Sweet, sweet sleep
Topic: Whatever
The Guardian reports that scientists are beginning to figure out why it helps to sleep on a problem.

In different stages of sleep our brains piece together thoughts and experiences, then file them in a structured way, giving us clearer memories and ultimately, better judgment.

Heh. So, sleep deprivation basically explains my entire semester. I'm glad something does.

Books, again
Topic: Reading
I'm becoming obsessed with the prospect of reading books for fun once these wretched essays are over. The reading/research isn't too bad right now because I'm working on an essay on women and militarism and a lot of the research is highly readable, but I fully expect to beating my head on any available hard surface when I get to the essay on social impact assessment. Its a rare social scientist who writes readable project assessments. In the interests of feeding my obsession with non-academic literature, and inspired by Pop Culture Junk Mail, I had a look at Time's list of the top 100 English-language novels from 1923 to the present, to see how my reading history stacks up. My favorites from the list: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret - Read, re-read, dog-eared, finally just wore my copy right out between the ages of about 10 and 12. Beloved - One of the very few books I feel should be required reading for everyone. The Blind Assassin - For some reason, I'm surprised that they didn't pick Alias Grace. I'm not sure why that is, because I certainly think The Blind Assassin is a great book, but it just hasn't stuck with me the way Alias Grace has. A Clockwork Orange - Loathed the violence, loved the incredible richness of the language. Gone With the Wind - This might be the first "epic" novel I ever read. In which case, its responsible for a lot of subsequent late nights and eyestrain. The Great Gatsby - I find something new to appreciate every time I re-read it. 1984 - Never fails to give me chills. On the Road - The only book from my brief but intense Kerouac phase that I still enjoy. Snow Crash - This may be sticking with me because I've read it the most recently of the books on the list, but I thought it was great - smart, well-plotted, compelling characters, convincing vision of the future. To Kill a Mockingbird - I'm embarassed to admit that I didn't read this until I absolutely had to in my sophomore year of high school, but I think I've read it at least once a year since then. Even now, I still relate to Scout. I wouldn't have put them in the Top 100, but then nobody asked me: Catch-22 - Read when I was playing "catching up on the classics" in Macedonia because new books weren't always easy to get. I think it must need to be read with an understanding of the time in which it was written and published to be fully appreciated, because my initial reaction to it was "What's all the fuss about?" The Catcher in the Rye - Another book I read because I had to in sophomore English. This did not go over as well as To Kill a Mockingbird. Holden Caulfield is a whiny little punk. The Corrections - Overhyped. I probably would've given it's place on the list to A Thousand Acres. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - I really think this is the least interesting of the Narnia books. I would've picked just about any of the others instead. Slaughterhouse-5 - Again, like Catch-22 perhaps better appreciated with a stronger understanding than I had of the time in which it was published. I think I probably would've picked Cat's Cradle as the best of Vonnegut's work. Tried to read, but just gave up: Light in August - Considering giving this one another chance, but couldn't get into it when I first tried to read it in high school. Lord of the Flies - I think it might've been the total absence of female characters that put me off this one. Naked Lunch - Attempted during my Kerouac/Beat phase, but quickly abandoned. Just not my thing. The Sound and the Fury - My failure to complete this and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man the summer before my senior year of high school convinced me that I should re-think my plan to major in English in college. Tropic of Cancer - Miller's writing style is insufficient to mitigate his misogyny. Thinking I should add to my between-semesters reading list: Brideshead Revisited Death Comes for the Archbishop Go Tell It on the Mountain Housekeeping Invisible Man Mrs. Dalloway Native Son A Passage to India Possession The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Their Eyes Were Watching God Things Fall Apart The Sheltering Sky Ubik Watchmen White Teeth

Coherence is merely a memory
Topic: Odds and ends
The fact that I cannot seem to cobble together two related thoughts this morning is not conducive to the writing of essays. I blame the birds. There are several lovely trees right outside my window, which I usually enjoy having there, but lately they've become popular with a particularly evil variety of bird that likes to start singing loudly somewhere between 4:30 and 5:30 in the morning. I know, because I wake up, since these birds are seriously louder than my alarm clock. And these days, once I'm awake, I'm awake. No rolling over and going back to sleep. Therefore, the brain, she don't work so well this morning. Passing on the random to you:

Geek out: Sitemeter tells me I'm #1 on Google! For the next 15 seconds. For the very specific search phrase "america is the greatest of opportunities and the worst of influences". I don't know whether to be entertained that I'm #1 at something geeky, or deeply embarassed that I'm obsessed with my site stats. I blame the World Map of Visitors feature for this unseemly preoccupation. I'm such a sucker for maps.

Lost in translation: Engrish and Hanzi Smatter document the entertaining perils of using other languages as design elements. Think hard before you get that kanji tattoo.

Back to the future: The Observer has announced the death of the metrosexual. According to Marian Salzman, advertising VP (surprise) and co-author of the new book The Future of Men, the new masculine ideal is the ubersexual. I'm not sure whether the umlaut is just the Observer being very precise in its usage, or whether it's used by the book's authors, perhaps to impart a certain heavy metal quality to the "new" model of American masculinity. I'm guessing the former, since "fine wines, cigars and red-blooded heterosexuality" aren't exactly rock and roll. I'd love to think that someone at the Observer was having a go at the absurdity of the whole idea by sneaking in a very subtle Spin̈al Tap reference, but that's probably too much to hope for.


Credits: KL for the link to Engrish, Ro for the Observer story, bloody loud birds for disjointedness.

Procrastinating
Topic: Quotidiana

Sitting in the semi-darkness, watching a thunderstorm roll in. I love that I'm on the top floor of the tallest building that's around for blocks. The idea of looking out my window over the rooftops of a city appealled to me long before I was ever in a position to live in a place where that was possible. The chimney sweep scene in Mary Poppins was my favorite as a child, and I was very taken with the idea of living in an attic, like Sara in A Little Princess.

Now, I gravitate toward top floor flats, even if the stairs are awful. Which they're not, here, since there are only 3 storeys to the building, and I still get to look out over the rooftops of all the little houses in my neighborhood, straight out the horizon, where distant flashes of lightening are outlining the edges of the heavy bank of clouds that's creeping in. Looks like it's going to be a spectacular storm.

Flashback
Topic: Whatever
I'll be getting back to work any minute now, but I just took a quick break to read 50 Books, and these posts gave me a flashback to the agonizing process of packing up my books before I moved, and how much I miss my books, and I how I hope that my friends are enjoying the ones that were left in their care.

It is so incredibly weird to me that I have one, tiny, "bookshelf" (actually a CD/DVD rack that happens to work as a bookshelf) that isn't even full. I brought next to no books with me, which was difficult. "These books represent security and home," Doppelganger says, and I can definitely relate to that. I love a public library, and I intellectually accept that it wasn't necessary to bring my entire collection with me, but there's something about having my books on hand that's deeply comforting.

When I go to friends' flats, I find myself contemplating their bookshelves with a deep sense of envy, stemming both from the fact that they have bookshelves (possibly my favorite category of furniture) and that they have many, many books to put on them. I've been slooooooowly re-amassing a collection of second-hand books, but I've been trying to keep my book-buying in check because I know I'll just have to go through another agonizing cull in a year or so.

Although, as Doppelganger says, the idea of getting rid of books is usually more painful than actually doing it. I usually find that once I sit down and start sorting, its not hard to figure out which books I'm just done with. Most notably, in the pre-Australia move, I realized that I was done with Dune and The Lord of the Rings. There was a long period of my life in which I read both series straight through at least once a year. Those days are over. It was strange to put those books in the donation pile without feeling a pang of loss, but when a phase is over, its over.

I was trying to think if there are books I regret getting rid of over my various moves, and I don't think so. Maybe my copy of War and Peace, but I only would've kept that to prove that I had read it, and that didn't seem like sufficient reason to bring it with me from Skopje, since its such a brick of a book. I do miss some of the books that I've left with various friends. Sometimes I wish that I'd kept American Gods, Blonde, The Toughest Indian in the World, and Snake Hips, but at least I can hope that they are, or at least were, being enjoyed by other people who I know love books. Other than that, I think I've kept every book that there's the even the slightest chance that I might want to read again.

Okay, then. Enough with thinking about books, and back to reading them. Which just isn't as enjoyable when I have to take notes. How is it that education manages to take the fun out of reading?

Update: See Antipixel for further reflections on the pain of packing and the comfort of unpacking books. Have a look at the photographs, too - they're gorgeous.

Artsy
Topic: Whatever
The Melbourne International Arts Festival has been on for the past two weeks, and I promised myself I wasn't going to miss this one like I missed the film festival and the student arts festival -- by being so damn busy and scatty that I didn't bother to set aside time to see anything. So I got a festival program, and I looked for performances with student discounts, and I set aside the time to go see a performance: Stephen Petronio Company from New York.

Little did I know when I bought the ticket weeks ago that I was going to be so stressed and obsessed with school that I wasn't going to be able to focus on the performance until at least halfway through the opening solo piece, "Broken Man". My attention issues weren't helped by the fact that I'm not in the least familiar with latest in modern dance, so I always feel a bit at sea when watching it. Fortunately for me, the visuals of The Gotham Suite are gorgeously designed -- the lights, set and costumes work beautifully together -- and they eventually got my attention on the performance, where it belonged.

The other pieces in The Gotham Suite were group pieces. I found "City of Twist" easy to follow: it was about people in the city, and the way that we move together sometimes, and apart at others, and at cross purposes at yet other times. It was about the chaos of the city, too -- there was so much going on onstage sometimes that I didn't know where to look, and knew that I was missing something by choosing to watch a particular bit of action. And it was, ultimately, sad. "City of Twist" was a response to post-Sept. 11 New York, and it feels weighted with the shock of the immediate aftermath of the attacks.

"The Island of Misfit Toys" I had a bit more trouble with, in terms of what was being communicated. It feels a bit like every bad stereotype I ever absorbed about "the city" growing up -- it's grim, it's bewildering, no one cares about anyone else, you'll be in over your head, used and tossed aside. The music was composed by Lou Reed, so naturally the mood was dark and decadent and a bit grimy. "City of Twist", although not uplifting in its mood, at least had moments of gentleness that made it a bit easier to watch than "Misfit Toys". But the movement in "Misfit Toys" was stunning. I think it's the first choreography I've seen that directly acknowledges how sexy it is to dance. Its also the first choreography I've seen in which lifts and support movements were done without regard to the "man lifts, woman looks pretty" tradition in ballet. Women lifted men, men lifted men, women lifted women. I was fascinated because it was so unexpected. Petronio's choreography seems to me to be interested in exploring the strength and suppleness of the human body, rather than treating the male body as strong and the female body as fluid.

The applause at the end of the performance just went on and on. But no one stood up. I've heard that its nearly impossible to get a standing ovation in Melbourne, which is quite a change from the States. Another change from the States is that I only saw a few people wearing jeans, even though it was a matinee performance. And most of the people who were wearing jeans had dressed them up with a nice shirt and shoes. I really appreciate that people dress for the theater here. To me, going to the theater ought to be a special occasion, and it ruins the mood if half the audience is wearing jeans and t-shirts.

It started to rain as I left the theater, which suited me. It would've been too jarring to walk out into bright sunshine. Of course, the one thing I forgot to bring with me was an umbrella. It wasn't a cold rain, though, so it was almost pleasant to walk in. And now that it's stopped raining, I think I'll go out for a proper walk. I love the smell of the city after a good steady afternoon rain washes the air clean.

Touched by a noodly appendage
Topic: Odds and ends
My brother has finally found religion, and in announcing his conversion, clued me in to the many important things that have been happening in the Church of the FSM since the last time I visited, including an explosion of inspired iconography and a mass conversion on the part of members of the academic community.

The relationship between Pastafarianism and holders of postgraduate degrees makes perfect sense. Postgrads spend a significant amount of time appealing to various higher powers (especially for extensions). From there, its just a small step to outright prayer. The FSM rites of worship are both satisfying and highly economical to those living on a student budget or repaying student loans. Plus its never not fun to dress like a pirate for evangelical purposes.

WWFSMD? Get one of these.

Sevens
Topic: Navel gazing
This is why Moment to Moment is one of my favorite blogs. Just as I'm thinking that I need to post something, but can't think of a damn thing to write about because my life has been utterly taken over by the upcoming end-of-term essays and I'm just not talented enough to make that sound at all interesting, Kate comes through with a meme. Bingo. I've got something to write about, on a topic that requires no research, and I don't have to worry about structuring an argument. Perfect . . .

7 things I want to do before I die:

1. Write a book.

2. Live in a sub-saharan African country. Yes, I realize that covers a lot of territory. No, I don't care to narrow it down further. Leaving it up to chance is part of the appeal.

3. Learn to dance the tango.

4. Take a cross-country trip through the U.S.

5. This is where "live in New Orleans" would have been.

6. Learn to speak French.

7. Learn to bellydance.

7 things I cannot do:

1. Make small talk without feeling like an idiot.

2. Cook anything more complicated than scrambled eggs.

3. Manage time effectively.

4. Play the piano (despite my mother's best efforts).

5. Just put down a badly-written book. I keep reading, hoping that it will get better, and kick myself for wasting time when it doesn't.

6. Wear short skirts.

7. Not be bossy. I try to reign it in, but once the oldest sister, always the oldest sister.

7 things that attract me to a person:

1. A genuine smile.

2. Attentiveness.

3. Thoughtfulness.

4. Intelligence.

5. Confidence.

6. A sense of concern for and engagement in the world.

7. A wicked sense of humor.

7 things that I say most often:

1. I miss you (to just about everybody).

2. I love you (funny how being far away makes that easier to say).

3. What do you mean "item not found"? (to the library database)

4. I don't want to go to class tonight.

5. I am so screwed (contemplating end-of-term essays).

6. Why do I do this to myself? (see: time management)

7. Gah. Feh. Haaaaaaaaaate (anything having to do with U.S. politics).

7 celebrity crushes:

1. John Corbett. Although its less about him and more about "Chris in the Morning" from Northern Exposure.

2. Adrian Brody. It's all about the nose. And those luminous eyes.

3. Kate Winslet. Gorgeous and, seemingly, smart and grounded.

4. Mike Doughty. Guy + guitar + good lyrics + sense of humor + sensitive without being new-agey = siiiiiiiiiiigh.

5. Ani Difranco. Girl + guitar + good lyrics + sense of humor + utterly unapologetic lefty politics = hell yeah.

6. Johnny Depp. Which is why I'm a bit afraid to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I'm not sure my crush will survive watching him in Michael Jackson drag for two hours.

7. Toni Collette. I love the story about her impromptu highway donation of the new Coldplay album.

7 people I want to do this:

I don't even know seven people with blogs on whom to foist this, so ... whoever. Just jump on in if you feel like it.

Update, 20 Nov.: Essay? What essay? The only research I need to be doing is on the availability of online celebrity pictures. I know nothing of this 'essay'. I do know that this may be the best picture of Kate Winslet ever, and it's not just because Johnny Depp is in it (though that doesn't hurt, by any means). More where that came from . . .

Found oddness
Topic: Odds and ends
Perhaps not so much found as 'sent' - I have a bit of an obsession with spam, particularly those bits that are successful at evading filters, which the following was. Apparently, someone has now decided that spam provides an opportunity to offer not only unsolicited 'opportunities' but unsolicited advice, and the occasional bizarre aphorism:

Breaking news alert issue - big news coming.

Xxxxxxx International Corporation

We give it to you again as a gift. This company is doing incredible things. They have cash and have made great strategic aquisitions. Current price is $4.70. Short term projection is $8. This company has dropped big new's in the past. Who's to say they don't have another big one.


Not everybody has to sing the melody. More to the point, not everyone can.
Men are punished by their sins, not for them.
What if there had been room at the inn? Oooh, historical speculation! I'm going to go with: Baby Jesus would've been exposed to lice, instead of fleas.
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
There must be more to life than having everything.
Tradition is a guide and not a jailer.
There are 350 varieties of shark, not counting loan and pool.
America is the greatest of opportunities and the worst of influences.
The more you run over a dead cat, the flatter it gets. Ew. Just . . . ew.
Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence. Sometimes, silence is preferable.
Fear not those who argue but those who dodge. Because they will always beat you at dodgeball, and who wants to lose all the time?
How many husbands have I had? You mean apart from my own? (sings) One of these things is not like the others, one of these things is not the same . . .
He who has never envied the vegetable has missed the human drama. Whaaaaaaaat?
Sleep is an eight-hour peep show of infantile erotica. Where the hell did they get this one from?
Be not afraid of going slowly; be only afraid of standing still.
Examine what is said, not him who speaks.
For four-fifths of our history, our planet was populated by pond scum. Oh, this is just too easy.
Sex: the pleasure is momentary, the position ridiculous, and the expense damnable. Damnable? Does someone think he's channeling Oscar Wilde?

Spam's more fun when it's interactive, don't you think? And, of course, when it enables procrastination. How did I manage to waste 20 minutes on this? Back to work with me . . .

Let the madness begin
Topic: Uni
So we're in the homestretch of the semester, and if I disappear for awhile, that's why. Not only do I have four end of term essays of various lengths and degrees of difficulty coming up in the next 4-6 weeks, the journal I'm working on is going into production this month and formatting and layout consumes a lot of time. I find myself now hoping that the pattern of only sleeping 5 or 6 hours a night that's been kind of stressing me out all semester keeps up until I'm through all this. I'll have time to collapse in mid-November.

Fortunately, even research provides its moments of fun in unexpected places. For example, this gave me the giggles when I came across it last night:

Preschoolers identified as masculine that which was large, dark, sharp, or rough-textured (including fire, lightning, sharks, and gorillas), and identified as feminine what was smooth, rounded, or pastel-colored (including clouds, ducklings, and soap).  (Goldstein, War and Gender, p. 249)

Granted, as noted on previous occasions, I'm easily amused, but little boys identifying soap as feminine, and therefore presumably something to be avoided, just fits so neatly with the stereotype (link via this site, which is really trying to wriggle around any accusations of copyright violation).