"If you were a camel your humps would be esoterically bald from overuse."

So says the Surrealist Compliment Generator: http://www.madsci.org/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/~lynn/jardin/SCG/

More mayhem for the mind.

L

I blog therefore I am...

I see I need to edit L's blogs to fix her hyperlinks... sheesh is simple html too much to ask for these days? Are we not homosapiens! Have we not risen out of the muck of pre-onlineian ooze! Can we not boldly go where no diarist has gone before! Strike-out against the onslaught of non-net-savvy communicators! Don't blink (hey the blink tag won't work in explorer!) or soon you will be back with the techno phobes, luddites and computer illiterates who brought the once proud Atari crashing to its demise...

sigh

If you haven't gone to the completely surreal Advertising Slogan Generator site, GO THERE NOW!

http://thesurrealist.co.uk/slogan

I love this site: it's too much fun. Here are some sample surreal slogans:

Designed for Addiction, Engineered to Last.

I Can't Believe It's Not Drudgery!

The Good Sheep Kids Go For.

Well, you can obviously see the attraction. How could you not love it too? Just type in your own favourite words to see what the geist in the machine conjures up for you.

Off to la-la land (where else would I sleep?) ...

laV

Sometimes I poke my head up out of the sand and am amazed at what I learn. A friend of mine told me about the following news gem, regarding Hurricane Isabel's imminent arrival earlier this week:

More than 300,000 people in North Carolina and Virginia had been urged to move to higher ground. Even seasoned storm veterans gave in to the five days of warnings that started when Isabel was a Category 5 leviathan with 160 mph wind. But a few thousand hardy — or foolhardy — souls ignored evacuation orders. Virginia Beach police suggested they write their names in permanent marker on their forearms so they can be identified if they are injured or killed.

OK, so Bruce says he's on the side of the hardy souls. Hmph. All I can say is it's a disarming thought ...

See? See?

*** New feature time! ***
The Blog as commonplace book

Weren't chains ashamed of their prisoners? —Janet Fitch

All of us are better when we're loved. —Alistair MacLeod

I'm a cementer! —PROW 100 student

The world is best served absurd.

love,
me

Frost warning issued???!!! Blah!

Yikes! The last three weeks have been relentlessly busy. School is back in session, and the world's heart is beating faster.

Life at the College is great. I have six courses this semester, including a lovely group of English 111s. I am having trouble staying on top of the photocopying, though: there is no central duplicating facility at our campus, so everything has to be sent downtown, requiring at least three days of lead time. I'm just not that organized! But I am loving having a music library just steps away from my office and have borrowed numerous CDs already. It's going to be a fabulous year!

I'm currently reading No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod. Just finished The Fourth Hand by John Irving, which I found disappointing. Instead of his usual absurd realism, Irving took on post-modernism — pastiche, intertextuality, etc. — and the experiment failed. Glad I borrowed it from the library. Next up: White Oleander by Janet Fitch (recommended by several readers — thanks!) and Black Tights: Women, Sport and Sexuality by Laura Robinson (serious feminist non-fiction [no that's NOT an oxymoron!] — must keep the brain in good form). Again, if you have suggestions, I'd be glad to hear them.

Spent several hours yesterday climbing the walls — that is, rock climbing. I really enjoy climbing — who could have predicted that? — but must gain strength in my hands and forearms. After a couple of hours I couldn't get more than half-way up because my arms were too tired. Meanwhile, Zak is a fabulous climber, as is Bruce (although climbing is very hard on his fingers). Another trip is in our near future, I predict.

Sorry this post is rather pedestrian — just a quick update. I'll be back to my more usual puzzlement of words soon. Love to all, near and far.

L
(who insists she saw Pirates of the Caribbean for more than just Johnny Depp ... although she can't currently remember what that more was ...)

PS: For those who may be wondering ... MY pirate personality profile says I am "The Cap'n" (hmm...): "You never met a man you couldn't eviscerate." Wonder how I can work that into my CV?

I just found out soon the will be an international talk like a pirate day!

So I did the Pirate Personality Profile Test and these were the results:

You are a Pirate Second Class

Do you remember the last time you took
a chance? I do. It was when you decided
to leave the security of your mother's womb
and headed for the bright light. It's time
to head for the next bright light, my friend.
Creativity is not your strong suit. You
are good at doing what you are told to do
and that, in itself, is a gift. It's not a
gift to you, mind you, but rather a gift to
those who will be there to tell you what
to do. You like long walks on the beach and
cuddling, but would never admit that to your
Guy friends who think you are okay but can't
always remember your name. Tapioca pudding
seems a bit extreme for a fellow such as
yerself, what with all the bumps and stuff.
It's a good thing ye be on a pirate ship,
otherwise, ye'd would be walkin' because ye be
positively pedestrian. Have a nice day.

Sigh... check out the Piracy chat forums...

Course, I was satisfied with sea'in Pirates of the Caribean just once...unlike certain others...


ciao

B