Brandon needs an icon

Russians love icons. May I suggest something appropriately piratey, such as

Laughing guy

By the way, the guy who isn't actually a student here but comes to our library to study for finals and laugh his hyena laugh, you know the guy, right? Shaggy hair, sweat pants, yeah, that guy. He's back.

Taking it easy

So I'm on day eight of the ever-popular spring cold. I have lost my voice and am running a low fever. One of the high schoolers at the tutoring program suggested I take tomorrow off. Yeah right, I thought I can't take a day off. I am far too indispensible to all those people who depend on me to...do my homework. Sometimes I forget that I actually do have a choice whether or not to do my homework, whether to stick to or change my schedule. So tonight and tomorrow, I gave myself permission to take time off. Responsible Chaka (make that scared-of-getting-a-B Chaka) doesn't think I should be here right now, but Chillin' Chaka is enjoying himself this evening.

Ok, and doing a little homework.

Anatoly Lieberman

brandon has alerted me to the discussion over the word "truthiness." I've posted some thoughts on askchaka that you can check out. It was exciting to see Professor Anatoly Lieberman cited in the Wikipedia article on "truthiness." I took "The History of English Words" with him my last semester at the U of M. I was already fascinated by word origins and annoyed by folk (read "false") etymologies; he gave me the tools I needed to do good etymology. He's the reason the massive New Century Dictionary is on my shelf ($4 at a Library booksale--they didn't know what they had). I came across his final exam a couple weeks ago as I was digging through some notes. He of course instructed us to meticulously proof-read our papers (both on the screen and on paper). He also mentioned that in the future, if we needed any advising, he would be glad to speak with us. Unlike a good many scholars, especially at a research university like the U, Lieberman really is a teacher.

In a strange way, I am in Bannockburn because of the advice he gave me. But, I'm sorry, I still haven't learned German, Professor.

Fyodor

Don't mind me, I'm just reading compulsively, as is my wont.

Getting back into the swing

Well, it's about time I posted something else out here, no? I'm happy to see I've had three visitors since last time. I actually have been to Skittles and Combos, and I've never seen or heard so much Linus-generated content in one place. If I can figure out how, I'll post a link to it. (Special K, brandon, you have you're own blogs as well, presumably?) You visit my blog, I'll visit you'res (Or should that be yoUrs? Linus?).

I was happy to discover that I actually do have a subscription to the OED online through my school, so I don't have to spend the $40 on an alumni membership at the U of M in order to get it. Of course, all you're questions on askchaka can be answered through this portal of knowledge, so the askchaka site is really superflouous, but aren't we all?

Update: unless Special K is an old man really into the space program, she doesn't seem to have her own blog. I guess that means I can't scour it for typographical errors. Darn.

Question for Linus: are you going to make me a team member of askchaka so I can publish my own posts, or what? Is my role restricted to the comments pages?