Sunday, September 07, 2008

Flippity Floppity

Spouse, observing tonight's bath: "What are you doing with your peanut?"

WB, holding himself: "I'm making it go flippity floppity to see if any yellow water will come out."

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In my own words

I'm currently reading Kings or People: Power and the Mandate to Rule, by Reinhold Bendix, which is long and somewhat tedious, but has some very important stuff in it. As per my standard practice, I take notes on everything I read, putting the main ideas into my own words.

So when Bendix talks about the formation of Islamic empires, he traces it back to Mecca establishing itself as a holy space pre-Muhammad where no blood-feuds could be practiced. This "safe haven" label is what helped establish Mecca as a center for commerce in the Arabian world. Looking over my notes, I wrote, "Forbidding bloodshed makes Mecca a Mecca."

Bendix probably said it better, if not more concisely.

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Friday, September 05, 2008

The Latest

Please make a note that I am a lazy crocheter who does not check my gauge with a swatch before starting a project, despite being warned repeatedly that I should do so. I am also lazy enough to use the wrong sized hook if I can't find the correct hook but really want to start something.

Witness: DQ's back-to-school sweater.



It does not fit her. It almost fits me. Oh, well.

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Thursday, September 04, 2008

The Great Debate

So, I'm not watching the RNC. It angers up the blood a bit too much. But my mailbox had all sorts of info on it today, and then there was this:

Baskin Robbins has a contest where you can vote for your preferred new ice cream flavor: Straight Talk Crunch or Whirl of Change. I guess I should thank my lucky stars that it wasn't Chocolate vs. Vanilla.


By the way, I will ALWAYS pick Chocolate in that matchup. Just like I prefer dark meat at Thanksgiving. Big surprise.

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Wednesday, September 03, 2008

I Found It

Thanks to all the commenters who suggested things to make me smile. I found something just right:



Michael Palin brings SexyBack!

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Monday, September 01, 2008

A Terrible Horrible No-Good, Very Bad Day

I'm in need of a pick-me-up. Anybody out there got a priceless YouTube or internet gem they want to share with me? I'll start the ball rolling with something Nate sent me last week: The Top 11 Naughtiest Moments in Animaniacs.

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Gustav: How to Help

Elle's got some links on how to help people evacuating Gustav. Please please please check it out and help if you can. I have fled a hurricane. And it freakin' sucks. I evacuated for Hurricane Rita in 2005. 3 weeks after Katrina, we were taking no chances. It was a horrible experience. Even if you have money, and family support, and a car, and a job that has allowed you to go. It still sucks.

And it's scary. Just not knowing what you will come to. So when I take a moment and think about all those people facing such a scary, difficult, even deadly undertaking without the sorts of privilege and resources that I had, I'm floored. So once again, give if you can.

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Gustav

To Miss M, the in-laws, and all the rest on the gulf coast, stay safe. We're thinking of you.

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Friday, August 29, 2008

It's never too late to say, "Sorry, we were misogynist assholes"

This story talks about the exoneration of one of the last witches executed in Europe. I take issue with the article's specifics ("several thousand"? Try tens of thousands... probably 40,000 to 100,000 at best scholarly estimate, but hey, what's a few thousand troublemaking women more or less? And "mostly women" should be "overwhelmingly women"), but I do appreciate their recognition that there was something wrong. Go Switzerland.

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