11 years ago
Friday, April 9, 2010
Anarchy
Music promoter Malcolm McLaren died yesterday... I've read lots of not so nice things about him, but I am glad he got the Sex Pistols exposure. I've always enjoyed the raw output that the semi-skilled musicians in the Sex Pistols were capable of putting out - giving hope to garage bands everywhere.
One can only hope
One can only hope that such a guano, extremist, ultra right wing ticket would run. It's amusing to me to see how much time and effort and enthusiasm is being put into such conservative pipe dreams, here, here, and here. Makes me want to never again put a bumper sticker on any vehicle I own - which ended in 2004 with a "Regime Change Begins At Home" sticker on my Honda Civic that got it keyed in the company parking lot from some dumb*ss South Carolina redneck engineers who truly believed W was an awesome president who deserved a 2nd term. Keyed, drinks dumped on the wind shield, spit upon, doors Massively & Intentionally Dinged... yeah, I worked with lots of grown ups in South Carolina back in 2004.
TDS "Say Anything" McCain
I meant to post this earlier in the week, but got busy on other things. This Daily Show piece on McCain - no longer a Maverick?? - was awesome. The conclusion, how McCain is actually driving down the price of his soul, to make it worthless, because he's holding a bunch of credit default swaps (CDS) is insightful, and perhaps perfectly accurate.
Link here - Comedy Central video embeds don't work so well, too much advertising and re-directs.
Link here - Comedy Central video embeds don't work so well, too much advertising and re-directs.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Caribbean Inspired Water Conservation
The US Virgin Islands are a relatively dry place. Except when they are getting a hurricane, and when Dr Desert Flower and I vacation there, they get very little rain. The islands have cacti all over them. Rain that falls on roofs is captured in cisterns channeled from gutters. St. John even has a small reverse osmosis desalination plant, and a larger one too. Water is expensive there, and therefore, it is conserved.
While we were there, we kept toilet flushing to a minimum, never left the water running, showered outside in a poolside, semi-enclosed shower (which was pretty cool), and conserved water as much as possible. In the shower, you'd get wet, turn off the water, lather up, rinse, and not leave the water running, to save a few gallons.
Well a month later, and here in Phoenix, I find myself doing the same kind of things:
- not leaving the water running in the shower
- installed 2 large plastic cups in the toilet tank so the volume of flush water is cut in 1/2
- filling a gardening watering can when running the kitchen sink to get hot water to come out of the 70 feet of buried copper line between the kitchen and garage water heater
...maybe it is just a guilty conscience for having a pool in the desert.
Global scientific and economic experts predict that future wars will be fought over water resources... I hope it's not in my lifetime.
While we were there, we kept toilet flushing to a minimum, never left the water running, showered outside in a poolside, semi-enclosed shower (which was pretty cool), and conserved water as much as possible. In the shower, you'd get wet, turn off the water, lather up, rinse, and not leave the water running, to save a few gallons.
Well a month later, and here in Phoenix, I find myself doing the same kind of things:
- not leaving the water running in the shower
- installed 2 large plastic cups in the toilet tank so the volume of flush water is cut in 1/2
- filling a gardening watering can when running the kitchen sink to get hot water to come out of the 70 feet of buried copper line between the kitchen and garage water heater
...maybe it is just a guilty conscience for having a pool in the desert.
Global scientific and economic experts predict that future wars will be fought over water resources... I hope it's not in my lifetime.
Disinfecting Properties of Magnesium Sulfate
When I was in St John, I accidentally kicked a rock with my flippered foot in rough water at Cinnamon Bay with a downward flipper motion. Then, later that night, after a good deal of rum, I stumbled along a rock paved path outside the condo, and bashed it again, this time against the tip. Even with the rum, it hurt like crazy. I washed it, and figured, ok, I'll probably lose the nail.
After being home for 2 days, the toe was pretty red, and swelling some, so an idea struck me. Any bacteria that thrives on human skin - that tends to cause infections - is not gong to thrive in a massively saline environment. So I began to soak my toe (and the whole foot) in a strong solution of magnesium sulfate - Epsom Salt. First night, for an hour while watching DVR'ed Daily Show and Colbert, I put it in a large, shallow Lock-n-Lock. I covered the bottom of the container in a 1/4 inch of magnesium sulfate, and then 3/4rds of an inch of water. Foot immersed, the toe nail was just covered in a super saturated saline solution (no where near the sea shore).
My size 11 foot barely fit, so I upgraded to a Tidy Cat litter bucket, (that I previously disinfected with Lysol) into which my foot fit in comfortably the 2nd night. About 1/2 an inch of salt, 3/4rds of an inch of water, foot immersed, lots of white goo began to ooze out, the 2nd and 3rd nights, for an hour each night. MMMMM, yummy. Each night, the swelling reduced and the pain subsided. By the 4th soaking night, smashed toe was the same size and color as un-smashed toe, and caused no more pain. The super saturated saline soakings were discontinued.
Now, almost a month later, the left toe nail is still hanging on, and a new root nail beneath is slowly growing out and pushing the damaged one forward, millimeter by millimeter. I'm tempted to get a pair of pliers and just PULL it off to hasten the progress, but it's not flappin in the breeze yet, and I want to keep the old one around as a "guide" for the new one, avoiding ingrown possibilities and misalignment.
So Magnesium Sulfate is not only good for soaking aching bones in a warm bath, and for it's supposed laxative properties (read on the label, but never ingested, ew - I eat enough salad and fiber, thanks)... but it is also good for killing sub cuticle bacteria infections as well!
After being home for 2 days, the toe was pretty red, and swelling some, so an idea struck me. Any bacteria that thrives on human skin - that tends to cause infections - is not gong to thrive in a massively saline environment. So I began to soak my toe (and the whole foot) in a strong solution of magnesium sulfate - Epsom Salt. First night, for an hour while watching DVR'ed Daily Show and Colbert, I put it in a large, shallow Lock-n-Lock. I covered the bottom of the container in a 1/4 inch of magnesium sulfate, and then 3/4rds of an inch of water. Foot immersed, the toe nail was just covered in a super saturated saline solution (no where near the sea shore).
My size 11 foot barely fit, so I upgraded to a Tidy Cat litter bucket, (that I previously disinfected with Lysol) into which my foot fit in comfortably the 2nd night. About 1/2 an inch of salt, 3/4rds of an inch of water, foot immersed, lots of white goo began to ooze out, the 2nd and 3rd nights, for an hour each night. MMMMM, yummy. Each night, the swelling reduced and the pain subsided. By the 4th soaking night, smashed toe was the same size and color as un-smashed toe, and caused no more pain. The super saturated saline soakings were discontinued.
Now, almost a month later, the left toe nail is still hanging on, and a new root nail beneath is slowly growing out and pushing the damaged one forward, millimeter by millimeter. I'm tempted to get a pair of pliers and just PULL it off to hasten the progress, but it's not flappin in the breeze yet, and I want to keep the old one around as a "guide" for the new one, avoiding ingrown possibilities and misalignment.
So Magnesium Sulfate is not only good for soaking aching bones in a warm bath, and for it's supposed laxative properties (read on the label, but never ingested, ew - I eat enough salad and fiber, thanks)... but it is also good for killing sub cuticle bacteria infections as well!
You Have 0 Friends
Perhaps the funniest & most accurate South Park episode ever - You Have 0 Friends (link to full length video here). Even funnier than previous arguments against Facebook. References to Tron, pokes at Jim Kramer's Mad Money (Mad Friends), illuminates through Randy Marsh the absolute stupidity of the "so we're not friends now" mentality. The scene where Stan begins destroying Kyles crops on his "farm" had me laughing SO HARD!
"I'm not going to get sucked into that."
"Yahtzee!"
"You look cute in a bunny suit."
"Ignore"
Very very funny!
"I'm not going to get sucked into that."
"Yahtzee!"
"You look cute in a bunny suit."
"Ignore"
Very very funny!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Where's it made?
I was asked recently by a friend in California who was looking to buy a replacement washing machine "how do I know where it is made?" Google's a wonderful thing. 2 minutes later, I had these two useful sites:
Still Made In The USA
and
Americans Working
Now, I am not a protectionist. My elderly 2nd cousin who died many years ago used to mock my Ohio built '88 Honda Civic (that had 75% US content in it) calling it a "Rice Burner" while his Mercury Topaz was made in Mexico (with 50% US content) - he fought in WWII in the Pacific on Saipan and Tinian and lost several toes to jungle rot... so I could understand his negative bias. My Civic was the only car to start at family gatherings, during several Chicago Christmases and New Years visits, in the late '80s and early '90s... but I digress.
I do try to purchase quality products, and often check tags looking for the country of manufacture. Typically, I find "China", but recently when I was shopping for gardening gloves I also found Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Bangladesh - the Mexicos of Southern Asia. When I am purchasing a durable good, I try to keep in perspective
a) who designed it? is it a core competency of that company?
b) who manufactured it, and where?
c) is the country of origin one that typically produces consistent, superior quality this century (Japan, Germany, North America, Norway, the rest of the EU [besides Germany], Suisse, sometimes South Korea, sometimes Brazil & Argentina, sometimes Malaysia)?
d) if the country of origin is not one that produces superior quality, how committed is the name brand HQ to quality and customer retention?
e) how hard is it for the HQ's country to send supplier quality engineers to the low cost country?
The US, under Republican leadership at the end of the last and the beginning of this century, has become primarily a Service Providing country, not a core manufacturing country. Most of the core manufacturing was driven off-shore by cost focused MBAs who were looking for their next quarter's bonus instead of the longevity of their corporation and their customer base's loyalty. Services, in turn, are often more readily out-sourced, turning more of the US into a country of unemployed & angry consumers with no credit, who used to work in manufacturing, or knew a relative who used to at one time. Why I myself have worked in audio speaker & medical device plants in Indiana that have moved to China and Mexico, and capacitor plants in South Carolina that have moved to China, in the last 2 decades.
Big things (tires, semi truck trailers), heavy things (cement, bricks, gravel, wind turbines, asphalt) and delicate things (glass), are harder and more expensive to import. Laundry Dryers are light and full of air, but many manufacturers still try to make them in China or other "low cost" countries. Laundry Washers and Refrigerators are much heavier... so it is harder to determine where they are 'probably' made. The fridge, washer, and dryer in our Phoenix home that we purchased the day of closing, branded with a US manufacturer's label, that in the 80s and 90s USED TO be made in Bloomington IN (fridges) and Louisville KY (washers & dryers) were made in Korea, Mexico, and China in 2003... yeah. Seriously.
When in doubt, on an appliance, to identify where it was made, look
- inside the door
- along the back of the appliance, where the model number and (hopefully) serial number are located
- if it is questionable, it might be stamped on the bottom or printed inside a sheet metal panel, and the marking very hard to find [re: Myanmar, Iran, etc]
If anyone knows of a nice website that shows where ANYTHING is made, globally, or shows the countries or origin of the components, please let me know. I've not found a convenient source for that sorta information.
Still Made In The USA
and
Americans Working
Now, I am not a protectionist. My elderly 2nd cousin who died many years ago used to mock my Ohio built '88 Honda Civic (that had 75% US content in it) calling it a "Rice Burner" while his Mercury Topaz was made in Mexico (with 50% US content) - he fought in WWII in the Pacific on Saipan and Tinian and lost several toes to jungle rot... so I could understand his negative bias. My Civic was the only car to start at family gatherings, during several Chicago Christmases and New Years visits, in the late '80s and early '90s... but I digress.
I do try to purchase quality products, and often check tags looking for the country of manufacture. Typically, I find "China", but recently when I was shopping for gardening gloves I also found Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Bangladesh - the Mexicos of Southern Asia. When I am purchasing a durable good, I try to keep in perspective
a) who designed it? is it a core competency of that company?
b) who manufactured it, and where?
c) is the country of origin one that typically produces consistent, superior quality this century (Japan, Germany, North America, Norway, the rest of the EU [besides Germany], Suisse, sometimes South Korea, sometimes Brazil & Argentina, sometimes Malaysia)?
d) if the country of origin is not one that produces superior quality, how committed is the name brand HQ to quality and customer retention?
e) how hard is it for the HQ's country to send supplier quality engineers to the low cost country?
The US, under Republican leadership at the end of the last and the beginning of this century, has become primarily a Service Providing country, not a core manufacturing country. Most of the core manufacturing was driven off-shore by cost focused MBAs who were looking for their next quarter's bonus instead of the longevity of their corporation and their customer base's loyalty. Services, in turn, are often more readily out-sourced, turning more of the US into a country of unemployed & angry consumers with no credit, who used to work in manufacturing, or knew a relative who used to at one time. Why I myself have worked in audio speaker & medical device plants in Indiana that have moved to China and Mexico, and capacitor plants in South Carolina that have moved to China, in the last 2 decades.
Big things (tires, semi truck trailers), heavy things (cement, bricks, gravel, wind turbines, asphalt) and delicate things (glass), are harder and more expensive to import. Laundry Dryers are light and full of air, but many manufacturers still try to make them in China or other "low cost" countries. Laundry Washers and Refrigerators are much heavier... so it is harder to determine where they are 'probably' made. The fridge, washer, and dryer in our Phoenix home that we purchased the day of closing, branded with a US manufacturer's label, that in the 80s and 90s USED TO be made in Bloomington IN (fridges) and Louisville KY (washers & dryers) were made in Korea, Mexico, and China in 2003... yeah. Seriously.
When in doubt, on an appliance, to identify where it was made, look
- inside the door
- along the back of the appliance, where the model number and (hopefully) serial number are located
- if it is questionable, it might be stamped on the bottom or printed inside a sheet metal panel, and the marking very hard to find [re: Myanmar, Iran, etc]
If anyone knows of a nice website that shows where ANYTHING is made, globally, or shows the countries or origin of the components, please let me know. I've not found a convenient source for that sorta information.
Die Kinder schwimmen
Hopped in the pool last weekend for the first time this year. Two weeks earlier than last year (link here). 72F - so the pool heater has some positive heating impact!
The 7.2 Baja earthquake sloshed our pool out over the deck, about 2 feet short in depth, north to south. We were planting spanish lavender poolside, when it occurred Sunday. Somewhat disconcerting, but it was only a scale 3 here in the Phoenix valley.
The 7.2 Baja earthquake sloshed our pool out over the deck, about 2 feet short in depth, north to south. We were planting spanish lavender poolside, when it occurred Sunday. Somewhat disconcerting, but it was only a scale 3 here in the Phoenix valley.
Geo Engineering? You're kidding, right?
I'm listening to Diane Rehm's radio show as I work this morning, and they are discussing various brain storming ideas about "Geoengineering" to try and reduce global warming, sequester CO2, lower ocean temperatures, float large white panels in the Arctic to reflect sunlight, plant 'artificial trees' to capture CO2, tinker with the iron content in the oceans...
um... as an experienced engineer who has designed and built a wide variety of small machines, large machines, and 1000s of square feet of medical clean room (100K rated) facilities, and as somewhat of a curmudgeon, I hear this sort of thing, and I think "Malarkey!" Puny humans think they can reverse the massive damage they've done to the planet? How delusional! It reminds me of George Carlin's "Big Electron" belief. The insightful comedian who is no longer with us, put it best as follows:
"We're so self-important. So arrogant. Everybody's going to save something now. Save the trees, save the bees, save the whales, save the snails. And the supreme arrogance? Save the planet! Are these people kidding? Save the planet? We don't even know how to take care of ourselves; we haven't learned how to care for one another. We're gonna save the f*ckin' planet? . . . And, by the way, there's nothing wrong with the planet in the first place. The planet is fine. The people are f*cked! Compared with the people, the planet is doin' great. It's been here over four billion years . . . The planet isn't goin' anywhere, folks. We are! We're goin' away. Pack your sh*t, we're goin' away. And we won't leave much of a trace. Thank God for that. Nothing left. Maybe a little Styrofoam. The planet will be here, and we'll be gone. Another failed mutation; another closed-end biological mistake."
— George Carlin
Sorry folks, anything we try to do to reverse our chronic abuse will be a tiny little blip on the over-all spectrum, be incredibly expensive, and won't make a hill of beans of difference in the long run. Put your efforts and money into coping with the screwed up environment, moving away from the coasts, digging tunnels underground - where future generations will probably need to live to avoid being fried on the surface. We're not going to be able to "fix" or "save" the planet. It's an exercise in futility.
um... as an experienced engineer who has designed and built a wide variety of small machines, large machines, and 1000s of square feet of medical clean room (100K rated) facilities, and as somewhat of a curmudgeon, I hear this sort of thing, and I think "Malarkey!" Puny humans think they can reverse the massive damage they've done to the planet? How delusional! It reminds me of George Carlin's "Big Electron" belief. The insightful comedian who is no longer with us, put it best as follows:
"We're so self-important. So arrogant. Everybody's going to save something now. Save the trees, save the bees, save the whales, save the snails. And the supreme arrogance? Save the planet! Are these people kidding? Save the planet? We don't even know how to take care of ourselves; we haven't learned how to care for one another. We're gonna save the f*ckin' planet? . . . And, by the way, there's nothing wrong with the planet in the first place. The planet is fine. The people are f*cked! Compared with the people, the planet is doin' great. It's been here over four billion years . . . The planet isn't goin' anywhere, folks. We are! We're goin' away. Pack your sh*t, we're goin' away. And we won't leave much of a trace. Thank God for that. Nothing left. Maybe a little Styrofoam. The planet will be here, and we'll be gone. Another failed mutation; another closed-end biological mistake."
— George Carlin
Sorry folks, anything we try to do to reverse our chronic abuse will be a tiny little blip on the over-all spectrum, be incredibly expensive, and won't make a hill of beans of difference in the long run. Put your efforts and money into coping with the screwed up environment, moving away from the coasts, digging tunnels underground - where future generations will probably need to live to avoid being fried on the surface. We're not going to be able to "fix" or "save" the planet. It's an exercise in futility.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Steven Moeckel's Mastery of the Violin
Saturday night, Dr Desert Flower and had the pleasure of listening to Steven Moeckel's violin mastery, as he played Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major for Violin & Orchestra, op.61, with the Phoenix Symphony. The Allegro me non troppo started off well. The Larghetto lulled me into a closed meditative state, and the Rondo Allegro was amazing. The entire Symphony Hall leap to their feet to give Mr. Moeckel 4 enthusiastic standing ovations, with frequent, boisterous shouts of "BRAVO!". Moeckel poured his heart and soul into the work, standing next to Michael Christie at the beginning of the work, Moeckel bobbed, swayed, leaned, attacked some passages, planting his feet at some points, and almost reeling back off them at several intensely difficult rapid crescendos. The music flowing from his violin beautifully mirrored his intense posture, accentuating it, amplifying, enhancing the work. It was, perhaps, the finest violin performance I have ever personally seen & heard. Magnificent.
After intermission, sans Moeckel, the Phoenix Symphony played Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F major, op.68. At first, I was ready to cringe, as I've commented here previously how Moeckel seems to often carry the string section. But, we were very pleasantly surprised.
First, the Violins:
Magdalena Martinic-Jercic stepped up superbly. Levon Zarasian beside her did his very best to follow her lead. Behind them, Nancy Livingston, Karen Sinclair played with passion as well. Jing Zeng and occasionally Chun-Yi Lu got into the performance as well - the other first violins, well... judging by bow movement, arm movement, head movement, cervical sway, facial expression, foot position, and over-all posture, it wold have been easy to see them listening to the performance, more than putting it on. And sure, you can say "motion doesn't dictate sound quality. Fingering, technique, bow pressure and a precision do" - and you'd have somewhat of a point... but string instruments make sound through vibration. Vibration is set up by the bow's motion over the strings... and if you are playing so rigidly as to look robotic, distance, disconnected, the sound you produce will not be too far away from that as well.
On the second violins, Anna Kim Kazepides mirrored Ms. Martinic-Jercic. Dumitru Lazarescu was a little more staid, but didn't appear to have a stick up... the back of his tux. Some of the female 2nd violins played with passion, but the bulk of the section, even during the fortissimo sections, seemed to perhaps be considering what they had for lunch earlier that day. I know that sounds kind of harsh, but from my 3rd row section B seat, I had a clear, unobstructed view of all the violins. I don't expect to see the musicians swaying and moving in amplitudes as large as Moeckel's, but sitting perfectly still, making minor bow movements, makes the musician look quite disconnected.
The violas and basses were doing their jobs. Beethoven doesn't write their voices in the forefront, and they did the youman's work of keeping things moving forward. Mark Deatherage did seem to put more than his 2 hours into the night's performance, as did Michael Kazepides and Steve Koscica on their massive basses.
The cellists sang their parts beautifully. Gal Faganel and Jan Simiz lead their section beautifully - Simiz at times appeared to be enraptured and on the verge of entering another plane of existence. There was no clear view to the other cellists, but the sound they produced was beautiful, precise, impassioned. One could see elbows, heads, and shoulders in movement, as the melodious sounds were sung forth.
For the woodwinds, Viviana Cumplido was marvelous as always. Alexander Laing gave a perfect performance. The oboes were precise, the bassoons supportive, as were the brass, which Beethoven sprinkled here and there throughout the symphony.
It as a wonderful performance, even without Moeckel playing the symphony. Christie appears to have over-come his fear of intense crescendos and powerful, dynamic chords... or more of the performers are following their principals' good examples and providing passionate, precise, beautifully presented musical masterpieces. Whatever it is, we hope the trend continues! Keep up the good work, Phoenix Symphony!
After intermission, sans Moeckel, the Phoenix Symphony played Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F major, op.68. At first, I was ready to cringe, as I've commented here previously how Moeckel seems to often carry the string section. But, we were very pleasantly surprised.
First, the Violins:
Magdalena Martinic-Jercic stepped up superbly. Levon Zarasian beside her did his very best to follow her lead. Behind them, Nancy Livingston, Karen Sinclair played with passion as well. Jing Zeng and occasionally Chun-Yi Lu got into the performance as well - the other first violins, well... judging by bow movement, arm movement, head movement, cervical sway, facial expression, foot position, and over-all posture, it wold have been easy to see them listening to the performance, more than putting it on. And sure, you can say "motion doesn't dictate sound quality. Fingering, technique, bow pressure and a precision do" - and you'd have somewhat of a point... but string instruments make sound through vibration. Vibration is set up by the bow's motion over the strings... and if you are playing so rigidly as to look robotic, distance, disconnected, the sound you produce will not be too far away from that as well.
On the second violins, Anna Kim Kazepides mirrored Ms. Martinic-Jercic. Dumitru Lazarescu was a little more staid, but didn't appear to have a stick up... the back of his tux. Some of the female 2nd violins played with passion, but the bulk of the section, even during the fortissimo sections, seemed to perhaps be considering what they had for lunch earlier that day. I know that sounds kind of harsh, but from my 3rd row section B seat, I had a clear, unobstructed view of all the violins. I don't expect to see the musicians swaying and moving in amplitudes as large as Moeckel's, but sitting perfectly still, making minor bow movements, makes the musician look quite disconnected.
The violas and basses were doing their jobs. Beethoven doesn't write their voices in the forefront, and they did the youman's work of keeping things moving forward. Mark Deatherage did seem to put more than his 2 hours into the night's performance, as did Michael Kazepides and Steve Koscica on their massive basses.
The cellists sang their parts beautifully. Gal Faganel and Jan Simiz lead their section beautifully - Simiz at times appeared to be enraptured and on the verge of entering another plane of existence. There was no clear view to the other cellists, but the sound they produced was beautiful, precise, impassioned. One could see elbows, heads, and shoulders in movement, as the melodious sounds were sung forth.
For the woodwinds, Viviana Cumplido was marvelous as always. Alexander Laing gave a perfect performance. The oboes were precise, the bassoons supportive, as were the brass, which Beethoven sprinkled here and there throughout the symphony.
It as a wonderful performance, even without Moeckel playing the symphony. Christie appears to have over-come his fear of intense crescendos and powerful, dynamic chords... or more of the performers are following their principals' good examples and providing passionate, precise, beautifully presented musical masterpieces. Whatever it is, we hope the trend continues! Keep up the good work, Phoenix Symphony!
Glass Menagerie at the Herberger Theater
Dr Desert Flower and I went to see our first professionally performed play here in Arizona last Friday night at the Herberger Theater Downtown. Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie was making a run, and the local KJZZ NPR station gave it a rave review. We paid for the "good seats" at E105 & 106, but the Herberger is so small, we could have paid for the cheaper seats and still seen a good show, and saved ourselves $40.
The play was acted well, and presented in a style that Tennessee Williams would probably have approved. The mother character (Amanda) I found very grating - as she was written and intended to be, much 'too close to home'. The daughter character (Laura) was so frail as to risk collapse and a total break down, from our 3rd row seat - also as written by Williams. The narrator's (Tom) character was acted well, and "likable". Neither DDF nor I had ever seen the minimalist play before... so it was an interesting experience.
Second City is coming later this year to the Herberger... we'll probably go.
The play was acted well, and presented in a style that Tennessee Williams would probably have approved. The mother character (Amanda) I found very grating - as she was written and intended to be, much 'too close to home'. The daughter character (Laura) was so frail as to risk collapse and a total break down, from our 3rd row seat - also as written by Williams. The narrator's (Tom) character was acted well, and "likable". Neither DDF nor I had ever seen the minimalist play before... so it was an interesting experience.
Second City is coming later this year to the Herberger... we'll probably go.
Everybody Has Their Own Opinion
Christopher and I used to sing this as we drove through TN & KY on I-75, he in his little car seat in the back of the Civic... Good Stuff.
Flea is a helluva Bassist. Perry Farrell's taste in wine is not the world's best... but it is amazing he's still alive.
Mountain Song - Jane's
Flea is a helluva Bassist. Perry Farrell's taste in wine is not the world's best... but it is amazing he's still alive.
Mountain Song - Jane's
AZ Science Fair - 2010
2 weeks ago, I had the opportunity to volunteer as a judge at the Arizona State Science & Engineering Fair. This was my 3rd year in a row, and I was enthusiastic and looking forward to hopefully moving up from judging some of the Jr High School level projects to the more detailed & refined Sr High School level projects. Dr Desert Flower had volunteered last year when she worked at the non-profit downtown, but this year, there was no time at her new company to send executives for a full day to go judge a Fair [I woke up at 4am, put in 1/2 a day with East Coast & Indian conf calls, drove into Downtown to judge, and then returned in the afternoon to finish up my day].
When I got there, I found I was assigned to an elementary school judging group for physics projects. Oh well. When the call went out for judging groups with only 1 or 2 judges to enlist the help of other well staffed groups, I jumped ship from my team of 4 and helped out another individual who was a team of 1 with 3 no shows. He and I judged Jr. High School Behavior science projects. Most of the students knew their projects very well, and expressed great enthusiasm about science. We judged our 6 projects (5 of the list of 11 were no-shows) and wrapped up our judging by 1pm.
From 1pm to 2pm, I walked around the exhibit hall in my light blue AZ Science Fair judge's shirt, browsing Sr High School projects on:
And each of the students were so very eager to talk to an adult about their project, to tell about their research, to ask for tips for improvements (when they found out I was not their assigned judge), to tell about where they had been accepted to college and where they wanted to take their research in the future. These students had some formidable work in their projects. They had so much enthusiasm, energy, hunger to learn more, engage, and explore science & engineering. It truly refreshed my faith in future generations that they are all not just PSP addicts, who tweet in their sedentary lives as spectators.
I heard afterwords that there were some difficulties with some judges who did not show, and who were unprofessional. 400 judges, 1400 students, stuff happens. I contacted the Fair's coordinator, and volunteered to organize the Engineering Judging efforts for the Sr High School projects next year. The Fair's organizer not only took me up on my offer for 2011, but asked that I be part of the grand Award Judging team next year as well. I am looking forward to it.
If you are interested in being a volunteer judge next year as well, please do not hesitate to contact me here, of via email. I can use all the help I can get! =)
When I got there, I found I was assigned to an elementary school judging group for physics projects. Oh well. When the call went out for judging groups with only 1 or 2 judges to enlist the help of other well staffed groups, I jumped ship from my team of 4 and helped out another individual who was a team of 1 with 3 no shows. He and I judged Jr. High School Behavior science projects. Most of the students knew their projects very well, and expressed great enthusiasm about science. We judged our 6 projects (5 of the list of 11 were no-shows) and wrapped up our judging by 1pm.
From 1pm to 2pm, I walked around the exhibit hall in my light blue AZ Science Fair judge's shirt, browsing Sr High School projects on:
- humming bird food preferences (color and sugar concentration)
- ampicillin resistant bacteria in the PHX waste water plant
- trébuchet design lever arm optimization
- gold nano tube manufacturing techniques for prostate cancer applications
- Copepods in the sea of Cortez digesting micro plastics and accumulating them in the food chain
- biomarkers for various genetic diseases
And each of the students were so very eager to talk to an adult about their project, to tell about their research, to ask for tips for improvements (when they found out I was not their assigned judge), to tell about where they had been accepted to college and where they wanted to take their research in the future. These students had some formidable work in their projects. They had so much enthusiasm, energy, hunger to learn more, engage, and explore science & engineering. It truly refreshed my faith in future generations that they are all not just PSP addicts, who tweet in their sedentary lives as spectators.
I heard afterwords that there were some difficulties with some judges who did not show, and who were unprofessional. 400 judges, 1400 students, stuff happens. I contacted the Fair's coordinator, and volunteered to organize the Engineering Judging efforts for the Sr High School projects next year. The Fair's organizer not only took me up on my offer for 2011, but asked that I be part of the grand Award Judging team next year as well. I am looking forward to it.
If you are interested in being a volunteer judge next year as well, please do not hesitate to contact me here, of via email. I can use all the help I can get! =)
Ombretta Chianti 2006 F&E
Last week, I finished off a bottle of Ombretta Chianti 2006 from Fresh & Easy. $5.99 A good Chianti. Not awesome, but drinkable. Aged well over the 3 days it took to finish it. Once again the DOCG does it's regulatory duty in providing a drinkable, inexpensive Italian red. Others appear to have enjoyed it as well, here and here, here and here.
"Let Them Eat Fake"
Rachel Maddow last week, went on an itemized, detailed, factual enumeration of the Lies that the RNC, Faux News, and Republicans mouth pieces have been spouting. (link to video here)
She starts off debunking the made up ACORN videos that got so publicity earlier this year, and eventually wound up leading to ACORN closing it's doors, no longer helping community organizers. See, the California Attorney General (a Republican, with a Republican governor) found that the videos were highly edited, showed no wrong doing, and hyped the perception that ACORN was acting as a facilitator of pimping, when it had actually called the police on the spoiled little white boy who was trying to "catch them" in some heinous act.
After the ACORN debunking, she goes on to call out the lies that Climate Deniers continue to spout on Faux News (Climate Gate). When no one has "changed their minds" in the scientific community. Much to do about nothing Faux, the reputable, peer reviewed scientific community all stand firmly behind human influenced climate change.
"The un-mooring of politics from facts". "The triumph of fake politics":
"You can't threaten to shoot people, and you have to stop making stuff up."
Unlike Olbermann's righteous indignation and borderline histrionic delivery, Rachel Maddow's fact filled, well researched, level headed presentation is a refreshing change.
I checked Redstate.com, Fox News, Media Matters, Think Progress, and Snopes, and no one has refuted or rebutted Rachel's itemization of Republican lies. If she got something wrong, no one is screaming about it.
She starts off debunking the made up ACORN videos that got so publicity earlier this year, and eventually wound up leading to ACORN closing it's doors, no longer helping community organizers. See, the California Attorney General (a Republican, with a Republican governor) found that the videos were highly edited, showed no wrong doing, and hyped the perception that ACORN was acting as a facilitator of pimping, when it had actually called the police on the spoiled little white boy who was trying to "catch them" in some heinous act.
After the ACORN debunking, she goes on to call out the lies that Climate Deniers continue to spout on Faux News (Climate Gate). When no one has "changed their minds" in the scientific community. Much to do about nothing Faux, the reputable, peer reviewed scientific community all stand firmly behind human influenced climate change.
"The un-mooring of politics from facts". "The triumph of fake politics":
- Republican Outrage over recess appointments? They're faking it. Bush used them constantly.
- Republican Outrage over an individual mandate in Health Care reform? It's a Republican idea.
- Republican Outrage over terrorism suspects being read Miranda right? Bush's admin did it hundreds of times.
- Republican Outrage over civilian trials for terrorism suspects? Bush tried Richard Reid the shoe bomber in a civilian court after he attempted to blow a plane enroute to Miami. ...Just as the underpants bomber will.
- Republican Outrage over the stimulus not working, but when they go to their home distructs, they brag about all the jobs it's creating.
- Law suits against Health Reform = Bull
- Death panels in Health Care reform = Bull
- Birth Certificate Deniers = Bull
- Fear of Census = Bull (but advantageous to the Blue states who fill them out fully)
- Threats to end the 2nd Amendment = Bull
- 1000s of armed IRS agents will come as storm troopers to enforce Health Reform = Bull
- Obama admin taking away the right to go fishing = Bull
- Scott Brown running against Rachel Maddow = Bull
"You can't threaten to shoot people, and you have to stop making stuff up."
Unlike Olbermann's righteous indignation and borderline histrionic delivery, Rachel Maddow's fact filled, well researched, level headed presentation is a refreshing change.
I checked Redstate.com, Fox News, Media Matters, Think Progress, and Snopes, and no one has refuted or rebutted Rachel's itemization of Republican lies. If she got something wrong, no one is screaming about it.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Happy Bunny Day, Delicious Bunny Day
The best places I have found enjoy a well prepared rabbit, are
1) a restaurant on Cleveland's far west side whose name I cannot remember (where I went on a mass interview with 4 other candidates for Everready battery, back in 1994)... twas my introduction to buttered rabbit medallions.
2) France - I have yet to have a poorly prepared rabbit in France
3) Sophie's Bistro, here in Phoenix - Chef Brendan Ayers does wonders with de lapin.
Here's a yummy recipe for rabbit, that sound absolutely delicious:
Medaillons de lapin a la mode du chef - for details, link here.
Rouler les filets de lapin en médaillons, les barder de lard fumé et les brider avec du fil culinaire. Eplucher les concombres, les couper en tronçons de 10 cm de long, puis les découper en fines lamelles avec le couteau économe jusqu'aux pépins. Poêler les médaillons de lapin trois minutes de chaque côté. Faire suer les concombres trois minutes dans un fond de beurre.
1) a restaurant on Cleveland's far west side whose name I cannot remember (where I went on a mass interview with 4 other candidates for Everready battery, back in 1994)... twas my introduction to buttered rabbit medallions.
2) France - I have yet to have a poorly prepared rabbit in France
3) Sophie's Bistro, here in Phoenix - Chef Brendan Ayers does wonders with de lapin.
Here's a yummy recipe for rabbit, that sound absolutely delicious:
Medaillons de lapin a la mode du chef - for details, link here.
Rouler les filets de lapin en médaillons, les barder de lard fumé et les brider avec du fil culinaire. Eplucher les concombres, les couper en tronçons de 10 cm de long, puis les découper en fines lamelles avec le couteau économe jusqu'aux pépins. Poêler les médaillons de lapin trois minutes de chaque côté. Faire suer les concombres trois minutes dans un fond de beurre.
Pour la sauce, réduire en purée avec le batteur plongeur la pomme épluchée et râpée avec le bouillon, la banane écrasée et le curry. Y incorporer la crème en remuant et monter avec quelques noix de beurre glacé. Disposer les lanières de concombre au centre d'assiettes chaudes, répartir la sauce au curry tout autour et présenter dessus les médaillons de lapin.
or.... in English
Roll the strips of bacon around the rabbit medallions fillets, and wrap with thread. Peel the cucumber, cut into sections 10 cm long (about 4 inches), then cut into thin strips. Remove the seeds with a vegetable peeler. Sear the medallions of rabbit three minutes on each side. Warm the cucumbers three minutes in melted butter.
For the sauce, puree with batter dipped apples peeled and grated with the broth of mashed banana and curry. Stir in cream and put together with some butter. Place the cucumber strips in the center of warmed plates, divide the curry sauce around and over the present medallions of rabbit.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
STFU Phelps
Happy Saturday News, from my friend Matt: (link here)
The anachronistic, hate spewing, heretical, Westboro Baptist Church professional protesters are drowned out and negated entirely by a united community. Go Home hate mongers. You have no influence here.
Too bad every single school, veteran's funeral, and community in America can't unite like this, to obliterate the hate these moronic Topekians attempt to spew in futility.
The anachronistic, hate spewing, heretical, Westboro Baptist Church professional protesters are drowned out and negated entirely by a united community. Go Home hate mongers. You have no influence here.
Too bad every single school, veteran's funeral, and community in America can't unite like this, to obliterate the hate these moronic Topekians attempt to spew in futility.
Friday, April 2, 2010
"Good" Friday Tunes
I've had Herod's "So you are the Christ, yeah, the great Jesus Christ" tune in my head most of the morning today. I remember the first time I saw this in Jr High School, at like 1 in the morning, on my parent's old giant Zenith tube TV...
... and if that is too ridiculous for you, my 2nd favorite Weber song, from the same musical is here: (Also played it in Marching Band, my Jr year (I think??)):
And if you have a penchant for violence... What's the buzz? "Put away your sword / Don't you know that it's all over / It was nice but now it's gone / Why are you obsessed with fighting? / Stick to fishing from now on" ... (at the 7:10 mark)
... and if that is too ridiculous for you, my 2nd favorite Weber song, from the same musical is here: (Also played it in Marching Band, my Jr year (I think??)):
And if you have a penchant for violence... What's the buzz? "Put away your sword / Don't you know that it's all over / It was nice but now it's gone / Why are you obsessed with fighting? / Stick to fishing from now on" ... (at the 7:10 mark)
Dagestan = Chechnya Lite
NPR and other news media outlets keep mentioning "Dagestan" alot lately following the recent Moscow subway bombings by cowardly Islamic Separatist Terrorists. I was not really sure where Dagestan was - it is next door, adjacent to Chechnya. Two pea pods from the same toxic garden.
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