I know, I am both a geek and a Google whore.

But I love google talk.  Not the least of which includes the fact that you can run Gtalk from your Gmail without having to download the chat program or that you don't need to add people to your list manually, all you have to do is send them an email from your Gmail account.

But by far my favorite aspect of google talk is the "status message" that you can customize.  That's so much better than "available" or "not available"

Recent status messages I've posted:

I am not among the rice-eating robots
I wish I'd never been broiled
I have a date with Harry Potter
Ice!  We have Ice!
I'm afraid of Farmer Shootypants too

I've noticed some of you getting into the act too! Notably sarahk and Paul Burgess who usually have an amusing message attached to their avatar...

So, fellow googleheads, do you have Gtalk?  Do you like to leave wacky messages on your "status" line too?

Posted by: caltechgirl at 11:45 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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It's time to make your "official" predictions for who lives and dies in Harry Potter 7. No major prizes, just brownie points and maybe gratutious linky love. Your prediction should have two parts: 1) Does Harry make it, or not? 2) Who else did she kill off?

Even if you've only seen the movies, I'm interested in other people's takes on it. Especially if you disagree radically, or if you agree, but for different reasons. Post your predictions in the comments. Contest ends July 20, 2007. Void where prohibited. Do not fold, spindle, or multilate.

I'll start: My own "official" prediction is Snape and Hagrid. Maybe Draco Malfoy. Snape is a good guy and proves it via his death. Similarly I suspect Malfoy bites it to prove his own "redemption". And poor Hagrid is the "Innocent" of the stereotypical hero myth, so I suspect he gets caught in the crossfire and his senseless death serves as a spur to Harry's ultimate action against He Who Shall Not Be Named. I think Harry lives too. He almost MUST. And if Harry lives, Ginny probably does too. Remember, Harry WILL end up with Ginny. Hermione is in love with Weasley. Speaking of, if she kills off either Ron or Hermione before they get a happily ever after I will hurl the book at whatever is close and cry for a while. Profanity will be uttered, too. Deep, dark profanity, of the sort that forms the proverbial cloud over Lake Michigan...

this post inspired by sarahk's

Posted by: caltechgirl at 07:21 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 I think Neville or Hagrid will die. Oooh - or maybe even Professor McGonagall! I can't wait to get my hands on this book.

Posted by: Kate at July 09, 2007 08:15 PM (XargM)

2 I'm thinking Snape and Neville for sure will die. Snape either because he's proving he's good like you posit or because he's unable to do so. I lean slightly on the Snape is bad side of things though - Dumbledore wasn't completely unfoolable. I kind of wonder if she's going to kill off Ginny though - it adds to the tragic hero bit for Harry (everyone who loves him dies - reference his parents, Dumbledore, and now Ginny) plus it has potential to cause a rift between him and Ron, which she seems to delight in doing. I don't think she'll kill of Harry simply because she's a business woman and knows that doing that really kills off the franchise, no matter how many spinoffs might come from side characters, without Harry she loses a lot of her audience.

Posted by: beth at July 10, 2007 04:45 AM (YxbTJ)

3 I can buy the Snape dying. I believe that Rowling has tried to make this character as misunderstood and at times, ambivalent as possible to later "reveal" that he was working on the good side afterall. Maybe that's wishful thinking. Along with wishful thinking, I hope Draco has some sort of redemption. Rowling again has set that up by showing him as fearful and hesistant during the sixth book. I hope that leads to him to the good side. But I don't want him to die. But that could be poetic at the end if he dies in an attempt to save Harry. I think a Weasley *MUST* die. I don't hate saying that too much either. I don't want it to be one of the twins but I would not be surprised if it were Ginny or Ron. Better Ron than Ginny, I say. And the foreshadowing of Ron sacrificing for the good of the mission has already occurred as witnessed in the chamber of secrets. As for Harry dying? No way. Not in a million years. If she kills off Harry, she'll alienate her younger fans who won't understand his death and that could be tragic for the entire "Harry Potter" enterprise (ie. the theme parks, merchandising, movies, tv specials, possible sequals)...As Beth said, it'd be a bad business decision. Although the Christ allegory that some claim that the Harry Potter series references would be better served if he *did* die (...and maybe somehow was revived/resurrected?) -- but Rowling can still keep that allegory strong by making it clear that Harry Potter is WILLING to die, willing to lay down his life for the greater good. And yes, I'm done. I'm way too involved in this series, as you can tell.

Posted by: Jody at July 10, 2007 06:20 AM (IEpte)

4 I'm hoping they kill of Jar-Jar Binks.

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at July 10, 2007 06:33 AM (+MvHD)

5 I do not believe that Harry will die. He has scraped by too many times to build up to...his death? no way! I think that Neville will die. I also suspect Luna could go and maybe even Ron. I expect that Scabbers/Pettigrew will die because of the debt he owes Harry that must be repaid. And, I suspect that Snape will also shuffle off, though I'm still on the fence as to whether he is good or evil, or perhaps just out for himself? I don't know. I can tell you that I am primed and pumped and farookin' ready to get my hands on the book!

Posted by: Phoenix at July 10, 2007 06:43 AM (4N2f4)

6 If a Weasley has to die, I hope it's Percy.

Posted by: Jenna at July 10, 2007 07:58 AM (fd/rX)

7 I don't think that Percy will die, that's too easy. The readers have no real emotional attachment (other than thinking he's an absolute wanker --hehe-- gotta use the British terms). If he dies, I think another more likable Weasley will die too. And yes, on the baddie side, Pettigrew will have to die, I think she's set us up for that. (And Voldemort as well)...

Posted by: Jody at July 10, 2007 08:05 AM (IEpte)

8 I've never read any of the books nor seen any of the movies, but the rest of my family are card-carrying Potter-heads. This is what I tell them: The BIG SECRET in Book VII will be that Harry and Hermione are really brother and sister and that Valdamort is their father. He'll die only after turning good and reconsiling with Harry. In the meantime, a loveable army of House Elves will save Hogwarts from a surprise attack by the armies of darkness. There are times when my family doesn't like me very much.

Posted by: Robbo the Llama Butcher at July 10, 2007 08:20 AM (0JsTF)

9 I'm scared to guess...I know at least two characters will die, maybe more. I'd say Hagrid, Hermione, and maybe Draco. No matter what, I'll be getting my book at midnight and reading it straight through.

Posted by: Mrs. Who at July 10, 2007 08:34 AM (9FXen)

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So there's this show on Cartoon Network that's part of adult swim, and hubby and I have been catching it occasionally, and laughing our asses off at it every time we run across it. But we had no idea what it was called...

Last night we finally found out it's called Robot Chicken.

If you grew up in the 80s and had way too many action figures, this show is for you.

Holy crap, it's funny. It's filthy, too.

As proof, I offer Robot Chicken: Star Wars:
(PG-13 for violence and some language)

Part I:

Part II:

Part III:

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:04 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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