1 week

Hello internet! I don't have much time to tell you anything interesting right now, because I have to finish writing a paper about phonological processes in handshape assimilation for Italian Sign Language, but soon enough I am going to have a LOT of interesting things to say, and also a lot of time to say them in.

Because...It's my last week of school! Monday is the last day of classes and then I have a couple of other projects to turn in during the week. Then after that, I will be FINISHED at least for the summer and everyone will have to call me Master Cecily all the time* or I won't do what you tell me to.**

Also! Soon, I am going to be famous in new and exciting ways! I signed up to be on a team for the 48 Hour Film Project competition next weekend, May 4-6. This is the main guy's website. I am going to be the boss of the costumes, and I am extremely excited about this. Stay tuned for lots of very excellent, very last-minute costume designing awesomeness.

Hasta!



*This is a trait that runs in my family. One time when my cousin Jamie was two, he decided his new name was Bus Stop and he would not respond appropriately to anyone who referred to him as anything else. Eventually it wore off, much to my regret.

**In all honesty, I may not do it anyway. I'm just saying.

blag, indeed

I have a new favorite comic strip.

more science

I had a scientific birthday party, once again. It was good. There was interpretive dancing, which was in turn interpreted into English, and then again interpreted into ASL. I'm sure we all learned a lot.

Me and good old Trim Zander looked deeply into one another's souls, and were duly shocked and somewhat dismayed by what we found there.



Next: three weeks of non stop academic hilarity!

Holiday

In honor of April Fools' Day, I am spending the entire day in my room doing homework. And that is not even an April Fools' joke. It would have been hilarious if I started out by saying how I cleaned up my room and got all my papers organized, but it's too late now. Plus I'm pretty sure no one would believe me anyway.

I looked up "April Fools' Day" on Wikipedia to make sure I was punctuating that correctly. How many fools are there? Is it posessive or descriptive? Inquiring minds must know!

Anyway, Wikipedia sternly told me that Editing of this article by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled because of potential vandalism due to the fact that it is April Fools' Day. I'm not sure why I think that is so entertaining. We all know that it doesn't take much, though, for me to be entertained.

It's cold and cloudy around here which I guess is good incentive for me to stay inside and focus on important things. But I don't really like it anyway. I would prefer for it to be very warm and sunny, and also Friday, and also I don't have any homework and I do have a lot of ice cream and beer. And maybe some sidewalk chalk.

breakfast vs. laziness

My roommates and some other friends have started a Breakfast Club. Every Friday morning at 7:30, a potluck breakfast occurs at someone's house. Occasionally, some or all of the club members gather the night before for pre-breakfast merriment in the form of beer and a slumber party.

Like any organization, Breakfast Club has come in for its share of controversy. For example, there was a lot of uproar about coffee one time. A nasty rumor was started (by me) accusing Trim Zander* of not being able to make coffee at his house in the morning. A spate of increasingly vitriolic responses followed.

I would like to propose, as cofounder and acting chief financial officer of Breakfast Club Inc., that the minimal coffee-making capacity for a Breakfast Club host be defined as 4 cups per 15 minutes (in other words, 16 cups per hour), and those who cannot provide this capacity must either apply for Club funds or add capacity out of their own pocket (or make other suitable arrangements, perhaps through borrowing of equipment), or forfeit the right to host Breakfast Club. Unfortunately the application for funds does not exist, and as every single member of the Club is delinquent on dues, the treasury contains no money, so at the present time every member must provide his/her own coffee capacity. Also, no decaf. Any objections?

Trim* was quick to defend his ability to provide coffee, and out of desperation he wildly proposed that instant coffee be provided as a failsafe.

I would like to add a correction to previous statements regarding the
coffee-making capacity of this week's selected Breakfast Club location, herein referred to as 321 Cherry Tree Lane NW. It should be noted that although previous statements were made stating that coffee-making capacities were absent from 321 Cherry Tree Lane, these statements have proven to be false. A coffee maker does indeed exist at 321 Cherry Tree Lane, it was just in the corner and dusty from lack of use. Coffee filters and fresh coffee need to be purchased, and these transactions will be completed by this week's host, herein referred to as Mr. Trim Zander*, before the scheduled meeting of the Breakfast Club. In the possible event that the coffee maker does not function properly, instant coffee will be provided on-site by Mr. Zander* as an alternative.

I hope these amendments assuage the fears proposed by Ms. Whitworth
and Mr. Popkin, and will result in an approval to continue this week's
Breakfast Club at 321 Cherry Tree Lane NW.

Trim's* claims were accepted on a temporary basis, but his misguided backup plan was rejected out of hand.

I propose that Trim Zander* be granted provisional hosting status, until such time as his coffee-making capacity can be fairly and objectively assessed, without bias, by those members of Breakfast Club who have proven themselves to be experts in the field of coffee assessment. The record will show that will include, at the very least, every current member of this house (123 Main Street #2). Upon satisfaction of these members' criteria, Mr. Zander* may apply for official hosting status.

Also for the record, potential member Cecily Whitworth has expressed to me that instant coffee is not an acceptable alternative to real coffee.

I provided a helpful visual aid to further demonstrate my feelings about coffee:

At this point, the quality of the debate deteriorated rapidly, at one point reaching the low of

you guys are such babies.

Eventually, however, a consensus was reached (no instant coffee was produced) and everyone was greatly relieved. The group moved on to less stressful issues, such as the arrangements for the slumber parties:

Phew- I am so glad the great coffee controversy of 2007 was settled. That was nearly a deal breaker. I believe the most important question that was posed to the group was if we could handle a slumber party and getting up in the morning. I for one guarantee many shenanigans during the slumber party. But fridays are essentially throw away days for me, so I can afford a night with less then ideal sleep. I respectfully propose a shenanigan room and shenanigan-free room to accommodate for all levels of desire to participate in shenanigans.

This zoning of shenanigans was duly implemented, and things settled down for a few weeks, in what was probably an unrealistic "honeymoon period" of the Club's history. This week, a vicious power struggle occurred, complete with bribery and graft.

As a charter member of both Breakfast Club and 123 Main Street #2, I feel I am in a strong, perhaps even unparalleled, position to confirm that said house will be hosting both this week's Breakfast Club and an optional pre-breakfast sleepover, commencing at 9:30, for those who wish to avoid an unpleasantly early rise from slumber, or who need a few extra shenanigans in their lives.

Accomodations are, as usual, a hodgepodge of floor space, couch space on our inadequate 2-seat couches for those of you who are short or don't mind sleeping like an accordion, and space in beds of those house residents who are willing to accomodate you. Those seeking an early respite from the night's activities are encouraged to speak with Cecily.

This rampant abuse of power by Gabe was quickly challenged by me, and I did not fail to attempt to use the situation for my own benefit.

Gabe did you just invite the entire Breakfast Club membership to sleep in my bed? I don't know if your charter membership authority extends that far.

Anyone who thinks they want to sleep in my bed better start trying to buy my affection now. I like ice cream and sparkly things.

My objection was overruled, and I was chastised by Trim* for having a bad attitude (this is not an unfamiliar situation for me).

In closing, I would like to correct Ms. Whitworth. Mr. Popkin is in his full authority to invite whomever he wishes to sleep in your bed. The priorites and needs of the Breakfast Club override those of each individual member. There are rules for a reason.

I was unrepentant, however, and my demands for bribes became even more blatant.

Be that as it may, I still expect presents, compliments, and the pretense that my jokes are funny. My bed has rules too, you know. The rules of bringing me presents and saying compliments to me and laughing uproariously at my jokes. These are demanding rules, it is true, arduous even, but then again, my bed is a very comfortable bed.

My favorite kind of ice cream is strawberry, but I like anything as long as there are no cherries in it. Also I like caramel topping.

This controversy was eventually settled by the fact that it was raining very hard last night so there was no sleepover after all. I had my comfortable bed to myself, but I had to buy my own ice cream.

Also, for the sake of honesty, I should admit to you that although the club has met twice at my own house, I have yet to actually participate in a Breakfast Club meeting. Really, what kind of crazy person voluntarily gets out of bed at 7:30?

*Not his real name, although a relay operator apparently thought it was a reasonable guess

war, peace, etc

More of the war and less of the peace, these days, hm?


the picture links to where you can buy the book

Last summer one of the people I met and drank wine with was Sybella Wilkes Moumtzis. She has done a lot of interesting things, one of which is publish the book from which the painting above is taken. (One Day We Had to Run!; Brookfield, CT: The Millbrook Press)

This is a painting by Binti Aden Denle, age 12, in the Ifo refugee camp in Ethiopia. The story Binti told about the picture:

"All night we wait in tents for the day to come. This place is very dangerous, bandits attack us at night. I am showing the frightened faces of the children in our camp."

I just bought and started reading Dave Eggers's* new book What is the What, which is about the Lost Boys of Sudan. I already wanted to read it because an excerpt was published a couple of years ago (or not an exerpt exactly but an article that would sort of become this book) as 'It was just boys walking' in The Believer. And then I went to the bookstore for happy hour last week and saw The Lost Boys of Sudan on the shelf and that reminded me of the other book plus also someone was talking about the documentary.

Don't you wish you had a bookstore where you could go have happy hour? Beer and books!

Anyway, the topic keeps coming up in my head, and it should come up in everybody else's head too. Someone I know once told me they didn't want to think about refugee children because it was too sad and there was nothing they could do. To which I say, if you need help thinking of something to do, let me know. I can think of some things.

*Yes, I know you are not supposed to use another S if the noun ends in S. I don't care, and I am a linguistics major so I can do whatever I want to language and it is automatically right. Leave me alone.

is it time for a nap?

Yes, please.

Besides classes, I am working at the Gallaudet University Press, reading some stuff and editing some stuff and writing some letters to authors. Etc.

Also I am being a graduate assistant to a big project based at Gallaudet- a Science of Learning Center, through an NSF grant. The Visual Language and Visual Learning one, or VL2. That 2 is supposed to be "squared" (because there are two iterations of VL in the acronym of that name) but I don't know how to make superscript characters on the internet. For this my job is reading stuff and looking stuff up and summarizing stuff.

I am currently working on these projects:

1. Iconicity and depiction in language (for VL2)
2. Phonological process in Italian Sign Language (for field methods class)
3. Handshape frequency in tactile ASL (for sociolinguistics class)
4. Constructions of deafness as culture vs. disability ("Languages and Cultures" class)
5. Phonology in Rwandan Sign Language (independent study)
6. Pilot dictionary of Rwandan Sign Language (because I said I would)

Plus I have another big crazy test at the end of March. The same idea as last year, only this time with more things in it. Also this year I don't have an exciting trip to Minnesota planned for that weekend.

All of these things are pretty interesting, and I mostly get to invent for myself when I do them. So I can do them in my pajamas while I drink coffee all day, if I want to.*

But, still, I feel very whiny and overwhelmed by it all. Send me presents in the mail!

*I usually do.

hearts and bones

Do you know what an ossuary is? It is a place where you keep human bones. Or, in the case of some very cheerful people, it is a place MADE OF human bones. Like this:


(click the picture for a big-sized picture of the scary church)
(click on these words to go to the website of the person who took the picture of the scary church)

This is a church in Sedlec. Sedlec is a suburb of Kutná Hora. Kutná Hora is a town in the Czech Republic.

The Czech word for "ossuary" is "kostnice". The official website for the Kostnice Sedlec is here:


(click the picture to be taken to the official Kostnice Sedlec website!)

I have two favorite things about this website. No, three favorite things.

1. The option icons are little skulls

2. There is a virtual tour option! It makes me kind of dizzy.

3. There is a long description of how many people have their bones in this place (40,000!) and what all the best shapes are that are made out of the bones (the bell shape). At the end of the description, it says "Thank you very much for your visit and best wishes for a pleasant stay in our country."

Happy Valentine's Day!

Si vas al baile, baila conmigo

Today is my fabulous roommate's birthday. We're going to "a Latin-themed dance club" in Adams Morgan tonight. That will be very exciting.

I don't really have anything else to relate, at the moment. All the administrators at my school are still incredibly stupid and annoying. All of my friends are still very smart and attractive and entertaining. My bedroom is still a disaster zone. My homework still isn't finished.

Okay! Latin-themed dancing! Hooray!

Music in Minneapolis

My favorite friend Chris Koza and his band and some other people are playing a show at the Varsity on February 1st. Proceeds help refugees in Darfur. Go be beneficial!

google

There is a site meter on this website. It tells me (and you, if you care) how many people look at the website and where they live.

Bonjour, French people! Helloooo, somebody at the House of Representatives!

And it also tells us if somebody did a google search for something and then arrived at this website as a result of that. And it tells us what the google search was for.

Here are examples of google searches that people did, with the result that they ended up here:

-drinking beer back hurts
-interpreter for ASL
-marker fumes
-cecily whitworth
-video show of teaching how to do mutter paneer
-especiallymessily
-Tourists comments on Akagera
-half gallon growler, Montana
-picture of a thirty-ought-six rifle
-joke handshake
-britney dance concepts toledo
-pictures of authentic cowboy costumes

And last, but certainly far from least:

-PEPFAR, Britney

The awesomest part about that is that my name isn't even the top result! There are pages and pages of websites that (apparently) discuss PEPFAR and Britney!

America is a great nation.

UPDATE: A new google search! "morpheme martini"! This one is probably going to be the inspiration for a cocktail party of some sort. Some heavily linguistic sort.

I told you water is dangerous!

This lady died from drinking water! Remember last summer when I went on and on about how thirsty I always am and how one time I tried to drink a gallon of milk and my friends kept threatening me about electrolyte poisoning? Well as it turns out, staying hydrated is more risky than I thought!

I'm sticking to beer and coffee from now on. Just to be safe.

Kilimanjaro!

My dad is a famous mountaineer.

I heart education

Well, school started again today. So far I didn't go to any classes, but I did go to lots and lots of offices!

(What follows is fiction) I didn't have to wait in any lines, and every office was staffed by friendly, helpful, knowledgeable people who did their best to assist me in a timely manner. I got all of my errands done and all of my business taken care of. It was great!

(What follows is true) I hate almost everyone on that stupid campus.

Here is an illustration of my attitude:

presentastic!

Remember a long time ago when I went to Albuquerque? Here is me giving my fancy presentation. I can't remember what I was talking about exactly but apparently there were two of something.

Either that or I was just talking about the hand configuration there. That's what my main point was, to talk about hand configurations.

As it turns out, that is often my main point. It came up three times at my party last weekend. I am a barrel of fun at parties, let me tell you! If you ever want to go out to a bar and draw diagrams of sentences and examine different types of phonological notation, let me know!