I don’t know why, but each night I start a new post. And the next night, I open my laptop and see that I never even did anything with that post. I think I just keep getting distracted by stumbleupon, and emails, and Tim and Po. I’m not really blaming anyone. My brain is easily distracted.
Tim didn’t believe me that n was an actual thing. I like to relate this back to the saying ‘the nth degree’, is the furthest possible point to take something. Coming from a mathematical point of view, I’d relate that back to polynomials (i.e. from Wikipedia: “The degree of a polynomial is the highest degree for a term with non-zero coefficient in a polynomial expressed in canonical form…“). Tim didn’t believe that ‘n’ stood for anything other than just an unknown number. ‘N’ is used to refer to the set of all natural numbers, which is infinite, but countable (countably infinite).
In any case, I’m going to make the connection between the saying and the definition of ‘n’.
Tim and I are going to Wellington next weekend. That also means that next weekend is my birthday! I’m happy about it. Also, it’s Easter, so it’s fun. I don’t know what I want for my birthday (other than a MacBook Pro, which I know I won’t get), but I know what I don’t want:
* tickets to that Justin Bieber movie
* John Howard’s book
* polyester pyjamas
* capsicum
* ennui
Actually, I was keen on the idea of getting a new tattoo for my birthday, as a present to myself, but I am so far without any clue as to who is a decent artist here in Sydney. I have done a little bit of research, but so far all the ones I like the look of seem to be booked out for at least 18 months. I know it’s good to think about tattoos and be sure of it and everything, but I feel like I’ve been thinking about this now for years. I want a new tattoo! I think I want a koi. But I’m not sure where, so I guess I would still have to think about that. It’d be good to have the tattoo artist to discuss it with, because I think they’d have good suggestions as well.
I’d like to post some pictures, but I can’t seem to create paths on the server (for image files). I’m not sure what the problem is, but I also don’t have the time or inclination to do further research into it right now, especially when I can just use photobucket.
Also, I did this thing called the Pierley/Redford Dissociative Affect Diagnostic (found through Stumbleupon) and here’s what it came up with for me:
Fond of tradition, but attached more to the joy of human interaction, you are often a beacon of hope to those members of society who have lost faith or who are in need of succor. You are often emotional, and this emotionality is rarely held in check. Kind and helping by nature, when affronted you will explode, and just as suddenly when the pain has passed return to normalcy again. On occasion this quick and vibrant emotionality is translated into a life on the stage or screen. You have a strong sense of right and wrong, but can sometimes be left confused and uncertain in times of stress or when tough decisions must be made. You avoid conflict, tending to stay out of trouble in hopes that the group will benefit most from this behavior. Because you have trouble putting your own needs first, you will be put in much stress if you find yourself in an unequal relationship, one in which your partner is not as giving as you are.
So, in some ways it’s scarily accurate. But countering that is the fact that I did this test a few days ago (on the weekend, I think) and it said something different (I can’t remember the answers I gave that time) which was also quite accurate, but in different ways. I’m not saying that it’s not a clever program, because it’s got more insight than any online test I could make, but maybe it’s only relevant for the mood that you’re in at that point in time. Make up your own mind on it here.
Here are some things you might see in Sydney:

Man in tree in Wentworth Park

Myer at Chatswood
Targeting mutant children for their latest formalwear collection

Outside Myer, corner of Market & George Sts
Who is this woman? It’s a mystery. And that’s why, so is mankind.

In a shop that’s part of the same building as the Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney
This doll wants to steal your soul and drag it into the depths of hell.

In Haymarket (Chinatown)
A happy, ursine mannequin (Rilakkuma!)

At Taronga Zoo
‘I wonder what happens when I put my hand here?’
Lastly, you should read A Small Free Kiss in the Dark by Glenda Millard. I know it’s technically young adult fiction, but it’s just a good book. The writing flows easily; Glenda Millard is a pro story-teller.
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