Preparations Complete

Plants are in from the porch, sitting on a tarp to protect the carpet. The two huge blue containers were tomato plants.

Wind is picking up. Tide was up a fair bit a few hours ago when we went for a walk. I suspect things will start getting a bit rougher now through the rest of the night.

Still snug though.

WE ARE PREPARED!

So Isaac, who apparently has serious identity crises issues, is heading for us. Probably. Whatever. Tropical storm, hurricane, tropical storm, and back and forth and back and forth like a hooker in Tampa right now.

We've got food and water and Tom has booze and I have yarn and Oreo has pillows. We're sheltering in place.

Also, super headlight of superness

Bring it, bitches!

Things we have learned:

• Dippy stoner girls do their hurricane shopping around 9:30 PM and make me want to stab people
• Plastic forks sell out quickly
• Every public official in and near New Orleans sounds nuts

Also, if I wake up and this bastard has turned into a Cat 3 or something overnight I'm going to be really, really pissed. As it is, it's probably going to just sit over a huge swath of the Gulf Coast, aka "The Land Mass between NOLA and Mobile" for at least a day with major storm features.

Oh, and according to the Weather Channel, I got my BA at this place:

Mississippi State? Never heard of it.
See more on Know Your Meme

Thanks, guys. We had almost gotten over no one being able to pronounce Biloxi properly after Katrina.
And, you know, everyone flipping their shit about New Orleans when the entire "Land Mass" was laid waste.

Related articles

• Isaac threat to Gulf well beyond New Orleans

Godspeed, Neil

Neil Armstrong photographed by Buzz Aldrin after the completion of the Lunar EVA on the Apollo 11 flight (brighter and smaller version) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Neil Armstrong by most accounts was a quietly competent, unassuming guy, as the following snippet should illustrate:

He accepted a teaching position in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati, having decided on Cincinnati over other universities, including his alma mater, Purdue, because it had a small Aerospace department; he hoped that the faculty members would not be annoyed that he came straight into a professorship with only the USC master's degree. (Source)

Awesome pilot. Best of luck to him on the next great adventure.

I hope we continue in his footsteps in exploration and innovation.

Best Place Name I've Seen Lately

The view north along the top of the cliffs at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a World Heritage Site in Alberta, Canada. Photo taken with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Basically, Native Americans (and other cultures in other places) chased buffalo to a cliff or drop-off or whatever, let gravity do its thing, and then reaped the rewards of tasty, tasty meat and stinky, stinky fur.


Demonstrating that stupidity knows no limitation in terms of culture or time period, I give you the reason Wikipedia gives for the place name:

In Blackfoot, the name for the site is Estipah-skikikini-kots. According to legend, a young Blackfoot wanted to watch the buffalo plunge off the cliff from below, but was buried underneath the falling buffalo. He was later found dead under the pile of carcasses, where he had his head smashed in

Idiot.

I wonder how that conversation went:

Idiot: Oh, cool, it's buffalo-run time again!
Other Blackfoot People: Yep, try not to run at them from the front this time, okay.
Idiot: But I wanted to see them running and then fall! Hey, I have an idea! I could stand under the cliff and watch while the rest of you chase them!
Other People: That sounds like a great idea! Dumbass.Several Hours Later
Other People: Anyone seen the idiot? He always disappears when we get to the gross parts.
Buffalo being moved
Other People: "Holy shit, he actually did it. The least we can do is memorialize his epic, epic stupidity for future generations."

And now it's a WORLD HERITAGE SITE!

The past few days

I think this quote says it best:

“There are no words for this — it is just nuts,” said Dr. Michael Greene, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School.

Health Experts Dismiss Assertions on Rape - NYTimes.com

Anywho, I think most of you can guess how I feel about Todd Akin and his, shall we say "eeeeenteresting" view of reality.
And you can probably also guess that I would think it was awesome if my uterus had magic powers. I mean, beyond the capacity to wander through my body and make me crazy.

I mean, wouldn't this be cool?

Donations Needed

So I can buy this:

Fond of Big Bottoks Am I, You Other Mercians Can't Deny

Or, Aethelbald of Mercia, rather:

According to a story recorded by the 16th century antiquarian John Leland, and derived by him from a now lost book in the possession of the Earls of Rutland at Belvoir Castle, there was once a King Alfred III of Mercia, who reigned in the 730s.[45] Though no Mercian king was ever named Alfred, let alone three, if this story has any historical basis (which Leland himself rejected) it must presumably relate to Æthelbald. The legend states that Alfred III had occasion to visit a certain William de Albanac, alleged ancestor of the Earls of Rutland, at his castle near Grantham, and took a fancy to Willam's three comely daughters. It was the king's intention to take one as his mistress, but William threatened to kill whichever he chose rather than have her dishonoured in this way, whereupon Alfred "answerid that he meant to take one of them to wife, and chose Etheldrede that had fat bottoks, and of her he had Alurede that wan first all the Saxons the monarchy of England." A painting of this supposed incident was commissioned in 1778 by the then Duke of Rutland, but was destroyed in a fire in 1816. (Emphasis mine)

English: depiction of the Queen of Punt (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I wonder how she compared to the Queen of Punt?

This seems a bit ghoulish even to me

Really, Weather Channel? I get to see my friends facing down, like, a tornado or something? That sounds AWESOME!

Actually, if I could see my friends during hurricanes or whatever instead of the dumb-asses they usually have on air, it would at least be more entertaining.

Bread!

I've always wanted to try making bread from scratch. No knead bread has been trendy lately, so I finally went ahead and used a recipe from Budget Bytes.

It turned out really well for a first time bread. Nice crispy crust like I like. Still kind of fluffy in the middle. I made rolls instead of a full loaf today. Still have half the dough waiting in the fridge to be used in the next week or so.

There are all kinds of fun variations to try - raisin bread, whole wheat...mmmm

Dough right after mixing

Loose fitting lid for dough to rise

Rolls cooling

Omnomnom bread!

Atypical mole is atypical

See more on Know Your Meme My dermatologist just called. The pathology report came back mildly atypical. Which, for me, is probably not surprising.
Anyway, I just have to be really good about regular skin exams and protecting myself from the sun.
Yay!!!

In slightly related news, while yelling, "kiss my ass, this is a holy site" does sound very much like something I would say (and, in fact, possibly have said) I have not joined the Romney campaign. And if I said it, I was probably at an archaeological site. And joking.
Actually, I tend to make jokes about "look, sir, droids!" while pointing at all the things on site tours. Or try to get Tom to play blaster fight "pew pew pew."
And then everyone looks at me like I'm crazy.
Sigh.

Distrustful Talpid

English: European mole Talpa europaea (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Does not resemble my suspicious mole.

Finally got around to seeing a dermatologist today. I'm having major cystic acne issues, wanted my vitiligo checked out, and had some moles I also wanted checked out.

The doctor was concerned about one in particular. On my left hip/ass cheek. So, shot of lidocaine in the ass and they scraped that thing right off.
Pathology report should be back in a week. Aches a little but I'll live.

So, think of my ass for the next few days. As much as I would enjoy randomly telling people I have ass cancer, because I am really that immature, I don't actually want ass cancer of any variety.

Dermatologist was otherwise very nice, no high-pressure "buy our super fancy expensive skin care products!" or anything.

So, I have stuff that will hopefully help deal with the crazy acne (one of the few downsides of my Mirena). And I need to continue to coat myself in sunscreen, which I hate because it makes me feel all coated and sticky and weird. Buhhh.

Rest in Peace, Dr. Ride

Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Reading the NYT article is a wonderful refresher of how far gender equality has come and how much further we still have to go.
Example:

...politely endured reporters’ asking...whether she would wear a bra or makeup in space, whether she cried on the job...

I'm pretty sure that I would have had some really entertaining names to call people asking idiotic questions like that. Or remarkably snarky responses.
"Nope, no bra. Should make it easier for the topless astronauts gone wild video we'll be making in cooperation with Playboy to afford the next shuttle launch."
"My brain saps too much energy for me to menstruate. Should I start bleeding, though, I'll be isolated in the payload bay for 3-5 days so as not to destroy the guidance system with my scary lady mojo."
"I haven't cried on the job yet, but this press conference is getting me close to tears of rage. Lemme go put on some mascara and you can get a Tammy Faye shot."

On the flip side, women still have to deal with stupid-ass questions just like that.
Dr. Sally Ride was a driven, talented person and an inspiration to a generation of children interested in space flight, male and female.

Using My Degrees

Yesterday I used the hell out of my education.

Item 1:
Demonstrating that SpongeBob was one of the enemies the sun god had to face in the Underworld. Proof:

This is every bit as legitimate as the Abydos Helicopter bullshit.

Wollmeise--Skarabaus (Photo credit: lobstah1977)

Item 2:
Offering to build someone a pyramid in exchange for Wollmeise. I've never even touched Wollmeise. And damn do I need some of the Skarabaus colorway that I discovered when Zemanta spat out media related to this post.
Mmmmm, pretty, pretty yarns.
As soon as the person in question collects some gold, some limestone blocks, and some labor that will work for beer, bread, and onions that fancy pants yarn will be mine!

Jenny McCarthy and Space Hippies

Santa Bot space hippies (Photo credit: shoveling_ferret)

Watching The Way to Eden, best known as the space hippy episode. Given Kirk's inability to keep it in his pants, you'd think he'd welcome a bunch of free-love types, but, no, he's all "get a haircut and lose the interstellar patchouli."

Anyway, the crazy, self-centered, irresponsible leader of the hippies, Dr. Sevrin is carrying a highly virulent disease that cannot be cured but can be prevented via vaccine. He apparently decided not to get the vaccine and has been knowingly wandering the galaxy exposing people even though he's been told how dangerous this is.

Why does this sound familiar?
Oh, right.

Anyway, the space hippies are annoying as hell and their drum circle sucks. Wow does it suck. Damn. 1969 in LA and they couldn't find better hippies? I mean, they could have paid them in pot and let them wear their own clothes. Instead they clearly let some 50 year-old dude who was a fan of the Monkees hire these assholes. "Yep, this is totally counter-culture. Them kids will totally boogy to this."

Also, Spock jamming with the hippies is physical painful to watch.

And could they possibly have been any more heavy-handed with the whole "the planet is made of acid!" thing? Burny acid, not trippy acid. Worst trip ever.

Apparently this episode didn't suck so much in the first draft. One of the hippies was supposed to be McCoy's daughter and Kirk was supposed to be all "mmmm, space hippy." And, obviously, McCoy was going to be all "you're gonna be dead, Jim." The original writer, the awesome DC Fontana asked they change her credit to an entirely different name, in fact, because she thought it sucked so hard.

I would have cut a bitch

Zeus got all butthurt or something and we had a lightning strike near our apartment Saturday night. I actually had no idea about this, but our cable modem died, probably via the co-ax cable. Some guy in a nearby building had all his shit fried.

Tech couldn't get here until just a few minutes ago to bring us a new one. OMG no internet! We had to go buy DVDs so we could watch TV.
Actually, the upside to that is that I finally got all the original Star Trek movies on DVD as I found them for a reasonable sum.

Anyway, that was serious withdrawal. Smartphone is just not the same. Any longer and I'd have tried camping out by free wireless somewhere.

Significant Research

Jane Austen, Watercolour and pencil portrait by her sister Cassandra, 1810 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There's an invisible mummy in the background. Therefore, research!

I've been working very, very hard on course development. By watching Father Ted. Totally religious. Yes. Totally. Waaaaay connected to Egyptian religion and magic (in that there is religion and they are both set mostly on the same planet). It is absolutely, delightfully insane and hilarious, especially if you were raised Catholic. And it's on Netflix.

I've also found a beautiful Irish folk song that reminds me of my Nana and puts me in mind of how her parents and family must have felt when they emigrated. It's called A Stor Mo Chroi ("treasure of my heart")
This verse especially:

A Stór Mo Chroí, in the stranger's land
There is plenty of wealth and wailing.
Whilst gems adorn the great and the grand
There are faces with hunger pailing.
Though the road is toilsome, and hard to tread
And the lights of their cities will blind you.
Won't you turn a stór to Erin's shore
And the ones that you're leaving behind you.

I particularly like Amelia Hogan's rendition if you can find it.

And, um, re-reading Pride and Prejudice and a modern "sequel" (no, not the one with zombies). I was entirely uninterested in Jane Austen until a few years ago and now I'm all "oooooohhhhhh, get outta my way, I'm making Regency costumes..." It's at least around the same time the Rosetta Stone was found...
I've only managed Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility so far. Weirdly, I found it much easier to read and follow P&P on my Kindle than it had been in print. I'm guessing my print books had tiny characters in a weird font, maybe. Anyway, yet more reason to love my Kindle. Now if I can only learn to read and knit at the same time or convince myself to try audiobooks...

And in the process of writing this post, I have discovered a P&P sequel with an Egyptological twist - Pride and Pyramids (linkage below).

Related articles

• Pride and Pyramids Blog Tour with Authors Amanda Grange & Jacqueline Webb & Giveaway

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I'm not dead, just lazy

I've gone almost a full month without posting. Shame on me!
Part of my absence has been due to uncertainty. I'm teaching now and so I'm trying not to say anything too obvious about what and who and where and such. Really, I should probably quit being quite so paranoid.

Anyway, I was supposed to teach over the summer term but enrollment for that class was insufficient. I'm working on a fall course on Egyptian religion and magic. Ironically, that's an area where I don't have a hell of a lot of direct experience. To be honest, though, Egyptian religion and magic is more or less reconstructed indirectly.

If you're doing quizzical head-tilts now, let me attempt to explain:

Egyptian religion, like a hell of a lot of religions, didn't really have divine, revelatory texts. By which I mean, there isn't something like a Bible or Koran from ancient Egypt (or a hell of a lot of other places either). There is no tradition of a deity or his supernatural spokes-ghost dictating to a human who wrote everything down and then a bunch of people tried to interpret it and wow has that been a mess for a long time.
So, there is no handy-dandy Book of Genesis equivalent from ancient Egypt to explain how the world was created (in multiple, sometimes contradictory versions).
Nor did anyone sit down and collect the various myths and stories etc like Hesiod did for Greco-Roman mythology.

Instead we have lots and lots of art work, things like the Pyramid Texts and the Coffin Texts and the Book of the Dead that give us bits and pieces of information that we then try to make sense of. I suspect this is going to be difficult for some people to grasp, but hopefully I will get them there in the end.

In other news, the climate (or something) is making me retain water to a ridiculous degree. My hands and feet puff up and it's just unpleasant. I pushed way too much doing stuff a few weeks ago and am still paying for it in fatigue and general blehs.

Oreo is still enjoying being able to wander around a little on walks, but he is not so fond of the heat and humidity and allergies. The weather here has been waaaay more reasonable than in Chicago, though, plus we have central air conditioning. Yay!

Dwagon

Oreo and his hoard

Art History for the Day

A fine example of how details that seem incidental can be quite informative in works of art. Not to mention hilarious to later generations.

Shits On Fire Yo

How Did Egyptian Folding Chairs End Up in Northern Germany? - SPIEGEL ONLINE

How Did Egyptian Folding Chairs End Up in Northern Germany? - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Depending on where you stand on the theft vs. fair division of finds in regard to the bust of Nefertiti, this isn't the first time the Germans stole stuff from Egypt.