Leap Year Links of the Day:
It comes around only once every four years... leap year.
But why do we have leap years in the first place?
Click here to find out... or here... or here...
(Yes, today I am too lazy to write the information that is already provided by a multitude of websites!)
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have leap day for a birthday? Or... If someone is born today, will they be 1 year old next year or not until 2008?
This website, dedicated to those born on leap day, will give you some information.
Did you know there was a World Wide Leap Year Festival?
Or a Leap Year Online Museum?
29 February 2004
28 February 2004
Techno Pack-Rat
According to my personal lexicon, a "techno-pack-rat" is person who can not delete any files or otherwise get rid of any obsolete electronic equipment.
My husband and I come from "pack-rat" families. Everybody knows somebody that just can't throw anything away... and for some reason everybody (with the exception of us) in each of our families are like that and we try really hard not to be that way. Of course, as time goes on we all accumulate junk, but unlike a pack rat, we can throw things away.
But one night, A. was going through the files on his computer and mentioned to me that he had files with creation dates of 1993! I asked if he was going to delete them... he hesitated... I asked if he REALLY needed them... he hesitated again. It was at this point that I called him a techno-pack-rat. We then traded verbal barbs for a few minutes, but now he will forever be my techno-pack-rat!
My husband and I come from "pack-rat" families. Everybody knows somebody that just can't throw anything away... and for some reason everybody (with the exception of us) in each of our families are like that and we try really hard not to be that way. Of course, as time goes on we all accumulate junk, but unlike a pack rat, we can throw things away.
But one night, A. was going through the files on his computer and mentioned to me that he had files with creation dates of 1993! I asked if he was going to delete them... he hesitated... I asked if he REALLY needed them... he hesitated again. It was at this point that I called him a techno-pack-rat. We then traded verbal barbs for a few minutes, but now he will forever be my techno-pack-rat!
27 February 2004
Cultural References
Sometimes I forget that A. didn't grow up in America (he's Austrian) and experience the phenomenon that was American Pop Culture in the 70s and 80s with me.
A few nights ago after pulling the sheets out of the dryer I wrapped them around me and proceeded to the living room chanting "TOGA TOGA." When A. looked at me with curiosity, I asked, "What no toga party?" He quite innocently replied back to me, "What's a toga party?"
After some cross-examination I learned he has never seen Animal House!!!
I guess I should have been tipped off the other day when I popped Ghostbusters into the DVD player and found out it was the first time he had seen it in English! (Don't you just love the language choice menus on DVD players?)
A few nights ago after pulling the sheets out of the dryer I wrapped them around me and proceeded to the living room chanting "TOGA TOGA." When A. looked at me with curiosity, I asked, "What no toga party?" He quite innocently replied back to me, "What's a toga party?"
After some cross-examination I learned he has never seen Animal House!!!
I guess I should have been tipped off the other day when I popped Ghostbusters into the DVD player and found out it was the first time he had seen it in English! (Don't you just love the language choice menus on DVD players?)
Doonesbury and $10K
I have only read Doonesbury sporadically through the years... but this is great!
23 February 2004
Anybody but Bush
Well, it is official. I had been waiting for Ralph Nader to announce that he was going to join the election race again. And now he has.
Now I am a (unofficial) member of the Anybody but Bush in 2004 Campaign, but I have serious reservations about Nader, especially since the fiasco of the 2000 election, which I believe was directly affected by Nader's campaign and the support he received from the populace. I don't exactly blame the people that voted for Nader last time. I mean, there really was very little difference between Bush and Gore. However, if it weren't for those who voted for Nader, Gore would have had no difficulty proving that he actually won the presidency. And if Gore were in the White House today, even after the disaster of September 11, I don't think there would be such an assault on fundamental American rights and civil liberties.
As for my election behavior in 2000, I supported the Libertarians. In fact, I voted almost a straight Libertarian ticket. In every race except the big one (president), I voted for them and I even seriously considered voting for their presidential candidate Harry Browne. But with the presidential race so close, I knew that any vote NOT for Gore was one FOR Bush. So, even though I had some serious misgivings about Gore, it was he that got my vote. And this time around, I feel even stronger in my anti-Bush sentiment. So, while I identify with the Libertarian philosophy, what is more important to me is getting Bush out of the White House.
Sure, I currently live on the other side of the Atlantic, and you might ask why I care one way or another. But living over here has given me a better perspective on the United States and its relationship to the world. The world is linked like never before and how the United States is perceived by and how we act toward the rest of the world is hugely important. There has been much hype about this whole "Anti-American" movement, but in truth people here are not so much "Anti-American" as they are "Anti-Bush."
... And besides, I just think Bush is a moron.
Now I am a (unofficial) member of the Anybody but Bush in 2004 Campaign, but I have serious reservations about Nader, especially since the fiasco of the 2000 election, which I believe was directly affected by Nader's campaign and the support he received from the populace. I don't exactly blame the people that voted for Nader last time. I mean, there really was very little difference between Bush and Gore. However, if it weren't for those who voted for Nader, Gore would have had no difficulty proving that he actually won the presidency. And if Gore were in the White House today, even after the disaster of September 11, I don't think there would be such an assault on fundamental American rights and civil liberties.
As for my election behavior in 2000, I supported the Libertarians. In fact, I voted almost a straight Libertarian ticket. In every race except the big one (president), I voted for them and I even seriously considered voting for their presidential candidate Harry Browne. But with the presidential race so close, I knew that any vote NOT for Gore was one FOR Bush. So, even though I had some serious misgivings about Gore, it was he that got my vote. And this time around, I feel even stronger in my anti-Bush sentiment. So, while I identify with the Libertarian philosophy, what is more important to me is getting Bush out of the White House.
Sure, I currently live on the other side of the Atlantic, and you might ask why I care one way or another. But living over here has given me a better perspective on the United States and its relationship to the world. The world is linked like never before and how the United States is perceived by and how we act toward the rest of the world is hugely important. There has been much hype about this whole "Anti-American" movement, but in truth people here are not so much "Anti-American" as they are "Anti-Bush."
... And besides, I just think Bush is a moron.
21 February 2004
Cat Wash!
Scooter is my 8 year old cat and he gets habitually gets dandruff near the base of his tail. Poor baby! He seems to just be a kitty with dry skin and in the wintertime it is worse than at any other time of the year. I brush him frequently, but sometimes the dandruff gets so bad he just needs a bath. Lately, his dandruff seems to have gotten worse, so I decided that today was bath day.
Some people may think that it is not possible to bathe a cat. Out of my three cats, I would agree that it would be impossible to bathe two of the three, but Scooter is different. He is a very mellow kitty and he lets me do just about anything to him. In addition, I have been bathing him 2-4 times a year since he was a kitten, so he is sort of used to it.
After brushing him thoroughly, it's time for the shower. Luckily, I have a movable shower head and can adjust the water pressure, so overall, bathing Scooter is relatively easy. And afterwards, he looks like a brand new cat!
Now, in case you are interested in giving your cat a bath, here are some pointers:
Some people may think that it is not possible to bathe a cat. Out of my three cats, I would agree that it would be impossible to bathe two of the three, but Scooter is different. He is a very mellow kitty and he lets me do just about anything to him. In addition, I have been bathing him 2-4 times a year since he was a kitten, so he is sort of used to it.
After brushing him thoroughly, it's time for the shower. Luckily, I have a movable shower head and can adjust the water pressure, so overall, bathing Scooter is relatively easy. And afterwards, he looks like a brand new cat!
Now, in case you are interested in giving your cat a bath, here are some pointers:
- DO NOT get his head wet
- DO NOT dunk him into a full tub of water
- Use warm (tepid) water
- Talk to him in a soothing voice
- Rinse well... He will, without doubt, give himself a bath when you are finished. DO NOT leave soap in his fur, as in the end he will ingest it.
- Dry thoroughly with a towel, DO NOT use a hair dryer!
18 February 2004
Movie Reviews
Yesterday, I watched 1.) The Hours and 2.) American Pie. I know, as far as films go they are on opposite ends of the Ricter Scale... but the educated, literature geek in me had been wanting to see The Hours since all of that Oscar-buzz about it last year, and the crude, immature, high school girl wanted to see American Pie (I may be educated, but I still enjoy toilet humor now and then), so I decided what the heck, I had all afternoon free...
I started with The Hours. I am still mulling over this movie in my mind. It was one of those movies you see and find yourself thinking about afterwards. It was obvious to me that there were many levels of meaning here and I am still contemplating them. The most apparent topics were depression, suicide, homosexuality, and the questioning of life decisions.
Now, I have studied literature and I am familiar with Virginia Woolf, though I have never read Mrs. Dalloway. I also know that this movie is based on a book (not Mrs. Dalloway, but one called The Hours, by Michael Cunningham). I must say, now that I have seen this movie I feel like I need to read both Mrs. Dalloway and The Hours to really appreciate it. Perhaps if I get enough ambition I will read them and then re-review the movie, but until then...
Virginia Woolf was well-known for writing in "stream of consciousness" style and I felt this movie was depicted in the same manner. In conjunction with the stream of consciousness style, this film was what I refer to as "a film of character". In other words, this movie wasn't about a particular event, it was about the characters. (As a matter of fact it takes place on one day in each of the three main characters lives'.) The cast did a superb job of portraying these characters, but until I began to understand the characters and how they related to one another, I didn't really understand where the movie was going.
This movie was a bit intimidating, very literate, yet sad and depressing. Yet, I think I can say I appreciated it for what it was. However, I would recommend this film only to those who appreciate movies that have more to them than cool special effects and explosions. On a scale of 1-5 stars (with 5 being the highest), I would give it 4.
Then, in order to cheer myself up a bit, I watched American Pie. I have seen the two other classic movies in the wacky sex-obsessed high school genre, namely Porky's and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, countless times. And while I found American Pie funny, compared to the afore mentioned movies, something was lacking... On my star scale, I can only give it a 2.
I started with The Hours. I am still mulling over this movie in my mind. It was one of those movies you see and find yourself thinking about afterwards. It was obvious to me that there were many levels of meaning here and I am still contemplating them. The most apparent topics were depression, suicide, homosexuality, and the questioning of life decisions.
Now, I have studied literature and I am familiar with Virginia Woolf, though I have never read Mrs. Dalloway. I also know that this movie is based on a book (not Mrs. Dalloway, but one called The Hours, by Michael Cunningham). I must say, now that I have seen this movie I feel like I need to read both Mrs. Dalloway and The Hours to really appreciate it. Perhaps if I get enough ambition I will read them and then re-review the movie, but until then...
Virginia Woolf was well-known for writing in "stream of consciousness" style and I felt this movie was depicted in the same manner. In conjunction with the stream of consciousness style, this film was what I refer to as "a film of character". In other words, this movie wasn't about a particular event, it was about the characters. (As a matter of fact it takes place on one day in each of the three main characters lives'.) The cast did a superb job of portraying these characters, but until I began to understand the characters and how they related to one another, I didn't really understand where the movie was going.
This movie was a bit intimidating, very literate, yet sad and depressing. Yet, I think I can say I appreciated it for what it was. However, I would recommend this film only to those who appreciate movies that have more to them than cool special effects and explosions. On a scale of 1-5 stars (with 5 being the highest), I would give it 4.
Then, in order to cheer myself up a bit, I watched American Pie. I have seen the two other classic movies in the wacky sex-obsessed high school genre, namely Porky's and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, countless times. And while I found American Pie funny, compared to the afore mentioned movies, something was lacking... On my star scale, I can only give it a 2.
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