E come la civetta
È uccello sanguinario
Il suo cibo ordinario
È il cuore.
Mangia il cuore!
Per questo io non ne ho più.
(And, like the owl,
She's a bird of prey
Her usual food
Is the heart!
She eats hearts!
Thanks to her, I no longer have one.)
I'm going to write you some anti-packbawky propaganda, myself, if my energy holds out just a little longer. Beware, O Black Packbawky--I'll be back-bawky.
Unfortunately, the best picture I could find online was this one: http://rainforest-australia.com/Organ%20Pipe%20Fungus.htm , which is actually of a whitish variant of the fungus. I had originally thought the fungus I was thinking of was called an Indian pipe, but when I looked that up, it turned out to be something quite different: a chlorophyll-free white flower which I had always known as a "ghost plant".
Do you have a picture of one of those? My mind keeps slipping back to one of the lines I edited out of the first paragraph of this entry:
"I could never see myself being one of the biggest organs on earth."
Yes, I did originally write it that way for humour, but felt it unbalanced the entry putting a gag at the end of the first paragraph.
If I'd known my power of suggestion was so strong I'd have added a few extra lines to the end of the ditty. Something like:
To avoid dis bad itchin result
yer mus start up a virge-worship cult
You know, after reading your giant rat ditty for the first time on my journal, I had to wash my sheets three times on the hottest setting--I couldn't get the image of rat-dander-infected linens out of my mind. Unfortunately, I used so much detergent and fabric softener that my nose really DID get irritated, and I sneezed all night. I had to re-wash the sheets in plain water.
Thanks Heidi. I guess that just showed up my lack of scrabble playing. The only scrabble I've played in the last 10 years has been: (a) playing "take two" - a scrabble variant played with no board and an emphasis on raw speed, and (b) playing against my kids - where concentration on score maximization would earn me a reputation as a bully.
In general, if both people are dense Scrabble players (dense in terms of letter density, not in terms of mental power) the person who gets the V will be at a severe disadvantage.
You know, it's really not a concentration on end-game strategies. The two-letter word is valuable in the beginning of the game for a couple of reasons.
The best place to put one word is right on top of another, if you can. Every letter you can put like that acts double. Knowing all the two letter words makes a *huge* difference in scrabble score. A V can't be hooked on anywhere. So while you could make "example" by hooking it on top of the last four letters of "calamity", there is no place you can hook a V. That's a severe disadvantage because:
(1) There are fewer places to play words with Vs.
(2) Any time you can "hook" like that you effectively double the value of the letters.
(3) Hooking words like this is also an excellent defensive move--it makes it very hard for other people to play off your words. In general, if both people are "dense" Scrabble players (dense in terms of letter density, not in terms of
Who cares if it's practical--you could have a fan as well for the actual cooling. The whole point, as I see it, is having a lava lamp connected to your computer! I mean, YEAH, baby! Yeah!
This is just a comment for anyone out there that thinks of this as a serious idea.
The idea wouldn't work at all well for CPU cooling. Since the system described uses natural convection in a viscous fluid it would be slow and very dependent on which way up you mounted your CPU. Most changes that could improve the heat transfer of the lamp would also ruin the mood modification effect. The idea could still work as a Combination Chaos Source and Mood Modifier, still relying on the CPU as a source of heat, but don't throw away your cooling fan and heat sink just yet.
*chuckles*
*appreciates the limerick*
You know, when writing this entry about veeophobia I'd completely forgotten about your mental association linking "v" with "vomit". I hope your link between "v" and levity is stronger than its link to revulsion.
I must continue to build the reputation of this slightly tarnished letter.
Whenever I see a V on its own, I think about the emetophobia mailing list, where they always say "v" instead of "vomit". This makes me giggle, because I always imagine them running about waving their arms and going "Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" In fact, last year I caught food poisoning and almost vomited, and one REASON I came so close to puking was that I started laughing at the worst peaks of nausea. I didn't WANT to laugh, but I kept thinking "Oh, no. I might really...veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!", which of COURSE struck my funnybone, which, in turn, almost made my worst fear a reality.
Nonetheless, I have nothing against the letter V, in and of itself.
I've got nothing 'gainst letters that buzz
On the tongue, like the double-you does
But if vee stands for vomit
Then triple shame on it
You don't need a vee to say "scuzz".
It's time for me to reveal all.
My infectious wild abandon came in the form of "have piano, will play anything". The visiting manager signed her kids up for piano lessons as soon as she got home. One child has abandoned all hope and adopted the piano as a family member.
See how real life can sound so dull. It wasn't clap. It wasn't cooking. It wasn't a wanton need to destroy animals, but it could possibly lead to that if one attempts some outrageously barbarous pianistic performance art.
OK, I got one. Could be better--pretty shaky meter in places, there, and some questionable word choices, but it'll have to do:
The Peck of the Packbawky
I fell asleep one afternoon
In a quiet glade
My head soft-cradled by the grass
A tree to lend me shade.
I dreamt of knights on sunlit fens
Their horses standing proud
The breeze that stroked my slumb'ring face
In my dream blew loud.
It swept, a gale, across a moor
Where ancient cromlechs stood
It swirled and twirled and caught up leaves
Capricious in its mood.
Upon my own great noble steed
I chased the playful wind
And, baying with exub'rant glee
The hounds careened behind.
Beneath the stones, a lady stood
A lily in her hair
She strummed upon a mandolin
As she lingered there.
I halted then my warhorse brave
And doffed apace my cap
Then, light as air, she sprang straight up
And gave my cheek a slap.
I leapt down from my saddle, then
And fell into the grass
Instead of lightly, on my feet
I landed on my ass.
Indeed, I had not come, at all
Down from a horse's back.
For it was up from sleep I'd sprung,
Dream ruined by a smack.
And in the air, I saw a shape
With feathers, beak, and wings.
As I rubbed the cheek that he had pecked
That bird began to sing.
Here's another one, from La Bohème:
E come la civetta
È uccello sanguinario
Il suo cibo ordinario
È il cuore.
Mangia il cuore!
Per questo io non ne ho più.
(And, like the owl,
She's a bird of prey
Her usual food
Is the heart!
She eats hearts!
Thanks to her, I no longer have one.)
I'm going to write you some anti-packbawky propaganda, myself, if my energy holds out just a little longer. Beware, O Black Packbawky--I'll be back-bawky.
Unfortunately, the best picture I could find online was this one: http://rainforest-australia.com/Organ%20Pipe%20Fungus.htm , which is actually of a whitish variant of the fungus. I had originally thought the fungus I was thinking of was called an Indian pipe, but when I looked that up, it turned out to be something quite different: a chlorophyll-free white flower which I had always known as a "ghost plant".
Do you have a picture of one of those? My mind keeps slipping back to one of the lines I edited out of the first paragraph of this entry:
"I could never see myself being one of the biggest organs on earth."
Yes, I did originally write it that way for humour, but felt it unbalanced the entry putting a gag at the end of the first paragraph.
I'd be one of those wee orange fungi that looks like an organ, myself.
You crafty wee sod! Very clever.
If I'd known my power of suggestion was so strong I'd have added a few extra lines to the end of the ditty. Something like:
To avoid dis bad itchin result
yer mus start up a virge-worship cult
You know, after reading your giant rat ditty for the first time on my journal, I had to wash my sheets three times on the hottest setting--I couldn't get the image of rat-dander-infected linens out of my mind. Unfortunately, I used so much detergent and fabric softener that my nose really DID get irritated, and I sneezed all night. I had to re-wash the sheets in plain water.
Thankyou Shunra and welcome to the VirJournal.
::applauds loudly::
Hey, these are great! You really showed the rest of us a good time, the light, and up!
You can add comments if you click on the "Link" beside the title of a journal entry.
Thanks Heidi. I guess that just showed up my lack of scrabble playing. The only scrabble I've played in the last 10 years has been: (a) playing "take two" - a scrabble variant played with no board and an emphasis on raw speed, and (b) playing against my kids - where concentration on score maximization would earn me a reputation as a bully.
oops, cut off--
In general, if both people are dense Scrabble players (dense in terms of letter density, not in terms of mental power) the person who gets the V will be at a severe disadvantage.
You know, it's really not a concentration on end-game strategies. The two-letter word is valuable in the beginning of the game for a couple of reasons.
The best place to put one word is right on top of another, if you can. Every letter you can put like that acts double. Knowing all the two letter words makes a *huge* difference in scrabble score. A V can't be hooked on anywhere. So while you could make "example" by hooking it on top of the last four letters of "calamity", there is no place you can hook a V. That's a severe disadvantage because:
(1) There are fewer places to play words with Vs.
(2) Any time you can "hook" like that you effectively double the value of the letters.
(3) Hooking words like this is also an excellent defensive move--it makes it very hard for other people to play off your words. In general, if both people are "dense" Scrabble players (dense in terms of letter density, not in terms of
Who cares if it's practical--you could have a fan as well for the actual cooling. The whole point, as I see it, is having a lava lamp connected to your computer! I mean, YEAH, baby! Yeah!
This is just a comment for anyone out there that thinks of this as a serious idea.
The idea wouldn't work at all well for CPU cooling. Since the system described uses natural convection in a viscous fluid it would be slow and very dependent on which way up you mounted your CPU. Most changes that could improve the heat transfer of the lamp would also ruin the mood modification effect. The idea could still work as a Combination Chaos Source and Mood Modifier, still relying on the CPU as a source of heat, but don't throw away your cooling fan and heat sink just yet.
That's a wonderful idea! I'd totally go for something like that, and I don't even NEED random data for anything much.
Reclaiming the Vee Words
Vitriol, Vomit and Vivisection
Lost Mr. Vee the election.
But Vino and Vim
Came steaming on in
And usurped Mr. Eff from PerVection!
*chuckles*
*appreciates the limerick*
You know, when writing this entry about veeophobia I'd completely forgotten about your mental association linking "v" with "vomit". I hope your link between "v" and levity is stronger than its link to revulsion.
I must continue to build the reputation of this slightly tarnished letter.
Whenever I see a V on its own, I think about the emetophobia mailing list, where they always say "v" instead of "vomit". This makes me giggle, because I always imagine them running about waving their arms and going "Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" In fact, last year I caught food poisoning and almost vomited, and one REASON I came so close to puking was that I started laughing at the worst peaks of nausea. I didn't WANT to laugh, but I kept thinking "Oh, no. I might really...veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!", which of COURSE struck my funnybone, which, in turn, almost made my worst fear a reality.
Nonetheless, I have nothing against the letter V, in and of itself.
I've got nothing 'gainst letters that buzz
On the tongue, like the double-you does
But if vee stands for vomit
Then triple shame on it
You don't need a vee to say "scuzz".
< 3 !
I could give you the clap, if you so desire, Joe...
DAMN IT! I was really pulling for the clap.
It's time for me to reveal all.
My infectious wild abandon came in the form of "have piano, will play anything". The visiting manager signed her kids up for piano lessons as soon as she got home. One child has abandoned all hope and adopted the piano as a family member.
See how real life can sound so dull. It wasn't clap. It wasn't cooking. It wasn't a wanton need to destroy animals, but it could possibly lead to that if one attempts some outrageously barbarous pianistic performance art.