Cool. My country does free soil testing. I will dig up a sample and send it in next weekend!

You guys are so helpful!

Not drunk either. I have however been enjoying my Danger Days. Status report: the lesser tracks are growing on me with repeated listens. I prefer "Sing" on the iPhone to the TV. "Planetary (GO!)" is the most dance-around-in-your-chair-esque song I've heard in possibly years. So that's nice.

Pretty much my feelings exactly about that album. The song I disliked upon initial hearings I only like less than the rest now. It's a very "growing on you" album. Just don't play it while you're driving.

Just don't play it while you're driving.

Unless of course you're even now on your way to bust out a moppet from the clutches of The Man(droid).

OMG. I have 5 minutes to post here, to tell you I have missed you like you don't know what.

What kept me from posting was mostly Evil Bureaucracy that took full control of my life. I try to kill it; it survives. It seems that if you try to order a single paperclip in my campus, at least 2.5 departments have to approve said purchase. And what my center is trying to order, well, is a bit more than a paperclip. Anyway, the motherfuckers will continue to hunt me down for another 3 weeks or so. I'll try to bring the best of my nervous breakdowns here for your amusement. The highlight, of course, is people who are trying to convince me to buy their product using words and expressions such as "top of the line" and "performance". IN ENGLISH. I had to cover the receiver so they won't hear me laughing. But I have learned a lot of the strange world of people who try to sale me things I never asked for, and that when it comes to handle bureaucracy between 5 different departments in the university, it's best to lie through your teeth, compromise on shit you never asked for instead of things you really need and try not to wonder why, on earth, they care so much about spending money which isn't theirs or the university's, but an external fund's.

Phew. I needed that. They're driving me nuts.

Oh, and you also know what else I learned a hell lot about? The history of the U.S.! I'm taking a wonderful history seminar on the U.S. between 1820-1920 (mostly the South). And, well, I'm kindda ashamed to tell you how little I knew about American history. No, really. But I'm learning now, and all of the sudden, some things you say make sense.

My 5 minutes are almost up. Will update more later. But for now, my bitches, may I say how much I love you and missed you and my God, why don't I have enough time to post here regularly?!

We miss you too, Shir!

(Not to speak for everyone, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's true.)

But I'm learning now, and all of the sudden, some things you say make sense.

Like what? I'm curious. It's not like I know much about Israeli history. Or the histories of most countries.

I've always found that the more I study about US history the less it makes sense.

Say, what's the big deal with the debate about centralized government, or the different concepts of liberty, freedom and citizenship. Or the federal system. Or the place of religion. Not to mention that some states are much, much younger than I thought they are.

It's cool, actually, to learn all these stuff (I'm coming with a lot of knowledge of and about European and continental history and philosophy, so NSM American history). This is one of the times I'm happy to be ignorant about a subject. Studying is The NOM.

(Not to speak for everyone, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's true.)

That sentiment was a safe bet. I certainly agree. We are glad to see you whenever you have a chance to stop by. The same goes for you, Laura.

What kept me from posting was mostly Evil Bureaucracy that took full control of my life. I try to kill it; it survives.

I'm imaging you feel like Angel saying to that demon that just wouldn't die, "Oh, come on, I'm holding your head!"

And, well, I'm kindda ashamed to tell you how little I knew about American history. No, really.

I have only a vague outline of the history of Israel since 1949 (sadly, I confess to having not carefully read the assigned book on the subject for the "British Empire" history class I took at uni), and before that all I've got is bits of the Crusades, however much of the Tanakh and Jesus' life might qualify as history, plus a smattering of early Christian church history. Well, and that the smattering of whatever I can remember of that miniseries about Masada [link] from way back when I was 11.

Say, what's the big deal with the debate about centralized government

It's kind of right in the name: "The United States of America." Originally all the states were pretty autonomous and preferred it that way, and only wanted to be loosely knit together. As the country grew and developed, however, this started to cause problems especially with the division between Slave States and non-Slave States. So the Civil War is as much a fight about state autonomy as it is about slavery (though slavery is the issue that brought it to a head).

Ultimately Madison's vision of a strong Federal government took hold, but the right wing conservatives have been pissy about it ever since. Also, FDR's presidency expanded the powers of the Federal government quite a bit during the Depression and WWII. And the conservatives are pissy about that too.

No, really. But I'm learning now, and all of the sudden, some things you say make sense.

And now all you have to do is watch Firefly, Arrested Development, 30 Rock, Sports Night, The West Wing, Farscape, Battlestar Gallactica, Toy Story, Deadwood, and The Wire and even MORE stuff will make sense!!

(at least, that's what happened for me...)