Interfering in science
2006-12-31— Posted by: allegra
http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/interference/a-to-z-guide-to-political.html
Sometimes the headlines write themselves
2006-12-31— Posted by: allegra
The baaing, the baaing.
New Test
2006-12-31— Posted by: allegra
http://www.depict.org/content/films/2003/relationship_over_480.html
My new test of whether a film is funny is whether it’s funny with the sound off. This meets the criterion.
Wild Catamaran
2006-12-31— Posted by: allegra
This weird ‘spider boat’ is a prototype ocean going catamaran, which apparently has been spotted in Seattle.
The oracle
2006-12-31— Posted by: allegra
I consulted the oracle this morning; I made myself up a rather Whedonesque ritual which likely would have been quite amusing to the rational types in the crowd, and then laid down the cards in the Celtic Cross pattern.
It was a hard lesson but a good one.
Tonight I may consult another yet oracle; as previously mentioned in this blog a Finnish form of divination is to melt solder and cast it into water and take note of the shapes formed thereby. Dr Filk as I recollect was supposed to have a much more prosperous time of things, the last time he tried it, although it took a while for that to come true.
There are signs that Chinese citizens are becoming somewhat less willing to bear the brunt of ecological catastrophe as a price for their economic miracle. We shall see how this plays out for stability.
Things I learned today
2006-12-30— Posted by: allegra
I relearned to knit. Casting on caused me some headaches, but I knit for a while and then pulled it all out, it was just for practice.
I learned that somehow some of Maggie and Glen’s presents for other people ended up here, mislabelled for us… dunno how that happened.
I learned that Peggy and Tom have taken on a VERY big project with remodelling the office, but that is going to be a) gorgeous and b) much more useful when they are done. I heart her Ikea desk. I did a tiny amount of painting at the office (everything is prep time…) and got a nice visit in with Martha.
I made up a new recipe for cole slaw – it’s very good.
I learned how I would ideally want my household configured after Paul and I are no longer in the same place, and it actually looks rather different than I originally imagined it. Very strange. I’d like to thank Peggy for nudging me into thinking on a larger scale.
Dr. Porco does it again
2006-12-29— Posted by: allegra
I got an email from Dr. Carolyn Porco of ciclops.org today (yes, I’m on her spamlist) and said, MOVIES!, and grabbed the new gif for the top corner. This is Hyperion in color. Her comment … “the Slashdot guys are crashing our server” or words to that effect, are another reason why I’m glad I have 40 readers…. maybe 41.
Some people think cats on leashes are bad
2006-12-29— Posted by: allegra
I think this pic is cute, and I posted it for PaTRICia.
Quite the building boom
2006-12-29— Posted by: allegra
http://dubai.isnuts.googlepages.com.nyud.net:8080/
Peaceful
2006-12-29— Posted by: allegra
The light is coming back, which is wonderful. The sunrise this morning was stunning. Biscotti and soup are both finally done, and now it’s time to go to work.
Skywatching 2007
2006-12-28— Posted by: allegra
It’s 24 megs and you need adobe, but if you want to know what the sky will be doing in the next year, here’s the link http://www.astrowhatsup.com/download-the-book/
enough sleep
2006-12-28— Posted by: allegra
I managed to sleep without painkillers last night, a marked improvement over previous nights, and got a fair amount done, including another incremental stage in a batch of biscotti and soup and the garbage out and some paperwork. Oh, and I cleaned the boots I stole from Katie. Katie’s response when I sheepishly announced that I really liked the boots and was feeling pouty about giving them back to her was “Merry Christmas” which royally generous of her.
Tomorrow night I’m heading downtown and giving myself a bit of a break from suburban life and hanging out in the West End for the weekend. New Years I haven’t decided whether I’ll go to Jan’s open house of Spitters and relatives or just watch the world go by.
My to do list is the size of an oil tanker and I’ve yet to learn that going to GTD sites does not constitute progress. Plan the work, work the plan…. Marcus Aurelius, Epicurus and Epictetus all help though. Plain talking sumbitches.
Angels sang out in immaculate chorus
2006-12-27— Posted by: allegra
Yoiks. At work we call these times Sucking on the Firehose; you’re being sprayed, in a most mentally unhealthy way, with new information and expected to get it into your gullet rather than sprayed all over the walls. At home I call it much bitter and reflective cud to chew. (I think I stole that phrase from Lucy Maud Montgomery, but I can’t remember Jack Schritt these days, so I’m far from sure). At the same time, I feel energized and optimistic. This is a sign that I am about as seaworthy as the Titanic ten seconds after it hit the iceberg. And yet, and yet. I feel …. good. Not like James Brown, like Mad Martigan in Willow.
Right now the kitchen smells of a devastating combination of roasting almonds and the commencement of turkey soup. This place smells like food. Of course, I’ll have to do a lot more cooking before it actually IS food, but them’s the breaks.
Big shout out to m0m and pOp for agreeing to allow Lady Miss Banjola through the door. I wish you all joy of one another.
Now I’m supposed to be doing research, but I’m feeling like cooking and picking Katie up from work instead.
Keith’s got a mofo of a cold.
Enormous amounts of gratitude and love to Dr Filk for acts of loving service this afternoon.
Sorry I missed you Tammy….
Crafty, Mr. Math, very crafty
2006-12-27— Posted by: allegra
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20061223/bob10.asp
If you’re so smart, let’s see you crochet THIS!
Lady Miss Banjola to the rescue
2006-12-27— Posted by: allegra
http://dreamlandtoyworks.com/my_little_cthulhu.html
Cartoon exit
2006-12-27— Posted by: allegra
In Paul’s quite natural haste to quit Vancouver yesterday, he left both the front door and the back door unlocked. I can understand his desire to be elsewhere, but I might wish that he would not put the worldly goods of his housemates at risk in the process.
Friends………..
2006-12-26— Posted by: allegra
I am so thankful for my friends tonight. Tammy came and fetched me this morning and we spent a wonderful day lingerie shopping, eating sushi, and getting a pedicure, all while Tammy dispensed amusing bon mots and really good advice. At the end of it not only did I feel human I felt quite excellent.
All I really accomplished today was learn a Canadian new folk song (the Fenian Song) and get Katie a new phone number, as she has finally (only TOOK a month) decided she doesn’t want Daxus knowing her phone number. I love it when people finally take my advice…. At least I did something useful today, and like I said, I feel WAY WAY better. Tomorrow, who the hell knows.
mOm I cannot find the pic of John Kovalic’s “my lil Cthulhu” which is aggravating as hell, but I’m sure it will turn up eventually and I’ll forward the link then.
Tammy is leaving for Victoria tomorrow and Arizona after that so it will probably be another year before I see her, but her visit couldn’t have been more welcome or timed better.
Fed Glen and Maggie Christmas dinner last night.
Paul’s in Seattle with Keith.
Hot damn an NRA graphic novel
2006-12-26— Posted by: allegra
Great balls o fire!!!! http://www.rawprint.com/images/nrf8_perilfinal_fpr.pdf
I am very impressed, it’s a brilliantly conceived work.
Interesting site
2006-12-26— Posted by: allegra
http://hybridvigor.org/goals.html
The most wonderful dream
2006-12-26— Posted by: allegra
Last night I dreamed I went swimming by moonlight in Muskoka. The water was deliciously cool and I swam backwards away from moon with the light on my face. As soon as I thought I was near land, I turned around and I could feel the sand under my hands. It was a lovely, lovely dream.
I for one hail our new moose masters
2006-12-25— Posted by: allegra
DrFilk said, “Knowing your penchant for moose pics, I thought I’d alert you to this.” Why thank you, kind sir.
Monastery, 1909 Russia
2006-12-25— Posted by: allegra
Color photos….. I love this picture because it is a genuine color photograph of a monastery in 1909, because it is a gorgeous composition by a good photographer (his name’s in the jpg name, and don’t ask me to pronounce it), and because it looks like something out of a contemporary anime….
And speaking of anime, I am still blown away by the deck of anime cards my cousin Catherine is designing. She is one talented artiste….
Pope’s hat for midnight mass
2006-12-25— Posted by: allegra
Benedict’s hat for midnight mass is pretty encrusted with stuff. It must be heavy. Doesn’t he look like something out of Buffy the Vampire Slayer???
A helluva way to break a fall
2006-12-25— Posted by: allegra
http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=609&id=1900632006
Some Brit fell 15000 feet out of an aircraft, got his chute tangled, and his fall was broken by a blackberry bush. He was found unconscious, with nothing more wrong with him than a punctured lung (Crikey, those spikes are long and sharp!) and a busted ankle. As one wag commented, I told you fruit is good for you. Just keep a weather eye out for the guy with the banana…
My aunt and the improvised weapon
2006-12-25— Posted by: allegra
I have learned from one of my more ‘things-go-boom’ correspondents that you can turn a disposable camera into a taser. My aunt had a disposable camera at the family gathering yesterday. Hm. Well, the women in my family always were a little odd. It’s a def trif bad idea to cheese them off………..
Oh, and there’s a video of how to do it on the internet, just in case it’s something the McGyver in you MUST KNOW.
Dang
2006-12-25— Posted by: allegra
The choir angelic just got a lot funkier. Just when I’d decided I was going to see James Brown when he came through town next month, the old bugger up and dies on me. He died early this morning of pneumonia. I’ll let other people make the tasteless jokes, I already made fun of him in my blog.
I wish a happy Christmas and a healthy New Year to all my readers (all 40 of you! What a select group you are, to be sure).
I see a tiny patch of blue sky, which is pleasant, because the weather here has been on the downside of atrocious these last few days.
Pic is a captcha from the Blues Brothers of the Godfather of Soul.
Lovely brunch
2006-12-24— Posted by: allegra
No pics (which is hilarious because there were seven cameras there) but Granny’s 95th bday and mOm and pOp’s 50th anniversary went off completely hitchless. In attendance, myself, Paul, Katie (Keith had to work, poor lamb) mOm&pOp (obliviously) Granny (Ditto), Barry, Jackie, Lexi and Rob, Shauna and Catherine, Garry and Diane, Gregory, Tracy and Keegan and Caden, Jeff, Mary… I think that’s all.
We ate like idiots (finger food) and Paul had the brill notion of ordering a couple of jugs of draft rather than all separate beers which meant that we spent WAY less on alcool that we would have otherwise, and we were at a place called Charters which is right on the ocean and HOLY CRAP were the waves high. I am NOT used to seeing 8 foot breakers. Are we going to get on the ferry? It’s looking almost dicey. I’ll post when I get home…
Then the Amazing Cakes Diane made came out and we mounted a vicious assault on them, and then we sang Amazing Grace for Granny, and shmoozed and chatted and admired Catherine’s art work (she’s doing an anime deck of cards!!! send pens…) and had seventeen billion pictures taken. We all had a simply lovely time, and there’s truffles in our bag. Yay us. That was the nicest possible birthday / anniversary party, and I am very very glad I went.
The staff there are darlings and there’s a beautiful saltwater tank with “Nemo and his dad” in it…. two clownfish.
It’s still blowing really hard. I’m going to check the ferries.
Not enough sleep
2006-12-24— Posted by: allegra
I had a lousy nights’ sleep, mostly due to pain, and I’m out of prescribed painkillers. So I took AC&Cs instead, and woke up at 4 am with a bellyache instead. Heavy sigh. Now it’s time to jump on the ferry and get going………
enough sleep
2006-12-23— Posted by: allegra
Saw Tammy and met her beau Henry today, and we had a pleasant meal at Chong Lum Hin. Tomorrow, off to the grands for the 50th wedding celebration and Granny’s birthday party.
Rubber Santa Devil Pirate Ducky?
2006-12-22— Posted by: allegra
Here’s a hopeless cultural mashup. Only thing missing are throwing stars and a ninja mask…..
I love the inappropriateness of it all
2006-12-22— Posted by: allegra
I had a worksibling send me an email that started, “Why you ungrateful hag!” I justabout spewed coffee all over my screen.
I’m okay with it, really, and +so+ wish I could share the circumstances. Anyway, I can die happy now. Actually I’ll be able to die happy when I get a business card that bears the title, “Chief Lackey”. It’s the little things that make a workplace great.
Scarlet Johannsen in fetish gear
2006-12-22— Posted by: allegra
http://www.kontraband.com/show/show.asp?ID=5198&rtn=index-topten
You’re welcome.
No blog today
2006-12-22— Posted by: allegra
I am trying to model good behaviour…. if you have nothing to say, don’t prove it by talking.
Links to ancient Greek music
2006-12-21— Posted by: allegra
http://www.oeaw.ac.at/kal/agm/
Punkin good Xmas
2006-12-21— Posted by: allegra
http://waynekozak.com/wkap_xmas/
Ah….
2006-12-21— Posted by: allegra
I spend a lot of time working on other people (usually neck and shoulder rubs) so it was a relief to actually be on the receiving end for a change. My feet say, “Thanks!”.
On the other hand, I’m hungover, but it IS the week before Christmas, the drinkinest part of the year.
I light a candle for the immigration woes of some of my friends and colleagues. May the problems be resolved swiftly and in your favor.
So… I mentioned Crisco yesterday, but alas, it gets worse. Imagine working someplace where you say, “I just don’t get Crisco” (the clear context being ‘in the sense of being a personal lubricant for acts of intimacy requiring large amounts of same’, to which your lunchmate’s response is, “But it’s natural.” My riposte, unfortunately for the appetites of my lunchmates, was the first thing that came into my head, which was, “So are gamma rays, but I don’t want them inside me.” This passes for normal conversation at any lunch table I’m sitting at, which is probly why the VPs always look so hunted when I sit down anywhere near them. But really, it’s better than listening to a brace of nerds salivate over expensive cameras, which is the only other conversational oppo.
I think my spine is finally rehydrating enough that I can uncurl from the foetal position, clothe myself, and brave the wild darkness of pre-dawn East Burnaby to get on the bus.
The Wet Spots do it again
2006-12-20— Posted by: allegra
http://www.goodiebag.tv/video/fist_me_this_christmas.htm
No, as a matter of fact I don’t like Crisco, having a marked preference for O My, but I have to tell you, I work in the kind of place where worksiblings send me links like this… and I like that.
The Wet Spots are from Vancouver. I wonder if my Merkin worksibling was aware of this???? rolling around under the Christmas tree…..
Adventures in wellness
2006-12-20— Posted by: allegra
I had another interesting mini adventure at work yesterday. I asked a worksibling to show me where the gym is because as embarrassing as it is to relate, I couldn’t remember how to find it. He did so, in company with some of our other tablemates at lunch.
The menfolks went into the men’s changing room / shower room / washroom, determined there was nobody else in there and invited me to inspect. It was spacious and well appointed.
Then I pushed the door open into the women’s side. It’s the size of a Dilbert cubicle and the appalling stench that greeted me from the immense pile of shoes just inside the door literally stopped us all in our tracks.
So my worksibling says to me, on the way back up the stairs, I thought girls were supposed to smell pretty, and I told him to shut the **** up.
I wanted to be an honorary man for the purposes of gym usage, but instead I think I am going to draft a smokin’ email to the facilities manager and I’m going to hang an even more smokin’ sign up saying that all those shoes will be handed over to a hazmat team if they’re not outta there by a reasonable date.
In the spirit of the season, I am re-reading Robert Graves’ King Jesus.
It’s that time of year again
2006-12-19— Posted by: allegra
Biscotti Do not forget to double the recipe MIX IN ANY ORDER 3 large eggs pinch salt 1 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla � cup melted butter 1 cup pretoasted any combination of coarsely chopped hazelnuts/almonds 1 tsp cinnamon � teaspoon ground cardamom (Optional but optimal) 3 drops of almond flavouring (Optional and don�t overdo it) Add, until no flour shows: 2 � cups all purpose flour (you may add a little more if dough is too sticky) 1 tablespoon baking powder (I use less). Cover carefully with at least a couple of layers of cling-style wrap and refrigerate for NO MORE THAN A DAY Cook in two stages Preheat the oven to 350 Form dough into two logs (or four if you have doubled the recipe). Roll the dough between your hands until the logs are between 1� and 2 inches in diameter and about 14 inches long. Place on greased heavy duty aluminum foil (properly spaced you can get two logs onto a cookie sheet) and squish down with your hands until they are less than 3/4s of an inch high. Cook for about 25 minutes, but watch it like a hawk for the last 5 minutes so it does not burn. You want everything cooked right through but not so cooked that you have trouble cutting the logs up because they crumble. If it still looks bubbly on top it isn�t done. While still warm, slice logs using serrated knife in 1/2 inch thicknesses. If the dough is gooey wipe off the knife with every cut. Return to the oven at 350 until golden brown, about another 15 minutes. For extra crispiness turn the oven off and let them sit for another 10, or even overnight with the oven off. A double batch makes about 60 biscotti, depending on how thin you slice them.
Sign on a restaurant – now that’s a deal!!!
2006-12-19— Posted by: allegra
NOW HIRING / TWO FRENCH DIPS / FOR TWO DOLLARS. — A sign at an Arby’s in North Bend, Washington.
It had to happen
2006-12-19— Posted by: allegra
www.youparklikeanasshole.com
Maybe that Durango owner will do a better job of parking it when he’s living in it.
News I needed………..
2006-12-19— Posted by: allegra
http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=16822
Alcohol protects the brain from trauma!!!!!!!!!!! who knew???
Weather aboveground
2006-12-19— Posted by: allegra
Here’s Dr. Filk inspecting the damage in Robert Burnaby Park. Still over 100000 people without power in Western Washington, not one but TWO of my coworkers had trees come through their houses.
I feel lucky we didn’t lose shingles or fencing. I had to pick my way through an awful lot of debris on the way down the hill from the bus stop this morning.
Are you edible?
2006-12-19— Posted by: allegra
In the spirit of the Season, Santa Moose
2006-12-19— Posted by: allegra
Some people have NO RESPECT for wildlife, especially yearling male meese with a sweet tooth. Both pics, part of a series, sent me by my correspondent in Moosonee. I lie, he’s actually in Alberta, and this is from Cousin Gerald. Buddy, you’re a scandal to any self respecting moose, but I kinda like you anyway. Next up!!! a picture entitled, “Are you Edible?”
It’s been Bally Ages since I posted a moose pic
2006-12-19— Posted by: allegra
This is Buddy. He can fend for himself, but in this pic he is demonstrating that he likes hanging around the house where he was fostered when he was orphaned. Note the dog lying around, completely unconcerned, in the background.
I google imaged Rasta Claus
2006-12-18— Posted by: allegra
Happy Sigh, it’s Rasta Claus…..
How much? That’s all I want to know…..
2006-12-18— Posted by: allegra
http://www.personalblimp.com/
URL sez it all.
Highly recommended blog
2006-12-18— Posted by: allegra
http://van-housing.blogspot.com/
…and now you know where I stole that pic from 🙂
Shiny
2006-12-18— Posted by: allegra
A great peace comes
2006-12-18— Posted by: allegra
I am feeling much better.
Dejunked 2 boxes of books, a big heating pad thingy and a bag of clothes.
Lexi and I did the production line thang on chocolate truffles, I dipped Mr. Biscotti in Ms. Chocolate with excellent results, and then Rob dipped both into Mr. Latte, with what he pronounced excellent results. That all sounds much more kinky than it really was, I assure you. I’m weird – I don’t dip biscotti in either coffee or wine, both of which are trad.
Katie hauled her first 9 hour shift at the deli, and when she came home I worked on her back and we were giggling because she was crunching something awful, like 16 snaps or something.
Keith closed at Superstore yesterday – he was working the 15 items lane and he says he cannot recollect that it was ever that busy. A lot of people paying for groceries on credit though. I shudder when I hear that.
I have found a dandy blog about the Vancouver housing market. It’s uniformly excellent, and I’ve lost the freaking URL. I’ll dig it up and post it.
Suki, Dr Filk’s new cat, is a complete SWEEETheart. I really wish I had a cat who would sit in my lap when I work…. mew.
Quentin Crisp on avoiding a broken heart
2006-12-17— Posted by: allegra
The quickest remedy is that you must learn not to value love because it is requited. It makes no difference whether your love is returned. Your love is of value to you because you give it. It’s as though you gave me a present merely because you thought I would give you one in return. This won’t do. If you have love to give, you give it and you give it where it is needed, but never, never ask for anything in return. Once you’ve got that in your head, the idea of your heart being broken will disappear.
Christmas 2007
2006-12-17— Posted by: allegra
Ach, it’s too late to think about this year, but next year, buy me one of each from::::: http://criterionco.com/asp/index.asp
Off to Lexi’s this afternoon to see what happens when you mashup HER mad homemade chocolatier skillz and my biscotti. Oh yes, there will be calories!
In the meantime, laundry and dejunking.
Sad news
2006-12-17— Posted by: allegra
Paul and I are splitting up and selling the house. I sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to all the various people who thought we were a ‘forever’ couple. Sober consideration yielded the result that killing myself was not the way to get out of this soul-grinding, and unbelievably tasteless, situation. Splitting up seemed a more palatable option all the way ’round. The kids seem fine with it. More details as they become relevant.
enough sleep
2006-12-16— Posted by: allegra
No blog today.
