planning (contraceptives), etc. for more, click here.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
adorable photo of the day #25
yeah, he is raking in the dough
i have no time for internet perusing anymore, but i do it when i can. cause i love finding tidbits like this.
"What actor/actress has received the most money for a sitcom syndication deal?"
Jerry Seinfeld.
"What actor/actress has received the most money for a sitcom syndication deal?"
Jerry Seinfeld.
Friday, February 22, 2008
legally, a woman can't be elected president
this little article is seemingly just an opinion. but it could stir up a bunch of stuff. what fun that would be! [via]
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
i do not live in a "green" city
at least not one of the top 50 on this list of America's Greenest Cities.
two cities in virginia did pop up, though, Alexandria at number 30 and Newport News at number 41.
i tend to forget that newport news has good things to offer.
two cities in virginia did pop up, though, Alexandria at number 30 and Newport News at number 41.
i tend to forget that newport news has good things to offer.
Monday, February 18, 2008
gee, wonder what's on my mind?
Passport :: reintergrative
Small world :: shaming
Radio :: reintegrative
Marine :: shaming
Wall :: reintegrative
Wanna be :: shaming
Pigtails :: reintegrative
Hyphen :: shaming
9.99 :: reintegrative
Unrated :: shaming
Small world :: shaming
Radio :: reintegrative
Marine :: shaming
Wall :: reintegrative
Wanna be :: shaming
Pigtails :: reintegrative
Hyphen :: shaming
9.99 :: reintegrative
Unrated :: shaming
you made it down here?
what? you want a reward?
