Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Radio Lab

So as you may or may not know, I am a huge public radio fan. I listen to NPR most of the day. One of my favorite public radio programs is a show that Emily turned me on to called Radio Lab from WNYC. I was listening to the latest short put out by Radio Lab on my I-pod while walking home from work tonight. It turned out to be a story about an old folks home in Germany. I am putting a link here so that you can listen to the show. What I want you to pay special attention to is the exchange between the radio host and the German interviewee on how to say a certain name.


The Bus Stop

By Lulu Miller



I have had nearly the exact conversation at least 20 times since I've been here. For example, the German name for Cologne is Koeln. I cannot for the life of me correctly pronounce this name. The conversations usually goes like this:

German: koouln

Me: koouln

German: (laugh) no, koouln

Me: koouln

German: no! koouln

Me: OK, koouln

German: listen! koouln!

Me: kooouuln

German: no....

.... well you get the picture.

Anyway, I felt a camaraderie with Lulu Miller when I listened to her go rounds with Regine :) I feel your pain Lulu!

Monday, March 22, 2010

All about Me!

Emily posted this on her blog so I thought I would respond. I know all my faithful readers are dying to know more about me :)


1. What time did you get up this morning?

9:00


2. Diamonds or pearls?

diamonds


3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

"Men Who Stare at Goats" or, as it was advertised "Männer die auf Ziegen starren (OmU)" (This is Emily's answer, but we went together)

4. What is your favorite TV show?

The Good Wife (currently)

5. What do you usually have for breakfast

cereal

6. What is your middle name?

Manning


7. What food do you dislike?

stinky cheese


8. What is your favorite CD at the moment?

I actually haven't listened to music in a while, just talk radio (NPR)

9. What kind of car do you drive?

My feet (also Emily's answer, but mine is the same)

11. What characteristic do you despise?

Greed

12. Favorite item of clothing?

my gray yoga pants

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?

New Zealand

14. Favorite brand of clothing?

don't really look at brands

15. Where would you retire?

Hmmm.... probably FL

16. What was your most memorable birthday?

the year I went to the beach for the drum circle

17. Favorite sport to watch?

Hockey

18. Furthest place you are sending this?

Not actually sending it anywhere, but I guess people will see it in the US

19. Person you expect to send it back first?

?

20. When is your birthday?

January 15

21. Are you a morning person or a night person?

Night

22. What is your shoe size?

8

23. Pets?

Ebony and Mattie came to Germany with me (2 cats), Lucy had to stay home with a friend (another cat)

24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?

I won an award for best presentation at a conference I went to recently

25. What did you want to be when u grew up?

Ballerina, actress, singer....

26. How are you today?

Pretty good, but it is time to go home! Working late.

27. What is your favorite candy?

M&Ms

28. What is your favorite flower?

Hibiscus and poppies


29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?

Weather is supposed to be nice on Saturday...

30. What are you listening to right now?

the rattle of the stirrer in my DGGE

31. What was the last thing you ate?

Some of the chocolate cherry cake that Katha made (also Emily's answer, but the last thing I ate as well)

32. Do you wish on stars?

absolutely :)

33. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

is there one that is a mixture of a lot of different colors? Wait... I think that's brown...

34. How is the weather right now?

warmish (60s) and overcast (ok, again... I'm in the same place as Emily)

35. The first person you spoke to on the phone today

Emily When she called to ask if I'd bring her wallet home from the lab

36. Favorite soft drink?

Dr. Pepper

37. Favorite restaurant?

Mellow Mushroom

38. Real hair color?

dark blond

39. What was your favorite toy as a child?

my imaginary friends?

40. Summer or winter?

summer

41. Hugs or kisses

can I have both?

42. Chocolate or Vanilla?

swirl

43. Coffee or tea?

coffee

44. Do you want your friends to email you back

sure

45. When was the last time you cried?

Listening to a radio lab show about a chimpanzee (Lucy)

46. What is under your bed?

cat poop

47. What did you do last night?

watched TV

48. What are you afraid of?

Not being good enough

49. Salty or sweet?

Sweet

50. How many keys on your key ring?

7

51. How many years at your current job?

2.5

52. Favorite day of the week?

Sunday

53. How many towns have you lived in?

Oh my.... 8?

54. Do you make friends easily?

yes

55. How many people will you send this to?

Again, not actually sending it

56. How many will respond?

not really applicable, but feel free to leave comments :)

Friday, March 19, 2010

Does anyone know what this is?

I tried to post this video to facebook in the hopes that one of my ichthyologist friends might know what it is. I found this fish on the bottom just off shore from Summerland Key, FL. Any ideas?


Tuesday, March 2, 2010

der Schweiz

Here are my pictures from my recent trip to Switzerland. We had a lovely time and the Alps were beautiful. A few snags here and there, but overall a great trip!