http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:sliverofsilver&section=today deviantART RSS for by:sliverofsilver en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:46:37 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/28632082/ http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/28632082/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:32:12 PST

I've been extraordinarily busy with school, as I've chosen some particularly difficult classes including two science labs and Russian language. Writing is easy for me, reading is fun, and literary/philosophical analysis is child's play--so why am I taking so many classes so far from my skills? Why am I picking such an impossible science-y major?? Your guesses are as good as mine.

I like university, I've joined the debate team and won 2nd place at a tournament [kicking the ass of Princeton along the way]. I've had to take care of only one drunk thus far, quite an accomplishment considering how many there are. Seeing as I am medically unable to drink alcohol, actually getting work done and showing my parents I'm grateful for the education is fairly easy for me. Granted, I still have distractions...of the male persuasion. I'm thrilled about my boyfriend, but can someone tell me how long until racist jokes stop being funny? When will it be unacceptable to make fun of the home country of the international student? I love the international students--the accents, the languages, the experiences, the perspectives--nothing like my own. It is wonderful. I appreciate learning from all of them, perhaps my boyfriend in particular, but it gets progressively frustrating to hear people claim not to be prejudice and still think their assuredly clever and original joke is hilarious. There is no level of cultural acceptance the majority can possess that makes it okay to make the minority feel even more minor and isolated. Don't think it hurts them if they laugh with you? False. Any thoughts? Care to raise the pitchforks with me?

Someone might have noticed I finally started getting pictures up from my trip to Scotland...which happened 2 years ago. I don't know why it took so long, but they will start making a steady appearance. Especially since my major photography spot--in Ontario, Canada--might not get visited this year. I'm still begging my parents for a different location that I will not mention for fear of jinxing it. But I'm still planning on going back to Scotland because it is beautiful and I miss my cousin so much!!

Hope Thanksgiving was good for all my Americans, extra belatedly for my Canadian(s). And everyone else...the Winter Olympics are coming!! (Oh yeah, and Christmas...) But the Winter Olympics!! How were the holidays? Advice on the unfunny jokes about foreigners? Any academic advice? Who is impressed by the journal title's wordplay?

]]> ~sliverofsilver http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/25925918/ http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/25925918/ Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:21:16 PDT
I've been working for my neighbor who is part of a company manufacturing and distributing products that measure power and energy in a variety of forms. But my work is basically answering phones and a glorified arts and crafts with his paperwork. He's a little off his rocker but the money is good and crazy never hurt anyone.

I also work at the local animal hospital. People with pets are stupid, I mean, I have pets too...but some people are just idiots about animals. Let me clear things up: NO ONE is allergic to snow, you shouldn't try to pet a wild duck, and medical emergencies are qualified by the risk to life, not slight changes in behavior as perceived by paranoid pet owners. I feel outnumbered by these unstable clients at the hospital.

How is work and relaxation treating you all?

]]> ~sliverofsilver http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/25058397/ http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/25058397/ Sun, 31 May 2009 19:39:33 PDT Since I have no assigned reading this summer, I’m taking it upon myself to do some reading. (Not that Hawthorne and Vonnegut crap woefully mislabeled as “classics” but really aren’t worth using to blow my nose. Nope, just the good stuff.) Starting off with some shocking retelling of history’s most bizarre crimes by the always brilliant Joseph Wambaugh, followed by the deep, baffling, and fascinating works of Friedrich Nietzsche, some on and off reading of both hilarious and horrifying memoirs, and of course a healthy dose of Billy Shakespeare. Any suggestions you want to add? Anything you think I’ll like? Or that you completely love?
I also need to find a job (besides volunteer work), get back to the piano (I’ve missed you, Andrew Lloyd Webber!), call my FBI contacts (I’ve been invited back for more days of observation) teach myself Russian (they have really funny letters), and start to exercise the pain away (newest plan from Dr. Kevorkian).

I see no holes in this plan.

]]> ~sliverofsilver http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/23236886/ http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/23236886/ Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:20:25 PST I discovered I am as strong as they tell me, even when I thought it was pity and lies.
I found out that religious people will always think there is something wrong with you if you don't have the same imaginary friend as their group.
I noticed that a secret can go a long way in forcing a friendship to start or to stop.
I learned I've got a collection of the most fucked up innocents as my friends, and I wouldn't change that for the world.
I noticed it is stupidly satisfying when your friends take a vote, and they think you've got the hardest time.
I realized I want so much more from people and I can make so much more happen for people.

]]> ~sliverofsilver http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/22110211/ http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/22110211/ Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:13:01 PST I got accepted into college this week, which by almost all accounts is a good thing. >>
I sang some solos at the Christmas concert, and apparently didn't suck. (Plus I managed to make a Tiny Tim reference, a joke that went over the heads of most of the audience. Pft)
My bestest brother is home for the holidays, his schedule isn't matching ours yet though. He still isn't used to a one-eyed dog and we aren't prepared for his "lunches" at 1 in the morning.
I'm avoiding doing religion homework as long as possible as well as putting off working with Wellington's phermaldihyde-soaked remains.
Leave comments, how are you spending the holidays?

]]> ~sliverofsilver http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/21305244/ http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/21305244/ Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:39:16 PST I'd like to think that the candidate I'm in favour of will somehow fix our country, and the rest of the world as we so often sign on to do, but I'm not getting my hopes up. The family I am raised in is politically...extreme. Some still believe Obama is a terrorist who plans on destroying the country once in office while others see Palin as a Bible-pushing, gun-toting woman-hater. The holidays are going to be so civil this year, no?
My health is actually improving, if anyone is following that. I show up to classes and have even had time to create a club. Plus my choir sang for 45,000 people, so that was a rush. There's also a good chance a college or two might be stupid enough to let me in. Nothing as prestigious as where my fellow deviants attend, but still a school with books and things. In an effort to preserve the tiny progress I've made with my health, I've cut back on both dA updates and hours awake. Plus the computer has exploded, figuratively.
Thanks to Victoria for the stale candy corn, it is suspiciously addictive. Seriously, I'm suspicious you did something to it. Thanks to Jodie & Carl for being patient with my lack of skyping, I'm terrible with the balancing act!

]]> ~sliverofsilver http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/19899332/ http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/19899332/ Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:38:10 PDT Unfortunately, the world event has been a "conviently-timed" distraction for Putin to use Georgia as target practice under the guise of "separstist support". Bastard. And all reports are so carefully made to be PC, they forgot to put the truth in them.

I'm going to do what every teenage girl dreams of: visit a prison! It is minimum security, and the family friend who works there says "only a couple murderers", so no one worry. Of course, clearance is tricky, especially since I'm physically disabled and a young girl , but I'm hoping it all works out.
Speaking of prison, my neighbor's son is currently out on bail which is slightly disconcerting seeing as he doesn't understand the word "remorse". But it is a bit less creepy since the recent rains have washed all the blood off the street...finally. So let this be a lesson kiddies, affluent neighborhoods in the countryside get criminals too.

]]> ~sliverofsilver http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/19218583/ http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/19218583/ Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:24:07 PDT All At Once II, was featured by the always talented Schizophrenic-mage! Here's the proof: [link] Many thanks for that.

I leave for the capital (Washington D.C.) sometime next week to attend a forum/conference for one of my more rare and painful illnesses, dysautonomia. It is absolutely awful and my sympathies to the rare few that share this syndrome. I hope to learn something about it that might help decrease symptoms, but obviously I'll keep my expectations low.

I am allowed to choose my family's next trip so if anyone has been to a country where the first language is Spanish and they loved it, please let me know.

]]> ~sliverofsilver http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/16555950/ http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/16555950/ Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:04:58 PST
You ever have to say goodbye to someone and not even realize how much it is hurting until you actually do it? Not being able to talk to the few people you actually give a damn about sucks. I'm sorry to those of you who have had to deal with me during this. You know who you are...

So I am officially living with a psychotic animal: I didn't even know there were mental diseases for dogs. Let's hope the crazy drug works, otherwise we're going to have to kill him or something. Did you know they sell designer body bags for animals? And little cat coffins? I think that's fantastically hilarious. Please tell me one of you agrees?

]]> ~sliverofsilver http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/16058265/ http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/16058265/ Sun, 23 Dec 2007 12:13:21 PST Anyone feel like sharing their holiday plans? I myself am having surgery on the 26th. Yes that's right my foreign brethren: Boxing Day. But more importantly my day to turn into a useless blob. My family fails at planning.
Besides being a time of year to spend money one doesn't have, one should also give thanks. [link] is a website to send thanks to American troops for "fighting for our freedom" or something else equally inaccurate. However, troops are risking their lives for a cause they believe in, how many of us can say that? No matter your country, it would be nice for them to know their efforts and time away from home are appericiated on any scale because not all are as lucky as my cousin to have family.
If charity is more up your ally, [link] is a search engine that gives $0.01 to the charity of your choice for every search. Obviously, it requires very little effort. Thank you, Kate for finding this!
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

]]> ~sliverofsilver http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/15620641/ http://sliverofsilver.deviantart.com/journal/15620641/ Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:14:40 PST Why on earth do we celebrate Thanksgiving? Some stupid American holiday of "bringing the family together to be thankful." I'm personally more thankful when they leave.
It is a complete invasion...bringing their gluten food and eating our gluten-free. Stealing my bath towel. Running up and down the staircase at midnight...in sneakers. Everything stupid and small and utterly unimportant gets under my skin with them. I feel bad about it but they tend to be mean.
Although they always have interesting insight. Who knew every Muslim was out to kill us? Or that all gay people chose to be gay for attention? Or that poor people just don't work hard enough, that's why they're so poor? I certainly didn't. (They also can be stupid: "Isn't Africa a country with AIDS? What's Darfur? What's stem cell research?)
Advice on how I can be a perfect hostess to them and not end the week with felony charges?
Happy Thanksgiving to you Americans, Happy Belated Thanksgiving to you Canadians, and Happy Thursday to the rest of you!

]]> ~sliverofsilver