No respect whatsoever

I had to give a presentation on my thesis today. Here is a recap of the afternoons events

-My advisor took attendance of the day's presenters, reading everyones name aloud before muttering "and mrrrrr" then looking at me and nodding. For those of you keeping score at home I am now legally going by the name Mrrr Ba-oh christ.

-During the middle of her presentation one of my classmates went off on New Jersey. I did the obligatory mocking scoff, to show that I will stand up for my state, but acknowledge the joke. She kept going on until she got to "So what's the first thing you think of when you think New Jersey? You think wasteland, right? It's toxic and so are the people that live there". At this point I began to frantically search the room for fellow NJ-ers, there's always at least one. This was getting a little out of hand and I needed some solidarity. To my shock I found none. Instead the class was doing the awkward "lets casually look at her and see if she offended before we decide to laugh" glance at me. I decided to look as offended as possible, just to deny laughter. 

-It was pitch black in the classroom by the time I had my presentation because the sun had set and no one wanted to turn on the lights

-Everyone had left by the time I was to present, leaving me with about 6 people to present to. Not that I'm complaining about that one.

No respect.

Thanksgiving numbers

Number of Thanksgiving dinners eaten over Thanksgiving week-3

Number of times I tried to buy a turkey-2

Number of turkeys bought-2

Number of people who wished me Happy Halloween-2 

Pennington Market: Brought to you by the number two

back to the numbers

Number of times I had to spell my name before being given a turkey-6

Number of eight foot tall fairies in the supermarket-1

Number of trips to the library-4

Number of times library was open-3

Number of duraflame logs used-9

Number of thesis pages written on Saturday-10 

Number of mandatory books to be read over break actually read-0

Number of movies watched-6

Number of movies watched starring Ronald Reagan-1

Number of songs added to iPod-75

Number of songs promptly regretted-45 (I got a little too Christmas happy)

Number of cars rendered undriveable-1

Number of times scolded by Fantastic Sams hair cutter for not getting haircut sooner-5+ (I stopped counting after scolding number 5 in a 3 minute period)

Number of attractive pants in home dresser-0

Number of hideous pink corduroy pants in dresser-1 (guess what I got to wear when the pants i brought got dirty)

Number of times Stanky threatened to kill me-2

Excellent break. I got a fair amount of work done, so I'll actually leave feeling productive. I was ratted out by my sister for having a car that makes a funny noise, so I will be carless for the rest of the semester while we figure that one out. I got to see the people I wanted to see, didn't see anyone I didn't want to see. I now have three weeks of pain and suffering. I can do this, I'm awesome, this is in the bag. Now please excuse me while I go hyperventilate into a paper bag.

My Friends Are Funny Too

The official blog of the Werner Herzog Fan Club, it's pretty enjoyable. Every so often we have a new prompt to which we'll all respond. None of us are ever graduating. There's no way we're ever passing this semester

Link(s) of the Week

This weeks link was sent in by Nicky B. of down the hall. Nicky writes

Marianna, it's 5. Why aren't you at dinner. Don't make me come down there. If we lose our table because of this I will have your head. Have I told you about the mating cycle of aphids yet today? I have? Well let me continue to talk about them anyway. If you get bored listening to me talk about killing aphids, please check out my brother's radio station.

Glad to oblige Nick-nack. Get back to those grad school apps.

Also, a link of my own

Anyone missing a piano?

Thanksgiving!!!!

Thanksgiving dinner is one of the top 5 nights at Bryn Mawr each year. I am not exaggerating, I honestly woke up today smiling knowing that tonight was Thanksgiving dinner. What makes it so excellent? 

1) Sweet Potato Crunch

-This delicious food item is as addictive as crack. Just enough of a mix of sweet potato, walnuts and spices to create heaven in your stomach.

2) Class level

-USUALLY there are tablecloths and candles. Not so tonight, but we'll let it slide

3) Friends

-Everyones happy, no one's being stingy with what they eat, it's without a doubt the most enjoyable conversation I have over dinner all year. I usually try and leave the dinner table after a half hour, tonight I was at dinner for almost an hour and a half. 

All of my friends at other schools have told me that they're school also serves turkey and such the Thursday before Thanksgiving, but it just doesn't seem to have the same pizazz as we have here. Also, the apple pie tonight? Amazing. mouthwatering, perfectly done, excellent. Hats off to BMC Dining Services

AHHHH! Delicious

Nicky gives two thumbs up to Thanksgiving

only 2 weeks until Holiday Dinner!

Paige shares her culture with us

Docu Night VI

Tonight's selection was My Architect. My Architect was directed and filmed by Nathaniel Kahn, illegitimate son of architect Louis Kahn. Nathaniel goes on a world wide search to find out more information about the father he barely knew.

What do you need to know before reading? Louis Kahn built a dorm on campus called Erdman. It is widely agreed to be the ugliest on campus (I would actually give that award to Haffner, but that's another story). Ari, until this year, was a lifelong resident of Erd and thus is very territorial about Louis Kahn. And now....My Architect.

10:00-No one has their shit together

10:08-Paige needs a few minutes, we groan

10:11-Everyone's ready, but Ari forgot to set the movie up. This night is doomed to failure

10:13-Ari begins her speech, Drew groans. He's on thin ice. Exact quote: "His first love was architecture, his second love was bitches". 

10:14-Paige brings up Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. We freak out. YES YES YES! Best dinner ever. Ari can't come, we offer her spot to Drew.

10:15-Opening shot: Louis Kahn's son searching for his father's obituary. We learn that it's pronounced "Lew-is" rather than "lou-ie". This is mind blowing. This overrides 4 years of cities classes telling me the opposite.

10:17-Paige and I make a date to visit the bathroom in which Louis Kahn died

10:18-We meet Phillip Johnson. People start making fun of him. As cities majors Ari and I defend his honor. I'm sensing a possible trend for the night.

10:20-I point out the CT rest area where I saw a car on fire

10:21-Erdman makes an appearance

10:22-"In Jewishness, which of course I know nothing about..." best start of a quote ever. 

10:23-"He would visit...often during the middle of the night"-This is the most depressing Father/Son relationship ever

10:24-Andrea just muttered the phrase "Best funeral ever". You make up the context

10:28-Apparently we just missed a good quote. Andrea is angry

10:30-The rabbi (not sure why we're talking to a rabbi) demands no cameras. A camera somehow makes it in. They begin to talk about circumcision. Everyone's uncomfortable

10:32-Apparently Louis Kahn caught on fire when he was a child and his father said it would be better if they let him die. His mother finally manned up and put the fire out and said he would be a better man because of it

10:35-IM Pei is on. Nicky's grandmother apparently worked for IM Pei's father. Considering IM Pei was born in China where his father was director of Bank of China...we're calling BS on this one.

10:37-Ari and I get into a cities major fight over the Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA. It's a piece of crap, Ari disagrees. Ari is wrong.

10:40-Guy: Did you know your father well. 

Nathaniel: I saw him once a week 

Guy: Oh I spent Christmas with him

10:43-Nathaniel Kahn is roller blading around his father's building. He's roughly 40 in this film. He has major daddy issues

10:53-For the upteenth time Nathaniel tells someone "Lou crossed his address out in his passport because he was, uh, going to leave his wife for my mother and come live with us". Someone finally calls him out on it and says, uh, no. There's a scene at 30th St Station, we all have a moment of WE KNOW THAT PLACE

10:55-TRENTON! I do a dance. They're at the JCC bathhouse. I've been there. It's.....not looking too good. The co-architect is less than pleased. Little known fact, it was Louis Kahns favorite building. Score 1 for NJ

10:59-Drew claims the man on TV is Kevin Bacons father. Ari calls BS. We fact check, Drew is right. Nicky is happy that we are now one degree away from Kevin Bacon. We're more than one degree but we let it slide. (Us-Louis Kahn (erdman)-Kevin Bacons Dad-Kevin Bacon)

11:01-Nathaniel: It was a great idea 

Kevin Bacons Dad: NO!

The great idea they were referring to was Kahns vision of having everyone park their cars outside of Philadelphia and walk to the city center. We agree with Mr. Bacon. Bad idea

11:02-Kevin Bacons Dad is my favorite person ever. EVER. Forget Werner Hertzog, forget the guy from Spellbound. Kevin Bacons Dad will never be topped.

11:03-As much as I am against smoking...the idea that people could just light up in the middle of class (as they are doing in the current scene) cracks me up.

11:09-I can't describe the last scene, but it ranks in the top 7 moments of my life. Nathaniel was angry, the captain of the boat they were on was confused

11:10-That last scene has been replaced with the current scene. Nathaniel reveals that he is Louis son, the captain bursts into tears and says that he saw him when he was 6 at the wake. For the record, Nathaniel was 11 at his father's wake. 

11:12-The Mighty Ducks soundtrack appears in the background. Everyone fights me and claims it's the Olympic music. I pull out my iTunes and prove that it's called the Mighty Ducks suite. There's a lot of yelling.

11:15-Nathaniel is now interrogating his mother. It's awkward. They're clearly working out long festering issues with each other

11:20-Nathaniel goes to see the aunts. They reveal that his mother wanted to abort him. The poor guy can't win.

11:29-I should mention that the Sputnik model is still sitting behind the television. Eh, it's not hurting anyone. 

11:30-They're in Jerusalem now. Hilarity ensues. 

11:32-After the 50 millionth reference to Louis Kahn being Jewish I decide it's time to cross the line and ask Paige how she feels, as our Jewish friend, about Louis Kahn and the influence of Judaeism on his life. Her response? "I think we've proven that the Jewish men get the ladies". Megans response: Screw you, Paige

11:35-Megan-This guy doesn't wear glasses...I don't trust him

11:37-It turns out his real last name wasn't Kahn

11:39-Kahn's 3 children meet at "a house outside Philadelphia". It appears that they broke into someone's house as it is fully furnished but no one is there. 

11:40-the two other siblings have mementos of Louis Kahn. Nathaniel has none. This is going to drive him crazy

11:42-Nathaniel: What I've always wondered is...uh...are we a family? 

Sisters: Uhh....well...

11:44-An old woman wearing a flesh colored sweater appears on the screen. I have a minor hear attack because I thought she was nude. Oh, it was Nathaniel's mother. 

11:46-Nathaniel brings up the passport again. He and his mother are deluded

11:52-And we're at that point where I'm losing interest

11:53-Nicky's never had a good kite flying experience. It's always about Nicky

11:55-We're finishing up at that building in India. I hate this building. Always have, always will.

11:56-Ari gets up to be cute with Drew. Paige capitalizes on the opportunity and steals her chair

11:57-This wasn't the building I was thinking of

11:58-Maybe it is.

11:59-AHA! Here it is. I hate this building. The capital of Bangladesh

12:01-Megan farted. 

12:04-A grown man is crying over his love for Louis Kahn...and it isn't Nathaniel Kahn

12:07-Nicky now claims her grandmother worked for Louis Kahns father. I think she's losing it. 

I expect better from you, Wikipedia!

This has been driving me nuts for the past few weeks. Something changed in the Wikipedia search engine so that entries will only come up if you enter their exact title correctly. This defeats the whole purpose of Wikipedia. Say I'm supposed to be writing a paper when I suddenly remember I meant to look up the population of a small town in Ohio. Why? I don't have to explain my reasons to you. Maybe I read an article about it. Maybe someone I dislike is from there and I want to see if I can rationalize their bitchiness. Maybe I'm just trying to learn more about my country! The point of the matter is unless I know the exact name and spelling of said town, Wikipedia will not even give me options. Thus, I have to resort back to Google, which will eventually just lead me back to Wikipedia. Does Google own Wikipedia now? I feel like they do, this would explain a lot.

For the record I don't Wikipedia random towns in Ohio on a whim. Actually, that's a lie. Most people Wikipedia celebrities or books that they need to read for class but don't want to. I mainly Wikipedia random small towns or forgotten weird moments in US history. 

What led me to this entry, however, is the Wikipediaing of movies. This is perhaps the area in which the new set up has failed the most. I returned my Netflix today (everyone should watch House of Yes, by the way, excellent movie). Actually Ari returned them, but that's a moot point. I was checking my queue to see what was coming up and was disappointed (something called Indian Summer...apparently it was about summer camp? No thanks). As I went down my queue I realized that I didn't actually know the plot lines to a lot of these movies and had merely added them because they were either A) recommended or B) had John Cusack in them. In an effort to find out which ones I would like to watch this weekend, I set about Wikipediaing titles. Each movie I had to try about 35 thousand ways before the site would finally show me their entry. What threw me over the edge was when I tried to search for "The Journey of Natty Gann". I must have spelled "Natty Gann" 80 different ways before realizing Wikipedia simply wanted me to put the "the" in front of the title. Screw you, Wikipedia, I don't need your cockiness.