I give conference presentations in very much the same way that I teach (minus the lolcats) — comfortable language, simple explanations, lots of hand gestures.

But we love her dearly over at io9. *evil grin*

Midwesterner. Lots of waving/nod-smiling here. This land is full of Norwegian Lutherans. Enough said.

At least I can claim a degree of separation. It's my parents that are the locals. They moved out to Podunk somewhere-around-Norfolk, Nebraska, after I was already grown up.

It's kinda a combination of the two — more like "Nor-Fuck". I'm really sorry that I know that.

And now I'm giggling like a 5-year-old in my office. Thank you :P

That's why I only buy the ones with the big twisty erasers. They last longer and I make lots of mistakes.

I feel you — the last time I was in DC, the government was shut down for most of my trip. Although that was a snowstorm, not a government stupidity.

So much for the calculations I wanted to run tomorrow. The server is going bye-bye. Thanks a lot, oh elected leaders. :(

Why must you all continue to torment me with cute things that I want?!?

This is the only kind of tongue that should be hanging out all the time. I'm in love.

Can I steal it and keep it?

Aww, that's so sad! I still have one of mine from grad school. It's purple and a little chewed-up, but it's still got eraser!

*legitimate jaw drop* I. need. that. now. Thank you so much!

It was my senior year of high school, and I had the money back then (I was an industrious little worker bee even then). I could never justify it to myself now, but oh how I love those pencils.

Ooh, that Pentel looks nice too. I'll have to see if I can find one.

Papermate Clearpoint. 0.5 mm. Because

Oh the Prismacolors. I love those so much. I still have most of a $100 set of those somewhere that I bought in college, just because I wanted them. There's just nothing like them.

Ohyes.

Both very good things to aspire to! :D