Month: February 2002

Slow Crawl…

Years ago, when I lived in Germany (Illesheim), the speed limit on the base was 20kph. As Mike points out, that’s 12mph. One night I went out with Jen, a friend of mine that was visiting from the US. Well, our Moms were best friends as we grew up, so we were more like cousins (who had to like each other) then friends before her visit to Germany. But that’s not the point of this tale. One night we went out and got shit-faced drunk. Eight sheets to the wind. Seriously trashed. But I didn’t want us to walk home and leave the car at the bar because it was a small base and people talked. If my car was there the next morning, word would get back to my (now ex) husband that I must have gone home with a man. So I drove home. I would NEVER recommend this in the condition I was in, but I was driving 20kph – 12mph! At 12mph, if someone was walking on the side of the road and I came anywhere close, they would have easily been able to run away! I was driving on a base with no traffic, no cars to worry about, and the only thing I had to watch for was other drunk people walking beside the road. Jen was yelling “You can’t drive! Let me drive!” Hell no! She was as drunk as I was, and if anyone was going to wreck my car, it was going to be me! 12mph… it’s almost impossible to even drive that slow! Wow, it’s been 10 years since I left Germany (almost) – where did the time go?!?

Observations

The Poor Bear!

From Acerbia the other day:

Later today we walked past another store, selling inflated hearts with red paper hearts inside and a small bear standing up on it’s hind legs, face pressed pathetically against the transparent plastic.
I wonder how they get the bear inside.
“He’s sealed inside at the factory” she said.
How does he breathe?
“He doesn’t, thats why he’s pressed up against the side like that, he spent his last few seconds screaming ‘help meeee!’ at the uncaring factory workers”

(There is more to this – you can see it on D’s site)

As I went to Wal-Mart on Valentine’s Day to pick up cat food, I started laughing this crazed, manic laugh as I saw people purchasing those poor teddy bears trapped inside balloons. Considering it was Wal-Mart, I’m not sure if anyone noticed. All I could think of was “the uncaring factory workers! They watched them die!” Yes, it was just too funny. Probably one of the best moments of my Valentine’s Day.

BlahBlahBabble

No Time Online!

Post author By Christine
Post date Saturday, February 16, 2002

Jason & I attended the Aeros game last night and we had a great time. I loved it! I would love to go again this season – it was a lot of fun! And Scott was not kidding about those seats! Goal, the ice behind the goal, wall, 1 row of seats which was where the goal judge sat to watch to make sure a goal went in, and then us. Awesome view! Kymberlie said that when she went she found some of it disturbing (I’ll let her share…) but I didn’t see any of those things. No kids shouting things like “Kick their ass!”. No Hooters girls. Nope, our entertainment was couples tossing phone books to each other for a prize, and then the puck toss where they put a helmet in the middle of the ice and had the fans toss hundreds of pucks at it hoping to get one in. (No one succeeded.) There was one fight and some obvious bodyslamming into the plexiglass right in front of us, but … well, that’s what hockey is, isn’t it? Jason had a great time and made sure he showed off the puck I bought him!

This morning at about 11:30 or so, Chelsey called to invite me & Jason to go with her & Doug to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It’s the last year that the Rodeo will be held in the Astrodome – next year it will be in the Texans stadium. We saw Pat Green. I had no clue who he is, I just went along for the show! Afterwards they came back to my house so that we could get her pictures off of my digital camera which she borrowed a few weeks ago. I burned them to a CD for her and sent them on their way after we watched some of the Olympics. She brought me the part of my Christmas gift which she forgot before – a Moonet Cow Parade statue! It was wonderful to have a chance to get together with her!

Meme Me

Just what is a Meme, Anyways?

Post author By Christine
Post date Friday, February 15, 2002
2 Comments on Just what is a Meme, Anyways?

Who would have thought that Scientific America would have written an article about memes? And just what is a meme, you ask? (It’s ok, lots of people use the word without having any idea what it really is.) “Memes are stories, songs, habits, skills, inventions and ways of doing things that we copy from person to person by imitation. Human nature can be explained by evolutionary theory, but only when we consider evolving memes as well as genes.” So even something like “Ring around the Rosy…” started out as a meme. “The most obvious examples of this phenomenon are “viral” memes. Chain letters (both hard-copy and e-mail) consist of little bits of written information, including a “copy-me” instruction backed up with threats (if you break the chain you will suffer bad luck) or promises (you�ll receive money and you can help your friends). It does not matter that the threats and promises are empty and your effort in copying the letters is wasted. These memes have an internal structure that ensures their own propagation.” Of course not everything with this viral structure will succeed. And guess what? They even have a name now for the study of memes. Memetics! [via UK Memes Central]

Oh, and the word meme? It’s not pronounced “me-me” like the word “me” said two times in a row. It’s pronounced like cream or dream. So now meme me!

BlahBlahBabble

Gold, After All…

The Canadian skating pair of Sale and Pelletier have been awarded the gold medal! They reversed the decision of Monday night after “the sport’s top officials uncovered judging misconduct”. Whoo hoo! [via Kymberlie]