supernova, potato, whatever

Apparently, NASA scientists have seen the brightest supernova ever recorded. The artist's illustration of it, though, makes it look like an exploding potato ... with diamonds on the inside.

NASA via AP(Wash Post)

you know you're in college when ....

This is so true. I agree with almost half of these.

boy had spiders in his ear

A 9-year-old in Oregon heard "Rice Krispies" sounds in his ear, and when his doctor irrigated it, he found two spiders.

Palfrey gets new attorney

According to the Washington Post, federal court has appointed a new, better, more reputable lawyer for Deborah Palfrey. Montegomery Blair Sibley has been replaced.

Palfrey's lawyer's story's interesting, too

Montegomery Blair Sibley, the lawyer representing Deborah Jeane Palfrey in the D.C. prostitution (madam, escort service) case has a most interesting background of his own.

new header!

This is a photo of a bench at the Museum Park next to the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, East London. It was beautiful -- covered in newly fallen autumn leaves that crunch with every step. Made me want to roll around on it.

If you know me, you would know that I obviously didn't. Ew.

stubborn rash

It's still here. In fact, the original patches (fields?) have now dissipated, but in its place are new patches (fields?) of itchy, red fun. The stronger antihistamine the doctor gave me (hydroxyzine) is only working marginally well. What I REALLY want is a scratch test so I know what the hell is going on.

rash-tastic

I have developed hives and rash in multiple areas. Hives on: arms, armpit and butt/lower lower back. Rash on upper thighs near hips, armpits, just above and below armpits, back in the area of my bra straps. It's really itchy. It's not as bad as the beechwood allergy attack, but this time, I have no idea what triggered it.

It started around 2:30 this afternoon at work, when the kids are watching the DVD of their play, and I felt really itchy in my armpits and on my arms. I looked in the mirror after dismissal, and I have a rash. I asked the school nurse fo Benedryl cream and went to my last poli sci lecture. It got worse when I got home. It sprea to its current state, and I took Benedryl pills about an hour and a half ago. We'll see how it goes. Tomorrow morning, I'm heading to MGH walk-in clinic to wait in line for three hours just in case.

I have pictures of aforementioned rash and hives, but I'll save my flab-ulous photos for the docs just in case. :)

new Hillary Clinton bio comes out

Carl Bernstein, who reported on the Watergate scandal, has a book coming out on Hillary Clinton's "true" story of her life. It's unauthorized, but it's apparently very well sourced and written.

worse than the worst

The Washington Post has a blog entry about the Barkley Marathons, an endurance test equivalent to Mt. Everest climbs.

an amazing cellist dies

I've been playing (learning) the cello for only about five months, so I'm definitely not up on my cello/cellist knowledge (as proven by each visit to the cello repair shop), but apparently, one of the greatest cellists in the 20th century died today.

Calif. teachers dropping like flies

It's true what they say about teachers ... they're leaving in droves. According this story, money isn't the only thing making them quit. Teachers want better administrators, more support and parents who care (gasp!). More money wouldn't hurt, either. I'm trying to choose between teaching and copy-editing, and right now, copy-editing has the edge.

MIT dean of admissions resigns

The dean of admissions for MIT has resigned. She did not receive degrees from the universities listed on her resume. Matriculation decisions for incoming freshmen are due Tuesday.

New Mike, old Christine -- Los Angeles Times

Mike Penner, a sportswriter at L.A. Times, is going to undergo transexual surgery. He wrote a column about it.

Genevieve's site

My friend Genevieve has a cool art site.

new home!

Welcome to my new home! If you are a returning reader (hi guys!), I hope you like the new look. I've been getting a few hits from suspicious (read: creepy) IP addresses lately, so hopefully that will stop. Old posts have been imported onto this one. Enjoy.

If you're new, here're some tidbits about me. I'm a grad student at Boston College, working on my master's degree in secondary education. My bachelor's is in print journalism from the University of Southern California. I identify myself as a copy editor before a teacher, but I think it might be because I have more experience (read: lots and lots of internships) in the former.

So take a look around! Have a wonderful day! :)

moving soon

Sadly, I will be moving this blog elsewhere in the near future, after my last final on May 7. I haven't decided where or what it will be called, but Watermelon Singing will remain on Blogspot for archival purposes. I will let everyone know the whens and wheres of the new blog. Now, back to the paper.

e-mail your future self!

Send an e-mail to yourself to be delivered in the future. Anytime in the future. A year from now, ten years, hell, 25 years. It's pretty cool. Read some of what people are telling themselves in the future!

Stephanie Edwards should've stayed!

What's WRONG with people? Stephanie Edwards is a great singer, and her song was good last night! You know who REALLY should've been voted off? SANJAYA! WTF. He can't sing. He can't dance. And he comes off really fake. Seriously. Stephanie was awesome. American Idol is wrong. I don't think Sanjaya's going to be voted off anytime soon because of all the crazy, deranged people out there who think it's cute to keep the worst singer in the SINGING competition. But he needs to go.

messy = more productive

It's official! Messy people are MORE PRODUCTIVE than you neat-freaks who spend your time cleaning your room and "arranging" things. So there.