Summation Notation

Global Tectonics is over now, having culminated in a 20-question multiple choice test which was fortunately ungraded. Surprisingly, I passed, with a score in the better half of the totals. This isn't enough though, because there were questions I couldn't even begin to answer and times my guesswork didn't let me down. Meaning: I'm nowhere near ready. Not having class until three on Mondays from now on opens up my schedule, creating time where I'll have nothing better to do than revise.

I forgot to mention that my second foreign correspondence for the Aggie ran on Friday (or read the original submitted version here). I'm surprised at the reactions it's gotten, specifically the frequently expressed desire to be here in Edinburgh, especially since I wrote it with thoughts of warmer climes and less responsibility running through my mind. It's good to know it served its purpose anyways, and warm thanks to everyone for their kind words.

My living situation for next year has been set, it's back to Pinon for me. Block 2, facing the park, with my cohabitants, the collective Kerin. I hope they get mad at me for that. Superbonus? I'll be neighbors with 9G's present configuration, so baseball and barbecues in the park will be the standard.

I thought it was cool that Bows + Arrows got a mention in VH1's Best Week Ever blog:

"I feel like today's my lucky day. Bows + Arrows posted my favorite Constantines song. Or 'favourite' Constatines song, if you want to get all technical about it."

Oh, that most minor of fames. It's motivation.

As is finding things like Moistworks, a collective of established music writers. People who write for real publications, ones you can touch and tear, with paying readerships, the critics responsible for popular opinion. It's leagues and leagues above and ahead of me, but I dream.

Photojournalism

on the beach:



an inhabited castle:
a different beach:



Cardoness Castle:

seriously old graffiti

Scotland is dramatic:

I was surprisingly scared of this horse, it seemed very big up close:
A wee castle:
My fearless chauffer:

These things were numerous and gnarly:

Ruined castle on Loch Doon:









Hanging out in the suspended fireplace:
This seaside town was straight out of Local Hero!:



James is a climber:
Sunday at the Mull of Galloway:



Lighthouse:

Foghorn:
Nice cafe:


That's it!

Hahaha


Ryan's famous. Looks like I might be back in Pinon next year, which would be a good thing.

Check out this Slate article on the marriage of wine and cheese, featuring a UC Davis publication and professor!

"Contrary to what was reported, the study, which was conducted by U.C. Davis' famed Department of Viticulture and Enology, does not conclude that red wine and cheese are incompatible."

I am so getting into viticulture.

Time for class.

Oh Monday

I had a fantastic weekend down in Dumfries & Galloway, in the south of Scotland. We got in to James' house Friday night and had the first of the weekend's three terrific dinners. The Allens were gracious and kind hosts, welcoming me into their charming home (New Dairy Farmhouse it's called) in the beautiful middle of nowhere. I even liked that cat.

Saturday James and I adventured around the area, saw the sea and saw the mountains. I'll have pictures tomorrow. That night was terrific dinner #2. Sunday James' family and family friends joined us for a trip to the Mull of Galloway, the most southerly point of Scotland. It's out on a peninsula, and the view was nothing short of breathtaking: northern Wales, the Isle of Man and Ireland were all faintly visible on the horizon, depending on your vantage point. Remarkable! And of course, terrific dinner #3 was on that night, a traditional Sunday roast. That night I saw a bit of 24 and I hope I'm not hooked now.


I'm in the computer lab, check this out: áéíóú they've got a special accent button!

I woke up at 4:15 this morning for the drive in to Dumfries, where the bus to Edinburgh leaves from. I couldn't miss my 9:00 lecture this morning, because we only have one every week and it's important. So what I did - it's called dedication. Most importantly, I wasn't even 10 minutes late. I am, however, smelly and disheveled.

And now, needless to say, I'm exhausted and have to wait for 5:00 and the end of my day.

ANDANDAND news of all news: cousin Laura has her tix, she's offically visiting me next month (!) Yay!

I'll write something better tomorrow.

Happy Valentines Day!

I don't know why I'm so excited about Valentines this year, especially since it's my first alone in a few years. But maybe that's exactly it. Everyone deserves some extra love today, regardless of whether they're hooked up or not. I guess there are two ways of looking at it, and both make sense. It can be a depressing, irritating affair, certainly overdone and occasionally repulsive. Designed to invoke jealousy, if you take the self-pitying stance. Or it can be taken a little more figuratively and become inclusive, a day for nice gestures. It feels like the latter.

Thanks especially to Keith, Erin, and Anne for the Valentines. You don't even know how happy they made me!

So, everyone, will you be my Valentine?

PostSecret isn't really my thing, but check out their Valentines edition.

I thought this little film was sweet. It's about love, in its different forms.

And starting this week or next, if I get around to it, this blog will be here:

http://www.bowsplusarrows.com/atos

Love,
Brian

A Further Rash of Vegetal Analogues


The title: My professor actually said that yesterday, before discussing the difference between geologic features The Infinite Onion, The Infinite Leek, and The Infinite Garlic (above). I cannot understand, I cannot.

I missed the bus this morning, which isn't an excuse for not going to class because I have never caught the morning bus. But today I tried and failed, and when you fail to catch the bus there isn't enough time to make the trek to campus. I'll go for 12:00 lecture, cross my heart.

I saw a rugby match on Sunday, Scotland v France as part of the Six Nations rugby tournament. It was thrilling! A series of revelations. First, there is the sport itself: wow. It looks like the most exhausting thing ever, running and crashing and pushing ceaselessly. Second, the crowd was amazing, in part fueled by the tickets for a free whisky before and after the match. Third: Scotland won! By all accounts, that wasn't supposed to happen, which became clear in the second half. Scotland pulled ahead quickly in the first, but it was all France after that. The French would have won if they had an extra minute or two, it was all the Scots could do to ward them off. But 80 minutes is 80 minutes, and we won. Lastly: international competition. What a wonderful thing! It made me realize that America is missing out bigtime. We get excited by the novelty of the Olympic games, the chance to show the world what we've been working on for the last four years. And even if the Games can be a little ridiculous, there's no doubting the sense of pride you get when seeing our best compete for the Red White and Blue. Well guess what? Other countries do this ALL THE TIME! Watching nations compete is not only exciting, but there's a very special feeling of importance to the affair that I hadn't experienced before.

I passed Environmental Sensitivity and Change with a solid B. You should "B" happy for me! HA

So I got this salad for lunch yesterday, avocado and brie. I thought it would be good, it certainly seemed to have enough avocado, and brie. If I only knew how right I was! It was, seriously, 10 slabs each of avocado and cheese, garnished with cabbage (ehh) and lettuce shreds. I ran out of greens, or in this case purples, within 6 bites. I'm not exactly complaining, I just found it strange that there would be so much more of the "good stuff" and no lettuce in a cheap salad. Further proof that everything is backwards here.

Before this discussion devolves into something more mundane than salads (entirely possible), let's take a quick tour of the Inter Nets.

Brokeback To The Future - I've probably shown you, and if not me then somebody else. But if you haven't seen this, do, because it's hilarious.

McSweeney's - I know I wrote about this last week, but did you look? I mean really look? There are archives and you have no excuse.

Here's a free one: Vladimir Nabokov's "The Word."

I'd like to know what you think of this, an article by a self-proclaimed (many times) "spartan" mother who refuses to let her kid have birthday presents, making it out to be a noble lesson against abject and senseless consumerism. I think it's a horribly misguided notion, and pretty selfish to boot. Let the poor kid enjoy a celebration, no doubt he deserves it living in a house with this woman (burn!). Arguments against the horrors of plastic packaging and goodie bags are flimsy and nihil ad rem. Try rebelling on a more sensible scale - why not start with not inviting the entire class? That would make things easier, the son could truly appreciate the presents he received from close friends and family, and there would be less headache for his whiny mother. Banning gifts is simplistic and ridiculous, and makes the kid "weird" to his peers. It's fine to be different, but not on these grounds.

***

"Jesus Christ, now you've got me laughing at your last name/ And all of your bad habits." -Page France, "Sad Faces"