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Meet the Ipsums. A site that collates the various lorem ipsum generators from across the intarweebs. I think one of my favorites is Corporate Ipsum: "Efficiently unleash cross-media information without cross-media value. Quickly maximize timely deliverables for real-time." Also, Cat Ipsum*, Coffee Ipsum**, Sagan Ipsum***, and more!


* "Under the bed all of a sudden go crazy chase mice. Stand in front of the computer screen chase imaginary bugs and chew foot swat at dog. Intently stare at the same spot. Lick butt throwup on your pillow yet all of a sudden go crazy so leave dead animals as gifts, for chew iPad power cord need to chase tail. Why must they do that mark territory for burrow under covers for nap all day use lap as chair yet nap all day but chase mice. Stick butt in face shake treat bag and attack feet burrow under covers. "

** "Extraction at single origin, seasonal latte et strong single origin single shot cappuccino coffee lungo. Organic kopi-luwak americano ut siphon aftertaste skinny variety at aftertaste so plunger pot."

*** "A billion trillion, not a sunrise but a galaxyrise globular star cluster, Orion's sword network of wormholes the carbon in our apple pies cosmic fugue? Gathered by gravity the carbon in our apple pies extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence circumnavigated, rich in heavy atoms shores of the cosmic ocean two ghostly white figures in coveralls and helmets are soflty dancing rich in mystery dream of the mind's eye."

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Yesterday afternoon I finished the seventh of the six physical therapy sessions approved by the insurance* and they beat the hell out of me--increasing my weights for the weight-bearing ones, and introducing a few new exercises. I texted Toby once I got in the car and told him that if he got a sudden wild hair to suggest a quick workout once I got home, divorce was an option. Which means I'm achy all over (they don't just focus on the wrist, but on other parts of the body that support the wrist, especially the shoulders), especially in my right hand, and cranky from that.

This morning, Toby got up at the crack of too early and took the car in for a 7 AM appointment to get it inspected after this weekend's accident (I stayed in bed, reasoning that it was his punishment for crashing my car). Result: no structural damage that they can see without actually taking off the bumper, body damage that will cost just about $1000 to fix. We're on the hook for only $500 of that, as that's the deductible. Current plans are to take it in on Monday and get a rental car then--paid for by the insurance, yay, although I know from experience that the rental company will try like hell to get us to increase the number of "services" and such that we sign up for.

Today is the final, I hope, doctor's appointment for my wrist RSI, after which I will either be released into the wild to take my chances, or I will be condemned to more physical therapy. Hopefully the fact that my problem seems to have vanished will help with that. :)

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* Yeah, I don't know, either. At this point, I'm mostly crossing my fingers and hoping that they all of a sudden don't realize that the numbers don't add up and sock me with a bill for the last session. It was all a tangled mess to start with in which both sides were pointing fingers at the other.

Today I'm reading...

...the sample for Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages. If it tells you anything, after I finished the sample, I immediately turned on wifi and bought the book, but didn't read more than a couple of pages further once it had downloaded because the restaurant I was sitting in at lunch was unexpectedly crowded and I felt guilty for taking up a table after I'd finished eating, even though my original plan had been to sit and read at my leisure until my lunch hour was just about over, then walk back to work.

Turns out, Free Tea Day at McAlister's Deli is a really big deal.

Anyway, the sample intrigued me. Guy Deutscher is arguing that yes, language reflects culture in important ways, but not in the stereotypical ways: the old canards such as Germans are ruthless and efficient, and their language is, too, etc. I shall probably be able to explain better after reading it.

As far as free tea day goes, while I didn't get any because I'm not that fond of iced tea, even though I keep trying to be so I don't drink as much soda, Toby likes iced tea and loves McAlister's iced tea (which I believe is plain old Lipton's, or close to). I texted him about it and we shall probably have dinner there, as there's nothing in our pantry and fridge that doesn't require more prep than we really want to put into dinner today. In conclusion, free tea.

Edit: I just came across this hilarious one-star review of the book in question, in which the reviewer takes the author to task for discussing the linguistic aspects of the Odyssey without mentioning what she believes is its central theme: the the world is incredibly sexist. Her replies to the comments on it are also gems. (She's read 96 books! OK, she probably meant "on the subject of linguistics," but still...)

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Also...How Not to Write, Market, and Sell a Supernatural Romance Novel.

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Man, my edit to the "Today I'm reading..." post didn't show up on LJ until I re-saved this post, so all of you reading only over there missed the hilarious one-star review of the book! Link to my post.