Prophet Pierre, Dolans discussions, and some HPU fun…. September 18, 2009

Ugh…and here I thought that Id be blogging more….guess im not doing so hot this semester already! Oh well….Iv ebeen busy with classes and reading…the usual grad school stuff.  Its beginning to look like I may make it over to the Big Island sometime this semester…and yes Stella I willl take pictures of a volcano for you and try and find you something fun with a volcano on it. I know how you are anxiously awaiting some lava love!

We have started a new ritual of going out every thursday after class to Dolans. Its been fun! Its pretty much everyone from my Middle East Diplomacy class and other DMS students and faculty hanging out and drinking. Today was very interesting…well at least the conversations were!  The conversations ranged from ragging on professors (with professors sitting right there), to blow jobs for grades (it was a joke), to tramp stamps, piercings, a little AINAC bashing (which was a carryover from class), whether doves have talons, and oh yes…the story behind my tattoos…the face on my professors face was priceless! Needless to say no topic is off limits with this group….So….while all these topics of conversation were going on, there was also a little male gossiping or as one person in our program likes to call it “intel” sharing. I wonder why men always think women are the worst gossips becuase honestly all the men in out program our worse!!!! Seriously!!! Ok enough on that rant…..

So for the DMS t-shirts this year we are doing dictator t-shirts where there will be a face of a dictator on the front with a funny or ironic quote from them on the back. Right now Mao is leading the voting for the Fall 09 tshirt, although I personaly voted for Mugabe…after all I had to represent my “African heritage” (Asselin thats for you!). But Id be happy with a Moa shirt, especially if Spring 10 is the Kim Jung Il shirt! I so want that one!! And i have decided that I am going to make a Prophet Pierre shirt with the European Underwear model on the front…after all I have to follow the newest prophet and his J 4.0 religion! Hehehe…i know most of you wont get that but i decided that I needed to be random, abstract, and have a little inside humor in there!

Later!

Contact Tvs, digital tattoos, and my irrational fear of tsunamis February 11, 2009

Did you miss your favorite tv show last night?  Dont have a DVR?  No where near a TV?  How about tv thats a contact!  Researchers have been working on a contact lens that is a tv.  Apparently it is powered off of your own body heat and will beam shows right before your eye…literally. As if this wasn’t futuristic enough, how about digital tattoos?! I know what you are thinking.  Why would anyone get a digitial tattoo instad of a real one with ink?  Or at least that was my thought.  But apparently digital tattoo is just a phrase, it really would allow wearers to literally feel the emotions that the move, music, etc wants you to feel. It is like a sensory manipulation chip….that may or  may not have a cool desgin! Alhough not in the manufacturing phase, some believe that in less then 10 years both option will be available.  I for one want a contact lens tv so that while in class I can watch Life and zone out on my professor.  J/K…kinda.

You know, I never really paid close attention to the earthquakes in Asia until I moved to Hawaii.  I mean I did read about them but there was no immediate concern flashing through my head as there is now.  Maybe its the Disaster class im currently taking, or maybe its knowing im on a tiny Island smaller than 1/2 the state of Ohio, but whenever I see or hear about an earthquake like the one in Indonesia my immediate thoughts flash to tsunami….Im not sure I would appreciate geting hit by a tsunami.  I may be higher up in the mountains and not on the beach, but it would still suck cause Honolulu airport is on the harbor and that would mean I would have no way off the island.  Im already getting island fever, and a tsunami wouldnt help.  Ok…i need to get off the tsunami thought train.

Gotta love Hawai’is addiction to the internet.  Not only can you have a doctors visit online now, but apparently the Honolulu City Council recently proposed the possibility of voting online.  Curently there is an investigation into reliability, and practicality of the voting options….i for one wouldn’t be surprised to see the option become a reality.   After all it would save money, trees, and be super cool!

As if the stuck Navy ship in the harbor isnt drama enough. In case you missed it, a naval cruise, Port Royal,  ran onto the reef in the Pearl Harbor area and got stuck.  No amount of unloading of materials helped re-float the ship and it is still stuck after multiple attempts to free it. The ships captain has been relieved of duties, and now the drama continues. Apparently the same cruiser failed to notify state officials that over 5000 gallons of raw sewage was released into the water. All I can say is that surfers may want to shower extra long and hard.

Sweet!  Cotton Candy is being used by scientists to regrow replacement tissue for people.  Missing skin, nerves, etc?  No problem!  Would you like bubble gum or fruit punch flavored replacements?

In case you missed the news.  Brett Favre has decided to retire..again.  Sorry Jets.  When you bought out the contract, you also bought the offseason drama.  We’ll see if in June he regrets his decision again.

Later!

Body art, the military, Kona Beer, and the live frog September 12, 2008

Waikiki Beach and my Pier in the distance

Statue of Surfer

 

Response to my previous post about tattoos and piercings has resulted in some interesting reaction to say the least!  First, I am planning on getting my nose pierced…and no it will not be a bull ring, just a small post…and yes my sister is aware of this and is ok with me having my nose pierced in wedding photos.  Second, just because i am getting it done and you dont want me too doesn’t mean I love you any less (MOM)…it just means I am marching to my own drum, and living my own life.  Third, more tattoos are coming…it just may be awhile since tattoos here in Hawaii are soooo expensive and I really don’t have any desire for Japnaese art as of yet (its really good here).   Fourth, I will prob get it done for my birthday…Happy Birthday to me!  Needles and Pain…its what I love!

Class today was interesting.  I really didn’t find the articles we were to read that inspiring, although I did decide one of the writers was an idiot.  The best part was that I got to see Erik all riled up because of the articles, which just made me laugh.  He thought the one article was idiotic too, but took it to heart (being that hes military and it was an article on education within the military).  I am going to have a hard time staying interested in this class.  Im just not into military historiography.  Yes, I do think that the study of history is important, but to study the study of history is kinda boring!    And to top it off we spent the majority of the class laying out the heirarchy that is the Army, Navy, Air Force.  Perhaps the sadddest part is that I actually knew most of it just from my previous studies!

So I really didn’t “party hard” tonight.  I ended up hanging out with a couple of people from class and talking about how the class is all military and us Civies are kinda outsiders looking in and not really caring.  We had our discussion over the ever tasty Kona beer….Im a big fan of the Wailua Wheat right now.  Hopefully I will bring some home with me when I comeback to Ohio for Jess’s wedding. 

So as I sit here typing, it is raining, and raining, and raining.  And with all this rain, I actually saw a live frog! Granted he almost gave me a heart attack (ive decided its a he), and I almost killed him by stepping on him!  Nevertheless, he survived (one fo the few) and was my greeting party when I was walking up the steps to my haven in the sky!  Hopefully he stays out of the way of the cars…and my roommates!

Enjoy the pics!

Later!

Waikiki, tattoos, and the ever increasing household September 10, 2008

Waikiki Coast

►

Waikiki Coastline

Pier diver 1

►

Pier Diving

 

My normal wednesday routine continues…and this time I was not successful in regenerating my red lobster skin.  The clouds were out in full force, and alas my attempt to “tan” will have to wait for another day!  The Waikiki pier was busy as ever with the tourists and the locals alike.  A few of the locals who I’ve seen before were there, but not Alec and his brood.  Oh well, another day, another time.  I was able to catch some of the pier diving and the boogy boarding and surfing on video, and they will be dispersed over the next xeveral posts, so I hope everyone enjoys them.  Today we have a quick video tour of the Waikiki coastline as well as a pier diver. 

Well apparently 5 roommates weren’t enough…Chris has officially moved in (Molly’s boyfriend).  I loved how my landlord posted a note on the fridge asking if there were any objections, and someone responded “You mean it isn’t official already?”  He’s here all the time, so it feels like there are 6 other people licing here, it’s just official now! 

So Kim and I got into a discussion on tattoos.  I really want a new one…and have wanted one for some time, but have been delaying due to the cost.  She recommended I wait til I get back to the mainland because it’s cheaper,but I really want one of my planned 5 now!  So what does everyone think?  Any suggestions on what to get done first?  Maybe, I’ll hold off on the tattoos and get my nose pierced instead!  I’ve been wanting that one for awhile too.  Oh yeah and the back of my neck…but there is only one place I trust to do that (Tattoo Tech here I come!)  I know my parents will be so excited to read about this piece of news!  So as a warning…expect a piercing of some sort when you see me in a month! 

Enjoy the videos!

Later!