urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9 Diana Pomeroy Diana Pomeroy 2009-12-22T19:56:20Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:36731 2009-12-22T06:56:10Z 2009-12-22T19:56:20Z <p>I stole it. &gt;.&gt;</p><a name="cutid1"></a><p>Read more...</p><ul><li><strong>What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before? </strong>Got a brand new laptop for myself. Went on a bonafide fossil hunt. Working at the LANHM. Visited the Mojave Preserve. Worked at the CSULB Young Scientists' Camp. Worked as a volunteer at the Taco Bell Discovery Science Center. Got a job as a tutor at Cypress College.</li><li><strong>Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? </strong>Um...what resolutions? &gt;.&lt;</li><li><strong>Did someone close to you give birth?</strong> Not that I am aware of...</li><li><strong>Did anyone close to you die?</strong> No.</li><li><strong>What countries did you visit? </strong>Dinotopia. Twice. :P And I read about China a lot. Does that count?</li><li><strong>What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? </strong>A handsome young man by my side. Seriously. A car to go with that handsome young man. New geologist friends. Apple pie.</li><li><strong>What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? </strong>Feb. 14th--Don't want to talk about it. Listen to 'Hot N Cold' by Katy Perry and maybe it will make sense... March 26th--I began working with the wonderful Luis Chiappe at the LANHM for my Master's thesis. :) May 18th-23rd--My birthday, I got accepted into the credential program at CSULB July--Trip to Yosemite August 3rd-21st--I worked at the Young Scientists' Camp at CSULB. I actually taught kids on my own and it helped me grow as a person. November 3rd--I got my brand new Juicy Couture glasses November 30th--I got my brand new laptop (dubbed 'Tundrawolf') December 5th-6th--My first geology based field trip relevant to my career, in which I went fossil hunting and made some new friends. ;)</li><li><strong>What was your biggest achievement of the year?</strong> Working with Luis Chiappe of course. :)&nbsp;&nbsp; And getting into the Master's program at CSULB. Oh and getting an awesome job at Cypress College.</li><li><strong>What was your biggest failure? </strong>No bf and no car. :(</li><li><strong>Did you suffer illness or injury?&nbsp; </strong>If anything I had the worst sinus congestion a couple of months ago but overall I'd say my health is excellent.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>What was the best thing you bought?</strong> My laptop. :) Oh and <em>Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures </em>for PS2. That game is so fun!</li><li><strong>Whose behavior merited celebration?</strong> My dad's in that he is making a sincere effort to quit smoking.</li><li><strong>Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?</strong> The guy I made mention of with the Katy Perry song.</li><li><strong>Where did most of your money go? </strong>Food, credit card bills, laptop, glasses...</li><li><strong>What did you get really, really, really excited about?</strong> Meh, not much outside of getting on the right path career-wise. <strong>What songs will always remind you of 2009?</strong> Katy Perry's 'Hot N Cold' Ok, Go's 'Here It Goes Again' Dido's 'Sand in my Shoes'</li><li><strong>Compared to this time last year, are you: </strong>i. happier or hardened?Actually, a little of both. ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner. ;) iii. richer or poorer?A little richer. On the inside, mostly. ;P&nbsp;</li><li><strong>What do you wish you'd done more of?</strong> Art, going on more field trips in my geology class, getting to lecture about dinosaurs just a teensy bit more...</li><li><strong>What do you wish you'd done less of? </strong>Eating Oreos and similar sandwich cookies. I'm a junk food junkie. :(</li><li><strong>How will you be spending Christmas? </strong>At home, as usual.</li><li><strong>Did you fall in love in 2009? </strong>Oh, I have several crushes going on...some celeb, some rl...but no actual love feelings just yet.</li><li><strong>Any one-night stands?</strong> No.</li><li><strong>What was your favorite TV program? </strong>Mythbusters. Clash of the Dinosaurs. Wild China. Avatar: The Last Airbender. <strong>Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?</strong> Discriminatin' only generates hate. Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas.</li><li><strong>What was the best book you read?</strong> Definitely 'Brisingr' by Christopher Paolini. *please make more awesome dragon books!*</li><li><strong>What was your greatest musical discovery? </strong>Do you mean musical theater or music? Music was Katy Perry, Rihanna, Josh Groban; musical was <em>Repo! </em></li><li><strong>What did you want and get?&nbsp;</strong> A laptop and my career underway.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>&nbsp;<strong>What did you want and not get?</strong> Guys please?</li><li><strong>Favorite film of this year? </strong><em>Star Trek </em>and <em>Avatar</em>!</li><li><strong>What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?</strong>&nbsp; I ate food&nbsp;and hung out at home this&nbsp;year. Nothing too fancy. I was 24.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>What kind of things would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? </strong>A bf. But you can't always get what you want (Rolling Stones).</li><li><strong>How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? </strong>Definitely an upgrade!</li><li><strong>Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? </strong>Chris Pine fo sho. And Shia LaBeouf of course.</li><li><strong>What political issues stirred you the most?</strong> When President Obama smashed that fly and PETA was complaining for weeks. 0_o That kinda pissed me off.</li><li><strong>Who do you miss? </strong>I miss being with my friends...</li><li><strong>Who was the best new person you met?</strong> Luis Chiappe, and the staff at LANHM. Lora and her entire class. No joke. And Sangeeta of course. :)</li><li><strong>Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:</strong> He who speaks does not know. He who knows does not speak. --Chinese proverb.</li><li><strong>Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: </strong>&quot;If you just believe, you'll give your dreams the wings to fly.&quot;--Josh Groban, 'Believe'</li></ul> urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:36377 2009-12-16T04:50:35Z 2009-12-16T04:50:35Z 'Sand in My Shoes' by Dido <p>&quot;Oh, the places you'll go!&quot;--Dr. Seuss <br /><br />I love to travel. Seeing new places, in nature or in a new city...it gives me a thrill like no other. Watching glorious sunrises and sunsets, stargazing, visiting museums and small eateries...yes, all of these things make me warm and fuzzy inside. <br /><br />Albeit I am not much of an outdoorsy type. I am not one to be seen on the slopes or in the surf, mostly on the turf, if you will. Make that turf that can be walked on without too much trouble. I will hike, that's not an issue. Make me be like Bear Grylls and I think you'll find me hiding in the nearest bookstore or library. :P <br /><br />So what are my favorite places on this lonely planet Earth? I have a few in mind, some may be added to this list as time goes on: <br /><br />*China. Ah, glorious red Commie country that is China. China has more to it than meets the eye, beyond the red veneer. I have seen most episodes of the series 'Wild China' and something gives me the chills about that place--in a good way. I definitely want to go at some point, hopefully soon. The green mountains, the Yangtze river, the bamboo forests and the Gobi desert...all allure me in a way I cannot explain.<br /><br />*Yosemite National Park, CA. I have been there too many times to count, but each and every time is a new experience. My favorite place there has to be White Wolf.<br /><br />*Cleveland, OH. Yeah, I know everybody says it's a pit. I say, so what! I think Cleveland has its moments of beauty and serenity that many tend to overlook. One of the music capitals (if not the) of the world. Plus it has the world's most fattening food. Thumbs up.<br /><br />*Australia/New Zealand. My enduring romance with Australia still burns within me despite the loss of my beloved Crocodile Hunter a few years ago. No one can ever replace Steve Irwin in my heart of hearts. *cough* Bear Grylls is a copycat! *cough* New Zealand looks so gorgeous, and where else can I sate my desire to live in Hobbiton?<br /><br />*Italy/Greece. I'd go mostly for the food and wine. Then for the lovely ocean and culture. :P<br /><br />*Egypt. It would be so amazing to get a first hand look at one of the most advanced civilizations for its time. And no, I'm not going because I believe in aliens...because I don't think aliens would waste their time. :P<br /><br />*Macchu Picchu. It's so fun to say! I mean, what an amazing culture. ;P<br /><br />Any other suggestions to add are welcome!<br /><br />Until next entry...</p> urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:36229 2009-12-13T06:01:01Z 2009-12-13T06:01:01Z 'Hey Baby' by No Doubt <div class='appwidget appwidget-qotd' id='LJWidget_11'> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div style='border: 1px solid #000; padding: 6px;'><p>If you could hang out with any movie character for a day, whom would you choose as your sidekick?</p><p style='font-size: 0.8em;'>Sponsored by <a href="http://sixapart.adbureau.net/adclick/CID=000018f80000000000000000" target="_blank">The Official AVATAR Community on TypePad.</a> See AVATAR in theaters December 18, 2009.</p><br /><p><input type="button" value="Answer" onclick="document.location.href='http://www.livejournal.com/update.bml?qotd=1224'" /> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.livejournal.com/misc/latestqotd.bml?qid=1224">View 603 Answers</a><img src="http://sixapart.adbureau.net/iserver/ccid=6392" border='0' width='1' height='1' alt='' /></p></div></td></tr></table></div><!-- end .appwidget-qotd --> <br /><br />I'd hang out with Dr. Henry Jones, Jr., aka 'Indiana Jones.' Why? Because he is awesome. And I do have a soft spot for a part time professor and part time adventurer. ;) Either that or Logan aka 'Wolverine.' I'd pretty much spend my time with hot guys. Now that would be a weekend to remember, instead of finals. ;D urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:35765 2009-12-10T18:01:12Z 2009-12-10T18:01:12Z 'Here It Goes Again' by Ok, Go Since dA is being retarded (claiming I have malware and wanting to download a virus onto my brand new laptop, ugh) here are some pics I took from my Zzyzx trip. The rest have to be rotated...enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/bambiraptor_9/pic/0000wzpr/"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/bambiraptor_9/pic/0000wzpr/s320x240" width="320" height="240" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/bambiraptor_9/pic/0000xxs7/"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/bambiraptor_9/pic/0000xxs7/s320x240" width="320" height="240" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/bambiraptor_9/pic/0000yap6/"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/bambiraptor_9/pic/0000yap6/s320x240" width="320" height="240" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Until next entry... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:35340 2009-12-07T20:19:53Z 2009-12-08T06:41:31Z 'I Will Always Return' by Bryan Adams (from 'Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron') So I spent the weekend in the Mojave desert, in a small area called Zzyzx, CA, with my historical geology class. <br /><br /><a name="cutid1"></a><a name="cutid2"></a>It was a wonderful way to spend a weekend. Talking about geology and dinosaurs and video games, as well as finding my first fossils in the field...and making new friends...yes, I think it went very well. I think I am one of the few geologists/paleontologists who is not a recovering alcoholic, and does not need alcohol to have fun. :P <br /><br />I will post some pics on dA soon to show the landscape and some formations we visited. In particular I went to the following areas: <br />-The Punch Bowl Formation in Victorville, CA <br />-The Marble Mountain shale beds (I found a teeny tiny trilobite head! Yay!) <br />-Kingston Peak Formation (near Baker, CA) <br />-Shoshone Caves <br /><br />The Mojave desert is beautiful in its own right (not nearly as picturesque as forests and mountains, but it is incredibly colorful and the sand is interesting). I was surprised to learn native people actually inhabited such a desolate area. There is literally nothing out there; very few game animals (save for some coots and bighorn sheep, but good luck catching those, you're probably better off catching and eating lizards and snakes)exist and water is so scarce I wonder how the animals survive during the extremes of heat and cold (much less the people!). There were some very unique petroglyphs also. <br /><br />My complaint was that we made way too many stops for food and such, and that the caterer didn't make it out for our class (we were supposed to have the best tasting buffet ever but I ate Arby's instead. :P ). My only want is to return at some point and (if possible) go horseback riding there. It would make for an interesting trip, especially during the day (we only spent the night there). The stars are amazing at night despite the bitter cold. You can even see the ridge of the galaxy. <br /><br />So in all I had fun. I hope my field class and future field trips go as well as this one. <br /><br />Until next entry... <br /><a name="cutid3"></a> urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:35004 2009-11-24T18:30:43Z 2009-11-24T18:30:43Z So...I am officially stuck with my comic series, 'Iara's Crossing,' and since I have precious little spare time to even draw a full page much less color it and what-not, what do you think I should do with it? I am considering shelving it for now, and showcasing some other comics and such on my Raptor Comics webpage. I might write Iara themed stories instead, and post them either here or on my webpage. I just feel so uninspired with the storyline I initially created...ugh, what should I do?<br /><br /><div class="LJpoll"><div><a href="http://www.livejournal.com/poll/?id=1489864">View Poll: The 'Iara's Crossing' Quandary</a></div></div> urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:34676 2009-11-11T20:03:53Z 2009-11-11T20:03:53Z Sorry I haven't updated in a while...I can't think of what to write to save my life at the moment...which is unusual for me. :/&nbsp; I have been busy working on my thesis and studying...wishing friends online/off happy bdays and such when I can...but that has been the extent of my activity. My creative muse has escaped me...T^T&nbsp;&nbsp; Plus I won't be able to customize MLPs much anymore, nor will I have the time to make comics...so I have hit a dry spell in art and such. In writing, too. I am on the verge of writing something epic and new, I can feel it in my bones, but I have not been inspired enough to put those fleeting thoughts on paper. *grumbles*<br /><br />Oh well, back to the old grind...perhaps doing some reading and taking some time off this week will help...:/<br /><br />Until next entry... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:34366 2009-10-24T05:03:47Z 2009-10-24T05:03:47Z 'Bigger than my Body' by John Mayer Is anyone aware of a paleo art website that brings all paleo artists together? If such a thing does not exist, would it be worth my precious spare time to piece together such an endeavor? Just curious.<br /><br />My day today was meh. I have been out of it...really tired for some reason, all day. It could be related to sinus congestion. Blech. But the good news is I have been looking at and doodling bird skulls in an attempt to understand the skull of the fossil bird I am studying...and the bad news is I have a math test next week I am so not looking forward to. :P<br /><br />I also dreampt I was flying last night. I have read that is a good thing, but I recall flapping my arms like crazy to get airborne and having to fly over mountains and flee from mean dogs. So I think it signifies a struggle for freedom, perhaps? Working hard to gain a means to an end? I have so many weird dreams my online readers probably think I am a little loopy. I'm not, I just have vivid, bizarre dreams. I can't help it if my subconscious goes wild at night. :P<br /><br />Back to working for the weekend... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:33905 2009-10-10T20:09:34Z 2009-10-10T20:09:34Z Why am I craving a mai tai in a themed restaurant like T-REX? :/&nbsp;&nbsp; I feel so random.<br /><br />Also, why is that awesome restaurant in Florida??? :(<br /><br />Back to studying my brain into mush...I mean, preparing for my exam next week in geology... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:32798 2009-10-01T03:06:19Z 2009-10-01T03:06:19Z I had such a long and boring day today. Ack. :P<br /><br />Anyway...I love cartoons. I grew up in the late eighties and early nineties,&nbsp;when cartoons were in their prime.&nbsp; Unfortunately the poorly drawn and terribly scripted cartoons of today hardly stack up; the exception being <em><strong>Avatar: The Last Airbender</strong></em>.<br /><br />Here are my favorite cartoons:<br /><ul><li><em><strong>Dinosaucers</strong></em>--this show was sweet. Dinosaurs who save the world? Count me in.</li><li><em><strong>Sonic the Hedgehog </strong></em>(Sat AM; produced by DiC)--I am still a fan of Sonic, the blue blur, and have been since 1992. Not into the new Sonic games as much, though...I love the Genesis games and I still have them.</li><li><em><strong>Captain Planet</strong></em>--I know the theme song. Don't make me sing it. Seriously.</li><li><em><strong>Dexter's Laboratory</strong></em>--this was a great show until 1999. 'Dee-Dee, get out of my laboratory!' Classic.</li><li><em><strong>Animaniacs</strong></em>--I know the theme song to this too. By Amblin Entertainment. 'Pinky and the Brain' was my favorite segment. 'Narf!'</li><li><em><strong>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</strong></em>--aw, yeah. Got to have pizza consuming mutant turtles on my list. Cowabunga, dude.</li><li><em><strong>Muppet Babies</strong></em>--I loved the Muppet Show, so I couldn't pass this show up as a kid.</li><li><em><strong>TaleSpin</strong></em>--the antics of Baloo from Disney's The Jungle Book. The original story by Kipling was way better, but singing creole orangutans are hard to pass up.</li><li><em><strong>My Little Pony Tales</strong></em>--the show fed my MLP obsession, which continues today.</li><li><em><strong>SpongeBob SquarePants </strong></em>(1999-2001)--the years listed are the funniest episodes. The rest kinda tank.</li><li><em><strong>Rocko's Modern Life</strong></em>--I adored this show, and Rocko, the wallaby, was my favorite lonely bachelor marsupial.</li><li><em><strong>Avatar: The Last Airbender</strong></em>--I have watched every episode of all three seasons. Twice. Aang is my favorite character.</li></ul>Animated Films:<ul><li><em><strong>The Land Before Time</strong></em>--dinosaurs I could relate to as a kid. Cheesy, I know.</li><li><em><strong>My Little Pony: The Movie</strong></em>--don't recall much of this one but I know I am too old to see it now.</li><li><em><strong>All Dogs go to Heaven</strong></em>--a tear-jerker of a kid's movie.</li><li><em><strong>The Lion King</strong></em>--also a tear-jerker of a kid's movie, but it made quite the impression on me. Don't laugh, but I was convinced I would fall in love with a guy with an attitude like Simba's. Hakuna matata.</li><li><em><strong>Aladdin</strong></em>--this movie also made quite the impression on me.</li><li><em><strong>Happy Feet</strong></em>--also cheesy, but who can resist dancing baby penguins? I dare you to. Make it a double dog dare.</li></ul>Until next entry...<br type="_moz" /> urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:32667 2009-09-29T17:40:23Z 2009-09-29T18:06:20Z <br />So I've decided that during my bouts of boredom or stress, I will post some entries on LJ about my favorite things, to keep my online friends occupied and maybe my readers, too. (Do I even have readers?? :/&nbsp; Anyway...)<br /><br />I love food. It has become one of the things in life that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. (Which explains why it is not easy for me to maintain a certain weight for very long! XD )<br /><br />To me, food includes both things to eat and things to drink. Some people prefer to separate these categories, but seeing as I am a lumper rather than a splitter (science joke, haha!) I like to combine them as it makes my life easier.<br /><br />I enjoy most anything, so long as it is edible. I will eat many different types of cuisine from many different cultures...the more unique the culture, the more interesting the food. Now, that isn't saying I will eat fried rats or bugs...because unless that animal is completely unrecognizable I will not eat those things. I will never touch a scorpion or a tarantula, even if it is deep fried and dipped in dark chocolate. I am no Bear Grylls or participant on Fear Factor. <br /><br />Here is a run down of most of the food I enjoy. It is at random, and it may be added to later on...but for now these are my favorite foods:<ul><li><strong>Sushi</strong>, including raw dishes like red snapper and bento boxes--generally this is the only type of Japanese food I like</li><li><strong>Pizza</strong>, but it has to be clean, i.e., not dripping with grease; otherwise I become ill from it--any toppings</li><li><strong>Chinese food</strong>, but again it has to be relatively fresh--I especially love sweet and sour sauce with chicken or pork</li><li><strong>Korean BBQ </strong>--well any BBQ for that matter!</li><li><strong>Desserts</strong> are a must--these can run the gamut from spumoni, to fried ice cream, to frozen yogurt, to those Japanese ice cream balls, to sweet bean cakes, to traditional cakes (any flavor), to cheesecake, to dark chocolate and finally any flavor of ice cream</li><li><strong>Pasta</strong>--I am a pasta fiend and if nothing else, I could probably live off of macaroni and cheese or spaghetti for the rest of my life and have no issues</li><li><strong>Cheese</strong>--I like most types of cheese, including cheddar, feta, muenster, pepper jack and havarti</li><li><strong>Indian food</strong>--here I tend to be more picky, but I love the spicy combinations and the garlic</li><li><strong>Greek and Italian food</strong>--I adore any mediterranean dish. Period.</li><li><strong>Fruit</strong>--I like most types of fruit; I can be picky about mango and papaya from time to time</li><li><strong>Nuts</strong>--(haha, had to list it under fruit!) I love hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts and cashews</li><li><strong>Hispanic food</strong>--I love spicy food so it is no wonder I enjoy these types of dishes. My faves here include enchiladas, frijoles, corn, tacos, burritos...anything spicy really, even jalapenos</li><li><strong>Alcoholic drinks</strong>--I am a wino and a mixed drink woman...I love pina coladas, margaritas, or basically any rum based or sweet tasting drink, and I am a red wine drinker, not a huge fan of white although I am not one to be bashful ;)</li><li><strong>Sodas</strong>--I am not big on drinking soda so much anymore, like I was in high school, but when I do reach for one I grab one of the following--classic Coca-Cola, cherry Coca-Cola, A&amp;W root beer, or 7Up (or Sprite/Sierra Mist--I can't tell the difference imho).</li><li><strong>Tea</strong>--I am not a coffee drinker (it has a lovely habit of not digesting the way liquid should! :P ) so I opt for tea. I like black or green teas, usually fruit infused are so-so.</li></ul>Things I dislike--Cheerios, raw mushrooms, uncooked or unsweetened mangoes, and bugs/rats on sticks, deep fried or in any dish whether live or dead.<br /><br />That's it for this entry. Until the next... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:32083 2009-09-24T02:52:24Z 2009-09-24T02:52:24Z I have had so many odd dreams lately...none have stuck in my head, and all I can recall are fragments...<br /><br />In one I was eating dark chocolate...in another I was eating a bar with almonds and dark chocolate...:/&nbsp; I must be hungry or I am looking for an aphrodesiac. <br /><br />Also, astrology is retarded. My sun sign reading, for example, claims I am irresponsible, and way too fickle to ever have a serious long term relationship. This is the exact opposite of me--I take myself very seriously, even in relationships with friends, and I am super responsible.<br /><br />I am loyal, responsible, smart and flexible. Take that, astrologers. :P<br /><br />*sigh* Back to reading for geology, listening to my future bf Josh Groban (he just doesn't know it yet, hehe) and wishing for a nice neck rub to end my evening...besides sleeping, of course. ;)<br /><br />Until next entry... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:31923 2009-09-17T02:28:04Z 2009-09-17T02:28:04Z Just to make things crystal clear. <br /><br />What started this topic? A moron bumped into me at the library today and said, loudly, 'Excuse me, sir.'<br /><br />To which I cried, 'I am NOT&nbsp;a man!!'<br /><br />People love to push my buttons I guess. I mean, I guess my curves were not obvious enough!! &gt;:(<br /><br />Stupid people annoy me. Ugh.<br /><br />Until next entry... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:31275 2009-08-29T23:48:29Z 2009-08-29T23:48:29Z <br />I have a paleo blog now! Yay for me! Read it if you want to...<br /><br /><a href="http://paleoenthusiast2009.blogspot.com/">http://paleoenthusiast2009.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />It will only have paleo related stuff, so this LJ will remain exactly the same. XD<br /><br />Until next entry...<br /><br />PS: I have school in two days. Oh noes. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:31203 2009-08-26T03:51:38Z 2009-08-26T03:51:38Z Last week the science summer camp I ranted about in a previous entry ended. I can't tell you how strangely satisfying it is to see kids have fun and learn at the same time, even if they learned 5% of what was taught. I also missed sleeping in. Fabulous sensation, sleeping in...never again will I take my nice warm bed for granted...;P<br /><br />I also feel an odd sensation of being accomplished on one end, yet severely lacking in another...in other words, my career seems to be taking flight, whereas my love life, not so much. It is bittersweet in many ways. I cannot quite explain it. <br /><br />I have been working my butt off for the past month, and I would love to hang out with people...only...all my so called friends have vanished into thin air. They are probably busy, broke, and as stressed as I am, and I understand this all too well. But it would be nice to have an inkling of the social life my sister somehow manages to achieve. :/<br /><br />At any rate, it seems I have embraced becoming an educator and a paleontologist. Which is a good start...<br /><br />Until next entry... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:30808 2009-08-19T02:19:31Z 2009-08-19T02:19:31Z 'I Wish' from the 'Happy Feet' Soundtrack <a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/bambiraptor_9/pic/0000tpyy/"><img border="0" width="215" height="240" alt="" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/bambiraptor_9/pic/0000tpyy/s320x240" /></a><br /><br />Enjoy! <br /><br /> urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:30571 2009-08-16T20:03:55Z 2009-08-16T20:03:55Z <br />For those of you who are blissfully unaware, I love the Nickelodeon series <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>.<br />&nbsp;<br /><a name="cutid1"></a>I have seen every episode at least once or twice, all three seasons notwithstanding. Next year M. Night Shyamlamadingdong is going to make an Avatar movie called <em>The Last Airbender</em>. If it sucks I will be enraged. I am not too thrilled about the prospect of such an excellent piece of animation being warped to M. Night's 'gold standard' of filmmaking (cf, 'The Happening' for his latest debacle), but I hope he stays at least 1/10 accurate to the storyline. <br /><br />Anyway! There are many reasons why I am nuts about this kids show. The first is, and this is a shock, it has actual cultural references that are respectful and captivating. The second is, the characters actually develop throughout the series (sadly, with <em>SpongeBob SquarePants</em>, the characters have regressed into drooling machinations, but that rant deserves another entry). The third reason is, the music is intense and flows nicely with the action of the show. The fourth reason, the show is epic. Finally, for being American anime, the show does not, like its anime counterpart, &nbsp;lose its audience with odd storytelling, poorly drawn characters with weird perverted humor, nor does it offend with racial commentary. <br /><br />I am going to discuss parallels with Avatar and Chinese mythology and culture in this post. Most of the observations are my own, but I was aided by the site <a href="http://avatarspirit.net">http://avatarspirit.net</a>, in case anyone cries plaigarism. Also: If you are unfamiliar with the show, I suggest you visit Nick's Avatar site to understand the concepts presented.<br /><br />Studying Chinese culture is not new to me...my great grandfather obsessed over it, and now I suppose the obsession has bubbled to the surface in me also. It may fade with time...we shall see. <br /><br />The most obvious parallel with the show and Chinese culture is the use of Chinese characters in the title credits. This use also is demonstrated throughout the series (i.e., wanted posters of the show's main characters). I find it interesting that despite the multiple facets of human culture experienced in the show's characters (the Water Tribe resembles the Inuit culture, the Guru is definitely Hindi), the Chinese characters are the main language of every person in the program. <br /><br />The next series of nods to Chinese culture include various symbolic animals. The first is the dragon, seen as Roku's guide animal, and also Ran and Sha, the last living dragons on Earth. Dragon imagery is also linked to the Fire Nation--you can see the statues, tapestries and fountains with dragon motifs everywhere. The next is the panda, represented by the Forest Spirit Hei Bai (named after a real Chinese city). The remaining animal spirits and animals are unique creations, although Appa resembles a Chinese furry dragon or even a fat Kirin. <br /><br />Aang is a very special character, and not&nbsp; because he is the story's main character. He represents a lost culture, one that is a spitting image of the Tibetan monks, referred to as Air Nomads. Like the Tibetan monks, the monasteries are in the mountains, and the monks are primarily men. Their colorful robes and focus on meditation and peace are certainly honored in Aang. Aang also resembles Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, in his raw emotional state, as he is young at heart despite the enormous grief and burden he suffers. The inclusion of Momo the flying lemur with Aang also is a nod to the Sun Wukong mythology, as his glider, which seems like an as-you-will cudgel in its ability to subdue pursuers and allow Aang the freedom of flight. <br /><br />The music of the series is heavily influenced by Chinese music, and the instruments seen in the show (a tuba-like instrument, a flute, a guitar-like instrument seen in 'The Cave of the Two Lovers' episode) also reflect this influence. <br /><br />I still think Nickelodeon would get big bucks if they made an Avatar soundtrack. Just saying.<br /><br />Other references to Chinese culture are many and varied. The building styles of the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation certainly resemble Chinese cities. The Earth Kingdom symbol, a circle with a square center, is a common Chinese motif. The use of formal robes and fans is also prevalent. Reds, greens and yellows are representative of Chinese development, from a farming community (Earth Kingdom) to a fierce industrial one (Fire Nation). The paintings on parchment (Liu Ten, Iroh's deceased young son, the wanted posters, the paintings coming to life in 'The Cave of Two Lovers') are also reflective of traditional Chinese paintings. Chinese lanterns, fireworks displays during celebrations, even Iroh's constant consumption of tea, are all reflective of Chinese heritage and culture. <br /><br />No wonder this piece of animation won the Peabody award in 2008!<br /><br />More to come, if you made it this far down the page! :P<br />&nbsp;<br />Until next entry... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:30125 2009-08-16T00:21:33Z 2009-08-16T00:21:33Z 'Move It' from the 'Madagascar' soundtrack <div class='appwidget appwidget-qotd' id='LJWidget_12'> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div style='border: 1px solid #000; padding: 6px;'><p>If you were to open your own theme restaurant, what would the theme be and how would you express it to the customers?</p><p style='font-size: 0.8em;'></p><br /><p><input type="button" value="Answer" onclick="document.location.href='http://www.livejournal.com/update.bml?qotd=1019'" /> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.livejournal.com/misc/latestqotd.bml?qid=1019">View 506 Answers</a></p></div></td></tr></table></div><!-- end .appwidget-qotd --> My theme would be most obvious: the Mesozoic era. The entrance would resemble the Triassic period, the main dining areas the Jurassic and the exit/staff areas&nbsp;the Cretaceous. There would be fake flora corresponding to each era on the walls and hanging from the ceiling (as in the Rainforest Cafe, which I &lt;3 ), and realistic dinosaur models in each area correctly corresponding to each moment in time. The staff would wear khakis and the host/hostess khakis and safari hats. The food would be a range of items from around the world--Greek dishes, Italian dishes, U.S. dishes, South American cuisine, etc.--and the dessert would involve ice cream cake asteroids, volcano cakes with syrupy lava, and even cheesecake with toy early mammals on top. <br /><br />It would be made of awesome. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:29529 2009-08-02T21:37:48Z 2009-08-02T21:37:48Z 'Bad to the Bone' After months of delay (ack!) I have finally made it halfway through the first issue of 'Iara's Crossing.' Check it out!<br /><br /><a href="http://raptorcomics.web.officelive.com/iara_issues.aspx">http://raptorcomics.web.officelive.com/iara_issues.aspx</a><br /><br />I had to resize the pages; sorry if you clicked on a page and got nothing! T_T&nbsp; I need to be on top of this thing more often...<br /><br />But now everything is fixed and ready for viewing.<br /><br />So go. Look. Please?<br /><br />Until next entry... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:29189 2009-08-02T01:45:03Z 2009-08-03T03:27:47Z Last night/this morning (never sure which) I dreamed I went to McDonald's.<a name="cutid1"></a>I recall looking at a ton of toy displays (this was one huge McD's!). I was hungry, and decided to order something small. So I order a Happy Meal and onion rings and a small Coke. It totals to $22! I was shocked, and lamented, &quot;$22! What made it cost so much??&quot; Apparently the side order and the drink did. So I wind up with a lot less on my plate, despite saving twenty bucks. <br /><br />I have no idea what it means. Maybe I am cheaping out in a given area of my life? Maybe I need more fun? Maybe I am broke (that's no shock)? ugh... <br /><br />I have realized in the past week several things... <br /><br />1- My real friends have vanished <br />2- I am fitting in nicely at the museum and I got a new job working at a community college <br />3-I am tired of being alone in the house--no date, no girls night out, etc <br /><br />Aargh... <br /><br />Until next entry... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:29065 2009-07-26T03:56:28Z 2009-07-26T21:45:14Z <div class='appwidget appwidget-qotd' id='LJWidget_13'> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div style='border: 1px solid #000; padding: 6px;'><p>What's your favorite dessert?</p><p style='font-size: 0.8em;'></p><br /><p><input type="button" value="Answer" onclick="document.location.href='http://www.livejournal.com/update.bml?qotd=990'" /> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.livejournal.com/misc/latestqotd.bml?qid=990">View 503 Answers</a></p></div></td></tr></table></div><!-- end .appwidget-qotd --> Cheesecake, brownies, cookies (any kind), any type of cake except fruitcake, chocolate in any form (high cacao percentages get me a little buzzed =P ), fruit...any number of sweet things, really. Pies are good too. <br /><br />I have the worst sweet tooth. Leave cookies out and they will be eaten. Leave chocolate out and it will be gone in less than sixty seconds. So fyi in case any future bf stumbles on this LJ. ;)<br /><br />Chocolate and peanut butter? Bliss for me.<br />Dark chocolate? Don't go there...;D<br /><br />Talking about sweets made me feel better. Thanks, LJ. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:28198 2009-07-14T21:03:04Z 2009-07-14T21:03:04Z <br />...at the turn of the tide.&quot;<br /><br />hahaha...had to use a Gandalf quote for the end of my epic journey to Yosemite National Park! Woot!<br /><br />I have glorious pictures for you to see...<br /><br /><a href="http://chocolatestarfire.deviantart.com/gallery/#Yosemite-2009-Photos">http://chocolatestarfire.deviantart.com/gallery/#Yosemite-2009-Photos</a><br /><br />=D<br /><br />I lost weight and I feel fabulous! Also, I miss being in the high sierra...the smell of pine trees, the cold, the fresh air...ah, well. Back to a smoggy existence I suppose...<br /><br />And back to teh interwebz. Oh noes.<br /><br />I stayed in White Wolf, which is officially a high sierra camp. It is northwest of May Lake. It is a glorious campground, with moist soil, icy nights, horse stables, a ton of passerine birds (including the Western Tanager, Mountain Bluebird, Steller's Jay, Black headed Grosbeak, Dark Eyed Junco, Raven, the list goes on...), fascinating rocks and minerals, and tent cabins with pot belly stoves that are liable to catch the canvas on fire. So I had a blast.<br /><br />Back to the old grind...<em>C. sanctus </em>papers, prepping for teaching at the Young Scientists' Camp next month, and getting excited to finally have my career in my sights. Awesomeness.<br /><br />Until next entry... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:28099 2009-07-13T21:50:13Z 2009-07-26T21:46:53Z <div class='appwidget appwidget-qotd' id='LJWidget_14'> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div style='border: 1px solid #000; padding: 6px;'><p>Have you ever had a mentor or other influential person in your life who helped you along a certain path in school, work, or life in general?</p><p style='font-size: 0.8em;'></p><br /><p><input type="button" value="Answer" onclick="document.location.href='http://www.livejournal.com/update.bml?qotd=975'" /> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.livejournal.com/misc/latestqotd.bml?qid=975">View 501 Answers</a></p></div></td></tr></table></div><!-- end .appwidget-qotd --> I have had many, many people guide me along in my career path toward becoming a paleontologist. This is the perfect opportunity to thank them here...<br /><ul><li>My family, including my parents, my siblings, my aunts, uncles, cousins, and nieces/nephews</li><li>My teachers and professors, including: David Cheetham, Elaine Wida, Amir Sharifi, Beth Eldon, James Archie, Stan Finney, Bruce Perry, Jim Kisiel, Stephanie Bauer, Alan Colburn and Laura Henriques, David Huckaby, Eric Zahn, Lisa Klig and a multitude of teachers throughout my academic career that I cannot recall at the moment but whom I am grateful for&nbsp;</li><li>My classmates and friends, online and off...you know who you are</li><li>Fellow SVP members, including Luis Chiappe, Jack Horner, Bob Bakker, Wlliam Stout, Stuart Sumida, Larry Witmer, Phil Manning, Russell Hawley, Waylon Rowley, and all those I met at the meetings in 07 and 08...thank you for the amazing experience and introduction to this wonderful field</li></ul>Thank you! =)<br type="_moz" /> urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:27903 2009-07-02T05:22:16Z 2009-07-26T21:47:49Z <br />You know what they say...the clothes make the man...<br /><br />Anyway...this odd dream I had this morning is stuck in my head, as I stare mindlessly at the keyboard, trying to think about <em>Confuciusornis</em>, and trying to come up with more material for my Indy fan fic...<br /><br /><a name="cutid1"></a>In this dream...I am me, but not me...it is as if I am floating, omnipresent. I see this man. He is not a big guy, of average height, and he is sitting in a chair. It seems as if he is in a studio, in front of an audience. He has reddish blonde hair, and it is in a thick mop. He is definitely a nerd...not that I am any less of one!...and he is wearing an Indiana Jones fedora, a brown, worn one. He is holding a box in his hands. He opens the box, and gasps as he unfolds a worn, brown leather jacket and finds a Central American style satchel in the center. These are apparently authentic Indy clothes. <br /><br />Clearly I am obsessed...I did not recognize the man at all, as all I can recall is his hair color...and why it is he was an Indy fan was not made clear, either. What the heck does this mean?? Maybe I am spending too much time idolizing Shia LaBeouf? Maybe I am subconciously linking archaeology with paleontology, despite my knowledge of the difference? Maybe I need more sleep? I have no clue...<br /><br />I have been tired and I had a headache today...which is unusual for me, as I am not prone to headaches...oh well. I am sure it will vanish in the morning...<br /><br />Until next entry... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:bambiraptor_9:27541 2009-07-01T22:14:28Z 2009-07-02T04:39:38Z 'Blitzkrieg Bop' by the Ramones Since it's Canada Day, I am making more of my own maple syrup. =3 <br /><br />Oh, and I will be awol for the next week...off to Yosemite. See ya.