Vote 2008!

As FoxyJ hinted at recently, we're starting to think about getting a new vehicle. Our Chevy Cavalier has served us well for the past seven years, but we're ready for something newer, bigger, and hopefully more fuel efficient. More specifically, we're looking for a vehicle that (a) has power locks, windows, and remote entry; (b) has more cargo space for road trips, room for two car seats and a third adult passenger for when we give rides, and possibly for two car seats and a booster (this is not an announcement--I'm talking about sometime in the next five years here); and (c) gets more than the average of 23 MPG that our current car gets--not just so we can feel smug about being environmentally friendly, but so we can cut down on gas costs and most importantly contribute less to global warming. The problem is that (b) and (c) conflict. As of yet they don't make hybrid vans, so our options are a bigger sedan that gets better mileage or an efficient minivan that gets about the same mileage as what we currently get. It's a tough call because we don't technically need a van, but it sure would be nice to have that extra space.

What do you think? Should we be more Earth-friendly and get one of these hybrids:

Toyota Prius

Toyota Camry Hybrid

Honda Accord Hybrid

or should we be slightly less Earth-friendly and get one of these vans:

Kia Rondo

Mazda5

?

Foxy points out that we don't drive much and will probably drive even less in Davis, so it's not like we'd be guzzling all that much gas in either case. But I really like the idea of a car that gets 45 MPG. Any thoughts?

Course Selection by Popular Consensus

The FLAS grant I've received for next year requires that each quarter I take a 5-credit course in Spanish language and another 5-credit course in West European Studies. This latter requirement can be pretty broadly interpreted, I believe, to include history, geography, political science, or just about anything else relating to West Europe. Considering that this is my chance to sneak in some courses I might take if I had the opportunity to get as many degrees as my heart desires, I'm having a hard time choosing just one. Which is why I need your help. Please vote on the following:

DRAMA 377 History of Medieval and Renaissance Theatre (5) Johnson
Survey of the rise of theatre from the early liturgical drama through the High Middle Ages to the Reformation and the great flowering of secular drama in Elizabethan England and the Golden Age of Spain. Prerequisite: DRAMA 302.

Pros: Will go along nicely with the Spanish Drama 1600-1635 class I'm taking for the Spanish requirement.
Cons: I haven't taken the prerequisite--though I imagine I could finagle my way in with my English degree and previous coursework in drama studies--and I'm not positive this will count for the FLAS requirement--which means I'll have to check with my adviser before registering. Easily solved, I know, but a con nonetheless.

C LIT 320 Studies in European Literature/Literary Modernism (5) Staten
Various modern authors, from Wordsworth to the present, in relation to such major thinkers as Kant, Hegel, Darwin, Marx, Nietzsche, Bergson, and Wittgenstein, who have helped create the context and the content of modern literature.

Pros: It's comparative literature, which I not-so-secretly lust after. Also, it's a literature course, which lies nicely in my comfort zone.
Cons: It's modernism, which I haven't been a big fan of in the past. Also, even though it's comp lit, it's cross-listed as an English course, and I feel a little silly using a FLAS grant to take an English course after I already have two degrees in English. And I'm not positive it counts.

EURO 403 Modern European Migration, Integration, and Citizenship (5) Mitchell
Offers a theoretical and empirical understanding of migration processes and patterns in Europe, with a focus on Muslim immigration in the post WWII period. Analyzes the impact of European Union mandates, globalization processes, and international, national, and urban policies on Muslim immigrant rights and identity formation. Offered jointly with GEOG 403.

Pros: Very much out of my comfort zone, as far as the kinds of courses I've taken before. The thought of learning about an area totally new to me is exciting. Also, I'm positive it counts for the FLAS requirements because it's offered by the West European Studies department.
Cons: Very much out of my comfort zone, as far as the kinds of courses I've taken before.

Housed

It seems Edgy is concerned that I never listen to his opinion after asking for it. (He should note, though, that I did take the advice he offered in response to half of this poll.) So, ever concerned with pleasing my friends, I've decided to finally listen to what Edgy tells me to do. This is what Edgy told me to do:

"So you may as well go and sign the lease for Option A tomorrow."

Which I've done. Ultimately, I decided that I value convenience and time over quality and size. I'll be moving in next week.

Housing Poll

Option A:
Rent=x
Distance from campus=10-minute walk
Size=One-bedroom
Level=Bottom
Washer & dryer=shared with other apartments in house

Option B:
Rent=x+$35
Distance from campus=30-minute bus ride
Size=Two-bedroom plus (shared) yard
Level=Top
Washer & dryer=just for me

Both have decent-sized (but not large) living rooms and kitchens. Both are available more or less immediately. Option B feels more homey while Option A feels more studenty--it's just north of the part of town where all the undergrads live and party in their frat houses (and, by the way, shoot and mug each other on a monthly basis). I'll probably have the kids over one or two nights a week (we haven't worked out those details yet) and it would be nice for them to have their own room, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra commuting which ultimately means less flexibility in my schedule. The big unknown is where FoxyJ will be living--if she's north of Seattle Option B will be much closer to her but if she's south it will be much farther.

Your votes will be taken into account but your reasoning will be even more useful.

The Polls Are Closed

Well, technically, they closed sometime yesterday, as I had to decide what I was going to indulge in.

The results:

• Chocolate -
  
• Fat -
  
• Swearing -
  
• Yelling at small children ||
  
• Sloth -
  
• Procrastination -
  
• Bad posture |
  
• Bad oral hygiene (i.e. failure to floss regularly) ||
  
• World hunger -
  
• War ||
  
• Misogyny -
  
• Misandry -
  
• Gerontophilism |
  
• Narcissism |
  
• Lust -
  
• Narcissistic lust -
  
• Gluttony -
  
• Pride -
  
• Excessive listmaking -
  
• Excessive questioning of the status quo |
• Vegetables |
• Yelling at old people and lusting after small children |

And when I add my own three votes, we get:

• Gluttony |||

But I am willing to give up more than one thing for you, my electorate, so in addition to giving up gluttony (in the form of eating large portions and eating out of boredom), I will give up bad oral hygiene, yelling at children, and war.

Yesterday I celebrated Mardi Gras by eating a pastry, two Hostess cupcakes, three cookies, a large yummy dinner (prepared by the amazing FoxyJ), and a molten chocolate cake with Haagen Daas vanilla bean ice cream and whipped cream (also courtesy of the foxy one). I also failed to floss, yelled at random children on the street, and invaded three small countries. I hereby repent of these sins. Until Easter.

And now I present, at no added cost (and I assure you, no added benefit), my answers to Tolkien Boy's inane questions:

The sweet kind or the sexual kind?
Is there a difference?
Yours or other people's?
Yours.
What the hell?
What indeed.
Yours or other people's?
Yours.
Actually, I read that most sloth meat is poisonous. Are you addicted?
I don't appreciate you mocking my addiction.
Don't you think it's taken you long enough to come to this resolution?
No, I think I'll put it off another year.
If you give this one up, does it give me permission to punch you in the stomach every time I see you slouch?
You, as well as anyone else who chooses to, always have permission to do so.
Are you aware that no one flosses except movie stars and the children of dentists?
Are you aware that you are the only person in the world who doesn't floss (as of today, now that I've started), and therefore should feel deep and lasting shame?
I gave this up in the spring of '89. Does it need to be given up again?
"...I would ask, can ye feel so now?"
In Bush's America?
Last I checked, Bush doesn't own the country. You must be thinking of Bill Gates.
You are aware, of course, that as long as you interact with women and maintain your Y chromosome, that this is impossible?
What makes you think I intend to do either?
Don't you know how cute the anders are?
Oh, believe me, I know.
How old is old?
40 and up.
You're giving me up?
Heh. Funny you should ask.
See last question?
See last answer?
Okay...that's weird...does this explain your need to wake at unholy hours to lift heavy weights?
Yes. Why is that weird?
A poll taken by Sir Jupiter and myself concludes that this is not something you deal with. Or are you talking metaphorically?
I am always talking metaphorically.
But not prejudice?
No, I never really had a thing for her. Apparently you didn't read my 100 Essential Facts carefully. Do so now; you'll notice he merits two facts but she, none.
Why not add excessive questioning of the status quo?
I did, but you were outvoted. Sorry.

Thank you for playing, please come again.

Lenten Votes

Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday. For those of you not up to par on your Catholicism (and I don't claim to be, except in this minor instance wherein I adopt a form of pseudo-Catholicism), that means that I will spend tomorrow indulging in an orgy of something, after which I will give up that same something until Easter. Last year I gave up ice cream (except in instances where it was offered to me by true friends). This year I am considering giving up the following:

• Chocolate
• Fat
• Swearing (though I'm not sure that counts because I've already mostly given up what little I ever did)
• Yelling at small children
• Sloth
• Procrastination
• Bad posture
• Bad oral hygiene (i.e. failure to floss regularly)
• World hunger
• War
• Misogyny
• Misandry
• Gerontophilism
• Narcissism
  
• Lust
• Narcissistic lust
• Gluttony
• Pride
• Excessive listmaking

I'm having a hard time deciding which sin(s) to give up, so I need your help. Please vote below. I expect no fewer than 52 comments--surely gerontophilism is as controversial as circumcision.

Vote 2006

• Timothy
• Ephraim
• Thomas
• Theodore
• Enoch
• Christian (you may only vote for this one if you know our real last name)
• Ruttiger
• Other (please specify and include a 200-word essay explaining your choice)

Hm... Perhaps we should go with a combination of the above: Tettecro!

Not to sway your vote, but a bit of background information:

We chose S-Boogie's full name (S-Boogie Noelani Fob) with a scripture in mind--"[...] and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven" (Doctrine and Covenants 121:45). S-Boogie means "wisdom," and Noelani means "heavenly mist."

Similarly, there is a scripture and Hawaiian name to go with Timothy, which means "fear of God"--"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). His middle name would be either Wiwo'ole, which is what the Hawaiian Bible uses to translate "power" in this verse (it also means "fearless," "brave," or "bold"), or Makoa, which means "fearless," "courageous," or "agressive."

Again, I'm not trying to tell you that there's a right answer or that all the other choices are stupid or that you should vote for my first choice in order to convince Foxy J that it is the one true name for our child, but I just wanted you to know that none of the other names have a really cool scripture or Hawaiian name to go with them.

And while you're voting, snip-snip or no snip-snip?

Vote 2005

English PhD or Master's of Library and Information Science?