Thursday, July 15, 2010

I write like
Vladimir Nabokov

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!



Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov was born on April 23, 1899, in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Nabokov household was trilingual, and as a young man, he studied Slavic and romance languages at Trinity College, Cambridge, taking his honors degree in 1922. For the next eighteen years he lived in Berlin and Paris, writing prolifically in Russian under the pseudonym Sirin and supporting himself through translations, lessons in English and tennis, and by composing the first crossword puzzles in Russian. In 1925 he married Vera Slonim, with whom he had one child, a son, Dmitri. Having already fled Russia and Germany, Nabokov became a refugee once more in 1940, when he was forced to leave France for the United States. There he taught at Wellesley, Harvard, and Cornell. He also gave up writing in Russian and began composing fiction in English. Yet Nabokov's American period saw the creation of what are arguably his greatest works, Bend Sinister (1947), Lolita (1955), Pnin (1957), and Pale Fire (1962), as well as the translation of his earlier Russian novels into English. He also undertook English translations of works by Lermontov and Pushkin and wrote several books of criticism. Vladimir Nabokov died in Montreux, Switzerland, in 1977.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Can I get an AMEN

Been thinking this for the longest time, but thanks to the folks at Tea Party Jesus you can see the actual words of self professed good "Republican and Tea Party Christians" in the mouth of the Lord and Savior himself. Makes you wonder if any of them have actually read the bible, or have any concept of what this man worked and lived for.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Cognitive Dissonance 2.0

I am generally a positive person. And right there we see an example of cognitive dissonance in action. I have gotten where it is increasingly difficult to watch the news daily and keep the directly opposite idea in my head that mankind is generally good. I find myself now looking at normal people I come in daily contact with and saying to myself "How can you possibly be happy and content in life?" From the oil spill, to the increasing discontent I feel about our government and disappointment I feel in the Obama administration it just seems the world has taken a clear path toward destruction. The aware and awake side of me says "get out there and do something to stop this" and the opposite purrs " it's too late to do anything, eat this sausage McMuffin and dance while Rome is burning." I'd like to blame this on my nature as a Libra, but more and more I realize people are heavily invested in ignoring what goes on in life so they can get their next "fix". I am as guilty as anyone in this. I can't be the only sleepless person that doesn't do cognitive dissonance very well however. Perhaps I should develop a 2.0 Cognitive Dissonance system for those among us that have a hard time being glassy eyed and nodding when reality is shouting for action.

Thoughts on a sleepless night. This too shall pass.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

My Shawshank Redemption

In dark times, I find great comfort in one of my all time favorite movies, The Shawshank Redemption. It reminds me to hope for better, and know in time whatever is will change; This too shall pass. But in the last week or so, I've had my own version of Shawshank redemption. I have not carved through a wall with a rock pick, but I have had friendship step up and do the seemingly impossible for me. Sometimes it just takes that little trickle of hope to make the river flow again and fill the resovoir. You know who you are, and you know how much you mean to me. It may never be in the form of a beautifully crafted movie, but what a gift we have shared in this life, this friendship.

Monday, June 07, 2010

DR SEUSS - 5000 FINGERS OF DR T - ELEVATOR DUNGEON

It's an ODD month, so I thought I'd share an "oldie -but oddie" dungeon song from 50's classic "The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T." If anyone has any question about how my generation came to need so much therapy just watch this little ditty and imagine it's impression on children.

Looks like the perfect place for the CEO of BP, doesn't it?

Sunday, May 30, 2010

My Desk..Circa 1999 and Now

"Our Lady of Garage Sales" 1999

The garage sale supply holder currently on my desk :)