Worthless

This is nice. This is what inspires me to blog. Yep that right there, directly beneath these words. Nothing like knowing no one cares.

My blog is worth $0.00.
How much is your blog worth?

Save the Whales

Awhile ago I saw a special on PBS about an elusive woodpecker that scientists thought to be extinct, but now they suppose it may still be around. The show interviewed endless scientists that have dedicated their lives to finding these birds and to the preservation of natural habitats. Then recently in the news, this whale that is in danger of being beached has sucked millions of dollars out of conservation groups. Who freaking cares? How can someone waste their entire lives loving animals when people are dying everyday. Starving children in Africa don't have enough money to buy food, but yet us lavish westerners spend 100 bucks on a pretty collar for our pet dogs. When did treating animals well, trump human rights? The same people who spend their lives rescuing wild animals have no qualms about getting abortion. Homeless people mill around on the street while PETA member picket in front of KFC to stop hurting chickens. Don't get me wrong, the abuse of animals is not good practice, but how did our priorities get so messed up?

When blogging for the whole world...

A thought about blogging.

I love how you can post whatever. I love how you can write/design/post freely without constraint. The only problem is that there is no protection for you, the writer/artist/creator. If I write something profound, but put it on the web, I can no longer ensure it is truly mine. People anywhere can claim it as their own. Anything exceptionally worth while you can't really post if you think there is ever a chance of its publication. Sigh, the struggle of an artist who wants to share their talent/work with the world. It is really the public who loses in the end.

In the ancient days private creation and thought was, by nature, public domain and never governed by petty rules of ownership and copyright. It's hard to find a balance between the two in which both the individual and society win. As it is now, often both entities end up losing; and that is not good for anybody.

128-10-93-85-10-128-98-112-6-6-25-126-39-1-68-78

128-10-93-85-10-128-98-112-6-6-25-126-39-1-68-78 you ask?

On the last page of Digital Fortress by Dan Brown there are those numbers listed. I recognized it as a code right away so I went to the Internet to help me out, but much to my appall, the answer was spoiled. I clicked on a link that said clues, but no, they told me the answer. I'm mad. I wanted a clue to what the numbers meant, not the answer!

Here is what you do, if you are like me and don't want the whole answer all at once: Each number corresponds to a chapter. Take the first letter from each chapter and write it down. Then make a Caesars Box by writing the 16 letters into a 4 by 4 square. Voila! Now all you have to do is read it. (I put the answer at the bottom of this post. Don't read all the way if you don't want to know.)

What fun are puzzles if you already know the answer? It's like knowing an ending of a movie before you watch it- especially when it's something like the Village (which was an awesome movie by the way). It can completely ruin it. Sigh. Yuck.

PS. M. Night Shyamalan is coming out with a new movie, and yes I had to look up how to spell his name.

Answer to code. Read at own risk!!!
---We are watching you---

Oh geez. Now I feel like I just cheated, but you were warned, right? You aren't mad at me for telling you are you? The book was still awesome.

Master of Mystery

As of last week I have finally read all of Dan Brown's books (who now happens to occupy the place as my favorite author); Angels and Demons, DaVinci Code, Deception Point, and Digital Fortress. All captivating, all highly controversial, and brilliant. I only worry that he has become a bit delusional. I watched a documentary about the Davinci Code and Dan Brown said he was starting believe some the strange conspiracy theories that he writes about. I am worried that he has spent too much time researching and has lost touch with the real world. Even so, my favorite aspect about his books (aside from the suspense/mystery) is the way he expertly weaves fact and fiction together.

Wynton Marsalis

For the past 4 years I have gotten my parents Christmas gifts that bombed. This year it has not... yet. On the brink of 'quitting Christmas'; I got them tickets to see Wynton Marsalis at the Luhrs Center. Marsalis is a super famous jazz trumpet player. My dad plays the trumpet and I'm pretty sure he unhealthily excited about the concert. I really really want them to have have a nice time.

Just for fun, let's make a list the top 5 most disastrous Christmas presents I have given my parents over the years. I always try so hard, but that just makes the let down all the worse.

Top 5 Most Disastrous Christmas Presents
From Me to Mom and Dad

1. (For my mom) Victoria's Secret massage oil that I innocently thought was perfume but later found extraordinarily disturbing that I had bought massage oil for my mother.

2.Harrisburg Symphony tickets- Giant snowstorm on day of concert preventing travel beyond the driveway let alone to Harrisburg, wouldn't switch dates on tickets or give a refund.

3. 2 half hour massages but they waited 10 months to take advantage of the certificates, only to find the place had gone out of business.

4. Tickets to Totem Pole Playhouse, but the play (they selected) turned out to be about homosexuality of which they don't approve and made them very uncomfortable.

5. Hopefully NOT Wynton Marsalis tickets!

Lost in Translation

So in my last ditch effort to learn some Spanish before I leave (in only 7 days now), I've been reading blogs written in Spanish by random people. (I've included a map of where Malaga is in case anyone wants to know where I'll be studying abroad.) I think it has actually been helping me. I have learned some slang and can read Spanish relatively well. The only bad thing remains: I can't speak it. They talk too fast, I comprehend too slow. I am so screwed. On a brighter note, another reason to blog: for the benefit of those trying to learn your language (The easiest to understand are the ones with pictures). I also stumbled upon the linguistic fun page! And a bunch of sites with funny stories about translating boo boos. I love reading those!

American Idol

Believe it or not, I watched American Idol for the first time tonight even though I have liked Kelly Clarkson for the past 4 years. I only like the begining and end of talent search shows. I like to see how they pick the contestants out of everyone who tries out, as well as the competition at the end between the really good people; but the whole middle is long and boring. I also started watching dancing with the stars this season too. I think I like it better than American Idol because dancing is a bit more interesting to watch.