Remember a few months ago when I said I'd keep blogging at school? Well, apparently, it's impossible. Sure, I have free time but all of it is dedicated to homework and having a social life. So I apologize. Even though I still obsess over Google Reader, most of the articles I read pertain to the same topic[s] so ABSRD would be really boring and repetitive. So why am I bothering to update tonight? HELLO! I actually drew a comic! Sure there's no joke and I don't even really know what's going on in it but I drew it during English so it's good enough.
Plus, I'm in love with Keith Olbermann and I really thought I should share.
Hey everyone! I'm currently in Portland, OR. It's cloudy and cool and I absolutely love it. It doesn't feel at all like a city though. It is seriously lacking skyscrapers and a large body of water [rivers don't count]. I guess that's how I define a big city. I need a skyline. Anyways, I'm just popping in because I have internet access and to say that once I start things up again on the 29th, you might be a little confused. You'll ask, "Where are the comics? Where are the articles? What are these pictures of some weird little bear thing?" Well, here's the deal. I brought my bff Toby [he's a stuffed ewok I got at Disneyland over the summer] with me to Oregon. I'm photo-documenting his trip out here (1) because it's way easier to take pictures of him than of me and (2) he's super adorable and can model through anything! So starting September 29th I'll be posting the photo documentary in segments until we wind up at move-in day in Eugene. By that time I should be nice and settled and ready to get back to work on my comics and diligent news searches! Until then.
Hey hey! Just thought I'd let you readers [all 3 of you!] know that I won't be posting at all next week. I'm off to the land of rain and granola to finally get started at school. I move in on Thursday but I'm still gonna be pretty busy up through the weekend. I'll try to fit in a comic/post or two though. I should be back up and running on September 29th. Who knows, maybe by that time I'll actually decide to do more than just draw comics and comment on articles. Maybe I'll actually write posts of substance! I won't get my hopes up though. I have a bad habit of never following through with anything. Maybe if people actually gave me some feedback on here I'd be a little more encouarged to make the blog into something. If only.. ALSO. Since I won't be posting tomorrow, as you can see, I put a Music Note at the end. Have a nice week[end]!
A.B.S.R.D. [I Am waaay too lazy/Busy/Stressed to think of Real words for this Damn acronym]
- I think this quote pretty much sums up the entire article "The bane of the dinosaurologist's life is species that have been named on the basis of incomplete specimens." Yeah, dinosaurolgist is probs the best word ever regarding dinos. I lol'd. [@bbc]
- While I sometimes get a little uncomfortable being in things that are underwater [tunnels, the Finding Nemo submarine tour ride at Disneyland, etc.] I think this is really, really cool! If it were being built in the US I'd def go to it. A trip to Egypt is a bit too pricey for me. [@national geographic]
- I love a good story and so does everybody else. But why? Jeremy Hsu gives us some insight. [@scientific american]
- I'm pretty sure I'm not at all alone in wondering what it'd be like to die. Or, well, at least have a near-death experience. Is there really a bright light? Are you actually mentally aware of what's going on as your body is dying? What about out-of-body experiences? Southampton University is coordinating a three year study of 1,500 cardiac arrest survivors to see just what the body is capable of experiencing during these moments of near-death. [@bbc]
- Yesterday I posted a TEDtalk about the moral differences of republicans and democrats. Today I'm posting an article about the biological differences between the two parties. [@newsweek]
- Tanaids, isopods, worms. OH MY! Hundreds of new species have been discovered in the reefs of Australia. Ooh and there's a video. Rock on. [@national geographic]
- Yet another attack ad is being distributed by the McCain camp. This time Obama is a big, wasteful spender and is going to make us pay for things that won't affect us. Yeah, um, no. Nice try though. [@the new republic]
- This is really just for Scott, my favorite viking. xoxo ♥ ♥ ♥ [@msnbc]
- Ughhhh, this financial crisis - and the government's eagerness to bail out every company that faces bankruptcy - is going to kill taxpayers. Bad form Washington. Bad form. [@time]
Music Note [introducing you to the songs that make me feel bad about my swagger]
Artist: T.I. feat. Kanye West, Jay Z, L'il Wayne, and M.I.A. Song: Swagger Like Us Album: Paper Trail
Lyrics: (M.I.A. Sample) Hook Repeats 2x no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
[Kanye West]
Mr. West is in the building swagger on a hundred thousand, trillion Ayo I know I got it first I'm Christopher Columbus, y'all just the pilgrims Thanksgiving do we even gotta question Hermes Pastelle I pass the dressing My attitude is tattooed that means it's permanent, so I guess i should address it, huh? My swagger is mick jagger every time I breathe on the track I asthma attack it Why he's so mad for, why he gotta have it cuz I slaved my whole life, now I'm the master
Na-Na-Na, How it feel to wake up and be the shit and the urine Na-na-na-na-na Trying to get that Kobe number, one over Jordan
(M.I.A. Sample) no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
[Jay-Z]
cheaaa
No one on the corner gotta bop like this can't wear skinny jeans cuz my knots don't fit No one on the corner gotta pocket like this so I rock Roc jeans cuz my knots so thick You can learn how to dress just by jocking my fresh jocking jocking my fresh jocking jocking my fresh Follow my steps, it's the road to success where the niggas know you thoro and the girls say yes But I can't teach you my swag you can pay for school but you can't buy class School of hard knocks I'm a grad and that all-blue yankee is my graduation cap, it's Hovaaaaa!!! Dipping different rovers whipping with the soda Hovaaaaa!!! Could u even have any doubt after doubt if its over
(M.I.A. Sample) no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
[Lil Wayne]
No one on the corner has swagger like moi, Church but I'm too clean for these boys I require what I desire I got stripes, A-di-das Mami scream papi no mas Run up in your shit just me no moss Runnin this shit like I got four thighs none has swagger like this four gods! When it comes to styles I got several sharper than a swagger, dagger all metal And my jew-elz blue and yellow the type of shit that make em call you Carmelo Rules as follows stay true to the ghetto write your name on the bullet make you feel special Haaa!!! What the f**k you boys talking about? I know its us cuz we the only thing you talk about
(M.I.A. Sample) no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us (and I'm done) no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us (bye!) no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
[T.I.] yea
ha!
ya think?
thats right
You go see Weezy for the wordplay, Jeezy for the birdplay, Kanyeezy for diversity and me for controversy, All my verses picture perfect and they meant to serve a purpose, you ain't living what you kicking and you worthless, Looking from the surface it may seem that I got reason to be nervous then observe my work and see that my adversity was worth it, Verses autobiographical, absolutely classical, last thing I'm worried 'bout is what another rapper do, Ain't nobody hot as me even if they rap they ass off blast off and have outstanding qualities, Sell alotta records I respect and salute that, but spitting real life on hot beats I'm the truth at
You kick it like me no exaggeration necessary, living revolutionary, nothing less than legendary,
Gangsta shit hereditary, got it from my dad flow colder than February with extraordinary swag
(M.I.A. Sample) Hook Repeats 2x (T.I. Adlibs) no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us no one on the corner have swagger like us swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
A.B.S.R.D. [Afternoon Blogs are Something Readers know how to Deal with] OR [only ABrief Sidenote for each Read Day because I have a lot of last minute packing to do]
- "Wall Street's Unraveling: How greed and fear collapsed the market's business model" [@newsweek]
- John Haidt explains what moral values republicans and democrats focus on and how that leads to party differences. [@TED]
- Biden is kind of like Cheney in the sense that they are nothing alike politically but both give voters reassurance in their respective presidential candidates. [@the new republic]
- Another look at the Democrats cave-in on off-shore drilling. Aka why our government doesn't know how to handle anything regarding energy. [@the new republic]
- Yesterday I asked how our country is supposed to be paying for the failures of privately-owned mega-companies. Well, Newsweek obvs heard me out and decided to give me an answer. Part of me wishes I hadn't asked.. [@newsweek]
- Guess what! John McCain invented the Blackberry, Al Gore invented the internet, and I invented the computer/telephone/electricity. Politicians need to give me more credit for their inventions. [@scientific american]
- Thank you Joe Klein for pointing out that the McCain camp is built on nothing but lies lies lies. [@time]
A.B.S.R.D. [I was Awake Before the Sun Rose for the Day]
- "Social networking is the new porn" Why just look at the hot people when I can socialize with them? And if it means less viruses on my computer, well, that's even better! This must be the reason I have membership on three different social networking sites.. [@msnbc]
- Our economy is basically ruining the world. Good job America. Sidenote: I like the title of the article. "As Wall Street tumbles, the world quakes." [@csmonitor]
- The Fed has decided to bail out AIG, giving them an $85 billion loan. Aren't we in serious debt already? I want to know how and why the US government is supposed to pay for the failures of privately owned mega-companies. This is all way over my head. [@nytimes]
- Hope is not lost for all financial institutions though. The new CEO of WaMu has a plan to keep the company from jumping on the bankruptcy bandwagon. [@msnbc]
- It looks like stem cells can do even more than we originally thought. Not only can they replace damaged cells, they can also save cells from being damaged. "The original idea is that you put cells in there and it would reconstruct the cells that died. … The beauty of this is there's not just one mechanism; they are acting in many different ways." [@scientific american]
- Whyyyyy are the Democrats supporting off-shore drilling? Oh, I guess this is why. What would I do without Rachel Maddow and the Talk Me Down segment of her show? Probs be super pissed instead of only somewhat pissed. [@time, @msnbc]
- I heard about this somewhere else earlier this week but this is the first article I've found on it. "Google's Search Goes Out to Sea." Google is moving their computers and whatnot into the ocean to be powered by wave technology and cooled by icy seawater. Um, so what happens in the event of a hurricane? [@nytimes]
- LOL, let's start this off slow and talk about math [can you tell that I'm in desperate need of getting back into a classroom?]! The Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search, GIMPS, recently produced the two latest [and greatest] prime numbers. I guess this is some sort of big deal? I have no idea. I can barely remember what 2+2 equals anymore. I really need school to start. [@scientific american]
- Al Gore is making the World Wide Web global! Oh wait. Not Al Gore. Sorry, I mean.. Tim Brenners-Lee? The [real] inventor of the internet has said that the World Wide Web Foundation will be working to bring the web to people everywhere who don't already have access to it. "The Web does not just connect machines, it connects people." Holla Web 2.0! [@scientific american]
- The stock market and our economy took a turn for the worst yesterday with the Lehman Brothers to declare bakruptcy and Merril Lynch being sold. The Dow fell 504 pts, the biggest drop since the market reopened after 9/11. Some are saying that while the economy is bad, it's not "catastrophic." Alan Greenspan begs to differ and frankly, so do I. Where's FDR when you need him? [@nytimes, @time, @youtube]
- "Strange 'ant from Mars' discovered" Before you go thinking that proof of life has actually been found on Mars [which may or may not have been my first reaction upon reading the headline], it was actually discovered on here on good ol' Earth. I found this news less exciting after I found that out. [@msnbc]
A.B.S.R.D. [Articles here were the Best from this weekend. Still Rather Disappointing]
-The LHC computer system at CERN was hacked last week by a group calling themselves 2600. The intrusion was intended to show weaknesses in the computer's defense system. Imagine if someone invaded the LHC and did funky things to it! Remember that black hole and destruction of the world thing that some people thought would happen when it was turned on? Yeah, I'm imagining something kind of like that. [@scientific american]
- It's becoming increasingly apparent that it is impossible for me to make a post without having at least one article about Sarah Palin. Today's article is about her duties [or lack there of] as mayor of Wasilla, a position that counts for the bulk of her executive experience. Let's just say this further solidifies my opinions of her and McCain since he's the one who made the risky move of making her VP. [@msnbc]
- NFL Update: I'm not gonna lie, I was a little torn watching the Bears game yesterday. I have my loyalties for the Bears and I'd never cheer against them but Jonathan Stewart [former running back for the Oregon Ducks] plays for the Carolina Panthers and he played an amazing game. It's not that I didn't cheer for the Bears [cuz obvs I did], I just also cheered for Jonathan Stewart.. [@msnbc]
- Ugh, I admit it. I watch Gossip Girl and I love it, thank you very much. Yes, I realize that shows like GG and 90210 aren't necessarily the best at showing how being rich isn't all fun and games. And yes, I realize that they give viewers unrealistic expectations. But I can't help but love escapist fantasy shows. Oh, and just for the record, I loved Veronica Mars. [@salon]
- You know what? I like Joe Biden. I think Obama made the right choice in picking him for VP. He did very well with his speech in Michigan. "Yes, this campaign is about change, but it’s about even more than that. It’s about what we value as a people. It’s not just about a job, it’s about dignity. It’s not just about a paycheck. It’s about pride. It’s not just about opportunity. It’s about respect. That’s why Barack and I are in this race." Obama/Biden '08! [@the new republic]
- I am so, so, SO glad that I don't fly United. $50 for a second bag is absolutely ridiculous. [@wall street journal]
- And finally, on the off chance that you didn't already know, Tina Fey returned to SNL for the season premiere to play Sarah Palin. She totally NAILED it. I'm basically in love with her. [@youtube]
Well, according to the back of the Doritos bag that I photoshopped I am an *awkward* success story.
"Plagued by late summer boredom and loneliness, Vashti has done what few in the community of awkward people have dared to do - reach out to others. She faced the ever present fear of harsh judgment and eventual rejection and has become an inspiration for us all. When asked how she felt, she simply said, 'GUYS! Sometimes we're cool... ?' Success? I'd say so."
