January 2010
46 posts
December 2009
67 posts
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“I live on earth at present, and I don’t know what I am. I know that I am not a...”
– R. Buckminster Fuller (via joie de vivre)
For fallingandlaughing, who of late, has been having run-ins with the late great R. Buckminster Fuller. After playing with the buckyball magnets and trying to explain fullerines to my sister, I decided to read up on the old chap.
According to wikipedia,...
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How do we understand written language? →
Reading comprehension brought to you by your left fusiform gyrus.
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Nikon D3000
I’ve always thought it was funny that there’s only one person in the entire known universe that you literally can’t have sex with, that being yourself. It’s sort of the same with a camera- it’s literally the only thing you can’t take a picture of. So here’s a stock picture from google images of what my new camera looks like.
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Words wholly unrelated: clove and clove
Clove- the spice (used to delicious effect in Hot Toddys). This use of clove comes from the early 13th century, from Old French clou (de girofle) “nail (of clove)”, because its shape resembles a nail- from Latin clavus, “nail”. The Latin word comes from an even older Proto Indo European word for “slot” (see above).
Clove- of garlic. The name for hunks of...
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Words wholly related: key, close, clove, clef,...
So now I was thinking deeply about etymology. I know the word “clove” comes from the french clou, which means “nail”- cloves being nail-shaped oddities. But then I wondered about a similar sounding French word- cle, wicth means “key”, and all of the words that come along in that family- clef, clavicle? Were these somehow related, too?
It turns out, clove,...
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“somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”
– carl sagan (billions and billions of stars…) (via raeraerae)
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Christmas antics at Chateau Scheiner
About three years ago my dad bought the world crappiest Christmas tree. He was sold on it by the man at the tree lot who told him it was “All natural”. ….. I don’t know what that means, either, because of course it’s natural, it’s a god damn tree. The tree in question was about 5 feet tall and 1 foot in diameter. It appeared to have been cut from some...
New York Love, continued
The baristas at Ciao For Now on 12th street recognize me when I come in this morning. “Where have you been?” they ask. “Your hair is so cute!” they remark. They haven’t seen me since I chopped it off over the summer. I’ll be the first to admit my sentimentality here- I smiled every sip through my cafe au lait.
East Village, New York. I love this place.
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Some thoughts on coming back to New York
I’m walking from the A to the L at 8th Ave like I did every day, like I’ve never stopped. Beforehand, I had tried to predict what it would feel like- would I be giddy to retrace the steps from one of the happiest times in my life; would I be nostalgic or sad? I was so busy thinking about what it would feel like that I missed the real-life sensation. But then it was even better that...
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Nerd Nite at Galapagos...
…is full of Olde Reedies. Go figure- Pabst-drinking Reedies turn into Brooklyn hipster/nerds.
http://nyc.nerdnite.com/
In case it hasn't been perfectly clear: I love New...
Already I’ve run into two people I know- a banjo player from the Grizzly Pear and my co-teacher from last year. I never run into friends in Boulder. This is the kind of thing that let’s me know I’m home.
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In other Olde Reed news . . .
I just discovered my friend Danny Toman on tumblr. We started at Reed way back in the day. Funny story- the first time I ever did mushrooms, while tripping balls, I had an out of body experience; not only was I in several places simultaneously, but when I came back to my physical location, I realized that I had become my friend Danny. By attempting to act sober, I had inadvertently channeled...
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Pickles are the new cupcakes →
(via amyisgone: via somethingchanged)
YES! Heck yes.
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In other neuroscience news
I’m observing at the Boulder Neuropathology Center today. I’ve been waiting literally all semester.
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Fuckyeahnervoussystem →
My Neuroscience Tuesdays are pretty much over: I take my final tomorrow. Luckily, I found a neuroscience blog to keep me and all you other tumblr nerds sated. You all should probably follow this one.
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Geminids Meteor Shower
This is what I’ll be watching tonight: preferably up on Flagstaff Mountain with some friends, some blankets, and some peppermint schnapps hot cocoa.
Apparently, tonight is optimum meteor-spotting time. So get up on your roof and check it out.
madeofstarstuff:
The Geminids are a meteor shower caused by an object named 3200 Phaethon, which is thought to be an extinct comet. The meteors...
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Nerd Nite →
December 17th, 8 pm @ Galapagos Art Space (16 Main Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn).
There’s going to be a presentation about WWII cryptography. I’m so there. Get your tickets, they’re only $10.
*Thanks to Sherry who posted about the event
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On Language
How astonishing it is that language can almost mean, and frightening that it does not quite. Love, we say, God, we say, Rome and Michiko, we write, and the words get it all wrong. We say bread and it means according to which nation. French has no word for home, and we have no word for strict pleasure. A people in northern India is dying out because their ancient tongue has no words for...
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Ignite Boulder 7 →
Very excited for my second Ignite- with Beth and Matt.
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Things NOT to do in NYC in the winter →
42. Celebrate Chinese New Year Ring in the Year of the Tiger with festivities throughout the city, including the 11th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival and the Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival. At the latter, expect firecrackers meant to ward off evil spirits. Traditional and contemporary Asian-American singers and dancers will perform, and a dozen lion, dragon and...
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101 Things To Do In NY In The Winter →
80. Take a nature walk The focus of “Wildman” Steve Brill’s nature walks isn’t foliage but food. We’re talking edible plants, mushrooms, berries, nuts, and even roots. And let’s be honest: if the economy continues the way it’s going, we’re all going to need to know a little survivalism. Brill’s website lists tour dates and locations, as well as cost and what to bring; there are two more...
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101 Things To Do In NY In The Winter →
59. Take a $10 pool/sauna escape at Grace, A Room Mate Hotel Don’t be deterred by the fact that this mod boutique hotel is in Times Square. Once you’ve elbowed your way through the tourists, you’ll be rewarded with access to a luxe steam room, sauna and indoor pool—for just $10 all day. Bask in the amber glow, order cocktails at the swim-up bar and make friends with visiting Greek...
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101 Things To Do In NY In The Winter →
51. Take a bus tour of Christmas lights in Brooklyn If you want to see the onslaught of Christmas lights that drowns Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Canarsie each year, you have a few choices. You can sign up for the Slice of Brooklyn Christmas Lights and Cannoli bus tour (212-209-3370,asliceofbrooklyn.com; schedule varies, $55); you can join Time’s Up’s annualLights in the Heights 25-mile bicycle...
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101 Things To Do In NY In The Winter →
36. See classic NYC photography at the Museum of the City of New York When the wind is howling, you can’t feel your legs, and the piles of blackened snow are higher than your waist, you might need a reminder as to why you continue to live here. The exhibit “Only in New York: Photographs from Look Magazine”captures the spirit of NYC perfectly. Images on view include several by filmmaker Stanley...
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101 Things To Do In NY In The Winter →
(link via zoelulu)