Niner Niner Sandbox

When I first went to Yantai, I imagined I’d come home and slip effortlessly into fluent Mandarin to quote ancient Chinese wisdom. Fortunately for people who have to put up with me, that didn’t happen.

A few characters have somehow made it into my notetaking, which is completely mindblowing to me. I tried to train myself to write any characters I did know at every opportunity as practice, and some of those words stuck. Which now makes my handwriting extra illegible!

I don’t have any complete phrases, or ancient Chinese sayings, but one Chinese word has made it into our everyday vocabulary. Stick and I both use la de to talk about food, instead of saying spicy-hot-not-hot-hot.

Via Simpson’s Paradox » Blog Archive » Everyday Expressions

Isabelle is my 5-year-old niece. She makes me reconsider my whole childfree thing sometimes, but then I see other kids at the mall, and I remember why I don’t like children. (Actually, I don’t like people, but smaller, fragile people who scream and need changing are worse.)

Isabelle: Aunt Meg, what’s this?

Meg: You making a weird face at the dinner table.

Isabelle: No, what’s this part?

Meg: Your tongue.

Isabelle: No, what am I doing?

Meg: Sticking out your tongue.

Isabelle:No! Aunt Meg! I’m doing a Gene Simmons!

I know I didn’t teach her that.

Are you a blue spot in a red state? I am! Show your Obama support with this funny bumper sticker!

REDNECK@REDNECKS-4-OBAMA.COM

OBAMA IS THE BETTER MAN TO HELP WORKING PEOPLE

I AM SICK SICK SICK OF THE GRAND OIL PARTY (GOP/republicans). I AM GIVING AWAY FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE REDNECKS FOR OBAMA BUMPER STICKERS

JUST EMAIL REDNECK@REDNECKS-4-OBAMA.COM AND I WILL SEND YOU A FREE REDNECKS FOR OBAMA BUMPER STICKER LIKE THE ONE ABOVE

OR YOU CAN WRITE TO:

REDNECKS-4-OBAMA.COM
P.O. BOX 128
308 E. Burlington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240

GO OBAMA!!!!!!

THANKS FOR CHECKING US OUT!!!!

TELL EVERYONE IN YOUR TRAILER PARK TO EMAIL 4 FREE STICKER!!!!!!!!!!

AND VOTE VOTE VOTE TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO VOTE!!! IT’S NOW OR NEVER!!!!!

Via www.rednecks-4-obama.com

I saw this and wanted to share with you all: the site WeirdFragrances.com is offering samples of zany perfumes! I’m not entirely sure what their deal is, since the site says that the scents aren’t available for purchase, but the fragrances are things like Fresh Bread, Fourth of July and Grease Monkey.

This is not a paid advertisement (those are over in the margin!), I am not getting cash or a free t-shirt for this. (I did ask for a sample of Magazine Pages, though.) Weird Fragrances didn’t ask me to write about them, but if they happen to find my blog, I suggest Hotel Swimming Pool as a new scent.

Via Simpson’s Paradox » Blog Archive » Bertie Botts Every Flavour Perfumes

Last night while Stick was playing the new evolution game Spore, he announced excitedly “Meg! I’ve become sentient!”

Let the record state that I made no response.

Via Simpson’s Paradox — Exceeds Expectations

Heres a Nifty Writing tool that I just found. It is called Wordcounttool.com , well thats the website. Since its an online sort of thing, theres no need for you to download anything to your computer. Not only does it count your words for you, it also checks your spelling.Now its no comparison to MS word , but it is getting there.

Ideas keep flowing on my PDA as well as on my Notepad on the PC but i can’t go forward guess why?

Is it Worth typing Quality Material for 50 Cents?
Please Editors, at least a Dollar for a Full Post

Hope my Prayers are heard

Comments on the upcoming Wizard 101 from Simpson’s Paradox:

The Wizard 101 quests are flavored with mixed-up fairy tales and subtle puns for adult players. While the quests themselves are the usual fare of “kill 5 baddies” or “return this item to an NPC”, they’re mixed with a Fairground of minigames. The minigames are quick casual games, a bit like the puzzle games in Neopets. The point of the Fairgrounds is to recharge your mana and make a few coins, but I really liked Potion Motion. (Ok, I should come clean about this. If I’m talking on the phone, I’m probably playing a casual game at the same time. Thus, Neopets.)

Usable items don’t give a visual sign on mouseover, which made it hard to tell if I could open doors or pick things up. I got frustrated as I tried to pick up items that were just part of the scenery. Games have changed… when I was a wee lass, we pocketed everything not nailed down! You can, however, tell whether you can enter a building based on the color of the windows. If they’re dark, no one’s home. If they’re yellow, come on in! Bluish lights indicate an errand for you inside, usually the location of your quest or battle.

Read the rest.

Posted today on Simpson’s Paradox

The other day, Stick saw my throwing-star picture and called me “the worst ninja ever”. Turns out, I’m not even the worst ninja in Essex county.

CLIFTON — Two “modern day Ninjas” calling themselves
Shinobi Warriors on a quest to rid the area of drug users and drug
dealers have been put out of business by police.

On Wednesday at 2:35 a.m. police officers approached a car parked in
the left lane of Route 46 east and found two Clifton men dressed in
black claiming to be Ninjas. The men were wearing tactical vests and
armed with knives in sheaths at their waists along with Ninja throwing
knives, Chinese throwing stars, four-pointed tacks, swords, bows and
arrows and nunchucks, said detective Capt. Robert Rowan.

The two men, Jesse Trojaniak, 19, and Tadieusz Tertkiewicz, 20, told
police they were “modern day Ninjas” also called Shinobi Warriors on
their way to deliver warning letters to known drug dealers and drug
users to stop their “impure” activities. They told police they planned
to leave the letters on the front doors of these individuals they had
singled out.

Apparently these kids took the war on drugs literally.

Via “Clifton Police arrest Ninjas” in the Clifton Journal, thanks to Pandapassport’s recent tweet for tipping me off to the story in the first place.

Via Simpson’s Paradox » New Jersey Ninjas

Emily Kelly is setting out to experience One Hundred Things. These range from skydiving, to spending a weekend homeless, both of which she’s tried in the course of her blog. She also plans to host a dinner party, rely solely on public transportation for a month (Emily — I tried that involuntarily. It was awful!), get something pierced and shoot a gun.

She’s got 69 things on the list so far, and is taking suggestions. My suggestion is to spend a day in a costume. Just do the normal things you would do, dressed up like a monkey or a cheerleader or whatever. And take pictures for my enjoyment!