Geek in Heels - Page 125

Aug 23, 2010 • In Apple, Funny, Geek, Movies

‘Inception’ Explained for Mac Users

I know Inception talk is dying down, but as a Mac user, this one is too good to pass up.

And I couldn’t resist The Daily What‘s take on it: “The pinwheel wouldn’t stop spinning so I Force Quit myself awake.”

Who Says Animals Can’t Feel Love?

I have seen my guinea pigs mourn, and even become severely depressed after the death of their cagemates so I have no problem believing that humans can’t be the only species that feel attachment and compassion.

The following is a series of photos by a photographer chronicling the sad love story of a couple of barn swallows. It is said that people all over the world have cried after seeing these pictures, and that the French newspaper that originally ran the photos sold out on the day it first published the story.

A female swallow became fatally injured after being hit by a car.

Her mate brought her food and attended to her needs with love and compassion.

He left to bring her more food, but returned to find that she had died.
He tried to move her, an effort rarely seen with birds.

He realizes what must have happened and cries in distress…

He continues to stand by her body, mourning and crying over the loss.

He finally accepts her fate. But he continues to stand by her with sadness, pain, and confusion.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of the famous YouTube video of the dog that rescues another dog from a highway in Chile. I remember shedding quite a few tears after first seeing this video, and wondering how many humans would do this for a fellow human being.

Via Rocking Facts.

Oh What a Difference Some Water Makes…

Hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Via Snuzzy.

Mario Kart Bike Lane

I would go biking (which I never do) in Portland (where I’ve never been) just to partake in this magnificence.

Via BikePortland.org.

T-Shirt of the Day [Mashup Win]

Star Wars + Calvin and Hobbes = WIN!

Purchase your own here.

Via The Daily What.

Google Maps Without the Map

Click here to visit a global Google Maps interface with everything but the location labels removed. I’m having quite a bit of fun zooming in and out of various large cities, and trying to identify countries just based on the names of their states/cities/provinces.

Via kottke.org.

I Am Not a Christian Because I’m Scared of Hell

One of the many misconceptions that non-believers have about Christianity is that Christians only attend church, follow the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus, and claim to believe in God because they are scared to spend eternity in hell. They say that the Church uses hell as a scare tactic to gain more followers, that this method is not only unhealthy but also unfair.

While I am sure that there are some churches and individuals who use hell as a scare tactic, (and sadly, only follow Christ because they are scared of hell), I strongly disagree with this way of thinking. Because as stated in the title of this post, I am not a Christian because I’m scared of hell.

Do I believe in hell? Sure. But I have no idea what it’ll be like aside from the fact that it is a place void of God. And that is the #1 reason I do not want to be in hell.

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Miriam wrote about some of her thoughts on God and recounted a question asked of her: why do you want to go to heaven?

I want to go to heaven because I love God and want to be close to Him. Sure, that is not the only reason — there are many others, such as being able to meet and walk among all Christians throughout history, including Biblical characters whom I am sure will make me squeal like a little girl face to face with Justin Bieber when I meet them — but this reason is my first and foremost.

There have been a few instances in my life where I have been in the presence of God, and there is nothing like it. Never have I felt so humbled, so inadequate, yet so LOVED. Never have I been so overcome with a barrage of emotions that my body automatically gives out from under me; I stumble, kneel, and bow. Never have I felt more at HOME, more safe or comforted.

And I know that this is just a fraction of what I will experience in heaven.

Do I know that I will go to heaven? Yes. I am confident that I will go to heaven. And I am not being arrogant or presumptuous here — I know that God loves me, sent His only Son to die on the cross for me, that by His grace I am saved, and that I will enter heaven when my life on earth is over.

I am not afraid to die.

I often think back to the haunting dream I had late last year. How, at the moment when I knew I was about to die…

…my life does not flash before my eyes. I am afraid for a split second before a sense of calm and acceptance overwhelms my being. I know I have lived an imperfect life, but I also am certain that I will soon be with God.

The only fear I have about the afterlife is that my loved ones will not be in heaven with me. And this is the reason I evangelize, especially to those who are important in my life. Because I cannot imagine spending the next life without — not experiencing the glory of God without — J, our children, the rest of my family, or my beloved friends.

I also know that I will meet the child we had lost last year in heaven.

I know that many will read this and think that I am delusional. That is fine. All I know is that I am confident in my faith, and that I want to share my faith with others because I want them to experience this same joy. Not because I want them to be scared of hell.

So, to reiterate, I am not a Christian because I am scared. I am a Christian because I am loved.

Area Code Elitists

Remember that scene in the Sex and the City movie (the first crappy movie, not the second, crappier, insightful film about life in the Middle East and cross-cultural exchanges) when Carrie needs to get a new phone number and is dismayed to find that there are no more 917 numbers available, and that she’ll need to settle for a 646 number?

“I’ve got hoes, I’ve got hoes…in different area codes, area codes…”

Well, I’m not sure about other cities but here in New York, it sometimes does seem like there is a social dichotomy based on area codes. In other words, your cell phone’s area code may very well determine just how long have you been a loyal New Yorker.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of this phenomenon when I stumbled upon an article called 212 Area Codes Now “Retro-Chic” in the Gothamist. According to the post, 212 numbers (which is the original area code for Manhattan) for your mobile phone have become the new rent-controlled apartments: few and in between, and very difficult to obtain.

I actually do not know anyone in real life with a 212 cell phone number. But about half of my New York friends tote 917 numbers, which came right after 212, and have become pretty difficult to obtain themselves. I still proudly cling onto my own 917 number knowing that it is an “endangered species” (so to speak) and know that I would probably have the same reaction as Carrie if I ever had to change my number and became stuck with a 646 or 347 number.

Very mature, I know.

Have I become an area code elitist? Should I be concerned, because — as one commenter to the aforementioned Gothamist post says — you “can’t get much more shallow and insecure than thinking your area code makes you cool or not.”

Can anyone outside the New York area chime in on this phenomenon? Or is this another silly occurence specific to New York?

Body Counts for the Cast of ‘The Expendables’

Last weekend J and I made a trek to the theaters to watch The Expendables. I had been dying to watch the movie ever since I saw its trailer earlier this year. To me, the plot didn’t seem that great but the all-star action cast was intriguing. I figured that all these stars wouldn’t be in a movie unless it was awesome (ie, the trailer and plot for The Italian Job didn’t seem that great but it had an all-star cast and it ended up being spectacular)…right?

Wrong. The movie was just…meh. Definitely not worth the price of a movie ticket. Perhaps the cost of a rental, or even a matinee ticket price, but not a full $10 ticket.

Still, the flick was entertaining and managed to fill two hours of my life nicely without my wanting to gouge my eyes out. As such, I couldn’t help but find the following infographic absorbing and wanted to share it with my readers. Enjoy!