"Of course, one can still track certain irritations. Elijah Wood, as the game little hero Hobbit, Frodo Baggins, still relies entirely too much on a single expression: It's that stricken look, as if he's just learned that not only didn't he get into Harvard but he has been banned from ever setting foot in Massachusetts."
Out of Context From an IM conversation I had tonight. Reposted without permission. If you're offended, I'll take it down. I just thought all the other (2) people who read this would be as amused as I was.
Celeval: I just watched The Greatest Christmas Moment of All Time or somesuch. Random collection of TV shows, movies, and commercials on Fox.
Celeval: So I'm in a very Christmasy mood
Celeval: Not like I'm ever not
***
Lyrelle: Q1: blahblahblah . . . briefly describe the evidence for the involvement of RNA ploymerase II. How strong do you think this evidence is? In your opinion, what would constitute unequivocal proof?
Lyrelle: In my opinion, unequivocal proof would constitute being told it in class
Lyrelle: I suppose they won't accept that though :-\
Celeval: Heehee
Celeval: Unequivocal proof would be waking up to fiery letters in the sky: "RNA Polymerase II is involved." Well, for me at least.
Lyrelle: that could work
Celeval: See, I was going to try to be a smartass, and look up something intelligent about RNA Polymerase II on yahoo, so I could respond with something scientific, completely off the cuff, that happened to have bearing on the question. Unfortunately for me and my smart-assed-ness, the three pages I found were less comprehensible to me than the text of the Iliad translated from the original Greek to Hebrew and presented in Martian lettering. Sorry.
Celeval: Although, RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a large (550 kDa) complex of 12 subunits that is at the heart of the transcription mechanism.
Celeval: I'd continue, but I got distracted at the next title: Transcription Termination by RNA Polymerase II: Cleavage and More Cleavage.
The above two snippets of conversation made my night. :-)
posted by Kecia 10:42 PM
But my feet hurt!
Whohoo! Today was my first day at the golden pot at the end of the rainbow. :-) It was fun, and I'd love to sit and type up a gloriously long entry about it, but I have a final to procrastinate for.
(btw, Deedie and D-daddy are in Trinidad. how weird is that?)
posted by Kecia 5:57 PM
Not high-quality, but guaranteed to make you want to go cuddle with your loved one. :)
posted by Kecia 4:25 PM
Thursday, December 12, 2002
Sad but Happy A personal message of thanks from TLC to the fandom:
How You - Yes, You - Made History
As you undoubtedly have read on our front page by now, our attempts to win the card containing 93 words about Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix were thwarted when an anonymous American bidder pledged roughly $38,000 for the item.
Of course, we're sure you're disappointed in the result. However, our own disappointment over not winning the card notwithstanding, we are thrilled with the way the fandom came together to support The Leaky Cauldron’s massive charity drive.
In just eight days, 2200 of us donated money through Leaky, Inc. In just eight days, $24,000 was raised to support literacy. That's what's known as making a difference. That's called leaving the world a little better than we found it eight days ago.
Thanks to everyone who generously donated. You've shown what you truly are. Thanks to all news organizations and websites — especially BBC Newsround, BBC “Radio Five Live,” the New York Times, the Associated Press and Spin 103 FM in Ireland — that generously gave this charity drive such amazing press. Thank you to the thousands of Web masters who made and posted banners, and to the thousands of fans who sent news of our drive to every nook and cranny of the fandom they could think of. Without you, the donation would not have been nearly so substantial. Thanks to Sotheby's, for running such a worthy auction. Enormous thanks to J.K. Rowling, for yet again putting her money where her mouth is; it's not every celebrity who makes such stunning use of her influence.
It's unsurprising that most participants in this drive seemed more excited about the prospect of giving something to charity than of getting something out of Sotheby's - that's the Harry Potter Fandom we're all proud to be a part of. We didn’t get the card, but a lot of people just got a whole lot of books. When you fantastic donors are finally reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and your hearts are moved again by Harry's bravery, Ron's passion, and Hermione's ethics, remember: you're just like them.
The Leaky Cauldron team wishes you a very warm, safe and happy holiday season and congratulates you on making real magic.
Love from,
The entire staff of The Leaky Cauldron.
Dear Darling Son and That Person You Married, Merry Christmas to you, and please don't worry. I'm just fine considering I can't breathe or eat. The important thing is that you have a nice holiday, thousands of miles away from your ailing mother. I've sent along my last ten dollars in this card, which I hope you'll spend on my grandchildren. God knows their mother never buys them anything nice. They look so thin in their pictures, poor babies.
Thank you so much for the birthday flowers, dear boy. I put them in the freezer so they'll stay fresh for my grave. Which reminds me - we buried Grandma last week. I know she died years ago, but I got to yearning for a good funeral so Aunt Berta and I dug her up and had the services all over again. I would have invited you, but I know that woman you live with would have never let you come. I bet she's never even watched that videotape of my hemorrhoid surgery, has she?
Well son, it's time for me to crawl off to bed now. I lost my cane beating off muggers last week, but don't you worry about me. I'm also getting used to the cold since they turned my heat off and am grateful because the frost on my bed numbs the constant pain. Now don't you even think about sending any more money, because I know you need it for those expensive family vacations you take every year. Give my love to my darling grandbabies and my regards to whatever-her-name-is --the one with the black roots in her hair who stole you screaming from my bosom.
Merry Christmas,.
Love, Mom
--from one of those circulating emails, guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit :)
posted by Kecia 10:00 AM
Wednesday, December 11, 2002
What's your sexual appeal? brought to you by Quizilla *snerk* apparently this is because I put my ideal boyfriend would be a girl, because who can pass up boobies - instead I would've been a nerd!slut. :)
posted by Kecia 9:31 PM
I don't usually recommend not-completed stories, but what can I say, I'm a sap, and this is the best sort of sap. Incidentally, it's the only Molly/Arthur story I've read that got the characterizations and interaction right. Most of them tend to play up the cowed-husband bit too much. Not this one. :)
posted by Kecia 8:32 AM
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
For your reading pleasure This one is not so much by me. It is much more by shana. I felt like posting it anyway. So there. (Matthew had better get home soon or my blog will be completely overrun by randomness.)
*
i have but one paragraph remaining in my lab report, and have spent the last hour avoiding writing it. i've played computer solitaire, read a chapter of _memnoch the devil_, eaten vanilla icecream (i'm out of chocolate), and checked the newsgroup approximately 81 times.
so i now present you with an inspired poem:
o lab report,
o report of lab,
o one that doth irritateth me:
to you i say
"fuck thee off!"
and yet still the msword cursor blinketh
blinky blink blink
at me
Intrusive "Please provide a brief summary of your academic interests, career goals, and relevant background experience in the area provided below."
"Describe your career goals and research interests, as well as list your publications, work experience, and academic honors and organizations (in 2000 words or less) "
"Write a brief statement in the area below or mail it separately concerning your reasons for undertaking graduate study. Indicate, if appropriate, any specific areas of research interest. You may wish to discuss past work in your intended field and allied fields and outline your plans for a professional career. If there are special financial or academic circumstances you wish to bring to the attention of the graduate committee, please feel free to do so. "
"Write a brief statement in the area below or mail it separately describing any life experiences that you have had that you feel prepared you to pursue a graduate degree at a large, diverse institution such as University of Maryland. Among the items you may care to include would be how your interest in or knowledge of your chosen field developed, your community and family background, whether you are the first person in your family to pursue a higher education, or any other factors that you feel would contribute to the diversity of our academic community. Finally, give us some examples of your determination to pursue your goals, your initiative and ability to develop ideas, and/or your capacity for working through problems independently. "
"You are the art. You offend me. I do not want my tax dollars going to
you." - my personal essay, courtesy of Pete Abrams
The purpose of writing is to inflate weak ideas, obscure poor reasoning and inhibit clarity.
With a little practice, writing can be an intimidating and impenetrable fog.
- Calvin & Hobbes
"If I could die/ just for a moment/ let these worries/ work themselves out."
All my life all I've ever wanted to do is run away from everything. Constantly a Jonah, looking for a place to stop running.
I need to decide, one way or the other. To grow up and stop running, or to finally break free and leave. Unless, of course, the choice has already been made for me.
posted by Kecia 10:31 AM
HARRY POTTER FANS UNITE TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY
News Web site The Leaky Cauldron's "Get a Clue" campaign to benefit Book Aid International and curiosity about fifth Harry Potter installment.
NEW YORK CITY, NY - (4 December 2002) - The Leaky Cauldron (www.the-leaky-cauldron.org), a non-profit, international Harry Potter-themed news site, is uniting Harry Potter fans all over the world via its "Get a Clue" campaign. The effort, a global initiative driven by the opportunity for fans to gain a precious sneak peek into the highly-anticipated 5th Harry Potter book, aims to raise tens of thousands of dollars for charity.
"In mid-November, The Leaky Cauldron (TLC) heard that J.K. Rowling had donated a handwritten card containing information about the fifth Harry Potter to Sotheby's Auction House for a charity," explained Editor-in-Chief B.K. DeLong, "we were concerned that a wealthy fan would win the item and keep its contents private from the millions of fans eagerly awaiting for over two-and-a-half years to find out about the next book."
(The 5th installment of the series, tentatively titled "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", is expected in stores sometime between 2Q and 3Q 2003.)
TLC editors felt this combination of charity fundraiser and fact-gathering expedition represented the perfect call to action for any Harry Potter fan: advocate children's literacy while finding out about the long-awaited Harry Potter volume.
In order to proxy a bid on behalf of Harry Potter fandom as a whole, Leaky Cauldron Managing Editor Melissa Anelli immediately went through official channels including incorporating as a New York State not-for-profit charity organization and registering with the New York State Attorney General's office. Now, (as Leaky, Inc.), the site has pledged to donate the thousands of dollars raised through this effort to Book Aid International (www.bookaid.org), (the charity for which the Sotheby's auction is being held), regardless of who enters the winning bid.
Contributions can be made via PayPal.com (through account name "Leaky, Inc." or e-mail "donations@the-leaky-cauldron.org") until December 10, 2002, and can be mailed to 28 Stafford Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10312, as long as checks are received by December 7, 2002 and postal/money orders are received by December 10, 2002. Wire transfer information can be obtained by contacting info@the-leaky-cauldron.org.
All money donated (minus costs of running the fundraiser and PayPal/wiring fees) will be used towards the bid. Any surplus will be donated directly to Book Aid International. The item won will be redistributed according to legal allowances, post-auction.
"TLC's editors felt that the site's hundreds of thousands of readers would each be willing to donate $1.00 or more in order to ensure access to the coveted card," said TLC editor Heidi Tandy, "and we knew that our site would be well-placed to win the auction allowing us to bring the 93-word summary of the next Harry Potter book to millions of fans around the world."
About The Leaky Cauldron (Leaky, Inc.)
The Leaky Cauldron is a international, non-profit, Harry Potter-themed Web site run by a handful of dedicated fans in their spare time under the guise of Leaky, Inc. a New York-based, not-for-profit corporation. The site's goal is to provide the Harry Potter fan community with the most recent and detailed news about the Harry Potter enterprise including books, movies and related merchandise. For more information, visit http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org.
Ahhhhhh . . . What a perfect day. I'm sitting here, reading a story, with a lunch of piping hot pasta in front of me, prepared just the way I like it, and every so often glancing out the window where the world looks like a shaken snowglobe.
Okay, I'm getting sleepy. The rest of the Highly Important Fanfiction-that-I-confuse-with-Canon List will have to wait. Besides, it hasn't started snowing yet, and I'm getting grumpy. :-/ Silly snow.
posted by Kecia 11:10 PM
The Dry Toast of Mutual Understanding
On the topic of the SuddenlyMuscular!Harry that frequently makes an appearance in H/Hr fics, Madeline Elster writes: "Let us not forget his Seeking. Lord knows how ripped you can get sitting around on your butt doing nothing except *looking* for something."
Quote of the Morning: "So when you hear someone sneer at the Harry Potter books, either they haven't read them, and are therefore too ignorant to be listened to, or they haven't understood them, and are therefore not clever enough to take part in serious adult conversations."--Orson Scott Card
posted by Kecia 6:41 AM
