Some pictures of Simone (and others).
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Posing while feeding the chickens
In the midst of feeding the chickens
Riding her tricycle, while momma ponders the meaning of life
Look! An eagle!
Story time for HazelFriday, March 27, 2009
Mustard Tasting
I went to a mustard tasting today. Some gal named Rebecka Weinsteiger got lots of compliments from her friends on the mustards she'd been making, so she thought she'd give it a go.
I have no idea how many of the 6 mustards I got to taste were actually hers (I'm guessing #1 was Grey Poupon), but they were all tasty (except for #4). I know, you can't tell the difference between them - don't blame me, you should have gone to the tasting.
Rebecka was just trying to find out what kind of mustard might sell well in the Corvallis area, and what kind of price she could charge. We don't use a lot of mustard, but I'd plunk down $5-$8 for a jar of artisan mustard once or twice a year.
The tasting had a couple of different kinds of sausage to dip, some pretzels, and a tofu sausage (blech!). There were slices of apple and turnip for cleansing the palette. I first tasted all the mustards on pretzels - so I could get a good idea of the mustard by itself. Tasting them that way, I only really liked #1 and #6 (a classic dijon, and a rustic whole-grain mustard). After I filled out the survey cards I went back and tried the mustards with chunks of sausage - wow, all but #4 were great. Sure the sausage was good, but the combination was very tasty and totally changed how the mustards came across.
I did give Rebecka the tip to drop off a little gift basket of mustard at John & Caprial's up in Portland. On one of their cooking shows they went on and on about their love of mustard, so I hope they find Weinsteiger mustard to their liking.
I look forward to buying a bottle of mustard from her farmer's market stand in May.
I have no idea how many of the 6 mustards I got to taste were actually hers (I'm guessing #1 was Grey Poupon), but they were all tasty (except for #4). I know, you can't tell the difference between them - don't blame me, you should have gone to the tasting.
Rebecka was just trying to find out what kind of mustard might sell well in the Corvallis area, and what kind of price she could charge. We don't use a lot of mustard, but I'd plunk down $5-$8 for a jar of artisan mustard once or twice a year.
The tasting had a couple of different kinds of sausage to dip, some pretzels, and a tofu sausage (blech!). There were slices of apple and turnip for cleansing the palette. I first tasted all the mustards on pretzels - so I could get a good idea of the mustard by itself. Tasting them that way, I only really liked #1 and #6 (a classic dijon, and a rustic whole-grain mustard). After I filled out the survey cards I went back and tried the mustards with chunks of sausage - wow, all but #4 were great. Sure the sausage was good, but the combination was very tasty and totally changed how the mustards came across.
I did give Rebecka the tip to drop off a little gift basket of mustard at John & Caprial's up in Portland. On one of their cooking shows they went on and on about their love of mustard, so I hope they find Weinsteiger mustard to their liking.
I look forward to buying a bottle of mustard from her farmer's market stand in May.
Simone is Nearing 3!
It's been a while since the last Simone update.
Too many things.
She is commonly using 8-10 word sentences, such as, "I'm closing the door so Hazel can't get in." It's amazing to be able to communicate with her so clearly. Of course when you most want to be that clear she's not generally in the state of mind to be that clear.
We know for sure she's having dreams because she's telling us about them when she wakes up. Very cute.
She's pretty much weaned from nursing.
Simone loves to read. We read 5-15 books a day. Her favorite character is Maisy, which is a really nice line of books. I also had a little stuffed Maisy doll - that Simone loves.
I'm glad Simone is done with Clifford - I can't stand that dog. What is it with people and big, dumb dogs? Marmaduke, Clifford, Harold the Huge. Those dogs are all incredibly destructive and it's supposed to be funny/endearing? Straight to the pound with them!
Simone is on the fast track to not wearing diapers. There are days where she goes without any accidents. Today happened to be a day with a couple accidents - but it's a learning process. She's doing great. Wearing Elmo panties is a big plus for her.
Always changing, always fun.
Too many things.
She is commonly using 8-10 word sentences, such as, "I'm closing the door so Hazel can't get in." It's amazing to be able to communicate with her so clearly. Of course when you most want to be that clear she's not generally in the state of mind to be that clear.
We know for sure she's having dreams because she's telling us about them when she wakes up. Very cute.
She's pretty much weaned from nursing.
Simone loves to read. We read 5-15 books a day. Her favorite character is Maisy, which is a really nice line of books. I also had a little stuffed Maisy doll - that Simone loves.
I'm glad Simone is done with Clifford - I can't stand that dog. What is it with people and big, dumb dogs? Marmaduke, Clifford, Harold the Huge. Those dogs are all incredibly destructive and it's supposed to be funny/endearing? Straight to the pound with them!
Simone is on the fast track to not wearing diapers. There are days where she goes without any accidents. Today happened to be a day with a couple accidents - but it's a learning process. She's doing great. Wearing Elmo panties is a big plus for her.
Always changing, always fun.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Last Psychiatrist: To The Brain, God Is Just Another Guy
I remember hearing the NPR story about the research that concluded God is just another guy. I remember being a little skeptical (anything sciency relating to God raises a red flag for me). But the conclusion didn't seem outlandish, so I accepted it.
I appreciate The Last Psychiatrist.com's analysis:
I appreciate The Last Psychiatrist.com's analysis:
In other words, the study emphatically does not show that 'to the brain, God is just another guy.' At best, it shows that American 30-somethings are not able to see God as anything other than just another guy; but who knows how 3rd century Romans saw God?
Friday, March 20, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Bonus!
Today the media is all up in arms about AIG and the bonuses paid out to its executives. And while I'm not excited about the bonuses, the math makes me pretty uninterested. Bonuses of ~$165M, compared to bailout funding of ~$170B - which works out to not even 0.1% of the money.
Where was the outrage at Wall Street? Read this:
Where's the outrage for that?
Hell, the Wall Street bonuses alone are nearly enough to bail out the auto industry. But let's balk at giving the auto industry any money...
I don't understand the judgment call that media makes in what constitutes a story worthy of reporting. We've lost billions in money in Iraq (literally lost, not wasted) - no media outrage. We've spent billions on contracts in the last 8 years under W with no accountability (no idea if it's more cost effective, don't even know how many contracts there are).
Yet losing 0.1% of the bailout money to bonuses is an outrage. I'd be stoked if that were the extent of waste over the last 8 years.
Where was the outrage at Wall Street? Read this:
Wall Street's $18.4 Billion Bonus | vanityfair.com: "Here’s the bottom line on Wall Street bonuses for 2008—according to the New York State Comptroller’s Office. They’re on track to be 50 percent lower than last year’s. That’s a sharp cut, except that it’s still $18.4 billion."That's right, $125B in bailout, $18B in bonuses - nearly 15% of the bailout went directly to bonuses. That's over two orders of magnitude difference between the two situations!
Where's the outrage for that?
Hell, the Wall Street bonuses alone are nearly enough to bail out the auto industry. But let's balk at giving the auto industry any money...
I don't understand the judgment call that media makes in what constitutes a story worthy of reporting. We've lost billions in money in Iraq (literally lost, not wasted) - no media outrage. We've spent billions on contracts in the last 8 years under W with no accountability (no idea if it's more cost effective, don't even know how many contracts there are).
Yet losing 0.1% of the bailout money to bonuses is an outrage. I'd be stoked if that were the extent of waste over the last 8 years.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Friday, March 06, 2009
Shining Balls Of Dirt
Also known as dorodango.
Mary and I flipped through the channels the other night for 15 minutes, and pretty much nothing was on - except a Myth Busters where they were seeing if you could, in fact, polish poop. They brought in some dude who practiced the art of dorodango.
It turns out you can make a ball of dirty shiny by just applying finer and finer layers of dust (and smoothing it out).
This guy has some very nice pictures of dorodango.
I can't wait for summer, I'm gonna make some shiny balls of dirt!
Mary and I flipped through the channels the other night for 15 minutes, and pretty much nothing was on - except a Myth Busters where they were seeing if you could, in fact, polish poop. They brought in some dude who practiced the art of dorodango.
It turns out you can make a ball of dirty shiny by just applying finer and finer layers of dust (and smoothing it out).
This guy has some very nice pictures of dorodango.
I can't wait for summer, I'm gonna make some shiny balls of dirt!
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Parenting Fail
I saw this and thought, "so true."
Parenting Fail « FAIL Blog
What is it with parents that never pick their kids up? Sure, if you take your kid out of the stroller s/he might want to run around a little bit. You're at the zoo! - it's where kids run around.
Anyway, it's ok to touch your kids, pick them up, hug them. They're not designed to live their first few years in a car seat/stroller.
Parenting Fail « FAIL Blog
What is it with parents that never pick their kids up? Sure, if you take your kid out of the stroller s/he might want to run around a little bit. You're at the zoo! - it's where kids run around.
Anyway, it's ok to touch your kids, pick them up, hug them. They're not designed to live their first few years in a car seat/stroller.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Say it ain’t so, Joe’s! | King Arthur Flour - Bakers’ Banter
Turns out Trader Joe's is dropping King Arthur flour for their own, branded flour.
King Arthur didn't take that lying down:
Say it ain’t so, Joe’s! | King Arthur Flour - Bakers’ Banter
I find it pretty funny. I will have to try the cookies some time, though I didn't like the texture of the Joe-Joe's when i tried them.
King Arthur didn't take that lying down:
Say it ain’t so, Joe’s! | King Arthur Flour - Bakers’ Banter
"So turn about is fair play. If Trader Joe’s is going to put out their own brand of flour, then by gosh, I’m going to put out my own brand of one of their most popular cookies (and a personal favorite): Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s, Oreo clones with a sassy pink peppermint cream filling. Made with King Arthur Flour, of course."
I find it pretty funny. I will have to try the cookies some time, though I didn't like the texture of the Joe-Joe's when i tried them.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Chocolate Cake Recipe [Dave Lebovitz] Found on a Men's Room Wall - David Lebovitz
Dave Lebovitz offers yet another awesome dessert that is simple to make: The Chocolate Cake Recipe I Found on a Men's Room Wall - David Lebovitz
Now, he just links to the actual recipe, which is in French. I could have guessed at the ingredients, but who wants to screw up a chocolate cake?
I figured, Google has a translator, and also tried babelfish (the first translator I'd ever tried way back when).
They both had pretty poor translations, I could have guessed better. But, if you look now, the Google translation is pretty good (just mussing up the coffee - it's really an espresso, and not a full cup, just an espresso's worth). The Google translator lets you view the original wording by mousing over, and lets you suggest better translations. And, over time the translation of that page gets better. It certainly improved in the last two weeks.
Somebody in the comments provides a nice translation.
I made the cake last night for Mary's birthday, and (this time) I increased the chocolate to 300g, as David Lebovitz suggests. I think I prefer the original ratio. The first time I baked it up, the cake cooked a little more evenly, and the final texture was pretty light. This one was really chocolaty - the center kind of goey. While delicious, I prefer less chocolate. If I were to do the 300g chocolate version, I'd up the baking time to 17 minutes or so, and perhaps reduce the temperature slightly...
Gee, sounds like I have some experimenting to do.
Now, he just links to the actual recipe, which is in French. I could have guessed at the ingredients, but who wants to screw up a chocolate cake?
I figured, Google has a translator, and also tried babelfish (the first translator I'd ever tried way back when).
They both had pretty poor translations, I could have guessed better. But, if you look now, the Google translation is pretty good (just mussing up the coffee - it's really an espresso, and not a full cup, just an espresso's worth). The Google translator lets you view the original wording by mousing over, and lets you suggest better translations. And, over time the translation of that page gets better. It certainly improved in the last two weeks.
Somebody in the comments provides a nice translation.
I made the cake last night for Mary's birthday, and (this time) I increased the chocolate to 300g, as David Lebovitz suggests. I think I prefer the original ratio. The first time I baked it up, the cake cooked a little more evenly, and the final texture was pretty light. This one was really chocolaty - the center kind of goey. While delicious, I prefer less chocolate. If I were to do the 300g chocolate version, I'd up the baking time to 17 minutes or so, and perhaps reduce the temperature slightly...
Gee, sounds like I have some experimenting to do.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Simone Learns Subjunctive
Simone said this the other night at dinner:
Wow, Mary and I were both blown away. I don't think I am that sophisticated a speaker.
papa, when you done with soup i be happy to feed you cottage cheese
Wow, Mary and I were both blown away. I don't think I am that sophisticated a speaker.
House Concert: Carolyn Cruso
On Sunday I went to a house concert. Mary noticed a blurb in the Friday entertainer about a hammered dulcimer concert - just across the street from our house. So I went.
I have to say it was a lot of fun. There were maybe 14 people in the house, listening to Carolyn Cruso play her music. The setting was very intimate, and the house has a beautiful view of the huge field in front of the house.
Carolyn's music was very interesting - some of the dulcimer music was Scottish/Celtic, but a lot of the original music was very different - which is a refreshing change from Celtic music. She even talked briefly about how she's been trying to make the dulcimer sound more like a piano. She also played guitar and sang some songs (generally sounding "folk" music) which were very pleasant. I didn't care much for her flute music, which was a little too ... different than what I've heard in the past.
I bought two of her CDs, the hammered dulcimer CD (Boundless) is great - I like that one a lot - especially the song The Magic Shirt which she played in the concert. I hope to listen to the other (As Clear A Hue) tonight.
I'm also really intrigued by the notion of a house concert. How cool would it be to get an artist into your house for a small concert. Mary likes the idea too - we may have to find out more.
I have to say it was a lot of fun. There were maybe 14 people in the house, listening to Carolyn Cruso play her music. The setting was very intimate, and the house has a beautiful view of the huge field in front of the house.
Carolyn's music was very interesting - some of the dulcimer music was Scottish/Celtic, but a lot of the original music was very different - which is a refreshing change from Celtic music. She even talked briefly about how she's been trying to make the dulcimer sound more like a piano. She also played guitar and sang some songs (generally sounding "folk" music) which were very pleasant. I didn't care much for her flute music, which was a little too ... different than what I've heard in the past.
I bought two of her CDs, the hammered dulcimer CD (Boundless) is great - I like that one a lot - especially the song The Magic Shirt which she played in the concert. I hope to listen to the other (As Clear A Hue) tonight.
I'm also really intrigued by the notion of a house concert. How cool would it be to get an artist into your house for a small concert. Mary likes the idea too - we may have to find out more.
FCC Finally Regulates Overheard
Another winning headline at Overheard in New York:
FCC Finally Regulates Overheard
Man walking against traffic: Beep! Beep! Beep!
Older black woman: Beep beep, my behind!
--6 Train
Headline by: yours truly
FCC Finally Regulates Overheard
Man walking against traffic: Beep! Beep! Beep!
Older black woman: Beep beep, my behind!
--6 Train
Headline by: yours truly
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
6174
I just found out about Kaprekar's operation, and the mysterious number 6174. Check it out.
People are amazing - why did Kaprekar even think about this? Similarly, some humorists boggle my mind - I've no idea where xkcd comes up with ideas like:
People are amazing - why did Kaprekar even think about this? Similarly, some humorists boggle my mind - I've no idea where xkcd comes up with ideas like:
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Oil Drum: Europe | The energy efficiency of cars
The Oil Drum: Europe | The energy efficiency of cars: "The future of motor vehicles lies in improved efficiency and that is to the left of the gasoline ICE in the chart. That future is electric vehicles powered by high ERoEI renewable electricity."
It's a good introduction to automobile efficiency, well worth the 5 minute read. This graph is a nice summary:
It's a good introduction to automobile efficiency, well worth the 5 minute read. This graph is a nice summary:
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Simone is making sure the chickens have enouhg food.
At the park with Mary and Simone
Over here, this is the photo you want.
I'm strutting my stuff down main street.
Call me blue eyes.
Hanging out at the park.
Swinging upside down.
From a couple months ago, she picked up a pepper at the farmer's market.Dan's Trail Hike
Yesterday I took a hike up Dan's Trail to the top of Dimple Hill. The link says the hike is only 5 miles, but my guide book says 7 miles (I'm going with that). I ended up hiking a bit more than that. Beautiful day, sunny, with occasional clouds that sit on the peaks.
Here are some shots I took (no great view from the peak b/c of clouds when I got there).
Here are some shots I took (no great view from the peak b/c of clouds when I got there).
Lower Horse Trail
Serpentine ShortcutSaturday, February 07, 2009
What Have You Changed Your Mind About? Why?
Interesting idea here, ask a bunch of smart people interesting questions and post the results. The question for 2008 was this:
The World Question Center 2008:
So, what would I answer?
I've thought about this off and on for a month or two.
Part of me is real cynical. I see global warming and environmental pollution/destruction in general, and our lack of action to solve any of those problems. Similarly, the U.S.'s role in the world (especially the last 8 years) as this big bully with a heavy handed, militaristic, unilateral relationship with the world. And to top it off, a good half of our citizens support this attitude, almost taking pride in ignorance and blind nationalism.
For a while, when I let myself think about the state of the world, I was very negative.
But I think I've changed my mind about the gloom and doom.
I now see signs of hope in lots of little places: local farmers, alternative energy projects, some of the changes in transparency by Obama are encouraging.
So I think my change my mind about our prospects.
Plus, it's hard not to be positive when I've got such a wonderful wife and joy of a daughter. They're both gone this weekend, and it's odd not having them around. They also give me lots of hope.
The World Question Center 2008:
When thinking changes your mind, that's philosophy.There are some amazing essays in there, very thought provoking, I won't even try to pick out favorites (I certainly haven't read them all).
When God changes your mind, that's faith.
When facts change your mind, that's science.
WHAT HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND ABOUT? WHY?
So, what would I answer?
I've thought about this off and on for a month or two.
Part of me is real cynical. I see global warming and environmental pollution/destruction in general, and our lack of action to solve any of those problems. Similarly, the U.S.'s role in the world (especially the last 8 years) as this big bully with a heavy handed, militaristic, unilateral relationship with the world. And to top it off, a good half of our citizens support this attitude, almost taking pride in ignorance and blind nationalism.
For a while, when I let myself think about the state of the world, I was very negative.
But I think I've changed my mind about the gloom and doom.
I now see signs of hope in lots of little places: local farmers, alternative energy projects, some of the changes in transparency by Obama are encouraging.
So I think my change my mind about our prospects.
Plus, it's hard not to be positive when I've got such a wonderful wife and joy of a daughter. They're both gone this weekend, and it's odd not having them around. They also give me lots of hope.
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