Learning with the Animaniacs

The U.S. Presidents:

The Brain!

Learn about the brain!


"Pinky, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"I think so Brain, but where are we going to get peanut brittle and a neck tie at this time of night?"

Word Jumble

Unscramble these words...if you dare!

wderpasl
ihfguinahtl
ltoeunp
pcneyrian
eedudn

This blog post brought to you by "Wordy Wednesdays"

Taking Suggestions

I've long thought my blog needed a little revamping. The Thursday and Friday weekly segments effectively disappeared sometime ago, and I'm looking to fill the vacancies. Friday's new segment is all squared away - it's called The Friday Five. Here I will post 5 random questions for any and all to answer. Unfortunately, I do not have anything to replace "Thoughtful Thursdays," and I am looking for suggestions. If you have any, then send them my way.

Twin Peaks Season 2!

It's finally available! YAY!!!

As you all may know, this is my favorite show of all time. I've been waiting for years for season 2 to come out on DVD, and had all but given up hope. I can't believe it's actually happening!

The network didn't allow Lynch to do the show they way he intended (he did not intend to reveal the killer of Lara Palmer, but ABC insisted), so season 2 strayed from his vision. Consequently, many people don't like season 2 as much as season 1 (David Lynch was away doing another project for much of it). I never fell into that camp, and while I can identify differences in the two seasons, I don't think season 2 is inferior; it is still a solid season, full of mystery, quirkiness, and my favorite townspeople. And Lynch was certainly not absent: he wrote and directed the first episode of season 2, and directed the 1st, 2nd, 7th, and last episode. He also appears in several of the episodes as Agent Cooper's boss. In fact, he only directed 2 episodes in season one (including the pilot) and wrote the pilot and episode one, totalling 6 episodes total that he directed, although he was very hands-on during season 1 and directed all the crucial episodes.

Mark Frost, who gets not props, as far as I'm concerned, for this show wrote 11 episodes. He and Lynch created the show together, and I think their collaboration is what made this show the gem that it is. It is important to note that Lynch gives Mark Frost props, and just that some Lynchians don't give him his due if you ask me.

Additionally, I have a certain nostalgia for the last season, probably because when we saw the cancellation writing on the wall Panda and I started recording the remaining episodes of Twin Peaks. At this point there were 6 episodes left, and we labeled the tape, "The Beginning of the End: The last 6 Episodes." Also, Billy Zane appears in season 2 as an environmental activist lawyer, and I was totally in love with him (as you can imagine). Subsequently, I watched these 6 episodes over and over and over again because they were all I had for years, and I know them better than the rest of the series. I'm excited for Season 2 to complete my set! Whoo-hoo!

This blog post brought to you by "TV Tuesdays"

Congratulations, FishFrog!

The totally awesome movie containing the quote in question is, indeed, Bottle Rocket! A great movie, by the way, that all should watch. Way to go, FishFrog!

Movie Quote Game!

In what totally awesome movie would you find this quote:

Person 1: Why is there tape on your nose?
Person 2: Exactly!

The winner will recieve cookies!
Matt- your cookies for last week's movie game are baking today!

Call me old fashioned

Call me old fashioned, but as much as I like computers and technology*, I am a little weary of the way things are changing. It is just all a little too fast for me. I am reminded of this weekly in my technology class when the professor and most of the class oohhs and awws over new technology and laughs at the thought that anyone would try to do anything with paper and pencil (if I told them that my dad runs his business without any computers, I'm sure they would not believe me).

Specifically, the following irks me: My professor reminded us that things we traditionally underline, like say book titles, should not be underlined on the web. Why? Because now when people see something underlined, they assume it is a link. They will try to click on it, and when it does not work they will think the web designer is an idiot. Book titles are supposed to be underlined, people! He says, instead, to italicize them or put them in quotes. Call me crazy, but I think the person who can't use context clues to figure out that the underlined portion of text is a book title and accept that it is not a link is the idiot.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a fan of technology: I can't imagine life without TiVO, I blog, I *heart* my iPod. It's just that the blind acceptance of (computer) technology as being better than everything else doesn't sit well with me.

*for the purposes of this blog, technology means electronics/computers/etc. I realize that technology encompases many different tools, but I don't have another word to use that gets my point across. And also, in keeping with my rant, I don't think most Tech-lovers even realize that they don't own the word technology.

The Great Condiment Debate

Whenever we get together for family meal, the conversation at one point will turn to condiments. Which is better - salt or pepper? "Butter is the answer, you fools!!" my brother will exclaim. The conversation goes from there.

Here is my question to you: if you could only put one of these items on your dinner table each night for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?
1. salt
2. pepper
3. butter

Explain your answer in detail.

You may also tell us your thoughts about mustard v. ketchup (catsup not allowed).

Bubble Gum flavors

I think the following should be made into flavors of bubble gum:

• Pasgehtti's bread
• Cinnamon rolls (not hot cinnamon like most gums are)
• Hot pretzels w/ nacho cheese
  

King of Carrots Flowers

I have 2 versions of King of Carrots Flowers on my Ipod. One, by Neutral Milk Hotel, and one version preformed by Tessellation Monkey Head. On random, the version by TMH just came on, and it served as a reminder that Matt has a really nice voice (Panda remarked on this the last time this song shuffled up on the playlist). He should sing more often. And the band should put out more music.

Refund made RIDICULOUSLY difficult

So, in all its infinite wisdom, my university has decided that issuing refund checks is not in our best interest. Instead, it is better for students to be required to open a second checking account and be issued refunds through this new account's debit cards. It's so great! It's so easy! It's such bull crap!

Here is what our new account can do for us:
*We can go to 1 ATM in the metropolitan area to pull out cash for free!
*We can be charged every time we use our new MC/Debit as a debit card!
*We get to be charged $2.00 every time we want to withdraw money from any ATM except the one on campus - with a w/drawl limit of $500!
*Best of all -- We can pay $25 to transfer money from this refund account to our regular bank accounts! YAY!!!

This really pisses me off. I want to put this money in my actual (grown up) bank account, and it's virtually impossible to do without losing money. My only option is to take out several withdrawals at an inconvenient ATM machine and take a dangerous amount of cash to my bank.

What's more, the great people at this business got my DOB wrong, so my account was suspended for security reasons. Then, they entered in my new password (that they had to give me after my account was reopened) wrong, so guess what - my account was suspended AGAIN for security reasons. I talked to 4 different representatives today (all very cheerful), and spent about 1 hour and 1/2 try to gain access to my money in this SUPER EASY NEW WAY! I just want my f*ing check, people. This is total bull crap!

Lunch gone wrong

Q: If a freezer meal says it takes 20 minutes to cook, how long do you think it takes to cook?
A: 50 freaking minutes!

Did the makers of this frozen meatloaf just pick a time limit out of the air? They must have; there is no other explination. I expect to cook something 5 minutes longer than the package says, but this was ridiculous! My side dishes, which I had timed perfectly to be be done when the main dish was, sat cold while I waited the extra 30minutes after the meatloaf was supposed to be done! UGH! Cold peas - not tasty!

Congratulations, Matt!

Matt won this week's 6 degree's of separation! Way to go, Matt!

6 Degrees of Separation!

The first person to connect these two actors in 6 degrees or less by Thursday at 10a.m. will win cookies!

Alec Baldwin and Tea Leoni

This blog post brought to you by "Movie Mondays"

Super Bust A Move 2

I've found a new video game that I love: Super Bust A Move 2. I can't stop playing it, so much so that I played it in my sleep last night. If you are a fan of games such like Tetrus, you will probably like this game.

Happy Birthday, FishFrog

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Do you know what I love?

Professors that let you out early! We got out a 1/2 an hour early!! This makes up for my professor last semester who always ran 15-30 minutes over his alotted time.

My alibi

Panda and I watched Law & Order SVU the other night. The "perp" in question did not have an alibi because he was home by himself watching T.V. The cops said that that just wasn't going to cut it, and the dude replied that that was the way it was. This happens a lot on Law & Order, and this is a problem for me. I am often home by myself watching T.V. There have been days when I have not encountered another living person. On any given night, my "alibi" would be that I was home watching T.V. It would be so easy for me to be falsely accused, and perhaps convicted because no one could vouch for me. The television could not even vouch for me because I watch nothing in real time. It's a little scary.

Love Letter Template?

I've been asked to write a letter of recommendation/reference for one of my former volunteers. Although I'm happy to do it, I've never written such a letter, and so have begun looking for a template from which to work. In my search, I stumbled upon a website that has tons of real examples of job-realated letters: job rejection, job acceptance, letters of resignation, invoice letters, love letters, letters of recommendation. Wait, did I say love letters? Yes, that's right. Mixed in with all these job-specific letters are two templates for letters of a more personal nature: Love Letter and Romantic Love Letter. So helpful, these letters even point out that the writer should use personal or plain stationary (as opposed to business letterhead).

Where I've been

This map shows the states I've visited(in red). If I only drove through the state, I didn't count it, but if I drove through and took a detour (to a National Park or tourist attraction) and spent some time there, then I did.

Make your own map here.

Forming Habits

I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions. In general, they don't stick so I say "why bother." Besides, I'm pretty much perfect already, so what's to change? Don't answer that.

The reason the new resolutions don't stick, I've decided, is not because I don't want them to, but because I haven't erased the bad habit (I want to change) with the new habit. For instance, let's say I make a resolution to have a clean room. The habit I need to get into is doing my laundry and putting it away regularly, and not letting it pile up and take over my room (as I currently do). It's easy to say that I need to keep my room clean, but the it's more beneficial to look at the root cause-habit of my messy room (laundry) and replace it with a good habit.

So, how to form a habit? Experts (my old college roommate J) said it took 21 days to establish a habit. I remember this because she decided to get out of the perfectly good habit of drinking soda and replace it with the insane habit of NOT drinking soda. To do this, she began her 21 day journey, and if I recall correctly, she made it.

I've also looked at a couple of websites, and the consensus seems to be that it takes 3-4 weeks of consistency for a habit to form. I've also read that small rewards are key to encouragement. Also to note, if you break your habit, you need to start over from day one.

Happy habit forming!

This blog post brought to you by "Thoughtful Thursdays"

Six Degrees Winner

Well, I am a little shocked no one submitted a entry for six degrees, especially once I opened it up to movies. My answer is below - it may not be the best, but I opted to only go through television shows.

Bruce Campbell was in Ellen with Joely Fisher
Joely (recurring) was in Desperate Housewives with Felicity Huffman
Felicity (recurring) was in Frasier with Kelsey Grammar
Kelsey was in Cheers with Kirstie Alley

Bumper Sticker

I saw this bumper sticker today:

Laughter is the best medicine
Your face is curing the world

Six Degrees of Separations - TV Style

Connect these two actors in Six Degrees or less using TV shows only!

Bruce Campbell and Kirstie Alley

Be the first to connnect these actors in the shortest number of steps by Thursday at 10 a.m.

This blog post brought to you by "TV Tuesdays"

Movie Quote Game!

In what movie would you find this quote?

I'm the guy who's telling you the way it is.

2nd quote:

I'd like to introduce my associate, The Bear. Movie stuntman, champion bodybuilder. Throws out things I don't want.

Word of the, er -- Month!

Yes, I finally have picked the winning word from the Word Box opened and closed over a month ago. Thanks for your patience! The words were very unusual but I've picked the one I like best!

The words:

Invidiousness (adj):
Tending to cause animosity or imply a slight

Bucolic (adj) :
1. Relating to flocks or sheperds: pastoral
2. Rural: rustic
(n): A Pastoral poem

Inure (v) :
To make accustomed to something usually undesirable; harden

Desultory (adj):
1. Marked by lack of continuity : disconnected
2. Aimless

Mulct(n): A penalty, especially a fine
(v) : 1. to penalize, esp. by fining
2. To defraud, swindle

Bruxism (n):
the habit of unconsciously gritting or grinding the teeth especially in situations of stress or during sleep

Antipode (n):
A direct opposite

Monopsony (n):
An olgilopsony limited to one buyer
This lead me to look up olgilopsony, which means: a market system in which each of a few buyers exerts a disproportionant influence on the market.
Superannuated (adj) :
1. Retired from active duty because of age or infirmity
2. Obsolete

The Winner of the Word Box is ....

Bucolic!!

According to Wikapedia,

"is a noun originally describing a type of pastoral poetry that praises rural life over that of the city. The manner of a bucolic is usually somewhat fantastic, and the poetry tends to contrast the pleasant and pure life of the country with the corrupt and corrosive world of society. The term derives from Virgil, and "Bucolics" is a reference to a collection of poems. One set of bucolics was written by Virgil, while Theocritus and others also wrote collections of rusticated poems. In contemporary poetry, W. H. Auden wrote a sequence known as "Bucolics.""

gloomy weather, a good book, and the beach

It is a rather gloomy day outside. Made all the more gloomy when I took down the Christmas decorations. It was past time, but I was sad to wrap up all the cool sculpie ornaments and put them away.

Aside from putting away decorations, I've spent the better part of my day reading a book Panda gave me for Christmas. It is called Case Histories and is by Kate Atkinson. So far, so good. It is a mystery (I love mysteries), but like the weather today, the story is rather gloomy. It begins with the tale of a 3 year old disappearing in the night, then switches gears to a new set of characters, one of whom was slain in the workplace. It seems as though the two cases may be intertwined, and I'm looking forward to finding out how.

Here is a picture from my trip to Florida that might cheer up those of you who are down on the gloomy weather:



Anyway, that is all. I just wanted to break my non-posting streak - the first post back is always the hardest. Hopefully normal posting will resume in the days to follow.