(no subject)

[emerald_skies]

Since I can't figure out a way to make this post tie together topic-wise, I'm going to do this in list form:

1) I've seen at least three different dudebros riding child-sized bikes around campus today. Is this a thing now? For comedic purposes, I hope so -- the size difference between the dudebros and their bikes was pretty damn funny -- but, on the other hand, it just seems...pointless. I don't get it but, then again, I'm aware that I live under a pretty giant metaphorical rock. Thoughts from people who don't?


2) In the course of poking around the internet this morning (as you do), I stumbled across a quite fascinating article indeed examining how the wackier fundies misinterpret, misconstrue, or otherwise warp a few common biblical passages in order to condemn homosexuality (and all the reasons -- including historical context and talking about language -- why they're wrong). For a bonus point that ought to shut said wacky fundies up, the author has a doctoral degree from a biblical seminary and has been studying the Bible exhaustively for the last 50 years.

For an example of a fascinating point from the article, did y'all know that neither Hebrew nor Ancient Greek (aka significant biblical languages) have a specific word for 'homosexual'? I sure as hell didn't, and I'm a language geek. So really, it's an informative read (and pretty entertainingly written).

Side note: surprisingly enough, I found this article in the comments section of an ohnotheydidnt post. Go figure.


3) Internets, as some of you might have noticed, I occasionally hate my life (and frequently bitch about it). That isn't news though. This new reason why, however, is:

The sociology department of my university is sponsoring a study abroad trip to Poland. POLAND. I could pay an obscene amount of money to geek out about World War II (and Poland in general anyway, since I think it's interesting in its own right) and possibly visit the at least five Polish flisters that I can recall off the top of my head and maybe just possibly stalk Paweł a little.

Except I can't, for three reasons:

1) I can't afford it, and my family can't afford to spot me the money because one of my folks is having hip surgery in *glances at calendar* about a month and a half.
2) Because of said hip surgery, I have to spend all summer at the Ol' Homestead playing nursemaid/chaffeur and helping the physical therapist. I'm only slightly annoyed by this because it's relevant to my academic interests, but it's going to be...trying....nonetheless.
3) There are two summer classes I have to take in order to graduate on time.



Raptor Jesus (or whoever else happens to be listening up there), why can't I have nice things -- or, rather, why do nice things have to be so fucking expensive (and badly timed)? I realize that I have it pretty good for the most part, but some of these lost opportunities I keep getting faced with are just cruel.

Oh well, at least I found a way to sneak a Stark gif into this post (and to even make it relevant, wonder of wonders). Small blessings and all that.

-------

"I am a part of all that I have seen..." -- Alfred Lord Tennyson

-------

Cheers.

Comments

[eiirene.livejournal.com]

When I read Poland I was ready to start jumping up and down with joy, just saying. Oh well. But I'm sure you'll have a lot more occasions to visit, don't worry :)

Oh, and - Greek does have a word for homosexual, as far as I know ;)

[emerald-skies.livejournal.com]

Well, just to further mope in the missed opportunity, here's the location itinerary (rather than what sights will be seen):

Warsaw, Kraków, Oświęcim, and Częstochowa

Any of that jump out at you? (Besides Warsaw and Kraków, obviously)

Oh, and - Greek does have a word for homosezual, as far as I know ;)

Really? Can you source that? It's fine if I'm wrong, I just want to include some proof in the edit I'll add.

[jean-iris.livejournal.com]

Aw, pity about this trip to Poland. Especially since I live VERY close to Oświęcim and pretty close to Kraków and Częstochowa.

BTW, love how you wrote every city's proper Polish name, with the weird letters and all :D You could replace Warsaw with Warszawa and have the whole set XD

[emerald-skies.livejournal.com]

I knew there was a reason Oświęcim sounded so familiar! All the more reason to be disappointed :(

BTW, love how you wrote every city's proper Polish name, with the weird letters and all :D You could replace Warsaw with Warszawa and have the whole set XD

I'm sorry to puncture my air of apparent cleverness, but you should know that I only managed that through some major-league copy/paste XD

[jean-iris.livejournal.com]

Auschwitz is just a German word for Oświęcim, so that's where the trip would be going to visit the concentration camp. And yes, we once talked about its proximity to my hometown.

Heeeee :D Well, kudos for the effort (and giving enough damn to make it in the first place) ;)

[eiirene.livejournal.com]

But it's amazing that you even bother to copy/paste that, most people probably wouldn't :P

Oświęcim probably sounds familiar because there was a concentration camp during the war.

[emerald-skies.livejournal.com]

...I think I fail as a World War II geek for not knowing that Oświęcim = Auschwitz. As jean_iris mentioned, I only recognized the name because she mentioned it once in relation to where she lived *headdesk*

[eiirene.livejournal.com]

Geez, I'm so tired I fail at hitting 'reply' -.-


Yes, all of them :P
Hey, but think of it this way - if you visited now, what is the chance you would go back soon? And I'm not living there now. So you should definitely wait a bit :P

My friend is Greek, I can ask her when I see her to make sure. But try google translate, it says the word exists :)

[idrilka.livejournal.com]

My friend is Greek, I can ask her when I see her to make sure. But try google translate, it says the word exists :)
But maybe it's about ancient Greek, not the contemporary Greek language used in Greece nowadays?

[eiirene.livejournal.com]

Mhm, I finished reading the article now, so that would be the obvious conclusion.

In 1958, for the first time in history, a person translating that mysterious Greek word into English decided it meant homosexuals, even though there is, in fact, no such word in Greek or Hebrew.
So the translation is obviously from ancient Greek, though there is a word for it now.

[idrilka.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I've just woken up from a nap and I'm on strong painkillers, so my comprehension skills may be a little bit lacking right now. XD

[eiirene.livejournal.com]

...is everybody sleeping today? I thought that was just me, but obviously it's not xD

[idrilka.livejournal.com]

Sure looks like that... XD

[idrilka.livejournal.com]

Damn, I live very close to Oświęcim, and Kraków and Częstochowa are not that far away either. It's a sad, sad situation indeed. :(

[kubis.livejournal.com]

POLAND! That would be great, especially since I live in Kraków and as I read above, it's where you'd be. But hey, if not this time, maybe somewhere in the future? Hopefully. :D

[emerald-skies.livejournal.com]

Well, visiting Poland is on my personal list of things to do before I die, so it will happen someday (even if I have to hide in a cargo ship or something like that to get there), the question is just when. The answer to which, right now, is "not soon enough" ;__;

[mcl4r3n.livejournal.com]

*hugs BB* I'm sorry Poland is probably a no go. Maybe you could save up to take a trip to Poland when you graduate? In travel-related news, my Germany trip is now looking like it's going to be second week in April at the earliest *shakes fist* I was supposed to be there months ago! Stupid timing is stupid. Stark does make things the teensiest bit better, though :)

Speaking of Stark, it looks like I will be able to get off work earlier than ass o'clock on Thurs. Could I possibly interest you in some vamp-writing action? Tough sell, I know XD

[emerald-skies.livejournal.com]

Stupid timing is stupid indeed (although, purely out of selfish reasons, I can't complain too much about your case :P)

Could I possibly interest you in some vamp-writing action?

Gosh, I don't know, let me think about i-- YES.

[mcl4r3n.livejournal.com]

purely out of selfish reasons, I can't complain too much about your case :P

It's true, at least I get to go. Ignore me. I'm just growing more bitter the longer this project drags out because it means more work for me later, and less time to do it in.

YES

Sweet!

[michelleantonia.livejournal.com]

You should so go! Częstochowa, that's where my dad's family is from! The smaller towns in the area. Wroclaw is the other one, it's smaller than Warsawa, but still a formidable and beautiful city. I'm due for a visit back, I should tag along with you ;) Going with your school is always tricky though, I understand. And it's kind of better, I think, to be able to make up your trip as you go along. Adventure always happens that way ;)

It's weird because suddenly, there's a bunch of young celebs that are Polish, if not by birth, then blood (first genners, like me). Pawel, obv, Paul Wesley, Mia Wasikowska, Yvonne Strahovski.. that's kinda exciting to me XD

I always wonder how non Polish speakers say "Pawel"... or do they just call him Paul? LOL I guess Paul Wesley took the shortcut.

[pau494.livejournal.com]

Poland! I'd love to go. I'D LOVE TO GO EVERYWHERE, REALLY. But yes, World War II and Pawel!stalking. Man, I'm sorry you can't make that trip. *ALL THE HUGS*

I'm bookmarking that article for later!