tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312092582011-07-28T21:55:07.738-05:00Observations, Rants, Humor and other thoughtsBrittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.comBlogger751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-69047569357969062492009-12-10T20:29:00.003-05:002009-12-10T20:41:55.854-05:00

I heard about an intriguing article in the NYT Magazine about a woman's attempt to "improve" her marriage. The story by Elizabeth Weil is about 10 pages long, so I'll confess I read the first 3 pages and then the last two, because I have a limited tolerance for (other people's) navel gazing. However, I really liked the last paragraph, and feel it's worth pondering:"Maybe the perversity we all

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-37342926514826685132009-11-09T18:24:00.002-05:002009-11-09T18:37:32.166-05:00

When I started the new job, a memo went around the department asking that everyone limit their color printing. Apparently, color cartridges are hard to get, the department doesn't have a secretary at the moment, and when we run out of color ink, no one knows how to obtain more. Silly me, I hoped that meant black and white printing would be ok. In general, everyone has their own printer (so

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-52685910749874305902009-11-02T18:12:00.002-05:002009-11-02T18:18:33.440-05:00

I need a word for that feeling you get when you've just held a smiling baby, you hand her off to someone else, and yet the part of your body against which she was resting remains warm, then gradually becomes colder than the rest of you. It's not quite horror, because you know whatever it is, she's done it before, and you can take it. Is it hope, because there is the possibility that the

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-27790064151187014752009-10-30T10:23:00.003-05:002009-10-30T10:50:24.185-05:00

This morning I called the gynecologist to make an appointment for an annual checkup. I've been visiting the same multi-doctor practice for 10 years or more, and while the medical care has been mildly satisfactory, the customer service has always been poor. Phone wait times are never less than 5 minutes to make an appointment, appointment delays for non-emergency (but recommended) visits are at

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-88729666145499292002009-10-05T19:45:00.003-05:002009-10-05T20:00:52.855-05:00

At the new job, I'm running a basic beam mechanics test on an interesting material. Although analysis might be challenging, the tests themselves are very simple: apply load, measure deflection. The hard part is that the maximum load for the medium sized beam is 350 lbs, and 1800 lbs for the large beam. The lab is not really set up for this sort of test, so instead of a testing machine, we are

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-63737170966248959882009-10-01T19:50:00.002-05:002009-10-01T19:52:25.672-05:00

Love is when you learn to firmly tell someone to F-off, while trying not to hurt their feelings. Because you love them, but you really need them to F-off.This wisdom courtesy of a small boy who felt the need to cry after a wonderful evening, because dessert was not on the menu.

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-38407404560948445092009-09-24T20:44:00.002-05:002009-09-24T20:54:28.767-05:00

Whoa, where is the time going? Crazy baby rearing, determined money earning, and slapdash housekeeping, that's where. So here's my current dilemma, and I don't know whether to call it moral, ethical, or a matter of good taste: I live in Annapolis, home of the US Naval Academy. Our little soldier students have to stay fit as part of their educational mission, so they spend a lot of time

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-57605999935785851102009-07-15T15:30:00.002-05:002009-07-15T15:37:15.289-05:00

This is a "What Would You Do?" sort of post. One of my little nuggets came home today claiming that she found a mouse dropping in her sandwich. Whole wheat sliced bread (no seeds), cold-cut ham and american cheese. She brought the sandwich home with one small piece of bread missing from it and no mouse dropping, because she threw that part away. So I retrieved the bag of bread from the

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-53861819182354227752009-07-02T12:07:00.003-05:002009-07-02T12:30:35.193-05:00

So many of my stories seem to be really stupid. I don't know how this happens, since I think I'm reasonably intelligent, but I never have stories about spiritual enlightenment, or intellectual epiphanies, it's just daily irritations that don't seem to happen to other people with the same intensity. Maybe the enlightenment is right there, and I'm too busy being outraged to pick it up.So much for

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-29764074463148096072009-07-01T14:49:00.003-05:002009-07-01T21:06:13.658-05:00

I found this on fark.com. I like how seriously NJ takes drunk driving- they might be as cavalier as MD, or close to it.WCBS NEWSRADIO 880 - New Jersey Man Admits 15th Drunk Driving OffensePosted using ShareThis

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-16146724925360285162009-06-24T16:01:00.007-05:002009-07-01T21:03:53.336-05:00

Or rather, the infidelity of politicians. Listening to parts of the latest apology, issued by Gov. Mark Sanford of SC, I begin to wonder why these things are usually phrased as actions against the wife and family. “I’ve been unfaithful to my wife. I developed a relationship with what started as a dear, dear friend from Argentina. It began very innocently as I suspect many of these things do, in

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-28472297359281804312009-06-08T16:18:00.002-05:002009-06-08T16:26:56.731-05:00

I haven't published much because I'm on a writing roll with the dissertation. Just passed 200 pages today, so the official count before the introduction and conclusion are included is 202. I'm starting the intro tomorrow, come hell or high water, so maybe next Monday will be 250. In my dreams of course, but that is what I would like to accomplish this week.This whole process has given me much

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-37824619195060960372009-05-28T10:35:00.006-05:002009-06-08T16:18:47.459-05:00

I'm listening to a very interesting discussion about the marriage and divorce rates in the US. It seems that compared to the rest of the western world, we marry more, divorce more, and generally have more romantic partners moving in and out. In short, we have high turnover compared to others. A child with married parents in the US has a higher chance of seeing his parents break up than a child

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-56836501049552945172009-05-18T12:19:00.002-05:002009-05-18T12:33:04.871-05:00

Occasionally since coming to Annapolis, I've run into people who haven't been exposed to much.  That's the only way I can describe it.  Once it was someone who had never heard of hummus and never tasted olive oil or lamb.  I can understand the hummus, even though it is in most normal groceries now, it wasn't commonly available everywhere until recently.  The other two though, they seem so normal

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-47271287505979787792009-05-17T19:40:00.004-05:002009-05-18T12:19:40.999-05:00

Have you seen the trailer for Tarantino's new film?  It has captured my interest for two entirely predictable reasons: Brad Pitt and crazy violence.  I have some small hope of being able to go out and see it in the theaters, since we are gradually starting to go out again.  It was before a screening of Star Trek that I saw the trailer for Inglorious Basterds, and I had to put the movie at the top

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-64457034237797103862009-05-13T22:00:00.002-05:002009-05-13T22:24:58.541-05:00

1. Why don't I post much?Because I'm trying to finish grad school, and I'm depressed because I've spent so much time in grad school.2. Why do I write so much trivia about the baby?Duh.  Because she makes me smile and feel like I'm achieving something.  This is not to say that raising the boy is not also an achievement, but he is rapidly becoming a self-steering child.  We apply small course

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-59802646969327441472009-04-30T10:37:00.003-05:002009-04-30T10:46:51.622-05:00

Our new baby is a little crazy.  By this I mean that she is not at all like her older brother: not very cuddly, not very mellow, and very high energy.  This is not a problem exactly, but it has led us to a weird problem I don't know how to solve.  Every night we put her down in her crib (around 715pm, a complete victory, thanks very much), and she goes to sleep pretty easily.  But... she thrashes

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-75891241950717080772009-04-20T20:59:00.003-05:002009-04-20T21:19:05.825-05:00

To dwell, or not to dwell, that is the question.  Some advocate not dwelling, on the theory that dwelling doesn't fix anything, and one should just soldier on.  Some can't help but dwell.  And then there is I, who is both a dweller, and amused by how dwell has ceased to have any meaning now that I've repeated it 7 times.  Let's review the list of items that has inspired this less than elevated

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-40910298654649493752009-04-16T08:58:00.003-05:002009-04-16T09:28:51.420-05:00

When I was pregnant last year, I bored my friends to tears complaining about the lack of mocktails in this town.  I enjoy going out, I don't care for soda that much, the tap water in Annapolis tastes and smells like an armpit that's been sprayed with chlorine and sulfur, and iced tea has caffeine, which I didn't want to drink too much of.  For all of these reasons, I would frequently ask

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-15159162074891970022009-04-09T15:25:00.002-05:002009-04-09T15:36:26.262-05:00

The baby's getting older and is almost mobile, so we've started to think of safety-proofing the house again.  We kind of remember what to do: cabinet doors, electrical outlets, etc.  I don't think though, that any person or book told me about the garage door.  Neither did anyone mention that kid-proofing is an ongoing process and should get attention even when a kid is older, like 8.Just a note

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-56309840994490452782009-03-18T13:52:00.002-05:002009-03-18T14:05:59.565-05:00

For years now, I have started the work day by tuning the radio to NPR.  It is soothing background noise, and serves to remind me that intelligent people are out in the world doing important things, not playing solitaire.  This is sometimes a necessary reminder.Anyhoo, that's all fine and good, and I usually ignore 95% of the sound, unless something momentous is happening.  Today though, is

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-27049200549777664552009-03-09T15:49:00.001-05:002009-03-09T15:53:05.820-05:00

A number of recently published articles have explored the large impact foreign nationals have on our economy and the number of start-ups in high tech industries they foster. Many of these articles seize upon the disproportionate representation of foreign nationals in the engineering and science programs at the graduate level at US colleges and universities. In light of current economic depths

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-71820704980457534712009-03-05T13:28:00.002-05:002009-03-05T13:37:13.804-05:00

This is a link to a radio show which discusses the use of SWAT teams for regular law enforcement.  One of the guests is the mayor of Berwyn Heights, whose home was raided and whose dogs were killed, by a SWAT team with no warrant.  The raid on his house was conducted because a box of marijuana was delivered to his wife as part of a drug scheme that used random addresses for drug shipments; the

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-77805420865438516302009-03-04T22:25:00.002-05:002009-03-04T22:43:30.085-05:00

There are two public policies or attitudes that are in the news right now, and they seem to be incompatible.  1. Individual Gun Rights: This is a big deal in DC right now, because Congress and the courts are very involved in overturning DC's longtime handgun ban.  I'm not invested in this issue, since I don't live in DC, but I am not anti-gun.  Crime is not noticeably low in the District, even

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-71924876984664564602009-02-18T13:11:00.002-05:002009-02-18T13:31:41.628-05:00

Some weeks ago, we were having a spell of unseasonably warm weather, and son #1 would not go outside to enjoy it.  We kept encouraging him to go out and ride his bike (or skateboard or scooter), but he wouldn't stay out for more than 10 minutes.One day on the way to school, I asked him why he never wanted to go outside and enjoy the sunshine.  "Well, I don't want to spend too much time in the sun

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-81376206597108143992009-02-09T16:43:00.003-05:002009-02-09T17:04:05.642-05:00

I've long suspected it, but now I know it is true: I am the type of woman that will laugh at the tears of a small child. Heartily. Then fuss him out so that he has something real to cry about.Today's example was courtesy of the #1 son, who likes the computer way too much. He came home from school and parked himself at my desk, at the neighboring computer, and began to play his games. We've

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-69967784142629609972009-02-06T11:55:00.002-05:002009-02-06T12:09:14.378-05:00

Well, anything really, but I have some specific things in mind:1. Being told to write 100 pages a week. That was on Monday, and now on Friday, I have written zero pages this week. Yay.2. My office smells like skunk. It's just my part of the building, and it really, really stinks. I have a headache.3. Because of 1 and 2, I had a "disproportionate response" to a software problem this morning.

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-15335676215439614282009-01-20T16:18:00.002-05:002009-01-20T16:37:30.245-05:00

So it's Inauguration Day, and I'm really, deliriously happy. I'm not really going to write about my joy though, because I am finding that my muse prefers to sing when I am cranky. It is as if I don't possess the vocabulary to write about joyful things. I barely have the words to speak of them, and thus it has been a largely silent day.In particular though, I'm so sceptical about people and

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-35671104150011477622009-01-12T12:51:00.003-05:002009-01-12T13:07:39.973-05:00

Just a quick post to note that I have nothing to say at the moment. The small details of daily life are grinding me into low-quality, grad-school grade flour, and absolutely nothing exciting or even enraging is happening in my life right now.We started the South Beach Diet again, which is one of my favorite diets ever, for the fact that I really don't have to change the way I eat. I don't care

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-90509961927753545912008-12-22T16:04:00.003-05:002008-12-22T16:50:59.915-05:00

This post will be like a Madlib. Whereever I put an asterisk, you put the appropriate participle of f**k. I would just write it, but then I'd have to admit to taking the low road. This way, I can keep in sight of the high road.This untethered rant comes to you courtesy of the Giant grocery store around the corner from my house. I went there for flour and dutch process cocoa, so I can complete the

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-67401846275242516822008-12-18T12:40:00.002-05:002008-12-18T12:44:43.468-05:00

1. The Truth About Pregnancy: a comparison of what obstetricians around the world tell women to do, and how (un)connected these commandments are to science. Nonfiction.2. Non-alcoholic Cocktails: a recipe collection for non-alcoholic drinks, for those who want something to drink besides water, soda, or caffeinated drinks. Nonfiction.3. How to Pump Breast Milk with Dignity: including a chapter

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-91108223110148903842008-12-04T16:26:00.004-05:002008-12-04T16:52:19.670-05:00

When I'm sick, I get stupid (handy excuse, really).I was at the gas station yesterday, having coasted in on the last fumes. Was standing idly, waiting for full to happen when I noticed the price of $2.15/gallon. Whoa, why does the gas cost so much! (Incredible, when 3 months ago I would have been gloating over that low price) Turns out that I had started to pump high octane instead of regular. So

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-43664479494837572552008-12-02T15:08:00.002-05:002008-12-02T15:21:36.679-05:00

The title says it all really. If I weren't a total baby when I get sick, then I wouldn't be compelled to foist this information upon you, but that would be a different universe, with different constants (a little reference to the Anthropomorphic Universe, which theory totally annoys me).Anywho, this stupid virus descended upon me at least a week ago, and had taken a leisurely migration from the

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-90016797082540152022008-11-29T00:16:00.002-05:002008-11-29T00:26:35.102-05:00

Actually, there's plenty of wine for you, if you'd like a white or a red that compliments turkey. We had 10 adults and 6 bottles of wine for 2 days, which I thought would be terribly insufficient. With 4 bottles remaining, it looks like I was wrong. I have strong memories of merry family holidays where the adults got slightly tipsy and stayed up late every night talking and playing games.

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-67364119229436211842008-11-25T14:30:00.002-05:002008-11-25T14:58:21.628-05:00

We have my family coming in today for the holiday. This should be a simple, happy thing to look forward to, because I really enjoy all my relatives individually. But because I'm mildly neurotic and they are extremely neurotic, I've got a little tension going. Firstly, I'm low energy because of my 4th cold since Baby Devil was born 3 months ago; the house is even less tidy than usual. This is

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-74074214814608355102008-11-04T23:07:00.003-05:002008-11-04T23:14:45.846-05:00

Haven't wanted to write about politics, for fear of jinxing things. Now that it looks like the election is decided, I'm overwhelmed. Are you? We could have 4 years of the most ordinary presidency (which could happen, all you left wingnuts out there), and I'll still think this is an amazing moment for us, one that I didn't think was very likely. I'm taking 5 minutes to taste the magic, so I

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-38882206063707345672008-10-16T15:53:00.003-05:002008-10-16T16:08:58.614-05:00

Mooning about Brad Pitt reminds me of another favorite actor: Keanu Reeves. I think I might have a unique standard of what constitutes good acting because I rarely find anyone who agrees with me about Pitt or Reeves. My favorite movies from these two are those where the characters are sort of... blank. I think Keanu delivers this sort of performance so well that he achieves a Zen state, and I

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-90134150898389348292008-10-16T15:30:00.003-05:002008-10-16T15:52:58.533-05:00

I'm finding that part of growing old for me is losing that sense that the bad things I do are actually bad. I mean, I'm so obsessed by my weight and unfitness that drinking a milkshake feels earthshakingly awful, but in reality, only a newspaper reporter with nothing better to do would act like a milkshake might cause the end of the world. So there are two things bothering me on this front:1. The

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-33810918172606742008-10-07T12:39:00.001-05:002008-10-07T12:39:48.079-05:00

Yah... Super..

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-20656051200533734802008-10-07T08:56:00.002-05:002008-10-07T09:13:10.439-05:00

As I was walking from my Siberian parking lot to my office this morning, I was stewing on the day's injustices: creaky knees, infuriatingly painful heel spur, cut off by four different drivers on the road, stuck behind someone driving 30 mph on the bridge who sped up to 60 mph when I tried to pass him. The usual. As I creaked along thinking my grumpy thoughts, I saw ahead of me 3 nasty little

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-30981196660423470662008-09-30T10:47:00.002-05:002008-09-30T11:16:19.860-05:00

Because I'm not ready for a full freak-out, but am definitely gearing up.As we are living in interesting times, I am finding that very small things are assuming disproportionate weight. On Friday, I hurt myself. I was running up the stairs to help Hunter with his computer game, and I was already feeling low-level guilt for letting him play on the computer instead of trying to have a

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-25524295762550008382008-09-29T10:17:00.001-05:002008-09-29T10:18:23.878-05:00

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-19666504542564695882008-09-28T03:37:00.000-05:002008-09-28T03:37:32.588-05:00

The scariest thing about Sarah Palin isn't how unqualified she is - it's what her candidacy says about America The Smirking ChimpTrying to kill 8 hours in Gatwick airport, London, I picked up a copy of the latest Rolling Stone magazine not expecting to end up reading on of the most scathing commentaries on Sarah Palin I've seen anywhere. Written by Matt Taibbi, a political columnist for

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-141984001259136522008-09-24T09:33:00.003-05:002008-09-24T10:02:43.750-05:00

There is one more day of public comment allowed on the federal regulation that allows medical and pharmaceutical personnel to not dispense family planning services on the grounds of religious objection. Not content to continue the neverending skirmish over abortion, this regulation specifically covers sterilization also, meaning you could find yourself arguing with a doctor or nurse over getting

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-53876609990957250532008-09-16T09:51:00.002-05:002008-09-16T10:05:47.544-05:00

So we seem to be in the middle of a financial scandal so juicy that the news reports read more like Hollywood tabloids than the Wall Street Journal. This stuff is so ripe that even the Wall Street Journal has been turned into a sensational scandal rag. The condemnation and shame are pretty tightly tied to politics at the moment, as somewhat impartial observers are noting that the lack of

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-44121937039367744362008-09-15T09:15:00.000-05:002008-09-15T09:15:45.466-05:00

Sciencedebate 2008One of my biggest concerns over the last 8 years has been the degradation of the value of science in policy development and political discourse in this country. Too often it seems legislation is passed without serious consideration or understanding of the underlying scientific of physical phenomena at work. In many cases, the present administration has censored or controlled

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-11366591832667174082008-09-11T15:37:00.002-05:002008-09-11T16:08:24.004-05:00

Well, I'm back at work, plodding away at the helicopter, and I had to share a question that has been growing in strength all day: What is wrong with being one of the elite? Specifically, it seems the national consensus has defined "elite" as educated (self or formally), knowledgeable, or intellectually curious. You may also be vulnerable to the "elite" tag if you earn an income that is

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-92070197867056130762008-08-27T19:10:00.002-05:002008-08-27T19:32:48.810-05:00

I'm at a stage of sleep deprivation where the train of my thought will frequently skip the tracks, and I utterly forget what I was thinking about, what I wanted to say, who I wanted to share the thought with, everything. This has happened just now.Instead of my no doubt important musings on the Democrats in Denver, or the shocking state of the roads in Annapolis, I'll relate a strange story

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-87493511918232514352008-08-13T14:48:00.002-05:002008-08-13T14:58:49.139-05:00

In keeping with a family tradition of gender ambiguous and uncommon names, we recently dubbed the new kid Schuyler Rosemary. This has been amusing in many ways, not least that her beloved Papa misspelled her name in one of his emails to friends and family, compounding the expected confusion over pronunciation. There wasn't a lot of discussion over this one. He proposed it, I liked it, and we

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-23766326585698963602008-08-12T17:42:00.003-05:002008-08-13T12:27:56.565-05:00

Mostly, that is. I've been told to get back to blogging, mostly by those who view me as an entertainment monkey, tirelessly grinding my organ (so to speak). However, childbirth has the unfortunate effect of draining my energy, and distorting my sense of time, so that I can happily gaze at the wall for two hours or more and feel fully occupied while doing so. I have noticed one thing in the first

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-18677979280117529362008-07-30T11:22:00.002-05:002008-07-30T11:36:35.259-05:00

So this is yet another post that contains no deep thoughts, just a nagging question: does it matter what kind of clothes I put on my baby? I have boxes of blue and green and tan baby clothes that I've saved for seven years in the basement. I've been washing these things and inspecting them, and can't convince myself to give them away. I know in advance that I will have an annoying number of

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-38686853105174486902008-07-29T10:02:00.002-05:002008-07-29T10:08:12.670-05:00

All my complaints to the obstetrician have had a side effect: I've been officially labelled as a complainer. The chart they hand me to check-out with has a box labelled "complaint". I always assumed this was meant to describe the reason I was visiting the doctor. Apparently, it can also hold notes about the patient. Mine said, "Will not accept schedule for satillete c-section." I wish it had

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-68368110890054811192008-07-25T10:08:00.005-05:002008-07-25T11:05:28.683-05:00

I've come to notice that small changes can alter appearances in major ways. This is a truisim in spy fiction and on TV, but I usually laugh at the notion that a little hair dye can help a major fugitive escape notice. But then this week, we have the Serbian war criminal caught hiding out as a new age guru with the help of a long beard. This is an interesting example of hiding in plain sight.

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-87036278791223783232008-07-22T20:37:00.002-05:002008-07-22T20:41:17.947-05:00

This second post in one day is a rare event, but I had to share my triumph:I convinced the obstetricians to reschedule the c-section for a later date! I've been working on this since April or May, with no success. I don't know if they became tired of dealing with me, if they have some predetermined threshold for complaints, beyond which they begin to listen, or if someone else delivered early,

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-19443968833143862902008-07-22T09:58:00.002-05:002008-07-22T10:40:20.284-05:00

I seem to think and talk a lot about articles I see in the Washington Post. This is because I use the paper as my primary news source, although not as the only or final source. So anyway, I have some thoughts about yet another piece from the Post, in this case from the Opinion section last Sunday.One of the Metro section reporters wrote a long essay on being a black professional woman,

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-65884097164341680022008-07-17T13:16:00.002-05:002008-07-17T13:38:21.430-05:00

Deep in July, I am revelling in my favorite sporting event of the year, the Tour de France. I have tried and failed to explain my fascination before, all I can really say is that every year my interest grows with my knowledge. Despite the claims of the cynics, there is more to it than the spectacle of 180 fit men in spandex, muscles flexing in cadence (although that may be a small part of the

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-35178984398654585642008-07-07T12:15:00.002-05:002008-07-07T12:30:41.423-05:00

I love that corny saying, "You must be Egyptian, because you are living in denial." It always makes me laugh, just like my trusty old Homer jokes (the blind greek poet)(What did Homer say about reading and writing? It's all Greek to me!)(What did Homer say about Australia? It's all reef to me!)(Seriously, laughing already). So anyway, I know I'm in denial, and now I think my advisor is too.My

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-35016208660688215982008-07-03T10:39:00.002-05:002008-07-03T10:56:29.697-05:00

Believe it or not, I finally had my hair cut. It's been quite a while since the last one, in October of '06. Back in those days, we had to cut our own hair with a sharp rock... Anyway, it was all quite lovely, in that scalp-burning, chemical straightening way. I can't help but wonder though, why did it take 2.25 hours? That's really a long time to sit in a salon, sniffing the fumes, and

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-50914635219227532482008-07-01T13:01:00.003-05:002008-07-01T13:15:00.159-05:00

Thank goodness for radio, because I was just reminded of the third thing I wanted to mention: high-tech swimsuits. These are the latest thing in competitive swimming, and apparently give a speed advantage to the wearer. Newspapers are calling this high-tech doping, in a joking way. I don't really get why anyone is joking about it. If the suit offers a speed advantage over the natural talent

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-63635135569400924852008-07-01T08:52:00.002-05:002008-07-01T09:08:04.452-05:00

Since I'm feeling incoherent and disconnected this morning, I'd thought I'd post a random collection of interesting things that I've seen in the last day or so.First, an interesting travel tip from Google. If you are flying or meeting someone's plane, you can check on the status of the flight by texting the flight number to 466453. I think they get their info from www.flightstat.com, so it

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-50051048612975556362008-06-30T13:02:00.002-05:002008-06-30T14:22:03.956-05:00

I've been following an interesting story over in Montgomery County (the rich county in Maryland). It started with an article in the Post about an estate purchased by the county which included a large house and some acres of land. The locals were told that the land would be used to extend an adjacent park. Then the county council proposed that the house should be used as a shelter for large

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-65366341131593671112008-06-23T11:38:00.003-05:002008-06-23T12:43:47.881-05:00

So, one of the lovely things about my tribe (Engineers, as opposed to my adopted tribe. You know who you are) is the willingness to have an opinion and take a stand on topics we know little about. We tend to be highly educated people, and some of us seem to think that having mastered the trick of getting educated, we can thus be masters of any topic in which we take an interest. For some, the

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-39570381035819443482008-06-19T08:39:00.003-05:002008-06-19T09:25:49.035-05:00

What, you say? Two posts in two days? Well, like any new project, I expect to have great enthusiasm for this for another week, then will drop it like last year's perfume. It just so happens that I am moved to write about something so pivotal to our society, so central to our image of ourselves, that not writing would be a breach of civic duty. The topic is race. The context...wait for it...

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-1750803864464528572008-06-18T13:55:00.002-05:002008-06-18T14:22:23.896-05:00

You might think that anxiety would be the last thing motivating this blog, since it's lain fallow since last fall. However that may be, anxiety is playing a big role in this week of our lives. Let's look at the schedule, shall we?Saturday: leave Newport News and drive to Annapolis in time for the kid's piano lesson. Lesson can not be skipped because of imminent recital. Nightmare on Friday

Jayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01587655175354793130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-42667054463119815992007-09-07T13:58:00.000-05:002007-09-07T14:02:25.476-05:00

Space Case: The New YorkerA most excellent review of the last StarWards Movie Revenge of the Sith. Best comment - "I still fail to understand why I should have been expected to waste twenty-five years of my life following the progress of a beeping trash can and a gay, gold-plated Jeeves."

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-77224004321975436462007-08-07T12:16:00.000-05:002007-08-07T12:16:30.845-05:00

GRIMSHAW : Water TheatreFascinating concept for the use of passive solar/ocean systems to generate fresh water. As seen on a recent Discovery Channel program. Of course only well suited to regions with big temperature differentials and strong prevailing breezes but interesting none the less.

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-5666610817584118162007-05-06T03:38:00.000-05:002007-05-06T03:41:42.366-05:00

P.T. Barnum Department: Nothing is On Sale for $6.28 - GizmodoGotta love this. Possibly the apex of capitalism and all for $6.28!

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-87249172895386474192007-04-19T12:17:00.000-05:002007-04-19T12:17:38.362-05:00

Thomas L. Friedman - Energy - Green Power - Global Warming - Renewable Energy - The Power of Green - New York TimesFascinating article by the old Thomas Friedman with a nice attempt to tie together our demand for oil with the other geo-political problems of our time. Much as Kyoto is flawed I have always felt that the US economy should be leading the world in the development and implementation

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-1161224960014569652006-10-18T21:29:00.001-05:002006-10-18T21:29:20.020-05:00

Sony Bravia Paint advertAnd SONY one-ups mentos and diet coke with this Bravia commercial..

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-1161224959976608722006-10-18T21:29:00.000-05:002006-10-18T21:29:20.013-05:00

BRAVIA Extended high qualitySeems SONY wants to be known for the most unbelievable commercials!

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-1157208700356355732006-09-02T09:51:00.000-05:002006-09-02T09:58:06.366-05:00

Having visited the Minnesota State Fair twice in the past year I thought this Slate article was particular interesting. It is true that you can get almost anything on a "stick" at the Mn state fair - Alligator, Belgian Waffles ... you name it. For the 2004 election the Democratic Tent's slogan was "Bush on a Stick" no kidding. The Deep Fried Oreo is worth a try [once], but in our opinion you can

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-1155753338853292372006-08-16T13:35:00.000-05:002006-08-16T13:35:38.870-05:00

Wide Angle . Class of 2006 . Watch Online PBSYou know the story .. you're sitting at home flicking through the 100's of cable channels and not finding anything. This time was different and I ended up fixated on our local Maryland Public Television station engaged in a fascinating documentary following the first class of Morrocan female religious leaders in the Arab world. I've read and heard a

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-1154115629985959832006-07-28T14:40:00.000-05:002006-07-28T14:43:29.460-05:00

Leonard Nimoy's Ballad of Bilbo BagginsMost people think of Leonard Nimoy as the logical Dr Spock of Star Trek.. who knew he had this skeleton in the closet.. Its no small wonder that William Shatner is now so devoted to getting his musical word out there.

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-1154100731083862732006-07-28T10:32:00.000-05:002006-07-28T10:36:06.436-05:00

Aquarium Toilet - ELSEWAREJust can't get enough time with your fish? Think your fish need a more exciting view?.. then you need the AquariASS..

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31209258.post-1153165128019610852006-07-17T14:38:00.000-05:002006-07-17T14:49:59.246-05:00

The Crack TeamA Happy Crack is Dry Crack" has to be one of the most surprisingly successful catch phrases of all time. Be sure not to miss the extensive collection of marketing swag they offer... and the catchy jingle.Makes you wonder if Pepsi Co. was inspired by this type of thing for their defunct "Brown and Bubbly" Superbowl advertisements?

Brittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607452789891931945noreply@blogger.com0