User:	wine (posted by kadymae)
	Date:	2009-12-30 11:55
	Subject:	Barefoot Merlot
	Security:	Public

I've been dying for a glass of red wine so ... I flipped a coin and chose Barefoot's Merlot. (Hey, this ploink's not going to drink itself!)

Color: Deepest ruby red. Quite pretty, really.

Sniff Test: A little flat on the nose, but a blackberry note.

First Impression: I'm hoping this wine is a little closed at first, because there's really not much going on. Blackberries up front, tannins on the mid palate, and an oddly pleasant dusty leather note on the end, aftertaste is blackberry tea. Mouthfeel is a little thin.

But I'll say up front, at this point Corbett Canyon was already a better, more interesting wine.

Breathing Room: The nose opens up and smells pleasantly of blackberries and black currants. The tannins are softer and the blackberry notes are more pronounced, the mouthfeel becomes a bit silky even. There's the leathery notes towards the end, and even a kiss of parsley. The finish has a skoosh of vanilla in it.

Final Verdict: As an everyday table wine, this tastes fine. It has no glaring faults, and it's got the classic Merlot blackberries, but it's not a particularly rich or interesting wine. The notes are there, the piano is in tune, but the melody is "Chopsticks".

If you're looking for something cheap to have for your every day glass of red wine, Corbett Canyon Merlot is a better, richer tasting, (slightly) more interesting wine, and you get get a 3L box of that for $10.

ETA This is also a sweeter Merlot than most I've tasted, including Corbett Canyon, which is possibly a part of why it tastes pleasant (and not harsh), but it can't cover the fact that there's not much going on here.

	User:	wine (posted by jacquib)
	Date:	2009-12-30 11:03
	Subject:	Food Pairing
	Security:	Public

For my birthday, I'm going out to a place known for its prime rib. I was wondering whats a good wine pairing with prime rib?

Thanks!

	User:	eddiecoyote
	Date:	2009-12-30 05:57
	Subject:	The reason for the season- (a rant on religion)
	Security:	Public

Sitting on my couch my dim perception of the world around me thought it noticed a single snowflake fall outside of my patio doors.  My experiences in Iraq have turned my mind into something similar to a raven’s.  That is it notices things things in the environment that are different.  It isn’t so much that an object is shiny that a raven will grab it, but that it is novel.  Fitting that ravens are associated with The Morrigan, Celtic goddess of war, to whom I gave homage to before many a patrol in Iraq.  As my attention focused on the outside world I chided myself that it was not a snowflake that I saw.  Outside the windows the view reaffirmed my position and I turned back toward the boob tube.  Thirty minutes later I looked up to see it begin to snow and in an almost childish exuberance I put on some clothing, grabbed some binos, and went outside to Fanno Creek Park.  I also stopped by a Starbucks and asked the barista to make me her favorite coffee drink, large, with an add-shot in it.  She started to warn me about sweetness and so forth and I assured her that I am open to any drink that they can make.  At times I desire my black coffee or a mocha.  However there are times when there is no need of caffeine, such as during finals week when I will order black coffee and add a packet of VIA to it for more kick.  At such times what I am looking for is variety, for experience, for being present with something.  It is, again, the mind of the raven seeking novelty.

Back in the park I walked around and took joy from the accumulation of snow.  In the hour that I was outside I could hear the rush hour traffic begin to bog down under the stressful conditions of ice and snow as the tell-tale sounds of emergency vehicle sirens would float over the wind from every direction.  Portland does not get enough snow for its citizens to be proficient snow-drivers upon first appearance of the fluffy stuff.  I watched someone playfully toss snowballs for her dog who was equally happy to chase after them and then become baffled as to where they disappeared to and hurry back to its owner.  Kids walked around with gleeful anticipation of snowmen and sledding and I noted a pair of sleds held by waiting youngsters.  I also noted a shift in the consistency of the snow to that of sleet.  Yet as I turned toward home and the sun turned toward the horizon’s edge the fluffy flakes reappeared and soon the land was blanketed in white.  Later, when all was dark outside, from within my apartment I could hear the sounds of children outside laughing in the snow. 

I could not help but think about something I read online during a play session of World of Warcraft about a holiday celebrated in this ‘virtual world’ called Winter Veil.  When I read it I said aloud to myself this is a very pagan thing to do.  It is not unlike some of our celebrations of the Winter Solstice, Saturnalia, Yule, or others.  It did my heart good to see a group of people at the restaurant I work at exchanging gifts and enjoying each other’s company in fellowship and mirth on the 21st as they celebrated the solstice. There has a been a lot of talk and anger from Christians about calling the usual decorated trees holiday trees instead of a Christmas tree.  I wonder where they think they got the tradition from in the first place?  Modern Christians, who are so vocal against non Christian religions, ought to take an honest assessment of their own heritage and see the enormous influence that paganism has had on the Christian religion.  Aside from some core ideas of transmutation of the soul, a hierarchy of beings and teleology, as well as the transcendent nature of the spiritual (pure) over the physical (impure) world – all pagan in origin – they should at least get rid of the celebrations of Halloween and Easter bunnies.  However such is not needed.  There is nothing wrong with a religion adopting practices of another religion.  The Catholics were not the first the use prayer beads, nor the only ones to use the rosary today.  And rebirth and renewal, as well as honoring one’s dead ancestors, are themes that many different religions can celebrate.  In this time of year we have varying themes of a slowing down of the world, of the coming hardships of winter, of hibernation, of a time when people stayed indoors and (in close proximity) became more social.  Summer was a time to prepare for the harvest.  Winter was a down-time.  Also, in varying mythologies there is born the child of light, or a child of promise, whether a religion speaks of a prophesized one or instead the themes or renewal and rebirth are symbolized by a child.  No serious Christian historian today asserts that Jesus was born in December (his birth was likely in the Spring).  However the already in place practices and meanings of the pagan country folk were as such that the church followed a well-worn practice of placing church customs atop already existent pagan customs.  Thus the Christ was officially fixed in December by Exiguus in 525 C.E. (I use ‘common era’ instead of A.D.)

Many modern Christians have completely broken away with Jesus the historical man and instead are followers of a symbolic one, one which has morphed into an altogether different meaning (it would seem) than what we are told to believe at first.  The bumper stickers and t-shirts do have a point, who would Jesus bomb?  Unlike many of the pro-war right wingers that thank me for my service as a veteran, I have read Augustine’s wrestling with the pacifism of Christianity of his time with the need to support a strong Roman military.  Very simply it goes that Christians, long prosecuted for the rebel rousers they were by Romans (associated as they were with the Jewish revolutionaries and bickering amongst themselves over the ‘correct’ version of Christianity) found themselves the ‘official’ religion of the lumbering Roman Empire.  The status quo is a hard thing to give up and the only way to support an empire is to remain an empire – military force.  How does a pacifist justify violence?  Enter Augustine.  But this is not a post on Just War Theory.  Yet in the link posted before it is written by the commentator that “ALL” scripture is the inspired word of God, including the Old Testament.  The writer uses the Old Testament to support war.  One might also then use the Old Testament to support stoning of women, killing witches, selling people into slavery, and slaughtering women and children in a warring city.  And, believe it or not, I’ve gotten some Christians to admit that they would do these things as dictated in the Old Testament. 

It is those sort of Christians that would burn someone at the stake, would torture someone into converting to Christianity in order to save their immortal soul that are big motors in the hate and easily blend in with decent people at a church picnic. I met a couple in Arkansas who harassed me, and a few others, constantly to convert.  We never bothered anyone with our beliefs but this couple was not happy with that.  They said that God’s commandment was to convert sinners and that not doing everything they could to fulfill this would subject themselves to God’s judgment.  It is a very, very easy slope to follow for internment and torture should a few other things occur.  Christians in the U.S. have their own version of the Taliban to contend with and they ought to be as vocal and direct in combating hate in their own religion as they demand of Muslims.  Hard to do when so much of our culture is that of greed and selfishness and yet many of the people who are filled with greed and selfishness are also supposed practicing Christians who seemed to have forgotten Philippians 2:3, or the story of the Good Samaritan. It boggles my mind that a person can, in the same breath, condemn me for not being Christian, lament the loss of American morality because it is a holiday tree instead of a Christmas tree, vocalize for more troops to be sent to Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, and anyone else who wants a fight, and yet also foam at the mouth and pull their hair at the word universal healthcare as though it were a great evil, while at the same time driving to a court to get a divorce in their heterosexual marriage and vote NO against gay marriage because it would ruin the sanctity of marriage.  There is a term for this… schizophrenia.

But things ought not be so dire, so combative, so distressful.  What is something that we can all agree upon?  Do not say ‘agree to disagree’.  That is a big cop out.  But I believe we can start someplace… perhaps the Beatles.  Back to Yule, Christmas, Winter Veil, the Winter Solstice… celebrate it.  Common to all of our separate traditions are the things I listed above.  Imagine this time when most everyone in the country, of varying religions, find commonality in our shared traditions.  Is it really bad if a fire department in some small town has a Christmas tree?  If we have the holidays it would not be, but if we listen to that fanatical group of evangelicals who insist theirs is the only true religion, then yes it is.  There are nativity scenes in cities across the America, on municipal property.  Instead of taking them down, put up other holiday symbols as well such a pentagrams and such.  Yet in New York and Wisconsin and other places, such pagan and Wiccan displays are often vandalized.  Again, arrogance of a schizophrenic religious group that believe their way is the only way and are prone to violence against them.  Note, looking at the term violence as used in domestic violence counseling, violence has other aspects than purely physical. 

I understand the fears that some Christians have.  There is this place they believe in called Hell.  It used to scare the heck out me to think about it, until I managed to finally rid myself of the thoughts and beliefs with which I was raised (see ‘brainwashing’).  I do not label it brainwashing as an attack.  The belief in hell is tied with various things, among them a means to control the populace by the church over the centuries, to keep power in competition with the feudal lords at the time who had the swords, a need for a sense of justice in the world, a fantasy of early Christians of the Roman Empire crumbling, and so on.  On a side note, my personal thesis on PTSD has to do with heavy leanings toward a life’s purpose and a sense of justice (whether from a god or the universe or karma) and exposure to severe trauma that questions these assumptions. 

Yet with the fears of Christians to be judged for not saving souls, I would ask by what way would Jesus have you convert people?  To outlaw everything that could possibly lead to sin (and Christians are fond of their lists of sin, EVERYTHING is of the devil) and attack people out of hate (turn on right wing radio and send a dollar to my PayPal account every time the host yells at the mic.  I’ll have college paid off in no time flat).  What if, instead, while we pagans try to live our pagan values (and they are all quite varied by tradition), and other religions tried to live by their values, those real Christians out there showed their presence in their communities and lived their own religion as Jesus taught them.  Note also that it is easy for someone on late night t.v. to call us pagans the wolves in sheep clothing that is referred to in the sermon on the mount.  But the parable really speaks to the flock, of what appears as other sheep.  It didn’t say beware of the cows and horses and so on, but that which looks like sheep.  In other words, yourselves.  In other words, don’t follow the greedy, selfish, quick to war for oil and corporate interests, right wing peddlers of hate that have taken over the terms religion and Christianity and morality in our political debates (a laughable term, it is really political grandstanding).  Live the values that Christ taught, love your neighbor, show kindness, and so on. 

And together, this season, Christians, pagans, Wiccans, and many others can celebrate the reason for the season, that of renewed hope, of fellowship, of love.  And if there is a God (or a Goddess), isn’t this a good way of honoring Him and/or Her?

	User:	hepkitten
	Date:	2009-12-30 00:41
	Subject:	xmas day until now
	Security:	Public

zaney flying, originally uploaded by hep.

part of my new years resolutions is to blog somewhere between 50-100% more than i did in 2009. so allow me to fill you all in on what's been going on around here. so, on xmas day after opening gifts and partaking in the town tradition of visiting santa on the firetruck, zaney, yuriy, & i went on a bike ride around the lagoon to chase birds.




it was super fun as usual. even when it's cold in sf, it's not really too cold to ride bikes super bundled up. we saw several hawks, other raptors, a great blue heron, a white heron, and several other small shore birds. this photo shows how the mountain cuts sun off early from our side of the bay.



zane and i also took this opportunity to stage some zane in flight photos for our upcoming zane in flight photo project we are working on.



saturday my best friend from high school, and evan's godmother, emily came for a visit. she lives in santa barbara where she is getting her phd in biblestudy so we rarely get the chance to see her and visit. in fact we probably won't be able to catch up again until her wedding next summer, if then considering it will be her wedding.



it's always awesome to hang out with her, and for the kids to get to spend time with her. we don't see nearly enough of each other and i don't expect things will be any easier with her working on her thesis & planning a wedding in the next year.



sorry for the state of some of these images, i leave my camera on specific settings then other people try and shoot with it.



monday we had lunch with renee, dr j, and pascal. renee gave me the world's best xmas gift which i already bragged about. but srsly folks, the best.



today and yesterday has been mostly laying around sick. i picked up some sort of stomach ailment either from too much leftover pork in chile verde, too much chicken tikki masala, or too many leftover party cupcakes.




so i cut the girls' hair, took endless pictures of the cats & xmas ornaments, and watched yuriy play bioshock for me (he doesn't normally play single player games, but he is playing so that i can play too while watching)



hopefully tomorrow will bring me a lack of stomach roiling and entirely less vomit than today.

	User:	evildoug
	Date:	2009-12-29 06:32
	Subject:	Back to the gym...
	Security:	Public

After 2 weeks of sleeping in (not waking up at 5 to work out) and SUCH goooooooooood food, just got back from the gym and, instead of energized, feel like crap. Am writing like Rorschach. Hrm. Must investigate further.

Holidays are fun, but getting back on the fitness wagon sucks. And after 2 weeks of sugar loaded sweet potatoes and Reese's Peanut Butter Trees, 'vanilla' flavored protein shake now tastes like sand...lightly sweetened sand.

Anywho, nuff whinin' from the sissy boy. New Year coming up. No new resolutions for me. I'm still running 1920x1080p...

...get it...it's a pun...see, I said resolution and...ah, nevermind.

	User:	wine (posted by awibs)
	Date:	2009-12-28 18:42
	Subject:	aerating and decanting wine
	Security:	Public

Unless anyone objects, I've decided to post mini-essays about stuff I'm learning about wine as I learn it. It helps me to really know something has set in my mind once I've become able to repeat it off the cuff.

Hokay, so:

Aerating and decanting wine.

You may have seen the process of decanting wine in a restaurant, or seen all the fancy aerators that were all the rage this Christmas season at places like Crate and Barrel. What are they, how are they different, and do they really do anything?

A decanter is the large crystal or glass container, sometimes shaped like a fat, wide-bottomed bottle, other times like a pitcher, sometimes like an inexplicable blown-glass fantasy, into which wine is poured before serving. Sometimes, wine is poured into a decanter to actually decant it, sometimes just to aerate it. To decant in wine terms is the same thing it is in chemistry - to carefully pour off the top layer of a liquid without disturbing the solids that have settled to the bottom in order to separate them. Some wines, especially older reds, develop sediment. It's not harmful, it's just gritty and generally considered distasteful. This is the reason for the whole rigmarole with careful handling and angled baskets for such bottles in high end restaurants. The idea is to avoid shaking and mixing the sediment back into the body of the liquid, so it will stay trapped in the shoulder of the bottle as you pour the clear wine off. It's also the same thing you are doing when you pour the boiling water out of the pot of pasta when it is done cooking, being careful not to tip it so much that the pasta falls into the sink. Which wines need to be decanted? Simple - the ones with gunk floating around in the bottom of the bottle. Hold it up to a light and look. Usually older (10+ years) reds will have developed sediment, and some reds just do it spontaneously. Whites almost never need it. Educated waitstaff and wine salespeople should remember if a particular bottle usually needs it - ask.

To aerate wine is to expose it to oxygen to "open it up" or bring about it's ideal flavor. Interaction with oxygen does make a significant difference in the flavor development of wines - this is one of many factors considered in the age and porosity of barrels, and the time spent therin. If you've ever had a bottle sit for a few days as you nurse another glass with dinner for every night, you may have noticed the "progression" of a wine. This is often a problem when a restaurant opens for dinner after a day closed - the partially used bottle of wine from 3 days ago tastes utterly different than the next newly opened bottle of the exact same vintage. Some wines, particularly tannic, young, robust reds really need a certain amount of aeration to soften them up and bring about their ideal flavor. For this, you want to spread the wine out thinly over a large surface area to expose as much of it to air as possible. Just opening the bottle won't allow enough contact in the few minutes before you drink it.

( Which decanter would you use for this purpose? )

Even the act of letting a wine sit in the bottom of your (spacious, wide) glass over dinner, not poured overfull and swirled idly as you hold it and talk aerates a valid amount. Then there are "aerators" - doohickies that force air rapidly into a thin stream of wine to open it up more quickly.

( there is an undeniable aspect of showmanship involved. )

It should be noted that it is entirely possible to aerate a wine too much! There is an ideal amount of oxygen exposure you are aiming for, and it is easy to surpass. If you doubt it, leave a bottle open on your counter for a week. Wines that actually need aeration are robust, tannic, tightly wound reds, such as younger cab, merlot, nebbiolo and petite syrah. Many other reds and even some whites can benefit from it briefly, but a lot of times you will lose other preferred attributes (such as keeping the wine chilled to the preferred temperature) or over-oxygenate and kill it. Older wines tend to be more fragile, especially delicate varietals like Pinot Noir and tempranillo, and some Chiantis and Burgundies. Some very old wines (over 20 years) already must be drunk within 15-20 minutes of opening because they are already so close to the final tipping point. Herin lies the catch - older wines also often have sediment. If you must decant an older red wine to remove sediment, especially if it was never particularly robust or dark in color to begin with, remember that decanting also aerates in the process, and do it just before serving.

So, in conclusion: Generally, younger red wines (under 10 years) that can be described as "bold" "robust" or "tannic," either in the words of the waiter, on the label or by your own examination, will benefit from being aerated. Lots of middle-aged, medium bodied reds and even some whites will also benefit - but that's more a matter of taste. Try aerating part of the bottle and tasting it side by side with the unaerated part. Or taste the first sip, as-is, and then aerate it if you think you might like it softened up a bit. Generally, older (10+), lighter wines are more at risk of being ruined by aeration. Proceed with caution, get the sommolier's opinion, or google's.

A side note: People, including middle-price-point waitstaff, often mistakenly use the word "decant" to mean both "decant" and "aerate." Just remember it's a common mistake and be nice if you correct them. This is, in general, a fairly high-level lesson and an undereducated server might look at you askance if you ask for an unusual wine to be decanted. Just remember - your own taste is your own taste, and you're paying for it, so you're never wrong if you like it that way. Finally, if you aren't sure on a new bottle, don't be afraid to experiment. You don't have to psychically know in one shot. Taste a bit first and request it aerated afterwards if you think it would help. Just be nice enough to tip at least 20% or more if you make them run all over god's green earth to assemble the various equipment for your request.

If I haven't bored you to sleep yet, I hope that was fun!

	User:	eddiecoyote
	Date:	2009-12-28 15:09
	Subject:	myth, depression - the minotaur
	Security:	Public

I was given a gift of a free Tapas Acupressure Therapy (TAT) session by someone who attended one of my PTSD lectures.  At the same time I have not been to my regular counseling session for several weeks.  My anger issues have gotten better with more attention being given to them.  I noted a strange disconnect between my bodily sensations and mental awareness the week after finals week.  Several times I would assess my current state, the strange symptoms I was in, and I would note with an odd sort of curiosity that I was in a state of depression.  Various things were attributed to it, from interpersonal relationships, nutrition and a body worn down from poor self care (that is, no sleep and tons of caffeine), and having put in a ton of effort into my school work and still falling short and the sense of self blame and shame that accompanies striking out when you want to hit a homerun.  Yet this lasted about five days or so and I found myself “normal” again and moving on.

Then my TAT session.  I needed to write a little bio in getting to this because perhaps it will aid in understanding the TAT session.  First off this is my first and only session.  My reading on TAT is all of one page from a PTSD sourcebook listing various therapies and I have no training in the matter.  So what I have to say ought to be taken with a grain of salt.  Yet after going through the session, which was a long one… over two hours… my initial reaction as a future psychologist and amateur theoretician is not that one is ‘tapping’ into any energy fields or the like, but that the novelty of the hand positions during the process puts the mind in a state of openness unique to novelty, not entirely dissimilar to the first religious ritual one experiences when the definitions of what is possible are as of yet unwritten and waiting for the pen to meet the paper.  The other aspect of TAT that worked well with this sense of openness was similar to what my own therapist says whenever a troublesome emotion comes to the surface of my awareness, and that is she will guide me to ‘stay with it’ and to just be aware of what is going on.  Generally emotions are, for me at least, highly mobile.  That is to say that they compel me to move my thoughts, body, etc… to get out of that time/place/situation/thought.  Depression, in the past, or rather melancholy, was addictive for me ten-fifteen years ago as it was ‘delicious to experience’ as it was during those darker times that life felt like it had meaning.  It was a private emotion for me as in the day I was the go-getting hard charger, exemplifying all the qualities of ‘man’ that I could (to be considered successful) while at night I returned to the dark and a never ending replay of Mozart’s ‘Ave Verum Corpus’.  I didn’t break out of this like a rocket from the Earth’s gravity (all at once) but more like walking through the mountains toward a distant peak.  Hiking in the mountains is filled with ups and downs and open areas and closed areas, but if you keep moving toward that peak you don’t realize that overall you are moving ever uphill.  Hard to see that when you just made an eight hundred foot decline into a valley, but the floor of the valley is five hundred feet higher than the elevation of your car at the trailhead.  Stronger than my attachment for the meaning in melancholy was my love of a more authentic being in the world and following that distant peak has kept me moving.  But as I get further along the path I see that it isn’t the distant peak that entices, it is the flora along the side of the path that truly rewards.  It is the journey, not the destination. 

While in the TAT session I was seeking to address my issues of intimacy with people, most notably romantic others.  Anyone who knows me knows this is a well worn record.  I have some great defense systems and could probably stand an assault from the armies of Mordor.  This is, after all, what I am secretly expecting.  At the slightest hint of problems I call out the defenses.  They are ever watchful for the slightest change in the wind.  The saying is cliché’ but it is true when I say ‘it isn’t you, it’s me’. 

I do not remember the statement I was keeping in my mind at that particular moment but images ensued.  Whenever I undergo therapy I will see pictures that are filled with associated meanings and such.  And while I was undergoing this particular question I could see in my mind that I was in an underground maze.  I recognized that it was the famed minotaur’s labyrinth.  Looking back on it now I realize that I did not associate with the hero.  I assumed I was the hero but I did not have thoughts of leaving a trail of string to find my way out or of killing the beast.  What I was aware of was to find the center, to find the beast itself. 

When I did find the center I found the beast.  But I could only see it from very close up, that is a foot away and only of its shoulder.  The course brown hair was visible and I ran my hand through the hair.  There was no animosity from the minotaur at all.  I was curious about seeing the minotaur as a whole, was it all man with a bull’s head?  Was it mostly bull?  But I couldn’t back away enough to see it.  Then it dawned on me… I was the minotaur.  I was looking at my own shoulder.  This came as a surprise.  Didn’t see this coming.

Another statement to sit with had me back in the maze.  I didn’t plan it but it happened.  I could see the hero walking through my labyrinth.  The image was at first of him laying a string behind him as he went, but my mind quickly changed the image (without my telling it to) of him laying bread crumbs.  When the hero went by my minotaur self moved the breadcrumbs to follow a different section of the maze.  And in the center of the maze I waited.  Eventually the hero got to the center, sword in hand, and looking at me.  What came next came naturally from within me but it wasn’t something that I was consciously writing like a script.  But the minotaur, me, told the hero that the path out had been changed.  “Fight me if you wish.  If I win then all will be as it was.  Another skeleton amidst many.  If you win then you will be lost within the maze yourself.  Or, if you wish to consider, I may show you the way to the door and afford you a chance to leave in peace.”  The hero took the minotaur’s offer and at the gate was bid to live a long life and to please tell the king not to send any other heroes or sacrifices into the labyrinth. 

This was very interesting to me.  When another statement came for me to be present with was given to me, I could see the labyrinth and the large open entrance that I had just led the hero to.  Now I was looking at it and being asked to come out.  I had such an opposition to moving outside that entrance.  Before the statement I was asked to forgive and that word alone brought up a lot of resistance from me.  The minotaur did leave the maze, saw a large world with lots of autonomous things beyond his control around him, but kept the maze nearby, ready to go back in if the wind changes. 

There was an image that came up later that was quite shocking and as up front as I am about internal processes in order to help ease the stigma for others, this image from early childhood is really too personal to list here and warrants a counseling session of its own. 

There is much more but I must leave now to go to work slinging beer. 

	User:	hepkitten
	Date:	2009-12-28 14:29
	Subject:	studies of pacman bracelet
	Security:	Public

studies of pacman bracelet, originally uploaded by hep.

once again nullcherri gets me the best gift in the world.

	User:	bobdylan (posted by caitcupcake)
	Date:	2009-12-28 17:44
	Subject:	"Dont Look Back" or "No Direction Home"?
	Security:	Public

Hey, I'd really like to get a Bob Dylan dvd, but I don't know which to choose.
I was thinking either Dont Look Back or No Direction Home, can anybody recommend one over the other?

Thanks (: x

	User:	evildoug
	Date:	2009-12-28 08:40
	Subject:	But say a prayer...pray for the other ones!
	Security:	Public

You know, gonna miss 24/7 Christmas music on our local radio station. The carols were great but, pardon my heartless nature, the ″sad″ songs cracked me up.

Happy Christmas (War is Over) by John Lennon and Band Aid's DoThey Know It's Christmas played constantly...for real.

″So this is Christmas...″ would melodically flow from the stereo and I would involuntarily do a geeky snort-laugh.

Not that war itself or hungry children are inherently funny...unless, you know, the footage is sped up and set to some upbeat, Benny Hill style music...but repetition of these ″meaningful″ songs that deliberately try to bum you out at Cristmas...the result is comic like those Debbie Downer skits on SNL. ″Its official. The docter says I can never have children.″(mwow wow)

Contrasting ″I saw mommy kissing Saaaanta Claus″ with the follow up song of ″Put your aaaarms around the world IT'S CHRISTMASTIME!″ Big yucks from the Evil Doug.

Anywho, for those into such things...using picture in picture technology, a re-enactment ofThe Battle of the Somme AND footage of starving refuges at 1.5 speed set to Benny Hill music.

BA BA BA BA BADA BADAT BADA DA BA BA DA BA DA BA

	User:	evildoug
	Date:	2009-12-27 12:41
	Subject:	2009 Year in Headlines
	Security:	Public

A brief summary of some of the biggest news events of the year broken down into various categories:

IN VIDEO GAMES:

We Need a Hero

After the success of the Guitar Hero franchise, Activision launched the Band Hero brand as well as DJ Hero earlier this year. Then, followed this up during the Holiday shopping season with Sexually Molested Dead Goat Hero. Like the other Hero games, Sexually Molested Dead Goat Hero comes with a unique musically peripheral, in this case a plastic dead goat controller with buttons placed in various locations and orifaces. And, like the other Hero games, you press the buttons based on the colours that appear on screen.

IN POLITICS

Congress Sends American Public Upstairs to Brush Teeth

In a controversial vote, the Senate approved a measure that directs the entirety of the American populace to go upstairs and brush their teeth and get ready for bed. The Senate Majority leader stated in a television address that "Your mom and dad called saying that they would be home late from the ballet, and to go ahead and get you ready for bed." Republicans in both houses decry this as another step towards an all-encompassing 'Nanny State.' The president rebuked these charges citing that "If you keep acting up, you won't get to listen to your iPod after lights out." The American public was contacted for a response, but was currently in time out for fighting with its brother over whose Spider-Man jammies are cooler.

IN INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Israel Vows Destruction of Israel

In a move to bring its foreign policy into alignment with fellow UN members, the nation of Israel vowed in October to "drive the accursed Jews into the sea." The decision reverses previous policy decisions that dealt primarily with self-preservation in the face of unified hatred and constant bombings from its neighbors. Israeli Military officials noted "The only people in this region we can legitimately kill without facing a UN war crimes tribunal are Israelis. It was really an elementary decision for our army." Reaction from neighboring countries to Israels plan to 'wipe the rogue land of Israel off the world map' was a unanimous, "NO FAIR! WE CALLED DIBS!"

IN SCIENCE

Scientists Gather to Discuss Effects of Irony on Climate Change

After attendees of the recent global warming summit were taken at unawares by a snow storm, many scientists have begun intense research into the literary concept of irony. Summit organizers are at a loss as to why their event, scheduled in Copenhagen in December, would have been visited by snow. "We thought the best place to talk about rising temperatures would be a place that is, since time immemorial, cold. So very, very cold." The event had moved to Copenhagen from its previous location of the northern arctic as the polar bears, emboldened by their ever increasing numbers, had been been stalking, killing, and eating the attendees. "Yeah...that, erm, that gave our PR a hit," said a visibly embarrassed Al Gore. Next year's summit is set to convene at a remote research station in the frozen wastes of Antarctica.

IN MUSIC

Kanye West Uses Time Travel to Interrupt Lou Gehrig's Retirement Speech

In a marvelous feat of temporal transit, musician Kanye West went back in time to interrupt the farewell speech of baseball legend and ALS sufferer Lou Gehrig.

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself..."
"Hey, I'm gonna let you finish...but, Douglas MacArthur had the best farewell speech of all time! OF ALL TIME!"

This time paradox that came about by mixing historical references of the baseball player's farewell speech to his fans with the general's farewell speech to congress has created a temporal anomaly that causes speeches to be made by Major League Baseball players before hearings of the United States Congress no less than twice a year.

IN MOVIES

Princess and the Frog Breaks Race Barrier

Disney's The Princess and the Frog broke new ground this year. The media hype surrounding this film's release has been reporting, and correctly so, that this is the first time the leading female in a Walt Disney animated film has been of an ethnicity other than white. Unless, you know, you count Pocahontas...but then nobody else is. So, except for Pocahontas, this is a breakthrough film. Except for Mulan. So, yes, except for Mulan and Pocahontas...and Jasmine from Aladdin, this is the first Disney Princess to break the color barrier in Disney films. "This film will help to dispel stereotypes," said one critic at the Hollywood premiere. "No longer will people be influenced by decades of films depicting the city of New Orleans as a hotbed of voodoo magic and thick, comedic, cajun accents." Oh, and Lilo, from Lilo and Stitch.

IN FOOD

New and improved uses of adult stem cells have led to a slump in the fetus industry. However, later this year, scientists and culinary technicians found that fetus actually tastes pretty darn good. "And on top of that," added chief chefs, "since it legally isn't alive, it can't be considered meat. It's a better protein supplement than soy AND it's cruelty free!" The slogan for this new movement (as "Baby, the other OTHER white meat" was taken by an Austen Powers movie) is "You can't spell 'FETUS' without 'Eat us!'"

IN TELEVISION

New Reality Show Has Critics Talking

In the wake of the ratings failures of numerous talent show themed reality programs, networks have decided to continue the competitive talent competition system of programming with the all new Needlepoint with the Stars. "We take something everyone loves in ballroom needlepoint and add third tier stars and athletes. What's not to love!?" Ratings for the new program have been through the roof sparking executives to plan for next season with Unclogging the Big Sink at the Laundromat with the Stars.

IN HEALTH

Doctors continue to rebuke groups advocating abstinence programs as a foolproof means of combating teenage pregnancy. "There is no conclusive evidence that pregnancy is indeed caused by sex." Experts went on to state, "Teenage pregnancy is just like childhood obesity. It just happens, regardless of lifestyle."


IN TECHNOLOGY

Cold Fusion Achieved, Process Forgotten

In a remarkable demonstration of the mind freeing capabilities of illicit drugs, scientists in Denver achieved cold fusion in July after an afternoon of smoking marijuana. "I was like, 'Hey, Steve, you know what'd be funny," says lead technician, "what if we did this...and then this' and then we were like, 'Whoa! Cold FUSION!'" Then, after taking a long nap, the group got the munchies and ordered pizza to celebrate. "Then we were like, 'How did we do that?' And Steve was like, 'Don't ask me, man!' And Frank was all, 'Whaaaa?'"

Just some events that I remember from 2009...

	User:	hepkitten
	Date:	2009-12-27 02:11
	Subject:	xmas rundown.
	Security:	Public

yawner, originally uploaded by hep.

xmas eve every year we have a big party for our friends and family. we always joke that it's a very mexican xmas, this year's menu was pork in chile verde, bbq brisket, sweet corn tomalito, and various russian salads. there was plenty of other food too. i made a million cupcakes for dessert, double vanilla, red velvet, and gingerbread. plus sugar cookies (mostly for santa).



it's always so awesome to spend xmas eve with our loved friends who can make it, and family. i only wish my sister could make it out some year soon. i am always too busy during the party to take too many pictures. i hope pascal can post whatever he managed to get soon.




xmas morning was lots of fun. santa brought lots of awesome gifts. zane got an ipod touch from santa, and the zombie survival guide & world war z from evan. she is an avid reader and writer, this year she did nanowrimo with her writing group, an after school writing program from her school. needless to say she has been engrossed in them ever since. zaney is super into zombies and various themes like that. she also scored a bunch of paint by numbers from her sister which she has been really into lately.



zoe got a ton of really nice makeup from me and her dad. santa brought her sick new running sneakers, and she got a lot of apple gift cards for apps. she already has an ipod touch, but she is one of those app junkies who loves to load up the latest games.



evan got a netbook. he is basically the happiest kid on the block. he also got a bunch of other stuff because he is spoiled rotten. his fkn netbook has more space than my macbook. frowny face. he also got new headphones, books and such. his high school allows use of personal laptops on campus. insanity.



yuriy and i got a bunch of stuff too. i think his favorite thing was a fishing chair. it is also a backpack, as in, is wearable as a backpack, and holds a large amount of goods. my favorite thing is my new extra large camera bag that i can carry 6 lenses in. why do i need six lenses? i am indecisive.



sorry for the gift list, but this is more for reference for me next year. i hope all of you got what you wanted, or at least what you needed. my last batch of xmas cards will be going out this week, sorry so late, but i get swamped in late dec. what is everyone up to for nye?



i leave you with the children displaying their favorite gifts:

	User:	wine (posted by vintagetexas)
	Date:	2009-12-26 17:45
	Subject:	King Arthur’s Table on Christmas Day; a Celebration in Texas Too
	Security:	Public
	Music:	God Rest Yee Merry Gentlemen....

King Arthur’s Table on Christmas Day; a Celebration in Texas Too

In my Christmas Card from my Mother yesterday, I received a hand written note on a small sheet of yellow lined paper. She had transcribed the following quote from “Whitecraft” by John Frere:

They served up salmon, and wild boars
By the hundreds and by the dozens and by scores,
Hogsheads of honey, kinderskins of mustard,
Mutton and fatted beeves and bacon swine,
Herons and bitterns, peacocks, swan and bustard,
Teal, mallard, pigeons, widgeons and in fine
Plum puddings, pancakes, apple pies and custards.
And, therewithed they drank good Gascon wine.
With mead and ale and cider of our own,
For porter, punch and Negus were not known.

She certainly knows her son’s penchant for food and wine.

More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=1330

	User:	wine (posted by kadymae)
	Date:	2009-12-26 11:23
	Subject:	Barefoot Riesling
	Security:	Public

So, as part of my ongoing project of drinking my way through Barefoot's offering of everyday table wines, I decided to bust out the Riesling yesterday as we watched the Mythbuster's marathon and waited for the Turkey and Tofurky to come out of the oven.

My DH and DB are not wine drinkers, so I find that light, off-dry/fruity whites go well with them.

But even they gave this wine a complete "meh".

It had almost none of the apricot, tangerine, peach and pear flavors I associate with an off-dry or sweeter Riesling. It wasn't particularly lush and fruity, the mouthfeel was very thin, the nose was weak, and the finish was sour. The fruits up front were yellow apples and a touch of tangerine. It was like their Chardonnay, but watered down.

If you want an inexpensive, bang-for-the-buck bottle of Riesling, spend an extra $2-7 and get Pacific Rim, Fetzer, or Rosemont, or Chateau St. Michelle.

If you've only $5 for a bottle of white and want to go Barefoot, get their Pinot Grigio.

This is cooking/marinade wine.

	User:	triangleites (posted by ambermae)
	Date:	2009-12-26 10:32
	Subject:	Upcoming Classes at TechShop - Build Your Dreams Here
	Security:	Public

View and sign up for these classes and more at http://techshopdurham.com/classes

You do NOT need to be a TechShop member to take classes.

( December 28-30 )

What is TechShop?

TechShop is a 25,000 square-foot membership-based workshop in Durham that provides members with access to tools and equipment, instruction, and a creative and supportive community of likeminded people so you can build the things you have always wanted to make. TechShop is designed for everyone, regardless of their skill level. TechShop is perfect for inventors, “makers”, hackers, tinkerers, artists, roboteers, families, entrepreneurs, youth groups, FIRST robotic teams, arts and crafts enthusiasts, and anyone else who ever wanted to do something, but couldn’t.

Visit our web site at http://techshopdurham.com/welcome

	User:	wine (posted by coodman)
	Date:	2009-12-26 00:40
	Subject:
	Security:	Public

02 Justiacation.... So good

User:	redmeat_rss
Date:	2009-12-26 07:07
Subject:	Saturday, December 26, 2009
Security:	Public

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uclick/redmeat/~3/ztyCdan4NeA/480613

	User:	bobdylan (posted by caitcupcake)
	Date:	2009-12-25 16:36
	Subject:	ICONS
	Security:	Public

click here for more !

	User:	everything2 (posted by glowing_fish)
	Date:	2009-12-25 01:46
	Subject:	There should be:
	Security:	Public

There should be a special C! that you can only use when you are drunk. A special C! that says: "damn,t his just totally touched my drunk, drunk heart".
YAY SPECIAL DRUNK C!

Also, there should be:
HOVERCARS!
I mean, come on, its the 2010!
soon

Also, more traffic in this community

	User:	evildoug
	Date:	2009-12-25 01:10
	Subject:	Evil Doug: The Motion Picture
	Security:	Public

Somewhat audience participation, I suppose.

Ever thought about who should play you in the film adaptation of your life? I have. Frequently. I'm funny that way.

Me, I'm thinking Djimon Hounsou. Nobody, NOBODY looks cooler and badder wearing sunglasses than Djimon Hounsou. Seen The Island? Or Push? How about...erm, well, anything he's in, except Tomb Raider, cause, he didn't wear shades in that one.

Yeah, Djimon Hounsou as Evil Doug. Think it works?

Of course, if it is a CGI movie, Auron from Final Fantasy X. Anime mega sword plus sunglasses equals distilled awesome.

Anybody else out there casting for their life story? Who would you cast for yourself? If you want, you can also say Djimon Hounsou. I would.