Alex's Journal

( After the cut, answers! )

So I think this round definitely goes to Simon. ;)

Answers below the cut:

( This cut here )

So as you can see, 1) my randomizer is broken, 2) I barely listen to music made after 2005, and 3) I like musicals... ;)

This is actually a shortened version of a Harvard Dialect Survey (link goes to results page).

What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
TPing.

What is the bug that when you touch it, curls into a ball?
Potato bug (I've also heard it called a pillbug, but not often). Most other people I've seen have called this a "roly-poly", which I have NEVER heard them called before.

What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
Coke. I'm also comfortable with both soda AND pop (but never both together).

What do you call gym shoes?
Running shoes. 'Sneakers' is also OK, but I'd generally say running shoes.

What do you say to address a group of people?
You guys.

What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
Daddy long-legs.

What do you call your grandparents?
Grandma (both mom & stepdad's mothers), Grandpa (stepdad's father), Granddad (mom's father), Nonna and Nonno (dad's parents). (I don't see my stepmother's parents very often.)

What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
Shopping cart.

What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
Sun shower.

What is the thing you change the TV channel with?
A [TV] remote. I'm trying to think what it could possibly be called otherwise. A clicker?


Some questions that weren't in the meme, but that I pulled from the survey:

Would you say "Are you coming with?" as a full sentence, to mean "Are you coming with us?"
Yes, although I'd probably just say "You coming with?"

Would you say "where are you at?" to mean "where are you?"
Again, this would probably be shortened entirely to "Where you at?" The "are" is extraneous. ;)

Which terms do you prefer for a sale of unwanted items on your porch, in your yard, etc.?
Garage sale.

What term do you use to refer to something that is across both streets from you at an intersection (or diagonally across from you in general)?
Kitty-corner.

What is your *general* term for a big road that you drive relatively fast on?
Highway.

What word do you prefer: trash can, garbage can, rubbish bin, waste(paper) basket, these words refer to different things, or other?
Trash or garbage (can).

What do you call a drive-through liquor store?
"Terrified that such things exist".

So sasuran gave me another four fandoms to answer for. (P.S. If anyone else feels like doing this, just ask? :D;)

Harry Potter

I'm a big fan of Hermione and Draco. (Not together, just in general.) I know everyone hates Draco except when he is angstily fucking with Harry, but man. I just do. It's hard to write an antagonist that is posturing that hard and is really just scared to shit of his life.

And Hermione, well, she's just awesome.

Sandman

Death and Desire, though it's actually hard to say I like anyone in Sandman (what I've finished of it anyway). Not that I don't enjoy the series, or the characters, but... yeah.

The Princess Bride

Heh, I know serrico disagrees with me ;) but Inigo Montoya. (Close second goes to Westley, third to the grandfather (movie) or 'editor' (book).)

Why? Because he's devoted, dedicated, charming, and smart. And also "STOP SAYING THAT!" ;)

I also kind of have a Thing for Mandy Patinkin.

X-Men

Keeping in mind that for me, the only real X-Men is the '80s/'90s cartoon X-Men? It's all about the Gambit. I have this thing for men with accents, as we can totally tell. ;)

I'm staying at work late (as usual, but kind of purposelessly today until a fax comes in). So, here, a holiday wishlist meme.


Step One

Make a post (public, friendslocked, filtered...whatever you're comfortable with) to your LJ. The post should contain your list of 10 holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fun ("I'd love a Snape/Hermione icon that's just for me") to medium ("I wish for _____ on DVD") to really big ("All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV.") The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.

If you wish for real possible things, make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it's your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) could get in touch with you.

Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your LJ, or link to this post so that the holiday joy will spread.


Step Two

Surf around your friendslist (or friendsfriends, or just random journals) to see who has posted their list. And now here's the important part:

If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true. Sometimes someone's trash is another's treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don't want or a gift certificate you won't use--or even know where you could get someone's dream purebred Basset Hound for free--do it. Once a wish has been granted, it will be crossed off my list.

You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday elf--to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not--it's your call.

There are no rules with this project, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just...wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.

The List

1. Fanart. I know most of y'all don't have much idea about my characters and stuff as of late, but I do occasionally still post stuff on my DeviantArt account. Right now I'm playing modern-day Nadja, D&D Danielle (who has a couple of faces; ask me!), Thorn, a half-elf barbarian, and a Log Cabin (that's a lie; to be a Log Cabin Republican, he'd have to not be so far in the closet "he's in NAAAAAAAARNIA", thank you Meagan) Republican as played by Steve Buscemi. And I will always love and treasure Az fanart especially with D'or in I have this thing okay?.

2. Singing lessons. Bonus points if you can find them in Bramptonia, because I sure as hell can't. I used to have a range, you guys. Okay, so I was never going to be a pop star or opera diva like some of you ;), but I've forgotten how to breathe properly and my range is now less than two octaves. It is kind of pathetic.

3. ...a new car.

Note: in between writing #2 and #3, I was in a car accident where I was rear-ended into another car. The other two cars took minimal damage; my car is probably a write-off. Merry Christmas! And it wasn't even snowing. :P *sigh* Also now my neck really hurts. *sulk*

4. XBox points card and/or Gold membership. Honestly I don't play many games, but I'd like to compete in Rock Band and I'd like to download Portal.

5. Baked goods of most fashions. I have a sweet tooth. It is probably about to fall out of my head.

6. Massages! Professional or otherwise. Not until I get the all-clear from the doctor, but I like massages.

7. A maid for a day. The apartment is awful and Patrick and I are not keeping up. Must also be able to iron and not flee screaming from Patrick.

8. Books! I need the new Pratchett; I like urban fantasy and fantasy-fantasy, though generally I prefer quasi-historical fantasy (meaning light on the elves and such; more like Kushiel's Dart or ASOIAF). I also like vampires. A lot.

9. God, I don't even know. Cool things.

10. Inspiration and/or interestingness, things which I am sorely lacking. Also time (n.b.: not for fighting).

Ganked from harukami:

(You can pick any of my characters really since right now I only have one. ;P)

GIVE ME A CURRENT CHARACTER I PLAY SOMEWHERE AND I WILL TELL YOU:

01.) Full name?
02.) Best friend?
03.) Sexuality?
04.) Favorite color?
05.) Relationship status?
06.) Ideal mate?
07.) Turn-ons?
08.) Last sexual experience?
09.) Favorite food?
10.) Crushes?
11.) Favorite music?
12.) Biggest fear?
13.) Biggest fantasy?
14.) Quirks in bed?
15.) Bad habits?
16.) Biggest regret?
17.) Best kept secrets?
18.) Last thought?
19.) Worst sexual/romantic experience?
20.) Biggest insecurity?

RULES: (follow at your leisure)
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle. (Am I the only one that still uses Winamp?)
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Write down whatever snarky returns come to your mind afterward.

( Below the cut! )

http://www.ironicsans.com/state22.html

How many States can you name in 10 minutes?

I managed 37, missing:

( No cheating! )

Doooo zem. :P

Johari Window (pick positive aspects you see in me)
Nohari Window (pick negative aspects you see in me)

Dude, I never realized how small Alberta was (population-wise, not size-wise, that is).

As in, 2/3 the square kilometres of Ontario and 1/10 the population.

As in, Toronto (well, GTA) has more people than Alberta. Hell, has almost double the Alberta population. (And almost half the population of Ontario lives in the GTA.)

Dude, I had no idea it was that extreme a difference.

...dude.

Pop quiz!

Without checking Wikipedia, can you list the 13 provinces and territories in order of population size?

For bonus points: in terms of percentage, how does PEI compare to all three territories?

Extra bonus points: do you remember all your capitals? I don't! Wait, maybe I do... ...no, no, I made the Quebec mistake. Dammit! This is like Alaska: people [me] assume the biggest city is the capital. (But I do know Alaska's capital!)

Wow, 6/13. I am BALLS at geography.