Unrecognized Pootential

Specifically to the other writer of this blog. 

Me: "It's kind of like a limb you can't control. Or even better.. imagine sleeping on your leg fat the wrong way. That shit hurts." 

Paul: "Question... Can your tits fall asleep?" 

How to pronounce Les Misérables  properly, according to Google Translate.

In French, Spanish, Italian and.... American.

Like any other self-respecting English gentleman living in the 19th century, I find the tophat to be the most elegant piece of haberdashery. Which is why I was so surprised to learn the first man to wear a top hat caused a mass panic. John Hetherington was a haberdasher and is credited with the invention of the tophat. Upon taking a stroll on January 15th, 1797 and placing his invention upon his head, all hell broke loose. It was reported that several women fainted at the sight, while children screamed at the horrendous piece of fashion and "dogs yelped." (Because apparently even dogs were offended by the shocking accessory.) A mob formed and ended up even trampling a young boy, breaking his arm. Hetherington was hauled off to court for his hat "which was shiny lustre and calculated to frighten timid people." He was officially charged with breach of peace and inciting a riot and was ultimately charged £500.

Queen Boudicca probably isn't a name you have heard before. For one thing, she wasn't a real queen. (At least not by the standard definitions.) We only have two primary sources which mention her at all, and both of these historians date back to the first or second century AD.

The short version: Romans are assholes and Boudicca tries to fight back. She loses. The End.

So why the fuck should you care? Because Boudicca was a bonafide badass that's why. During the first half of the first century AD, the native Britons/Celts lived in peace. But that all changed when the firenation Romans attacked. Emperor Claudius decided that the British isle looked like a lovely place for his vacation home (who wants a vacation home in England? It's always raining) and began colonization. Some native tribes submitted to the emperor hoping their people would be spared. 

Boudicca's husband tells the Romans leave me the fuck alone and I'll let you have half my land when I die. He left the rest of the land to his wife and daughters, because unlike pretty much every other civilization in existence during this time, the Celts knew what the hell gender equality was. Women could hold positions of authority or political power, own land, choose whom they married, and even initiate divorce. Boudicca's husband dies and the land is left jointly to her and the Emperor, right? No fuck that, newly crowned emperor Nero Caesar says woman aren't people and therefore all the land is his. 

So in the Romans go. They flog Boudicca and force her to watch as her 12 year old daughters are tortured and raped. And of course nobody in Rome expects a women to be powerful, so they let her go. Probably a bad idea, considering at this point she was pissed. Boudicca gathers up 1-2 hundred thousand of her closest buddies and starts going on a rampage. She and her little band of freedom fighters destroy two major cities before getting to London. London (Londinium) was still a new settlement at the time, but it had a population of about 10,000. She sacks that too, beating up every pussy Roman general she found. She rode around in a chariot fighting these guys off with both her daughters fighting alongside. I don't know about you, but after turmoil like that, if you see one of those woman riding straight for you with a spear you fucking run. The only sources we have describe Boudicca as a half naked mad women with wild red hair and tattoos. (on second thought, maybe i wouldn't run away.)

I loved this article. Her voice and message are simple and articulate, but so very important. As someone that truly believes in the power of celibacy as a tool to gain balance and perspective in life, I found that this resonated strongly with me. Especially the point she makes about 'growing into our selves'. Keep in mind that I am in no way religious and my drive to explore what celibacy could offer me was strictly rooted in a desire to know myself. As a woman, I've found the constant mantra of "will men like me if I do this" to be unbelievably limiting. How many things have I not done or second guessed, not just because they may not be 'socially' acceptable, but because I may been seen as less of a woman or too 'masculine' to be attractive? 

Now, I don't blame 'men' or 'society' for this, because, when it comes down to it, all of those constructs and identities are irrelevant. What is important is the realization that I don't want to live a life like that. And the true undeniable beauty of the situation is that I don't have to. I have a choice. Every single day, I make choices. And today, I chose to define myself, rather than let myself be defined. 

Paul being studious in Historiography:

An ongoing study of the linguistic styling of the professor, who is essentially an Australian version of Mr. Mackey. The few times he doesn't end a sentence with "mmmkay" he'll end it with "alright". Here are my lecture "notes".

Log for Professor Byers

January 15th, 2013: Times Words "mmmkay", "ok", "right?" & "alright?" spoken

Note: Any word above or variation of was omitted from the tally if used with purpose of in response to a student.

Tally began 5 minutes after start of lecture. Lecture lasted 1hr 15 min.

Total Count: 347

Avg per minute: 4.96

Estimate for lost time: approx 25

Adjusted total: 372

Next class: detailed break down of 'mmkay/ok' vs 'right/alright'

January 29th, 2013: "mmmkay/ok" vs "right/alright:

Note: Any word above or variation of was omitted from tally if used with purpose or in response to a student.

Tally began at start of lecture. Lecture lasted 1hr 15min.

Mmmkay/ok Total: 206 (67.8%)

Right/alright Total: 98 (32.2%)

Grand Total: 304

Avg per minute: 4

Fuck yeah, pie charts.