Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Maps, Memes, and Mis


So, as I mentioned in a previous post, I've been listening to the very long Les Miserables audiobook, which has been a great diversion in the car. The problem is I always want to sing the song that matches the current plot line. I know this doesn't seem very life-impacting, but with the way Victor Hugo writes (read: detailed and meandering), I end up singing the same song for days. For example, last week I was singing "Confrontation" all week.

"Valjean, at last, we see each other plain. Monsieur le Mayor, you'll wear a different chain."



This week it's been "Castle on a Cloud," which used to be my favorite song when I was little, especially when my parents made me do chores. "I know a place where no one's lost; I know a place where no one cries. Crying at all is not allowed, not on my castle on a cloud." Little does Cosette know (or maybe she's perfectly aware), she's singing about the kingdom of God that will be more fully addressed in the finale.

So, this is an interesting map that traces football allegiances using facebook likes. I mean, you can't get much more scientific than that.


Obviously, my favorite part is how the purple bleeds west and south into the Dakotas and Iowa. Also, look how small Buffalo's fan base is. How do they still have a team?

Speaking of facebook "likes," I always enjoy when one friend comments on a post and a totally unrelated friend likes the other friend's comment. I know it sounds convoluted, but it makes my world feel smaller. It also usually elicits one of two reactions: 1. Oh yeah, you two would totally love each other; or 2. Ha! I don't think one of you realizes that the other is being sarcastic.

BU should start alerting me when there's not an armed robbery because it seems like it would be less frequent than the texts, phone calls, and emails when there is. Also, they're really pushing flu shots. I always think the flu shot will give me the flu, so I avoid it (not because I'm one of those anti-inoculation parents that are bringing the whooping cough back into style among pre-schoolers). Then, I justify it by saying I'm saving dosages for the elderly and children. If you can mask your fear and/or laziness in a thin veneer of selflessness/goodwill, you're really on to something.

I think Ph.D. programs should have a class a required class on humility...or at least training people how to fake it around others.

Yes, it's the most overused meme picture in the world (speaking of which, I do not like the word "meme" at all), and I'm pseudo-embarrassed about posting it (obviously not enough to keep me from sharing), but I still can't help but laugh:


Speaking of Willy Wonka, I always thought Gene Wilder was dead until I heard him respond negatively to Gilda's Club (a cancer support group named after his late-wife and SNL star Gilda Radner who died of ovarian cancer) changing their name - a decision they then reversed.


Apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought he was deceased because when I went to google him for this picture, one of the autofill choices was "Gene Wilder death" and "Gen Wilder dead or alive." Sorry, Gene.

Finally, nothing is funnier to me than Colbert breaking character:



Okay, that's all the media I have for you today. Now, off to face Wednesday. Later.

1 comment:

  1. The image of you as a child sweeping a broom while singing Castle on a Cloud is amazing.

    ReplyDelete