The fourth floor of the campus library. Silence is the law. The only sounds are the turning of a few pages.
Yet I could hear the books screaming at me. As I walked by they flashed their golden words, like official badges, like name cards, like the skirts of flamenco dancers, trying to cause me to pause, pick them up and take them home. Like dogs at the humane society, row upon row, yapping, barking, baying, whining, pawing for someone to stop and pay attention.
I had wandered there for some time, mingling with the books like one does at a social gathering.
This introduction was made to me, "If you have never met Sherlock Holmes, you have already wasted too much time. Take this slim volume away immediately to some sequestered safehouse and begin your involvement."* "Oh, fine!" I cried in a whisper, mentally throwing up my hands. I clapped the book onto my stack.
From rows away I heard the Icelandic literature calling me, while golden
letters on a binding caught my eye as I marched to answer the call.
I mentioned that this was a campus library, and that is the beauty of it. Shelves of classics and books about the authors. Books in French, books on language, oh what a glorious colloquy of the ancients! For now that I have my degree, I actually have time to read these books.
Reference:
*The quote is from the Foreward in A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Editor: Sandy Lesberg. Peebles Press International, New York:1975.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Monday, September 2, 2013
Results of "Who is your favorite Star Trek Character?" Poll.
The question: Who is your favorite Star Trek Character?
The poll was open for two weeks.
The Results:
Captain Kirk: 3 votes (30%)
Spock: 6 votes (60%)
Scotty: 4 votes (40%)
Sulu: 0
Uhura: 0
Checkov: 2 votes (20%)
Bones: 1 vote (10%)
Other: 0
Ranking:
1. Spock
2. Scotty
3. Captain Kirk
4. Checkov
5. Bones
Spock is the winner!
The poll was open for two weeks.
The Results:
Captain Kirk: 3 votes (30%)
Spock: 6 votes (60%)
Scotty: 4 votes (40%)
Sulu: 0
Uhura: 0
Checkov: 2 votes (20%)
Bones: 1 vote (10%)
Other: 0
Ranking:
1. Spock
2. Scotty
3. Captain Kirk
4. Checkov
5. Bones
Spock is the winner!
 |
| Spock, original and new |
Friday, August 23, 2013
The Secret Life of Socks
What if the explanation behind missing socks is
not that the dryer ate them? What if there is more to it than meets the eye, something just as sinister?
Think about it. What if the socks are not the victims...but the villains? Urban tradition has it that they are eaten by the big bad dryers. Yes, this does happen, I've seen the photos. But the dryers might not always be to blame.
Socks don't have a very nice life. Although I've never sat down to discuss job satisfaction with socks, I wouldn't be surprised if it was low. Frequently in close contact with human feet, often sweaty and smelly ones, being walked all over, and as a result wearing down and suffering gaping wounds. What thanks do they get? None. Once deemed useless, it's into the trash with the banana peels.
In their non-working hours, they are folded up with another sock who is no choice of theirs. Who knows if they like each others' society? In fact, this is probably why one sock always goes missing before the other. They leave alone because they don't care a straw for their match.
And so, the socks slip away... One by one in the dead of night, out of the laundry basket freshly clean, they make their escape, cleverly framing the poor dryer.
Socks are not the silent victims of the dryer. Oh no, they are the real villains, deserting their posts, whenever they see the chance and laying the blame on others.
Think about it. What if the socks are not the victims...but the villains? Urban tradition has it that they are eaten by the big bad dryers. Yes, this does happen, I've seen the photos. But the dryers might not always be to blame.
Socks don't have a very nice life. Although I've never sat down to discuss job satisfaction with socks, I wouldn't be surprised if it was low. Frequently in close contact with human feet, often sweaty and smelly ones, being walked all over, and as a result wearing down and suffering gaping wounds. What thanks do they get? None. Once deemed useless, it's into the trash with the banana peels.
In their non-working hours, they are folded up with another sock who is no choice of theirs. Who knows if they like each others' society? In fact, this is probably why one sock always goes missing before the other. They leave alone because they don't care a straw for their match.
And so, the socks slip away... One by one in the dead of night, out of the laundry basket freshly clean, they make their escape, cleverly framing the poor dryer.
Socks are not the silent victims of the dryer. Oh no, they are the real villains, deserting their posts, whenever they see the chance and laying the blame on others.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Double L
Old English looks like Welsh and Icelandic combined. And yet it looks a bit like German.
Speaking of Welsh and Icelandic, double L, "ll" makes the same sound in both these languages and is unlike anything in present day English. It is a voiceless lateral fricative (Ll - Wikipedia). According to one Icelandic pronunciation video, this sound is made by placing one's tongue to one side of the mouth and blowing. It works for me.
Watch this video to hear the sound.
Speaking of Welsh and Icelandic, double L, "ll" makes the same sound in both these languages and is unlike anything in present day English. It is a voiceless lateral fricative (Ll - Wikipedia). According to one Icelandic pronunciation video, this sound is made by placing one's tongue to one side of the mouth and blowing. It works for me.
Watch this video to hear the sound.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Scotty is my favorite Star Trek character
I grew up watching Star Trek, but I didn't have much choice. It was my dad's favorite TV show. As a teen, I became a bit anti-Star Trek. I didn't like Captain Kirk all that much. He was supposed to be the handsome one in the show, and I didn't think he was handsome, plus I didn't like his character. He was selfish at times, and always having relationships that only lasted the length of one episode. So I didn't like him. I didn't like Bones either. He always had a frown on, and he didn't like Spock.
My favorite characters were Mr. Spock and Mr. Scott. Now, everybody likes Spock, except Bones, so I'm not going to go into why he's a cool character.
Mr. Montgomery Scott (Scotty), on the other hand, is rather under-appreciated. So here is a list of reasons why he is my favorite character:
1. He has a Scottish accent.
2. He is the ship's engineer. Nothing screams manly to me quite like "mechanical engineer," except for "soldier."
3. Always ready for a fight, but yet not entirely without self-control.
4. He doesn't fall in love with every pretty girl. And when he does, it's cute puppy love, yet he's ready to stand by her no matter what.
5. He's brave. One time they needed to test a certain drug that would put a person to sleep, but it was dangerous because there was no surety that the person would wake up --ever. Scotty agreed to be the guinea pig and be put to sleep, while saying that he wanted to wake up in time for the fighting.
Now in the new movie, Star Trek, Into Darkness (2013), the characters were pretty much the same as the originals. Kirk is an egotistical flirt. Bones still has the propensity to swear. Spock is still logic "man." And Scotty is still my favorite character.
What I really like about Scotty in Into Darkness, is that he stood by his principles, yet is loyal to his Enterprise friends.
Kirk was having questionable explosives loaded on the Enterprise for a questionable mission. Everyone questioned the mission, but Scotty acted. When asked to sign the papers approving these explosives and thus putting the ship in danger, Scotty refused. A refusal could not be brooked by the captain, so Scotty resigned. He left the ship and the ship left without him. He stood alone and acted on his principles.
However, despite this, he didn't bear any hard feelings towards Kirk deep down. Kirk called him and asked him to check out a clue for him, and despite calling him "James Tiberius perfect hair" and giving a solid verbal refusal, as soon as the call was over he got up and did what was requested of him. Such a funny scene!
In the original series, Scotty is played by James Doohan. In the 2009 and 2013 films, he is played by Simon Pegg.
My favorite characters were Mr. Spock and Mr. Scott. Now, everybody likes Spock, except Bones, so I'm not going to go into why he's a cool character.
Mr. Montgomery Scott (Scotty), on the other hand, is rather under-appreciated. So here is a list of reasons why he is my favorite character:
1. He has a Scottish accent.
2. He is the ship's engineer. Nothing screams manly to me quite like "mechanical engineer," except for "soldier."
3. Always ready for a fight, but yet not entirely without self-control.
4. He doesn't fall in love with every pretty girl. And when he does, it's cute puppy love, yet he's ready to stand by her no matter what.
5. He's brave. One time they needed to test a certain drug that would put a person to sleep, but it was dangerous because there was no surety that the person would wake up --ever. Scotty agreed to be the guinea pig and be put to sleep, while saying that he wanted to wake up in time for the fighting.
Now in the new movie, Star Trek, Into Darkness (2013), the characters were pretty much the same as the originals. Kirk is an egotistical flirt. Bones still has the propensity to swear. Spock is still logic "man." And Scotty is still my favorite character.
What I really like about Scotty in Into Darkness, is that he stood by his principles, yet is loyal to his Enterprise friends.
Kirk was having questionable explosives loaded on the Enterprise for a questionable mission. Everyone questioned the mission, but Scotty acted. When asked to sign the papers approving these explosives and thus putting the ship in danger, Scotty refused. A refusal could not be brooked by the captain, so Scotty resigned. He left the ship and the ship left without him. He stood alone and acted on his principles.
However, despite this, he didn't bear any hard feelings towards Kirk deep down. Kirk called him and asked him to check out a clue for him, and despite calling him "James Tiberius perfect hair" and giving a solid verbal refusal, as soon as the call was over he got up and did what was requested of him. Such a funny scene!
In the original series, Scotty is played by James Doohan. In the 2009 and 2013 films, he is played by Simon Pegg.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Savor the Flavor...of Books!
Certain books strike me as having different flavors.
Books and food. It's not a bad analogy really. The reader ingests and then digests the material, retaining nourishment for the mind. To take the analogy further, sometimes a person doesn't digest the materiel very well and then just regurgitates it (typically this happens in school). With food, the eater ingests it and it is then digested in the body for nourishment. Sometimes it only makes it to the stomach; after summary digestion it is regurgitated. While some food is unhealthy "junk food," there are also unhealthy "junk books."
But, back to the flavors. Two of the first books that struck me as having a flavor were The Lord of the Rings and The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow. After those realizations, I pondered a bit and made comparisions between other books and food.
Here is a list below of different books and their flavors:
The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien - Ice cold lemon water. It's pure, refreshing, and wholesome. The flavor is magical yet with out an sugar added. I think I made this connection because the first time I had lemon water, it was at an outdoor dance. The atmosphere was almost magical. We were all dressed prettily in long elegant gowns we had sewn. We wore no shoes and felt the cool grass beneath our bare feet. Strands of lights illuminated the yard. Light, classy refreshments were served on a side table. And there in a clear dispenser was the ice cold lemon water, so rejuvenating on that summer night.
The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow, by Allen French - Cold Icelandic spring water. When I'd first read it, I'd likened it to fresh spring water, but now that I've been to Iceland and drank the water there, I insist that it is Icelandic spring water, like what comes right out of the tap over there!
The Complete Richard Hannay, by John Buchan - Espresso. Rich earthy flavor, strong and warm. It also has the same effects on me as too much caffeine in my system! I get hyper. When talking about Richard Hannay, I start talking really fast and excitedly (like when I drink too much coffee). Similarly, I also want to do some sort of physical activity, like ride a bike and feel the wind in my face, exercise, fight, lift weights, run around, jump over things or dive under them! These books get my blood pumping!
Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand - This one I don't associate with a flavor, but rather a sound. Imagine the sound of a violin rising to the stars in a lonely crescendo in the night air under a full white moon. If I were to pick a flavor, I think it would be some sort of wine. Something that's not quite as sweet as rosé.
I asked my friends on facebook if they associate different books with flavors. Here is what they had to say:
A Song of Ice and Fire series, by George R. R. Martin - "The milk at the end of a bowl of Honeycomb."
The Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder - A bowl of stew. A second friend chimed in, agreeing with this description.
Sherlock Holmes series, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - A cup of steaming of black tea.
The Girl of the Limberlost, and The Harvester, both by Gene Stratton Porter- A thick mint milk shake. "Refreshing but something to let melt in your mouth a little."
Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen - An ice cream parfait in a fancy glass. She found the book to have different layers.
Books and food. It's not a bad analogy really. The reader ingests and then digests the material, retaining nourishment for the mind. To take the analogy further, sometimes a person doesn't digest the materiel very well and then just regurgitates it (typically this happens in school). With food, the eater ingests it and it is then digested in the body for nourishment. Sometimes it only makes it to the stomach; after summary digestion it is regurgitated. While some food is unhealthy "junk food," there are also unhealthy "junk books."
But, back to the flavors. Two of the first books that struck me as having a flavor were The Lord of the Rings and The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow. After those realizations, I pondered a bit and made comparisions between other books and food.
Here is a list below of different books and their flavors:
The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien - Ice cold lemon water. It's pure, refreshing, and wholesome. The flavor is magical yet with out an sugar added. I think I made this connection because the first time I had lemon water, it was at an outdoor dance. The atmosphere was almost magical. We were all dressed prettily in long elegant gowns we had sewn. We wore no shoes and felt the cool grass beneath our bare feet. Strands of lights illuminated the yard. Light, classy refreshments were served on a side table. And there in a clear dispenser was the ice cold lemon water, so rejuvenating on that summer night.
The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow, by Allen French - Cold Icelandic spring water. When I'd first read it, I'd likened it to fresh spring water, but now that I've been to Iceland and drank the water there, I insist that it is Icelandic spring water, like what comes right out of the tap over there!
The Complete Richard Hannay, by John Buchan - Espresso. Rich earthy flavor, strong and warm. It also has the same effects on me as too much caffeine in my system! I get hyper. When talking about Richard Hannay, I start talking really fast and excitedly (like when I drink too much coffee). Similarly, I also want to do some sort of physical activity, like ride a bike and feel the wind in my face, exercise, fight, lift weights, run around, jump over things or dive under them! These books get my blood pumping!
Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand - This one I don't associate with a flavor, but rather a sound. Imagine the sound of a violin rising to the stars in a lonely crescendo in the night air under a full white moon. If I were to pick a flavor, I think it would be some sort of wine. Something that's not quite as sweet as rosé.
I asked my friends on facebook if they associate different books with flavors. Here is what they had to say:
A Song of Ice and Fire series, by George R. R. Martin - "The milk at the end of a bowl of Honeycomb."
The Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder - A bowl of stew. A second friend chimed in, agreeing with this description.
Sherlock Holmes series, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - A cup of steaming of black tea.
The Girl of the Limberlost, and The Harvester, both by Gene Stratton Porter- A thick mint milk shake. "Refreshing but something to let melt in your mouth a little."
Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen - An ice cream parfait in a fancy glass. She found the book to have different layers.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
The Hobbit, Would you have opened the door?
I often contemplate the beginning of The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien. How would I have responded to an Unexpected Party, comprised of strangers? Frankly, it never would have happened. Atleast, not in this age, at this location.
I always look before I open the door, even when I am expecting someone, and if an unknown person looking taller and stronger than me is out there, the last thing I'm going to do is open the door while I'm home alone. If they stand there waiting too long, then I'd call the police. No party for anyone.
Now Bilbo had invited Gandalf to tea and when he heard the ring of the door bell he opened it expecting Gandalf but was surprised to find a dwarf (page 7) We are told, "as soon as the door opened, he pushed inside, just as if he had been expected" (page 7). How frightening! I'm not sure what I'd do if someone pushed into my house. I'm guessing I'd ask them what they wanted. By the time the second stranger entered, however, I'd be plotting my escape from the house so as not to be murdered. It's rather sad, to think about how dark the world is, living on the edge of a crime-infested city.
And now I pose the question to you: What would you have done?
The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien. Ballentine Books, New York: 1982.
I always look before I open the door, even when I am expecting someone, and if an unknown person looking taller and stronger than me is out there, the last thing I'm going to do is open the door while I'm home alone. If they stand there waiting too long, then I'd call the police. No party for anyone.
Now Bilbo had invited Gandalf to tea and when he heard the ring of the door bell he opened it expecting Gandalf but was surprised to find a dwarf (page 7) We are told, "as soon as the door opened, he pushed inside, just as if he had been expected" (page 7). How frightening! I'm not sure what I'd do if someone pushed into my house. I'm guessing I'd ask them what they wanted. By the time the second stranger entered, however, I'd be plotting my escape from the house so as not to be murdered. It's rather sad, to think about how dark the world is, living on the edge of a crime-infested city.
And now I pose the question to you: What would you have done?
The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien. Ballentine Books, New York: 1982.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)