"i thought this was kind of cool..." written by Museumchick on estrip.org

Category: life

09/26/07 09:49 - 73ºF - ID#41336

i thought this was kind of cool...

Scientists find new species in Vietnam 1 hour, 23 minutes ago

HANOI, Vietnam - Scientists have discovered 11 new species of plants and animals in Vietnam, including a snake, two butterflies and five orchid varieties, the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) said Wednesday.

The new species were found in a remote region known as the "Green Corridor" in Thua Thien Hue province in central Vietnam, it said.

"You only discover so many new species in very special places, and the Green Corridor is one of them," Chris Dickinson, WWF's chief technical adviser in the region, said in a statement.

The new snake species, the white-lipped keelback, generally lives close to streams and eats frogs and other small animals, WWF said. It has a yellow-white stripe along its head, red dots over its body and can reach a length of 31.5 inches.

The new butterfly species are among eight discovered in Thua Thien Hue since 1996. One is a "skipper," a butterfly that flies in a quick, darting motion. It is from the genus Zela. The other is from a new genus in the subfamily Satyrinae.

Three of the new orchid species are leafless, which is unusual for orchids, WWF said.

The other new plant species include one in the aspidistra family, which produces a black flower and can subsist in low light, and an arum, which produces yellow flowers surrounded by funnel-shaped leaves, it said.

"It's great news for Vietnam," said Bernard O'Callaghan, Vietnam program coordinator for the World Conservation Union. "The jungles and mountains of Vietnam are fascinating places and they continue to surprise scientists."

All the new species are exclusive to tropical forests in Vietnam's Annamites mountain range, which offers unique habitats.

All species in the area are under threat from illegal logging, hunting and development.

Many threatened species live in the Green Corridor, including the white-cheeked crested gibbon, one of the world's most endangered primates.

Permalink: i_thought_this_was_kind_of_cool_.html
Words: 313
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: religion

09/22/07 04:28 - 76ºF - ID#41252

Yom Kippur

Things I regret over the past year:

1. All the fights my mom and I had. I think we've worked things out, but I'm sad for all the time that we lost. We both apologized to each last night and had a long talk, but I want things to be better year round.
2. Not being there for certain family members when they really needed someone. I wish I had done more to be there for them.
3. I wish T. and I wouldn't have gone back and forth so much about things. If I could have understood better his point of view, maybe it would have made things easier for him.
4. Not calling my dad enough.
5. Losing touch with friends I've always cared deeply about.
6. Making excuses for things that I should have done, but didn't.

Last year on Yom Kippur, a friend of mine was battling advanced brain cancer. It looked as though he was going to die. Somehow, he not only lived, but is now doing much better. His inoperable tumor is almost all gone, and he's healthier than he was before he had cancer. He's starting a part-time job and is moving back out west with his friends.

I don't believe that God is behind what happens to us in our lives. I want to, especially when I see things like that happen to my friend. But then I see all the terrible things that happen to people for no good reason. I can't believe the people who say that bad things happen for a purpose. There's so many terrible, random things. Maybe I'd like to believe that God is the force behind those rare good things that happen. Sometimes I feel like an agnostic, but I'll see the sunset, and i feel that I can't just look at life through a materialist point of view. At those moments I feel there has to be something outside of ourselves. I haven't figured this out at all.

jenks writes at 04:17:19 09/25/07 - Comment #25162: re: #3-
I don't know the scenario, but don't make excuses for him... if he treated you badly, that is his fault, and not because you didn't see things from his point of view.

(I say this from experience, and not to be a bitch. It's a lesson I'm still trying to learn myself.)

ladycroft writes at 05:55:18 09/22/07 - Comment #25011: yah, it's hard to swallow why good things happen to good people, or that there is a reason. sometimes i catch a ride on the 'why me' train. sometimes i can look past that and say 'i'm glad it was me and not someone else'.

metalpeter writes at 05:53:13 09/22/07 - Comment #25010: I'm not going to say that this is going to give you the answers you seek but It is a suggestion that might be an answer or might make you think.

God doesn't control things or people and the devil doesn't either. Bad things happen in the world for what reason I don't know. But things that we judge are bad happen because people have choice. That is the same reason good things happen is because people choose to do something good. In terms of the term sin that is when someone does something that based on the bible is wrong. That doesn't mean that it is wrong. But based on what the church or bible teaches it is wrong. If we assume that god is all powerful and that he could control everything and make everyone good then there would be no choice, and with no choice we couldn't really worship him/her because we wouldn't be free. We would just being doing what he made us do (like a slave kinda). So since god is to be worshiped or praised then there has to be freedom to do that. But along with that freedom we can chose to do the wrong thing. One could even argue the point that if there is an all good being then there must be an all evil or at least opposite force some people refer to him as the devil or even "The beast". Some people believe that to be true and also think that both he and god to contribute to things that happen on earth. There is no way to cover what everybody thinks but some people do believe in angels or at least guardians who are there to protect you. Ok back to the thing about things being a choice that could be backed up by the Adam & eve story where Adam decides to pick the apple when he knows he shouldn't.

Ok off the religion answer. Sometimes bad times don't happen to make us see how good the good times are. But what if everything in life was good. If we didn't have the bad would we feel the good stuff as good? I think we might but everything would be kinda bland and the great stuff would only feel good. Beside if everything was good there would be no balance and that just isn't right.

If what I said was a help or made you think then cool, and if not sorry.

Permalink: Yom_Kippur.html
Words: 327
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: music

09/19/07 10:51 - 66ºF - ID#41193

dolly parton songs

For (e:Jenks)
1. Go to

.
2. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark.
3. Take their "Career Matchmaker" questions.

For (e:libertad)

9 to 5 by Dolly Parton

Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen
Pour myself a cup of ambition
Yawnin', stretchin', try to come to life
Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumpin'
Out on the streets the traffic starts jumpin'
And folks like me on the job from nine to five
Chorus:

Workin' nine to five
What a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by
It's all takin' and no givin'
They just use your mind
And they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you
Crazy if you let it

Nine to five, for service and devotion
You would think that I
Would deserve a fair promotion
Want to move ahead
But the boss won't seem to let me
I swear sometimes that man is out to get me
Mmmmm...

They let your dream
Just a' watch 'em shatter
You're just a step
On the boss man's ladder
But you got dreams he'll never take away

In the same boat with a lot of your friends
Waitin' for the day your ship'll come in
And the tide's gonna turn
And it's all gonna roll your way

2nd Chorus:

Workin' nine to five
What a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by
It's all takin' and no givin'
They just use your mind
And you never get the credit
It's enough to drive you
Crazy if you let it

Nine to five, yeah
They got you where they want you
There's a better life
And you think about it, don't you?
It's a rich man's game
No matter what they call it
And you spend your life
Puttin' money in his wallet

3rd Chorus:

Nine to five
What a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by
It's all takin' and no givin'
They just use you mind
And they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you
Crazy if you let it

Fade:

Nine to five, yeah
They got you where they want you
There's a better life
And you dream about it, don't you?
It's a rich man's game
No matter what they call it
And you spend your life
Puttin' money in his wallet

Permalink: dolly_parton_songs.html
Words: 387
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

09/18/07 02:10 - 53ºF - ID#41171

professions

My top matches for career choices, according to careercruising.com:

1. Anthropologist

2. Human Resources Specialist

3. Criminologist

4. ESL Teacher

5. Critic

6. Mediator

7. Writer

8. Industrial-Organizational Psychologist

9. Editor

10. Computer Trainer

Most of those are appealing choices, especially those related to literary endeavors. What kind of surprised me is that the occupations I trained for- historian, archivism, curatorial- were not even in my top-40 on the match list.

Permalink: professions.html
Words: 62
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: thoughts

09/10/07 12:24 - 63ºF - ID#41029

Simply put

I feel scared and alone tonight, and I don't really have a reason to be.

Permalink: Simply_put.html
Words: 15
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: buffalo

08/28/07 08:31 - 63ºF - ID#40775

New World Records moving

It is wierd to think of both New World Records and Home of the Hits moved off Elmwood now. They both seemed like an important part of the neighborhood. I used to walk all the time to New World just to browse around, and then I would stop into Spot for coffee. Maybe the change will end up working out well, though. Spot can expand its business.

I really miss Spot. I haven't found any coffee places like that here, yet.

metalpeter writes at 07:15:41 08/28/07 - Comment #23284: Glad someone posted about this I meant to. I found out they where moving through myspace a couple days before the buffalonews article. From what I have heard so they can have a bigger better store and go to a location that they think is better for the future (Delaware near Hertel) is why they are moving. Sometimes moving locations can kill a business I hope it doesn't in this case. But sometimes it can make it thrive. I'm kinda mixed on if it leaving is good or bad, hope things work out well for them and that it makes the store better.

jenks writes at 03:58:27 08/28/07 - Comment #23260: wtf?! why are they moving?! That sucks!

jason writes at 02:30:31 08/28/07 - Comment #23250: Err, well, actually, I prefer a Talking Leaves to another bougie dinner joint. That says something.

jason writes at 02:29:40 08/28/07 - Comment #23249: Fuck Talking Leaves!

james writes at 12:32:51 08/28/07 - Comment #23237: Well, do I have a coffee joint for you.

First off, let me say I abhor all coffee houses with names with the word 'ground' or 'grind' in them. I am sure it was novel once, but now every place is "THe Daily Grind" or the like.

But on Western Ave there is Uncommon Grounds which is delicious. They have a few brews of coffee, a ton of teas, delicious bagels, and the best lox in town. Best of all it is right behind UA so you are near by.

joshua writes at 12:13:54 08/28/07 - Comment #23235: Too bad Talking Leaves is up the street - they would be better served moving into NWR's current location. If I can't have my independent record store give me an independent book store!

hodown writes at 11:05:53 08/28/07 - Comment #23233: Noooooooooooooo. I love that store :(

jason writes at 09:05:21 08/28/07 - Comment #23225: Oh, man. New World Record is leaving. This is the first time I am truly heartbroken over happenings on the street. I can't even begin to imagine what bullshit is going to be in its place. Let the yuppie-ization of Elmwood move forward!

Permalink: New_World_Records_moving.html
Words: 92
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: music

08/25/07 03:45 - 78ºF - ID#40728

elvis and bob

I'm going to see Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan play together on October 9th!! Aaron's taking some time off work for the weekend and is coming up here to go with me. He actually bought the tickets as an early Hannukah/Christmas present for me. I'm so excited- they are both two of my favorite artists. I haven't been to a concert (other than a couple local bands) for years.

I hope you guys will have fun today... it seems like there's a lot of cool stuff going on in Buffalo.

Permalink: elvis_and_bob.html
Words: 91
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: albany

08/24/07 02:22 - 82ºF - ID#40710

i can't believe August is almost over

From my last post:
(e:james)- I don't think I'm by Lark Str. But I will definitely have to check out the burritos and the pizza!
(e:lizabeth)- It was metro 20. Thanks very much:).
(e:libertad)- thanks you so much!

I've been using archive.org a lot to find music and documents.
I found a bunch of tori amos Mp3's:

I'm doing well. I went to orientation yesterday. It was a long day, but I enjoyed it. The most helpful part was the morning sessions. They had a bunch of teaching workshops; showing you different techniques you could utilize. The second part of the day was mostly about being a grad student and the various things that you should do to get ready for classes.

They also had a panel discussion of grad students. One of the students spoke about his experiences being both deaf and legally blind. He's getting his PhD in chemistry. Sign language is so awesome. It's amazing to me how people can move their hands so fast. I would love to learn how to sign sometime.

Today, I had a lot of errands around campus to run and my arthritis has been kicking up lately, so I borrowed a scooter for the day from disability services. Some people have stared at me and it makes me feel kind of awkward. Like I'm supposed to not stare back at the people who are staring at me. Most people are cool, though.
Take care and have a great weekend, (e:peeps)!

Permalink: i_can_t_believe_August_is_almost_over.html
Words: 266
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: albany

08/22/07 12:56 - 64ºF - ID#40669

i like diners

I made it to Albany tonight. I like my new place so far. It's a small studio apartment, but it feels comfortable. It was already furnished, so I didn't have to bring much up other than my clothes and books. I have internet and cable included with my utilities. It's also right next to Dunkin Donuts, which could be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it...

We stopped at this great diner for dinner on western avenue(?). It was decorated in an awesome retro 60's style. It had your regular diner foods, but it also had a bar with all kinds of mixed drinks. I had a terrific corned beef on rye sandwich.

Good night, epeeps.