Because I can, and if I can, I must (according to Mogge)

So, I thought I'd share a few little amusements... for no other reason than the fact that I like videos and words and music and suchlike.

First of all, Taylor Mali. This guy is awesome. He does these poem/speech thingies that are super and wonderful. Like The Impotence of Proofreading , Like, You Know, and What Teachers Make. Yeah.

I really like music (rock, folk, Celtic, awesomeness) so... I guess I'll pick a band to feature... Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Awesome rock group with a sort of folksiness. Their songs are very calm and often quite deep. Faves: Southern Cross (w/ lyrics), Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (from Woodstock) , and I guess.. Cathedral . It's not my favorite but I couldn't find a good version of Carry On/Questions.

Also, I really like Billy Joel. He's awesome. The voice is incredible. So, this song, and this one, and that also. That's all for now.

It's Academic Tomorrow!

This is a friendly reminder from your local It's Academic fanatic that tomorrow is the final round! Featuring Montgomery Blair vs. Holton Arms vs. Eubie Blake Taping at 10:15 AM at NBC Studios, 4001 Nebraska Ave NW DC, followed by Super Bowl. This is the first time in quite a while we've come this far, so be sure to pull yourself out of bed and cheer us on!

Props to Raconteur for mentioning McAuliffe in his post. I'll take a leaf from Schafer's book and drop an It's Academic fact of the day: McAuliffe is the general famous for replying with a single word to a demand for surrender from the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge during WWII. The word? Historians insist he sent back the word "Nuts" but others contend that it was, in fact, a much different four letter word not fit for publication in this blog.

What's your exodus?

Not too soon after closure of the banished exams, the year's end is just around the corner. Nevertheless, the stress, the angst, and the nerve-wracking anticipation are still overwhelming! But what we've done is irreversible, and what we have yet to do is being procrastinated upon (unless you suck).

For those who cant stand the wait and those who cant bear the frustrations of the impeding end, remember: what's done is done and you've tried your best. Look forward to your future journeys with high hopes and secure expectations that with each step, you will become a magnitude freer.

We all want extrication and we've all built ourselves around that desire. Yet each of us dreams of realizing a different exodus. For me, I simply want to be raised out of my incendiary paper-castle and lifted towards the loftiest clouds of pleasure. What's your exodus?

Welcome!

So, after combing the internet for your next daily dose of LOLs, you've stumbled across our little blog. Either that or you haplessly clicked a link in one of our writer's G-Talk status. However you found "Nuts," welcome!

"Nuts," as the name suggests, is a blog designed by, and written by a collection of students with both too much time on their hands (time that could be probably better spent on more important stuff... like life) and the mental delirium necessary to foster and nurture this type of blog. The name "Nuts" actually has a deeper meaning than this but Wikipedia is far more eloquent on this subject than we are.

Posts consist of either random thoughts that contributors thought would be interesting (at least to themselves) or columns. Currently, we have four columns: "Back Inside" written by yours truly and eatYourOats, "It's Academic" daily trivia, "Song of the day" articles written by Diana and a series of animal articles looking at the adorable animals we love and they adore.

So, if we haven't scared you off yet, welcome to "Nuts." Enjoy your stay and please shut the door if you're the last one out. You with me so fah?

Ever find a song...

...that you just can't stop listening to? Just recently I re-discovered the song "Cad E' Sin Don Te Sin" and have been listening to it obsessively ever since. This version, by Orla Fallon, is just absolutely lovely, despite the repetitiveness of the song, perhaps because of the gentle and lovely quality of her voice. You can listen to it here.

Lyrics (from getalyric.com):

Chuaigh mé 'un aonaigh 's dhíol mé mo bhó

Ar chúig phunta airgid 's ar ghiní bhuí óir

Má ólaim an t-airgead is má bhronnaim an t-ór

Ó caide sin don té sin nach mbaineann sin dó?



Má théim 'na choilleadh chraobhaigh 'cruinniú sméara nó cnó

A baint ullaí do ghéaga nó a buachailleacht bó

Má shínim seal uaire faoi chrann a dhéanamh só

Ó caide sin don té sin nach mbaineann sin dó?



Má théimse chuig airnéal 's rince 's spórt

Chuig aonaigh nó rásaí, 's gach cruinniú den tseoirt

Má bhíonn daoine súgach, 's má bhím súgach leo

Ó caide sin don té sin nach mbaineann sin dó?



Deir daoine go bhfuil mé gan rath is gan dóigh

Gan earraí, gan éadal, gan bólacht nó stór

Ach má tá mise sásta mo chónaí i gcró

Ó caide sin don té sin nach mbaineann sin dó?



Chuaigh mé 'un aonaigh 's dhíol mé mo bhó

Ar chúig phunta airgid 's ar ghiní bhuí óir

Má ólaim an t-airgead is má bhronnaim an t-ór

Ó caide sin don té sin nach mbaineann sin dó?



TRANSLATION

I went to the market and traded my cow

For five pounds in money and a gold guinea coin

If I drank all the money and my gold I did share

Since it's no one's concern, then so no one should care



If I go to the green woods wild berries to store

Plucking apples from bowers or herding the cows

If I relax in the shade for an hour or more

Since it's no one's concern, then so no one should care



If I go to the céilís, to dances or sports

Attend markets and races and events of that sort

If I see people merry and their merriment share

Since it's no one's concern, then so no one should care



People are saying I'm a cad gone astray

Without goods or possessions, no cow and no care

If it's my own desire to live in a craw

Since it's no one's concern, then so no one should care



I went to the market and traded my cow

For five pounds in money and a gold guinea coin

If I drank all the money and my gold I did share

Since it's no one's concern, then so no one should care