Thom Crews: Moron

Like we needed MORE evidence:

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' choice of a Hebrew flavored name for their newborn daughter has speakers of the language scratching their heads.
Baby Suri's name can be traced to a Hebrew word meaning "princess" or "noblewoman," but by such a circuitous route that the connection is lost on most Israelis. Since the birth Tuesday in Los Angeles, bemused Israeli TV and radio presenters have debated the word's origins.

"Nobody here has ever really heard of it," an announcer on Israel's Army Radio said during a discussion Thursday. The Yediot Ahronot newspaper agreed in its half page splash on the celebrity birth.

"We seem to have learned a new Hebrew word and from Tom Cruise, no less," said a Channel 2 TV anchorman.
...
Suri is a pet name for Sarah," Koor told Army Radio. "The Ashkenazi Jews of Poland and Hungary pronounce it Suri."

In ancient Hebrew, Sarah is the feminine form of "Sar," or lord. In modern Hebrew, the word means a Cabinet Minister.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA. Idiot.

I believe the name they were looking for is Sarai. That was Abraham's wife's name (in the bible) before it was changed to Sarah. Which means Princess, according to most baby books.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 03:08 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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It seems like it can't have been that long ago

13 years ago today I was curled in a ball in my Mom's recliner, cuddled under a blanket and drinking hot tea. I was at home sick, and watching CNN. The ATF had held the Branch Davidian Complex under siege for 51 days before raiding their compound, killing 76 people, including the Davidian's leader, David Koresh.

I remember the whole screen erupting in flames as the buildings caught on fire, and wondering why in hell someone would ever think of doing that....or did the ATF do it? Turns out they set themselves on fire. Silly, really.

Two years later, I was home again. Maybe it was Spring Break. I don't recall. But I was watching again as the helicopters swirled around the Murrah building in Oklahoma City and firefighters rushed to save whoever they could. I remember thinking it was the "Arabs" because of the recent attack (first attack) on the World Trade Center. When we found out it was two white guys with an axe to grind we were flabbergasted, but in a way, not really surprised. Especially after the link to the Branch Davidians came out.

Fast forward 4 years and one day. College now, in fact it was my senior year and I was deep in the throes of choosing a grad school and planning a wedding. DH and I were in our bedroom in our apartment (with the only working TV). I was watching the news and he was writing a paper. Breaking News! Shootout in a Colorado HS! At least 12 people dead, including the stupid bastards who did the shooting. In later days, as we learned more about the lives of the two shooters, we were sobered by the fact that this could have been us. Some of you will recall our own "trenchcoat mafia" and the rumors of their weapons and intentions....

My own prayer is that we get through today and tomorrow without yet another somber anniversary.

Many touching remembrances of the OKC bombing across the web today, particularly this one, this one, and this one

Posted by: caltechgirl at 04:55 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Shake, Rattle, and Roll

On April 18, 1906, just after 5 AM, the peaceful slumber of the citizens of San Francisco was shattered forever.  A masssive earthquake, still one of the largest ever recorded, crippled the entire region.  The quake was felt hundreds of miles away, and nearly burned the entire city of San Francisco to the ground.

More on the "great quake":
Wikipedia
The Beeb
SF Museum
USGS

Posted by: caltechgirl at 10:20 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Would you rather....?

Found here

*Barefoot or Shoes? BAREFOOT.  And I wear Birkies when I can get away with it.  MUST be able to take my shoes off under my desk or a table

*Tea- Sweet or Unsweetened? SWEET!  I was always a no-sweetner girl until I moved to NC where you pretty much can't get it without sugar.  The sweeter the better, I say.

*Clothes- fitted or loose? Loose.  PJs and no bra if I can get away with it.

*Fish- fresh water or salt water? Not the biggest fish fan, but that which I will eat is all salt-water: Tuna steaks, Salmon, Scallops, Clam Chowder...

*Gravy or plain? Pass the gravy.  I usually get it on the side because I like the taste of my food and I can dip in or add it as I please.  For mashed taters, I usually go without and add cheese and sour cream instead

*House- spotless or lived in? Lived in.  I only lose things when I tidy up.

*Solitude or people? I would have to say people. But there are definitely moments when I need to be alone

*Beer or alcohol? I can't drink except on rare occasions thanks to my wonderful medication, but when I do it's almost ALWAYS a floofy girly drink.  With an umbrella or a fruit garnish.  So yeah, alcohol.

*Fiction or non-fiction? Fiction.  I love mysteries and interesting characters

*Weather- hot or cold?  Cold.  Definitely cold.  I love it when it rains or snows.  I love walking in the snow.  I love sleeping under a pile of blankets with the window open for some fresh air.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 02:48 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Office Vocabulary

Basil posted this, but I have the original memo...

TO ALL EMPLOYEES:

It has been brought to the management's attention that some individuals have been using foul language in the course of normal conversation between employees. Due to complaints from some more easily offended workers, this conduct will no longer be tolerated.

The management does, however, realize the importance of each person being able to properly express their feelings when communicating with their fellow employees. Therefore the management has compiled the following code phrases, so that the proper exchange of ideas and information can continue unabated.

Old Phrase	New Phrase
No f*cking way	I'm not certain that's feasible.
You've got to be sh*tting me	Really?
Tell someone who gives a f*ck	Perhaps you should check with ...
Ask me if I give a f*ck	Of course I'm concerned.
It's not my f*cking problem	I wasn't involved in that project.
What the f*ck?	That's interesting behavior.
F*ck it, it won't work	I'm not sure I can implement this.
Why the f*ck didn't you tell me that sooner?	I'll try to schedule that.
When the f*ck do you expect me to do this?	Perhaps I can work late.
Who the f*ck cares?	Are you sure it's a problem?
He's got his head up his a$$	He's not familiar with that problem.
Eat sh*t	You don't say.
Eat sh*t and die	Excuse me?
Eat sh*t and die motherf*cker	Excuse me, sir?
What the f*ck do they want from me?	They weren't happy with it?
Kiss my a$$	So you'd like help with it?
F*ck it. I'm on salary	I'm a bit overloaded at the moment.
Shove it up your a$$	I don't think you understand.
This job sucks	I love a challenge.
Who the hell died and made you boss?	You want me to take care of this?
Blow me	I see.
Blow yourself	Do you see?
Another f*cking meeting	Yes, we should discuss this.
I really don't give a sh*t	I don't think it will be a problem.
F*ck you	How nice.
F*ck you sideways	How very nice.
He's a f*cking pr*ck.	He's somewhat insensitive.
She's a ball busting bitch.	She's an aggressive go getter.
You don't know what the f*ck you're doing.	I think you could use more training.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 11:37 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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More to come

Of course, as is usual, I have lots to talk about but no damn time.

Watch this space for my thoughts on body image, insomnia, and maybe immigration (if I feel like raising my blood pressure...)

Posted by: caltechgirl at 10:45 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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...Contact, it's the answer, it's the reason, that everything happens...

3, 2, 1

Go to Wikipedia and look up your birth day (excluding the year). List three events, two births and one death, including the year.

On November 10:
Events:
1766 - The last Colonial governor of New Jersey, William Franklin, signs the charter of Queen's College (later renamed Rutgers University).

1871 - Henry Morton Stanley locates missing explorer and missionary, Dr. David Livingstone in Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika saying "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

1938 - Kate Smith, on her weekly radio show, sings Irving Berlin's God Bless America for the first time.

Births:
1483 - Martin Luther, German protestant reformer (d. 1546)

1775 -The Continental Congress passes a resolution creating the Continental Marines (later renamed the United States Marine Corps) to serve as landing troops for the recently created Continental Navy.
Ok, that was technically not a birth, so how about my favorite movie helicopter pilot? (bonus points if you know the movie...)

1932 - Roy Scheider, American actor

Death:
1982 - Leonid Brezhnev, ruler of the Soviet Union (b. 1906)

seen everywhere, first here

Oh, and more bonus points if you know what the title of this post means

Posted by: caltechgirl at 10:18 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Strange Sightings

(title lifted from here)

On the freeway this morning I drove by two unusual vehicles....
One of these:

Turns out it was a "studio vehicle," no doubt on its way to a shoot somewhere;

and the delivery van from this place, which was of course, featured on this show.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 01:08 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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