When I'm having a bad day I do a few things, one is watch Neil
Gaiman's "Make Good Art" speech. I will also make myself more nerdy
than normal and do a marathon of one of my favourite shows. Between
Buffy, The Doctor, Sherlock Holmes, John or Joan Watson, Olivia Benson, any member of the BAU, or any number of other favs, I am likely to find someone who
strikes the right balance between butt kicking, brains, and sarcasm. When I am tired, stressed, or generally feeling down, I watch these things. It's the last three weeks of school. Things are crazy. That said, I give you the speech "Make Good Art" and am off to go watch the two hour finale of Criminal Minds after taking a bath.
22 May 2013
21 May 2013
I should be writing...
 |
| What I do to remind myself to write...which in turn means that I'm not writing... |
Then, I found the centre picture from my new background and was like, "Hmmmm...brainstorm!" It was then promptly tiled (sans border) as my desktop background for my writing space (the one that holds Scrivener on my Mac). I proceeded to stare at it for a bit. For about thirty seconds--okay, maybe fifteen--I was happy it. Then, me being me, I went, "Meh...that's boring...I can do better!"
This is my version of better. Is it perfect? No. Does it make me laugh when I'm frustrated? Yep. Did I have a blast going around the interwebs and gathering mad photos before deciding which ones I would modify and put on there? Of course. Who wouldn't love finding photos of this nutty, kind-hearted, goofball of a Doctor? Does it motivate me to write? Why, yes, it does.
So, now you may be going, "K...ummmm...Christiana...you know that the Doctor is FICTION, right?" Certainly, I do know this. But his stories and his character inspire me. Maybe I'll do one with all the other Doctors at some point, but I've always loved how mobile Tennant's face is, no matter what role he's playing, so, for now, this is the one that makes me laugh most and puts me in the best mood for writing. I did it on Pages, btw, for those who are wondering. Figure out what motives you and keep it nearby. In this case, directly in the writing space. The more you want to write, the better your writing will me.
11 May 2013
Fun Celtic Bard Response Songs
I found this www.thebards.net/music/lyrics/Do_Virgins_Taste_Better.shtml/ via stumbleupon and instantly fell in love with the song and it's response, so I am posting them here.
Listen:
LoFi | Download | Send-Card | Chords
words by Randy Farran, music
traditional
A dragon has come to our village today.
We've asked him to leave, but he won't go away.
Now he's talked to our king and they worked out a deal.
No homes will he burn and no crops will he steal.
Now there is but one catch, we dislike it a bunch.
Twice a year he invites him a virgin to lunch.
Well, we've no other choice, so the deal we'll respect.
But we can't help but wonder and pause to reflect.
But no one can get through your thick scaly hide.
We hope that some day, some brave knight will come by.
'Cause we can't wait around 'til you're too fat to fly.
Now you have such good taste in your women for sure,
They always are pretty, they always are pure.
But your notion of dining, it makes us all flinch,
For your favorite entree is barbecued wench.
Now we've found a solution, it works out so neat,
If you insist on nothing but virgins to eat.
No more will our number ever grow small,
We'll simply make sure there's no virgins at all!
KEY C
verse/chorus:
C F C G C
Background: Fantastic parody of the Irish Washerwoman. The song quickly became a hit among filkers and Rennies. Now, we've taken it one step further, out into the world of MP3.com, where it has been in the Comedy Top 20 consistently since January 2001! For the answer to the question, click here
And the responses...
Listen:
LoFi
| Download
| Send-Card | Chords
words by Claire Stephens McMurray, music
traditional, arranged by Gunn-McKee, click to read original version
Now, I am a dragon. Please listen to me.
For I'm misunderstood to a dreadful degree.
This ecology needs me and I know my place.
But I'm fighting extinction with all of my race.
Well, I came to this village to better my health
Which is ever so poor, despite all my wealth.
But I get no assistance and no sympathy,
Just impertinent questioning shouted at me.
Vegetarian ways are now mine out of fear.
But a birthday needs sweets as I'm sure you'll agree.
And barbecued wench tastes like candy to me
As it happens our interests are almost the same.
You see I'm really quite skillful at managing game.
If I ate just your men, would your excess decline?
Of course not, the rest would just make better time.
Now, the number of babies a woman can bear
Has limits, and that's why my prunings done there.
And an orphan's a sad sight and so when I much.
I'm careful to eat only virgins for lunch
Now, I am a dragon. Please listen to me
For I'm misunderstood to a dreadful degree.
This ecology needs me and I know my place.
But I'm fighting extinction with all of my race.
Well, I came to this village to better my health
Which is shockingly poor, despite all my wealth.
But I get no assistance and no sympathy,
Just impertinent questioning shouted at me.
Yessss, virgins taste better than those who are not.
But my favorite snack food with peril is fraught.
For my teeth will decay and my trim go to pot.
Yet virgins taste better than those who are not.
Now, we Worms are deep thinkers; at science we shine,
But our world's complicated with every new line.
We must quit all the things that we've done since the Flood
Like, lying on gold couches poisons our blood!
Well, I'm really quite good almost all through the year.
Vegetarian ways are now mine out of fear.
But a birthday needs sweets as I'm sure you'll agree.
And barbecued wench tastes like candy to me!
As it happens our interests are almost the same.
For I'm really quite skillful at managing game.
If I ate just your men, would your excess decline?
Of course not, the rest would just make better time
But the number of babies a woman can bear
Has a limit, and that's why my prunings done there.
Yet an orphan's a sad sight and so when I munch.
I'm careful to take out a virgin for lunch.
KEY C
verse/chorus:
C F C G C
Background: Fantastic parody of the Irish Washerwoman. This song was written as a direct response to Randy Farran's song Do Virgins Taste Better (Than Those Who Are Not).
Do Virgins Taste Better
Listen:
LoFi | Download | Send-Card | Chords
From: A Faire To Remember
words by Randy Farran, music
traditional A dragon has come to our village today.
We've asked him to leave, but he won't go away.
Now he's talked to our king and they worked out a deal.
No homes will he burn and no crops will he steal.
Now there is but one catch, we dislike it a bunch.
Twice a year he invites him a virgin to lunch.
Well, we've no other choice, so the deal we'll respect.
But we can't help but wonder and pause to reflect.
Do virgins taste better than those who are not?Now we'd like to be shed you, and many have tried.
Are they salty, or sweeter, more juicy or what?
Do you savor them slowly? Gulp them down on the spot?
Do virgins taste better than those who are not?
But no one can get through your thick scaly hide.
We hope that some day, some brave knight will come by.
'Cause we can't wait around 'til you're too fat to fly.
Now you have such good taste in your women for sure,
They always are pretty, they always are pure.
But your notion of dining, it makes us all flinch,
For your favorite entree is barbecued wench.
Now we've found a solution, it works out so neat,
If you insist on nothing but virgins to eat.
No more will our number ever grow small,
We'll simply make sure there's no virgins at all!
KEY C
verse/chorus:
C F C G C
Background: Fantastic parody of the Irish Washerwoman. The song quickly became a hit among filkers and Rennies. Now, we've taken it one step further, out into the world of MP3.com, where it has been in the Comedy Top 20 consistently since January 2001! For the answer to the question, click here
And the responses...
The Dragon's Retort
Listen:
LoFi
| Download
| Send-Card | Chords
From: A Faire To Remember
words by Claire Stephens McMurray, music
traditional, arranged by Gunn-McKee, click to read original version Now, I am a dragon. Please listen to me.
For I'm misunderstood to a dreadful degree.
This ecology needs me and I know my place.
But I'm fighting extinction with all of my race.
Well, I came to this village to better my health
Which is ever so poor, despite all my wealth.
But I get no assistance and no sympathy,
Just impertinent questioning shouted at me.
Yes, virgins taste better than those who are not.Well, I'm really quite kind almost all through the year.
But my favorite snack mixed with peril is fraught.
For my teeth will decay and my trim go to pot.
Yes, virgins taste better than those who are not.
Vegetarian ways are now mine out of fear.
But a birthday needs sweets as I'm sure you'll agree.
And barbecued wench tastes like candy to me
As it happens our interests are almost the same.
You see I'm really quite skillful at managing game.
If I ate just your men, would your excess decline?
Of course not, the rest would just make better time.
Now, the number of babies a woman can bear
Has limits, and that's why my prunings done there.
And an orphan's a sad sight and so when I much.
I'm careful to eat only virgins for lunch
The Dragon's Retorte (original version)
by Claire Stephens McMurrayNow, I am a dragon. Please listen to me
For I'm misunderstood to a dreadful degree.
This ecology needs me and I know my place.
But I'm fighting extinction with all of my race.
Well, I came to this village to better my health
Which is shockingly poor, despite all my wealth.
But I get no assistance and no sympathy,
Just impertinent questioning shouted at me.
Yessss, virgins taste better than those who are not.
But my favorite snack food with peril is fraught.
For my teeth will decay and my trim go to pot.
Yet virgins taste better than those who are not.
Now, we Worms are deep thinkers; at science we shine,
But our world's complicated with every new line.
We must quit all the things that we've done since the Flood
Like, lying on gold couches poisons our blood!
Well, I'm really quite good almost all through the year.
Vegetarian ways are now mine out of fear.
But a birthday needs sweets as I'm sure you'll agree.
And barbecued wench tastes like candy to me!
As it happens our interests are almost the same.
For I'm really quite skillful at managing game.
If I ate just your men, would your excess decline?
Of course not, the rest would just make better time
But the number of babies a woman can bear
Has a limit, and that's why my prunings done there.
Yet an orphan's a sad sight and so when I munch.
I'm careful to take out a virgin for lunch.
KEY C
verse/chorus:
C F C G C
Background: Fantastic parody of the Irish Washerwoman. This song was written as a direct response to Randy Farran's song Do Virgins Taste Better (Than Those Who Are Not).
10 May 2013
Things I love about being a teacher
I actually got the comment that I have "insufficient references to Doctor Who, Sherlock, Monty Python, and Indiana Jones" on a reply form to my class.
The last 15 minutes of class today was a tournament rock, paper, scissors style where they punished each other with dares like "stand in front of the entire class and say, 'I am beautiful'" and "bow down to Ms. K and say 'I am your girl. I will get A's'." I have never seen anyone as in to Rock Paper Scissors as this group of kids.
I had a kid today say, "I like nerds and I like people, so I like this room cuz it's like nerds and people"
I have students making and showing me dragons and giving me drawings of Louie the Space Turtle.
I had a sonic screwdriver battle with a student today.
People are goofy.
More lists to come...
The last 15 minutes of class today was a tournament rock, paper, scissors style where they punished each other with dares like "stand in front of the entire class and say, 'I am beautiful'" and "bow down to Ms. K and say 'I am your girl. I will get A's'." I have never seen anyone as in to Rock Paper Scissors as this group of kids.
I had a kid today say, "I like nerds and I like people, so I like this room cuz it's like nerds and people"
I have students making and showing me dragons and giving me drawings of Louie the Space Turtle.
I had a sonic screwdriver battle with a student today.
People are goofy.
More lists to come...
11 April 2013
The current Facebook debate...
While I understand that people are expressing their opinions and that Facebook is something that people use as a platform, I find it odd that Facebook has devolved the past few weeks into red versus blue pictures.
Versus
Now, my friends are mostly polite about it, but have a definite stance. Some of my friends are still trying to figure out what they want to say or think about it. George Takei is either funny with a side of serious or vice versa about the whole thing. All that is great. What bothers me is the vitriol than some people are spewing. Here's the thing, just because someone disagrees with you, it's not okay to start name calling. No one likes a bully. Besides, if you're the biggest jerk on the block and you're debating/arguing with someone and it turns into a sourpuss fight over who can be more bitter, angry, or brutal, do you really think you're winning any points or possibly converting someone to your way of thinking? If so, you're delusional. Clear, rational thought combined with an open heart and open mind is what people respond to in a positive manner. That just seems obvious to me.
Is it a turning point? Sure. Is it an important debate? Sure. Do I think you can say your thoughts on the matter without being ridiculous? Absolutely. Here is my stance: we supposedly do not have a religious government and so I don't see the issue with defining marriage legally as any couple that wants to marry. So long as religious institutions are not taken to task for their various beliefs and they maintain their right to grant (or not) the sacrament if marriage as pertains to their belief system. Frankly, I think a lot of religious groups should not grant the heterosexual marriages that they do without a whole lot of counseling for the couples involved. I think that the question of quality of a relationship and whether something is appropriate should fall to a person's beliefs, not to the government and frankly, cultures have defined marriage and gender roles in many ways throughout human history, so arguing on a purely religious basis for our laws bothers me. Also, if you were to go down to the courthouse as a heterosexual, you could literally get a marriage license even if you had only met the person a half hour before. To be perfectly blunt, straight people have been abusing marriage for any number of reasons for generations (money, green cards, because they got drunk one night and were in Vegas, etc...), why not give people who desperately want the chance to be with the one they love the right to do just that. Someone who has been another person's partner for 30 years, should have the same rights as a husband or wife of 30 years. In both cases the person has cared for, loved, honoured, and been faithful to the person they are romantically involved with. Why should it matter the genders of the people involved?
I have always believed that God is more forgiving than human beings. If we're all made in his likeness and if God is love, then it stands to reason that God knows who our one and only is. By claiming that the law should deny people these rights, people are essentially invalidating their own argument in my mind because they're arguing that they know better than God. To me, that seems sacrilegious. Then again, I do not feel threatened by a legal definition of marriage that is different from that of my religion. When I get married, my dad will do it and it will be to a man (still working on finding one) and hopefully the two of us will have a fulfilling, long life with each other. I hope that my gay and lesbian friends can have the same legal rights as me and be happy with their partners for their lifetimes. I know I envy many of their relationships and marriages as it is now. I don't see a legal issue with why they shouldn't enjoy the same rights as anyone else in this country, regardless of what various religious officials say.
Versus
Now, my friends are mostly polite about it, but have a definite stance. Some of my friends are still trying to figure out what they want to say or think about it. George Takei is either funny with a side of serious or vice versa about the whole thing. All that is great. What bothers me is the vitriol than some people are spewing. Here's the thing, just because someone disagrees with you, it's not okay to start name calling. No one likes a bully. Besides, if you're the biggest jerk on the block and you're debating/arguing with someone and it turns into a sourpuss fight over who can be more bitter, angry, or brutal, do you really think you're winning any points or possibly converting someone to your way of thinking? If so, you're delusional. Clear, rational thought combined with an open heart and open mind is what people respond to in a positive manner. That just seems obvious to me.
Is it a turning point? Sure. Is it an important debate? Sure. Do I think you can say your thoughts on the matter without being ridiculous? Absolutely. Here is my stance: we supposedly do not have a religious government and so I don't see the issue with defining marriage legally as any couple that wants to marry. So long as religious institutions are not taken to task for their various beliefs and they maintain their right to grant (or not) the sacrament if marriage as pertains to their belief system. Frankly, I think a lot of religious groups should not grant the heterosexual marriages that they do without a whole lot of counseling for the couples involved. I think that the question of quality of a relationship and whether something is appropriate should fall to a person's beliefs, not to the government and frankly, cultures have defined marriage and gender roles in many ways throughout human history, so arguing on a purely religious basis for our laws bothers me. Also, if you were to go down to the courthouse as a heterosexual, you could literally get a marriage license even if you had only met the person a half hour before. To be perfectly blunt, straight people have been abusing marriage for any number of reasons for generations (money, green cards, because they got drunk one night and were in Vegas, etc...), why not give people who desperately want the chance to be with the one they love the right to do just that. Someone who has been another person's partner for 30 years, should have the same rights as a husband or wife of 30 years. In both cases the person has cared for, loved, honoured, and been faithful to the person they are romantically involved with. Why should it matter the genders of the people involved?
I have always believed that God is more forgiving than human beings. If we're all made in his likeness and if God is love, then it stands to reason that God knows who our one and only is. By claiming that the law should deny people these rights, people are essentially invalidating their own argument in my mind because they're arguing that they know better than God. To me, that seems sacrilegious. Then again, I do not feel threatened by a legal definition of marriage that is different from that of my religion. When I get married, my dad will do it and it will be to a man (still working on finding one) and hopefully the two of us will have a fulfilling, long life with each other. I hope that my gay and lesbian friends can have the same legal rights as me and be happy with their partners for their lifetimes. I know I envy many of their relationships and marriages as it is now. I don't see a legal issue with why they shouldn't enjoy the same rights as anyone else in this country, regardless of what various religious officials say.
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