Planning a trip down to the LA area this weekend for a potentially once-in-a-lifetime experience. Some of the astonishingly well-preserved Tarim mummies from China will be in a little Santa Ana museum, and considering I mentioned them in my thesis, I am definitely going to see them! To explain my comment about once-in-a-lifetime, I quote…
A friend amusedly pointed out that I seem to be educationally following Arthur C. Clarke’s “Odyssey” books: I graduated with a bachelor’s in 2001, and with my master’s in 2010. I laughed when he mentioned it, and later curiously checked. Weren’t there supposed to be more books in the series? I was, after all, still…
The other really nice display on a 3-dimensional model was of a 19th-20th century shaman in full regalia. I was inordinately delighted by this (much to the continued amusement of my companions), excitedly pointing out the large, flat, bodhran-like drum (unfortunately unpainted with helpful symbols, which made me wonder if it had actually been used…
We have the same situation of frustratingly half-told stories occurring repeatedly in the Tech’s exhibit. For example, exactly one sentence was dedicated to Genghis’ daughters, stating that one of them led a successful conquest of a particular city. Why wasn’t there more said about her in the signs? We weren’t even given her name! If…
Try any of these books for more on this fascinating and amazing era. The Secret History of the Mongols was written a scant 20 years or so after Genghis’ death, and is startlingly realistic instead of sycophantically complimentary. The author of the other two books is eminently readable and well researched. I especially recommend the…
Thesis has been signed off! Passed with flying colors! Graduation was wonderful! ;) Very sleep deprived. Having occasional weird giggle fits. Conversation with a long-suffering friend on-line: J says “Congratulations at the end of your thesis! Now that it’s over, can I ask… what was it about? :)” Collie looks boggled, “About? Er… they’re supposed…
Laughing Collie has been temporarily replaced by Happy Fun Thesis-Collie. Warning: Pregnant women, the elderly, and children under 10 should avoid prolonged exposure to Happy Fun Thesis-Collie. Caution: Happy Fun Thesis-Collie may suddenly accelerate to dangerous speeds. If Happy Fun Thesis-Collie begins to smoke, get away immediately. Seek shelter and cover head. Do not taunt…
I recently participated in a photo shoot with some friends and classmates. The photographer (also a classmate) was experimenting with women’s perceptions of themselves, to write a paper for the Metaformic Theory class (for more on that fascinating subject, please read more at Metaformia.org). She asked us to bring to the shoot our choice of…
Now that I think about it, I realize there was a constant emphasis of the Pharaoh — a symbol of rightness and order? — triumphing over entangled, combative animals. Do the raging animals symbolize the disorder and “unright” chaos of the assaulting foreigners? Further (in a personally exciting moment of inspiration) I wonder: does this…
For my birthday in October, my wonderful housemate took me to see the display on King Tutankhamen at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco. It was, quite simply, amazing. Not only were the precious items quite breathtaking, but the information which accompanied the display was fascinating. There was some history on King Tut, including probable…