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Where Was Chewie?
Oooh, It was Monday Alright...
Let's just say that Monday started early...oh, sometime on Saturday when our printer decided to stop working. We had just changed the print cartridges, when it stopped printing. We started to look online for fixes, just to find out that every single one of these crappy printers has died in the same way about 11 months after purchase. It always comes with a changing of print cartridges, so Epson can gauge you one last time (it was a stylus CX5400...they don't make the pieces o' junk anymore). Stay away from Epsons. So, we I did a lot of research online yesterday and called around today to ask questions of printer guys everywhere. I, with the help of dad, settled on an HP 2350, which is new. I'm not sure I wanted a new model, but dad's had great luck with HPs and it looked like a pretty good machine. The sales guy was quite knowledgeable and very friendly. I took dad because I didn't want to be mugged in the parking lot with a printer and because I didn't want to be screwed over by some associate. Now, I knew a lot about what I wanted when I went in, but its good to be prepared. Even better, the printer was on sale last week, but I got the sale price anyway. I think he put in a good word at the check-out counter, because he kept thinking it was on sale. I thought that was very very nice of him. I highly recommend the Harrisonburg Staples. They've been great with dad, too. So, now I'm relieved. I can print out my homework assignments and get back to not worrying about purchasing a new printer all day long. I was on the internet researching and making phonecalls any chance I got while I was at work. I did get my work done, though. Don't worry about that, but I was distracted all day. Thank goodness Monday is nearly over. Oh, and one other crap-fest for Monday...Don had to go on a shoot starting at 6pm. So I've not seen him all day, because I leave before he gets up...its already after 9pm. I hate his job. Gotta love Mondays. Actually, I can't complain...I haven't had a Monday this bad in a long while. Once in a while, bad things are bound to pile up on one day.
My Cats Did Get Added to the Infinite Cat Project
And you can see them here. Very cool.
I also Found a Cool Story
About a man who runs a dating service out of his cab. So NY singles can find matches through the 50-year old cab driver. Its a cool article and I highly suggest going to read it. I just don't have time to write now, because my honay is on his way home.
Cheers!
-Chewie-
Frozen in and bloggin'
What People Won't Sell on eBay
Because pundits and journalists have been raking in the dough recently by simply taking tax-payer money to endorse certain political agendas, I, a private citizen, am now offering my services for a fee to write and post comments on political blogs. I will write clear, on point comments no matter the agenda, no matter the Blog. Conservative, Liberal, Moderate, Commie-Pinko or Raging Right Wingnut. My ethics and words are completely for sale. AND, I will not disclose that I'm accepting money from you to support your point of view. I am also offering this service to any department of the government. HHS, SOS, DOD or even the EPA. If you have extra money to spend to further the administration's agenda, what better way than to hire a private citizen to be your voice in the blogosphere. For $10 a post ($40 for 5 posts) I will sign on to any blog and post your message, no matter how unpopular, inane or controversial. I will, however, never use profanity or personally attack any other blogger (except for and extra $50). So, if you're ethically challenged and have no problem paying to have your outlandish ideas endorsed on the web and not disclose who you are, I'm your hire.
Pony Goes Shopping
British Supermarket goers were shocked when they found a pony browsing the shelves among them. The little pony trotted up and down the isles, and then found its way to the vegetable counter. Supermarket workers had to shoo the pony away from the carrots. When the pony realized he wasn't getting any carrots, he headed over to the cereals. Finally, he headed towards the check-out and was ushered outside. Luke Hart, another shopper, stated "it gave everyone a shock - and looked a bit scared itself. The pony started looking around as if it was on a shopping trip, whinnied three times and trotted off down the aisle." I love the whinnying three times. Just the mental image is amusing.
Goat Breaks into House
Or he just walked in to Bruce Cox's house. The goat walked in an open door that Cox leaves for his dog, came to where Cox and his dog were, and curled up next to the dog. Cox doesn't believe the goat belongs to any of his neighbors, but he hasn't been able to get any help from Animal regulation or the police. So he's just stuck with this goat. Cox, at least for the meantime, was stuck with a goat following him around and nibbling on his jacket. Cox stated that the goat was friendly, unless you turned your back on him. The goat did, however, butt Cox's truck.
Three Monte Carlos, Three Guns, Two Wounds
A couple of women reported to police that they saw the driver of a dark Monte Carlo carrying a gun. This lead to a citywide search for monte carlo drivers carrying guns. Police stopped one Monte Carlo around 3:30 in the morning and asked the driver to step out. This lead to a confrontation, which resulted in the driver getting shot twice. He is listed in critical condition. Meanwhile, police found guns in two other dark colored Monte Carlos that were searched.
And You Thought You Couldn't Hear the Drive-Through Attendents Before...
An Oregan McDonald's restaurant is outsourcing its drive-through speaker person to a place in North Dakota. Now drivers will be patched through to someone in Grand Forks, North Dakota, when they order their meals. Why? Because minimum wage is $2 less in North Dakota as compared to Oregan. Something tells me this outsourcing crap has gone too far...
Ghana's New Fad: Specialty Coffins
Were you a shoemaker? Perhaps then you'd like to be buried in a shoe...or perhaps you're a carpenter who would like to be buried in a hammer. All of these are possible, if you live in Ghana. The newest trend is specialty coffins, designed to send you into the afterlife in style. Go ahead and read the story, and check out the pictures. Very interesting.
Happy Saturday!
I'm Disgusted
Since I read this article about a school district that is cancelling its Spelling Bee, because it violates the NCLB act. Why? Because there can only be one winner, thus leaving all the other participants behind. Now, I'm no great speller and I hated the Bees (I couldn't spell well enough to even participate...), I think this is idiotic. Does this mean we can no longer test our students? Some will most definitely be left behind. Does this mean we can't run pre-test reviews as games, because one or more teams will lose, and be left behind? Argh. The NCLB act is stupid as its laid out now (if you've not done your research, you should...the act is idealistic and sounds great, but implemented its not going to work), and people coming up with these ideas about how Spelling Bees leave children behind is insane.
Why Haven't the Police Thought of This?
Bill Gillenwater, principal of Monfort Elementary School, decided to take action against the drivers speeding past his school. After too many close calls, Gillenwater came up with an ingenious idea. The school is trying to raise $4,000 to install a sign telling drivers how fast they're going and inform them to slow down; however, he has a plan in use until the entire $4,000 comes in. His plan? During pick-up and drop-off times, Gillenwater takes an empty milk jug and points it at cars driving past. They immediately slow down. The school is accepting donations for its real radar controlled sign, so Mr. Gillenwater can get back in the school, where he belongs.
Seen Elsewhere...
*The Flight of a Fly Caught on X-Ray. Kinda makes you wonder what kindof harm they did to the fly by shining X-rays on him.
*Scientists Discover how the Venus Fly-Trap works.
Happy Thursday!
Oaklahoma Lawmaker Wants Roosters to Wear Boxing Gloves
An Oaklahoma senator is attempting to bring back the $100-million sport of cockfighting, which was outlawed in 2002 due to the violence inflicted upon the roosters. State Sen. Frank Shurden (D) wants to bring back the sport, but hopes that his ideas of installing boxing gloves on the cocks' spurs and outfitting them with a garment that has electrical sensors to tell how many times the birds been pecked at, will bring back the sport to his state. "It's like the fencing that you see on the Olympics, you know, where they have little balls on the ends of the swords and the fencers wear vests," said Shurden. "That's the same application that would be applied to the roosters." Those who are against cockfighting feel that Shurden is just attempting to lessen the ban, so he can continually amend the law until cockfighting it totally legal again in its original form. Somehow, I bet that people don't get excited over roosters with gloves and electronic vests....
Woman Gets DUI After Imbibing 3 Cups of Listerine
50 year old Carol Ries was pulled over after she rear ended another car. One of two breathalyzer tests found her blood alcohol level to be three times the legal limit. Police officers found a bottle of listerine in Ries' car, which she admitting drinking three glasses from earlier in the day. She pled guilty to the DUI charges and faces 93 days in jail and a $500 fine. Police dropped charges of having an open container in her car. There is 26.9 percent alcohol in original flavor listerine, while other flavors contain 21.6 percent alcohol. How in the world could she drink that stuff? THREE glasses?!? I mean, I use it as a mouthwash, but I could never drink it. Yeck!
Man Takes out $17,000 to Get His Wife Back
"Please believe the words in my letter, they are true and from my heart. I can only hope you will give me the chance to prove my unending love for you. Life without you is empty and meaningless," stated Larry in the Tuesday edition of The Florida Times-Union. Larry took out the ad to apologize to his wife of 17 years just two weeks after she left him. She got her number changed and wouldn't let him in to the gated community where she is residing. Relatives assured Larry that his wife, Marianne, read the ad and cried. As of yesterday Marianne had not responded to the ad. The newspaper has been innudated with calls to find out if Marianne went back to Larry; the newspaper responded that they wished Marianne and Larry all the best. For $17,000, so do I.
Thursday
Made it through half the week. Whew! Now I have my most hated class and then work. I'm never eager to go to work after this class, mostly because it tends to leave me angry. I despise the assumption that I should teach novel writing in my chemistry class. English people are such snobs. Last night, one girl implied that science teachers are all bad and English teachers are wonderful. Yeah, and hell has frozen over. I believe most of my English teachers came straight from Hell to terrorize us. No English teacher I had could even come close to measuring up to my science and math teachers, or even close to my AP history/government teacher. I tend not to get along with those who want to teach English anymore than I got along with the English teachers I had. Something is wrong with those people. Anyway. Despite that comment, the classes I had last night were great. The only problem is the fact my last class lets out after nine, and I'm usually quite tired by that point. Considering I start out before eight, getting home after nine is a long day. They're good classes that I have late, though, so they go by quickly and I feel I learn a lot. I hope everyone out there has a wonderful Thursday! Friday is only a day away!
Cheers!
-Chewie-
Quiz Fun
I'm Not a Loser!
And I've Got 87 Years to Enjoy That Fact!
Wednesday Odd News
Old Home Remedies
Oh, am I so glad I didn't live back in the "olden" days when these "cures" were used by everyone. Argh. Sugar and turpentine, cigarette smoke for earaches (cigarette smoke is known to increase ear infections, so I find this amusing), and on and on. Interesting to see what people did to be healthy.
Girl Scout Cookies Cause Office Stress
I know my mom didn't like to see anything from my girl scout cookies to band stuff at work, but I wasn't competing with other children, so it was ok. But goodness, I never realized what a competition it was. Dad always buys from the first student to approach him (if he wants the product) and then says, someone else already sold these to me to the other students. Seems to work ok for him...what's wrong with these other people?
Two Murderers Converse in Bugged Police Car
You think it two people were going to discuss how they'd get out of murder charges, they wouldn't do it in a bugged police car. Not so for these two...don't seem like the brightest stars in the sky, anyway.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Cheers!
-Chewie-
Celebrity Lists
Celebrity Crush List
Via Apropos of Something
My Top Five Celebrity Crushes:
1. Keith Urban
2. Alan Rickman
3. Vince Flynn
4. Owen Wilson
5. Blake Shelton
Note: These are essentially only based on looks, being that I don't keep up with celebs at all unless they just innudate the news because of some stupid manuever.
& The Related List...Celebs I Would Love to Never Hear from Again:
1. Britney Spears
2. Paris Hilton
3. Jessica Simpson & Ashley Simpson
4. Pat Robertson & Jerry Falwell
5. Ann Coulter
Note: I don't really keep up with celebs, so I'm mostly voting on getting rid of the annoying ones that even a almost non-tv watcher like me can't escape
Thank Goodness its 25 January!
Cold? Eat a Dumpling.
At least, that is what the Chinese do when temperatures fall to a bitter cold. And dumpling restaurants compete, so as to fill up the stomachs and warm the souls of their customers. One restaurant has 36 different kinds of dumplings...seriously. And some of them sound right down scary. I imagine that these dumplings aren't nearly as big in sizeas the ones in America (the author of the story ate 36 in one sitting), but they're far more popular as people across all geographic regions wolf down their version of the popular dumpling. Interesting read...
Snoop Dogg Wants to Coach the Steelers
"My dream is to coach in the NFL, probably for the Steelers, put that out for me," said Snoop. Snoop does have coaching experience, with his 10-year-old son's team. He even arranged for a charity bowl featuring his son's team and an all-star Florida team. "Football has a lot to do with life. You got to learn how to take your losses. You gotta look out for the team like they look out for you," stated the rapper who has people film the games of rival teams. Snoop, however, called the Superbowl wrong, predicting it to be Pittsburgh & Atlanta with Pittsburgh winning the game. Oops.
Depressed Yesterday?
You had reason to be, according to Dr. Cliff Arnalls who calculated Monday, 24 January to be the most depressing day of the year. Arnalls blames miserable weather, increasing debt, and failed New Year's resolutions for the gloom. I'm not sure I was depressed yesterday, but I certainly didn't want to get out of bed...probably had something to do with being tired.
Chew's Life
Had my 2nd day of practicum yesterday...we went late, due to the weekend weather. I think I'm really going to like working with my former teacher, and the class seems like they're going to be a ton of fun. Now I'm preparing to attend a long 3-hour class, without enough sleep (Don kept me up last night and the cats woke me up over an hour early this morning). I am not sure I'm going to survive the experience. I hope the professor has something interesting planned. After class, I'll spend four hours at work...hopefully we won't be too busy, but who knows how much work they'll save for me to do when I get there (probably all of it). One of the other workers is taking one class and studies for it all the time. I'm a full-time grad student and I only study when we have no work to do. I have no idea how people can be so lazy without feeling bad. Anyway. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday and recovers from the 24th of January!
Cheers!
-Chewie-
Monday Monday....Argh
My Condolences to the Carson Family
Johnny Carson, as most of you know, passed away this weekend. I grew up watching "The Tonight Show" (taped) with mom and dad. I was quite sad to hear of his death.
Congratulations to the...
New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles for both winning a trip to the Superbowl. I was sad to see Michael Vick lose, but dern happy to see Pittsburgh taken out (thank you New England). Special mention goes to the Atlanta D...thanks for giving your best effort, too bad your offense didn't show up to back you up.
Math Rappin' & a Bling-Bling Protractor
Algebra II teacher, Paul Kunz, decided to write his own lyrics to famous rap songs and present them to his class. Every Friday, which is now called Karoke Friday, brings a new math-related rap song and Mr. Kunz in funny clothes. He wears a bling-bling protractor around his neck and presents his songs. He and his brother started adding new lyrics to songs long before he became a teacher, and he thought it would be an excellent way to relate to his students. Students in other math classes are interested in what Mr. Kunz is doing, as well. All the students want to see what Mr. Kunz will come up with on Friday. Cool idea...though I'm not sure I'm going to rap or sing about chemistry...mostly because I totally lack rapping/singing skills.
Seen Elsewhere...
*Meteor Declared Innocent in Causing the "Great Dying", which occured at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago. Now it looks to have been caused by a gradual rise in global temperatures. (This has nothing to do with dinosaurs for you non-scientific people).
*Looks like Ancient South American Cultures were as violent as described by the Spaniards, though perhaps there weren't quite as many victims as listed by the Spanish.
*"The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office was looking Friday for a man who held up a Metairie doughnut shop wearing a pillowcase with eyeholes cut out and armed with a laser pointer...". I couldn't add anything to improve that opening sentence.
Where Was Chew This Weekend?
Obviously not blogging. I got up early Saturday morning and woke Don up early so we could run some errands before the snowstorm hit. I am not afraid of snow, but they were calling for the possibility of freezing rain...I wanted to be inside before any of that hit. I had to do a few things for class, which had to get done this weekend, which is why we ran out so early. After we got in, I just wanted to hang out with my husband. I did take a little time to get some homework done, but mostly I just spent time with Don. It was good to have some quality time with him. Yesterday, I cleaned the apartment before church, so I had no time to blog. After church, we ran a few more errands, and then settled in to watch some football. I made footstool covers for our two footstools (I accidently shrank the ones that came with the stools) while we watched the games. I didn't really like the results of the first game, though I wasn't surprised, but I was quite happy with the second! I hate Pittsburgh and I hope my old roomate who is a fan is out there somewhere crying this morning. At any rate, I wasn't really near the computer for blogging. I hope all of you were out enjoying the weekend, as well. Especially now that another Monday has arrived. I don't have to leave for school until later on, thankfully, because they're going an hour late. I can use the extra time to rest up.
Til tomorrow...
Cheers,
-Chewie-
TGIF
Neopolitan Mastiff has 24 Puppies
Tia, a two year old neopolitan mastiff from the UK was only expected to give birth to ten babies after an ultrasound. However, Tia eventually got so big that she couldn't even move. Her owners, Damian Ward and his girlfriend, Anne Kellegher, took Tia to the vet. Another ultrasound showed she had 24 puppies inside and an immediate caesarian was performed. Four of the puppies were too weak to survive, but the remaining 20 are in great condition. Tia has set the world record for biggest litter and largest number of surviving pups. Seventeen of the remaining puppies are for sale at a rate of around $1,800 each.
Wyoming to Vote on Naming the Jackalope the State's Mythical Animal
In a 45-12 vote, the Wyoming House of Representatives voted to make the Jackalope the official mythical creature of their state. The vote now heads to the Senate. "I seriously think this will lend some protection to the jackalope similar to what happened when Texas tried to take our bucking horse," said Rep. Dave Edwards, who sponsered the legislation. Just last year Wyoming sued a Texas nonprofit organization that had used the image of the bucking horse, which was similar to Wyoming's trademarked logo. Wyoming residents are happy with the vote, as the whole state supports the jackalope.
Seen Elsewhere...
*Canadian Prof to Study Why Women Showed Breasts to Hockey Fans during the past season's playoffs. Won't she be surprised when she finds out they were just looking for some beads.
*Red Sox Fan Goes into Coma Right Before 2004 Playoffs...just woke up to find the Red Sox won the world series.
Chew's Life
Well, I've survived the first two weeks of classes. I think I'm going to actually learn a lot this semester, and to make that even better...I think it will almost all be useful. Even the class that I despise, due to its focus and professor, will almost certainly provide me with some useful information. I'm quite pleased with the way the semester looks...its going to be a ton of work, but I think I'll get a ton out of it and that's always a good thing. Let's hope I keep this optimism into the rest of the semester :o) So far, so good. Now if I can just survive the day at work, grocery shopping (which will be a madhouse due to the projected snow/ice), and the crazy drivers that will be out. I hope everyone of you has plans for an excellent weekend!
Cheers!
-Chewie-
Good Thursday Mornin' to Ya
Darth Tater
Welcome to the Dark Side...now even Mr. Potato Head has joined the Sith. Darth Tater arrives in stores in February of 2005...just in time to be a Valentine's Day Present.
Some Man Selling His Left Nut on eBay
Because he needs to buy a tractor to farm his Texas land and figures that his wild & wooly days are over, so he doesn't really need that left nut anymore. He's keeping the right one just in case... I can't believe someone actually bid almost $150 on the nut.
Man Lost Class Ring Down Toilet 25 Years Ago...Gets it Back Now
A wastewater worker saw the ring floating down the sewage line, and fished it out before it went to the main dump station. He cleaned it off and then went online to find the location of the man whose name was inscribed inside. He found the guy and called him to tell him that he'd found the ring, and in pretty good condition. The ring had managed to avoid being corroded by the chemicals down in the wasteline for 25 years, which is pretty impressive. The guy who owned the ring hadn't thought about it much the past 25 years, but thinks its pretty cool (and weird) to be getting it back now.
Chew's Life
I got to go to my practicum for the first time yesterday morning. My partner and I got to work with the kids in small groups on the very first day! Our first class is the lower reading group kids (think high schoolers reading on an elementary level)...almost all are ESL students. The second class is general biology, and we'll be spending a little time with that class. I'm really excited about working with these guys & gals. Our teacher, whom I had as a student, seems like he'll be awesome to work with this semester. My teachers that are still there all recognized me, which was fun and odd. Its hard to believe I'm in the school on the other side of the equation. Its neat to be there, though. I've gotta run now, as I have my least favorite class this morning. Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!
Stay warm!
-Chewie-
Cold Temps, Poor Maps, & Robberies, Oh My!
Embarrass, MN Reaches 54 Below Zero
And I thought it was cold here...the people in Embarrass have been preparing for the cold since it hit 28 below zero, which is nothing to them. They keep on living, but, according to the clerk, it does "get cold after a while." The -54 mark isn't the coldest Minnesota record, though. In 1996 the temperature in Tower fell to 60 below zero. Tower is ten miles north of Embarrass. Cold temperatures plagued the US all the way down to Alabama and Mississippi, who had a hard frost warning issued. Suddenly, 10 deg F doesn't seem so cold... Ok, yes it does. Those people living in Embarrass are just insane.
What is the Best Way to Get From Haugesund, Rogaland, Norway to Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway?
According to MSN maps, the best route is a 47 hour trip that takes you through seven countries just to return to the one that you started in. Look at the map overview to see the crazy route.
Man Robs McDonalds with a Samuri Sword
I'm not sure McDonald's food is really worth stealing, but apparently one man was hungry at 5:30am and felt the best way to get his food was to hold a sword to the throat of a McDonald's employee. Four employees were present when the guy climbed through the drive-through window and pressed his sword to the throat of a 17 year-old manager, while the other three employees were ordered to lay on the ground. The robber led the manager to the back and let in another robber who helped him duct tape up the employees. The manager turned over an undisclosed amount of cash before being bound by duct tape. When the employees finally managed to free themselves, they called the police. All four were sent home to get some rest and to recover from the traumatic incident. The two men remain at large.
Chew's Life
Another week begins...at least, the working/class part of it. Thankfully I had a four day weekend to recover from the shock and anger at last week's Thursday class. I got all of this week's homework done, plus some for the following week. Today I have a class that I think I'm going to enjoy and then I work this afternoon. Don has promised to drive me to school, so I don't have to walk a long distance in the ten degree and negative windchill weather. I'd rather not die of pneumonia, so I very much appreciate his kindness. The weekend was good. I did some homework, cleaned the apartment, hung out with kitties and my husband, and just relaxed. Considering that the prior weekend was quite hectic with all we had to do, I appreciated the quietness of this weekend. Now if my thumb can just recover from the wear and tear I put on it on Sunday while playing Fusion Frenzy with Don. At least its not my writing hand or I'd be doomed.
I hope all of you have an excellent week!
Cheers!
-Chewie-
Pics, Yahoo the baby, Dogs, & Dragons...Oh My!
Panoramas from the Huygens Probe
Some people decided to put the photographs into panoramas...very cool.
Couple Names Baby "Yahoo"
A Transylvanian couple met online. After three months of dating online, they decided to get married. Just this past Christmas brought them a baby boy, whom they named Lucian Yahoo, after his grandfather and the website that brought them together. And I thought Timberland was bad...
Congrats to Knotty
Who won Best in Show last night in the AKC Eukanuba National Championship. Knotty is a bloodhound and beat out Coleman the Toy Poodle, Baloo the Tibetan Terrier, Jacqui the Giant Schnauzer, Rufus the Bull Terrier (and my favorite), Stump the sussex spaniel, and Dessie the Old English Sheepdog. Congrats to all group winners!
20 March 2005: Animal Planet Brings Dragons to Life
Looks to be a cool special about dragons and the mythology and stories surrounding them. The only beast to figure in the myths of every world culture on earth, dragons fly through the minds of everyone at some point or another. Check out the website for more details and video clips.
Sunday Mornin' Odd News
Quote via Don, Photo via ESPN, Win via the Falcons
Woman Caught Masquerading as a Ghost
An Austrian woman has been jailed for four months after haunting the property of her husband's boss. No one is sure what caused the woman to go around slamming doors and making spooky noises, but it worked to freak out the house owner. He finally called police, who saw the culprit via a video tape, as she went around "haunting" the house. That's one way to get back at your husband's boss...
WD40 Stops Cocaine Users
One ingenious bar owner has started spraying toilet seats with WD40 to stop people from snorting cocaine off the seats. The solvent often causes nosebleeds in those who snort it. "Before people started coming in here, I thought I'm going to stop it before it gets a grip," said Mr. Brown. He had removed toilet lids to stop use, but found out people will still using the seats to snort their cocaine. Those who were thought to snort cocaine no longer come into the Swindon bar. Thank goodness someone is trying to stop the users.
Seen Elsewhere...
*Overclock your calculator! I'm not sure why you'd want to, but here are instructions if you do...
*"Better hair from your pet than a sheep you've never met." So collect up that fur and take it to the woman at VIP fibers, who will make blankets, scarves and more from the fur of your pet.
*A Chinese company is offering pirated versions of eight books written by intellectual property experts. Talk about a slap in the face.
*Catch the 2nd half of the Eukanuba AKC National Championship dogshow tonight on Animal Planet at 8pm (EST). Vote for your favorite dog!
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
ISBN: 0060012366
Chew's Rating:
Synopsis:
Tiffany is the fourth child out of five in a farming family on chalk land. She has three older sisters and a younger brother, who is his mother's favorite. When another world collides with the disc at the edge of the river where Tiffany resides, bad things start happening. All dreams come true, and all stories are real. Miss Tick, a witch from the mountains, realizes the danger brought by the collision. She travels to chalk country, which she believes is unable to spawn a witch. Her own powers are almost nonexistent on the chalk. She and Tiffany meet up, trade banter, and then Miss Tick leaves to find help in preventing the collision from opening a door between the worlds. Miss Tick does leave her talking toad as a guide for Tiffany. Tiffany manages to gain the support of the small six-inch warriors named the Nac Man Feegle (or The Wee Free Men). Suddendly, Tiffany's younger brother disappears, and it soon becomes apparent that he has been taken to the other world. It is up to Tiffany and the nac man feegle to bring her brother back and to save the disc from the ravages of the parasitic world colliding with it.Chew's Review:
This is another of Terry Pratchett's young adult novels. What I love about his YA novels is the fact that he doesn't talk down to the reader. Most YA novelists have a tendency to treat their readers as if they believe their twelve. Pratchett has more faith in the younger generation, which shines through in his novels. They deal with more than just social scenes and gossip and such. Tiffany is quite likeable, even with her flaws. She is strong and does not need the help of adults to help her save the planet. This book is ideal for young female readers who are often stuck reading about damsels in distress who must be saved by some male. The nac man feegle are too funny, as usual; and the reader gets to know them more in depth than in the adult novels. While the book is set in Discworld, there is hardly any overlap of characters and no overlap of places. If you're tired of his Ankh-Morpork novels, but love Pratchett's humor, try out his YA novels. I thought the book was funny, thoughtful, and very well written. I highly recommend it for old and young readers. Five stars because this book is perfect for its YA audience and appealing to those of us who aren't so young anymore.
Yes I'm Alive...
I Had Yesterday Off
For Lee-Jackson Day, but I was extremely busy, nonetheless. Why? You might ask. Because my last class believes itself to be my only class. We had ten chapters and two writing assignments to complete before the next period. I've read the chapters and, for the most part, completed the writing assignments. The class is for us to learn how to help our kids read...because that's the job of chemistry teachers. English teachers apparently cannot teach anyone to read (probably because they're too focused on determining whether or not the guy in The Metamophosis really turned into a bug or not...), so that job falls on the rest of us. I'm pretty pissed off about this. I'd like to know when english teachers are going to start teaching chemistry? Shouldn't they also be doing my job if I'm forced to do theirs? Idiots. No wonder I hated english from fifth grade on...its completely useless. I have only truly liked about 1 english teacher and only had respect for 3 from fifth grade to 12th. I took AP english to get out of taking it in college, I hated english so much (thank goodness for that five). Argh. And the syllabus for this reading class....took an entire hour and 15 minutes to go over...without a break. Not only that, we didn't understand half of what she wants from us. She said that's typical. Then, after the syllabus, we got into the "learning" part of the class. These reading professors think their class is not only the most important, but the only one we're taking...so of course, I have time to dedicate my entire life to their class. Ten chapters for next week, a half of another book the week after that, and completing the second book the week after that. I have six textbooks...SIX TEXTbooks for this class. Needless to say, I spent the entire day on Thursday being pissed off about the reading class. I got out of class, came home to read some for my assessment class, then went to work. Work was totally unbusy...even with two people having the second half of the day off...so I got two of three chapters for my assessment class complete. That is a grad level class, so I expect a big workload from it...but even that was less than the damn reading class. Argh. Oh, and I didn't mention that the main reading textbook is for english teachers. Cute, huh? Argh.
Besides absolutely loathing that class, the rest seem useful and three of four of my professors seem to be personable and friendly. The fourth at least seems organized, which will be useful for his class. The reading professor I'm not going to mention. Its hard to determine what she's like for the faults of the rest of the class. I am fortunate to have at least four useful classes, though. Some I'm not going to begrudge this semester too much. Be aware, though, there will probably be much ranting and raving and gnashing of teeth caused by the reading class. And I even like to read, and I do find it important, and it will be a focus in my chem class...I determined that before even entering a reading class, but these people are just rabid when it comes to reading.
Saturday Morning Me
white sweater/jeans/cat socks//
Gracie purring between my arms//
onto my 2nd diet dr pepper/caffeine free//
freezing because of the cold front//
getting ready to write a review of The Wee Free Men//
so how 'bout you?
Thursday Fun
One Guy's Essay on Oedipus
A wrong enough story as it was...
I actually know the guy who wrote this, and I'm told that he was high when he wrote it and he actually turned this thing in. Knowing him I believe it. What you see is an actual graded paper. Apperrently the reason it passed was that attendance counted (in a college course ). In any case, the name has been removes to protect the guilty and this is almost certainly [not safe for work]....this just makes it that much more wrong.
WHEN WILL YOU PEOPLE LEARN? BUG FOGGERS ARE EXPLOSIVE!
As a New Jersey woman just discovered (had she read Chew's News from the past, she would have known the dangers of bug foggers). She was fogging out roaches using a bug fogger and had left the building...which was in her favor, as the cans (she used 3) exploded right as she walked out the door. The front door slammed shut on her and the huge window in front of the house was blown out. All sorts of items inside the house were destroyed, such as her sofa and other furniture. One thing survived the explosion quite well, however...the roaches. They were clinging to the ceiling, walls, and many other places. Moral of this story: hire an exterminator.
Being Arrested for Having Sex in a Public Restroom...With Marijuana and Cocaine...Does Not Violate Your Privacy
At least, according to the judge presiding over the case of Lonnie Maurice Hill. Hill and a female entered the unisex restroom in a convience store; prompting store employees to call the police to report suspicious activities were possible in the restroom. Police knocked on the door for several minutes, with no response. When an officer unlocked the door, Hill relocked it. When the officer unlocked the door the second time, Hill came out with his pants undone. He was arrested and marijuana and cocaine were found near the toilet. Hill's creep of a lawyer said that the case made it confusing as to whether a parent/child, handicapped person/facilitator, and husband/wife pairs were allowed to enter the bathroom together. He said the fact that the sign had the symbol for a man and a woman on the door, made it ambiguous and confusing. Or maybe his client is just an idiot.
Seen Elsewhere...
â? Bad Dogs are Smart Dogs. At least, according to this woman. The smarter the dog, the less one can push them around...
â? Mammals Feasted on Baby Dinosaurs.
â? Male Flies Give Females Fake Love Tokens to Get Sex. Studies prove male flies and male humans not all that different, after all.
Chew's Schoolin' Life
Four of five classes down. My fifth class meets today. This is sure to be my only useless class this semester, which is good to only have one (I'd rather have none). So far, things are looking good. My first evening class from Wednesday seems like it will be extremely beneficial, interesting, and fun. The second class, not so much. Though the subject is boring, so I am not sure how exciting the prof could make the class, even if he was the most exciting person ever. Seems like it will be an extremely useful class, though, so I have many reasons to like the class. After today's 3 hour class, I'll head to work for the afternoon, and then I get a four day weekend! Virginia celebrate's Lee-Jackson day on Friday, and MLK day on Monday. I only have work on Friday's, and my offices are closed for Lee-Jackson Day. On Monday, both work and the university are closed...so just relaxation time for me. Woo-Hoo! And I ran out this morning after getting ready to determine how long it would take me to get to my practicum...5-7 minutes, compared to 25-30 minutes...very nice!
Cheers!
-Chewie-
Wednesday....Woo
When Not to Use Counterfeit Money: When Paying Your Bail
Darrell Jenkins was arrested on Monday for destruction of property less than $250, assault, and resisting arrest. His bail was set for $500; which he tried to pay with counterfeit $20's. Officer Steven Wood caught the bogus bills, and Jenkins was arraigned for possession of counterfeit money, in addition to his other crimes. His bail has been raised to $5,000. The world would be so much less interesting without dumb criminals...
Sculpture Mistaken for Trash: Thrown Away by Garbage Collectors
Frankfurt garbage collectors were going about their usual business of keeping Frankfurt clean when they came across the sculpture made by Michael Beutler. The trashmen thought that the sculpture was garbage from a construction site; which is understandble, as it was made of yellow plastic sheeting used to encase cement. The sculpture was one of several that were commissioned by the municipal art society to be exhibited around the town. Peter Postleb, head of the Clean Frankfurt initiative, said that his men had avoided sculptures made of everyday objects in the past. These sculptures included a bathtub chained to a tree. The Städel Museum will start offering monthly "Check Your Art Sense!" classes, where the trashmen can learn more about appreciating art. Sounds like trash to me.
Its Time to Get a Mac
For just $499 you can finally own your own mac....forget all those windoze problems and buy yourself the smallest iMac yet. Just 6.5 inches wide and 2 inches tall; the newest iMac can be used with your current monitor, keyboard, etc. And its a mac. I'm slowly convincing my father to move back to the light side and ditch his windoze machine for a working OS. I love MacWorld.
Looking for a Gift for Chew?
How about the $99 iPod shuffle? No display and only 240 songs, but I could certainly get some major enjoyment out of one of these guys...and they're a lot cheaper than the $299 20gig iPods. And its smaller than a pack of gum. Very cool.
Face Analyzer
YOUR ARCHETYPE: Theta Academic
PROFILE: You are a long-term planner, diligent worker and avoid risk as much as possible. You are of above average intelligence and have the ability to focus on tasks that seem unimportant at present, but can lead to greater things in the foreseeable future. You are not keen to interact with others or make social connections. You would rather gain material wealth before putting yourself in a position to be judged. You are not confrontational unless someone directly opposes your intellectual beliefs. You are highly concerned with your social status. You are keen to avoid risks that could jeopardize your long-term plans. You take a calculated approach to life, working hard to control all aspects of it in order to not leave anything important to chance.
You tend to be a perfectionist and quite self-conscious. You sometimes wish you were less reserved and more like some others you see who are more bold and outspoken in social situations. But as much as you try to be like them, you cannot, because you care too much about the future to ever be comfortable taking risks in social situations.
Via The Presurfer
Seen Elsewhere...
â?¢Astronomers Find Three Supergiant Stars; which may be the largest on record.
Two Classes Down...Three to Go
I've finally attended two of my classes. One is about lesson plans and such, and ought to be really extremely useful. The prof seems really nice & cool and I just think the class is going to be great. This morning I found out that my practicum is going to be at my old high school with a teacher I had. Eek! Weird and cool at the same time. As of now, I'm really looking forward to this semester. I don't feel as overwhelmed at the beginning as I did last semester. I think our practicum supervisor this semester is much more together than the one last semester; this will be very helpful in getting things accomplished. So far, so good...I'm extremely excited!
Gotta run
Cheers!
-Chewie-
First Day of Classes (for me)
Spring Semester 2005 Begins
It officially began yesterday, but I only have my practicum on Mondays, and that has yet to start. So, I just went to work for the entire day; I figured a little extra dough wouldn't hurt...especially with Friday and Monday being holidays. Next Monday is a holiday from work and school, and I have no Friday classes...therefore, a four-day weekend. I'll probably need that more in the middle of the semester than at the beginning, but I'll take what I can get. So, I start out with a class this morning, followed by work...and then home for any homework and relaxation. I'll let you know how it goes.
Welcome to Harkonnen
We got Vito a Friend, whom we named Harkonnen. Vito is the orange lionhead goldfish we got from Wal-mart a few years back. Vito is a mix of about a thousdand kinds of goldfish...he/she (we're not sure) is getting the puffy eyes of those goldfish with eyesacks, and he/she is the shape of a lionhead. Harkonnen (named after the family back when they were good...Don named him) is a black moore/fantail mix. He's actually a very handsome fish (we know he's a he). Our worry is that Vito is a she and they'll mate...lord only knows what the offspring would look like. Anyway. Harkonnen seems to be settling in just fine, and he and Vito are enjoying each other's company.
I've gotta run...cheers!
-Chewie-
Monday Madness
Study Reveals What Chewie Already Knows...
Men who love cats are more likely to win chicks. Why? Because men who are sensitive and kind to cats, especially those of the woman, are almost always good men. Single men and single women actually lavish their kitties with equal amounts of love, devotion, and money (though single men are more likely to go in debt for their cat than women). The author of the article used to judge potential boyfriends by how they treated her shy cat...who reminds me a lot of Muffy. I used to judge the guys I dated by how they treated Moo & how she treated them. Muffy wasn't the type to be won over by food (though she was known to steal it from time to time...such as the time she stole Don's bagel). So, it seems the best way for a guy to get a chick is to own a cat and to love her cat, too. And just remember, when you see single women fawning over their cats...single guys are just as bad.
Thanks to Shawn Allison for the link.
Airline Travelers: Have You Lost Your Luggage?
Then you just might want to head to Alabama. The Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama, has a contract with most major airlines, which entitles the center to buy unclaimed luggage from the airline if it cannot be matched with an owner. When a passanger loses their luggage, that luggage is kept by the airline for 90-120 days before it is sent off to the Unclaimed Baggage Center. Each piece of baggage is searched for a way to identify the owner, but sometimes the airline just can't determine who the owner is. Those passengers who never receive their baggage can receive up to $2,500 compensation from the airline. So, those who are searching for lost luggage and those who love to shop...you might wanna head on down to the football field-sized Unclaimed Baggage Center; it usually gets 7,000 new items per day.
Tokyo Employment Firm Plans Underground Farm
A Tokyo Employment Firm plans to start up an underground farm to create jobs. The farm is to be set up in an old bank vault, where the "farmers" can control lighting and water and other factors that impact growing conditions. The farm will grow vegetables hydroponically, and the firm hopes that it is sucessful. If it does manage to be a success, more of these underground farms will be set up around the city to help create jobs for the unemployed.
Seen Elsewhere...
â?¢Crazy Ants Spark Quarantine North of Brisbane. Yes, they are called crazy ants, and they spit acid.
Monday
Another Monday. Today is officially the start of the semester, but I have no classes to attend. This is due to the fact that I only have my practicum on Monday's and it doesn't begin until Wednesday (its a MW practicum). I already have a bad feeling about my practicum supervisor from whom I've gotten two emails. Seems like he/she is going to be obnoxious. Woo. Anyway. We saw The Incredibles yesterday...the first pixar/disney movie I really enjoyed. I enjoyed it so much I want a copy on DVD when it comes out and highly recommend it to anyone. It was excellent. We had a good Sunday. Heather, Don's friend, ate some breakfast and we chatted until she left about 10:30am. We then just hung out. Discussed a possible future move (long in the future), I worked out while Don showered, we ran out for a bit, then watched some of the Colts/Broncos game before heading out to the theater. We came home & watched COPS, as we do every Sunday night, before heading to bed.
I hope everyone has an excellent Monday! Good luck to Shawn Allison who starts her first full week of classes today!
Cheers!
-Chewie-
Sunday Stuff
NoveList: A Website About Books & Reading
NoveList is a fiction database that provides subject heading access, reviews, annotations, and much more for over 120,000 fiction titles. It also includes other content of interest to fiction readers, such as Author Read-alikes, Book Discussion Guides, BookTalks, and Feature Articles. For school media specialists and teachers there are Standards-Based Thematic Units and Picture Book Extenders, as well as specific teaching guides for using fiction in the classroom.The site also offers a page full of goodies for teachers, such as thematic units, new books for all age groups, and articles about teaching children about books.
Exotic Car Crashes
If you're an avid lover of cars, you might want to avoid this page, as it features cars who have definitely seen much better days. but the pictures are rather interesting... Of course, you wonder how the driver and passangers came out of these wrecks...I'm thinking mostly in pieces.
Dog Snatched By Eagle Finds its Way Home
Freddie, the dog, has a story fit for a movie. The little dog was outside on December 29th, when he disappeared. When he didn't return, the owner searched for ways to tell her children that he probably wasn't coming back. Fortunately for them, he returned home a week after disppearing. He weighed three pounds lighter, had an eye injury, and was covered in pests. He was immediately taken to the vet, who believes that he was captured by an eagle; considering the injuries around his neck. It is a miracle that the little 13-year old pekingese managed to find its way home. But the image of an eagle hauling off a little dog is kindof amusing...
Chew's Life
Yesterday I took the Praxis II, which is harder than one might think (considering I haven't taken general chem in 7 years). But at least its over now...let's hope I passed it so its totally over. After taking the Praxis, Don & I ran a few errands to prepare for the visit of one of his friends. At 4pm, I went to a wedding of a good friend of mine, who is a missionary. She married someone from the country where she serves as an English teacher. The wedding was quite nice. I went to the reception and sat at a table with my best friend, and two other couples from my old church. My best friend was husband-less, as was I; so I was her "date." :o) We had a blast. We were at table 18, the last to eat and the last to toast the bride & groom. They walked around and received toasts from each table. We had slips of paper giving us ideas, but I wished "They had a thousand cats." The groom said "We'd have a thousand cats, but no mice." :o) Then my friend informed him that I was the one who loved cats, and he said that he knew (we've actually never met before the wedding). Geez, is it that obvious that I'm a cat person? Its not like I wear a button or anything. :o) Anyway. I left the reception not long after we got cake. My mom made the cake, so I was definitely staying to have some. Mom sent me out and send two pieces of cake with me: one for Don & one for his friend. I got in about 8pm last night and hung out with Don & his friend til about 10:30pm. I then went to bed, because I was tired and it'd been a long day. I'm not sure what time they went to bed. Gracie did lay on Heather's lap (his friend) last night....I was betting she would and hoping Heather wouldn't mind. G tends to sit on people's laps if they're here for about two hours. This is bad for people who are allergic to cats. Even Emmie seemed to like Heather. She kept playing with her coat and hanging out under her chair. That's very unusual for Em, who tends to be the shyer of the two. This morning I'm going to make a big breakfast, so we can send Heather properly filled on her way. She's heading back to Connecticut, so she's got a long drive ahead of her.
I'm off...hope all have a wonderful Sunday!
Cheers!
-Chewie-
Saturday Mornin' Odd News
Random Linkage
*Fan of Beer? Doing the Low-Carb Fad? Then this site is for you: A Comparrison of low-carb beers.
*Hollywood Glam Couple Splitting Up. Jennifer Aniston & Brad Pitt are reportedly separating after four years of marriage.
*Miss Beazley Moves In. The First Lady's new puppy has officially moved into the White House. She and Barney have mostly ignored one another, as well as commands from their owners.
*Rosemary Kennedy has died at the age of 86.
"Wal-Mart's cutting expenses...this here sack is the new uniform..."
65 year-old Dean Wooten received a photoshopped picture of his head placed on a naked body that was only wearing a convienently placed Wal-mart bag. Wooten thought the photograph was hilarious, and decided to take it with him to his wal-mart job, where he'd worked seven years as a greeter. He showed people the photograph, telling them that it was the new uniform, as Wal-mart was cutting expenses. Several customers were offended, and complained. Wooten was told to stop showing the photograph. A few days later, when more customers complained, Wooten admitted he had brought the photograph back. He was fired immediately. Wooten thought that the customers would be amused; and did not see what he'd done wrong. Said Wooten: "I didn't have nothing against Wal-Mart. A friend of mine got the photo of the body off the Internet, and he had a picture of me and he put my head on it. When I first seen it, I pretty near died laughing."
Brownsville, Texas Snow Auctioned on eBay
Brownsville got their first measurable snow since 1895 this past Christmas Eve. One man collected a 3-lb snowball that he is auctioning off on eBay, with all the other random crap items that can be found there. The bid ends today. It started out at $20.50 with a $20 shipping & handling charge. If you want some of that snow, you'd better head over quickly to claim your prize.
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
ISBN: 0060013133
Chew's Rating:
Synopsis:
Moist von Lipwig, career con-man and criminal, has been hanged for his crimes. Just when it looks like his days of conning other people are over, an angel appears. Of course, its in the form of Lord Vetinari...not quite the angel most would hope for. Vetinari offers Moist a job...with pay. The job: bringing the out-dated post office back to life. Moist arrives at the post office and meets his two employees: a boy obsessed with pins and an elderly postman who fills his socks with sulfur. The post office has been closed down for years and years, and letters have amassed everywhere. As Moist takes on the post office, he has another concern: the clacks. The clacks can transmit a message to Genua in a few hours, whereas it takes a man riding on a horse two months to arrive at Genua. The clacks has its own problems, though, and an all-out competition arises between them and the Post Office.Chew's Review:
Excellent new addition to the Discworld series. You get to meet an entire new cast of characters; of course, Lord Vetinari is present, but that's always a good thing. The Postmaster, Moist von Lipwig, is a neat character. He was quite the accomplished conman in his criminal days; and he's still got that skill, which is necessary if he is to restore the post office to its former grandure. The book does start off well, then gets a little drawn out during the time period when Moist first enters the post office, meets the two employees, and discovers all of the problems formerly encountered by the post office. However, it picks back up quickly, once Moist is initiated into the secret order of postmen. Of course, there is the side story of the clacks. The company has been taken over by men more interested in money than in maintaining efficiency and worker morale. While it may seem that the post office, which must transmit messages via horseback, cannot compete with the mighty clacks; the clacks towers are broken down so often that the post might actually be faster. As Moist restores the post office, he also has to compete with Reacher; the head of the clacks company, in a battle of wits to gain the support of their customer base. Pratchett wastes no time in ensuring that the reader loathes Reacher and company. Moist still has his demons, which makes him more likeable and more real. Its a neat book and I definitely highly recommend it to Pratchett fans. Even those who felt the series got a bit repetitive in the middle. This one is a gem.
Friday Fun...Its Good to have a Day Off...
Friday
I've been spending my day off cleaning, reviewing for tomorrow's exam, running errands, and being crafty. This morning, I vacuumed, which had the following result (click on the pic for a larger image):
Later on, I was buying a frame and was trying to come up with a way to store letters when I passed by one of those deals with fabric and ribbon. That led to this:
I thought this was pretty nifty and I like the kitays. Its been a good day...probably going to go study a bit more after blogging and then call it a day. Yes, I might not have been at work, but I was working. I don't mind this kind of work, though. :o) So its been a good day. Oh and I finished my book this morning while waiting for Don to free up the bathroom...I loved it. A review is coming. Maybe later tonight or tomorrow.
Kitty Friday
I heard somewhere that friday is a day for blogging about kitays. Here are pics of my two lovies:
Emmie with her new Christmas toy
&
Gracie helping us watch COPS.
Wacky Warning Labels
Do we really need a toilet brush cleaner to tell us its not for personal hygiene? Is it necessary to tell someone that a thermometer used rectally ought not be used orally? In today's lawsuit happy world, it is, unfortuantely, becoming more and more necessary to warn people about "inappropriate" uses of a product. The Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch has chosen the wackiest warning labels, including the above two, as well as several more. Other wacky labels: A 3-inch packing bag filled with air sports the warning "Do not use this product as a toy, pillow, or flotation device," and a blender that warns users not to remove the blades while the device is in operation.
Century Old Tortoise Takes Care of Baby Hippo
A baby hippo lost its mother in the tsunami that ravaged Indonesia. The forlorn baby was in great danger of losing its life because it had lost the mother with whom he bonded. Fortunately, the little one ended up near a tortoise, to which it bonded. Now the hippo follows the tortoise around, as it would a mother; swimming with the tortoise, and walking around with the tortoise on land. Its nice to see that even animals have bonded together to survive this terrible disaster.
January 1st, 2005...As Seen from the Sky
Members of an aerial photography society, which spans the world, decided to take a photograph using their equipment on January 1st of this year. Those who were not able to fly, due to inclement weather or other causes, took photographs from the ground (red dot with a green dot in the center), while others took their photographs from the sky (red dots). Click on the dots on the map (follow the link) to see photographs from around the world.
Via The Presurfer
Seen Elsewhere...
Gecko Feet are self-cleaning...scientists learn how geckos keep their sticky feet clean.
I'm off to do some more laundry & reviewing before my husband returns home...
cheers!
-Chewie-
A Quick Hello
Just Wanted to Post a Quick Hello
Last night kept me busy, with cleaning out the back closet & then rearranging and putting back together the clothes closet. Each morning, I've gotten up, worked out, showered & such, and then got to cleaning the cabinets & closets. I then went to work, came home to more cleaning & studying. So I've not had a great amount of time to surf the 'net. Don & I finally quit the clothes closet just after 10pm last night, and I'll be finishing it this evening (I studied this morning). Tomorrow: I clean. I have the day off, so I'll be shopping for groceries to refill our empty fridge, then I'll be cleaning up the apartment, followed by a small bit of studying, and then (hopefully) relaxation. The apartment should be spotless by tomorrow afternoon, which is extra nice, because we have company this weekend.
I'll try to post some odd news later, but no promises.
Cheers!
-Chewie-
(yes, I am posting from work...we are so not even close to busy...lots of extra reading time for Going Postal :o) )
An Old Fashioned Howdy
Chew's Life
I won't be around much on Wednesday (today) & Thursday (tomorrow), because I am studying for the Praxis II and doing some spring cleaning. Yes, I know its not spring, but once spring semester starts, I won't have time for any spring cleaning. I have almost finished cleaning out the cabinets in the kitchen. I would have finished yesterday, but we ran out to buy a little kitchen cubby for my cookbooks & a few other extras. I plan to finish the kitchen this evening, and then get to the back closet. Tomorrow, if I feel up to it, I'll clean out our clothes closet, which is in need of some serious help. Any recommendations as to good organizers? I think I have an idea...I'll have to see if I can get it to work.
Since I don't have time to write you up any odd news, here are a few amusing links:
*A Tennennesse Town Loses its 3 Salt Trucks in once accident. Ice was thought to be involved...
*8-Year-Old Writes Kohler and asks if they can make a clear toilet, so he can watch it work. He didn't get a clear toilet, but he did get a state of the art toilet from Kohler, which a local plumber helped him install. Very neat story...if you only read one of these, read this one.
*Muslim Cleric Could Not Attend Court because of Long Toenails. Or so he claims. He says that his toenails were so long, that he couldn't walk; therefore, he was unable to attend his court hearing.
I hope everyone has a very happy Wednesday!
Cheers!
-Chewie-
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
ISBN: 0061020710
Chew's Rating:1/2
Synopsis:
Rincewind, the failed wizard who only knows one spell, finds himself appointed to the position of attending to the safety of Twoflower, the tourist. Twoflower has come on a vacation to see the city of Ankh-Morpork....not only does he want to see a real bar brawl, but he'd like to catch a glimpse of a dragon, and maybe even take a trip into outer space. Rincewind's main hobby in life is running away from danger. He makes most cowards appear to be heros. He also has an uncanny ability for surviving. Accompanying Rincewind and Twoflower is Twoflower's luggage...made of sapient pearwood. It follows its master wherever he goes, and has a tendency to eat anyone who endangers his master. See Discworld as it can only been seen with the help of an inept wizard and an overeager tourist.
Chew's Review:
I had never been able to get past the first few pages of this book when I first bought it. So I put it back on the shelf. I don't know what made me pick up another Pratchett book (Soul Music), but thankfully I did. With Soul Music, I was hooked. I read almost every Discworld novel (besides Going Postal, the new one) before returing to The Color of Magic. Its not a bad read, and my dislike of Rincewind probably doesn't help my rating. I do, however, love the luggage. The storyline jumps a bit, especially in the middle. There are really two parts of the book: the first part in an around Ankh-Morpork, and the part around the circumfence (yes, that is spelled right) & Krull. The first part was the better of the two sections, as the storyline seemed more coherent and less rushed. Death had a few minor appearances, but he isn't as likeable as he is in later novels. After finally completing this novel, I would definitely say DO NOT START with this one if you want to get into Discworld. My favorites, Maskerade, if you know the storyline behind Phantom of the Opera, or Reaper Man, which is probably my top favorite and centers around Death. Decent book, but not great, three and a half books.
The Iron Chef Game, Film Mistakes, and other Fun
Iron Chef: The Flash Game
Are you a big fan of Iron Chef? Glad to see Iron Chef America in production? Well, now you can battle an Iron Chef in this little flash game brought to you by Food Network. Can you beat out Iron Chef Cassi Role?
15 Biggest Film Mistakes of 2004
Movie Mistakes.com has used visitor scoring and its own ranking system to come up with the 15 biggest movie mistakes of 2004. Topping the list: Spider-Man 2 "During the train scene, Spiderman's mask had gone partially black. We also see it when Spidey puts his mask back on. Yet when Doc brings him to Harry, we don't even see a patch of darkness on his mask." Along with Spidey, Harry Potter & The POA features a room that changes dimensions, while Troy features the sun rising in the west. You'd have to be paying pretty darn close attention to catch some of these mistakes...I bet Hollywood hates people like the moviemistakes crew.
100 Things Learned by the BBC in 2004
"1. Street brawlers sometimes arm themselves with potato peelers." This may get potato peelers banned in some places.
"4. Crows apparently like the taste of windscreen-wiper blades."
"11. The opening lines of the Communist Manifesto - "A spectre is haunting Europe - the spectre of Communism" - were initially translated as "A frightful hobgoblin stalks through Europe"."
"31. Herrings break wind to communicate and keep the school together." So do men.
"38. Yoda was based on Albert Einstein." You think he'd be proud? Probably not after he saw episodes 1-3...
Some interesting things learned...its worth reading through the list to see them all.
Wear Your Seatbelt & Get in a Car Accident to Win a T-shirt
In an effort to get more people to wear their seatbelts, Putnam emergency personnel and the Upper Cumberland Development District have teamed up to give those who are uninjured or only suffer minor injuries during car accidents a t-shirt if they were wearing their seatbelt. July saw a new law that allows police officers to ticket those who are not wearing their seatbelt, however, many people still fail to wear the device while riding in a car. They got the idea from another officer who stopped every 10th driver and gave them $5 if they were wearing a seatbelt. This was to encourage seatbelt use of high schoolers; and it worked, as seatbelt usage skyrocketed. Officials in Cumberland Co. are hoping the t-shirts will have the same effect. Somehow money vs a t-shirt just seems to leave the t-shirt lacking...especialy since you have to get in an accident to win one.
Monday Monday
Its another Monday morning, with a red sky overhead...not looking so good for the weather today. I can see a row of clouds approaching behind the red...argh. Looks like rain. Maybe we'll get lucky, though, and the rain will pass us by. The weekend was a good one. Saturday saw Don & I taking it easy, as we were tired from staying up the night before. He, in fact, stayed up past 3am reading his Dune book that I got him for Christmas. He's already finished it. We missed church yesterday, because I couldn't get Don moving. Typical. My in-laws stopped by in the afternoon to bring me my last Christmas present, which had come in late from Amazon. They got me a wonderful, big cookbook, full of different recipes for baking. If you know me, you know baking is about the only kind of cooking I truly enjoy. I especially can't wait to try out all of the desserts. Yum! Don's parents hung out for a while, and then headed back home a little after 4pm. His dad had worn Emmie out by playing with her with her new toy; it was so cute to see them playing together. Now its back to the work week. Its actually only a 4-day week for me, but that's because I am taking a day of rest before my Praxis II exam on Saturday, followed by a wedding, possibly followed by hosting one of Don's friends for the night, and then the beginning of classes on Monday.
Happy Monday, Everyone!
-Chewie-
Some 2005 Odd News
Gadsby...A Manuscript with No E
With the "E" tied down on the keyboard to prevent filling up the manuscript with "e"s, the story was written. No "e"s were allowed at all, which made this a bit difficult when writing past tense verbs, most of which end in "ed".
"The numerals also cause plenty of trouble, for none between six and thirty are available. When introducing young ladies into the story, this is a real barrier; for what young woman wants to have it known that she is over thirty? And this restriction on numbers, of course taboos all mention of dates."
Via The Presurfer
Phrase & Word Origins
Ever wondered how the phrase "goody two-shoes" came about? Or has it run across your mind to consider how the phrase "flipping the bird" came to be? Then this is the place for you. This website attempts to explain the various origins of different words and phrases. Very interesting to see how some of these came about...
Also via The Presurfer
Silicon Chip Most Influential Invention in the Last 50 Years
As voted by CNN readers in a 3-month poll. The World Wide Web took second place, just ahead of the personal computer. The walkman came in dead last, and barely even managed to register a percent. Considering that second and third place are occupied by inventions that are related to the silicon chip, I think I'd have to agree it is the most influential invention in the past 50 years.
A Listing of What the House of Representatives is Supposedly Buying on Amazon
Amazon has a list of what those in the House of Representatives are buying...if this list is to be believed, they're buying pretty much the same crap as the rest of the country. Check out the other purchase circles, like The Virginia Tech, CNS and what the losers people at JMU are buying. Find your city and see how you compare.
Welcome to 2005
I didn't blog yesterday because I wasn't home much, and when I was, I was just tired. We had a good night on New Year's Eve. We went to our friend's house and had an excellent dinner (I need that recipe for crock pot lasagna), followed by two games of Scene it?. Considering I hardly watch any tv (minus the COPS marathon on FX this weekend), I was a poor teammate. My partner and I did come in third out of four during the first game, but we came in dead last in the second. My husband, of course, managed to be in the top two teams both times. Around 11pm, we just put the Scene it on party play until about 11:45pm. We turned in on Rockin' Eve, while I tried to stay awake. The ball fell and at 12:01pm, I had my jacket on and was ready to head home. I don't handle this staying up late too well. It was good to bring in a new year, though. It'll be interesting to see what this one brings. I hope all of you have an excellent year and had an excellent ending to the last one.
Cheers!
-Chewie-