i just need to get it all out of my system before the quarter starts for real.
on that note, the following is an exhaustive list of my current pet peeves:
1. profiling
i've recently concluded that we, as americans (at least), are incapable of accepting the phenomena of individuality. we must categorize, and we make countless excuses to do so.
i was recently subjected to an impromptu jung-myers-briggs personality test. the results say that i'm an infj and leave no space for a combination of isfj, intj, or entj characteristics (not to mention the various other combinations of e/i, n/s, t/f, or j/p). from a test like this someone can, apparently, tell me what i'm best suited to do and like in life. all that from four simple questions. so, thanks to the test, it is concluded that i'm fit to be a counselor. go figure. and i fit into a short synopsis on a website. here's me: http://typelogic.com/infj.html.
can i, or anyone, really be figured out that easily - and, if not, why must these sorts of quizzes exist? what larger purpose to they serve? are tests like this meant to benefit the test-taker or those who interact with him or her? in other words, do these tests offer the test-taker some sort of comfort in the sense that, 'hey, you aren't alone. look it, you are exactly like this kind of person. you're normal.' or is it for the friends of the test-taker to understand how to best interact with this aformentioned friend.
i'm also quite offended when, upon meeting me, people i have NEVER met react wide-eyed and say something similar to (and i quote) 'oh, caitlin, you're the one that smashed herself.' to which i must respond, 'yep, that's me. i'm doing much better, thank you. happy new year. what's your name?' i think i've proven that these sorts of injuries do not have to be an eternal crutch. yet, it seems i've found another use for categorization: limitation. by placing people into an understood and unquestioned group, it is possible to associate a list of predetermined limitations to them - rather than to take each case as an individual one. which, granted, might take a bit more empathy or compassion in order to allow the time to ask individualized questions and get to know strangers. i am aware, however, that this may be too taxing of a task for some. if that is the case, please do others the kind favor of keeping your small talk focused on the weather and specifically directed away from any vaguely personal topic.
this all leads to a rant that's been forming about profiling. just because someone looks a certain way, acts a certain way, or hangs out with certain people DOES NOT mean that he or she fit any sort of mold. again, stop trying to categorize. let people just be who they are - don't scare them into being someone that they, for all intents and purposes, resemble. cherish individuality - to its fullest - not only to the point where it is uncomfortable because you are unsure how to properly interact. i know it's a radical concept. let it digest. then think about how you act versus how you are perceived and whether or not you work to maintain some sort of perceivable image. then ask yourself why. i'd love to hear your thoughts.
2. when people write the word your when what they really mean is you're (i.e. you are).
3. when there is no other traffic around, yet my light is red and i only want to make a left hand turn.
4. drafty windows.
thanks for reading and here's to a productive quarter. if my calculations are correct, i will write what should total nearly 150 pages in the next 10 weeks. awesome.
12.15.2008
as the goose fattens.
and we're home...
barbados wrapped up sweetly and smoothly, but not without a delightful pattern of people giving me free food. two women, one of whom i worked with (mrs. ford) and the other i only knew because i walked by her everyday as i made my way to the bus stop (merl), both voluntarily made me a barbadian delicacy: conky. this labor-intensive delight is enjoyed by all on the island during the month following barbadian independence day. the trick, though, is that it must be made in the home. in other words, there are no conkies to be found in the frozen food section of the local supermarket. and i must say, their work paid off. d. e. licious.
let's see. we swam with sea turtles (and puffer fish) in the open ocean. a definite highlight there. that same day included jet ski rides and a few lazy hours on a catamaran (i'll post pictures later - the files are on my other computer).
internships ended, but not before all the walls in campwood were painted peach and then overly decorated for christmas with santa puppets, frilly streamers, cheap mobiles, and, of course, a tree with borderline tacky decorations. oh, how i'll miss it - and the cutiepie children.
a note on the music preferences since returning from barbados. highest on the current list are rihanna and beres hammond. rihanna, well, she's from barbados, sings well, and did wonders in distracting the roommates and me from the group drama that emerged in our final week. and then beres is notable after seeing him in concert at the barbados gymnasium. smooth reggae. totally one love type stuff.
arriving stateside, i was a bit bombarded with some pretty serious world news - and i'd thought i'd done so well at keeping updated on the newsworthy moments of the globe...
check this out:
a few days ago, an iraqi journalist threw not one, but two, shoes at the president of the united states during a press conference. this is one of the greatest signs of contempt in the middle east - here's wikipedia's explanation:
bush's clever retort: "size 10, he he." the man then got tackled by a couple secret service men, the others - do note they have sworn to take a bullet for the president - stood back, laughed, ultimately failed to respond. but it does make you wonder how no one saw it coming. i mean, honestly now, the CIA must have had some sort of tip. bring on the conspiracy theorists. ten bucks says the journalists must remove their shoes at the door at the next press conference - or better yet, sit naked (adding ease to the public speaking tip of imagining your audience naked...). needless to say, our favorite shoe-tosser has made it big. he now has several facebook groups devoted to his work. those of you with facebook, search the name muntadar al-zaidi (or just shoe thrower if spelling the arabic name is too taxing of an activity (and understandably so) for winter break, and take your pick of "all hail the shoe thrower," or "let's make the bush 'shoe-thrower' a hero!!!" or, my personal favorite, "free the shoe thrower guy." just great.
in other news - amy poehler has left snl. here is one of her finest moments (palin 2012):
a sad sad day. i suppose it just calls for a poehler lookalike to run a botched campaign for public office (a la the unforgetable sarah palin/tina fey brilliance).
more on the news highlights later. i've got a final in 5 hours and have yet to study. so for you prin kids that wanted the semester system instead of quarters (so that we'd be more like everyone else - something they teach against in grade school, mind you), imagine that finals week is just wrapping up and that lovely worry free lifestyle of sleeping in and tree decorating has yet to begin. my best wishes to all come the fall of 2010.
barbados wrapped up sweetly and smoothly, but not without a delightful pattern of people giving me free food. two women, one of whom i worked with (mrs. ford) and the other i only knew because i walked by her everyday as i made my way to the bus stop (merl), both voluntarily made me a barbadian delicacy: conky. this labor-intensive delight is enjoyed by all on the island during the month following barbadian independence day. the trick, though, is that it must be made in the home. in other words, there are no conkies to be found in the frozen food section of the local supermarket. and i must say, their work paid off. d. e. licious.
let's see. we swam with sea turtles (and puffer fish) in the open ocean. a definite highlight there. that same day included jet ski rides and a few lazy hours on a catamaran (i'll post pictures later - the files are on my other computer).
internships ended, but not before all the walls in campwood were painted peach and then overly decorated for christmas with santa puppets, frilly streamers, cheap mobiles, and, of course, a tree with borderline tacky decorations. oh, how i'll miss it - and the cutiepie children.
a note on the music preferences since returning from barbados. highest on the current list are rihanna and beres hammond. rihanna, well, she's from barbados, sings well, and did wonders in distracting the roommates and me from the group drama that emerged in our final week. and then beres is notable after seeing him in concert at the barbados gymnasium. smooth reggae. totally one love type stuff.
arriving stateside, i was a bit bombarded with some pretty serious world news - and i'd thought i'd done so well at keeping updated on the newsworthy moments of the globe...
check this out:
a few days ago, an iraqi journalist threw not one, but two, shoes at the president of the united states during a press conference. this is one of the greatest signs of contempt in the middle east - here's wikipedia's explanation:
"In the Arab world, shoe flinging is a gesture of extreme disrespect.The shoe represents the lowest part of the body (the foot) and displaying or throwing a shoe at someone or something in Arab cultures denotes that the person or thing is 'beneath them.' Showing the bottom of one's feet or shoes (for example, putting one's feet up on a table or desk) in Arab cultures is considered an extreme insult."
bush's clever retort: "size 10, he he." the man then got tackled by a couple secret service men, the others - do note they have sworn to take a bullet for the president - stood back, laughed, ultimately failed to respond. but it does make you wonder how no one saw it coming. i mean, honestly now, the CIA must have had some sort of tip. bring on the conspiracy theorists. ten bucks says the journalists must remove their shoes at the door at the next press conference - or better yet, sit naked (adding ease to the public speaking tip of imagining your audience naked...). needless to say, our favorite shoe-tosser has made it big. he now has several facebook groups devoted to his work. those of you with facebook, search the name muntadar al-zaidi (or just shoe thrower if spelling the arabic name is too taxing of an activity (and understandably so) for winter break, and take your pick of "all hail the shoe thrower," or "let's make the bush 'shoe-thrower' a hero!!!" or, my personal favorite, "free the shoe thrower guy." just great.
in other news - amy poehler has left snl. here is one of her finest moments (palin 2012):
a sad sad day. i suppose it just calls for a poehler lookalike to run a botched campaign for public office (a la the unforgetable sarah palin/tina fey brilliance).
more on the news highlights later. i've got a final in 5 hours and have yet to study. so for you prin kids that wanted the semester system instead of quarters (so that we'd be more like everyone else - something they teach against in grade school, mind you), imagine that finals week is just wrapping up and that lovely worry free lifestyle of sleeping in and tree decorating has yet to begin. my best wishes to all come the fall of 2010.
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