My life doesn't suck

But it certainly does feel like it!! I suspect the suckyness is mostly related to this last week of class and upcoming finals. My head is constantly pounding, and trying to figure out the most logical order in which I can accomplish all the million things I have to do everyday, and how those things might affect the rest of my life. I'm always far behind in my classes, no matter how much I read and study. I have no energy anymore. I can't "give" anymore.
I keep telling myself that being over-worked and too stressed is only temporary. That this semester I took too many hard classes. That things will get better in a couple of weeks. I've been giving myself this argument all semester and it is wearing thin.
I could burst into tears at any given moment. I just want it to end.

I know that I should be studying, but I decided to make a little pause to show you the state of my brain:

Left Hemisphere

(Photo taken on the traditionanal Bryden-thanksgiving-wine-tasting-day, in Sonoma.)

Right Hemisphere

(Photo ripped of of some ramdom e-mail)

This is what I see when I leave UCB late at night

Dwinelle is a building I can call my third home/working cell. This picture was taken from the front entrance of Dwinelle. I live there, every day. Day after day. Slaving away to obtain a BA. -A virtually meaningless piece of paper that I am obsessed with owning- My eyes can't focus very well after an entire day of studying, looking at data sets, reading in French ... so things are kind of blurry. Nothing matters except getting home, eating and going to sleep. The world becomes meaningless background to my sleeping needs, and I commence the hour and a half journey to my precious bed in Alameda, while having mini-panic attacks about what I will do with my future, when Dwinelle is no longer a place I can call home.

Soon the semester will be over -class officially halts Dec. 9th- and I will see color again.

My Campus has Pretty Flowers

I swear I saw a squirrel use a cross walk to cross the street today. It even looked both ways before crossing. I don't know what is going on with the world anymore.

Different types of phonation:

Recently, in one of my linguistic courses, we learned the four different types of voicing.
-Modal: "normal" people, when speaking in a "normal" voice. Like me, I'm normal, yea.
-Breathy: like Marilyn Monroe singing Happy birthday to Mr. President. Also includes whispering secrets and trying to sound sexy.
- Creaky: Like when a frat-boy tells you "I am so hungover-man, like, totally smashed, and I threw-up everywhere last night." *eyes barely open, voice raspy, vomit still on this t-shirt* Remember, creeky rimes with creepy.
-Monster: -yes, this is a technical, linguistic name- "Chong!!!" Chong is actually the name of the language where this type of phonation was discovered. To emulate the native emphasis you must: look serious right before you say it. Then say it really fast, while bulging your eyes, raising your eyebrows and tensing your neck by stretching it out. Also, stretch out the corners of you mouth as much as possible."

Now you know.

"Go have fun with a Cow"

Today has been a long and hard day. While I was chatting with Jacqueline, about certain people that stare at certain parts of our anatomy...
MM: I think men are just fixated on their lactancy period, you know, babies.
JS: Get a freaking bottle!
MM: I don't think it's the same.
JS: Well, go have fun with a cow! Leave me alone. *points to breasts*
MM: * smile *

OMG! I take back anything bad I ever said about squirrels

(Well, OK, maybe that is not entirely true)



Discovery News Brief

Squirrel Speak Deciphered
Study: Squirrels Have Complex Language
By Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News

Nov. 11, 2005 — Squirrels can be very vocal animals, as backyard and park observers know, and now scientists have translated some of their squirrel-speak.

The findings, published recently in the journal Animal Behavior, present some of the most detailed information to date on squirrel vocalizations, which the researchers now believe constitute a complex language that is unique to the animals.

The team of zoologists focused their analysis on alarm calls of the Richardson's ground squirrel, Spermophilus richardsonii, which is the most common ground squirrel in Canada.

Squirrels often communicate with whistles, chirps and chucks, which sound like the word "chuck." Whistles and chirps resemble the sounds that many birds make.

"A chuck is a short duration trailing element, which when added to the end of a syllable, harshens the offset of a call so that it punctuates the end of the syllable with a click," explained James Hare, one of the study's authors.

...

Hare and his colleagues believe such sounds are part of a sophisticated language that he said "likely evolved just as all other communication systems have: by chance association of certain cues with significant events at first and selection favoring individuals who detected and responded appropriately to the broadcast of such cues."

Although squirrels risk their lives when they call out to warn others of threats, Hare said other squirrels might admire this behavior, thus increasing the caller's social status, not unlike humans who look up to heroes.

The squirrel caller also can aid relatives and demonstrate vigilance to predators, who often are less likely to attack possible prey that is aware of their presence.

Hare said other animals, such as birds, probably understand at least some squirrel language, since they also may benefit from the alarm calls.

In fact, another Canadian study found that deep-voiced, black-capped chickadees have their own language too.

Source: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20051107/squirrelspeak_ani.html

I have

A boyfriend, a computer, a rusty bike, a slightly protruding belly, a car that I like to call Baby Blue, a home in Venezuela, a lucky star, homework due everyday of my life until my brain explodes, an officer title in SLUgS... too many dreams, the want to to everything, knowledge of linguistc stuff that nobody cares about, friends, general anxiousness about life, the feeling of doing too much yet never enough, the need to smile, a ring around my finger, my mommy, my dad, my brother, no dog, no white picked fence, no 2.5 children, lots of love, and a Sammy Davis Jr. portrait hanging on the wall of my room.

Squirrels

They are everywhere, all over campus. Some love squirrls, some hate them. I particularly don't care for the critters. But the truth is the campus wouldn’t be the same without the little rat-like creatures with fluffy tails scurrying about and begging people for food. They are a part of the Berkeley community. Tourists are fascinated by them, and their plentiful population. The squirrels at UC Berkeley, much like many students, have no shame in asking for what they want; even if this means getting uncomfortably close to people trying to eat their lunch.
They way they are so readily willing to get close to humans does not amuse me; it means they do not fear humans. They are carriers of diseases, and I don’t want them getting into touching distance of my sandwich. I especially don’t want them to get into touching distance of my soft, healthy flesh with their sharp little claws and teeth.
I decided to document the critters in action, for evidence of my claims, so I whipped out my camera and set out to spy on the campus fauna. Lost in the wilderness of the trees and mud, in between classes, and armed with a sandwich, this is what I saw:

Arrr, My Lord!

Real live pirates off the coast of Somalia attacked a cruise ship. Pirates. With all the Disney movies and cheesy horror flicks I had forgotten that Pirates actually existed, and are a serious threat. I always thought of them as a romanticized part of history. I'm shocked! Here is the link to the CNN article: Cruise Ship attacked!!
I even dressed up as a Pirate for last Halloween. I don't know what to say. I feel like I'm living in some over-budgeted sci-fi movie where ships from evil rich countries battle against starving third-world looters with super-sonic weapons; except, it's not a movie. These are real people, with real lives.
Welcome to the future mates.

Show The Love

When was the last time you thought about your pinky toes? They are important; they provide balance to your steps. Without them, you would only be a freak with four toes. Because of these very important reasons, I believe you should show your pinkies some love and appreciation.

I would even go as far to say that we should have a National Pinky Day! During this day it would be custumary to get (and give) pedicures, wear sandals to show off you toes, and ponder about the little things in life that make humans special.

Domokun

I never liked stuffed animals. However, I have to admit that Domokun has a special place in my heart. He is a wonderful Japanese creature because he has the ability of scaring away cats and kittens. -I come from a long line of cat haters. Don't blame me, blame my genetics and upbringing-
He also has a highly developed sense of fashion: Every now and then Domokun likes to wear my sunglasses. Isn't he cute?

...If only all men could be this fashionable AND useful...

Language Reflects Prejudice Against Women

The way women are reffered to in a society reflects their status in said society. With this in mind, pay close attention to the semantic changes that the following sample words have undergone in relatively recent Indo-European language evolution. They are all, unfortunately, cases of pejoration (degeneration). The words change to acquire more sexual and negative connotations in their meaning. While, on the other hand, all the male counterparts of these words have NOT been transformed into words with such negative connotations.

Spinster 'unmarried older woman' ... 'one who spins'

Mistress ...'a woman who employs others in service'... Borrowed from Old French maitresse 'a woman who rules/has control'

Madame 'the female head of a house of prostitution' ...'a title of courtesy used as a polite form of address to a woman' ... Borrowed from Old French ma dame ' my lady'

Italian Putta and Spanish Puta 'whore'... Latin putus 'boy' and puta 'girl'