Unwashed for 10 years, smelly Kenyan gets scrubdown

I think we need a similar scrubbing posse at Tech to take care of our local dorks who don't bathe. Of course, even clean, they can't exactly expect the ladies to throw themselves at any tech boy.

the friday five

What was...

1. ...your first grade teacher's name? Ms. Valenzuela (Mrs V)

2. ...your favorite Saturday morning cartoon? Everything on CBS

3. ...the name of your very first best friend? Sarah

4. ...your favorite breakfast cereal? Cinnamon Toast Crunch (still my favorite)

5. ...your favorite thing to do after school? Go to daycare (I didn't exactly get options)

You may have heard that some British school children found a three headed frog, but have you seen the pictures?? It's cool in a "gross!! ooh, let me see it up close" kind of way.

(As seen on fark.com, drudgereport.com and probably (in a few days) on CNN.com)

Crazy weather. Just a week ago, the snow was melting. Today, I am melting (it's 76 degrees!!)

I am so looking forward to my trip to Wisconsin next week. I'm going to blow a ton of money on souvenirs (yes, that's a UWisc Badger made of cheese).

Tirades like this are funniest when they say exactly what I'm thinking.
(link courtesy of web goddess

"If I dream of Tariana, they speak Tariana. Sometimes I dream of Estonia, and they speak Estonian. In my nightmares, people speak to me and I understand, but I can't answer..."

An interesting interview on dying languages with a woman who studies them.

(courtesy of metafilter)

Happy Sadie Hawkins day!

I was going to just use it as an excuse to take 3XK out to a meal, but it seems that I might actually be able to get new gloves (see paragraphs 3 and 4) if I play my hand right. I would like brown driver's gloves, please.

(link courtesy of web goddess)

IT SNOWED!!!!

I woke up this morning, glanced out the window just in case there was some snow and THERE WAS A LOT!! At least 2-3 inches. Unfortunately, Tech is probably the only campus in town (or in Georgia) that isn't closed or delayed in opening. So, I just hope I don't wipe out on the slush-covered sidewalks.
Happy snow day!!

(stock picture from snow in AU two years ago)

Good legislation

Bad legislation

Net change in my opinion of Georgia: zero.

I love this: Duck Brand duct tape has a scholarship contest called "Stuck@Prom" where couples go to prom dressed in duct tape attire. I love it. I just might have a new craft project (though sadly I am past my prom years.... maybe my sister will let me dress her for prom next year??)

(the link goes to previous winners, they're.... intricate).

I completely forgot that it was Fat Tuesday. That means tomorrow, we all have to give fun stuff up (I do it just to prove I can). I'm giving up cheese (because my doctor is making me do so anyway), and...(thinking about what I can live without).... white bread. I've been trying to cut down on processed foods, so the super-soft stuff has got to go. I retain my right to eat french bread (it's chewy, so it doesn't count).

(I'm sure you really care, but studies have shown that public declarations result in better resolution-keeping)

Web-goddess linked to a great metafilter thread of jokes. My favorites (that weren't too long):

A woman walks into a bar and asks for a double entendre, so the barman gives her one.

Knock Knock.
Who's there?
Woo.
Woo who?
Calm down, it's just a joke.

Okay, two sausages are sitting in a frying pan. The first sausage says, "Is it getting hot in here to you?" The second sausage then replies, "Holy crap, a talking sausage!"

best one Halloween night. A kid comes to the door dressed as a pirate. The man who answers the door says "What are you supposed to be?" The kid says "A pirate". The man says "Yeah? Where are your buccaneers?" The kid says "Under my buccan' hat".

Anyone who knows me (or has ever seen my webpages) knows I have been a Jump, Little Children fan since August of 1999, yes mere weeks after coming to college. After years of growing ever closer, Jump (as they have now poser-ly started to go by) has become distant. New name, new music, but worst of all, no old music. This saddens me. We've grown apart. The magic has somehow died.
This has happened before, but this time I just don't have the energy to go all the way to Athens to be reinvigorated as a J,LC fan. So, I hate to say this, but Jump and I aren't seeing each other right now.
Maybe some day things will change, but after not making my pilgrimage to Charleston this year (after two great years) and missing the acoustic tour, I've decided we can live without each other. I'm sorry Jump.

BTW, if you're not a fan of Jump, Little Children, you still should be. They make great music and I love my albums still, but the concert-going frenzy is over for me.

Have I mentioned I'm a FARK addict now? Not only do I get heads up on news (a la the drudge report), but the posters make sure the headlines are darn funny:

U.S. National Debt goes over $7,000,000,000,000. Americans, you owe your government $23,976.15 (article)

Isolated for 20 years, family talks in grunts. Jodie Foster still tay inna weeun (article)
---this one's probably just funny because we used to mock that exact phrase circa 1996

Police on the lookout for woman who ran off without paying bill after receiving "biggest silicone implants available." If caught, authorities say it could be biggest bust ever (can't find article)

Intimate text message sent to wrong phone, nearly causes divorce

That'll put a damper on your Valentine's romance...

If I can't say anything interesting, I can at least say something useful:

Three things: Cool words from my current book Victoria's Daughters (Packard)

par·ve·nu
Function: noun
: one that has recently or suddenly risen to an unaccustomed position of wealth or power and has not yet gained the prestige, dignity, or manner associated with it
(my new favorite insult)

per·spi·ca·cious
Function: adjective
Of acute mental vision or discernment : KEEN
synonym see SHREWD

en·fi·lade
Function: noun
An interconnected group of rooms arranged usually in a row with each room opening into the next

The Feynman Problem Solving Algorithm:
1) Write down the problem.
2) Think very hard.
3) Write down the solution.

("So long, and thanks for the Ph.D.!" )

Wow, just when I complain, I start having things to talk about:

Amtrak president says Bush funding proposal would shut down railroad- doesn't Amtrak threaten to shut down every year in order to get more money? It's not a practical system anyway, I don't exactly see what we're saving... (seriously, try to book a trip from ATL to DC or New Orleans... it will take days and cost a ton).

Atkins-Blasting 'Physicians' Committee is a Front Group for PETA - okay, okay... so PETA might be crossing the line with their "physicians" group that recommends crazy, unsubstantiated medical advice... but it's no worse than Bush & Co. and it amuses me much, much more. Those crazy PETA folks and their over-the-top tactics!!!

I don't care if it's not cool to have fun with valentine's day-- I'm going to have a v-day picture and a cool link from LYD:
Funny, weird valentines - trust me, they're a riot. My favorite is probably the last one- the dog with a cone around his head. So random, I love it.