Life is a Mystery to be Lived

I'm using this blog to discuss stuff I find interesting that nobody else will.

[aspielibrarian]

The Fimbulwinter.

A vortex, really? Let's call this cold snap what it really is: the Fimbulwinter.

[aspielibrarian]

Women are Vexing

So, I now am dating an amazing girl, but we're taking it extremely slow (for me this is a good thing). The problem I'm facing with this amazingly wonderful endeavor is my inexperience. While this is the second girl I've been with, my relationship with the first primarily consisted of holing up in one or the other's bedroom for entire days.

In short, I have never dated before, and I've never really 'sparked' with anybody before her.

The relationship started the day after Halloween, so we've been seeing each other for five weeks (six if you count thanksgiving break). It has been great, I've been getting out of the house more, I've been excited all the time, I am overall giddy with happiness.

At the same time I have been in a perpetual state of freak out, primarily because this is a new experience and I don't know what to expect. This is not helped by the fact that I seem to be the only person escalating the relationship, physical proximity when watching a movie is nowhere near where I want it to be (ie only contact is arm around shoulder) and even more vexing because I don't seem able to pick up on any other kinds of cues.

I've begun to get over that now, and last week we hung out. She is leaving for home saturday, and last week I expressed a desire to see her a lot more before she left.

Well it turns out she has a friend from home visiting her this week, which I was totally cool with. Then I find out he's a guy, and my paranoia begins interpreting little things as her lack of physical contact, his paying for her bill, and the time she is spending with him (this is mostly jealousy), including the two day trip back to Louisiana, which in my mind will undoubtedly involve a shared motel room.

Suspicion that they are actually seeing each other in some way: High.

I then make the mistake of asking her if they are together in some way after going to dinner with them. She said they're old friends, but I am scared to death of how she feels about my asking that kind of question.

Today I asked if the two of them wanted to do something again, but she said that they have a packed schedule this week, which makes me deathly afraid I am in the dog house, and that with the exception of an hour of work tomorrow (during which I'll have the opportunity to see her for a total of 2 minutes) I won't see her before she leaves for home.

The only way I can think of to get a proper goodbye is to drive to her house and ring the doorbell, which is kind of creepy, but I really need to, and I need an opportunity to give her her christmas present.

The most likely truths of the situation: she's an introvert and doesn't really become intimate with a person quickly, which is why I am initiating all physical contact (arm around her while sitting down on a couch, an holding hands). She has an old friend visiting whom she rarely sees and wants to spend a lot of time with him.

Inability to see her outside of a brief time at work: a sucky consequence of her friends visit, but I will find a way to give her a proper goodbye, mark my words!

[rorschachx]

[qinni]

Full wallpaper-size here

It’s finally done.

I’m not sure if I want to do something this detailed again for a while, but this was an idea I’d had for a really long while and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

[deviantart]

“Hello there…” by *Qinni 

[thedanaash-deactivated20220825]

“The Volunteer Library Brigade is rolling out to the sidewalks, parks, and subway stations of New York City. These small teams will set up tiny mobile library carts in public spaces around the city and do on site volunteer library work. They will look stuff up, hand out books, do storytime for kids, offer directions, advocate for libraries, and more. The carts will have reference books, maps, giveaways, wifi, and free ebook downloads.”

This rules. Sign up to volunteer at the link.

[whatdiscworldtaughtme]

515. Students: love ‘em or hate ‘em, you’re not allowed to hit ‘em with a shovel.

[whatdiscworldtaughtme]

535. Pets are always a great help in times of stress. And in times of starvation too, of course.

[whatdiscworldtaughtme]

572. Courage, bravery and the indomitable human spirit were fine things which nevertheless tended to take second place to the combination of courage, bravery, the indomitable human spirit and a six-to-one superiority of numbers. (suggested by idrabear)

[spinspintheblackcircle]

[aspielibrarian]

BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHMS!

[heybarto-deactivated20151225]

[aspielibrarian]

What episod is this from, and where can I watch it for free?

[aspielibrarian]

A Message to Darwinists and Creationists

This needs to be said by someone who isn't going to get worked up about the issue for the wrong reason.

Evolution is a Theory, not a fact.

Creationists often use this as their rallying cry and then claim that their beliefs are of equal scientific validity.

Here's the thing, science isn't a 'true-false' sort of deal, there are levels of truth determined by the nature of the concept. Let's look at two:

Law: There is plenty of empirical evidence showing that this is true, and no possible way to disprove it. (Gravity is pretty irrefutable).

Theory: There is enough empirical evidence that we can be very sure that this is true, but at the same time there is a chance that it could be disproven.

So, is creationism either one of these?

No. The amount of empirical evidence supporting any creationist theory is minuscule, and there is enough circumstantial evidence to cast the 'creation of all living things in a single moment' idea into doubt. The only evidence biblical creationism has going for it is a centuries old book that has been retranslated so many times it only paints a general picture of the original message. The only people who use old texts to determine empirical facts are historians, and they aren't considered scientists for a reason.

Creationism lacks the evidence to even be entertained by scientists, and trying to fit its square peg into the triangular hole of seeming scientific validity doesn't change that, so I must ask creationists to stop butting in on discussions about paleontology or demanding that creationism be taught in science classrooms. 

Don't act so smug Darwinists, you're not off the hook.

When Biblical Creationists start talking about their beliefs Darwinists go a little nuts. This serves no purpose but to start an irrational argument in which both sides come out angry, offended, and even more convinced that they're right and the other is wrong.

Instead of getting angry be rational, understand why creationism is not valid science and explain it to the creationist. After this one of three things will happen: there will be a debate in which neither side raises their voice, the creationist will go berserk and look like the unreasonable one, or the subject is no longer discussed. All of these options are better than losing your temper and looking like a belligerent person who doesn't know what they're talking about, and makes evolutionists seem less dick-ish

[queenamyofpoehler]

no one makes fun of taylor swift like taylor swift makes fun of taylor swift:

[jxsticeleague]

omg ok i like you now taylor swift

[slutformisha]

[lillymsmith]

((A movie about archeology or something like that… It had monkeys and beams. And I fell asleep during that class. :D ))

[asksarahwinchester]

((Gnomeo & Juliet. Okay cool so I’m going to turn into a lawn gnome, be threatened by lawn mowers, and fall in love. AWESOME.))

[kiryaofasgard-deactivated201206]

((uh… that was X men first class… does that mean i’m a mutant?))

[kalelle]

28 Days Later. Fuck you, Robert Carlyle.

[xiggeh]

At first I thought it was Jurassic Park and went “Aw noooooo” but then I remembered that I watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas last night and got much happier. XD

[manafromheaven]

PULP FICTION? FUUUUUUUUUUUUU 

[caleb-the-firebug]

Hellboy: Golden Army. 

This pleases me. 

[disillusionmentcharms]

Les Miserables. I’m going to die. 

[indigobush]

Ravenous… So long as I end up like Martha (living) or Boyd (dead, but pressed tight against Bobby…) I’ll be cool with it.

[koalaura]

28 Weeks Later. DAMMIT, BOBBY. ALWAYS YOUR FAULT. ALWAYS. 

[rosedawsontyler-bye]

That shitty Red Riding Hood movie that came out last year.

FUCK EVERYTHING.

[spindleshanking]

…Rumpelstiltskin.

[aspielibrarian]

I am Iron Man.

[blogthoven]

Bach’s heavenly Mass in B minor is the best way to recover after a harrowing tempest.

The Choir of Trinity Wall Street and Trinity Baroque Orchestra were sublime tonight. I’m a big fan of period instruments and tonight was an excellent example why.

[aspielibrarian]

wow, I haven't posted in a looong time.

Earlier this month I met a girl who is also in SU's LIS program, and every since then she is all I can think about. Yes, romantic feelings, I don't believe I have ever had genuine romantic feelings for a woman who was attainable, so this is definitely a step in the right direction.

The odd thing is that I think she may actually be attracted to me (this is a second, but the first time doesn't count for oh so many reasons). What makes me think this?

She keeps on saying I am cute

She laughs at my jokes (I am a funny person so this isn't too unique but still)

She sometimes gets a little flustered when we're talking with each other

She sent me a facebook message after an event which subtly said that I looked nice.

Now if I am probably wrong (which is likely) please let me know.

I guess I've just never felt this way before. This past year I haven't been ready for a relationship, and before that I was messed up and attracting messed up people. Being attracted to someone who is (probably) emotionally stable is a very new and different experience.

Usually I would sort of obsess about the object of my desire...

OK I'm doing that, but this time she's not naked...

Much.

What I am trying to say is that, there is a different feel to it that in the past. It's less angsty and static, and more exciting with a dash of forward motion.

The Surreal thing is that she is Chinese, as in actually from China. I was totally not expecting that. Weird.

[current]

Finally, some specific numbers from Romney!

[aspielibrarian]

Trade wars? Wow, Romney's getting his 17th century on!

[uncalar]

Too tired to work. Not braindead enough for television. So here’s a random SW cartoon that came to mind. Enjoy :)