Grimmstail's Compleat Waste of Time

Revving Up the Hate Engine

2009-02-21T00:09:00.004-05:00

OK, maybe hate is a little bit strong. But the Sadly Unimpressed Engine just doesn't have the same ring. At any rate, if you want to make absolutely sure that I will not share your high opinion of something the easiest way to go about this is simply to extol the virtues of this hypothetical thing. Allow me to illustrate this point with several examples pulled from ancient through recent history.

Clerks - Back in the college years I remember coming back to school after a semester of working at a co-op job to roommates who had apparently each experienced multiple, hands-free orgasms while watching Kevin Smith's Clerks. They couldn't stop talking about how freaking awesome this movie was and how it would simply blow my mind. (Or other regions as I have already mentioned.) So I was, needless to say, somewhat let down when I saw the film the next weekend. (For this I wasted two hours? Two hours that I could have used to fritter away on some other pointless task?) Did not like. The movie Kids also falls into the category as the circumstances were identical. (May have even been the same semester?)

World War Z - I'm not a zombie aficionado, and that may have something to do with my response to this book. Regardless, I avoided it for some time simply because I was worried that I might not like it. (Also because despite my non zombie fan status I was attempting at the time to work on some zombie stuff and didn't want it tainted (or worse find that it was redundant.) At any rate, I did finally read it and was it ever a disappointment? Yes. Yes it was. I still haven't told TacoP. Hi, TacoP!

Watchmen - I think in this case that I must have read the wrong comic books. Seriously, I'm the only person in the world who doesn't think this is the best comic series EVAR. I'll probably go see the movie, though. Maybe it will somehow reach through my Super Cynical Mind Shield power. Probably not. Have to admit that I find the commercials pretty annoying.

So the upshot is that the best way to get me to like something is to not tell me that it is any good before I go to see it. Otherwise you should get ready for me to be a big fat wet blanket after I have seen/read/wahtevered the work in question. Also note that I will, in return, rarely speak highly of works that I like in non subjective/personal terms. Because I want you to like it!

Not Made Up

2009-02-02T15:58:00.004-05:00

So the Grimmlet and I are eating dinner the other night when she says this. I should point out that she had just received an award for reading which is why we were eating such fare.

Grimmlet: "Daddy, why do you have a sad meal?"
Me: "Bwuh?"
Grimmlet: "Well, I have a happy meal with a toy, and yours didn't come with a toy."

It is all true. My meal didn't come with a toy. Of course, all I got was a McChicken sandwich. Not a meal at all really. But I was happy to stop eating after I finished it. (Although later I did eat something else to wash the taste out of my mouth.)

They must be Italian glass shards

2008-12-17T12:31:00.003-05:00

A little bit of background information is necessary here. Firstly, the Grimmlet loves the movie The Christmas Story. Absolutely loves it. She has loved it for years and, in fact, we are supposed to be going to see it in play form this coming weekend. Hope it doesn't suck. Secondarily, I recently ordered some wine glasses for a wedding present that ended up being delivered to my house. Which is where the Grimmlet found them...

Grimmlet: Dad, there's a box outside.
Me: OK. Bring it inside, please.
[Some struggle ensues. Eventually the box is manhandled inside.]
Grimmlet: Fra-Frag...Fra-jee-lay! Just like in the Christmas Story.
[I turn and look at her quizically.]
Grimmlet: It means fragile, dad.

Yays!

2008-12-06T12:58:00.002-05:00

So the Grimmlet is back with me and my quote standards are low. But this is funny to me. It all begins with some old pre-K art projects that she found.

Grimmlet: Look! Here's a snowman! And here's a gingerbread man! And look at all the food I used!

She holds up a sheet of construction paper with a large seven drawn on in marker. Inside the borders are numerous pieces of dry pasta.

Me: Mmmm. Looks delicious.

(Mind this is immediately after lunch.)

Grimmlet: [crunch]
Me:...
Grimmlet: [crunch] [crunch-crunch]
Me:...
Grimmlet: [crunch]
Me: What are you eating?
Grimmlet: Food. Pasta from my art project.
Me: Gah! That's several years old! Gross! Go spit it out!

Please Do Not Hump

2008-12-03T18:05:00.004-05:00

A sentiment that I do not hold. Except as it relates to dogs and my leg. Otherwise it is all good.

Anyhow, as is immediately apparent from the title of this post, I went for a train ride the other day. For the Thanksgiving day, specifically. Which is to say that I left on the day before Thanksgiving but arrived at my destination very early on Thanksgiving day.

It was quite chilly when I got off of the train and I immediately realized that I had forgotten my hat. Now, forgetting one's hat in Florida is rarely a problem. Even in February. But it was quite a bit cooler in SC than I am now accustomed to experiencing. My head did not appreciate the lack of hat (and hair.) This is why I cannot ever live north of the 30th parallel. I don't get along so well with cold.

Now I have been without the Grimmlet for almost 2 weeks. This sucks for obvious reasons, but it also means that I have not had any new opportunities to gather conversation scraps to feed the blog monster. So I will make some up about the train ride:

Me: Are you enjoying the train ride?
Grimmlet: [snore]
Me: Oh, right. It is awfully late.

Me: Do you mind if I continue playing Pokemon without your input?
Grimmlet: [snore]
Me: Oh, right. It is awfully late.

And on the return trip...

Me: [Giggling]
Grimmlet: Why are you shaking? I'm trying to sleep.
Me: That train has a sign that says "Please Do Not"...You know what? Go to sleep. It's very early.

The Kindergardner Cop

2008-11-26T13:51:00.003-05:00

I decided to post this conversation almost immediately after it happened. Then I put it off. Then I couldn't remember the hilarious thing the Grimmlet said. Then I forgot about the affair altogether. I relay all of this information as I cannot remember the details of the events that led to this conversation. Sorry.

Grimmlet [proudly] : Look how fat my tummy is! [Lifts shirt for better appreciation of her fat tummy.
Me: Wow. [Rubbing her buddha belly.] It's quite firm. Are you sure it isn't a tumor?
Grimmlet: [Eying her tummy a little suspiciously.] Hmm.
Me: Now you say, 'It's naht ah toomah!'
Grimmlet: It's not a tumor?
Me: Right.
Grimmlet: It's naht ah toomah!
Me: [Cracking up.]

Holy Freakin' Cow

2008-11-14T08:40:00.005-05:00

I'm going to have to go back and read P.K. Dick's DADOES. I just saw the final cut version of Bladerunner and I am just totally blown away. And the weird thing is that I am sure I have seen it before (original or extra crispy cut) but I have almost no memory of it. (And no real positive memories, certainly.) Is this one of the5 movies that is as good as the book on which it is based? And what are the other four? I need to know these things, people!

Also, it turns out that the cow used in the title of this post was totally not a real cow. Getting a real cow apparently would have blown the budget.

Low Hanging Fruit

2008-11-13T15:05:00.006-05:00

Wow. I think I may be able to increase my post frequency if I keep on doing these Grimmlet conversations. At least until she grows up into a surly teenager who hates being seen in the same county as her totally uncool dad.

At the Wagon Wheel Pizza for dinner last night...
Me: What do you want to get? They have pasta and pizza and strombolli. Do you want to try a strombolli?
Grimmlet: I want pizza.
Me: OK, they have lots of different types. Here's one with lots of toppings on it. [Listing off all the toppings.]
Grimmlet: I don't want olives on my pizza.
Me: Well, we can pick those off.
Grimmlet: OK.

Later as she is picking half-heartedly at her food:
Grimmlet: I just remembered that I wanted a cheese pizza.

So I also got anchovies on the pizza. I had never had them before. It wasn't horrible, but they are pretty darn salty. Also, fishy. Though I was expecting that. I think the Grimmlet actually liked them more than I did. She likened them to tuna.

Long, Long Ago

2008-11-11T13:34:00.004-05:00

File this under possible reasons to not read Laura Ingals Wilder books to a five year old.

Me (Reading): Mewwy Chwistmas! Mewwy Chwistmas!
Grimmlet: Grace can talk now!
Me: Yes, she's getting older.
Grimmlet: Is she alive?
Me: Do you mean in real life? No, not anymore. She died a long, long time ago.
Grimmlet: I miss her.
...
Grimmlet: Do you remember the time you were reading and I was crying and you didn't know I was crying?
Me: Um... Not specifically, no.
Grimmlet: I miss them all.

Things Get Lost

2008-11-06T10:47:00.009-05:00

A couple snippets of conversation with the Grimmlet in the car on the way to school after a trip to the doctor's office to get a flu shot. (A trip that consisted of kicking and screaming in the waiting room culminating in me carrying the unwilling Grimmlet into the hall. Therein she demanded to be released to walk by herself, which she managed to do. However, once in the examination room she resumed kicking and screaming and, at one point, took a swipe at the nurse. Her pediatrician, who is usually able to calm her very easily, had to be summoned to physically restrain her to allow the nurse to give her the shot.)

Grimmlet: Daddy, I think you should stop for a treat to reward me for being so good at the doctor's.
Me: ...

And later:

Grimmlet: Daddy, I'm hungry!
Me: What happened to all that food you ate for breakfast?
Grimmlet: It got lost in my tummy.
Me: (Trying not to cause an accident while laughing.)
Grimmlet: What's so funny?

Goggles!

2008-09-29T22:58:00.004-04:00

My first pair of goggles is semi complete. Bronzed eyepieces on black. (Plastic) I have the idea to try a fake leather finish on the black plastic, but if that doesn't work I can always pretend the shiny plastic is patent leather, right?

Anyhow, I have started work on the second pair of goggles which I am going to try to do in silver (aluminum) and bronze (bronze). The second pair is actually better for me anyway as they fit over my glasses which is helpful since then I can also see whilst wearing them. Yays for vision!

Update:
Picture maybe? Also look on Facebook to see me sporting them.

Late Update:
Also, yays for run-on sentences.

Little Bastards, an Update

2008-09-25T12:54:00.002-04:00

Apparently the delicacy in my laundry basket was not my socks. It was one of my shirts. A shirt that was, till this time, in quite good condition. And one of my favorites, too. It is now fit only for use in religious services. Seeing as how holey it is. Little bastard fucks! Why couldn't they have eaten one of my black shirts. I have a surfeit of black shirts. Maybe they don't taste as good.

Little bastards.

Stop Pushing

2008-09-23T07:46:00.003-04:00

See? I update! I update!

You know, sometimes. Like now! When somebody tells me that I have not done so recently enough. Of course, I have nothing much to say. Well, that's not exactly true. I have lots of things to say but I don't really feel that this is the time or place for confession.

So let me share with you a little problem I have. Ants. In my laundry. In the house I am in right now, the laundry area is right next to the front door. That seems very odd to me, but nobody asked my opinion so there you have it. So I had been leaving a laundry basket near the washer and tossing dirty clothes in there for a while. It seemed preferable to having them all over the floor. But the other day I happened to notice (I never use the front door) a line of ants snaking (along the grout lines) from the door to the laundry basket. And lo and behold but the laundry is covered with freaking ants. Especially my socks. Why do they like my socks so damn much?

They're not even particularly nice socks. Just white crew lengths that I'm sure I bought at Wal-Mart back when going to that hell hole was convenient. I'm quite sure my floor is not a sterile environment. There is surely a crumb or two that the broom has missed. (I never sweep under the couches.) So why the pilgrimage to my socks? I do not understand.

And I have to admit that there is a (small) part of me that would like to let things remain as they are to see if they would eventually devour my socks completely. Or maybe everything but the lycra. The other, smarter, part of me is determined to find the source of the ants and pour poison all the fuck over it.

Eyeglass Loupes

2008-09-08T15:09:00.002-04:00

That's what they are called. Also, this costuming thing is going to be expensive. Relatively so, at least. It looks like I will be spending on pants, shirt, and vest (1 each) what I normally spend all year on clothes. (Un)surprisingly, the thrift stores near me do not have a large selection of Victorian era clothing.

So, I have welders goggles on the way. I suppose I should go ahead and order the shirt/pants/vest so that I have a chance of getting them before Halloween. But I am not usually one to spend money like this, so I have been dithering and procrastinating rather than placing the order.

Gah!

Character

2008-09-05T10:19:00.004-04:00

I have decided (for about the, oh, 8th time) that I am going to wear a costume to next years DragonCon. However, unlike every other year when I have made this decision I have actually done something about it. (I'm as surprised as you are. I'll try not to let this go to my head.)

To the end of creating an ultra-cool Steam-punk costume for next year I have ordered...wait for it...welders goggles! Not to actually do any welding, of course. But as requisite Steam-punk wear. (OK, inside joke with Kr4ster...) Anyhow, I have not been able to find any of the much cooler lenses that some people sported at the con, so goggles it will be until then.

And modding the goggles will give me some practice in making things look steamy anyhow. So it will be helpful for the rest of the costume. Next step, vest, pants, shirt, pocket-watch! Pocket-watch? To the consignment stores to see what I can find! (Because ordering that stuff online is seriously expensive. I checked.)

Caaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhnnnnnnnn!

2008-09-03T21:27:00.003-04:00

Because I didn't want the title of the post to be Cooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnn. Because then people would read it with the 'oo' sound rather than the 'ah' sound. Stupid english language.

So. Back from Dragoncon. It was great. I had a great time even though I did not get drunk at all the entire weekend. Some great panels. Some great ideas. Got to see James Randi live in person. (He _is_ quite short.) Took loads of pictures. Friend me on Facebook if you want to see some of them. Send me a message if you want to see all of them. Oh yeah.

That's Uncle To You

2008-08-22T22:46:00.004-04:00

Fester that is. Festering like a scrotal boil. Best description for this blog.

It mocks me with its complete lack of updates. Maybe I should put it out of its misery.

Oh...before I forget. Gladius is a very boring game. It starts off OK. But it gets old very, very fast. And the barbarian princess that sounds like a gum-popping, nearly valley girl, high school chica? Slightly amusing at first. But the unintended humor wears off.

OK, I posted something, damnit. Not that I expect anyone to read this. Wheee!

Ah, to be young again.

2008-01-02T13:42:00.000-05:00

So I called the Grimmlet on New Year's Eve. "Do you know what today is?"

There followed a listing of activities engaged in earlier in the day.

"No, today is a semi-special day. It's New Year's Eve. Do you know what that means?"

"No."

"Well, today is the last day of 2007. And tomorrow is the first day of 2000..."

"2008! 2008! 2008!" (Screamed with all the copious excitement that a four year old can bring to bear.)

This year I resolve to be less anti-social and actually go to a new year's eve party if invited.

Riffin'

2007-12-18T20:35:00.000-05:00

...in my 5.0. Ragtop down so my hair can blow.

Scratch that.

...on Taco's recent post. Because until I read it I was pretty sure I would have to shutter the blog for lack of anything interesting to say.

Oh, except that I have to admit to being outsmarted by the Grimmlet. She is 1/8th of my age and she totally outsmarted me. Obviously, it is high time I started to cheat.

Right. So, riffing. Paranoia. Me. Caffeine. Acute. One word sentences. Suck.

Okay then. Back to me and caffeine. We don't mix well, as it turns out. I never built up a tolerance as a young adult, so I have mostly fillings free teeth. (One natural cavity was filled when I was quite young. Hmm...let me get back on whether the cavity was natural. My memory could be going tricksy on me.)

At any rate, caffeine and I do not get along so well. Sometimes I forget this and take a little caffeine. Sometimes that is not so bad. I had a cherry pepsi today that has not yet adversely affected me, in fact. But other times it gets real mean. And makes me freaking paranoid. Or panicky. Or adrenaline rushy. Or something. I start getting this feeling that I am about to be attacked. Not you average cubicle mauling, either. It's going to be, like, 50 extra dimensional ninja assassins coming after me all at once. And I have to be ready. And I know it's going to happen because I realize that my heart is racing and I have adrenaline coursing through my system and I am starting to get twitchy and it's hard to concentrate and shit I drank amountain dewwhat thehell wasithinking shitshitshit fuckaretheygoingto jumpoutofthewallsand maybeidbettertakealittlewalkaretheybehindthe waterfountainibettheyarethosesneakybastards. Also, I think it may not like my digestive system too much. Never drink anything caffeinated before a big presentation. Bad news. And sometimes it makes me stay awake when I want to sleep but it never helps me stay awake when I want to stay awake. Why is that?

But it's better than alcohol because I don't want to curl up in a ball and die within a minute of drinking it. On the (plus?) side it doesn't make me cough up blood. I'm just not that lucky.

Earbuds Are Dangerous

2007-12-13T10:50:00.000-05:00

Cause I'm sitting here at work rocking out to The Beatles and I am in much danger (there's that word again) of starting to sing out loud and make a fool out myself. For those of you following along at home, that would be a bigger fool out of myself. It's weird though. When I play music through the speakers on my desk I have never had this problem. But the earbuds apparently make the music too immediate, to personal, or something. Or it may be that I just really needed to catch a little Beatlemania right now.

Oh wait, no, I just realized what happened here. I queued up some Beatles this morning when I got in. Then later I was reading a complete stranger(who is apparently the friend of an incomplete stranger)'s blog and he mentioned going back in time to witness the British Invasion. And then I started to imagine it too. And then my Beatles selections started playing. And then I started with the false memories and damn it, why did they break up? Was it really Yoko?

Hmmm, Tripp may have been more right than he knew about the lack of time travellers as evidence against time travel. But it's not so much that The Beatles appearance on Ed Sullivan would have going to be packed with future voyeurs, but that I don't recall seeing a crowd of thirty, forty, fifty, sixty and seventy year olds creeping it up at my high school prom. Of course, I don't remember anything even remotely interesting happening at my prom, so that might explain that. I'd never go back in time for that. At least not until Alzheimer's claims my brain. And then I'll be no danger to the time-space continuum anyhow.

Not that I believe in time anyhow.

I got nothin, redux

2007-12-11T12:06:00.000-05:00

This time I really have nothing to say. I just feel like I need to put something up here on a semi-regular basis or I might as well shutter the place. How about a review? Double feature review, even.

First up on the block is Tarantino's Death Proof. I am told that this was the favorite of audience's between the two Grindhouse movies. Gotta say, though, I was not impressed. It got so bad in the middle that I picked up a book and started reading it. I think I understand that he wanted the audience to be invested in the characters, but I was just bored. The last ten minutes were freaking awesome, but nowhere near made up for the preceding 90 minutes (or thereabouts.) Overall I'd give it about a C+. Without the last ten minutes it would be an F-. If I re-edited it, it would be about half an hour.

Second up is the other Grindhouse flick, Rodriguez' Planet Terror. Holy crap on a stick. This one was everything the other one wasn't. The only thing that really detracted from it is that Rodriguez put Tarantino in a speaking role in it. Just...no. I know they're buddies and all, but actors exist for a reason. Maybe it's just me, but every time I see Tarantino on screen it totally shatters the illusion for me. Crap! I've spent four (now five) sentences bitching about Tarantino! Okay, Planet Terror is awesome because of everything, and I mean everything (except the stuff I already mentioned.)

Okay, now I have nothing again.

Damn you Old Timers!!!!!

2007-12-06T00:05:00.000-05:00

I had stuff to say. Ideas of import to export. I really did. But they're all gone now. Flown the coop. Vile, murderous chickens that they are. I will kill them and eat them. They will be delicious. And I will use butter.

Also, kittens! They are cute! Too bad they grow up to be cats. Vile murderous cats.

Here's something really funny. Brain not worky so gud now. Do linky own time. Make fun.
http://www.fortaxreasons.com/

Like Spider-Man

2007-12-03T23:31:00.000-05:00

Kids are pretty amazing. It was recently pointed out to me that they have nothing better to do that observe and record all that they see and hear and then bring up relevant (sometimes inopportune) information when you least expect it.

Tonight as I was putting the Grimmlet to bed I made some comment about drinking a beer. (Unfortunately I cannot remember the thrust of the statement.) She pipes up with "Daddy, you don't drink beer!" Then after a moment of thought, "You drink coffee. Lots of coffee." Apparently my every other week coffee shop trip may become cause for an intervention one of these days...

But I cannot, for the life of me, remember when I have ever mentioned (in front of her) that I don't drink beer.

I got nothin

2007-12-03T10:38:00.000-05:00

Seriously. I have nothing to say. But I think I will ramble on here for a bit out of some misguided sense of duty. Also, procrastination.

Or I could just stop writing and let that statement stand on its own. Without any further comment from myself. Except maybe in the comments section.

I took the Grimmlet to our cities' annual parade on Saturday evening. It was a short walk from our house to the parade route, which was awfully convenient. Unfortunately I massively underestimated the popularity of the parade and the entire sidewalk on the south side of the street was packed five deep. Not a problem, I thought, as we live to the north of the street in question. Until the parade finally got to us and it was immediately apparent that the parade was north-sidist.

At least half the floats face the south side of the street only. It might have been really disappointing for her if the parade had reached us before an hour+ past her normal bedtime. But she was awake (if zoned) for the 3/4 of the parade we saw.

Duel and Duality

2007-11-30T15:15:00.000-05:00

Title unrelated to any hilarious Rowan Atkinson comedy.

So yeah, I was recently reading Julia Sweeney's blog and stopped on the phrase 'baby jesus'. I stopped because it seemed odd to me that she would use that term as she is an atheist. And then I stopped even more and really thought about the idea of baby jesus. As opposed to adult jesus as opposed to zombie jesus. In particular I wondered at the idea of 'making the baby jesus cry.'

Because, really, didn't baby jesus grow up into boy jesus who went through puberty and eventually became adult jesus? So how ridiculous is the idea of baby jesus being made to cry anyhow? Answer: very.

On the spot I decided that Christianity is more than just a quatratheistic religion. If you count baby jesus, adult jesus, zombie jesus, old testament god, new testament god, the holy ghost, and satan you have a 7 member pantheon. If you start trying to tally up various angels, it's as polytheistic as they come. If you throw in Mary and the saints (for Catholics) you've got a horde of supernatural agents to make the Forgotten Realms campaign setting look downright stingy with the gods.

Man do I ever hate the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. But I'd play in that setting given half a chance at this point. How old should I let the Grimmlet get before completing her geekamorphosis with RPGs?

Bzzzzzzzz! Bzzzzzzzz!

2007-11-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

Why do I ever drink anything with caffeine? Midnight and I am awake. And paranoid. And jumpy. Perfect. I'm sure this will make me highly productive at work tomorrow.

Reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books to the Grimmlet. It kind of blows me away that the story take place about 130 years ago. And that the land they settled which was then open and wild may well be a Wal-Mart parking lot now. Progress!

Not sure what to do for my NWN submission. Freakin' writer's block!

Update: I realize now that the coke I hade at 2ish in the afternoon is not the culprit. The Iced Heroine with Mint that I had at 7ish in the evening on the other hand... Crap! I totally meant to order it decaff. There should be a law that baristas have to ask if you REALLY want a caffeinated drink after 6.

Not that it really matters, of course.

2007-11-27T12:51:00.000-05:00

But the problem with going away and not telling anybody and then suddenly reappearing with a *poof* sound effect and a puff of plaid smoke is that either people turn around because they heard the *poof* sound effect and only then realize that you have been gone or they don't hear the *poof* sound effect at all and never look at you again.

But who cares! Kr4ster's here! Well, really there, I suppose.

Which has nothing to do with the fact that some kid from my old high school left me a message urging me to donate money to some fund or other. Not somebody I knew, mind you, but some current student they have put up to cold calling alumi. I feel so sorry for that kid.

Do they have 15th year reunions? Cause I sorta missed my 10 year and I'd hate to have to wait for 20th to see those people again.

I'm baaaack.

2007-11-26T09:17:00.000-05:00

Like some horrible poltergeist I rattle my chains at you and give rise to hopelessness and despair.

Anyhow, Mexico was awesome. Thanks for asking. Getting sick while traveling with a child who was also getting sick (different kind) is the pits. I don't understand why so many people recommend it.

Now I am mostly better. I'm able to breath for minutes on end without attempting to cough out one of my lungs. Yays!

And I remembered my blog. But I'm not sure how to count the time I was absent. Because I have an excuse, but no doctor's note.

This is a Test

2007-11-15T09:46:00.001-05:00

Of the Emergency Blogging System. If this were a real emergency, you probably wouldn't be reading this blog. Unless it were a blog emergency. Or a potty emergency while reading this blog. But neither case would actually warrant use of the EBS. It is to be used ONLY when I run out of cookies. Cause, damn. No cookies.

Update: Okay. So I can post through e-mail. But no labels. So I may (pending internet cafe access) post in the next week. But I'm not counting on it.

Implementing whirling

2007-11-13T00:06:00.000-05:00

School districts in Konya province, Turkey are tiptoeing into compliance with province law requiring a daily moment of frenetic reflection.

November 4, 2007
BY ECMEL KUTAY Staff Writer
A time of reflection, a way to think about the day ahead, or just a brief opportunity to get really dizzy -- it's the kids' choice.
Mustafa Pamuk made that perfectly clear a few weeks ago when he explained to his Kemal Middle School students that each school day would begin with a moment of silent spinning.

Sixth-graders at Kemal Middle School observe a secular moment of spinning prior to the start of Mustafa Pamuk's science class on Thursday.
(İSMET HAKKI AKANSEL Staff Photographer)

"At first, they were kind of confused at the idea of spinning like tops," said Pamuk, who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade Science at the East Konya School District school. "I told them to take 30 seconds to think about their goals for the day, something they can put into practice, as far as good behavior while they rotate. Or it can be a time to get revved up for the day, because it can be really boring before school in the morning."

Earlier this year, lawmakers voted in favor of switching the province's 38-year-old voluntary moment of whirling -- the Spinning Reflection and Student Dhikr Act -- to a mandatory one in all Konya public schools.

Mayor Tahir Akyürek vetoed the legislation, but the Assembly voted to override the mayor's veto on a 74-37 vote, and the bill immediately became law three weeks ago.
The law requires a teacher to observe a brief period of turning at the opening of every school day with the participation of all pupils assembled.

The law does not specify the length of time, so as little as 10 seconds will work. Still, some school administrators are unhappy.

A number of school officials claim there are religious overtones to the bill; others express concerns on constitutional grounds; and still others complain about it being a new mandate, said Nurettin Sözen, a spokesman for the Konya Association of School Boards, which took no position on the bill as it moved through the legislative process.

"I'm sure this will get aired out in the judicial system," Sözen said. "That's where it will get cleared up."

I don't know why people think this is a joke. I assumed the moment of silence in Illinois was a joke. I mean, come on, seriously?

Uh oh...

2007-11-11T23:40:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess if I post this in the next...19 minutes I will not have gone the entire weekend without posting. Which would be, for me, the first step down the short road to procrastinating about posting to and eventually deleting this blog. Yes, Trinity, I know I've been down this road. Please shut up.

So this post is really more of an exercise in not procrastinating than anything else. Wheee! Woo hoo! Doing something produ...aw, nuts. I just remembered that I have laundry to fold. Gotta go!

Things that make you go, "Bwuh?"

2007-11-09T11:56:00.000-05:00

I'll try to get my reaction shot up later. Cause, WTF?

Probably Not^3

2007-11-08T07:43:00.001-05:00

Would Les Miserables be easier to get through if I didn't already sort of know the story? I got stuck for a bit in the Fantine section where I had to read Tholomyes' barrage of BS. He's the sort of person who I would want to punch in the face in real life. Repeatedly. But I got past that section, so, yays!

Did they start out being called flutterbys? I've always wondered that. It makes a whole lot more sense if you think about it.

Should I be spending so much time recently thinking about the mechanics of terraforming? I don't have a story idea, so why am I thinking about it so much? Stop, brain!

We will wock you

2007-11-06T20:26:00.000-05:00

So after reading my post from earlier, I decided to go find the video that resulted in the Grimmlet being a Queen fan. Here it is:

It is very cute and sung by children which likely heightened its appeal. After clicking to find it I turned the volume down a lot so as not to be heard listening to it. That lasted about 30 seconds. She bounded out of bed and came and sat in my lap and demanded that I start it from the beginning.

There are some that call me TMI?

2007-11-06T08:30:00.000-05:00

I know what kind of underwear Grimmlet's teacher wore today. I didn't really need to know that. Out of the corner of my eye I thought I was witnessing a bad case of plumber's crack. Forced by morbid curiosity, I turned to confront it fully. But it was, in reality, a bad case of plumber's thong.

The Grimmlet's favorite Queen song is We Will Rock You. She likes to do the beatboxing for the stomp/stomp/clap part.

Also, puppies! They are furry and cute. They are slightly less cute when they are playfully tugging on your disemboweled entrails.

Greetings

2007-11-05T21:44:00.000-05:00

Well, here it is. My fresh, brand-spanking new blog. May it experience more posts (if no more traffic) than the old blog. Probably not, though. ADD and experience inform my opinion that I will probably post here for about a week and then get bored and forget.

I just realized that as I have no audience, I need not introduce myself at all. ... And that this whole exercise is mental masturbation of the highest order. Yays!

Everyone's a critic. Blogger informs me that 'yays' is not a real word. Fuck off, blogger spell check. I likes my words like I likes my women! Uh...garbled, yet cutesy?

Okay, so...news. I got nuthin'. I dressed up as a Geico Caveman for Halloween. One of the women with whom I work thought I looked like a scary serial killer. She wouldn't talk to me for the whole day. It's funny too, I figured with the crazy beard and my crazy eyes I could do a serial killer. Then I went through every image on wikipedia and learned that, in general, serial killers seem to eschew facial hair. So I went as a caveman who was mistaken for a serial killer. I did win 2nd place in the costume contest. Go me!

Okay, that was good. I need a cigarette.