But it's such NICE nonsense!
Mar. 28th, 2006 04:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vovatMy thoughts on song titles a few days ago got me to thinking about something I've wondered about in the past. As a fan of surrealism, non-sequiturs, wacky fantasy, and general weirdness, I have to wonder what makes nonsense good. I mean, anyone can put words together in a way that doesn't make sense. Here: The ice cream tortoise onioned the yo-yo last Tuesday. That's not particularly clever, is it? When I took a Creative Writing course in college, I wrote a stream-of-consciousness poem one week (I don't remember it so well, but I know two of the lines were "The lure of the banana is much too strong" and "Spitting off a bridge in Calcutta"), and it was pretty roundly criticized. (Mind you, I don't agree with all of the ideas the professor had, like the one that a creative piece should tell everything, but I'm not going to pretend to be a misunderstood genius.) I think part of it has to do with talent. I'm sure putting words together in a way that sounds good (whether or not they actually make sense) is harder than you'd think. Salvador Dali painted images based on dreams, but he was also really good at drawing things. They Might Be Giants lyrics often sound pretty nonsensical (although the Johns have said their songs always have meaning to them), but they also usually have really catchy melodies. There's also the matter of being nonsensical in an evocative way, so that people can draw their own meanings. I guess it's kind of like in Through the Looking-Glass, when Alice first reads Jabberwocky, and says, "Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas -- only I don't exactly know what they are!"
I got this backwards survey from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rockonliz.
101. middle name is: unusual.
100: born: 18 November 1977
99. I am a: human being.
98. I tend: to get frustrated easily.
97. eye color: Blue
96. shoe size: 10 and a half
95. My ring size is: 5, I think?
94. hair color: Dark brown
93. My height is: 5'10"
92. I am allergic to: pollen
91. I live in: Pennsylvania
90. The last book I read: The China Dog of Oz, although it was in the form of a text file, not an actual, physical book. I'd say it still counts, though.
89. My bed is: what I sleep in.
88. One thing I know for sure about the opposite sex: they have different reproductive organs.
87. I am glad I'm my sex because: I never have to experience menstruation.
86. My favorite Holiday is: Christmas, I guess.
85. The perfect kiss is: one that I feel I need.
84. The last three CDs I bought were: Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous, Neko Case's Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, the Minus 5's self-titled gun album, and Belle and Sebastian's The Life Pursuit. I realize that's actually four, but I bought those last two at the same time.
83. Last song that made me cry was: I can't remember.
82. My most treasured possession(s) is (are): um...my health?
81. What I did last night: Re-read much of The Lost King of Oz.
80. My skin's reaction to the sun is (tan/burn): burning.
::: Do/Do Not Believe In:
79. Santa? He's real. He just doesn't get out much, except on Christmas Eve.
78. Love at first sight?: Perhaps. There are many different kinds of love. I don't believe that a meaningful relationship can form at first sight, certainly.
77. Luck?: Sure.
76. Fate?: Nah.
75. God?: I don't think God is necessarily an old man in the sky. God could be ANYTHING. He could be, like, a leaf. (I wish I could quote that more exactly.)
74. Aliens?: Assuming you mean the ones from space, I don't think there's enough evidence either way. In an infinite universe, I think it's likely that there's life SOMEWHERE other than Earth, but the chances that it will ever make contact with us are slim to null.
73. Heaven?: I'm inclined to think not, but who knows for sure?
72. Hell? Well, I believe that war is hell, and hell is other people, and war is other people, and Ray Charles is God.
71. Ghosts?: I think it's highly unlikely.
70. Horoscopes?: I believe they EXIST, but not that they're significant in any way.
69. Soulmates?: Not really.
:::::Which is Better?:::::
68. Hugs or Kisses?: It depends on who's giving them.
67. Drunk or High: I've never experienced either.
66. phone or online: Usually online, but the phone is better for certain things.
65. Red heads or Black hair?: It depends on the person.
64. Blondes or Brunettes?: Well, my girlfriend is blonde, and perhaps I do prefer blonde hair in general. Once again, though, it really depends on the person.
63. Night or Day?: Day, I guess.
62. Oranges or Apples: Oranges (and graphic design)
61. Curly or Straight hair?: Once again, it really depends on the person. I can tell you that I don't want curly hair, though.
:::::Here's What I Think about:::::
60. Abortion?: You know the old saying (I don't know who said it) about being a vegetarian not because you love animals, but because you hate plants? I get the impression that some politicians and the like are anti-abortion not because they love babies, but because they hate women.
59. Backstabbers?: They suck. Just ask Caesar.
58. Parents?: There are too many bad ones out there, but plenty of good ones as well.
57. School?: I always had kind of a love-hate relationship with school.
::::Last time I::::
56. Kissed someone?: About half an hour ago
55. Last time i hugged someone?: The same
54. Seen someone I haven't seen in a while: I sawbethje's Aunt Cindy yesterday. It had been a while since I saw her last.
53. Grew: I grow every day, based on every experience.
52. Who's the ditziest person you know: I don't really know.
51. Who makes you smile/laugh the most?: Beth
50. Favorite flower?: Not sure
49. One thing I'm pissed off about right now is: nothing in particular, I guess.
48. The last movie I saw in the theater was?: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
47. The thing I don't understand is: why some people are so hateful over stupid things.
46. The most unsatisfactory answer I've ever received: "You decide."
45. The one thing I love about the opposite sex is: I'm not sure I can generalize like that.
44. This summer I am: hopefully going to be working.
43. Something I will really miss when I leave home is: having someone else do my laundry.
42. The thing that I'm looking forward to the most is: having the resources to support myself.
41. Tomorrow: I'll hopefully be going to a Minus 5 concert.
40. Today: I'll probably spend most of the day on the computer.
39. Next Summer: Summer 2007, you mean? I have no idea.
38. Next Week: I'll be seeing Neko Case live on Saturday.
37. People call me: all kinds of things.
36. The person I have been good friends with the longest: Depends on what you mean by "good friends." I guess I'll say Beth.
35. The person who knows the most about me: Beth
34. The person that can read me the best is: Beth
33. The most difficult thing to do is: finish something.
32. I have gotten a speeding ticket: never, actually.
31. I have the following siblings: A sister and a brother, both younger
30. My zodiac sign is: Scorpio
29. The first person I thought I was, but wasn't in love with was: I don't think that's ever happened to me.
28. The one person who can't hide things from me: I think anyone could hide things from me, if they tried hard enough. I'm not always that observant.
27. Right now I am talking to (phone or IM) : nobody.
26. I have a job at: a library.
25. I have these pets: Well, my sister has a cat. I don't have any personal pets.
24. The worst sound in the world: I don't know about "worst," but alarm clocks are pretty bad. I hate it when they have alarm clocks go off on commercials.
23. The person that makes me cry the most is: probably myself
22. My boyfriend is: non-existent.
21. Florida or Hawaii: Hawaii
20. My favorite piece of clothing is: my TMBG Indestructible Object shirt, perhaps?
19. Favorite sport to play: none of them. Okay, I guess bowling is okay, even though I suck at it.
18. Last time I cried: I can't remember.
17. The school I go to is: if you're talking about classes, none of them.
16. Last person I got pissed with: probably Beth.
15. My worst drinking experience was: when Beth made me taste some gross coffee.
14. The all-time best movie is: I don't really know.
13. The all-time best thing in the world is: I don't think there's any reasonable answer to that.
12. The most annoying thing ever is: having to do the same thing again, because you messed it up the first time.
11. The most annoying person you know is: eh, probably myself (as ungrammatical as that might be).
10. I lose all respect for people who: commit violent crimes.
9. The worst pain I was ever in was: I don't know, but I've had some pretty bad ear infections.
8. My favorite phrase: I don't know. (Interpret that however you like.)
7. My room: is sufficient for my purposes, but I wish I had more storage space.
6. My favorite celebrity is: Andy Partridge, maybe? If you can count dead people, then probably L. Frank Baum.
5. My weakness is: my physical body.
4. What turns me on: sexy dresses
3. Who broke your heart: I can't think of anyone, which is good.
2. I filled out 101 questions because: filling out silly surveys is a guilty pleasure of mine.
1. What do you regret most: The fact that I already used my only good joke answer for this question in another survey.
What Places In The World Match Your Personality?
City Reviews at CityCulture.org
Does this mean I'm supposed to move in with my dad? He lives in Albuquerque, and I wasn't that impressed with it. Having mountains visible from the house was pretty cool, though.
I got this backwards survey from
rockonliz.101. middle name is: unusual.
100: born: 18 November 1977
99. I am a: human being.
98. I tend: to get frustrated easily.
97. eye color: Blue
96. shoe size: 10 and a half
95. My ring size is: 5, I think?
94. hair color: Dark brown
93. My height is: 5'10"
92. I am allergic to: pollen
91. I live in: Pennsylvania
90. The last book I read: The China Dog of Oz, although it was in the form of a text file, not an actual, physical book. I'd say it still counts, though.
89. My bed is: what I sleep in.
88. One thing I know for sure about the opposite sex: they have different reproductive organs.
87. I am glad I'm my sex because: I never have to experience menstruation.
86. My favorite Holiday is: Christmas, I guess.
85. The perfect kiss is: one that I feel I need.
84. The last three CDs I bought were: Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous, Neko Case's Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, the Minus 5's self-titled gun album, and Belle and Sebastian's The Life Pursuit. I realize that's actually four, but I bought those last two at the same time.
83. Last song that made me cry was: I can't remember.
82. My most treasured possession(s) is (are): um...my health?
81. What I did last night: Re-read much of The Lost King of Oz.
80. My skin's reaction to the sun is (tan/burn): burning.
::: Do/Do Not Believe In:
79. Santa? He's real. He just doesn't get out much, except on Christmas Eve.
78. Love at first sight?: Perhaps. There are many different kinds of love. I don't believe that a meaningful relationship can form at first sight, certainly.
77. Luck?: Sure.
76. Fate?: Nah.
75. God?: I don't think God is necessarily an old man in the sky. God could be ANYTHING. He could be, like, a leaf. (I wish I could quote that more exactly.)
74. Aliens?: Assuming you mean the ones from space, I don't think there's enough evidence either way. In an infinite universe, I think it's likely that there's life SOMEWHERE other than Earth, but the chances that it will ever make contact with us are slim to null.
73. Heaven?: I'm inclined to think not, but who knows for sure?
72. Hell? Well, I believe that war is hell, and hell is other people, and war is other people, and Ray Charles is God.
71. Ghosts?: I think it's highly unlikely.
70. Horoscopes?: I believe they EXIST, but not that they're significant in any way.
69. Soulmates?: Not really.
:::::Which is Better?:::::
68. Hugs or Kisses?: It depends on who's giving them.
67. Drunk or High: I've never experienced either.
66. phone or online: Usually online, but the phone is better for certain things.
65. Red heads or Black hair?: It depends on the person.
64. Blondes or Brunettes?: Well, my girlfriend is blonde, and perhaps I do prefer blonde hair in general. Once again, though, it really depends on the person.
63. Night or Day?: Day, I guess.
62. Oranges or Apples: Oranges (and graphic design)
61. Curly or Straight hair?: Once again, it really depends on the person. I can tell you that I don't want curly hair, though.
:::::Here's What I Think about:::::
60. Abortion?: You know the old saying (I don't know who said it) about being a vegetarian not because you love animals, but because you hate plants? I get the impression that some politicians and the like are anti-abortion not because they love babies, but because they hate women.
59. Backstabbers?: They suck. Just ask Caesar.
58. Parents?: There are too many bad ones out there, but plenty of good ones as well.
57. School?: I always had kind of a love-hate relationship with school.
::::Last time I::::
56. Kissed someone?: About half an hour ago
55. Last time i hugged someone?: The same
54. Seen someone I haven't seen in a while: I saw
bethje's Aunt Cindy yesterday. It had been a while since I saw her last.53. Grew: I grow every day, based on every experience.
52. Who's the ditziest person you know: I don't really know.
51. Who makes you smile/laugh the most?: Beth
50. Favorite flower?: Not sure
49. One thing I'm pissed off about right now is: nothing in particular, I guess.
48. The last movie I saw in the theater was?: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
47. The thing I don't understand is: why some people are so hateful over stupid things.
46. The most unsatisfactory answer I've ever received: "You decide."
45. The one thing I love about the opposite sex is: I'm not sure I can generalize like that.
44. This summer I am: hopefully going to be working.
43. Something I will really miss when I leave home is: having someone else do my laundry.
42. The thing that I'm looking forward to the most is: having the resources to support myself.
41. Tomorrow: I'll hopefully be going to a Minus 5 concert.
40. Today: I'll probably spend most of the day on the computer.
39. Next Summer: Summer 2007, you mean? I have no idea.
38. Next Week: I'll be seeing Neko Case live on Saturday.
37. People call me: all kinds of things.
36. The person I have been good friends with the longest: Depends on what you mean by "good friends." I guess I'll say Beth.
35. The person who knows the most about me: Beth
34. The person that can read me the best is: Beth
33. The most difficult thing to do is: finish something.
32. I have gotten a speeding ticket: never, actually.
31. I have the following siblings: A sister and a brother, both younger
30. My zodiac sign is: Scorpio
29. The first person I thought I was, but wasn't in love with was: I don't think that's ever happened to me.
28. The one person who can't hide things from me: I think anyone could hide things from me, if they tried hard enough. I'm not always that observant.
27. Right now I am talking to (phone or IM) : nobody.
26. I have a job at: a library.
25. I have these pets: Well, my sister has a cat. I don't have any personal pets.
24. The worst sound in the world: I don't know about "worst," but alarm clocks are pretty bad. I hate it when they have alarm clocks go off on commercials.
23. The person that makes me cry the most is: probably myself
22. My boyfriend is: non-existent.
21. Florida or Hawaii: Hawaii
20. My favorite piece of clothing is: my TMBG Indestructible Object shirt, perhaps?
19. Favorite sport to play: none of them. Okay, I guess bowling is okay, even though I suck at it.
18. Last time I cried: I can't remember.
17. The school I go to is: if you're talking about classes, none of them.
16. Last person I got pissed with: probably Beth.
15. My worst drinking experience was: when Beth made me taste some gross coffee.
14. The all-time best movie is: I don't really know.
13. The all-time best thing in the world is: I don't think there's any reasonable answer to that.
12. The most annoying thing ever is: having to do the same thing again, because you messed it up the first time.
11. The most annoying person you know is: eh, probably myself (as ungrammatical as that might be).
10. I lose all respect for people who: commit violent crimes.
9. The worst pain I was ever in was: I don't know, but I've had some pretty bad ear infections.
8. My favorite phrase: I don't know. (Interpret that however you like.)
7. My room: is sufficient for my purposes, but I wish I had more storage space.
6. My favorite celebrity is: Andy Partridge, maybe? If you can count dead people, then probably L. Frank Baum.
5. My weakness is: my physical body.
4. What turns me on: sexy dresses
3. Who broke your heart: I can't think of anyone, which is good.
2. I filled out 101 questions because: filling out silly surveys is a guilty pleasure of mine.
1. What do you regret most: The fact that I already used my only good joke answer for this question in another survey.
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| Your personality type is RLUEI |
| You are moderately reserved, moody, moderately organized, moderately egocentric, and intellectual, and may prefer a city which matches those traits. |
| The largest representation of your personality type can be found in the these U.S. cities: Albuquerque/Santa Fe, Salt Lake City, Charlotte, Richmond, Denver, Providence, Louisville, Washington DC, Austin, Harrisburg, San Antonio, Baltimore, Indianapolis and these international countries/regions Bulgaria, Canada, Brazil, Poland, Finland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Hungary, Germany, France, Argentina, Portugal, Thailand, Switzerland, Spain, Russia |
City Reviews at CityCulture.org
Does this mean I'm supposed to move in with my dad? He lives in Albuquerque, and I wasn't that impressed with it. Having mountains visible from the house was pretty cool, though.
