Friday, July 18, 2014

seven quick takes - ed. 23

1. Hallelujah! Our internet is finally fixed! The Navy is doing some demolition/construction in the area and apparently the line got messed up somehow as a result. But now, much better.

2. This video is too funny: Mission Impossible Squirrel. Watch as the little guy navigates a Rube-Goldberg-style obstacle course built by creative homeowners.

3. You guys have seen Weird Al's parody of "Blurred Lines," right? It makes my little grammar-nerd heart skip a beat. If you have a little grammar-nerd heart too, and you somehow haven't seen it yet, then you're welcome. If you've already seen it, well, take this opportunity to enjoy it again. (Although he did split an infinitive there at the end-- rather than "try your best to not drool," it really should be "try your best not to drool.") (#grammargeek) (But I understand that wouldn't have fit the rhythm of the song as well.) (Still, though.)



4. This happened in my office this week:

Teenage with pinkeye: "I heard pinkeye has been going viral."
Me (slightly puzzled): "Well, it can be caused by bacteria or viruses..."
Teenager: "I mean, everyone's getting it."
Me: "Ohhh... 'going viral'... gotcha."

The best part is, she wasn't trying to be funny at all. I can't decide whether this little vignette makes me feel old, or smart, or medical, or what. Amused, in any case.

5. Sunscreen will NOT give you cancer, folks. No need for panic.


6. Another scientific mythbuster article: 10 Common Science Myths that Most People Believe.

Sorry, Scarlett Johansson. The whole premise for this movie is, well, false.


7. While we were visiting family in California, everyone wanted to know what Guam was like. However, everyone seemed to be picturing it either as a collection of grass-hut villages:
Image borrowed from here.
Or an adorable brick-sidewalked tourist destination:
Image from here.
It wasn't until we got back that I finally figured out a way to describe what Guam really looks like. First, picture a lush, gorgeous tropical island setting, complete with flowering jungle trees and pristine beaches with clear aqua water (like the island on Lost).

This actually is Guam. (From Wikipedia.)
Then, in the middle of that, drop Modern Suburbia. But it's a Modern Suburbia built entirely from run-down concrete, sheet metal, and chain-link, and with no Starbucks, Target, or modern grocery stores (and a few of the roads don't exactly have names).

This is Guam, too. From here.
To complete the picture, scatter in some elements from third-world Central America, like wandering chickens and stray dogs, and random shacks in the jungle built of corrugated metal tied together.

This is real, too. Got the picture from here, but I've seen the guy many times in real life.
Finally, sprinkle in a few enormous military bases here and there.


 

Now if you managed to picture all of that at the same time, congrats! You have a general idea of what this crazy place is like!


Head back over to Conversion Diary for more quick takes!

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

what we're reading wednesday: quiet

Back from California and my impromptu blogging hiatus! I got a lot of reading done on the trip, some from my 2014 Reading Goal list, and some added on just for fun. (A girl can't be expected to stick to ONLY the books on a reading list, can she?!) This means that I'm actually several weeks ahead of myself for these WWRW posts... so let's start with a book I actually finished before I left.


That book was Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. I liked this book a lot, but didn't LOVE it. I thought the subject matter was really interesting-- why some people are introverted, what that actually means, the implications of introversion in a society that values extroversion (and coping mechanisms for how to function in said society!), and the strengths that introverts offer. As an introvert myself, I liked getting a new perspective on the topic. I found some parts kind of empowering-- it made me realize there's nothing wrong with me for wanting to eat lunch at work by myself-- in fact, it's necessary so I can "recharge" for the afternoon. It doesn't make me an antisocial freak, and it doesn't mean that I don't like my coworkers. I just need some space to breathe and regroup.

I didn't LOVE the book because I thought it got a little dry at times. It reminded me of a Malcolm Gladwell book in a lot of ways, but somehow didn't have the same fast-paced feel that made me want to read "just one more chapter!" Nevertheless, I enjoyed it a good deal, learned a lot, and would unhesitatingly recommend it if the topic interests you.

I'll be linking up over at Housewifespice once the post is up (if Jessica's hosting this week-- she's a little busy, if you hadn't heard).