Dawn and I conducted a mission to Indiana last weekend. The logistics of the mission were such that we spent some time in our old stomping grounds of Lafayette. It was pretty trippy going back to Lafayette. It wasn’t all that long ago that we lived there and my old routines are still fresh enough to feel like I could fall back into them.
One of the things that I miss about Lafayette is its pubs. Lafayette knows a thing or two about pubs. There were easily four good pubs that were an easy walking distance from our hotel. We probably could have walked to an additional four or five pubs if we had the mind to. These are authentic locally owned joints too. I’m not talking about some cooperate chain that pretend to be a local neighborhood pub.
While there we were able to visit the Lafayette Brewing Company and get fish and chips. I’ve done a decent amount of traveling in my life and tried fish and chips in a number of places. For my money Lafayette Brewing Company has the best fish and chips I’ve come across yet (hang your head in shame Ireland). I routinely crave their fish and chips so this weekend it was such a treat to actually indulge the craving.
Apart from fish and chips the Lafayette Brewing Company just does pub food (aka fried food) right. We also had scotched eggs (hardboiled eggs encased in sausage and deep fried) and jalapeño potato munchers while there. Simply divine.
Did I mention that it is a brewing company? The beer was very good. I miss living in a state that has microbreweries.
Try as we did, we didn’t even get a chance to sample to new pubs on the other side of the river. There is a scotch bar and an Irish bar that have opened up in West Lafayette since we lived there. We got good reviews but ran out of time before we were able to go and judge for ourselves. Perhaps we’ll make them priorities next time should we be assigned another mission to Lafayette.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Dirty Fun with Web Policies
Normally reading through web site policy updates is pretty dry stuff. It’s not something I particularly enjoy doing. So I was delighted when I read the following policy statement this morning:
The first thing I had to do was look up a definition for prurient. According to dictionary.com it means:
Alternatively it would appear that we could have some really prurient content on the site as long as it wouldn’t appeal to the average person. So what, like as long as it only appeals to really deviant individuals, its ok? That’s a pretty frightening policy too.
The dominant theme of any Web site, whether an Official or Unofficial Web Site, must not appeal to prurient interest to the average person applying contemporary community standards.
The first thing I had to do was look up a definition for prurient. According to dictionary.com it means:
- having, inclined to have, or characterized by lascivious or lustful thoughts, desires, etc.
- causing lasciviousness or lust.
- having a restless desire or longing.
Alternatively it would appear that we could have some really prurient content on the site as long as it wouldn’t appeal to the average person. So what, like as long as it only appeals to really deviant individuals, its ok? That’s a pretty frightening policy too.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Victory is Mine!
With the melodious notes of Chariots of Fire almost tangible in the air, I finished my bookcase project last night. Thus concludes an often interrupted thirteen month long project.
For the record, I would not recommend a monstrously complex shelving project to “learn woodworking” on.
Also, to give you a frame of reference, the “small” black bookcase on the right-hand side of the photo is six feet tall. My creation is a behemoth that actually looms in the room like an shoddily constructed obelisk of science fiction knowledge.
For the record, I would not recommend a monstrously complex shelving project to “learn woodworking” on.
Also, to give you a frame of reference, the “small” black bookcase on the right-hand side of the photo is six feet tall. My creation is a behemoth that actually looms in the room like an shoddily constructed obelisk of science fiction knowledge.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
This just in!
I don’t know why or how it got there, but I’d swear that there is a picture of Riblet on icanhascheezburger.com this morning.
The cat in question has the same coloration and markings as Riblet and the same visible seething hatred and loathing for the world at large. The fact that I didn’t post this image is most troubling.
I now have to contemplate the possibilities of dobbel-Riblets and/or Ribblet clone armies. Oh my.
[Original link – identical to image posted below]
The cat in question has the same coloration and markings as Riblet and the same visible seething hatred and loathing for the world at large. The fact that I didn’t post this image is most troubling.
I now have to contemplate the possibilities of dobbel-Riblets and/or Ribblet clone armies. Oh my.
[Original link – identical to image posted below]
Drinking proper and correct.
I’m thinking back on other happenings whilst confined to my Cone of Silence and my thoughts return to the weekend before last. You remember, the weekend where the thermometer said it was only 95 degrees outside but it felt like the surface of the sun. I believe that is the weekend some you decided it would be fun to build a shed. Oh the good times. I on the other hand was watching my grill transform pork butt into ham (as reported yesterday).
Being it was so hot outside Dawn and I decided there was only one sane and rational thing to do - make margaritas. Being it was so miserable outside no ordinary margaritas would do – so we were forced to advance the state of margaritas mixology forward. Basically we decided the excess heat demanded some sort of berry addition to the margarita. However, every berry inspired margarita either of us has ever tasted has been a froufrou sugary disaster of a drink – nothing more than Kool-Aid spiked for adults. We wanted a fruited margarita that would remain an honest tart drink despite the presence of fruit.
The important intuitive leap we made was that the fruit should supply all the sweetness in the margarita. This coupled with our predilection for simple drinks led us to the following margarita formula:
Really, this ought to be enough to satisfy you all your margaritas needs….but I sense some of you desire more. Some of you are no doubt elitist and want push the margarita further so they can have a truly original (but honest) drink. Ok, I got you covered. You want to kick it upscale this is what you do – add herbs. No kidding.
Dawn and I tried this variation and where very pleased. Follow the above recipe but add in some thyme leaves when you place the raspberries into the shaker to muddle. Then garnish with a thyme spring skewered through a raspberry. The flavors of the drink are simple enough that the herbal notes ring true. It’s pretty awesome. (Full discloser: the thyme idea was lifted from a less than awesome gin drink I saw in some magazine).
I also have high hopes for a variation where the thyme leaves are replaced with basil leaves. I think a raspberry basil margarita will be pretty great…but I haven’t tried it yet. Also I’m interested in replacing the raspberries with blackberries just to see the color difference in the final drink – I’m guessing it will turn out dark blue or blackish. So much experimentation to do, good thing summer is just starting.
Being it was so hot outside Dawn and I decided there was only one sane and rational thing to do - make margaritas. Being it was so miserable outside no ordinary margaritas would do – so we were forced to advance the state of margaritas mixology forward. Basically we decided the excess heat demanded some sort of berry addition to the margarita. However, every berry inspired margarita either of us has ever tasted has been a froufrou sugary disaster of a drink – nothing more than Kool-Aid spiked for adults. We wanted a fruited margarita that would remain an honest tart drink despite the presence of fruit.
The important intuitive leap we made was that the fruit should supply all the sweetness in the margarita. This coupled with our predilection for simple drinks led us to the following margarita formula:
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 7-9 raspberries
- 7-9 large ice cubes
- pinch course sea salt
Really, this ought to be enough to satisfy you all your margaritas needs….but I sense some of you desire more. Some of you are no doubt elitist and want push the margarita further so they can have a truly original (but honest) drink. Ok, I got you covered. You want to kick it upscale this is what you do – add herbs. No kidding.
Dawn and I tried this variation and where very pleased. Follow the above recipe but add in some thyme leaves when you place the raspberries into the shaker to muddle. Then garnish with a thyme spring skewered through a raspberry. The flavors of the drink are simple enough that the herbal notes ring true. It’s pretty awesome. (Full discloser: the thyme idea was lifted from a less than awesome gin drink I saw in some magazine).
I also have high hopes for a variation where the thyme leaves are replaced with basil leaves. I think a raspberry basil margarita will be pretty great…but I haven’t tried it yet. Also I’m interested in replacing the raspberries with blackberries just to see the color difference in the final drink – I’m guessing it will turn out dark blue or blackish. So much experimentation to do, good thing summer is just starting.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Cough, cough, sneeze, sneeze, scream, scream. Repeat.
Whoever decided today was take your sick and/or feral child to lunch day needs to have internal organs punctured and be dropped in a pit of the screaming little disease vectors they let loose on my lunch.
That is all.
That is all.
Power to the Pibil
I spent the last week sequestered in my Cone of Silence. The cone was prepared in the traditional manner and my stay was pleasant.
One of the things I yearned to share last week, but was not able to (due to the aforementioned Cone of Silence), was exciting developments in pork pibil. Or more specifically, cochinita pibil, which is a close cousin to good old pork pibil. I saw this recipe in the May issue of Bon Appétit and singled it out for experimentation.
I bought two pork butts for a total of 10 pounds of porcine goodness - following the longstanding 5lb of meat per person rule. I quickly ran into problems however when I tried to buy the ingredients for the marinade, it calls for ¼ cup of anchiote paste. I’ve never seen nor heard of anchiote paste. I’m only vaguely aware that anchiote is some sort of pepper. Dawn and I tried multiple food sources and kept coming up empty on anchiote paste….or anchiotes period. In the end I made some wild substitutions for the paste. I used one Latino spice packet mix of which anchiote was the very last ingredient, one chipotle bouillon cube (because I read that anchiote paste comes as a compressed powder and is then hydrated, I figured this is similar), and four smoked mystery peppers (per pork butt).
Kroger had these giant smoked peppers in their produce section with no identification or pricing information anywhere to be found. I suspect that they were chipotles. I tried to ask one of the produce people about them but she looked startled at the notion of providing information. She basically said that while she was working in the produce section, that was no guarantee or indication that she knew anything about produce. Fair enough. Then for good measure she added “I don’t even cook.” I appreciated that she was hedging her bets and letting me know that even a general question about food would be unwelcomed and unanswered.
The checkout line the employee was equally perplexed by the peppers and none of his produce documentation hinted at anything that might reveal its identity. Eventually he looked me square in the eye and asked “would you say fifteen cents would be a fair price for this item.” I curtly nodded and our conspiracy to buy unnamable goods was complete.
Whatever the mystery peppers may have been or however close my anchiote paste approximation may have resulted- the final product rocked. I put the well marinated pork butts on the Black Evil Egg at 220 degrees and let them cruise for about eight hours. Towards the end I started to raise the grill’s temperature because I wanted to eat that day and a pork butt can hang out on a 220 fire for close to twenty hours if you let it. The resulting pork wasn’t quiet shareable, but was super tender and made for some amazing soft tacos, and sandwiches, and salad topping, and soup addition. Basically we happily ate pork all last week (it’s good Cone of Silence food). So revered was our pork pibil that it was bestowed the honoree title of “Ham,” which as you well know, is only bestowed upon the most splendid of porcine products (well that or “Bacon”).
One of the things I yearned to share last week, but was not able to (due to the aforementioned Cone of Silence), was exciting developments in pork pibil. Or more specifically, cochinita pibil, which is a close cousin to good old pork pibil. I saw this recipe in the May issue of Bon Appétit and singled it out for experimentation.
I bought two pork butts for a total of 10 pounds of porcine goodness - following the longstanding 5lb of meat per person rule. I quickly ran into problems however when I tried to buy the ingredients for the marinade, it calls for ¼ cup of anchiote paste. I’ve never seen nor heard of anchiote paste. I’m only vaguely aware that anchiote is some sort of pepper. Dawn and I tried multiple food sources and kept coming up empty on anchiote paste….or anchiotes period. In the end I made some wild substitutions for the paste. I used one Latino spice packet mix of which anchiote was the very last ingredient, one chipotle bouillon cube (because I read that anchiote paste comes as a compressed powder and is then hydrated, I figured this is similar), and four smoked mystery peppers (per pork butt).
Kroger had these giant smoked peppers in their produce section with no identification or pricing information anywhere to be found. I suspect that they were chipotles. I tried to ask one of the produce people about them but she looked startled at the notion of providing information. She basically said that while she was working in the produce section, that was no guarantee or indication that she knew anything about produce. Fair enough. Then for good measure she added “I don’t even cook.” I appreciated that she was hedging her bets and letting me know that even a general question about food would be unwelcomed and unanswered.
The checkout line the employee was equally perplexed by the peppers and none of his produce documentation hinted at anything that might reveal its identity. Eventually he looked me square in the eye and asked “would you say fifteen cents would be a fair price for this item.” I curtly nodded and our conspiracy to buy unnamable goods was complete.
Whatever the mystery peppers may have been or however close my anchiote paste approximation may have resulted- the final product rocked. I put the well marinated pork butts on the Black Evil Egg at 220 degrees and let them cruise for about eight hours. Towards the end I started to raise the grill’s temperature because I wanted to eat that day and a pork butt can hang out on a 220 fire for close to twenty hours if you let it. The resulting pork wasn’t quiet shareable, but was super tender and made for some amazing soft tacos, and sandwiches, and salad topping, and soup addition. Basically we happily ate pork all last week (it’s good Cone of Silence food). So revered was our pork pibil that it was bestowed the honoree title of “Ham,” which as you well know, is only bestowed upon the most splendid of porcine products (well that or “Bacon”).
Friday, June 6, 2008
Late night anger
Driving home last night. The time is about 9:15. I'm exhausted and sweaty - just finished working out. The brain has flipped on autopilot and I'm basically a drone in the car. In the distance a water buffalo realizes it rather be a beautiful butterfly and emits a mournful mew. Suddenly I hear a “thump thump thump.” Autopilot is disengaged and problem solving mode is initiated. What is that? Do I have a flat tire? An experimental swerve of the wheel and the sound goes away. Perhaps I was too close to the shoulder... Autopilot mode engaged. In the distance the water buffalo realizes that butterflies get to spend all day sitting on flowers and drinking nectar instead of wallowing in mud and crap…it emits and even more soulful mew of mourning. Suddenly the “thump thump thump” returns… Autopilot mode disengaged and problem solving mode initiated. Was I by the shoulder again? Do I have a flat? Why is there a water buffalo in the car? Dammit! I know what's going on... I hate Echoes.
Who in their right mind plays a "song" that's all sad water bufflos and flat tire sounds?
Who in their right mind plays a "song" that's all sad water bufflos and flat tire sounds?
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Tweets from Mars
I’ve been meaning to write something about the current NASA Mars Phoenix mission – it’s awesome. In particular I think it is genius how NASA chose to use Twitter to publicize the mission. I’m not a big fan of Twitter by any means, mostly I find it annoying, but in this case I think it’s the right tool for job.
By and large NASA research missions get the shaft when it comes to coverage. Basically people only remember when things break, fail, or can’t convert between English and Metric units. Success is largely ignored and no one gets excited when things go right. NASA is helping counteract that with Twitter updates from the Mars Phoenix explorer. If that’s all they were doing it would be pretty cool. But the real stroke of genius is they are sending out the updates in first person as if the explorer itself is running the Twitter feed from Mars. That is so much cooler.
I think an anthropomorphic robot sending back updates from space is much more powerful than a simple press release blurb. If Johnny Five from the movie Short Circuit taught us anything….it’s America loves funny robots with human characteristics. The Mars Phoenix Twitter feed is fun and personable, check out some of these updates:
I like the format because it celebrates all the small milestones that happen day to day during a mission. As imagery started to comeback they started to link in photos to illustrate what Phoenix was talking about. Additionally if people submit questions to the Twitter feed Phoenix tries to answer them.
I think this is a huge step in the right direction for NASA and the positive outcome will be getting people interested in science, engineering, and exploration. Plus there is always the bonus that by making a project anthropomorphic people can become attached to it (I would expect it’s easier to find funding for cute little robots people are attached to). I know the magic of anthropomorphism work on me because I got a little sad when I read:
Here’s hoping the Phoenix makes it through the winter.
And here’s a link to the Twitter feed.
By and large NASA research missions get the shaft when it comes to coverage. Basically people only remember when things break, fail, or can’t convert between English and Metric units. Success is largely ignored and no one gets excited when things go right. NASA is helping counteract that with Twitter updates from the Mars Phoenix explorer. If that’s all they were doing it would be pretty cool. But the real stroke of genius is they are sending out the updates in first person as if the explorer itself is running the Twitter feed from Mars. That is so much cooler.
I think an anthropomorphic robot sending back updates from space is much more powerful than a simple press release blurb. If Johnny Five from the movie Short Circuit taught us anything….it’s America loves funny robots with human characteristics. The Mars Phoenix Twitter feed is fun and personable, check out some of these updates:
Looking forward to moving arm today. Will bend the wrist and flex the elbow. It's been stowed for 10 months so I'll move it slowly/gently. 09:24 AM May 28,2008 from web
Looking forward to an exciting day on Mars; My first dig in the dirt! Team calls this a "dig and dump" test of my robotic arm and scoop. 09:05 AM June 01, 2008 from web
I've got plenty of energy from my solar panels, so team has upped my work hours from 9a - 4p to 8a - 6:30p. No OT :( but more science :-) about 18 hours ago from web
I like the format because it celebrates all the small milestones that happen day to day during a mission. As imagery started to comeback they started to link in photos to illustrate what Phoenix was talking about. Additionally if people submit questions to the Twitter feed Phoenix tries to answer them.
@MarsPhoenix What's the purpose of putting the sample in the TEGA oven? about 21 hours ago from web in reply to MarsPhoenix
@charmcitygavin TEGA "cooks" soil samples until they emit gasses that I can "sniff" to learn what they are. I just hope they smell good :) about 19 hours ago from web in reply to charmcitygavin
I think this is a huge step in the right direction for NASA and the positive outcome will be getting people interested in science, engineering, and exploration. Plus there is always the bonus that by making a project anthropomorphic people can become attached to it (I would expect it’s easier to find funding for cute little robots people are attached to). I know the magic of anthropomorphism work on me because I got a little sad when I read:
Martian winter will be tough. I don't think I will survive it, but if I wake up in Spring, I have a "Lazurus" mode and will phone home! 10:29 PM May 26, 2008 from web
Here’s hoping the Phoenix makes it through the winter.
And here’s a link to the Twitter feed.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Complaining about Battlestar is easy.
I know harping on how crappy Battle Galactica has become is a tired old game. Yet I come back to these familiar waters to indulge once again. If you haven’t seen the latest episode you might skip today’s post.
The episode was bad. Is there nothing interesting that they can do with the show in the final season? I guess it stems from the unfortunate fascination the writers have with the Starbuck and Apollo characters. In the past I’ve noted how much I hate the fact that Apollo is constantly assigned new jobs and roles. The list of jobs he’s held throughout the show is ridiculous…to the point that it’s probably shorter to compile a list of roles he has not had. Last week’s episode was essentially wasted giving Apollo a new job that it was obvious he would receive from the outset. Oh, how I loathe him.
Perhaps even stranger was the minor role Starbuck had in the episode. She was all “commander I don’t want do anything silly or irrational” and “I don’t think I can ask pilots to go on such an unpromising mission.” I can’t tell if her character is managed by two writers that never talk to each other or if they are simply providing more evidence for bi-polar disorder. Whatever the case her character was strikingly different from a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps she’s just more responsible when she’s denied access to arts and crafts supplies… [See bottom for wild tangent off this point].
Dawn was surprised that Starbuck was even allowed to walk around the ship. Evidently no one is the least bit skeptical that Starbuck brought back a bunch of Cylons and vouched for them….and then the Cylons made off with the President. Add in the bit of history where Starbuck was dead, then came back, and people assumed she might be a Cylon…you’d think this would be pretty damning evidence.
[Wild tangent]
I derive a bit of enjoyment imaging some of the more mundane tasks that must be carried out on the show that don’t make it into an episode. One that I’ve been particularly relishing over the last few weeks is the packing of the Demetrius for their secret mission. I like to imagine them checking to ensure they’ve packed everything they need to find their way to Earth. Fuel, check. Rations, check. Construction paper, safety scissors, finger paints, check, check, and check. Pastels and color pencils, check, check. Every major character with a name the audience will recognize besides Adama and the president, check and check. Alright, it looks like we’re all loaded and ready to go.
The episode was bad. Is there nothing interesting that they can do with the show in the final season? I guess it stems from the unfortunate fascination the writers have with the Starbuck and Apollo characters. In the past I’ve noted how much I hate the fact that Apollo is constantly assigned new jobs and roles. The list of jobs he’s held throughout the show is ridiculous…to the point that it’s probably shorter to compile a list of roles he has not had. Last week’s episode was essentially wasted giving Apollo a new job that it was obvious he would receive from the outset. Oh, how I loathe him.
Perhaps even stranger was the minor role Starbuck had in the episode. She was all “commander I don’t want do anything silly or irrational” and “I don’t think I can ask pilots to go on such an unpromising mission.” I can’t tell if her character is managed by two writers that never talk to each other or if they are simply providing more evidence for bi-polar disorder. Whatever the case her character was strikingly different from a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps she’s just more responsible when she’s denied access to arts and crafts supplies… [See bottom for wild tangent off this point].
Dawn was surprised that Starbuck was even allowed to walk around the ship. Evidently no one is the least bit skeptical that Starbuck brought back a bunch of Cylons and vouched for them….and then the Cylons made off with the President. Add in the bit of history where Starbuck was dead, then came back, and people assumed she might be a Cylon…you’d think this would be pretty damning evidence.
[Wild tangent]
I derive a bit of enjoyment imaging some of the more mundane tasks that must be carried out on the show that don’t make it into an episode. One that I’ve been particularly relishing over the last few weeks is the packing of the Demetrius for their secret mission. I like to imagine them checking to ensure they’ve packed everything they need to find their way to Earth. Fuel, check. Rations, check. Construction paper, safety scissors, finger paints, check, check, and check. Pastels and color pencils, check, check. Every major character with a name the audience will recognize besides Adama and the president, check and check. Alright, it looks like we’re all loaded and ready to go.
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