Songs I've Listened to Without You - Christmas mix 2009

This year, in lieu of trying to make and mail tons of copies of my annual Christmas mix, I decided I'd get all 21st Century and just make it available for download. Dan Goat was kind enough to offer me some of his server space to do so. So to get the Christmas mix, go to 

http://get-kinetic.com/gkdan/mix 

and download the zip file. Unzip and enjoy.

And for those of you who still prefer to make yourselves a physical copy there is also a PDF on there that has all of the track listings. You can simply print it out and fold it into a case for the cd. If you need instructions on how to actually fold the case, you can get them here. 

http://papercdcase.com/about.php 

Merry Christmas/New Year's everyone!

bells

Björk - who is it medulla
Uploaded by chicethautaine. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

MSCED

Make Something Cool Every Day by Mark Weaver

 

 

via Street Anatomy

achewood

Neutra Face

from Matt.
I am a little bit in love with every boy in this video. 

professionalism vs. cookie handshakes

On Wednesday we took a field trip to the University of Maryland Baltimore Health Sciences and Human Services Library.  That library serves as the Regional Medical Library for the Southeastern Atlantic Region of the U.S.  That probably won't really mean anything to most of you, but it's basically one of 8 hub libraries in the U.S. that coordinate Heatlh Information Outreach from the NLM to their area.  In other words, it's a pretty big deal.  The library itself is actually totally gorgeous and has a lot of mid-century modern touches to the architecture and the furniture.  Highlights include the longest contiguous stairway in Baltimore. 

 view from 2nd floor

At the top there is a paned glass windowo that has one small square of red glass.  It is situated in such a way that if it is clear on the Winter Solstice (December 21st) a red light will line up directly with the stairs and reach all the way down to the bottom floor.  

That's so Indiana Jones....

The library has other little charming quirks in its design as well, such as a lovely floating bridge over the main entrance

And a reference/circulation desk roughly in the shape of question mark

 

I think it was probably one of the nicest modern libraries I've evern been in.

The director of the library M.J. Tooey is just so nice and gave us her personal tour of the library.  She is a former president of the Medical Library Association and also a big deal in the medical library world.  After the tour they provided lunch for us and invited the staff of the library to come and eat with us.  

Normally I find these types of situations incredibly awkward, but the two ladies I was seated with were just so nice and chatty.  They made it really easy for me to talk to them and I even felt like I ended up asking a few good questions.  I even remembered to give them both my business card!  I was so excited because this is the first time I've ever handed out my card in a real professional situation.  I was feeling pretty great about how I had carried myself through the whole situation.

We had been so chatty that I actually hadn't had time to get any dessert so as our group was leaving, I walked by the buffet and picked up a couple of cookies and a napkin.  Immediately after I picked up the cookies MJ walked over to say goodbye.  As I thanked her for their hospitality she reached out, and without really thinking about it I transfered the cookies to my left hand and then shook her hand without wiping off the crumbs off of my fingers.  I totally gave her a gritty handshake full of sugar crystals and cookie crumbs.  She didn't really react because she is a total pro, but I did see her subtly wipe her hand off a second later.  I guess I still have a ways to go before I'm a total professional.

knitting + science

= so good.  The World of Knitted Science via Amanda.

Knitted lab rat and knitted frog by Crafty Hedgehog on Etsy.  Everyone should feel free to get me these for Christmas.

 

Digestive System

 Uterus

ageism

One of the weird cultural things I've found in D.C. is that everybody here seems pretty job-oriented,  ambitious, and all about what they want to do, which is change/rule the world.  All in all it seems like a pretty A-type kind of town and there are probably more 25 year olds with a closet full of suits here than anywhere else in the States.  I tend to be a bit more casual about my life and dress (although I did have to buy a couple of big girl suits for work, a fact I still think is incredibly weird), which causes people to have some interesting assumptions about me, especially if any tattoos are visible.  This town isn't quite as tatted up as Philly, that's for sure.  Well, at least I haven't seen many tattoos that aren't kanji or tribal tramp stamps.  9 out of 10 times when I am in public and back is visible a stranger will come up and ask me about my tattoo often assuming I am an aritst.


Anyhow, I know that many white people find it very difficult to accurately determine the general age range of any of my people.  We tend to look either very young and/or ageless.  I find that I get carded here a lot, which I admit, could be due to the increased vigilance of bartender/bouncers here in comparison to Philly.  However, the fact that I look young and 'dress young' by D.C. standards tends to lead people to think I'm wayyy younger than I am.  Last week I went to see Ninja Assassin, an R rated film, and got CARDED while buying my ticket.  First of all, who even does that and secondly, you have to 17 to see an R rated film unaccompanied by a parent.  17!  While I almost find that flattering, there's no way anyone could possibly think I am that young.  Who knew it would take me until 30 to start looking like jail bait.

tourismatism + sightings

There are so many field trips happening this week.  

Today we went on a tour to the Library in the Executive Office of the President.  This involved visits to both the new Executive Office Building as well as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB or State, War and Navy Building as it was originally known).  Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the Indian Treaty Room.  The Law Library is on the 5th floor of the EEOB and made mainly from cast iron.  It has 3 levels and some very ornate metalwork. 

You can't really see it in this picture, but up at the very top, just below the skylight there is a very lovely terracotta acorn and oak leaf motif.  The floor tiles are a fairly elaborate, though worn, mosaic that includes a lot of butterflies.  Basically, it's the kind of library that were I someday to be very very wealthy, I would want as my own (although perhaps sans butterflies).  

Also, remember that Indian actor, Kal Penn, who played Kumar and was on House for a little bit?  Well, Nick told me last year sometime that he left Hollywood for an appointment in the Obama administration.  I kind of half didn't believe him, but it's true.  He is currently the Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and we happened to see him in the hallway of the EEOB.  He's not exactly who I imagined my first government celebrity sighting would be, but I'll totally take it.  Also, he's a lot taller than I expected.

printing

 
Printing Textiles by Hand

From Life Magazine

Industry & Trade Textiles Italy

Date Taken: 1947

Photographer: Alfred Eisenstaedt 

baby pygmy hippo

 

J-Pop

chivalry

Yesterday, as I was walking down the hall at work, the Asian man walking a few paces in front of me turned into the men's bathroom and then paused holding the door open for me.  I sort of felt like I should go in because he was holding the door.  We made eye contact and I sort of ducked by awkwardly.  I guess that means that chivalry isn't dead? 

library dining rooms

These are so beautiful. And what could be better than combining reading and food!

via Apartment therapy

twitter

ghost, dear

While trying to look up information about a pre-eminent photo conservationist, I stumbled across the website of an artist of the same name.  Sarah Wagner is a sculptural and installation artist whose work draws inspiration from the natural world and is so so lovely and haunting.  

Nuclear Family

 

Invisible Healing World

 

Frog Drawing

Mark Twain & Kitten

Unravel

super long and stressful day.
this is soothing me.

Bjork - Unravel
by Joukos

match

= 95%?  OkC, I am losing faith in you.

 

cupcake car

Never has travel been more awkward and delicious.

Rap Graphs

God hates Twilight

Isaiah 1:14

Raptor Jesus

Marc Johns

love at first sight.

Pearly Great Whites

Sharks with people teeth
repost from dan goat via facebook.

 

Instead men

In my motherland (South Korea), apparently people who can't be bothered to do the daily humdrum duties of life (Can't Botherists) can hire other people to do for them (Instead Men).  Tasks these people are willing to do run from the usual things you would expect to the totally bizarre things I would never expect someone else to do for me.  I guess they're sort of like pinch hitters for life?
Normal

 - delivering food
 - driving your drunk-self home from the bar (substitute drivers)
 - killing bugs
 - picking up dry cleaning or things from the store
Unusual
 - taking elderly parents on vacation
 - attending classes
 - posing as girlfriends to meet the parent
I love the idea of being able to hire my own part-time butler/stand-in by the hour, but even more than that, I like that the terms, "can't botherist" and "instead men" actually exist.  I seem to be suffering from a severe case of "can't-botherism" when it comes to cleaning my apartment. 

Surprise!

papercut