Speaking Truth to Gibberish

This pretty much sounds like the definition of "awesome," no? The Sokal Hoax. Damn...the reading list just never stops growing, does it?

Grow Your Own

Perhaps it's my science nut side speaking, but I think these are actually extremely cool, both artistically and experimentally: "Bone rings exchanged by couples."

Quizzie Time: These Boots Are Made for Rhapsodizing

How can a girl resist such a quiz, I ask you? Ha! Indeed she cannot...

You Are Bold Red Boots

You like to put your most outrageous foot forward!

What Kind of Boots Are You?

Most outrageous foot forward? I dunno about that--what says the readership? But, hello, would you look at those boots! Seriously. Does not their marriage of refined lines with the spark of color cause flutterings of the heart, shortness of breath, and assorted other symptoms of infatuation? They have this air of, oh...exuberance and self-possession, of... je ne sais quoi. I confess I do own a pair of red boots--not supremely fabulous heeled ones like those above, but red boots nonetheless.

The Manolo, he would be most pleased. :P


And on the house:

You Are White Wine

Breezy and casual, you know how to have fun when you're drinking. And even though you can kick back with a few drinks, you never let things get out of hand. Alcohol is not a social lubricant for you... it just enhances your already sparkling personality. You prefer to date a man who is optimistic, friendly, and funny.

What Alcoholic Drink Are You?

Quite so. Gerwurtz or Riesling, please. Although, I have learned to not to drink and translate.

"Bankers Do Models"

These are for the bankers out there who appreciate an inside joke, and for those who love them and take the inside jokes with an eye roll or two. My personal favorite is the "Suffer in Style" shirt.



Disclaimer: I make nothing from the plug. Although, *cough* I daresay it wouldn't hurt *cough*... ;)

"It would prevent much and complicated misery in the world..."

I could not help but be greatly amused by the following item (and also be somewhat reminded of this exchange):

"2874. There is no reason why the passion of love should be wrapped up in mystery. It would prevent much and complicated misery in the world, if all young persons understood it."

-from Inquire Within for Anything You Want to Know, or Over Three Thousand Seven Hundred Facts Worth Knowing (New York: Dick and Fitzgerald, 1856), excerpted at greater length here and here.

Oh, well, if you put it like that...!

In all seriousness, the excerpts are a charming read. If only today's society would reinstitute an expectation of gentlemanliness and respectability!

Monday, Monday

It's Monday, it's cold, finals are looming all too near...time for some puppy tongue.

Brrrr

According to the handy dandy Weather Channel temperature thingamajig on my computer, it is currently 9--no, wait, now it's 10--degrees outside in Minneapolis. Visual analysis indicates there is indeed ice on the inside of my windows. Taken together, this evidence can mean only one thing: winter has officially arrived and as soon as we pull out the down jackets and fur mittens (yay!) the region may be referred to as the "Frozen Taiga of the North," and the Little Bro may now call to let me know how warm it is in California. Just thought I'd share :)

The upside? "It's always summer in the fishroom!"^TM

Hot chocolate, anyone?

Tempest...

...in the Mondale Teapot.

I'm sure I've said this before, but...

The next time I think it's a good idea to leave something until the very last minute, please, well, please DO something drastic! (I once requested to be threatened with beets and it worked reasonably well.)

Will I never learn?

Goodbyes

RIP, Milton Freedman.

Out-tooled

Yes, it's true!

Some folks at Claremont McKenna have taken political junkyism to a Whole New Level with the creation of...Fantasy Congress! (Does Pomona wish they'd thought of it first?) The Nomad Little Bro, a proud CMC alum and government (and finance) junkie, mentioned this brilliant new development recently, and a scroll through the Corner just now reminded me of it. Very awesome.

I have a hunch at least a few friends out there could get very excited about Fantasy Congress ;) Maybe more than a few, even.

Now if only they'd add a "Bury that bill!" t-shirt, or perhaps "Step away from the purse strings!"...

----
Hey, Little Bro, have Pitney, Kesler, & Co. formed teams too? Oh, and Bernard Lewis is speaking at the Ath next Tuesday! Pity you're not still there. And yes, I *heart* my Claremont Review of Books, even though it didn't come until, like, October.

All Astonishment!

Go Tigers: it's a bonfire year!

8-1 on the year? Goodness, gents! I am pleasantly shocked indeed. And to everyone who can attend the bonfire, enjoy!

Oy

Oy. Sigh. I am but one little lass with one little vote, which I did wield, albeit to no avail; nor have I anything to say at the moment, for there's been quite a bit of worthwhile chattering by others recently. Do, however, remind me not to leave funding applications until the last minute: I'm not yet fully qualified as a professional mendicant, so writing this bloody stuff is going to take a while yet. Plus, I hate filling out applications in general. What I would like to say is:

"Hi! I'm cute (for a baby scientist, anyway) and bouncy and I love biology, especially the really cool biology our lab is doing. In fact, I love it so much I enlisted for a PhD, which will be totally awesome, I'm sure, but now I need money. Please fund me! Thanks!" ("Vote for Elle!")

Don't you think that would work?

Happy Halloween!

A happy Halloween to all!

Nostalgia

While reading an assigned paper for my grant writing class, I ran across this sentence: "Thus, in addition to reduced levels of intracellular p55Gag processing, rodent cells diplay a significant defect in viral egress."

I've been feeling particularly nostalgic of late for the Good Old Days, so you can imagine my pausing for a little amusement. Egress, by Jove! Why, I do believe that's the only other use of egress I've ever seen. Viral egress, eh? Quick, fine the little suckers! :)

Quizzie Time: Narnia and Hogwarts

Just the thing for a Sunday morning...

As Jill, you are confident, respectful, and a little bit bossy! You have an acquired taste for adventure, and love any challenge that you have to face.

As Minerva McGonagall, your strict facade is complimented by a warm heart, and you always do what is for the greater good.


Alas, I suspect that the greater good is probably well served by my shuffling off to do work...

There can be only one...

Courtesy of Ben:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 0 [other] people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Sweet! Sweet vidalia onions, even!

Assuming this result is in fact correct, the explanation is that although my familial name is not an uncommon one, our particular spelling is rather non-standard. When two of the most common spellings are used, the program indicates there are 25 or so other ladies out there pretending to be me. I’m told the non-standard spelling occurred on an ancestor’s army papers. Mind you, I have never in my 25 years of communicating my name to others had anyone manage to replicate that feat. But hey, who am I to argue?

And speaking of spelling…

Oh, and bonus points towards a Halo Pub tiny for spotting the reference…

The Ultimate Fan

You know, I can see how these could do rather well in Boston/Northern New England. But the real fans will be sure to get theirs autographed before they head to the great ballpark in the sky.

"Googlian Monk"

Hehe.

I just love the word "smite." Alas, not unlike "gargantuan," one so rarely has the opportunity to use it in a sentence.

Quizzie Time: Seasons

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings. Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

What Season Are You?