Skitty from the North Country

POLL!

2014-05-19T16:51:24Z

There are two graduations: the divisional ceremony on Thursday 5/29, and the big, all-school event on Friday 5/30. At the divisional ceremony they will call my name, and I will walk across the stage, and I will receive my latin honors. At the big one, I will sit in a chair and listen to the President of the college give a speech.

Which one is more important? Please elaborate on your reasons in the comments, particularly if you picked the big one, or both.

View Poll: Graduation

skitty @ 2014-05-15T21:41:00

2014-05-16T01:41:35Z

Mirror-universe Star Trek is ruled by an evil empire that conquers and subjugates populations rather than allying with them, in which advancement can be accomplished through the murder of one's superiors, and wherein a plucky band of rebels works tirelessly to restore order.

So, it's Star Wars.

Just with more sex and less moral ambiguity.

skitty @ 2013-08-11T04:33:00

2013-08-11T08:33:35Z

I have had quite a several weeks. I hope to update properly soon.

In the meantime, whoa.

Worst Xmas Song Ever

2012-12-14T04:26:04Z

When they announced that Paul McCartney would be the musical guest on this week's SNL, Greg blanched. I asked him why, and he said, "McCartney. On the CHRISTMAS episode."

Oh, no.

"It's the second worst Christmas song ever!" I whined. Greg asserted that it was the worst. I told him my nomination. He stuck to his guns.

So which is it?

I've thrown a third one in there because it occurs to me it's pretty awful, too. Now that I see them all there together, I'm no longer certain of anything except that I wish I never had to hear any of them again. Can you think of a worse one?

View Poll: Worst Xmas Song Ever

skitty @ 2012-08-23T16:55:00

2012-08-23T20:55:39Z

I just had a disturbing and enlightening conversation with a friend about responsibility and infidelity. I know where she stands on this, and where I do, and I'm curious what a group's take will be.

View Poll: #1861944

skitty @ 2012-07-22T14:57:00

2012-07-22T18:57:46Z

Putting together my textbook order for the upcoming semester. I always manage to sneak in one book I don't quite need. This time, I'm springing for the official Game of Thrones cookbook. I plan to eat like a Lannister.

Get a reading, help a kitty!

2012-06-22T17:36:30Z

miintikwa is hosting a One-Card Tarot Draw on her livejournal today to raise money to pay for her kitty's necessary medical treatment. Check it out!

If you miss the draw this afternoon, buy a reading from her website!

skitty @ 2012-05-23T15:48:00

2012-05-23T19:48:56Z

My friend Johann is roaming the world and blogging about it. He's a very thoughtful dude who spent ten years driving a cab in NYC and has seen a thing or two. He'd like to expand his readership, so I present to you: Johann the Cabbie.

skitty @ 2012-05-23T14:34:00

2012-05-23T18:34:15Z

I started rereading A Game of Thrones again last night. It's a treat for the summer -- I haven't read A Song of Ice and Fire in a while and it's been a long ~~semester~~ year.

I've lost track of how many times I've read them now, but my eye for detail must be getting sharper, or maybe I'm just looking for new things to notice... I don't know. At any rate, I found what appears to be a continuity error, three pages into the prologue.

I guess I'll put it behind a spoiler tag.

If Waymar Royce, Gared, and Will have ranged nine days away from the Wall, how has Will drawn a dozen watches in the past week (during which he noticed that the Wall was weeping)?

I can't believe I've never seen this discussed at the Westeros Forum before. Greg said he can't believe the forum discusses such trivial details. I said he's obviously never been to the forum before.

skitty @ 2012-04-12T23:48:00

2012-04-13T03:48:58Z

19th Century LOLcats.

skitty @ 2012-03-02T14:00:00

2012-03-02T19:00:22Z

Miintikwa is hosting a One-Card Draw today! Check it out, ask for a card, and donate if you can.

Grammar is most fun when it's tricky.

2011-10-12T00:01:19Z

Believe it or not, I ran across this looking for an answer to a quick question for a paper I'm writing on the Establishment Clause. The answer is truly brilliant. The website is here.

Q: Which is the correct plural form of the proper noun "Spiderman" — Spidermen or Spidermans? On the highway, a car absolutely crammed with little Spiderman action figures passed us and I said, "That car is filled with Spidermen!" My husband said the correct plural is Spidermans. Thanks!

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Edneyville, North Carolina Tue, Dec 21, 1999

GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
To avoid the problem, you should have said, "that car is filled with little Spiderman action figures." Now you've gotten into an existential or ontological debate that can only be solved by priests and rabbis. Wherein does the essence of Spiderman reside? Can this essence be shared by others, so that there can be Spidermen? Or can there, in fact, be only one Spiderman and the illusion of Spidermans be just that, an illusion. Perhaps the utterance of the word in its plural form should be, in fact, "a word which should not be spoken," a taboo. Also, this might be a guy-girl thing. I would have said "Spidermen," myself — but then I was never a great believer in Spiderman, being a fan of Superman — and of that Plastic Guy, whatever his name was. Perhaps only the true believers — those who regard the essence of "spiderness" as a singular entity — will say "Spidermans." In short, I refuse to get involved. I will leave an e-mail icon here in case someone else wants to suggest a better answer.

skitty @ 2011-09-14T17:59:00

2011-09-14T21:59:44Z

Someone posted this over in debunkingwhite and I found it powerful and moving (not to mention true) enough to want to share.

Most of you have no idea what Martin Luther King actually did.

skitty @ 2011-08-27T15:04:00

2011-08-27T19:04:40Z

There is no shortage of available parking in Manhattan right now.

New Orleans recommendations?

2011-07-31T20:36:11Z

I'm glad you're back, LJ. I was worried about you.

Greg and I are considering honeymooning in New Orleans. Are any of you very familiar with the city? We will want to see the French Quarter, of course, but not necessarily stay in it. We are interested in hearing good music, eating good food and taking in as much of the local culture as we can.

All suggestions are welcome.

Poll Time

2011-07-26T02:56:38Z

View Poll: Tacos

I need a broader sample.

2011-04-29T22:31:47Z

View Poll: Etiquette

skitty @ 2011-04-02T02:17:00

2011-04-02T06:17:58Z

This is just the best fucking week ever. Details to come.

LJ Shootout Final Poll

2011-02-08T13:47:12Z

Here's the final poll. I'm a little late in getting you the link, due to life getting in my way, but it's still open until 6:00 GMT tomorrow.

This one's for the title!

LJ Shootout Prompt 21

2011-02-04T07:14:50Z

HIGH CONTRAST

84mm, 1/1000, f/16, ISO 500

I took this earlier today; it's the sky over Harlem. I walked over much ice to do it. My post-processing work included some levels adjustments.

For the above shot especially, I urge you to click on the image for better resolution.

FREE CHOICE

30mm, 1/15, f/4, ISO 1600

I took this two weeks ago in a bar in Sunnyside. I have applied no post-processing steps at all. The vignetting is due to the fact that I purchased the lens for my Canon 40D, and it was not designed for use with a full-frame sensor. I took both of the above photos with my 5D.

Still sick, but ready to study.

2011-01-31T02:20:53Z

I am far from well, although I am feeling better.

I felt up to showering and doing laundry today, which has made a huge difference. Considering I have my first day of classes tomorrow I'm sure my professors and fellow students will also appreciate my impetus toward hygiene.

I am worst when I first wake up, so it is a blessing that my first class will be at 12:30, plenty of time for me to wake up, take my decongestant and allow my sinuses and lungs to expel all the goodies they made in the night. It is a further blessing that the two classes I have tomorrow are courses I expect to be rather fun.

If I am not significantly better tomorrow, however, I will have to see a doctor. I have class at 9:30 Tuesday morning (and the internets report that the professor, while a good one, is a rather boring lecturer) and I need to be much better by then.

Despite the fact that I would prefer a few more days to rest and recuperate from what has turned out to be a pretty brutal cold, I'm excited about starting my new semester. I am genuinely interested in my subjects this term, with the exception of one, which I am sure I will manage to accomplish regardless.

I enjoy attending college as a grown-up. My achievements mean a lot to me, and I am no longer distracted by opportunities for novel experiences.

Did I tell you I had a 4.0 last semester? With six classes? I did.

Shootout Poll

2011-01-28T21:32:27Z

And here's the Shootout poll.

No excuses for not looking at all the entries - we're down to just four contestants!

EDIT: This is a members-only poll, but you can still join!

LJ Shootout Prompt 20

2011-01-28T20:31:51Z

SOURCES OF HEAT

90mm, 1/1000, f/10, ISO 100

100mm, 0.4 sec., f/4, ISO 500

skitty @ 2011-01-23T21:08:00

2011-01-24T02:08:08Z

The LJ Shootout poll is up once again. This week has brought some very interesting submissions!

LJ Shootout Prompt 19

2011-01-21T19:20:29Z

The prompt this week is Windows.

24 mm, 1/60, f/4, ISO 400

24 mm, 25 sec, f/4, ISO 400