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November 26, 2004
Yams vs. Sweet Potatoes
Did you know...
You have probably never eaten a yam? Yes, yams are not generally grown in the United States. True yams are grown in some asian countries and Africa. The name comes from the African name Nyami which means "to eat," not surprising when the yam is a main staple over there.
Sweet potatoes are grown in the United States. The reason we still see both names in markets? There are different varieties of sweet potoatoes: the dark orange, sweet variety and the yellow, starchier, less sweet variety. They are still the same plant (scientific name: Ipomoea Batatas) while true yams are an entirely differnt plant (scientific name: Dioscorea Alata.). We originally called our two varieties by different names to make buying and selling them easier. The name yam was derived from the African "nyami." But now there is general confusion as to what is a yam and what is a sweet potato.
So the straight facts:
A yam is a plant that grows mainly in Africa and other tropic countries. Yams are not grown in the United States. Sweet potatoes are grown in the United States. There are several varieties of sweet potoato-- the more orange, sweet variety (commonly called yams to differentiate them from the other variety) and the yellow, less sweet variety.
Anyway, I thought this was interesting. I had heard about it a long time ago, but never really took the time to know the facts. Not that it's so important. In fact, whenever I tell people random, little-known facts like these, I usually sound stuck-up. I mean, who really cares whether they are eating a yam or a sweet potato? I don't even really like sweet potatoes.
I guess I just like knowing stuff. Or maybe it's fun to be right (which makes someone else wrong...) Heh Heh...
-Lib
Posted by libbystokes at 10:48 AM | Comments (0)
November 15, 2004
One more try...
So I will assume that the comment made about not fullfilling the assignment applied to me... so here is a new version...
It ends kind of lame, but I had to put in a mask-- Grrr.
-Lib
Posted by libbystokes at 03:30 PM | Comments (0)
November 14, 2004
Flash, Bang, Boom
Here is my first official flash animation. It's kind of weird, but hey. I like it.
Check it out:
If it isn't showing up, try going here to see it, but I doubt it will work if this one doesn't...
-Lib
Posted by libbystokes at 10:01 PM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2004
Superhero
Yay for flash!
Here is my first ever flash animation: (You need flash 7)
Once it's open, you might have to right click it and press play for it to go. I will have to figure that out also.
I tried putting it right in the entry but I couldn't figure that out. We'll work on that later.
-Lib
Posted by libbystokes at 09:42 PM | Comments (1)
November 10, 2004
Matchbook history
So this weekend I was at my aunt's house, and while there I found this cool old matchbook. My aunt said I could have it. She told me that it's probably 35 years old. I love little things like this that have a history. I'll bet there is some bartender out there who could write a novel with all the memories he would remember if he could see this little, simple matchbook.
And besides it's cool historical value, look at how cool it is! They used to make matchbooks with REAL WOODEN MATCHES. That just blows me away. I love old stuff.
Cheerio!
-Lib
Posted by libbystokes at 09:50 PM | Comments (0)
November 07, 2004
Six-year Sojourn
I said goodbye to my mom, not to see her for over a year. That just seems so strange to me. I have had more emotional departings when knowing I would see her in a month. I think it was just sort of surreal. Like, how am I supposed to act? What am I supposed to feel? I won't see my mom until next christmas, what now?
We spent the weekend at my aunts house with close family near LAX. Saturday my mom and I just sort of took it easy, checked out a gallery, drove past an old apartment where she lived once, saw the grammar school where she grew up and were amazed at the large office building that now stands where her dad's gas station once did. We went to Ikea one last time together, bought her some curtains to take with her, and just talked about stuff. Not life-changing stuff, not even really important stuff. Then today the family came over and brought lots of food. Everyone ate and talked and then my mom thanked them all for their love and support and encouragement.
I love my family. Have you ever hung out with a friend's family and wished they were your own? I felt like that today, only they are my family-- how great is that? The last few hours there, most people sat down to watch the football game in front of the big screen, my aunt made latte's out in the garage, and my cousin's daughter zipped around the house looking for toys and ran around outside with her new umbrella as it sprinkled. I wasn't sure quite what to do. My mom was reminising with a friend she invited over who she has known since grade school. I retreated to the back bedroom with my reading for Global Art Paradigms. But I just couldn't focus. In fact, I can't remember a word I read. I just remember my aunt Mary raving about her low-carb diet to my uncle's unbelieving mother-- Yes, you can eat as much bacon and butter and cheese as you want! I just love my family and I coulnd't bear that I was sitting in the back room, reading a book I wasn't even paying attention to when my life was in the livingroom catching up, vegging out, slimming down, and sipping mimosas. I love my family.
I'm not sure when the tears will kick in. I mean, shouldn't I have at least had watery eyes as I gave my mom one last hug for the year? Am I so insensitive?! I have never been too emotional, but what is wrong with me? I suppose I'll be found one week from now, sobbing as I imagine her flying toward Frankfurt and then on to Nigeria. God I pray nothing bad happens.
Here's the link to the article that was in our local newspaper about my mom leaving. The article nor her picture do her justice.
Posted by libbystokes at 10:00 PM | Comments (0)
November 04, 2004
Ping pong wrong
Yeah, "ping" isn't working so well... I will try it again and see what happens.
Here are my links again:
reading is good
aliens are bad
kids are adorable
missiles are scary
-Libby
Posted by libbystokes at 06:41 PM | Comments (0)
November 03, 2004
Websites and animation stuff...
Wow, it's amazing how many cool things you can find just surfing the net. I know that seems really tacky-- like, "i'm surfing the net." But really. I typed "flash animation site" into yahoo and found a ton of stuff by exploring deep into some of the results.
Like this AMAZING site. Woh, web design, flash, movies, woh. I never have wanted to make moving design so badly. I LOVE the third video under motion design, but I haven't watched them all (IE kept not responding after each vid... grrr).
Okay, so animations you say... I really liked this one. And this one too. And this one is just plain cute. This, ok now this has some bad language, but it's sort of funny. Not really great animation, just funny. That's all I can really find right now. There's also this funny interactive animation thing called fly guy. Funny.
Now let's try this ping thing.
-Libby
Posted by libbystokes at 11:20 PM | Comments (0)
November 01, 2004
Last Hugs and Politics
My mom is coming down this weekend. It will be the last time I get to see her for at least a year. That is so weird. I will really miss her. I have been getting these freak-out worries that she is going to go over there and there will be some invasion or war or something and that she won't come back. I know I'm just letting demons tear me apart when I worry, but who wouldn't have at least a little hesitation when their mom moves half-way across the world?!
Tomorrow is vote-day! Let's pray it works out for the best. Something to think about: Don't forget character as well as policy. Vote for the person who is going to be a good leader. I think it was Steve Farrar who said, "A leader is someone who leads." Think about how and on what the person makes and bases their decisions and how consistent they are in their decision-making. Happy Voting!
-Lib
Posted by libbystokes at 02:42 PM | Comments (0)