Secret Lair Flashback

Late Winter from Ed's back deck:
Full Summer from the driveway:

I lived there for eight years, and I really enjoyed it.

Wow.

I just did something I've never done before. I followed a link from a blog post to Free Republic. And... wow. There's a long (" * * R O U G H * * D R A F T * * " -- yeah, ya think) post about overthrowing the government and fixing things. If you want to see full-blown winger lunacy, then follow this link.

I think the best part is this:

...Therefore, We the People of America choose to exercise our right to throw off and alter the abusive government by peacefully recalling and removing from office the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States and all U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives effective immediately. An interim provisional Chief Executive and congressional representatives will be established as follows: The Secretary of State shall immediately assume the office of interim Chief Executive....

Hey Freeper Dude, you do realize that Hillary Clinton is SecState, don't you?

I think this shows just how unhinged these people have become in their desire to get Obama out of office. They're willing to install ... a woman, and not just any woman, but the pantsuit-wearing, all-emasculating wife of the Clenis!!1! (and, yes, I'm being over-the-top sarcastic)

As I said in the post title, wow.

(h/t to Wonkette)

Praise Hymn... or Maybe Not. Who Knows?

I don't think I've mentioned it before, but there is a church directly behind our building. My kitchen window looks out on the roof of it, and there is a double door on the side of the church just off to the left of my window that they open up -- for cross-ventilation (hee) -- whenever there's a service going on. Which is daily, and twice -- or possibly thrice -- on Saturday. We have yet to figure out what the denomination is, btw.

Now, as you might have surmised, they speak Spanish in the services. And, as you know, I'm still a Spanish neophyte (although I'm taking a class now). So I really can't understand what's being said.

Thing is, it doesn't really sound like churchy stuff -- except for the hymns. Oh, and speaking of, wow. These people don't "have Jesus in their heart" when they sing. Unless all the hymns in their book are supposed to be dirges.

Anyway.

I was just fixing myself some dinner, and could hear the sermonificating or speechifying or whatever, and I swear, the tone sounded more like accounting instructions than "Praise Jesus" (or, for all I know Cthulu or FSM). I mean seriously, I grew up in a whitey white white Methodist church, and these people make that congregation sound like the crowd in Legba's (where you been boy? He done changed his name to Scratch!) juke joint at the end of Crossroads.

Dear Internets (and Newspaper) Writers Everywhere

Please do me a favor, okay?

Stop saying that California is the largest state!!

It is the most populous state, but both Texas and Alaska are larger.

Thank you.

Blog Playing-around-with

This is just a test. Pay no attention to this post. I'm just playing with some code stuff to see how it looks. Please to continue your internets surfing. Have a nice day.

One Doesn't Often Get To Mention Zeus

PZ Myers (Pharyngula) has a link to a poll regarding some atheist signage in Vienna -- similar to the bus signs we've seen before in other places

"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life"

"There is no God. [To] do good is human. What we ourselves do is what matters"

and my personal favorite

"God is with a probability bordering on certainty a Czech folk singer. Relax. He will do nothing to you,"

are the posters in question. The link is to an Austrian site, and the text is in German, but the three options are (in order):

Ich finde sie sehr gut. ("I find it very good" -- or, "I like it")
Sie stört mich. ("It bothers me")
Sie ist mir egal. ("It does not matter to me")

in case you would like to go and vote.

But that's not why I'm posting this. I'm posting it because of the following comment, found at Pharyngula:

Here in Italy the UUAR (italian acronym for Atheists and Agnostic Rationalists union) tried to put the same message on a bus in Genoa, but the advertisement society refused. In a more recent episode, the UUAR put up signs with the same message (The bad news is that god doesn't exists...) and the signs were taken down by police because it offended religious sentiment. In a funny aftermath, the UUAR choose a substitute message: "The bad news is that Zeus doesn't exists. The good news is you can say that about Zeus".

Funny and very sad at the same time.

At The Movies

We saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince today, and it was excellent. It may be the best one so far.

Yeah, it was very good and very dark -- not at all surprising considering the story.

A Cat Post -- Because She Deserves One

She deserves one A) because Jen Said So and, B) because we took her to the vet today to have the stictches removed from her spaying. She DID. NOT. LIKE. having that done, but once the very moment of stitch removal stopped she was all tranquil and sweet again. She's gonna be a very good kitteh, I do believe.

Also, she's cute as can be:

Raxi on the couch, snoozing behind Jen.

Close shot of her snoozing on the back of the couch.

Being all cute and stuff in Jen's lap.

And That's The Way It Is

I was going to post this in a couple of days, on the 40th anniversary of the actual event, but the news tonight caused me to push up the date.

I was only a few months old when President Kennedy was assassinated, and I don't remember it (I do know where I was, though... in my playpen).

But I most certainly remember the clip below, and all the rest of the Apollo 11 mission.



Good night, Uncle Walter.

From The Department of "You Scratch My Back, I'll Scratch Yours"

We have neighbors who are out of town this weekend, so we're keeping an eye on their house. Result is, I'll be in and out all weekend.

Keep me updated, and all that.

:)

Quote of the Day

This entire post, by Chris Clarke.

This Post Is Not Oblong

Okay, so I guess four days in a row is enough posting about the new kitteh (but she's doing great, and even learning boundaries -- a bit).

Only problem is, I don't have anything else to post about. I haven't been watching the Sotomayor Confirmation hearings, Michael Jackson's still dead, and we haven't yet been to see the new Harry Potter movie (although we do plan on trying to go this weekend... hopefully the hordes of youngsters in Heredia will have descended, viewed, and thinned out a bit by then).

So... what else is happening in the wide world other than Sotomayor and Potter?

"Cats Again? My God", Jen Said.

Oh, but this is no ordinary cat! This is Raxacoricofallapatorius!! (c'mon, say it three times and you'll love it too!)

Ummm, anyway...
Her Kittehship caught mid-yawn


Her Kittehship realizing she was caught mid-yawn.

Also, please to be noting the blue knot of stitchification on Raxi's li'l shaved belly, from the spaying. Also note no sign of post-op infection, yay!

(and, that's a balled up piece of brown tissue paper, aka Teh Bestest Kitteh Toy Evah!!1!, on the floor next to her, not ... any thing else)

Decisions, Decisions Part II: The Electric Boogaloo

So, my plan was, as I said before, to let SWHYTBN let me know her name. And while waiting, I was gonna let y'all know the names that were in the running. But today, the name hit me. Luckily, I saw it coming, so the impact din't even leave a bruise. (ba-dum-dum)

And, so, without further ado, I give you....

Raxacoricofallapatorius, or Raxi for short.

Also, for being as tiny as she is, Raxi is already proving to be full-fledged kitteh-storm. For example, today alone she has

• knocked over a travel mug of coffee while I was over at the neighbor's house
• made two --that's two -- international phone calls on the Magic Jack (and apologies to whomever lives at (555) 555-5555 for the two minute call)
• snatched a half slice of pizza off Jen's plate -- and dashed away with it

Not to mention slaying various and sundry vicious pieces of paper and vanquishing the fierce Box of Cardboardia & et cetera

Also too and? Right now she's perched on my left shoulder, alternately trying to eat my glasses and dismember my ponytail.

And I couldn't be happier. :)

Decisions, Decisions

"Have you decided what name you're going to call her?"

I've heard that ... a few times ... already, but the kitteh has yet to inform me. And, as "Old Possum" himself told us (and Andrew Lloyd Webber reminded):

The Naming of Cats The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter, It isn't just one of your holiday games; You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES. First of all, there's the name that the family use daily, Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James, Such as Victor or Jonathan, or George or Bill Bailey - All of them sensible everyday names. There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter, Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames: Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter - But all of them sensible everyday names. But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular, A name that's peculiar, and more dignified, Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular, Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride? Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum, Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat, Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum - Names that never belong to more than one cat. But above and beyond there's still one name left over, And that is the name that you never will guess; The name that no human research can discover - But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess. When you notice a cat in profound meditation, The reason, I tell you, is always the same: His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name: His ineffable effable Effanineffable Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

T.S. Eliot, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

The first name that comes to mind (besides Li'l Bit, and as Jen points out, that name might sound odd if the kitten turns into a Big Ole Cat) is "Polly", because, well look:

This appears to be her favorite place, all things being equal. Although the back of the sofa (another up-high spot) is also good, it seems.

More possibilities -- and hopefully a decision -- to come soon.

She Who Has Yet To Be Named

My teaching gig is growing; today I started a new, bi-weekly, class at a local business -- the class arranged through the Centro Multicultural. It's a small group, the folks who work at the business, and it is a beginners' level conversational English class. I was a bit nervous about it, because they speak little English and I speak little Spanish (although I'm working on that, too).

But it turned out well, as in most classes of any type, there are those who are more advanced, in this case one student who assisted me in translating for those who aren't as far along.

Also, I'll be starting another Level III (intermediate-upper intermediate) class next Monday (the 20th), so... more hours, more pay, yay!

But that's not what this post is about. This post is about the Great Thanksgiving Massacree... no, wait. It's not about that, either. It's about what happened after the class. Oh. And it's about today is my birthday. Did I mention that?

Jen (and the girls) had dropped me off at the class, and then came to pick me up after. And Jen said she wanted to take me somewhere "for about an hour or so" for my birthday. I was intrigued, as one doesn't often get taken somewhere. So we dropped the girls off with their dad for a while, and then down the road a bit... to the local no kill shelter! And Jen said, "Would you like a kitty for your birthday?"

Well, does the Pope want a little wine with Mass? Do Republicans want a little hypocrisy with breakfast/lunch/dinner/snack/every iota of their being?... Where was I?

Oh, right!!

I got a kitteh for my birthday!!!!!

This is her, just after we picked her from the dozen or so kitties. When Jen and I walked into the kitty room, she ran over to me and started kneading my shoe with her front feet. We looked around, but I was pretty much hooked at first glance/knead.

You can see that she still has the zip tie ID tag that all the kitties have. The shelter is really cool, and even has a website (in English, to boot!)

Here she is when we got her home after her spaying. She was still groggy from surgery when I took that, but since then she has recovered her spunky, playful self.* The deal with the shelter is that adoption is free, with a ¢3000 (about $6) donation suggested, and the will spay (or neuter, as appropriate) the animal before you take it home.

As you can see, she's just a Li'l Bit o' Kitteh, and she has yet to let me know her name -- although there are a couple that may be in the running. So for now, I'm calling her Li'l Bit or ... She Who Has Yet To Be Named. Kinda like a Voldekitteh for you Harry Potter fans. Stay tuned for more on these exciting developments, and now I leave you for... cake!!! (chocolate with peanut butter icing -- YUMMY!!!)

*SWHYTBN has already played with string, yarn, paper balls, and tried to scoot out the front door -- twice.

De-Limmanated

Regarding yesterday's post (what? you don't need a link, it's right below this one), I have figgered out that Teh Google, outside the USofA, must use GMT as their time. Makes sense, they have to choose somewhere, and that is, literally, "Mean Time" -- the world standard.

So, that's six hours ahead of here (no DST in Costa Rica), so when I noticed the Nikola Tesla graphic, it was already Friday in Greenwich.

So Google and Wiki were actually in agreement. I know you'll all sleep better tonight knowing that the conundrum of The Two All-Knowing Sites Disagreeing is solved.

I'm All Delimmanated, But I'm Still A-postin' It

According to Teh Google, it's Nikola Tesla's birthday, so they've got this image:


However, according to Wikipedia, his birthday is tomorrow.

So, whichever, he was a visionary scientist (but couldn't take care of finances to save his hide) who doesn't really get the respect he deserves.


"This publicity photo taken at Colorado Springs was a double exposure. Tesla posed with his 'magnifying transmitter' capable of producing millions of volts of electricity. The discharge shown is twenty-two feet in length."
(photo and text via PBS online)

Happy 153rd Birthday, Mr. Tesla, today or tomorrow!!

Quote of the Day

[Obama] never got asked tough questions about his radical friends and associates, except by me and others. -- Sean "Toe The Line" Hannity, complaining about the unfair treatment of Sarah Palin (video at link!).

So, Obama wasn't asked any tough questions, except when he was. Got it.

The Results Are In!

And, accordingly, I am a bad influence. w00t!!



As you can see, that's 12 votes yes, 3 votes no, and 4 votes couldn't be bothered to figure out what the poll was. The people have spoken!!

I promise to use my powers only as they are intended.

As Promised...

The long-awaited and much-promised video that I shot on the way back from Siquirres last Thursday, as we passed through the Braulio Carillo National Park.

And a couple more photos:

Best Laid Plans....

So I've got a short bit of video that I shot on the way back from Siquirres the other day, but I've got to find and install a movie (format) converter before I can upload it here.

Bummer, but also gives y'all something to look forward to. :)

Holy Crap, That Was A Big Ass 'Splosion

Fireworks explosion kills 3 in N.C., 1 in Pa.

It's a sad (and unfortunately not unusual) post-4th article, but whoever wrote that headline needs... help.

Promises, Promises...

I'll post more tomorrow and tell you more about the trip.

Yes, that was me, two days ago. But then somebody had a birthday, and today was the Fourth of July and we went over to some friends' for hamburgers, hot dogs, even more chocolate birthday cake and homemade ice cream -- the food was so good that we've got a crock pot full of chili that we started this morning and we don't want any (that just means it'll be better tomorrow), and...

Well, the point is, I am gonna post more about my excursion... just not tonight.

The Doctor calls (Jen has now met David Tennant, and we're about to visit New Earth for the first time).

Happy Birfday, Murrika!!!

I'm Given To Understand That Today Is Somehow Special

Happy Birthday to my soulmate and Darlin'!! A gentleman never talks about a woman's age, but if she herself does so....

Here's wishing you many, many happy years to come!

Love you, Jen!

When Hot Is Actually Cool

I had to get up early this morning (alarm set for 6, but we woke up a little before that) and go the the Centro Multicultural (where I'm teaching English, yes?) to meet the boss and go on a field trip to Siquirres, which is over near the Caribbean coast, and give a talk to high school students about holidays in the United States. I was told -- more than once -- that where we were going was going to be hot, which makes sense because we're near the equator here (10°N) and Siquirres is near the coast and the land is barely above sea level, as opposed to the 4000+ft elevation we enjoy here in San Rafael de Heredia.

As luck would have it, though, it was a cloudy, drizzly day on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, so it wasn't really very hot after all -- so I didn't melt into the predicted puddle. :)

On the way back I took some pictures, and here are a couple of them. I'll post more tomorrow and tell you more about the trip.

In the flat lands... notice the lack of topography.

Climbing back up into the mountains... notice the abundance of topography -- or, you would notice if we hadn't been in the clouds by this point.

Am I a Bad Influence?

In the three months I've been here, I have gotten Jen hooked on Ballykissangel (alas, I only have Series One and haven't been able to find online episodes yet),Big Bang Theory (seen all eps to date, waiting eagerly for the new fall season), and now Doctor Who (we're still on the Chris Eccleston episodes, so no spoilers for her, please).

This is a woman who doesn't watch TV -- although, it could be argued that since we're watching episodes stored online (or DVD in the case of BallyK), we're still not watching "TV" per se.

So, have I corrupted her?

A Title, For Crying Out Loud

I have to hurry up and post so Jen can post.

Have a good night, everyone.

Sometimes The Cloud Is So Bright, You Can't See If There's a Silver Lining

I looked out the window (yes, the window, as in the only one downstairs that actually looks out onto the wider world [as opposed to a lightshaft or garage]), and went "Wow! That's a bright cloud!" So I took a photo of it for the whole InterWebs Tubes to enjoy.


Or at least the 40 or so people who read this blog. :)

The Cloud!

The rest of the clouds, too!

Owww!! I Broke My Fast

Toast français... Tostada francesa... Франция Тост... however you say it, the correct response is yumm!

Pic of the Day: Part Deux

Found at The Barefoot Bum

Saturday Song

In case anyone's interested, this is one of my most favorite songs ever.

Pic of the Day

A Gentle Costa Rican Shower

The view from the garage -- no, I'm not going out in that!



Okay, that's a little more intense than the usual daily rain, but not much.

I love it. :)

R.I.P. Michael

Michael Jackson dead at 50.

You know, you'd think there would be a really good version of Thriller over at YouTube -- the long form video that launched it all. But the best I could find is a grainy copy from TV, and it's not even embeddable. But, still, worth a watch.

Here's hoping you're at peace now, Michael.

Does It Really Say That?

The latest episode of Mr. Deity!!!

Science? Still Cool

Prehistoric Bird-Bone Flute Unearthed -- From Discovery News (online)

A bird-bone flute unearthed in a German cave was carved some 35,000 years ago and is the oldest handcrafted musical instrument yet discovered, archaeologists say, offering the latest evidence that early modern humans in Europe had established a complex and creative culture.

So what I wonder is, did the flutist's playing drive her mother to distraction?

Are There Any Non-adulturous Republicans?

Having lived my whole life -- until three months ago -- in North Carolina, I have a more than passing familiarity with South Carolina. It is a state that has been near the bottom of the list in education, income, and, well, a lot of things. So, it really comes as no surprise to me that, during his career-ending press conference today, Governor Mark Sanford exhibited extremely poor speaking skills.

What? You hadn't heard? The Governor was "missing" for several days last week. Turns out he was with his mistress.

On Wednesday, he admitted he had been on a private visit to Argentina because he had "wanted to do something exotic".

Now, whilst rambling on about God and family, Sanford mentioned that his staff did not lie to anyone, that they were actually told he was off hiking the Appalachian Trail. I'm not sure I believe that though. You remember that game you played as a kid where one person whispers something to the person next to them, and you go around the circle and see how the original message comes out?


In this case, the end message was "Hiking the Appalachian Trail."...

The Environmental Destruction Agency

That's what we should call the Supreme Court. As Bob Cesca says at that link --

It's simply remarkable how a corporation can be allowed to function even though its entire business model relies upon choosing how much nature it intends to destroy in the process.

Quote of the Day

Hey, nobody's going to tell you you can't be treated --- you made that decision all by yourself when you opted not to have a lot of money. That's what freedom's all about. (Unless you're sick and you want to die, of course, in which case the state won't let you.)

-- Digby, on health care in the United States. Bob Cesca has also been doing lots of excellent posts about the clusterfuck that is Congress attempting health care reform.

How Dare They!?

I'm speechless. How could anyone say such a thing as is expressed in this photo?

Frac chocolate?

No, sir. Frac you ... and the base ship you rode in on!!!

InterWebs Tubes failing.... will post later if able.

Saturday Random Costa Rican Architecture

Since a lot of the houses around here are built right up next to each other (like row houses in a city in the States), they only have windows on the front and back. So, the light shaft is quite popular. Below is one of the nicer examples of same in our neighborhood.

Just A Reminder...

All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels and modified by mutual interests. However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.

-- George Washington, aka THE Founding Father, during his farewell address. And yes, that's directed at you idiot Republicans who try to twist the words of the FF's to match your demented worldview and to you Democrats who are preparing to screw the American people because you have been bought out by Big Insurance.

A Light Post

Wednesday Theme

Doctor Who

Non-Sequitur

It was hot earlier today, so...


My dad in Alaska over 50 years ago.

Picture of the Day

I have no idea what's going to happen in Iran, but I can't help but believe that this:

will one day be seen as a beginning.


Let's hope the outcome is positive.

Today Is A Holiday

Oh, wait, that's not right...


Gah! Still not right!


Ah. There it is.

Happy Flag Day, to all you idolaters!

I Knew This Would Happen...

...but I went ahead and installed the Romulan warp engine (which uses a quantum singularity, aka black hole) as a backup power source.

Look what happened! This is the "current weather" shown on my browser:

Friday Kitteh Blogging

Well, actually, I did that yesterday with the photos of NotChita.

So... try this (WARNING: Teh Cute abounds at that link)

Neighborhood Wildlife

There are a couple of neighborhood kittehs here, one of whom I have caught on ...hmmm ... captured photographically before, named Chita. We don't know the name of the other one, so, of course, we have taken to calling him NotChita. He's a bit of a standoffish kitteh:



He sure is a pretty kitty, though.

"We'd better get a gecko picture out of it, is all I can say about that."

Things were a bit batty upstairs last night, it appears. We'll never know for sure, however, because I had Jen's camera down here. Hence the quote I use for a title on this post.

You see, there was a gecko in my shower (as Steve said in GMail status, the gecko was saving me a bunch on shampoo!), and my camera is, at present, non-functional due to a lack of batteries. [note to self: this would be a really good time to get four rechargeable AAA batteries -- and a charger] So Jen graciously brought me down her camera.

Luckily for me (based on the post title quote), I took some photos of said gecko.

Therefore, I give you, not one, but three gecko pictures:
gecko on the wall

gecko (fuzzy) on the wall up next to the ceiling

gecko on the wall, showing the perspective of the view of the angle of the inclusion of the shower head
(and, yes, that is a taped over electrical wire sticking down into the shower. This is Costa Rica, after all)

Thank The Deity... Mr. Deity, That Is....

They're back for their third season (thanks to Teh Portly Dyke for letting us know it was coming)!!

If you're not already familiar with Mr. Deity, I heartily demand suggest you go visit their website and catch up.

Humor of the Day du Jour

(h/t to Dr. Zaius)

The Truth Is Out There

Oh Crap! It's a quarter to ten at night and I haven't posted!! What to do????

Oh, right. I took a picture last night!

I thought this was pretty cool, because there was that bright white cloud in front of and underneath all the brooding, dark clouds. I wondered at first if one of Costa Rica's volcanoes was erupting, but, as there has been no further evidence of ash (or lava), I guess it was just an odd cloud arrangement.

Gooooooooooooal!!!!

So as you all are -- I'm sure -- aware, Costa Rica defeated the United States 3-1 on Wednesday in 2010 World Cup qualifying. Were talking fútbol (that's soccer, guys). No, seriously, they played a game. It was a big deal here.

Well, this afternoon Jen and I were watching some more Big Bang Theory and suddenly cheers erupted from the house across the street. Turns out there was another match, this time Costa Rica versus Trinidad & Tobago (which, is that really fair? Two on one????? ;) ).

Since I am living here now, I am interested in things Costa Rican, so we went upstairs and tuned in the game on Jen's computer* (it has a TV tuner card) and I watched the last ten minutes or so,

Costa Rica won 3-2, and are now in first place in their qualifying division.

Go la Sele (selección nacional)!!

Also, we had lunch yesterday with some friends, and we talked about going to a (local) match some time. So that should be fun... and I promise not to yell for a First Down. :)

*(and bake sausage balls and scones)

The Shortbread Protocol

..Jen's new status message - So we're sitting there watching TV and Bob turns to me and says, "you want cookies?" And I was like, "duh," and so we paused the show and now he's in there making cookies for me. Well, some of them will be for him too. 62:45.63 PM*

...Jen's new status message - It's here (but scaled down). Three ingredients -- bout as easy as it comes. e:42 PM*









*timestamps changed to pertek the innocent

The Whole Universe Was In A Hot, Dense State

Then Nearly 14 billion years ago expansion started -- wait

The Earth began to cool
The autotropes began to drool
Neanderthals developed tools
We built a wall
(We built the pyramids)

Math, Science, History
Unraveling the mysteries
That all started with

The Big Bang

BANG!


I'm teaching Jen the theme to the show.

Today 50 Years Ago In Alaska

I'm all full from the wonderful calzones, so tonight you get a quickie.
Another winter shot of the Jesse Lee Home grounds, in Seward, Alaska, in winter (duh).

My Mom, setting out a cake that I suspect may have been for my sister (the younger), as it is apparently early spring-ish.

Whew

When last we heard from Prophesor Phydeaux (I think it was Boatboy who came up with that most apropos derivation), he was waiting for a call/email for a second meet wherein he was to learn more about his new work schedule. That second meeting was today -- but it wasn't the scheduling meeting.

It was the meet-the-management-meeting, wherein they expressed their happiness at having a "native speaker" for the upper level English Classes. (I don't think I'm gonna be the only one, but they are in the process of growing and expanding the curriculum and need me. Or something like that.)

I got the tour of the school, and learned more about the place.

And I go back on Thursday evening to get my schedule and the books from which I will be teaching English. Beginning in mid-June.

Yay!

Oh!

The "Whew".

I almost forgot.

Turns out they have Ticos (native Costa Ricans) to teach the first two levels of English. I'll be teaching Levels 3-5, which is the more advanced. Which is a relief, because my Spanish really isn't up to tackling day-one-no-speaking-English students.

So, Yay and Whew!!

Graph of the Day

From Conor Clarke, via Matthew Yglesias, with the following excerpt of the original post:

The section of the chart that appears in bright, bumblebee yellow is the percentage of publicly traded American companies owned by the United States.* I don't see much bumblebee yellow. What I do see is that Microsoft Excel feels the need to portray the percentage of American companies owned by the government as an exponential number. That's 5.07^-02, or %0.0507 of the value of American companies that is owned by the United States government. (When I ask Excel to display this breakdown without the exponential it just becomes "100%" and "0%.")

Video For The Day (and Christina)

(the gist of the song does not express the opinion of the Staff of The Phydeaux Speaks Experience -- except for that one time when I really felt like shite on a Monday... it was long ago, and I don't really remember why I felt that way, but I did and it happened and there's no going back and changing it... or is there?)