PortRhombus's Xanga

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 04:42:14 GMT

July 20th, 1969

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the U.S. safely lands a crew of three on the surface of the moon. It was 37 years ago but it is still so thrilling.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 08:02:58 GMT

Star anise

A spice from the fruit of certain Chinese evergreens. It's called star anise because of the fruit's star shape and its similarity in flavor to regular anise, which is the main ingredient in absinthe.

It has some medicinal properties, too. It's one of the main ingredients in Tamilflu, a preferred treatment for curbing the effects of bird flu. It's also believed to help colic and rheumatism. On the other hand, the United States Food & Drug Administration recently warned that teas made with star anise can cause "serious neurological effects, such as seizures."

Ordinary star anise is harvested in China. There is also a Japanese variety which is extremely toxic and normally used just as incense.

Friday, July 21, 2006

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 16:55:28 GMT

My birthday present to my sister was taking her to see Camera Obscura. But I've also discovered something new! My favorite song of theirs, "Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken," is actually a response to Lloyd Cole's "Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?"

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 21:36:16 GMT

From space the Earth can shine like the moon, because it reflects sunlight in the same way.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:44:57 GMT

Pholcus phalangioides

One of the most common household spiders. It's better known as "daddy long-legs." Likes to hang upside-down in its web, which it uses more for residence than hunting. It will eat any insect, including its own kind when food becomes scarce.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 08:14:39 GMT

I became curious about some building-related terms.

(A colonnade)

Antechamber: a small room serving as an entryway to a larger one.

Bailey: a walled-off courtyard area; from the medieval "motte-and-bailey" castle. In the second Lord of the Rings film, the raised castle at Rohan is the motte, and the fenced town below is the bailey.

Colonnade: a line of columns joined at the top by an entablature. One example of a colonnade is the front of the White House.

Foyer: a lobby or entry hall.

Postern: a second door or gate in a castle, usually not as prominent as the main entryway.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 16:45:03 GMT

Geisel Library at University of California San Diego

Named for contributors Audrey and Theodor Geisel. Theodor Geisel is the poet and satirist best known as Dr. Seuss. The building was designed by William L. Pereira, who is also known for designing the Transamerica Building (or "the pyramid") in San Francisco.

The first and second stories are within the concrete "pedestal" at the bottom, surrounded by sixteen large columns. The pedestal and the columns support the upper six floors, or the "tower." The windows of the tower have mirrored coating, and so the appearance of the building changes with the light and weather.

In 1993, eight years after Pereira's death, Gunnar Birkerts was hired to "functionally update" the library. Instead of adding to the structure, he built downward from the ground level on three sides of the library, recreating the effect of the canyon supplanted by the original structure.

On the top of the library is a carillon, a set of tuned bells which rings on the hour. UCSD has dispelled myths that the library is sinking because Pereira did not account for the weight of all the books. The library has no third floor, but it does have the world's definitive Dr. Seuss collection, containing all kinds of detritus of Theodor Seuss Geisel's career. Very few people are allowed to access it.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 09:11:10 GMT

Hydrangea anomala (or Hydrangea petiolaris)

Also known as "climbing hydrangea." It's native to Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and the Himalaya area. Usually grown for ornament, it's distinctive because it will root to trees, trellises or rock surfaces and grow upwards. It can take years to start growing in earnest, but when properly cared for it can last decades.

jynweythek

Sat, 22 Apr 2006 15:41:48 GMT

Dara: lets play Truth or Dara
Rikc: hahahaha
Rikc: okay!!
Dara: i'm not sure how this game is played because i just made it up
Rikc: see all you have to do is pick dara and you win

Saturday, December 03, 2005

Sat, 03 Dec 2005 02:33:07 GMT

gama radio: dragon quest 8 continues the great tradition of walking into strangers' houses, opening their cabinets and chests, and breaking their barrels to steal their money
decaturknuckles: hahahhaah
decaturknuckles: i love that
decaturknuckles: imagine doing irl
decaturknuckles: walk into strangers house
decaturknuckles: "hey just gonna grab some doritos dont mind me"
gama radio: hahah
gama radio: if that happened to me
gama radio: i would be coming out with kitchen knives and hammers
decaturknuckles: id be like put the fucking potion down motherfucker before i slit your fucking throat