neat green things: A Himalayan Village Builds Artificial Glaciers to Survive Global Warming [Slide Show]: Scientific American Slideshows

A Himalayan Village Builds Artificial Glaciers to Survive Global Warming [Slide Show]: Scientific American Slideshows

This is a brilliant use of local resources to solve a debilitating problem: a retired engineer uses local stones, which mountains have in abundance, to build walls which catch runoff from the shrinking glaciers, trapping the water so it can re-freeze into temporary glaciers that save the villages that are dependent on them! Like freezing reservoirs that keep the water from trickling away and helping no one. And it's incredibly low-tech. Amazing. Maybe he can show other people all over the world how to do this, and then some of the poorest people who are being hit first by glacial melt-off can be helped until something bigger-scale and be built.

shonagonisms: topics that matter to me

Human rights / Gay rights / Equal rights -- Everyone should have the same rights
Literacy
Environmentalism and Greening your life
Space exploration to save ourselves and keep moving forward
Education -- the more that's mandatory and diversified, the better
Non-coporate-ness / Small business / Handmade and Local
Food Supply and control
Archaeological Conservation Protection and Preservation
Religious tolerance and middle-of-the-roading as a defense against fundamentalism from all sides
Social reform -- the kind that verges on socialism because I think our governing bodies should take care of us
Tattoos as art and the acceptance there of
Scotland and Scots
Support of redheads and perpetration of the gene
Exogamy
Gardening for food and beauty
Geekery as a valid academic practice and subject, and even a way of life
Diversification of knowledge / Interdisciplinary studies and such
Seeking balance in all things
Travel as a way to save the world
Clean energy and the pointed need to turn over to it
Beauty
The preservation of old ways by learning and teaching them
Linguistics
The need to understand history and prehistory so we can keep moving forward
The obligation for better developed places to help those that aren't-- and the right of those that aren't to take the offer on their own terms
The creative solving of problems-- and finding better ways to re-solve old ones
Progress as the embrace of technology that improves lives
The slowing of life so that we can appreciate it and incorporate more of the good things into it
Food of the best sort

meme: all about me

Bold the ones that are true:

YOUR BOY SIDE—- 

You love hoodies. 
You love jeans. 
Dogs are better than cats. 
It’s hilarious when people get hurt. 
Shopping is torture.
Sad movies suck.
You own a car racing game.
You played with Hot Wheels cars as a kid. 
At some point in time you wanted to be a firefighter. 
You used to be obsessed with Power Rangers. 
You have watched sports on TV. 
Gory movies are cool.
You go to your dad for advice. 
You own like a trillion baseball caps.
You used to collect hockey cards.
Baggy sweats are cool to wear. 
It’s kinda weird to have sleepovers with a bunch of people.
Green, black, red, blue, or silver are one of your favorite colors or all. 
You love to go crazy and not care what people think. 
Sports are fun. 
You talk with food in your mouth. 
You sleep with your socks on at night. 
You have fished at least once. 

—-YOUR GIRL SIDE—-

You love to shop. 
You wear eyeliner. 
You wear the color pink. 
You go to your mom to talk. 
You consider cheerleading a sport.
You hate wearing the color black.
You like going to the mall.
You like getting manicures and/or pedicures.
You like wearing jewelry.
You cried watching The Notebook. 
Skirts are a big part of your wardrobe.
Shopping is one of your favorite hobbies.
You don’t like the movie Star Wars. 
You are/were in gymnastics.
It takes you at least one hour to shower, get dressed, and make-up. 
You smile a lot more than you should. 
You have more than 10 pairs of shoes.
You care about what you look like. 
You like wearing dresses when you can. 
You like wearing high heel shoes. 
You used to play with dolls as a little kid. 
You like putting make-up on others. 
You like being the star of everything.
Pink is one of your favorite colors. 

Appearance •

I am shorter than 5’2
I have many scars. 
I tan/burn easily. 
I wish my hair was a different colour. 
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair colour.
I have a tattoo. 
I am self-conscious about my appearance.
I’ve had/have braces. 

I’ve been told I’m attractive by a complete stranger. 
I have more than two piercings.
I have / had piercings in places besides my ears.

• Embarrassment •

I’ve slipped out a “lol” in a spoken conversation. 
Disney movies still make me cry. 
I’ve laughed so hard I’ve cried. 
I’ve glued my hand to something. 
I’ve laughed ’til some kind of beverage came out of my nose.
I’ve had my pants rip in public.

• Health •

I’ve gotten stitches. 
Broken/fractured a bone. 
I’ve had my tonsils removed.
I’ve sat in a doctor’s office with a friend. 
I’ve had my wisdom teeth removed.
I’ve had serious surgery.
I’ve had chicken pox. 

• Traveling •

I’ve driven/ riden over 200 miles in one day. 
I’ve been on a plane. 
I’ve been to Canada.
I’ve been to Cuba.
I’ve been to Niagara Falls. 
I’ve been to Ottawa.
I’ve gone to Sudbury.
I’ve been to the Caribbean.
I’ve been to Europe.
I’ve been to Florida. 

• Experiences •

I’ve gotten lost in my city.
I’ve seen a shooting star. 
I’ve wished on a shooting star. 
I’ve seen a meteor shower. I’ve gone out in public in my pajamas. 
I’ve pushed all the buttons on an elevator. 
I’ve kicked a guy where it hurts.
I’ve been to a casino.
I’ve been skydiving.
I’ve gone skinny-dipping.
I’ve drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
I’ve crashed/rolled a car.
I’ve been skiing.
I’ve been in a musical. 
I’ve caught a snowflake or snow on my tongue. 
I’ve seen the Northern Lights.
I’ve sat on a rooftop at night. 
I’ve played a prank on someone. 
I’ve ridden in a taxi. 
I’ve seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I’ve eaten Sushi. 
I’ve been snowboarding.

• Relationships •

I’m single. 
I’m in a relationship. 
I’m engaged.
I’m married.
I miss someone right now. 
I’ve gotten divorced.
I’ve told someone I loved them when I didn’t.
I’ve told someone I didn’t love them when I did. 

• Honesty / Crime •

I’ve done something I promised someone else I wouldn’t. 
I’ve done something I promised myself I wouldn’t. 
I’ve snuck out
I’ve lied to my parents about where I am. 
I’ve cheated while playing a game. 
I’ve ran a red light
I’ve witnessed a crime. 
I’ve been in a fist fight.
I’ve been arrested.

• Death and Suicide •

I’m afraid of dying. 
I hate funerals. 
I’ve seen someone/ something dying. 
Someone close to me has attempted/ committed suicide. 
You have planned your own suicide. 
I’ve written a eulogy for myself.

• Materialism •

I own over 5 rap CD’s.
I have an unhealthy obsession with anime/ manga.
I own designer purses, costing over $100 a piece.
I own something from Pac Sun.
I own something from The Gap.
I own something I got on E-Bay.
I own something from Abercrombie.

• Random •

I can sing well. 
Stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant. 
Open up to others easily.
I watch the news. 
I don’t kill bugs.
I sing in the shower. 
I am a morning person.
I paid for my cell phone ring tone.
I am a sports fanatic.
I twirl my hair.
I care about grammar. 
I have “?”’s in my screen name.
I love spam.
I’ve copied more than 30 CD’s in a day.
I bake well. 
My favorite color is either white, yellow, pink, red, blue, black, purple, or orange
I would wear pajamas to school.
I like Martha Stewart.
I know how to shoot a gun.
I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS. 
I laugh at my own jokes.
I eat fast food weekly. 
I’ve not turned anything in and still got an A in a certain class. 
I can’t sleep if there is a spider in the room.
I am really ticklish. 
I like white chocolate. 
I bite my nails. 
I’m good at remembering faces. 
I’m good at remembering names.
I’m good at remembering dates.
I honestly have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life. 

All my answers were totally honest. 

letters to the aether

Dear people who gave the Welsh a written language,

Why oh why did you play such a mean joke on them? Cwmtaff = Koomtahf? WTF?

Love,

Me

rules of acquisition: Pod — Seed Bombs

Pod — Seed Bombs

I love the idea of guerrilla gardening. Some of my favorite places around here are the abandoned lots.

things that make me happy: bikes getting the right of way

Found on A CUP OF JO

dreamhouse

Everyone has an idea of what their dream house would be like-- but mine is less of a single house and more like a collection of individual rooms that could be picked up and moved at the drop of a hat. Especially if they have odd planes and no white walls.

*picture off of Ink+Wit

favorite things right now

Grapefruit ade-- about a cup of really strong pink grapefruit, about a half cup of sugar, and about two or three cups of water, chilled

Everyday Minerals Spring Collection-- the eyeliner is amazing, and the colors go fantastically well together, and even after I get sweaty on the way into work and the colors all blurrs out, the shimmer stays

Inkdeath -- book three of the series, which I just started reading for review

Productive Geek -- because I'm still not as productive and prolific as I want to be

The upcoming Chrome OS-- I'm plotting and planning about whether I can get a new desktop after my financial aid payback so I can turn this one into a Chrome machine

FetchMp3-- It downloads the songs in online videos!

TinyHacker-- daily tips and tricks to make computers more fun and easier to use.

This bluegrass version of the Indie-fav Young Folks

This Indie cover of MIA's Paper Planes

10 Excellent Chrome Add-ons For Productive Web Browsing

10 Excellent Chrome Add-ons For Productive Web Browsing

More help!

link: Twelve absolute must-have Google Chrome plugins | freewaregenius.com

Twelve absolute must-have Google Chrome plugins | freewaregenius.com

This is awesome. I needs must upgrade my computer so these things will work on it...

shonagonisms: times when I feel decadent

When I'm lotioning up my whole body with some new and lush-smelling lotion, and everything looks smooth and tight and better than ever while I do it

When I'm painting my nails

When I'm wearing expensive perfume and putting on my makeup

When I get to wear heels for no other reason than because I wanted to, even if I'm just going to the grocery store

When I'm eating perfectly fresh seasonal fruit and Greek yogurt

When I'm eating dense, rich European desserts at a table outside in the sun

When I drink wine in the afternoon

When I put on new clothes for the first time

When I'm lounging in bed, reading a trashy novel and eating chocolate

When the roses are blooming and I can bring them inside and leave the petals all over everything, including the bed and the cat

When I get to write racy scenes for my characters

Bliss: brussels in bloom

Bliss: brussels in bloom:

Click through-- this is the most beautiful thing.

link: 100 Google Tricks That Will Save You Time in School – Eternal Code

100 Google Tricks That Will Save You Time in School – Eternal Code

Good to know!

restless again

I'm getting to the point in this going-back-to-school thing where I just want to get there and get going already. I want to skip the part where I spend time writing this semester's project, skip the part where I wait on financial aid, skip the part where I buy plane tickets, and just get this show on the road. There are too many worries at this point. What if financial aid falls through? What if I buy the tickets and then can't go? What if I get there and I'm ludicrously underqualified*? What if I get lost and miss something vital? What if I can't figure out what to do with my story? What if the classes that are all online require me to be present at a specific time and our internet messes up again? What if I can't work because I have to school? What if the financial aid reimbursement doesn't include enough to live off? What if what if what if?

But I know that I can get past all that jazz if I can just get there. Once I'm through security, everything will be fine, because that's where I'm supposed to be-- the inner sanctums of airports are where my clearest early memories are, and they feel like home and I feel like myself the way I only do once in a very long while in this boring and frustrating normal life.

See, I have my Plan. And that plan involves not working food or retail. It involves having a much more flexible schedule and a much better income so that the schedule can afford to be flexible. It involves travel-- both for pleasure to see friends and family and for business, going to conferences and expos and conventions. It involves collecting degrees and getting solid jobs in sectors I want to be in-- which would be editing or Library Science / Archiving, or both-- and it means never having to have more to do with this particular service-industry sector than I want to, ever again. And it feels like going to school is a good way to get this going. I'm going mostly because I want to meet people who can help me and because I want to learn things that will help me help myself. I need out before the frustrations eats me up.




* I'm used to being somewhere near the top of the writing classes I've taken without really trying that hard. I don't know why, but structure never seemed to be much of a problem, and all through undergrad I was writing pretty polished stuff that usually didn't require much alteration. But what if grad school is different? I'll be in school with people who are all at the top of their undergrad classes, and what if I'm too rusty, what if I've lost it? It would be mortifying: this is all I've ever really wanted to do, and definitely all that I feel qualified to do.

How to talk to complete idiots / Three basic options. Choose wisely, lest you go totally insane

How to talk to complete idiots / Three basic options. Choose wisely, lest you go totally insane:

"it's also true that calling people stupid is no way to advance the debate, and is itself rather childish and stupid. And you'd be absolutely right.

But you'd also be missing the point. When you ignore the idiots completely, you are not calling them anything at all. You are not trying to advance any sort of argument, because there is no debate taking place. You are simply bypassing the giant pothole of ignorance entirely.

You are not kowtowing to the least educated of your voting bloc, like the GOP is so desparetely fond of doing. You are not trying to give the idiotosphere equal weight in the discussion. As Schaeffer says, 'You cannot reorganize village life to suit the village idiot.' By employing option three, you are doing the only humane thing left to do: you are letting the idiotosphere eat itself alive.

Do it for the children, won't you?"

This is brilliant. And excellent advice that I think I'm going to implement in my own life.

... as much as I can, anyway. How sweet it would be to be able to skip the people in line who have no concept of reality, though. To focus on the nice people who understand that there are limits to what we can do, who tip well and give us poor hungry underlings their leftovers (this actually happened yesterday) and enjoy their icecream and thank us for helping them and don't demand ridiculous things...

Design My World:Furniturerange /Bedside Cabinet

Design My World:Furniturerange /Bedside Cabinet

For me?

Babelgum: Radar Eleven - Color Me Katie

Babelgum: Radar Eleven - Color Me Katie

When I grow up, I want to be Color Me Katie.

Yulia Brodskaya : Illustration

Yulia Brodskaya : Illustration

This stuff is just beautiful. It looks like it's CGI or something, but it's entirely real. I especially love the flowers.

bleh

I've been feeling gross for the last few days. I take this to mean that summer's really here-- as if the other seasonal indicators weren't proof enough. I blame my blechitude on the pervasiveness of the heat. See, we're trying our damnedest to not have to use the AC before it's absolutely necessary, but it's getting there more and more each day, and I keep waking up covered in sweat and gross. Which is not a good way to start the day. My skin is awful, my hair is... we'll call it textured... and my stomach just feels terrible. All the time. Whether I eat or not, and regardless of what I eat. If it's solid, my stomach wants nothing to do with it.

Only I've drunk up all my juice and smoothies, and I can't drink soda (and don't want to, anyway). And I'm out of cash, since I haven't worked at the Inn in a week, and that's my usual food money.

So yay! Summer! But boo to all the grossness that comes with it. Next up will be dozens of skin complaints-- which is the result of being bred for colder, drier climes. How did the Brits not die of fin rot when they were here in the 1700s and 1800s? Summers are brutal when you're naked, let alone wearing wool...

inspiration for the new life i want, 4

All of these are from *Lovely Clusters, which is totally one of my new favorite blogs. Some of them are by her, and the rest are ones she found and I borrowed.

Is there such a place as a cross between Hawaii and Indiscriminate Miazaki Europe? Because that's where I really want to live.

inspiration for the new life i want, 3

This taken from Previously Inaudible, which is one of my favorite blogs.

inspiration for the new life i want, 2

(As before, all the pictures are borrowed from around the web, with much gratitude. They should link to where they're from.)

inspiration for the new life i want

I know what my ideal life would look like, and I want to share bits of it with you. Maybe you can point me in the direction of where and how to get it?

So, in no particular order:

(you know I had to go through eight pages of google before I found this one, slightly blurry image of what I wanted?)

Here's what I see here: Two people utterly in love, kissing like they mean it, in a growing vinyard in a beautiful country. They're happy, they're passionate, and they have what they want. I want that.

Other images (all borrowed from around the webs), because I think in images:

More will follow, I assure you!

wanderlust...

Every year, as summer starts to emerge out of it's spring-skin, I get that itch-- it's in my hands and my feet and my eyeballs, and it means I want to go somewhere I've never been, return somewhere I haven't been in a while, see new things, smell new air, taste new foods. There's a reason they call it wanderlust-- it's a lot the same as wanting a person, only bigger, wider. It's a life thing.

(Borrowed from Justin Gaynor, without permission, but gratefully)

See, when we were growing up, summer was when we Went Places. I'm sure it was a huge pain in the ass getting three young children to do what they were supposed to do and behave so far away from home, but the result was a constant nagging idea that I should be going somewhere. Thats summer is for travelling. That there's still things I haven't seen, and I need to see them now, before they're gone or changed. And since we moved back to the States, I haven't been hardly anywhere-- a quick Study Abroad to London years ago, an even quicker trip to Canada by way of Ohio, a few jaunts back to Orlando, a trip to DC and New Jersey-- and none of them where really right. I want long-term trips.

(Borrowed from BeloBlog, without permission, but gratefully)

See, I have amazing friends. The lovely Rah-Chelle takes many of her summers and goes away on adventures. She's thinking of going to a Kibbutz in Israel soon, and she's gone to a commune in the woods and spent a year at sea. And I'm so equally enthralled and jealous that I could burst.

Also, I know these two wonderful brothers that have a boat apeice (well, one has a boat, one is shopping for a new boat since the old one sank), and they live there. They grew up on boats. They sail like sea gypsies in the summers, as often as they can, for as long as the money holds out.

And H is going to China for a whole year to learn the language and hopefully find a job. A whole year in a foreign country! The luxury stuns me.

And I want to do it too.

(Borrowed from Flickr, with gratitude)

Here's my plan. Not only will I entirely give up day-working within the next five years (really, closer to four now), but I'll find a way to save enough money that I can take summers off and travel, even if I have to do it on the cheap. I won't do any work but the work I want to do, which will likely be writing, and I'll talk my friends into letting me crash on their distant floors, travel in their many vehicles as they go somewhere else than here. I'll go to other countries. I'll get new stamps in my passport. I'll participate in semesters abroad and at sea, or I'll join experience groups for a month at a time or a week at a time. I'll be going to school at the same time, but I'll slot the trips in around the semesters-- and I'll just go. I'll find new places to be. I'll come home with a new appreciation of my own space.

I'm most at home in airports. I feel most like myself when I'm on the road. It's time I got back to who I am.