Thoughts From Mud Bay

I'm PRETTY sure t This is an animation, but it took a couple of close looks before I was sure. Bill and I decided that the best thing about it is that it could, conceivably, be built.

That and it's super fascinating to watch, over and over. Not that I'd know anything about that.

( I think it starts automatically, so here's a cut tag. )

cerulean_fleur pointed out to me that there are more. Here are links to the three I thought were the niftiest, after this one here, which I still think is the best of all of them.

Pogo Sticks

Gyro Drums

Pipe Dream

(Edited after communicating with cerulean_fleur via evil, evil StumbleUpon, which makes homework doing either impossible or more entertaining, your call.)

Aside to memegarden, I don't know if these have too many visual cutaways for your cutie kiddo to watch, I suspect that most of them do, but I thought of her when I was watching the Pogo Sticks.

more music charts

Ran across these websites through a StumbleUpon link that cerulean_fleur sent to me.
The link that I was sent
The different groups:
Knitta PLEASE
Maskerade
Holy crap, a whole gas station!
KnitSea: Click on the map next to her blog for pictures of her work by location
JafaGirls

Also, I just finished reading a book by James Gee, on the subject of video game learning theory. Check out the man himself giving a synopsis of his findings.

see more puppies

It's either that, or this little guy is gonna be in doggy therapy in about two years trying to find his identity.

B'cawoof!

All right, one more of these.

Anagrams of me, first and last; six complete.

* Grab the nearest book.
* Open the book to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.

"It is not visible if we look at an intact brain, as the sensory and motor cortex are."
James Zull The Art of Changing the Brain 2002

Ah. College.
Mmm. Brains.

(reposted from my school blog)

I went to see/listen to Ursula K. Le Guin read some chapters from her book A Wizard of Earthsea this evening. I have to admit that when I learned that she was going to be reading in town I went all squealy and fangirl in the middle of the Bookstore. It was mildly embarrassing, but she’s my favorite author, so it’s understandable.
She didn’t read some of my favorite bits, but did choose three chapters that showed the flow of the story without giving away the end, which may not be surprising to some even if they have not read it, but it is such a satisfying ending.

I wanted to ask her about whether she has any of her social setups or societies (i.e. the androgynes on Karhide or the four-person “sedoretu” marriage from O) that she has thought of but not yet written about. I didn’t, but that’s okay. I left her a little note promising that I would send photos of the Mud Run and gushing all over the place thanking her for coming to read. The line was super long; I gave the note to one of “the keepers” as she called them. I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time, I didn’t want anything signed, all I wanted to do was chat with her but it really wasn’t the time or place.

So, I got orthodontic braces (again) yesterday. I had them between the ages of 12-14. My teeth have shifted, and they've been getting pretty uncomfortable. I know this will make my mouth feel much better in the long run, but today it really hurts. I'd pout, but that hurs, too. (whiiiiine)

more the engrish!

This is profound.

Okay, so Andrew's mom calls to give me updates from time to time, and I thought I'd share this one with y'all.
He's getting reading glasses, which he's excited about, and they're trying some new things to help him to not transpose and flip his letters, which is great.
He's doing fantastically well in school, all A's and B's, except for in Missouri history.
You say, well, that's not surprising, he just moved there! At least, that's what I said. His mom said that was only part of it...
An example of the history test:

Test question: Name a contribution made by Europeans to the Indians.

Andrew's answer: Smallpox


Good boy.
I laughed for a solid 15 minutes, told Bill, called Beth, who says "well, it sounds like he knows his Missouri history quite well, actually!"
I'm so proud.