I think pretty much everyone I know likes accents. Which leads me to believe that, probably, almost everyone in the world likes accents. Where it differs is what kind of accents are your favorite. I personally like everything from the British isles, although I decided recently that Irish tops the list. Other people I know prefer Spanish, Italian, French, or German. (Hmm, Europe seems to be over-represented here.)
Now, what I was thinking about the other day was, is American anyone's favorite accent? Being an American who lives in America, I'm not all that impressed by it. It's just normal, you know? Standard, non-exotic. But I don't think I've ever heard of it being swooned over. In fact, the descriptions I've heard of it (harsh, nasal) aren't exactly flattering. Which is a bummer.
So, is there something about the Romance languages that makes them inherently more attractive? Is it a cultural thing, that one group of people tend to prefer the way another group speaks? Or is it all a matter of individual opinion and there's someone for everybody?
I do realize that my viewpoints on this could be skewed since my reference points and cultural ideas are influenced by the media and stereotypes of my country, (Warning: I am about to make a flawed mental leap full of logical fallacies. But this is a blog and I'm just pondering, so I don't care). Maybe Americans prefer accents from English-speaking countries or Europe because we feel like we're the most similar culturally, but it's different enough to be exciting.
Something to think about anyway.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Mostly about manners, but a bit rambling
I'm aware this is only semi-coherent but I kind of can't be bothered. There's a point in there somewhere.
So I realized the other day that I do something that may or may not be weird. I was checking out at a store and my total was $1.79 but all I had with me was a $20 bill, so as I handed it to the cashier I said "Sorry." And this is not a singular occurrence. If I don't have money in a close enough denomination I feel like I've inconvenienced them in some way and need to apologize.
Now, I used to be really bad about saying "sorry" for every little thing. One time, someone almost dropped a speaker on me and as I jumped out of the way, I apologized. I think part of the problem is the English language just puts double duty on "sorry." I mean Spanish has "lo siento" (sorry - I feel your pain) and "perdon" (sorry - I apologize, it was my fault). Because that's one of my pet peeves. You express a tale of woe to me, I commiserate and say "I'm sorry" and you come back with "Why? It's not your fault." Well, thank you for exonerating me, but I wasn't actually taking the blame. I was being polite.
Sometimes I think I can be a bit elitist and politeness. I am by no means a paramount of etiquette. I don't routinely bring a host gift or anything like that, but I am kind of a stickler for politeness. I always say "please" and "thank you" to waiters at restaurants, I smile and say hello to people I walk past if they make eye contact, I walk people to the door when they leave my house. Simple things. Which is why I can get a bit judgmental when people don't do those things.*
To be fair, I also judge myself. If I don't do one of those things, I scold myself mentally because I definitely know better. And if lots of other people don't do something I think is common-sense politeness I'll take a poll of my family and friends to see if it's just me over-reacting. I do think a lot of it comes down to upbringing. My mom is very into the whole Southern Belle kind of ideal and one summer she had my siblings and I learn one rule of etiquette every day out of this huge Emily Post** book. (One of the stereotypes of the South is that everyone is super polite.) The last time I flew out of LAX they had to re-scan and search my carry-on*** which took about 10 minutes and afterward the TSA guy asked me if I was from the South. I can only assume this was because I was polite and laid-back since I don't have an accent (unless I'm sleepy or sometimes angry).
I feel it's only fair to add the caveat I was only so laid-back because I was 4 hours early for my flight (but that's a story for another day). I'm ordinarily a bundle of nerves until I actually get to my gate because I have an almost pathological fear of being late.
*The saying hi when eye contact is made is more of a personal thing that stems from the fact that I used to be cripplingly shy. Greeting every stranger you pass is a great method of forcing yourself out of your shell in a fairly low risk way.
**It's to manners what Barlett's is to quotations or Webster's is to dictionaries.
***Apparently, a lot of books looks really suspicious on the x-ray. Random.
So I realized the other day that I do something that may or may not be weird. I was checking out at a store and my total was $1.79 but all I had with me was a $20 bill, so as I handed it to the cashier I said "Sorry." And this is not a singular occurrence. If I don't have money in a close enough denomination I feel like I've inconvenienced them in some way and need to apologize.
Now, I used to be really bad about saying "sorry" for every little thing. One time, someone almost dropped a speaker on me and as I jumped out of the way, I apologized. I think part of the problem is the English language just puts double duty on "sorry." I mean Spanish has "lo siento" (sorry - I feel your pain) and "perdon" (sorry - I apologize, it was my fault). Because that's one of my pet peeves. You express a tale of woe to me, I commiserate and say "I'm sorry" and you come back with "Why? It's not your fault." Well, thank you for exonerating me, but I wasn't actually taking the blame. I was being polite.
Sometimes I think I can be a bit elitist and politeness. I am by no means a paramount of etiquette. I don't routinely bring a host gift or anything like that, but I am kind of a stickler for politeness. I always say "please" and "thank you" to waiters at restaurants, I smile and say hello to people I walk past if they make eye contact, I walk people to the door when they leave my house. Simple things. Which is why I can get a bit judgmental when people don't do those things.*
To be fair, I also judge myself. If I don't do one of those things, I scold myself mentally because I definitely know better. And if lots of other people don't do something I think is common-sense politeness I'll take a poll of my family and friends to see if it's just me over-reacting. I do think a lot of it comes down to upbringing. My mom is very into the whole Southern Belle kind of ideal and one summer she had my siblings and I learn one rule of etiquette every day out of this huge Emily Post** book. (One of the stereotypes of the South is that everyone is super polite.) The last time I flew out of LAX they had to re-scan and search my carry-on*** which took about 10 minutes and afterward the TSA guy asked me if I was from the South. I can only assume this was because I was polite and laid-back since I don't have an accent (unless I'm sleepy or sometimes angry).
I feel it's only fair to add the caveat I was only so laid-back because I was 4 hours early for my flight (but that's a story for another day). I'm ordinarily a bundle of nerves until I actually get to my gate because I have an almost pathological fear of being late.
*The saying hi when eye contact is made is more of a personal thing that stems from the fact that I used to be cripplingly shy. Greeting every stranger you pass is a great method of forcing yourself out of your shell in a fairly low risk way.
**It's to manners what Barlett's is to quotations or Webster's is to dictionaries.
***Apparently, a lot of books looks really suspicious on the x-ray. Random.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Wallow with me, won't you?
Sometimes life is just less than stellar. Is it worse when something happens that was beyond your control or when you've inadvertently caused it yourself? It's a hard choice for me since I'm a bit of a control freak but I'm also excellent at heaping guilt upon myself.
It just occurred to me that it's very odd that for all I don't like to not be in control of things, I find it strangely comforting when books about time travel don't allow events to be changed (a self-correcting history, if you will). There's probably some revealing pyschoanalytical explanation for that but heck if I know what it is. Sidebar: Freud is weird.
Anyway, when I get down (about a big thing, not just them being out of ice cream at McDonald's*), I tend to wallow a bit before pulling myself back together. I retreat into solitude like a woodland creature that knows it's dying (yay for melodrama!) and don't talk to anyone and replay events over and over in my head until everything is way more intense and dire than it was originally. This, you might think, it so not a good plan. I concur. You might then ask yourself why I do it.
I don't know. But it is invariably my default. I keep meaning to change those settings . . .
Basically, there is a Rational Me (RM) and an Irrational Me (IM). RM is very logical and when things happen understands the reasons behind it and makes practical decisions based on the information at hand. IM mostly stands around moaning "But why?" ad naseum. Needless to say, they don't really get along. And RM apparently doesn't eat her Wheaties because when it comes down to it, IM usually wins. It's pretty exhausting being irrational though, so RM will occasionally break free and berate IM for exacerbating the situation and shake her head in shame. All of which makes me feel thoroughly schizophrenic, but I like to play it off by blaming astrology: "I'm a Gemini! I'm supposed to have dual personalities!"
Sigh. I am such a trial to me.**
*Wtf is up with this? The McDonald's by my college campus was ALWAYS running out of ice cream. The only thing I want from you people is an Oreo McFlurry! I have no reason to come here if there is no ice cream!
**Just so you don't think I'm totally loony, I do always at some point bring a real live whole other person into the discussions and then like magic I always feel a lot better. You'd think I'd just do this right off the bat but, nope, I never do. It's a bit of a mystery.
It just occurred to me that it's very odd that for all I don't like to not be in control of things, I find it strangely comforting when books about time travel don't allow events to be changed (a self-correcting history, if you will). There's probably some revealing pyschoanalytical explanation for that but heck if I know what it is. Sidebar: Freud is weird.
Anyway, when I get down (about a big thing, not just them being out of ice cream at McDonald's*), I tend to wallow a bit before pulling myself back together. I retreat into solitude like a woodland creature that knows it's dying (yay for melodrama!) and don't talk to anyone and replay events over and over in my head until everything is way more intense and dire than it was originally. This, you might think, it so not a good plan. I concur. You might then ask yourself why I do it.
I don't know. But it is invariably my default. I keep meaning to change those settings . . .
Basically, there is a Rational Me (RM) and an Irrational Me (IM). RM is very logical and when things happen understands the reasons behind it and makes practical decisions based on the information at hand. IM mostly stands around moaning "But why?" ad naseum. Needless to say, they don't really get along. And RM apparently doesn't eat her Wheaties because when it comes down to it, IM usually wins. It's pretty exhausting being irrational though, so RM will occasionally break free and berate IM for exacerbating the situation and shake her head in shame. All of which makes me feel thoroughly schizophrenic, but I like to play it off by blaming astrology: "I'm a Gemini! I'm supposed to have dual personalities!"
Sigh. I am such a trial to me.**
*Wtf is up with this? The McDonald's by my college campus was ALWAYS running out of ice cream. The only thing I want from you people is an Oreo McFlurry! I have no reason to come here if there is no ice cream!
**Just so you don't think I'm totally loony, I do always at some point bring a real live whole other person into the discussions and then like magic I always feel a lot better. You'd think I'd just do this right off the bat but, nope, I never do. It's a bit of a mystery.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Ah, summer . . .
Sometimes I confuse even myself. Take this for example: It's July now and the highs have been hovering around 90 for the past couple of weeks. Now on the one hand I love hot weather. However, I don't think I really realized that that love was contingent on being able to get away from it whenever I want. My apartment does have air conditioning but it's not central air, it's just a wall unit so it really only cools the bedroom. Also, running the air conditioning is expensive and I could probably give Scrooge a run for his money frugality wise.
The upshot is, it took me a few days of sweltering through the afternoons in my apartment to even remember that I had air conditioning. That's definitely the kind of thing that can make you feel dumb. I've still only used it once though so far (I was already showered and ready to go somewhere and didn't think a miasma of sweat stench would add to my look). Mostly I just eat popsicles and refrigerated watermelon like it's my job. (What if it WAS? Best job ever.)
As miserable as it can be, I kind of like it because sweating makes me feel like I'm getting stuff done even if all I'm actually doing is trolling YouTube. A lot of times, even if I go for a run outside I don't feel like I sweat that much because it evaporates right away since the air is so dry. Back in Kentucky the summer is muggy enough to leave you in a permanently drenched state (less than optimal). So I have this correlation in my head of sweating equals a good work out. I was fascinated the first time I realized that even though I wasn't sweaty after a hike, I was covered in salt dust from where it all evaporated. So. Cool.
I am so easily entertained.
The upshot is, it took me a few days of sweltering through the afternoons in my apartment to even remember that I had air conditioning. That's definitely the kind of thing that can make you feel dumb. I've still only used it once though so far (I was already showered and ready to go somewhere and didn't think a miasma of sweat stench would add to my look). Mostly I just eat popsicles and refrigerated watermelon like it's my job. (What if it WAS? Best job ever.)
As miserable as it can be, I kind of like it because sweating makes me feel like I'm getting stuff done even if all I'm actually doing is trolling YouTube. A lot of times, even if I go for a run outside I don't feel like I sweat that much because it evaporates right away since the air is so dry. Back in Kentucky the summer is muggy enough to leave you in a permanently drenched state (less than optimal). So I have this correlation in my head of sweating equals a good work out. I was fascinated the first time I realized that even though I wasn't sweaty after a hike, I was covered in salt dust from where it all evaporated. So. Cool.
I am so easily entertained.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Blargh
Have you ever had one of those days where you get patronized by someone who, even though they are significantly older than you, you are working with in a mutually beneficial business arrangement so where do they get off; then you get a parking ticket; and then you need to buy a dress but nothing fits (by which I mean nothing makes you magically look 3 sizes smaller so you can eat M&M's guilt-free later) and it's the bajillionth store you've been to and it's only noon?
Yeah.
Also, why has it been overcast all week? It's JUNE. I demand sunshine!
Yeah.
Also, why has it been overcast all week? It's JUNE. I demand sunshine!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Quite possibly the love of my life
Dang, I started with a firm goal of posting everyday. Or every other day. Or once a week. (See a pattern here?) Basically, I'm a bum. But a bum with good intentions! Oh well, road to hell and all that.
Let's talk about books.
I'd say I have a lot of books for the average person, but I tend to think the average is dragged down severely by the people who last read a book in high school when they had to for English class and even then they just read the Cliff Notes. Also, I think I have pretty good taste in books. I mean, look at all the books I have that I like! (Circular logic ftw.) I do feel pretty justified in this though since I happen to own 7 of the 10 books voted the best SciFi/Fantasy of the last decade in a survey Tor did. Go me, right?
I think most of what I read falls into that category* but I also read a lot of fiction and I have a few favorite mystery authors too. Recently, I've gotten into autobiographies and nonfiction which I never had ANY interest in before but now I think they're kind of fascinating. Because I feel this overwhelming need to force books I love onto anyone I meet here are some of my favorites (in no particular order because if I had to do that I would agonize over it forever and this would never get posted):
1. "Good Omens" Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett - This is my go-to book. I have no idea how many times I've read it but I'm on my third copy. It's about the Apocalypse but it's hilarious and it makes you think and it has a good message. (No guarantee it'll make you think or that you'll take a message from it, that could just be me. But it does have EPIC footnotes.)
2. "The Name of the Wind" Patrick Rothfuss - If you like fantasy at all, read it. Just do. Apparently it follows pretty close to the fantasy formula (I don't actually pay attention to that kind of thing), but the story is so well planned out that tiny details come back in a big way. Plus all the magic makes sense in a science-y way. (Disclaimer: This is the first of a trilogy and the last one won't be out for awhile so if you're one of those people who gets their panties in bunch if you have to wait you might want to hold off for a couple years.)
Let's talk about books.
I'd say I have a lot of books for the average person, but I tend to think the average is dragged down severely by the people who last read a book in high school when they had to for English class and even then they just read the Cliff Notes. Also, I think I have pretty good taste in books. I mean, look at all the books I have that I like! (Circular logic ftw.) I do feel pretty justified in this though since I happen to own 7 of the 10 books voted the best SciFi/Fantasy of the last decade in a survey Tor did. Go me, right?
I think most of what I read falls into that category* but I also read a lot of fiction and I have a few favorite mystery authors too. Recently, I've gotten into autobiographies and nonfiction which I never had ANY interest in before but now I think they're kind of fascinating. Because I feel this overwhelming need to force books I love onto anyone I meet here are some of my favorites (in no particular order because if I had to do that I would agonize over it forever and this would never get posted):
1. "Good Omens" Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett - This is my go-to book. I have no idea how many times I've read it but I'm on my third copy. It's about the Apocalypse but it's hilarious and it makes you think and it has a good message. (No guarantee it'll make you think or that you'll take a message from it, that could just be me. But it does have EPIC footnotes.)
3. "Lamb" Christopher Moore - If you can't take your religion with a grain (huge, heaping sack) of salt it might not be for you. It's basically an alternate version of the life of Jesus and it's really funny but serious enough that I cry at the ending EVERY TIME. (I think that's pretty impressive since even the first time reading it I knew what was going to happen.)
4. "My Booky Wook" Russell Brand - Even if you don't know who he is (a British comedian who married Katy Perry) it's a great book. He's witty with a great vocabulary and I don't know that I can explain why I liked it so much.
5. "Old Man's War" John Scalzi - Like a geriatric "Ender's Game." (That's seriously the WORST description ever, yet oddly accurate.) He brings together a lot of very cool ideas and is just an excellent writer. Also, he's funny. I like funny.
6. "Harry Potter" J. K. Rowling - Really, have you not read these? I know they're in the children's section but they are SO well-written and SO good.
7. "American Gods" Neil Gaiman - A very cool look at the different religions in America (including modern "gods" of TV and celebrity) and what happens when those gods are forgotten.
8. "A Game of Thrones" George R. R. Martin - Normally I don't buy it when there are these huge plots to manipulate kingdoms but I believe everything I'm sold in this book. Plus he continually surprises me and he is NOT afraid to kill off his characters which, while traumatizing, is also kind of awesome.
9. "Doomsday Book" Connie Willis - More people need to know about this author. Her books ALWAYS make me think and wonder exactly how much of what she talks about is real science and how much she made up. This one happens to be about time travel to the Middle Ages.
10. "And Then There Were None" Agatha Christie - She is the queen of mystery writers. They are all complete mind benders and sometimes (like this one) have nursery rhyme themes. Heck yes.
*It's one category, okay? I know some people get all touchy about books being called SciFi when they're really fantasy (Mom.) but I pretty much use them interchangeably (I know the difference, I'm just lazy).
Huh, there's no fiction or nonfiction on that list. I thought I had planned that out a little better than that. Maybe next time.
*It's one category, okay? I know some people get all touchy about books being called SciFi when they're really fantasy (Mom.) but I pretty much use them interchangeably (I know the difference, I'm just lazy).
Friday, May 27, 2011
Cranky pants
I’m far from being a perfect person and I’m starting to think I have way too many pet peeves to even attain average status. The vast majority of them, however, have to do with the way people drive. Sometimes the things people do just baffle me.
- Turning from the driving lane when there is a perfectly good turning lane that you are blatantly not using, forcing me to slow down.
- Slowing down to 5 mph to make a turn. Unless you are a super-frail old person or are transporting an Ace of Cakes-style confectionary wonder, there is no excuse for this.
- Braking as you go through a green light. (brain explodes)
- Turning left right in front of me as I'm coming towards you. For some bizarre reason I referred to these people as "suicide bunnies" the other day. I'm thinking of making it a thing.
- Hanging out for a good 5 seconds before accelerating when a light turns green. This is not your personal green light. You have to share with others. Go.
- Blocking an intersection because you were about to lose your green light and then you got stuck and now everyone on the cross-street can't move because you're in the way. I'll admit sometimes this can be an honest mistake, but sometimes people are just jerks. Also, does no one else pay attention to the cross walk signs that count down the number of seconds left? I love those things.
- Swerving in front of me then braking to turn. Dude. Not cool.
- Turning left from the right lane or vice versa. How in the world did you get your license? If you miss your turn you go around the block. You're not in some high speed chase where the bad guy gets away if you lose sight of him.
- Driving slowly but swerving in your lane. I don't know if you're drunk or what, but it makes me nervous to try and pass you so I'm forced to go all slow until I get angry enough that I don't care how much you'll destroy my car, I'm passing you anyway.
- Not giving me the wave when I'm nice and let you merge or turn in front of me. ALWAYS give the wave when people are nice, it's not like it's hard. Do NOT give the wave if you cut someone off. Then it's just snarky.
- Ignoring all of the "lane closure ahead" signs and zipping right down to the end and forcing your way into the line, cutting all of the responsible people who got over a mile ago. You, you personally, are causing traffic jams.
- Zooming all the way to the end of a merging lane on the interstate and forcing your way in rather than taking an open spot at the beginning of the lane. People coming up on the ramp are looking for you and making room, people past it are not. (This is really the same peeve as #11 minus the construction.)
You may have noticed a good portion of these pertain to people forcing me to slow down because I find that to be incredibly annoying. I mean look, I just used a bunch of gas to get up to the speed I was going and if I have to stomp on the brake I lose all of that momentum and then have to use MORE gas to get back to the speed I was originally at! I don't know if you've noticed, but gas is really freaking expensive.
I know, some of these are pretty nit picky but I'm not always in the most forgiving frame of mind when I drive and I start panicking that I'm going to be late. Also, I promise I don't have road rage! I don't actually DO anything to these people, I just grumble to myself about their callous disregard for my schedule/gas budget.
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