'The Lost Symbol'

Notice my 'optimistic' (read: sarcastic) prediction-- 1,000,000,000,000³

"I think Americans need to realize how easily they can be led and lied to..."

I know that it's easier for people to just love their country and to never, ever question the judgment of their elected leaders.

I know it's easier to just pretend that everything's okay, that the government always knows what's best for its citizens; it's easier to simply not think too hard, to deny that anything bad could be going on behind the scenes; to trust that the people on TV are telling the truth all of the time. I realize that people don't WANT to think about uncomfortable, disturbing issues. They just want to live their lives and pursue their own version of the American Dream, or whatever.

"Let’s say this slowly: the Bush administration wanted to use 9/11 as a pretext to invade Iraq, even though Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. So it tortured people to make them confess to the nonexistent link."
-- Paul Krugman (link)

I browse the stories on Reddit frequently, and came across this discussion about the Bush administration's use of torture to interrogate. The article it referenced was very brief, but the resulting comment thread on the Reddit page is worth reading and pondering.

This comment in particular:

It's a bit hard to say, "We're better than those guys," when we do similar shit.

It may not be the worst of the worst, but seriously, it's still disgraceful. It taints everything else. Just because we aren't skinning them alive or burning them half to death doesn't mean it's OK.

I think Americans need to realize how easily they can be led and lied to. Wave a little war flag over their heads, shout "USA USA" a few times, wear a nice suit on a flight deck, and they eat it up and shut up. They shout down anyone who says, "Hey guys, we might want to look at this a little closer..." as being "unpatriotic" or "unAmerican". Later on, when they wake up from the patriotic masturbation fantasy, they wonder, "Wow, that was kinda stupid. Someone should have been doing something about that..."

Well yes, people were. But they were being ignored, or called names, or lambasted for being "pinheads" or whatnot.

The sad thing is that it'll happen again. And again. And again. It's human nature. :(
(link)

Well-said.

And I think we need to keep an eye on EVERYBODY who gets elected to public office, whether we personally voted for them or not.

And we need to wake the fuck up and realize that certain acts against human beings are wrong, even if they ARE the enemy.

Harvard & IBM's Clean Energy Project

I think that anybody with a computer and an internet connection should check this out --

The Clean Energy Project

From http://www.elrst.com:

"If you let your computer idle while you are away or asleep, you might consider to allow Harvard and IBM to use it to do calculations for the Clean Energy Project.

Due to find new ways to create more efficient solar photovoltaïc panels and later of batteries, this project already has over a million people donating some of their computer time.

This could shorten an estimated calculation time of 22 years to only two." [Emphasis mine]

From http://www.reuters.com/

"Scientists at Harvard University and IBM are hoping to harness the power of a million idle computers to develop a new, cheaper form of solar power that could revolutionize the green energy world...

...Harvard scientists are hoping the project will allow it to discover a combination of organic materials that can be used to manufacture plastic solar cells that are cheaper and more flexible than the silicon-based ones typically used to turn sunlight into electricity."

Kitten-shaped hole in my heart.

In March of 2006, my roommate and I took in a family of unwanted cats -- a mother cat and her litter of 5-week old kittens.

My roommate's sister, a veterinary assistant, told us that the momma cat's previous owner dropped them off at the vet's office, saying that she didn't want them anymore; that they had "lost their charm," and that she wanted them euthanized.

Horrified by this story, my roommate & I decided that we could make room for these cats temporarily, until the kittens were old enough to be adopted.

The hardest part was confining a space for them. We already had four cats of our own, and wanted to make sure to give the mother a safe, quiet place to care for her babies, without our cats interfering. My roommate decided to convert her bedroom into the nursery. She bought secondhand blankets and spread them out over the carpet, bought a new litterbox, etc.

And to make a long story short, we helped to raise & care for the 5 kittens over the next couple of months.

Although we already had cats of our own, we decided almost immediately that we would keep at least one.

Though we adored them all, we had our favorites.

My roommate had instantly fallen in love with this one, whom she eventually named Puzzle:

I was drawn to 2 of the kittens equally -- the grey & white tabby (whom we nicknamed Little Grey), and the other tortoiseshell kitten (who I eventually named Oatmeal):

As the kittens grew, we knew that we had to look into getting most of them adopted (including the momma cat); my roommate was having an increasingly tough time sharing her bedroom with them. However, we had gotten so attached to the kitties that we decided that we could keep two, and that each of us could choose one. For my roommate, the choice was rather easy -- although she loved the black & white kitten a lot too, Puzzle was obviously her little soul-mate.

For me, the decision was really, really difficult. I had bonded a lot with Oatmeal and Little Grey and was quite attached to them both. In the end, I decided to keep Oatmeal, but saying goodbye to Grey really broke my heart. I wish we could have kept them both, but two new kittens was already too much; no way could we afford, or handle, three. It killed me to have to choose.

Hopefully, Grey is happy with her new family. I suppose I will never know.

After she was adopted, in May of that year, it took me a little while to get over her, and for the most part I have moved on...

However, last night, out of the blue, I dreamed about her -- perhaps it was just old memories resurfacing. In my dream, I very vividly remember how it felt to hold her, her soft little body cradled against my chest, her tiny paw curled around my fingertip, her ear against my nose.

I love Oatmeal, and I would not give her up for anything, but how I wish I had been able to keep Grey, too. I miss her -- god, I miss her. I've been crying about her for hours and I can't stop and I don't know why. I am haunted by her; I feel I have lost a part of myself.

I miss you, Little Grey, wherever you are; I'm sorry I gave you up.



More pictures:


(If you are unable to view the embedded slideshow, click here)

Animals are amazing, part 585,759,574

From The New York Times:

Parrot Honored for Warning That Girl Was Choking

DENVER (AP) -- A parrot whose cries of alarm alerted his owner when a little girl choked on her breakfast has been honored as a hero.

Willie, a Quaker parrot, has been given the local Red Cross chapter's Animal Lifesaver Award.

In November, Willie's owner, Megan Howard, was baby-sitting for a toddler. Howard left the room and the little girl, Hannah, started to choke on her breakfast.

Willie repeatedly yelled ''Mama, baby'' and flapped his wings, and Howard returned in time to find the girl already turning blue.

Howard saved Hannah by performing the Heimlich maneuver but said Willie ''is the real hero.''

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/03/24/us/AP-ODD-Hero-Parrot.html?_r=2

Cat Verbally Om Nom Nom Noms

(If you cannot see the above video, click here for direct link)

XD!!!

25 things

& yes, that's Halloween makeup. :P

1.) I don't know how to ride a bike or how to rollerskate.
2.) I've never flown on a plane before (partly because I am deathly afraid of it), and I have never (yet) traveled outside the U.S.
3.) I can spot typos or misspellings a mile away -- they drive me fucking batshit nuts. Whenever I discover a typo or mistake I have made, I feel deeply ashamed. Writing anything takes me forever because I always re-read eveything I've written about 5 times, at least.
4.) I was in the Girl Scouts for 6 years when I was a kid and I loved it, except for the selling-cookies part.
5.) I am supposedly related to Emily Dickinson (the poet) on my mother's side.
6.) I am a licensed cosmetologist (hairstylist) in the state of CT, but I have never pursued it as a career, nor have I ever wanted to. I keep up my license so I can still buy professional hair products. :P
7.) I rarely drink and I can't remember the last time I was actually drunk.
8.) I quit smoking about 3 years ago somewhat out of the blue, completely cold-turkey. It was easier than I imagined it would be.
9.) I live with (yes, "live with," I don't see animals as possessions) 6 cats and I'd rather hang out with them than with most people.
10.) I am severely allergic to horses and can't be in an enclosed space with them for any length of time.
11.) I haven't owned a car for over a year and I'm kinda in no rush to get another.
12.) I once found a piece of quartz crystal in Arkansas. I was 12 years old. I was on a camping trip with my family and one night on the way to the bathroom, I saw something glittering in the low light. I was drawn to it, dug it up, and found the crystal. I still have it.
13.) I haven't had my natural hair color since I was 12 or 13. I started with Sun-In hair lightener (http://www.sun-in.com/lemon.asp) since I wasn't allowed to do anything more drastic at that age. The rest is history.
14.) If I had not been an artist, I may have pursued a career in science.
15.) I never listen to the radio. EVER. I love music, but not the fucking crap they play on mainstream radio.
16.) If I could have a real working third eye implanted to my forehead, I would do it in a second despite my fear of doctors/hospitals.
17.) I am a supertaster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supertaster) and in general am a highly sensitive person (sensory and emotionally). I also have ADD but I don't take meds for it.
18.) I wish I had learned how to play the piano.
19.) I taught myself to swim. When I was about 5, my mom brought me to swimming lessons, but I didn't take to it -- I was too scared. But when my family got a pool put in a couple years later, I was able to relax more and learn on my own.
20.) I think I probably have asthma that was never diagnosed.
21.) I've never had a cavity in my entire life. (*knocks on wood*)
22.) I am simultaneously both an only child and the eldest of 6 children. I am my father's only offspring; my mother remarried and had 5 other kids with my stepdad (my half-brothers).
23.) I have a tiny tattoo (about 0.75 inches) of an anarchy symbol on the right side of my right knee. It was given to me by my friend Dakota, when I was about 18. He used india ink and a sewing needle attached to a broken pencil.
24.) I could sing the alphabet reasonably well before I was a year old.
25.) I spend way, way, way, WAY too much time thinking. My brain never shuts off, ever.

Clueless straight guys

Ever wonder why you have trouble "getting the ladies"?

If you can't be bothered to learn about women...
or about dating...
or about what NOT to do or say to women...
or to learn even BASIC SOCIAL SKILLS --

then get used to NOT FUCKING.


So answer the CLUE PHONE or start saving up for that hooker and/or mail-order bride.

Some recommended reading --

• http://divalion.livejournal.com/163615.html
• http://whywomenhatemen.blogspot.com/
• http://heartless-bitches.com/rants/niceguys/niceguys.shtml?necessary_repost

(I'm not one to go on men-bashing tirades, because I really hate that "war of the sexes" bullshit -- but yeah, I just had an "ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME???" moment with someone who will remain nameless -- and fuckless, probably)

Coconut milk yogurt

Was shopping at Whole Foods a couple days ago and found this in the yogurt section:

I love yogurt, but I only bought one (in vanilla; they have other flavors, too), because I wasn't sure if I'd like it. I wish I had bought more, it was fucking amazing -- the brand name is certainly appropriate. The vanilla flavor is nice and sweet, with just a hint of coconut milk; the texture is silky and creamy. This would be an excellent yogurt for anyone who cannot, or does not, eat dairy or soy. I like milk-based yogurt just fine, but would gladly include this in my regular yogurt-buying.

Rest in peace, Mr. Bun-Bun.

My brother's rabbit passed away sometime Christmas morning after some recent health troubles. He was about 7 years old.

He had been a Christmas gift to my brother from his former girlfriend about 7 years ago.

He was a sweet, affectionate, loving bunny who loved to play and give kisses.

He was loved by everyone who knew him.

I'll miss you, Mr. Bun. :(

Captivating, haunting images

Caption: A statue of Rigas Feraios, a Greek writer and revolutionary who died in 1798, stands vandalized with an anarchy symbol outside the Athens University on December 12, 2008. (ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Was surfing the web tonight and came across a series of photographs about the recent riots in Greece that just blew my mind:

On the night of Saturday, December 6th, two Special Guards of the Greek police clashed with a small group of young men. The exact details of what took place are still unclear, but it is known that one of the Guards fired three shots, and one of those bullets caused the death of 15-year-old Alexander Grigoropoulos - whether the injury was made by an accidental ricochet or deliberate shot remains to be determined. The two Guards are now in jail awaiting trial, the shooter charged with homicide. This incident sparked an immediate and widespread response in the form of angry demonstrations and riots in many Greek cities that have continued at varying levels to this day - though dimming in intensity recently. Alexander's death appears to have been a catalyst, unleashing widespread Greek anger towards many issues - police mistreatment of protesters, unwelcome education reforms, economic stagnation, government corruption and more.

To see the rest of the images, follow this link:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/12/2008_greek_riots.html

We are very intellectual, and we have very intellectual conversations.

engrishfunny.com!

[14:58] Me: ROFL WTF!! http://engrishfunny.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/hallowmas.jpg
[14:58] Friend: GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD LMAO
[14:58] Me: hahahah
[14:59] Friend: god lmao i can't even begin to comprehend trhat
[14:59] Me: rofl
[14:59] Friend: hallowmas lol what about christoween?
[15:00] Me: AHAHAHAHAHAH

Funny quote of the moment

"creationism, for people who think their god is too stupid to come up with evolution."

(Digg comment re: Roger Ebert's review of Ben Stein's 'Expelled')

And now for something completely, uh, WTF!

[ Click Here if you can't see the above video ]

Hahahaha, FUCK!!

Quote found on the web today

All Alone Inside Yourself
by MEJC, Oct 21, 2008

In your moments of sadness.

The true horror of life
Is the shocking realisation
That in your most suffocating moments
Of emotional intensity
You're all alone
Inside yourself

(source: http://www.authspot.com/Poetry/All-Alone-Inside-Yourself.306509)

IT'S ABOUT FUCKING TIME.

FUCK YEAH!!!

OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!

World Of SL readers, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyophYBP_w4

Last night, for the first time, I viewed the amazing film known as....

TROLL 2.

My life will never be the same.

RIP, Dolemite!

Rudy Ray Moore
March 17, 1927 – October 19, 2008
"I'm going to let 'em know that Dolemite is my name
and fucking up motherfuckers is my game!"

Spontaneous photo meme

I have (indirectly) created a monster!

Unbeknownst to most of you, I also have a Livejournal account, which I created in order to be able to read the blogs of some friends. My friend Vady posted a meme recently, & I thought it sounded fun so I participated:

Instructions:
Take a picture of yourself right now.
Don't change your clothes, don't fix your hair... Just take a picture.
Post that picture with NO editing.
Post these instructions with your picture.

Soooo I posted the above pic of me to Flickr; little did I know that the idea would become such a huge hit! Someone even started a Flickr group for it -- sponteneously me.

Fascinating, how this kind of thing spreads. Seeing all the pictures is amazing, too -- I love how everyone kinda adds their own twist to it. Fun times!