Announcement

This is a very boring announcement to say that anyone may make a posting on this blog, regardless of their status as a blogger. I thought you'd all sleep easier now.

Things Dreams are Made of...

Because of my background in languages, I've had dreams in weird languages. Once I had a dream in German, Finnish, and English. Everything was subtitled, but I couldn't read the subtitles (oddly enough).
In another, I saw ladybugs spelling out words in German on a paisley background. Very sixties.
In yet another, I was in the US, but everything looked like Finland, and everyone was Japanese.
In another dream, I was German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (my fourth favorite chancellor) and was meeting officials in German. Even my dreams are boring.
But not this one I had the other day.
It was scary. Scarier and worse than the dreams above.
I was speaking with a Southern accent.
I had to force myself to speak that way, and it wasn't my real accent, but I was talking with a drawl nonetheless.
I don't know why I so fear gaining a Southern accent. Maybe it's because I want to retain my 85% Californianess. Maybe it's out of sheer west-coast snobbery. But I was very scared that I will stop speaking like my Golden State compatriots.
On a lighter note, the following link (hopefully) will link you to a very funny but scary video that potentially could help my Finnish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCgrG35-3js
Thanks Brad for the link.

Toblerone TV

I know some people who live in Switzerland, so I figured that I'd start watching the tv broadcasts over the internet in German from Switzerland. The only problem: Swiss German is ugly. To put it more precisely, German's linguistic red-headed stepchild.

German's red-headed step-child.

'Nuff said.

They didn't have too much to say about Switzerland that was shocking- cow prices high, young people getting beat up- at least there was nothing about Election 2008.

I got a hold of one of the election poster's in the Swiss election. Some clown wants to kick out criminal aliens. I figured I'd probably be kicked out (If I were there and not in Florida) if it gets passed- some just can't handle the flava.

If I see anything I find interesting, I'll let you know.

Caption: Chad as a black sheep getting kicked out of Switzerland.

TV is fun for Chad

So me and two colleagues in my program were highlighted in the Colbert Report. They guy in the orange is not me, but I am the guy on the end of the bench. In any case, I was highlighted on the show. Follow the link and go to the Word of the Day "Solitarity".
http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_colbert_report/index.jhtml
If the video changes, you may have to search in the archives.

It's a Crazy Crazy Crazy Crazy World

The following article is from the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville's local newspaper. I was about 2 feet from where the guy was initially taken down onto the ground, at which point I moved to about eight or ten feet away. You can see me move to the end of the bench in the video. I warn you, it is a little disturbing.
http://gainesvillesun.com/article/20070917/NEWS/70917016/1002/NEWS

Feral is Fun!

So my Growth Management class professor (and no, it is not a class about that special time in your life) mentioned feral cats, which are in fact my second favorite class of feral animals (feral goats are naturally my favorite). I found it rather odd considering that my neighborhood is undergoing its own special brand of feralization. Essentially, feral cats are taking over my neighborhood. Twice I have had to swerve to avoid hitting them. I suppose there must have been a dozen or so of them. Where do they come from and why are they here?

I know enough about evolution and biology, &c., so I can wager a guess as to how their numbers have increased. What is to be done about those feral cats? Or should they be here at all?

Pros of feral cats in the neighborhood:

Control of the lizard population. Potential minion pool. A ball of catnip + yarn + fresca = a memorable Saturday night. One of the cats reminds me of Dame Judi Dench (For its sake I hope it's not a tom).

Cons of the exploding feral cat population:

Potential accident from the swerving to avoid them. Vicious attacks from the leader cats. Feline AIDs, the #1 killer of cats. Pain associated with seeing cats fight: Why can't they all just get along?

I have narrowed my options down to four top choices:

1. Calling animal control. 2. Feeding the cats, thus building up an army of minion cats. 3. Giving the cats the Bob Barker treatment. 4. Getting in contact with Alf.

Where do the cats come from and why are they here? I suppose that is the existential question those feral cats are asking themselves right now.