I think D and I will always have a great love for maps; geography, or information overlaid on geography, explains or helps me understand SO MUCH of human history. D has an excellent almost-pocket sized atlas, which we carry around many places, and will probably follow us wherever we move until it falls apart. We whip out this atlas whislt watching TV (documentary about hummus? film about Estonia between the World Wars? Avatar the Last Airbender? Everything on TV is better with corresponding maps) and at parties during interesting conversations (show me EXACTLY where you went on your holiday) and when telling stories to each other about our lives (Isa lives here, and Liz went to school there, and my grandmother comes from there....).
Recently, I came across this map of the predominant ethnic roots of every American county. I find it particularly interesting because I'm sure I participated in the census with which this was produced (though, if it's made with the question "what is your race" I ruined their results by writing in Star-bellied Sneetch). It's also useful to show D these sorts of maps based on fuzzy ideas like race, to help him start to learn some of the underlying, weird ideas that make America, you know, AMERICA. I don't know about the validity of the data behind this map, but as an overly simplistic, broad-brush-strokes painting of America, I think it's a good starting point for a foreigner to get some ideas and ask some questions.
While a lot of the map made sense to me (as in, it fit with my general gut-impressions of American regions, even if I've never visited some regions), two things stood out to both D and I:
One, holy crap, that's a lot of Americans that claim German ancestry. Did that many Germans really immigrate?
Two, what's up with the answer "American" to what was apparently a ethnic/racial question? Why is that just in Appalachia/Texas?
I'd have to do some actual research to answer the first one, but we talked a lot about the second point. D was disappointed/irked that the "Americans" had basically opted out and given a non-answer; American isn't really an ethnicity or race (unless you mean American Indian, which these guys definitely don't).
However, I could kind of see their point; as far as I know, 3/4 of my grandparent's lines have been in the US for a looooooong time, and most probably are a mishmash of (probably all or mostly Anglo) countries/backgrounds: English, Scottish, and Irish for sure, almost definitely some German in there somewhere, who knows, maybe some French or Scandinavian or Eastern European I don't know about. The last 1/4 of my grandparents is my 4th generation Czech heritage, and the only country outside of the US for which I'd feel some vague familial connection. My dad explained this all to me, and prefers the term "off-white", whilst my mom less-charitably says we're "European white trash," or sometimes descended from "druids and pirates." Which is probably as close as anything else. So I have no idea what on earth I'd chose if I tried to answer seriously a question about my ethnicity when given the options listed on that map of America. What would you answer? Do any other "off-white" Americans wonder about this?
All this discussion eventually led us to this map of the 11 "nations" or regions within North America. I was quite excited to see this map, as it kind of addresses some more of those gut-feelings I have about differences between different areas of America. Whenever someone thinks that NM is "the South" or Texas or California, I have to suppress shouting "NO", because NM is so overwhelmingly NOT any of those places, but I don't quite have all the words to explain why.
I think it'll take a lot more studying -of this map, the ideas behind it's creation, and other sources of information- to work out how accurate it may or may not be. In the meantime, it at least gives visual representation to the idea that NM is NOT the Deep South, or really California, and gives a jumping off place for D to learn about the big, confusing, conflicting, outrageous, intensity of the US. Any other help you might be able to point out to us for his future study would be nice. :)
Showing posts with label Elsewhere on the Interwebs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elsewhere on the Interwebs. Show all posts
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Friday, June 28, 2013
Best Job Ever?
Many thanks to Dylan, a photographer who came to visit the Bell Tower and captured some of the best photos I've ever seen of where I work. ^_^
P.S. Click on the circular fish-eye picture and wait a few minutes. ;P
P.S. Click on the circular fish-eye picture and wait a few minutes. ;P
Monday, June 10, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Kitties make everything better
It's only Wednesday, but I'm a bit exhausted.
On Monday, we flew back to Perth from Sydney, and immediately caught a bus straight to my job at the Bell Tower, where I worked an afternoon shift on the busiest day of the year. Then Tuesday and today I've worked all-day shifts to get re-trained. My head is abuzz with all the new things we do and all the old facts I've needed to remember, and my body is a bit achy from being on my feet all day long.
I love LOVE working at the Bell Tower, but I want to find work in at least one of my fields this year. Before I arrived in Perth, I applied for a geology job working with data, which would've been PERFECT for me, and I spent the last 3 weeks being considered for the job. I found out this weekend that they can't hire me because they need someone who can work for a year or more, and my visa is problematic in that regard.
During a shift at the Bell Tower on Monday (when 1500 people came through the building), I met a guy who'd gone to college in Farmington, NM, and he lives here in Perth and works for a mining company. So I told him I was a geology grad, and he started quizzing me on random things, like throwing out a mnemonic for the geologic time scale and asking what a Bowen's cycle was. But since it was near the end of a very busy, very long day, I was flustered and couldn't remember what a Bowen's cycle was (particularly since, after reading about it later, I sort of recall it being mentioned as a rather outdated model of petrology, considering there are so many exceptions to the rule). Then when I told the guy I was looking for jobs, he asked "Do you have your PhD, or just a Masters?"
I said no, I have my Bachelors. He said, "Oh. Well. You know you can't do anything with that. I guess you could try mudlogging for a year up north, and then come back and maybe you'd get a job." And then he just left.
What. A. Jerkface. >:|
The whole conversation (on top of the physical tiredness) has made me feel a bit low the past few days. I've started "networking", and poking at people who might know of jobs, but I'm only at the beginning of that process and I haven't got any leads yet. I just hope I can find something suitable soon; I'm not worried about money, but I really want to start getting some experience that will help steer me in my search for a good Masters project. I feel like a crappy geologist.
So all this was on my mind on the way home today (along with a headache), making feel a little worried and grumpy. But when I arrived home, the next door neighbor's cat meowed at me. I've seen him a few times and meowed at him over the past few weeks, but he's always run away. D reckons it's because Aussies generally dislike cats as they prey on the endangered native little furry creatures. Anyways, this big grey neighbor tomcat meowed at me today, so I meowed back. We began to have an entire meow conversation. So I sat down on the brick outside my front door whilst meowing at him, and he came over for pets! He's a beautiful cat, with fur a bit like a grey-on-dark-grey tiger, big green eyes and a matching green collar with a little bell.
Having a little kitty love pulled me out of my gloomy mood. So, just in case anyone else needs a little love,
here
are
some
kitties
for you too. <3
On Monday, we flew back to Perth from Sydney, and immediately caught a bus straight to my job at the Bell Tower, where I worked an afternoon shift on the busiest day of the year. Then Tuesday and today I've worked all-day shifts to get re-trained. My head is abuzz with all the new things we do and all the old facts I've needed to remember, and my body is a bit achy from being on my feet all day long.
I love LOVE working at the Bell Tower, but I want to find work in at least one of my fields this year. Before I arrived in Perth, I applied for a geology job working with data, which would've been PERFECT for me, and I spent the last 3 weeks being considered for the job. I found out this weekend that they can't hire me because they need someone who can work for a year or more, and my visa is problematic in that regard.
During a shift at the Bell Tower on Monday (when 1500 people came through the building), I met a guy who'd gone to college in Farmington, NM, and he lives here in Perth and works for a mining company. So I told him I was a geology grad, and he started quizzing me on random things, like throwing out a mnemonic for the geologic time scale and asking what a Bowen's cycle was. But since it was near the end of a very busy, very long day, I was flustered and couldn't remember what a Bowen's cycle was (particularly since, after reading about it later, I sort of recall it being mentioned as a rather outdated model of petrology, considering there are so many exceptions to the rule). Then when I told the guy I was looking for jobs, he asked "Do you have your PhD, or just a Masters?"
I said no, I have my Bachelors. He said, "Oh. Well. You know you can't do anything with that. I guess you could try mudlogging for a year up north, and then come back and maybe you'd get a job." And then he just left.
What. A. Jerkface. >:|
The whole conversation (on top of the physical tiredness) has made me feel a bit low the past few days. I've started "networking", and poking at people who might know of jobs, but I'm only at the beginning of that process and I haven't got any leads yet. I just hope I can find something suitable soon; I'm not worried about money, but I really want to start getting some experience that will help steer me in my search for a good Masters project. I feel like a crappy geologist.
So all this was on my mind on the way home today (along with a headache), making feel a little worried and grumpy. But when I arrived home, the next door neighbor's cat meowed at me. I've seen him a few times and meowed at him over the past few weeks, but he's always run away. D reckons it's because Aussies generally dislike cats as they prey on the endangered native little furry creatures. Anyways, this big grey neighbor tomcat meowed at me today, so I meowed back. We began to have an entire meow conversation. So I sat down on the brick outside my front door whilst meowing at him, and he came over for pets! He's a beautiful cat, with fur a bit like a grey-on-dark-grey tiger, big green eyes and a matching green collar with a little bell.
Having a little kitty love pulled me out of my gloomy mood. So, just in case anyone else needs a little love,
here
are
some
kitties
for you too. <3
Monday, May 27, 2013
Cao Ni Ma
D and I spent all morning eating a slow breakfast on the nice warm patio reading books together. I had grabbed a book about Tierra del Fuego for D to read, but he already had a book he was trying to finish, so it sat on the table forlornly. Eventually, our roommate Yves came and joined us for breakfast, so I offered him the book to read. Yves said earlier in the week that he wants to learn 3 new English words a day.
So I said, "Here, read this, you'll learn all kinds of new words. Like llama!"
Yves: "Llama? What's that?"
me: "Well, it's like a deer, only wooly like a sheep, with a long neck like a giraffe, and a face like a camel."
Yves: ".........What." *pulls out iPhone and googles llama*
"OH, I know the word for these in Chinese, people post funny pictures of them on the internet........"
me: "Omigosh, please teach me the Chinese word for llama!!!!!"
Yves: "............. *blushes* It's actually pronounced the same as a very rude word."
me: "OMIGOSH DO YOU PROMISE?!?!" :D
I thus promptly spent the rest of the day repeating the word for "llama" AND "f*** your mother" in Mandarin over and over to be sure I won't ever forget. <3
So I said, "Here, read this, you'll learn all kinds of new words. Like llama!"
Yves: "Llama? What's that?"
me: "Well, it's like a deer, only wooly like a sheep, with a long neck like a giraffe, and a face like a camel."
Yves: ".........What." *pulls out iPhone and googles llama*
"OH, I know the word for these in Chinese, people post funny pictures of them on the internet........"
me: "Omigosh, please teach me the Chinese word for llama!!!!!"
Yves: "............. *blushes* It's actually pronounced the same as a very rude word."
me: "OMIGOSH DO YOU PROMISE?!?!" :D
I thus promptly spent the rest of the day repeating the word for "llama" AND "f*** your mother" in Mandarin over and over to be sure I won't ever forget. <3
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The Key to a Girl's Heart is Through Her Fandom
D agreed to start watching Avatar: The Last Airbender with me after my many references and comments (and seeing pictures of my cosplay...). Avatar is one of my all-time favorite TV shows, a kid's cartoon I watched with my brother and friends in high school. D and I suffered through those first 3 episodes which made me cringe the entire time, and are now happily cruising through the first season (we'll watch the pirate episode tonight!). For those who don't know, this cartoon world is kind of a geo-political adventure across the entire planet, and nearly every episode finds the characters in a new village.
A few nights ago, D surprises me by bringing home a printed map of the Avatar world.
So that we can follow along with the Avatar's journey as we watch the show together.
......*nerdgasm*
If this doesn't go a long way toward explaining why I moved to the other side of the planet, I don't know what does.
A few nights ago, D surprises me by bringing home a printed map of the Avatar world.
So that we can follow along with the Avatar's journey as we watch the show together.
......*nerdgasm*
 |
| We replaced our world map with Australia and ATLA. |
 |
| Whoever on the internet made this map is magnificent. |
If this doesn't go a long way toward explaining why I moved to the other side of the planet, I don't know what does.
Friday, May 17, 2013
First Week in Perth
As "M Week" (as D labeled it in his calendar) comes to a close, I wanted to catch up on what I've been up to and how it's gone so far.
In general, my jet lag has been minor. Strangely, I'm ready to fall asleep early in the evening, by 8pm or so, and then wake up around dawn (though that may also have something to do with our east-facing bedroom window). I've learned most of the workings of the house (every. single. faucet. drips.), and done plenty of nice domestic chores that help me feel more at home. D and I are settling into this fun adventure of living together nicely. We've started watching Avatar: The Last Airbender together at night just before bed with a little bit of sake and back rubs.
In a funny series of coincidences, this was our show-going week, with two plays, two stand-up comedies, and a film.
Last Saturday, after purposefully staying in bed all day because I was so sleepy, we went out to see Lawrence Leung, Australia's adorable nerd comic. I quite like Lawrence Leung and the dorky 5-year-old-with-a-beard caricature of himself that he plays (and also all the fandom references he slips in).
Sunday we took the train to Northbridge to see the German film Doll, The Fatso, and Me (which was wonderful) and met up with one of D's Frisbee German friends. After the film, we had a few beers and discussed making a science fiction film out in the bush, throwing around plot ideas for hours.
Monday was finally Get Shit Done day while D went to uni. I got my banking sorted, bought a simcard for my phone, and visited my favorite $2 store (yay super warm sleep pants for $10! Also a box with cupcakes on it!). I got home just in time for a nice chat with my roommate Y, a big hilarious Chinese guy, who was cooking up pork stomach (delicious) and garlic bok choy (new favorite thing in the world).
Tuesday was another adventure day. I figured out how to get to the nearest grocery store several blocks away (D eats salads with raw garlic for lunch.... in the face of that, I was suddenly craving some nice American peanut butter and also those delicious tiny cans of chicken salad). Then I had a date with my awesome Canadian girl friend J at uni. Which should've been easy, except the bus routes have changed since 2011 and between a few poor decisions on my part and the slow bus schedule, it took me an extra hour to sort it out. I eventually made it to uni though for a wonderful chat, where we caught up on all the dramatic goings-ons, and even managed to help one another with our biggest problems. I gave her the lowdown on the Work and Holiday visa, which might be just what she needs to finish up research here in Perth. She answered a phone call from her boss (who used to be my boss) and handed the phone over to me, whereupon said boss told me to email my resume and she'd put me on the schedule for next month. Success!Also wonderful was the fact that I said hello to Nancy, my almost-Master's-supervisor (and J's supervisor), who said we should meet next week; since I didn't get the scholarships to study with her, I'm hopeful there might be an internship or a job that lets me work on a project in the field anyway. In addition, another student invited me to a party this weekend! As D said, "Oh wait, I have to go to things with your friends now?" Yup, I've already got a few of my own friends in Perth, and it's such a magnificent contrast to last time.
Wednesday after D left for uni I fell asleep for another 2.5 solid hours. Jet lag is weird. I managed to drag myself out of bed long enough to start cooking up a yummy bean chili, which I had been craving. I was trying to finish it all before D got home, as we were going out to our second comedy "Who, Me", a show about Doctor Who. I didn't quite manage to finish cooking on time, but that worked out just fine because he surprised me and brought home FISH STICKS AND CUSTARD. I love this boy. Interestingly, he was practically sick to his stomach at the concoction, but I thought it was delicious and ate it all. We agreed it must be my American taste for lots of salt and sugar. The show was funny, if a bit less cohesive than Lawrence Leung.
Thursday was another relatively slow day, though I walked down the street to the op shop in search of another sweater. It's getting on towards winter here, and the relatively damp air and overcast days leave our poorly-insulated house quite chilly. I found an adorable grey sweater and two neat books for $10 total, so I felt accomplished. In the evening, I dressed up and took the train to Northbridge and met D and his friend Wallaby Jack in China Town for dinner before our first play of the week. I like proper Chinese restaurants in Perth, as it takes a careful eye to sort through the 100+ different meals to find something that I think I know what it is (and to avoid all the Century Egg and Abalone and Shark Fin and suspicious adjectives). D got us tickets for this production of Death of a Salesman, and then we discovered that Wallaby Jack was going as well. I read the script in high school, so I was able to explain some things to D and Wallaby Jack that were hard to catch in the rapid New-York-as-done-by-Australians-accent. It was so weird for the first 5 minutes of the play; the actor playing Willy had a remarkably good accent, but his wife's was just slightly off somehow, and it made me itch until I got used to it. The set and stage directions for this play was most excellent. It was so nicely done, they managed to make me burst into a smile at the power of it right in the middle of the depressing ending.
And now today. Tonight I'll head out to Northbridge (again, yeesh) for our second play "Robots Vs. Art." I don't know anything about it, other than that I need to wear one of my famous robot tshirts, and that I'll get to meet a bunch more of D's Frisbee German friends.
In review, it's been a most excellent wonderful magnificent week. I'm happy living in Perth, and I'm happy living with D, and I'm excited about all our plans for life this year. <3
In general, my jet lag has been minor. Strangely, I'm ready to fall asleep early in the evening, by 8pm or so, and then wake up around dawn (though that may also have something to do with our east-facing bedroom window). I've learned most of the workings of the house (every. single. faucet. drips.), and done plenty of nice domestic chores that help me feel more at home. D and I are settling into this fun adventure of living together nicely. We've started watching Avatar: The Last Airbender together at night just before bed with a little bit of sake and back rubs.
In a funny series of coincidences, this was our show-going week, with two plays, two stand-up comedies, and a film.
Last Saturday, after purposefully staying in bed all day because I was so sleepy, we went out to see Lawrence Leung, Australia's adorable nerd comic. I quite like Lawrence Leung and the dorky 5-year-old-with-a-beard caricature of himself that he plays (and also all the fandom references he slips in).
Sunday we took the train to Northbridge to see the German film Doll, The Fatso, and Me (which was wonderful) and met up with one of D's Frisbee German friends. After the film, we had a few beers and discussed making a science fiction film out in the bush, throwing around plot ideas for hours.
Monday was finally Get Shit Done day while D went to uni. I got my banking sorted, bought a simcard for my phone, and visited my favorite $2 store (yay super warm sleep pants for $10! Also a box with cupcakes on it!). I got home just in time for a nice chat with my roommate Y, a big hilarious Chinese guy, who was cooking up pork stomach (delicious) and garlic bok choy (new favorite thing in the world).
Tuesday was another adventure day. I figured out how to get to the nearest grocery store several blocks away (D eats salads with raw garlic for lunch.... in the face of that, I was suddenly craving some nice American peanut butter and also those delicious tiny cans of chicken salad). Then I had a date with my awesome Canadian girl friend J at uni. Which should've been easy, except the bus routes have changed since 2011 and between a few poor decisions on my part and the slow bus schedule, it took me an extra hour to sort it out. I eventually made it to uni though for a wonderful chat, where we caught up on all the dramatic goings-ons, and even managed to help one another with our biggest problems. I gave her the lowdown on the Work and Holiday visa, which might be just what she needs to finish up research here in Perth. She answered a phone call from her boss (who used to be my boss) and handed the phone over to me, whereupon said boss told me to email my resume and she'd put me on the schedule for next month. Success!Also wonderful was the fact that I said hello to Nancy, my almost-Master's-supervisor (and J's supervisor), who said we should meet next week; since I didn't get the scholarships to study with her, I'm hopeful there might be an internship or a job that lets me work on a project in the field anyway. In addition, another student invited me to a party this weekend! As D said, "Oh wait, I have to go to things with your friends now?" Yup, I've already got a few of my own friends in Perth, and it's such a magnificent contrast to last time.
Wednesday after D left for uni I fell asleep for another 2.5 solid hours. Jet lag is weird. I managed to drag myself out of bed long enough to start cooking up a yummy bean chili, which I had been craving. I was trying to finish it all before D got home, as we were going out to our second comedy "Who, Me", a show about Doctor Who. I didn't quite manage to finish cooking on time, but that worked out just fine because he surprised me and brought home FISH STICKS AND CUSTARD. I love this boy. Interestingly, he was practically sick to his stomach at the concoction, but I thought it was delicious and ate it all. We agreed it must be my American taste for lots of salt and sugar. The show was funny, if a bit less cohesive than Lawrence Leung.
Thursday was another relatively slow day, though I walked down the street to the op shop in search of another sweater. It's getting on towards winter here, and the relatively damp air and overcast days leave our poorly-insulated house quite chilly. I found an adorable grey sweater and two neat books for $10 total, so I felt accomplished. In the evening, I dressed up and took the train to Northbridge and met D and his friend Wallaby Jack in China Town for dinner before our first play of the week. I like proper Chinese restaurants in Perth, as it takes a careful eye to sort through the 100+ different meals to find something that I think I know what it is (and to avoid all the Century Egg and Abalone and Shark Fin and suspicious adjectives). D got us tickets for this production of Death of a Salesman, and then we discovered that Wallaby Jack was going as well. I read the script in high school, so I was able to explain some things to D and Wallaby Jack that were hard to catch in the rapid New-York-as-done-by-Australians-accent. It was so weird for the first 5 minutes of the play; the actor playing Willy had a remarkably good accent, but his wife's was just slightly off somehow, and it made me itch until I got used to it. The set and stage directions for this play was most excellent. It was so nicely done, they managed to make me burst into a smile at the power of it right in the middle of the depressing ending.
And now today. Tonight I'll head out to Northbridge (again, yeesh) for our second play "Robots Vs. Art." I don't know anything about it, other than that I need to wear one of my famous robot tshirts, and that I'll get to meet a bunch more of D's Frisbee German friends.
In review, it's been a most excellent wonderful magnificent week. I'm happy living in Perth, and I'm happy living with D, and I'm excited about all our plans for life this year. <3
Saturday, May 4, 2013
My New Nightmare
My brother: "Hey M, remember that time your cat vomited on your laptop?"
me: "uggggggggh. Why?"
My brother: "Because turns out you should be afraid of more than cats when you move to Perth..."
me: "uggggggggh. Why?"
My brother: "Because turns out you should be afraid of more than cats when you move to Perth..."
Thursday, November 8, 2012
So Many Ways to Look At It
An Australian point of view of America's presidential elections.
I still find it an odd experience to hear what other people think of my country, mostly because the things that get picked on aren't the ones I'd expect.
For example, Dan laughed at the big green checkmark which MSNBC put next to Obama's name when we was announced the winner last night. Big attention-grabbing visualizations are important!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
It Turns Out That Cat Vomit is Bad for Laptops
.... And I am being forced to buy a new laptop. :/ Early Christmas, I suppose; my dear wonderful Asus was just beginning to get a teensy bit crotchety (showing a grey screen upon turning on instead of going to the password screen, requiring a reboot -or several- or just to go away and come back later).I'm hoping to get a very similar machine though; my Asus was exactly everything I ever needed and then some.
This does however, make me reconsider whether or not I want to also invest money into an additional more portable device, namely an iPod Touch. I've been without an iPod since mine bit the musical dust in Perth last year, and while I'm no longer missing it much, I did really value it on my train rides. And the Touch does hold that allure of hand-held Skype capability, emailing, maps, etc. It's going to be a tough call.
In the meantime, I've been enjoying my Southwest Studies class and learning some excellent New Mexican history and culture. Check out this wonderful site for some incredible photos and paintings from all eras. If you click on the "Folders and Image Groups" link, you can even find the images my professor gathered for my class under AMSTUD 186 L.Hall. Given my love of trains, I'm particularly keen on the Fred Harvey and Atchinson-Topeka-Santa Fe Railroad history.
This does however, make me reconsider whether or not I want to also invest money into an additional more portable device, namely an iPod Touch. I've been without an iPod since mine bit the musical dust in Perth last year, and while I'm no longer missing it much, I did really value it on my train rides. And the Touch does hold that allure of hand-held Skype capability, emailing, maps, etc. It's going to be a tough call.
In the meantime, I've been enjoying my Southwest Studies class and learning some excellent New Mexican history and culture. Check out this wonderful site for some incredible photos and paintings from all eras. If you click on the "Folders and Image Groups" link, you can even find the images my professor gathered for my class under AMSTUD 186 L.Hall. Given my love of trains, I'm particularly keen on the Fred Harvey and Atchinson-Topeka-Santa Fe Railroad history.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
for wonder is the chorus that makes us all a choir
Come Picnic on Mars
for Zoë, age 5
On a distant glad November,
when our hearts are running high,
and the dreambats all have vanished
into the limestone of the sky,
why don't we take a fiery stroll
straight up to Mars? Just you and I.
We will pack a mental picnic
for years before we go.
Some will say the sky's the limit,
but we will answer: No,
the mind was made to travel.
So, too, indentured hearts,
and knitted fears unravel
with adventure in the dark.
A world of blues will slowly dwindle,
as Mars glows round the bend;
the differences that blind us
will bind us in the end,
for wonder is the chorus
that makes us all a choir,
and time will not forgive us
if, slug-a-beds, we lie
fat and bored and cranky
in our hammock in the sky.
So, come and take the waters
that jet across the seas
that lie between the planets
we crawl to on metal knees.
Oh! when we arrive, what fancy stuff
we'll see: the swooning sands of Paradise,
dust-devils, a volcanic sea.
Then, when twilight falls, by double moon,
we'll feast on ra-
ta-
touille!
when our hearts are running high,
and the dreambats all have vanished
into the limestone of the sky,
why don't we take a fiery stroll
straight up to Mars? Just you and I.
We will pack a mental picnic
for years before we go.
Some will say the sky's the limit,
but we will answer: No,
the mind was made to travel.
So, too, indentured hearts,
and knitted fears unravel
with adventure in the dark.
A world of blues will slowly dwindle,
as Mars glows round the bend;
the differences that blind us
will bind us in the end,
for wonder is the chorus
that makes us all a choir,
and time will not forgive us
if, slug-a-beds, we lie
fat and bored and cranky
in our hammock in the sky.
So, come and take the waters
that jet across the seas
that lie between the planets
we crawl to on metal knees.
Oh! when we arrive, what fancy stuff
we'll see: the swooning sands of Paradise,
dust-devils, a volcanic sea.
Then, when twilight falls, by double moon,
we'll feast on ra-
ta-
touille!
"Come Picnic on Mars" by Diane Ackerman, from Jaguar of Sweet Laughter.
Read this poem out loud; it's like candy in your mouth.
Also, this:
Thursday, September 13, 2012
In Praise of Cern Day
I found both of these wonderful pieces on the Intarwebs this week, so I thought I'd share. ^_^
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Baltimore Blues No 1 by Deer Tick
The week before classes begin is usually a stressful time for me, but right now I feel like I'm in some sort of numbed state. Perhaps I'm just trying to prepare myself by making the most of my last opportunities to sleep and do nothing for a while. So I think I'll celebrate this last week with a good song.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Poetry and Music (I'm Still Here!)
So many things are happening all at once! More trips and excitement, but sadly fewer good photos to share (that's what I get for letting other people take pictures on their -admittedly far superior- cameras); I'll try to get more pictures soon, I promise.
So much uni work (brain overload), so many activities I want to cram into my last few months (trips, events, and fun, oh my!), and so many things to think about and ponder and reflect on as my time in Oz begins to draw to a close (I'll have to save those meandering thoughts until I have time and mental space to write it all out).
Thus, in the meantime so you beloved readers don't think I've forgotten about you, I'll put up a few poems and songs that have been floating around at the back of my head throughout this crazy time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now I become myself. It's taken
Time, many years and places;
I have been dissolved and shaken,
Worn other people's faces,
Run madly, as if Time were there,
Terribly old, crying a warning,
"Hurry, you will be dead before--"
(What? Before you reach the morning?
Or the end of the poem is clear?
Or love safe in the walled city?)
Now to stand still, to be here,
Feel my own weight and density!
The black shadow on the paper
Is my hand; the shadow of a word
As thought shapes the shaper
Falls heavy on the page, is heard.
All fuses now, falls into place
From wish to action, word to silence,
My work, my love, my time, my face
Gathered into one intense
Gesture of growing like a plant.
As slowly as the ripening fruit
Fertile, detached, and always spent,
Falls but does not exhaust the root,
So all the poem is, can give,
Grows in me to become the song,
Made so and rooted by love.
Now there is time and Time is young.
O, in this single hour I live
All of myself and do not move.
I, the pursued, who madly ran,
Stand still, stand still, and stop the sun!
by May Sarton
{I don't believe I've become myself -but I think I'm a lot closer than I was before}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am madlymadlymadly in love with this song and music video. XD I tend to find really upbeat dance songs when I have to chain myself to a computer for days on end for uni projects, and this is a particularly excellent one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, so I know I'm clearly biased because Joe is my bro, but SERIOUSLY GUYS, he is an incredible musician. (Joe, quit making me cry with your damn beautiful sad music! Jerk!)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Human Atlas
Because the body really
is Mars, is Earth or Venus or the saddest downsized
Pluto, can be booked, bound, mapped then.
Or rendered like something off the bone, fat just under
the animal skin, to lard,
cheaper, quicker than butter, like stillness
belies restlessness, like every yes
was or will be not, never, no,
A full section in such a book
keeps the skeleton quiet. (So untroubled to be specific, to say
femur, rib, half-minute of splendor,
to stare like that
stops time...) Or slick pages and pages given over
to slow the blood, remake muscle, to un-secret
that most mysterious lymph, its arsenal
of glands under the arm, at groin, at neck, awful
ghost lightning in it. Inscrutable.
the whole body ends, remember?
But each ending
goes on and on. Complete: because some
minor genius with a pencil, with ink, with drastic color
makes that arm you've known for years
raw, inside out, near wanton run of red vessel and nerve,
once a sin to look, weirdly now,
what should be hidden. Oh, it's garish
Compute. Does not compute. Tell me.
Then tell me who that
me is, or the
you understood, the any of us, our precious
everything we ever, layer upon
bright layer.
by Marianne Boruch
{I've been thinking a lot about home and homes and of course people}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So much uni work (brain overload), so many activities I want to cram into my last few months (trips, events, and fun, oh my!), and so many things to think about and ponder and reflect on as my time in Oz begins to draw to a close (I'll have to save those meandering thoughts until I have time and mental space to write it all out).
Thus, in the meantime so you beloved readers don't think I've forgotten about you, I'll put up a few poems and songs that have been floating around at the back of my head throughout this crazy time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now I Become Myself
Time, many years and places;
I have been dissolved and shaken,
Worn other people's faces,
Run madly, as if Time were there,
Terribly old, crying a warning,
"Hurry, you will be dead before--"
(What? Before you reach the morning?
Or the end of the poem is clear?
Or love safe in the walled city?)
Now to stand still, to be here,
Feel my own weight and density!
The black shadow on the paper
Is my hand; the shadow of a word
As thought shapes the shaper
Falls heavy on the page, is heard.
All fuses now, falls into place
From wish to action, word to silence,
My work, my love, my time, my face
Gathered into one intense
Gesture of growing like a plant.
As slowly as the ripening fruit
Fertile, detached, and always spent,
Falls but does not exhaust the root,
So all the poem is, can give,
Grows in me to become the song,
Made so and rooted by love.
Now there is time and Time is young.
O, in this single hour I live
All of myself and do not move.
I, the pursued, who madly ran,
Stand still, stand still, and stop the sun!
by May Sarton
{I don't believe I've become myself -but I think I'm a lot closer than I was before}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am madlymadlymadly in love with this song and music video. XD I tend to find really upbeat dance songs when I have to chain myself to a computer for days on end for uni projects, and this is a particularly excellent one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, so I know I'm clearly biased because Joe is my bro, but SERIOUSLY GUYS, he is an incredible musician. (Joe, quit making me cry with your damn beautiful sad music! Jerk!)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Human Atlas
Because the body really
is Mars, is Earth or Venus or the saddest downsized
Pluto, can be booked, bound, mapped then.
Or rendered like something off the bone, fat just under
the animal skin, to lard,
cheaper, quicker than butter, like stillness
belies restlessness, like every yes
was or will be not, never, no,
A full section in such a book
keeps the skeleton quiet. (So untroubled to be specific, to say
femur, rib, half-minute of splendor,
to stare like that
stops time...) Or slick pages and pages given over
to slow the blood, remake muscle, to un-secret
that most mysterious lymph, its arsenal
of glands under the arm, at groin, at neck, awful
ghost lightning in it. Inscrutable.
the whole body ends, remember?
But each ending
goes on and on. Complete: because some
minor genius with a pencil, with ink, with drastic color
makes that arm you've known for years
raw, inside out, near wanton run of red vessel and nerve,
once a sin to look, weirdly now,
what should be hidden. Oh, it's garish
Compute. Does not compute. Tell me.
Then tell me who that
me is, or the
you understood, the any of us, our precious
everything we ever, layer upon
bright layer.
by Marianne Boruch
{I've been thinking a lot about home and homes and of course people}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, September 17, 2011
I'm a Huge Nerd :D
Because I loved writing this way more than I should have, here is the blog post for my SciComm Media class.
Science Fiction and Space Travel: When Media Boldly Goes Where No Science Has Gone Before
In this class so far, we’ve talked about how to create media (like podcasts, movies, and blogs) that better communicate science to the world. For us Science Communicators, science begets media; someone has to discover new ideas before we can say or film or write anything. But what about when this process is reversed? What happens when the media brings up innovative concepts before science does?
Well, we usually call that “science fiction,” and often we cringe or rant at just how bad some sci fi can portray science. But some fiction has accurately predicted, inspired, or effected real science.
Jules Verne Wasn’t All Bad
Okay, so Journey to The Center of the Earth hurts me in my physics (and geology!) too, but Jules Verne also wrote a novel called From the Earth to the Moon in 1865. In it, three men build a giant canon to shoot a small vessel (with themselves inside) into space and land on the moon. Now, “shooting” people into space turns out to not be feasible, but Verne did some actual calculations and got some other pretty important things right. The dimensions and material of the vessel, the best location from which to launch, and even the cost of the venture were shockingly close the reality of the Apollo missions, especially considering he was writing a hundred years before science finally achieved space travel.
Star Trek: The First Frontier
If you’re as much of a nerd as I am, you’re already familiar with the 1960s original Star Trek series. Like all the best science fiction, Star Trek was set in a future chockablock with sweet gadgets, but think for just a moment about all the things this television show “invented” that you own today: data pads (iPad), portable computer memory (USB sticks), remote location devices (GPS), huge flat screens (plasma screens), tricorders (PDAs), even automatic sliding doors were all unheard of at the time! Martin Cooper directly credits the classic Star Trek communication device for motivating him to build the world’s first cellphone. By sharing concepts for useful, really cool devices, Star Trek inspired people to bring to real life the next generation of consumer technology.
Everyone Knows Astronauts Wear Silver
John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth in space, and he did it in a shiny silver suit. The Mercury mission suits were just slightly upgraded versions of high altitude pressure suits designed by the U.S. Navy –which originally came in military olive green. Why the change in color from green to silver?
The common-sense “concerns about reflecting heat” don’t quite cut it; the green color worked perfectly fine in all the near-orbit flights, and, according to the historian quoted at the end of this discussion thread, the silver color was just that: a silver “spray” on top of the nylon material.
But the silver color made sense on a cultural level: everything from the gleam of metallic ship hulls to shiny aliens-are-reading-my-brain-waves tin foil hats were used by writers to convey a sense of the futuristic. And it worked. Science fiction taught even the scientists at NASA to associate the color silver with space.
Telling Stories
So, fellow Science Communicators, we’ve already talked some about whether we count movie makers and their ilk among those of us trying to effectively communicate scientific ideas to the public. Is there an important difference between telling a story with science and telling a story about science?
If there is an important difference, what about when the fiction gets it right, like in the examples above? And how do we work with fiction creators like Isaac Asimov or George Lucas who have universally impacted the way people (including scientists) view science and technology?
p.s. Hugehugehuge thanks to Emil for telling me the NASA stories! <3
Well, we usually call that “science fiction,” and often we cringe or rant at just how bad some sci fi can portray science. But some fiction has accurately predicted, inspired, or effected real science.
Okay, so Journey to The Center of the Earth hurts me in my physics (and geology!) too, but Jules Verne also wrote a novel called From the Earth to the Moon in 1865. In it, three men build a giant canon to shoot a small vessel (with themselves inside) into space and land on the moon. Now, “shooting” people into space turns out to not be feasible, but Verne did some actual calculations and got some other pretty important things right. The dimensions and material of the vessel, the best location from which to launch, and even the cost of the venture were shockingly close the reality of the Apollo missions, especially considering he was writing a hundred years before science finally achieved space travel.
Star Trek: The First Frontier
If you’re as much of a nerd as I am, you’re already familiar with the 1960s original Star Trek series. Like all the best science fiction, Star Trek was set in a future chockablock with sweet gadgets, but think for just a moment about all the things this television show “invented” that you own today: data pads (iPad), portable computer memory (USB sticks), remote location devices (GPS), huge flat screens (plasma screens), tricorders (PDAs), even automatic sliding doors were all unheard of at the time! Martin Cooper directly credits the classic Star Trek communication device for motivating him to build the world’s first cellphone. By sharing concepts for useful, really cool devices, Star Trek inspired people to bring to real life the next generation of consumer technology.
Everyone Knows Astronauts Wear Silver
John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth in space, and he did it in a shiny silver suit. The Mercury mission suits were just slightly upgraded versions of high altitude pressure suits designed by the U.S. Navy –which originally came in military olive green. Why the change in color from green to silver?
The common-sense “concerns about reflecting heat” don’t quite cut it; the green color worked perfectly fine in all the near-orbit flights, and, according to the historian quoted at the end of this discussion thread, the silver color was just that: a silver “spray” on top of the nylon material.
But the silver color made sense on a cultural level: everything from the gleam of metallic ship hulls to shiny aliens-are-reading-my-brain-waves tin foil hats were used by writers to convey a sense of the futuristic. And it worked. Science fiction taught even the scientists at NASA to associate the color silver with space.
The color silver was so important, you can see that the two astronauts in the center -John Glenn and Deke Slayton- are actually wearing military boots that were spray painted for this infamous photo because the real boots weren't finished being made yet!
Telling Stories
So, fellow Science Communicators, we’ve already talked some about whether we count movie makers and their ilk among those of us trying to effectively communicate scientific ideas to the public. Is there an important difference between telling a story with science and telling a story about science?
If there is an important difference, what about when the fiction gets it right, like in the examples above? And how do we work with fiction creators like Isaac Asimov or George Lucas who have universally impacted the way people (including scientists) view science and technology?
p.s. Hugehugehuge thanks to Emil for telling me the NASA stories! <3
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Footy is AWESOME
Two Sundays ago (just before finals, hence the delay) I went with Ben to a footy match! Footy, otherwise known as Australian Rules Football, is possibly the BEST. SPORT. EVER.
Picture this: 50-odd superbly muscle-y young men in teeny tiny shorts tackling and dog-piling one another with a ball that bounces in random directions and a totally drunk crowd? It's barely contained chaos and I LOVE IT. XD I told Ben that there are only two things that could possibly make it better: one, front row seats, and two, if all the players were greased. ;P
Here is the game we saw (it's a little technical, but obviously good footage). Ben is from Fremantle, so of course we were Dockers fans. ^_^ Their colors are purple! We sat right behind one of the goals so got to see nearly everything that happened. And the Dockers won which made it that much more awesome. Here is the team singing their club song after the game.
Brain is still a little mushy, so I'll just end with a few more fabulous songs:
I listened to this song on repeat whilst studying for exams.
Here's another Adele song because I am completely in love with her.
I can't decide whether this is horrible or hilarious, but I can't stop watching it....I think the Hanson cameo makes it for me though (dammit, they are just as beautiful as I thought they were when I was nine years old ^^;;).
Picture this: 50-odd superbly muscle-y young men in teeny tiny shorts tackling and dog-piling one another with a ball that bounces in random directions and a totally drunk crowd? It's barely contained chaos and I LOVE IT. XD I told Ben that there are only two things that could possibly make it better: one, front row seats, and two, if all the players were greased. ;P
Here is the game we saw (it's a little technical, but obviously good footage). Ben is from Fremantle, so of course we were Dockers fans. ^_^ Their colors are purple! We sat right behind one of the goals so got to see nearly everything that happened. And the Dockers won which made it that much more awesome. Here is the team singing their club song after the game.
Brain is still a little mushy, so I'll just end with a few more fabulous songs:
I listened to this song on repeat whilst studying for exams.
Here's another Adele song because I am completely in love with her.
I can't decide whether this is horrible or hilarious, but I can't stop watching it....I think the Hanson cameo makes it for me though (dammit, they are just as beautiful as I thought they were when I was nine years old ^^;;).
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Adele is a Goddess
My brain is all mushy from my last exam (apparently it's cool to have test questions on stuff that definitely wasn't ever in lecture... Also, I'm pretty sure they started making up words just to screw with my head), so until I have enough brains/time to write about footy (yay footy!), you get this lovely lovely lovely lady to whom I've been listening repeatedly over the last few days.
See you in a few when my everything feels less bruised.
See you in a few when my everything feels less bruised.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Youtube Videos as a Substitute for Actual Information
All done with classes! Just finals now. The way to end a semester: literally dashing across campus to make it to the dropbox for that one last assignment before 5pm. >.>
Speaking of dashing, this post'll be short because I've got to catch the bus to get home so I can sleep before going to Denmark tomorrow. ^_^ So excited. Just wanted to say hai y'all dear readers, and leave you with a little of this awesomeness to tide you over the weekend. :D It's edu-tainment!
Loves!
P.S. Summer Heights High is HILARIOUS and I can't wait to watch more. <3
Speaking of dashing, this post'll be short because I've got to catch the bus to get home so I can sleep before going to Denmark tomorrow. ^_^ So excited. Just wanted to say hai y'all dear readers, and leave you with a little of this awesomeness to tide you over the weekend. :D It's edu-tainment!
Loves!
P.S. Summer Heights High is HILARIOUS and I can't wait to watch more. <3
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