Matzo is the most crumb-inducing food of all
Egg matzo spread with butter and sprinkled with salt. Yum.
I was trying to think of an excuse to buy some fleur de sel, and this might be it.
March 2011
45 posts
Today was altogether Good
So, turns out I’m not writing a thesis. Somebody got the dates mixed up and I would have had to have it ready by Friday which was NOT HAPPENING. So I am taking a comp exam instead and still graduating in May. Yay! Less work for me! Not that I didn’t love my thesis topic, but I’m still going to use that research because I’ll be tested on it and frankly, with 6 classes besides, trying to write it was killing me.
Also, went to the new giant asian market and bought lots of frozen steamed buns, weird tofu things, and japanese candy. Good Day.
“I often see parents try to manipulate their children into taking extraordinary measures and forgoing their own happiness/quality of life so that the parents can maintain their lives as they would like to have them.”
Gah. Dealing with just this right now. Not my parents, but my SO’s, who are adamant about not letting him use his own money to make sure we have better living conditions next year. Just so that they won’t have to deal with it/us/anything, because they just do not give enough of a shit to let us be happy.
Jeff Winger and I have the same phone.
Justified!
Wow - “Sounds like a love story.”
I had never thought of it before, but Raylan/Boyd slash would probably be really awesome. I think Raylan’s the top.
Marry Durham
Just came back from a nice street fair down the road from my apt. The theme was “Marry Durham” and there were lots of people in wedding get-ups. The idea was a bit weird but fun, and I got to check out Fullsteam and Motorco for the first time, which was cool. (Motorco is having a fetish-themed party at the end of April which I’m thinking about attending)
Most importantly, there were a lot of food trucks there. We got a Kimchi quesadilla from Bulkogi (pretty yum) and some pizza from Klausie’s (decent, but not worth the 15 minute wait.) Thus I knocked two off of my list of durham foods to try.
Fringe
I am so glad there is an our-universe Lincoln.
Yum.
My Brain Is Trying To Kill Me.: On 'difficult' names →
14kgoldnyc.tumblr.com
(inspired by Maritsa’s post)
People are lazy. Especially White people when faced with something they don’t already know. That is the only possible explanation, because, honestly, how hard is it to ask someone to correct you if you’re mispronouncing their name? When I was teaching at City College,…
Yes! This is partly why my own thesis advisor, whom I spend more time with than any one else at my school, still gets my name comically badly wrong. I think I corrected him once a long time ago, but it was already too late.
Smells like 2011
Friend: what would your signature scent be?
Me: a gin martini and anger.Lemon and leather, with a hint of sweaty sportsbra.
Whiskey, Foucault, and eye-rolling.
Cocoa butter, eye shadow, and tremendous bitch.
Kimchee, fresh grass(…) and hot sex.
Pizza, old books, and flannel sheets
How Many of Me
There is only one person with my first and last name - me.
However, my first name is rare but not nonexistent among Indians, I know.
And the situation with my last name is a bit more complicated, since it’s a foreign last name that had to be transliterated into English at some point. So while there are very, very few people who have my last name as I and my immediate family spell it, there are actually quite a few out there with phonetic variations on it - essentially the same last name.
The Ides of March
I’ve never been a huge fan of Caesar. As much as I am progressive in my modern life, when I imagine myself as a part of ancient history, I see myself siding with the conservatives.
Is it strange to have this kind of bias? I really don’t know. Of course, when I write and research in history, I try very hard to be objective. However, on a personal level, I know who I like and don’t like:
Cicero: annoying but useful
Clodius: hateful little bastard
Caesar: smart, opportunistic weasel
Pompey: witless and bumbling (as a politician, at least)
Cato the Younger: loveable curmudgeon
I can certainly see people having other opinions on these figures. But still, if you live and work with their history every day, you can’t help but starting to feel something about them.
And, as someone who loves the intrigue and political conflict of the Republican period, I can’t help but despise Caesar, who brought on the end of it all, and favor the conservatives in the Senate, who wanted to preserve the old order. Of course, that’s a totally glib statement, and the truth of the fall of the Republic was much, much more complicated than that.
Still, I think if I were there on this day in 44 B.C.E., I’d be happy to stick a knife in Caesar’s back.
Does that make me a bad person (or worse, a bad historian)?
I'm not a serious internet presence.
I don’t think I’m very good at being serious or offering timely critique, so I don’t offer a lot on serious topics.
But, I was raised in the shadow of Three Mile Island. I’ve chilled on the shores of the Susquehanna and watched the smoke roll from the remaining reactors with feelings of respect, gratitude, and fear.
What’s going on at the Fukushima plant wrecks me.
It’s strange too, because, of course, we’ve got one of the few nuclear plants I’ve ever seen right here in NC - right next to highway #1 on the way into Raleigh. Before today, I have always been happy to see that big steam-emitting smoke-stack on my drive up from my hometown. I’m not exactly sure how I will feel next time I go by.
I’ve always been a nuclear power advocate - I think it’s the only real solution to our carbon output problems, and a necessary step to mitigate climate change. However, what is happening in Japan is very scary. It makes you think that no matter what, nuclear power is dangerous in ways that are impossible to completely safeguard against.
I read something today that said that many times more people have died just from the results of inhaling particulate matter from dirty energy plants than have ever died in nuclear reactor accidents. And I suppose that is probably true, and maybe should be a comfort.
Still, it raises two questions for me. Is it worth it? To that, I want to say, in the long run, yes. We have an idea of the devastating effects of climate change, especially on the most vulnerable populations. But as much as rationally, I believe that, I hesitate to say it.
The other question is, will the spectre of the potential nuclear disasters in Japan eliminate the already slim possibility of the U.S. investing in more nuclear power plants, and thus moving away from coal and other carbon-based energy? I’m really afraid that the answer is yes.
Mange Durham!
I think one of my goals for my last couple of months of independent life (i.e. before the boyfriend moves down here for good) might be to try all of the awesome sounding food places in the area that I haven’t been to yet.
Carpe Durham (http://carpedurham.com/) always makes my mouth water.
Play
Reblog if you have naturally curly hair.
And everybody wants to know why I don’t straighten or loc it.
It was *really fun* (sarcasm) when I was growing up and everyone was getting perms left and right and yet my natural curls were made fun of all the time. Kids are mean.
My hair was a total mess until high school. My mom also has curly hair, but she never knew what to do with hers either, so she would brush mine out into a giant frizzy pyramid, and I would look ridiculous all the time. Which lead to me only wearing my hair up in a bun for years and years, until I got my first straightener.
These days I wouldn’t really mind wearing my hair curly, but my curl pattern has changed so much over the years - now it’s just barely wavy with no real shape at all versus the corkscrews of my earlier years. So it just flops around looking more friz than curl if I don’t straighten it.
My Brain Is Trying To Kill Me.: Dalai Lama To Relinquish Political Role →
14kgoldnyc.tumblr.com
The Dalai Lama said Thursday that he will give up his political role in the Tibetan government-in-exile and shift that power to an elected representative, as the 76-year-old Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader struggles with growing worries about who will succeed him when he…
I am interested in this development. One of the things that always puts me off about Free Tibet activists is that a lot of them don’t realize that before the Chinese came in, Tibet was basically a theocracy run by the monks. Now, I think that the Tibetan people have the right to self-determination, and should not have to suffer Chinese occupation. But I also don’t think that the previous system was one that we in the West would look on so charitably if it weren’t for the fact that we have all decided we like the Dalai Lama and don’t see how Buddhism, like any other religion, is not the basis for a credible state.
Trash Bunnies
My bunnies are trash bunnies. If there is a trash bag around, they will attack it. Even the paper bag that I keep the recycling in, and which is only full of inedible cans and bottles - that one they decide to jump at in the middle of the night until all of the cans come out and scare the crap out of them.
Sometimes I totally hate them.
“In 30 minutes, 18 State Senators undid fifty years of civil rights in Wisconsin. Their disrespect for the people of Wisconsin and their rights is an outrage that will never be forgotten. Tonight, 18 Senate Republicans conspired to take government away from the people. Tomorrow, we will join the people of Wisconsin in taking back their government.”
—
- Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller (via laughsindoors)
This is so, so sad. It is clear that these people are not interested in doing what’s best for their constituents (i.e. actually dealing with Wisconsin’s financial issues) and are just out to make a partisan point, no matter the consequences. Depressing.
Has anyone heard any more about the recall efforts? I had heard that there was a move to recall quite a few of the recently-elected Republican state reps, because by law the votes that put them in office were close enough to allow for a recall if enough signatures were gathered in their districts. However, I have no idea if this is actually happening.
So Far Today
Ate half a loaf of sourdough. Delicious.
Called my (paternal) grandmother, to wish her a happy birthday.
Painted my nails with Lippman Glitter in the Air layered over Orly Gumdrop.
Did not:
Clean, Work on my thesis.
Almost totally worth it
My sourdough loaves are beautiful.
Slave to Sourdough
When I started a new sourdough loaf recipe today I did not know its timing would require me to bake it at 4am.
It better be fucking delicious.
Hey! If you're in the market for sex toys, I strongly suggest going by Frisky Business on Miami Blvd. They are fucking awesome. I may persuade the Mister to go there this weekend too.
I have driven by that place so so many times! Good to hear that it’s legit - I’m always wary of new sex stores. Might warrant a visit while my beau’s in town for spring break.
Camile/Rush
I could totally see shipping them. I am into her HBIC attitude. I don’t know if it’s ever been confirmed whether she’s a lesbian or bisexual, so it could work. I guess I’d feel sorry for her adorable partner back on earth, though.
Also
I am totally getting the Rush thing. He is super hot in this ep. But this hotness should in no way be wasted on Chloe.
Watching the new ep of SGU
Chloe and Matt, no one cares about your stupid, lame relationship. The only reason you even have one is because, of course, the writers needed to get the two most stereotypically attractive people together. You are lame and boring and I hate watching your “romantic” moments more than anything else on this show. Please, go get dissected by some aliens and die.
Firstly, how could I not follow someone whose crotch is made of magnets? It's physics! I have to be attracted to you!
Secondly, it's good to meet like minded people in the same place, ya know? And we will have a tumblr group sci-fi date soon.
Please, let’s! You know what I like …
damekatharsis replied to your post: damekatharsis replied to your photo: Ain’t that…
There has got to be a way to work Dana Carvey into a discussion of Hellenistic art. OH, I KNOW. Make a new video starring Wayne & Garth on Greek art and call it Athenian Rhapsody.
Is this the Greek life? Is this democracy?
Caught in a brainstorm. Need to make this reality.
Don’t open your eyes, Medusa turns guys to stoooone.
I’m just an archon, in the ekklesia
I am an asshole.
I just came back from a night out dancing with this girl I just started to be friends with. We had a lot of fun, and seemed to click as friends.
However, she did two things that irked me. She invoked strangely colored people in the context of a larger problematic statement (e.g. “I don’t care if you’re black or white or green or purple, but I feel uncomfortable if you’re all thugged out”) and when I said “I’ve never met any purple or green people” shrugged it off - and she asked me “where are you from?” (and gave me that disappointed look I get from a lot of people when I reply “North Carolina.”)
So, I linked to the stuff white people do page here: http://stuffwhitepeopledo.blogspot.com/2009/03/invoke-strangely-colored-people.html
and this: http://www.npr.org/blogs/tellmemore/2008/05/the_dreaded_question_where_are.html
(though I was hoping to find a video of the aziz ansari bit, since it’s more lighthearded)
on my facebook. Which she will undoubtedly see.
I hope I have not made her not want to be my friend, because I do actually like her a lot and I think a lot of this is just down to ignorance.
I guess it’s terribly passive aggressive. But at least it’s something? I’m not good at being direct about this stuff. Maybe someday I’ll learn.
First Day of Spring Break
Lay around in bed until noon.
Go to the beauty store for manicure stuff and then Home Depot to pick up soil and peat pots.
Come home and try to re-pot seedlings. This is complicated by the fact that the bunnies really want to eat them. Break some of the stems in the process and hope they’ll magically survive.
Think about making lunch but realize you’ll have to clean the kitchen first. Do nails instead.
I must be having a bad day
Because I just wrote a response paper about The Handmaid’s Tale (which is such a wonderful, if upsetting book, which I have read many times) that basically said “Yeah, it could totally happen here.”
Summer Wardrobe!
I have been itching to buy a new summer wardrobe ever since the weather started getting freakishly warm here and there.
Every season I have a new wardrobe strategy that I stick to with a vengance. This past fall/winter it was jeggings, t-shirts and cardigans. I think this summer it may be tank tops and leggings under sundresses.
This one in particular is calling my name:
Cautiously Optimistic
So, the bf just had a really good phone interview with Duke, in which they basically told him he’s in, but not “officially.”
So, so, so happy. I was really starting to get nervous.
Now I’m fantasizing about us buying a house, and growing a real garden, and living together in the kind of domestic bliss I’ve been dreaming of for the past 3 years of our LTD.
Notably Irritating Comments from last night's Interracial Intimacies class
“It just seems to me that non-white people have so much more culture and sense of community than white people. I don’t know why …”
“I would never identify myself as a white person - it’s just not an important fact about me. I wonder why that is?”
Most of the people in that class are great, but the two WASPy white girls are JUST NOT GETTING IT.
