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Friday, May 8th, 2009
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12:07 pm - question for library people
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I know multiple people who know about how libraries are run! (Being a librarian was a dream when i was a tot. I had romantic fantasies about a life of solitude, dedicated to dusty stacks of wisdom-filled books. Ah, romance! But i never followed up on that, somehow, and now i am without a clue as to my vocation.)
 It strikes me that said people, who followed up on their calling to librarianship. might be able to help me with a puzzle i'm presented with at Free Geek. We have a small library of cast-off computer books. We are cataloging them with OpenBiblio and shelving them according to their Library of Congress numbers. But we haven't figured out what to do with books that have no such number.
There's also the problem, or semi-problem, that our books are all computer-related, so the LoC numbers (largely limited to QA* and TK*) don't really create particularly useful or obvious "sections" in our library. Love to hear any suggestions about that, too, since the volunteers who work in the library do not in general have the knowledge necessary to create or shelve according to more thematic categories.
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| Saturday, January 10th, 2009
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5:41 pm - Yes! this sourdough, it has flavorfulnessosity
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...possibly because i let it sit around "rising" and doing its thing for 2+days. We have a chilly kitchen, that's my excuse for the length of time. No additional yeast in this bread, you can tell due to its density -- but dang, it's tasty, even now that it's cooled.
Color me pleased.
(![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) conform gave me sourdough starter. Yum. I am happy to share it with whoever might want some. If you want to share these particular loaves, you should hurry though. We've almost finished the first of two.)
So the starter brings our household pet total up to lots and lots and lots, when added to the worms and associated critters in the worm bin, donated by wonderful neighbors Tim and Kathy when they moved. Oh yes, also, equinoctial has kompuchea mother. Does that count as one critter or many?
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| Wednesday, December 24th, 2008
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10:30 am - this has nothing to do with snow
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"Williamsburg's politically-powerful Hasidic community, offended by the loss of parking space and the potential increase in short-sleeved, female goyim rolling through the neighborhood, has vowed to make life miserable for cyclists." [streetsblog]
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| Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
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12:50 pm - new blog idea?
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Inspired by a tidbit from tostbrot.
Someone who is more opinionated (and friendly to emoticons) than me should run with this idea: A blog of one-emoticon book/movie reviews.
Or - hey lazyweb, does this already exist?
Edited. I don't know that other person.
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| Friday, October 24th, 2008
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3:54 pm - getting there on the wind
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| Monday, October 20th, 2008
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9:14 am - ...i can't believe you said that echidnas are disgusting.
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I mean, look at this:
(Thanks, dad.)
You can't get all down on them just because they don't have real nipples.
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| Friday, September 19th, 2008
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2:24 pm - help, lazyweb!
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| Wednesday, September 17th, 2008
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5:57 pm - with what you have
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Making a pie time, with the late summer bounty.
My late summer bounty = lemon cukes. Seriously, there are so many that they turned into party favors at the pie party. freyley did a tour and picked an armload.
So while i was making the garlic-mashed-potato crust, caramellized-onion filling, rosemary toasted pecan topped pie that was to be labeled RIBSTICKER, i was thinking in the back of my mind how do you make a pie from cucumbers?
So this is what i did:
CRUST
- 1 can of chick peas, drained, into the mashing bowl
- a handful of maseca because it's there, and i wanted the crust to have some backbone
- three or four cloves of garlic, minced
- an excessive amount of paprika
- olive oil! maybe 1/4 cup?
- toasted sesame seeds
- ground cumin
- salt
And i mashed it all with my mysterious heavy wooden masher thingy until it was smooth. Basically, apart from the maseca, hummus. And smooshed it into pie-crust shape in a pie pan, pricked it all over, and stuck it in an oven at something like 400°F. Until - well, for a while. It was hard to tell if the state changed much at all.
That has to cool before you do anything more with it.
FILLIN
- some nice delicious but rather runny organic yogurt
- lots of fresh dill (from the backyard)
- lemon zest (from the lemons that went into equinoctial's deconstructed lemon curd pie)
- ground coriander, a pinch or two
- salt, pepper
Spread out in pleasing layers 2 or so lemon cukes, sliced as thin as you can. After each layer, spoon the yogurt on and moosh it down. Try to get the filling as even as you can. Make the top layer extra pretty, and if you have a spare dill floret, lay that on top. Dash cayenne over the top. It's like cinnamon, but more surprising! Let it sit for a while.
So that's how we make the pie of lemon cucumbers. And that's why we cook seasonally, because who would think to do that?
(Later, when i have time, i'll try to write up the requested something about the zucchini lasagna, but it's likely to be even less of a recipe than this one.)
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| Thursday, September 4th, 2008
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4:27 pm - Spain making changes (and i complain about AC)
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"Spain has seen the future and it is slow, dim and uncomfortable." (The Independent)
They're heavily dependent on imported energy and taking a beating over it. The canary in the Western European coalmine, they know it's time to act. So Spain now has 50mph (80kph) speed limits, and among other measures has decreed that "air conditioning systems in public buildings would be set no lower than 26C. In winter, the heating would be limited to 21C. Hospitals will be exempted, and so will private homes and offices."
26C - thanks, Google, for conversions i can't do in my head - is 78.8 F. That's not hot, it's warm! And if you're coming inside from brutal baking Spanish heat, i'm sure 78.8 feels really darn nice. Can't handle that temperature, you're wearing too much clothing. Please get naked.
Austerity measures may well become a familiar aspect of our lives, but dang it all, this is not the one that will make us uncomfortable.
(When do we start talking about legislating siestas into our schedules? The girl at Whole Bowl is another believer. I have talked to so many people about how we need siestas. That's not even austerity, it's pleasurable!)
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| Friday, August 22nd, 2008
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2:16 pm - For what it's worth, Oregonians.
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If we really want to do the project of getting satirical arguments for or against ballot measures in the voters pamphlet for the November election, we don't have much time.
- The deadline for submission is Aug. 26.
- We'd need to raise either $500 or get 1000 signatures. Here's the form. Instructions are at the end.
- There are some seriously satire-worthy measures that will be on the ballot in November.
Well, it was starting to look promising, but it doesn't look like it's happening this time around. I may accept submissions of satirical arguments at the democratic exercise, but don't quote me on it.
Maybe next time, eh?
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| Saturday, August 16th, 2008
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10:22 am - Leocorno!
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While we slept, they ran the Palio Dell'Assunta. I guess while i was thinking that maybe i'd try to watch it on a TV, i didn't really think about the time difference.
Leocorno won.
The slamming-into-walls bit is a bit shocking, but the part i can't get over is the mobbing at the end.
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| Tuesday, August 5th, 2008
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2:52 pm - a quick notice for those who love oven mitts
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| Monday, August 4th, 2008
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11:57 am - a breakthrough in science? or just in hyperbole?
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 | The summary/intro of BYPAD's report on cycling in Ferrara*:
"Absolutely flat land helps and a refusal of all forms of change that might upset ancient and reassuring habits. The people of Ferrara have been using bicycles since the dawn of time."
(emphasis mine)
I'm curious about these primordial bicycles. Anyone care to fill me in on their qualities and habits? Or even speculate on how this might be possible?
* Unfortunately, the PDF of the report itself appears to be MIA. |  |
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| Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
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11:14 am - animals and people
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first, harmless manipulation.
i need someone to make music using this sound: baby crocodiles.
second, seriously misguided.A research team led by Professor Junichi Takahashi at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine has discovered that cattle developing nitrite poisoning do not release methane by belching. They also found that feed containing nitrate and cysteine is effective in both reducing methane production in cattle and preventing them from developing nitrite poisoning. [*]
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| Friday, June 20th, 2008
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11:21 am - everything with cream cheese & tomato - and onion. and odd.
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what does it mean when the guy who makes your bagel says, as he hands it to you, "you should go to Disneyland and take me with you"
and i go, "what?" in case he had really said something like "have a nice day, i am really glad you chose to add onions"
and he goes "you should go to Disneyland and take me with you"
so what can i say but "sure"?
the tomatoes are improving. must be the weather!
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| Saturday, June 14th, 2008
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11:05 pm - this meme again
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Based on the lj interests lists of those who share my more unusual interests, the interests suggestion meme thinks ( i might be jesse )
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10:20 pm - Campout on June 21
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So on Wednesday morning, conform and i attended our very first City Council meeting, to see them unanimously pass a resolution sending the city's castoff computers to Free Geek. That was pretty exciting, and will be a good thing for Free Geek. (If you live in town, consider sending a nice note to the council members, eh?)
At that same meeting, Sisters of the Road and other folks were urging the council to repeal the sit-lie and anti-camping provisions. On the way out, we heard about an action coming up that i'm excited to take part in:
Homeless Solidarity Campout
Our Dear Neighbors,
You may be aware of the recent 3-week camping protest at City Hall where our Portland neighbors without homes and their allies were calling for solutions to the crisis of houselessness, the repeal of the unconstitutional sit/lie and anti-camping laws, and for creative affordable housing options and alternatives to the shelter system involving the entire community.
It’s not easy having a house sometimes: paying the rent and the mortgage isn’t fun, on top of all of the cleaning, organizing, and yard work to be done. Sometimes, we just need a break.....So, we go camping!
But this time, instead of planning a big weekend at the coast, we’re asking people with houses who want to act in support of the repeal of these laws that basically make it illegal for humans without homes to rest or sleep, to camp out in their front yards with their neighbors just one night.
Saturday June 21st call a block party and spend the entire evening making food, playing games, doing art, and having conversations on the sidewalks in front of your homes—in essence, build community, while breaking the law! Then pitch a tent on your front lawn, in your driveway, or in some other prominent location outside the front of your house and have a block party sleepover!
We picked this date for a number of reasons. Besides it being the Summer Solstice, and likely a beautiful warm and perfect day for barbeques and campouts, the following day is Portland Parks and Recreation’s “Sunday Parkways” event which will be “a circular route of city streets open to walk, bike, run, jump and skip without having to watch out for cars!” What could be better than a whole weekend trying to improve your community by spending time in it?
If you decide to camp, please make banners and signs to let people know why you’re camping out, then call future Mayor Sam Adams and tell him what you’re up to. Tell him economic injustice is not a Portland value. 503-823-4000
If you’re interested in finding out more about these ordinances, here are some links:
WHEN? Saturday when the sun comes out, rain or shine, JUNE 21, 2008
WHERE? SEE YOU IN YOUR FRONT YARDS!
So, uh, who wants to camp out in the Saluthaus front yard?
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| Friday, May 23rd, 2008
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10:00 am - We all like trains, right?
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| Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
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5:59 pm
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I walked out on the back steps because it was dusk. Light came out of the kitchen windows. I heard and saw a shape make to flee the scene - a cat, perhaps? It stopped with only its tail showing from behind the borage, which vaguely resembles a three foot hedge. I make squeaky noises at it as one would at a cat, meanwhile noting the striped tail. That tail stood still, as if considering, and then the creature emerged from behind the flowers and peered at me from a black mask, tiny specks of eyes glinting at me. We looked at each other for a while. I talked to it.
Eventually, it started walking. I remembered when we were kids, home alone, and there was a raccoon outside by the steps. We were afraid it had rabies and called the police. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. I don't remember if it had rabies or not, but it was a small town, the kind of place where police were used to calls like that. Why i remembered: it was walking strangely. Not in an ursine moseyroll, nor a feline slink, but a sidejerking irregular gait. Was there something wrong  with this one?
And then i realized it was hunting. Each twitch to the side was a little pounce with its outstretched pawhands into the grass. Occasionally, it would stop with its hands buried in the grass, seeming to work deeper. Sometimes in the dark it would bring something up to its face and seem to examine it, then munch down. It did a random tour of the backyard, round and forth. A housemate turned off the kitchen light. My eyes adjusted. I talked to the raccoon some more, and it looked at me, then got on with its work. This could have been the guy that slaughtered the chicks. But it didn't matter. I was okay with it.
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| Thursday, May 15th, 2008
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2:57 pm - just juxtaposing
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