When the rain comes

October begins the rainy season here. Raindrops are falling on my head, plop plop drip drop.

I have a Humboldt Hydroponics hoodie, of forest green hue, so if the rain is mild, I can just cover my hair with the hood. If it rains harder, then I'll need a brolly (payung) or proper rain gear, I think I disposed of last year's set.

In the gallery, the artistic mask exhibition is up 'Maskibition', and the Coffee Opp is getting the coffee shop set up.



Shoshanna's dance group has a benefit for the coffee opp in Arcata: link

I must admit that I've never thought much of belly dancing, but as I watched them perform the sword dance at the Ink People's annual dinner (Brahm Craic), I was impressed with their synchronised and balanced performance art. Much more than simply wobbling their bellies.

Strange medicine? People can be so bizarre, no? Yikes!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7649851.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1634584.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7649876.stm

Eur-Asian inter-racial relationships at gene expression http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/2008/10/the_prenatal_wages_of_interrac.php#more


Why did I put this piccie here? I dunno. privyet. zhiv. da zvidanya.

Cinta: Tape (in Spanish, pita in Malay)
Pita: Flatbread (in Turkish, pizza in Italian, pet in Hebrew, pain in French, roti in Hindu)

The Great American Soda Pop Controversy

http://popvssoda.com:2998/
Gene expression: Razib's map

In USA, some people call soft drink like Pepsi as 'pop', others as 'soda', others call it Coke (even if it's Pepsi or Root Beer).

This reminded me of coconut in Malaysia, some call it 'nyiur' (probable shared origin of the English word 'nut' and Latin word 'nux'), others call it 'kelapa', some 'kopyor'. It would be neat to see that mapped out like above.

In US, also, the word for the upturned water faucet for drinking is 'water fountain' in some areas, 'bubbler' in others.

basketree

virtual pool (sape takut air, bole mandi disini)

your money or your life

Social status & derived financial valuation

http://ecocene.org/blog/?p=40

"This suggests that money and social standing are evaluated similarly, and can substitute for each other. However, it should be of little surprise that the same part of the brain that evaluates status also evaluates money. But money hasn’t been around forever… some part of the brain had to take on the task of handling it. This may explain why money equates so easily to social status; not just because we think of it in similar terms, but that the brain function that developed to measure social status took on the task of evaluating money."

translation: money-trade stemmed from social selection.

"During the game, they were told that fake contestants were doing better or worse than them. Individual's brains apparently react very strongly to the status of other players. So it seems like thinking that you are doing better than someone else has a stronger reaction than a monetary reward, even if it’s a complete stranger."

translation: you don't have to run faster than the lion, as long as you can run faster than the other person, preferably a stranger. Therefore, if a stranger seems to be ahead in the race, fear motivates and invigorates. In an anonymous society (cities), a clique of like-minded individuals forms to maintain a perceived lead against outgroups and non-group individuals, and expresses fitness (activity, glittery stuff to show up others), conformism (ritual, rule) to show allegiance.

Retail Shopping Science?

http://it.moldova.org/stiri/eng/68521/

aduh, nak stadi ituhkah? apenyo...

handbag mania! $260,000 for a purse (it's empty!)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/20/AR2007082001554.html?hpid=topnews

alamaaak!

I don't even have a wallet...
but since I also don't have any money...
um...did I say that out loud?
er...no i'm the Nor Calif of Kuala Walu Wiki so I am very rich and powerful!
Somebody else carries my money for me... i dunno whozat doe..