Bibliodox: my paradox of personal interests.

Why must you honestly separate your opinion from your review?

2011-01-05T00:43:00.006-05:00

This is a forthcoming post and concerns my reviews on yelp.com -ooooh exciting; really just my HOoF (humble opinion on food reviews).

Find food photos on:
http://flickr.com/iblee

A Healthier America

2010-07-22T14:30:00.000-04:00

Guest blogger: School food service director on ingredients

2010-03-23T18:26:00.000-04:00

Guest blogger: School food service director on ingredients: "*** Our resident food service director Ms A is back to share more information from her unique perspective. Read her previous post on pizza ***

The Ingredient list and what it suggests about school food

It can be as easy as peeling a label off the cardboard packaging and taping it to a wall, yet posting ingredient lists of food served in school cafeterias isn’t standard policy. In my last piece for Mrs. Q, I blogged that there are 62 ingredients in my school’s pizza. This information created a buzz among readers because that is a surprising number of ingredients for a plain slice. But what is more surprising is that so few of you have access to this information. It’s standard for processed foods to come with an ingredient list at the supermarket, and it should be the same in school.

For parents and students, displaying ingredients just makes so much sense. Everyone can make informed decisions about what they’re eating, especially those with food allergies or sensitivities.

For me, the reasons are somewhat different. I would love it if parents demanded that they have easily accessible information. Why?

Transparency

Posting ingredient lists allows everyone to talk about the food openly and dispels misinformation about school food and the school kitchen. Parents may make negative assumptions about the food coming out of the school kitchen, while the kitchen staff might feel the need to defend the food or be less than completely honest about it. It’s a truly unfortunate situation. Make no mistake - no one is thrilled about frozen and canned food, but such is the state of school food.

At my school no one sees nutrition information except the kitchen staff and our health director. I’m not sure how this came to pass in my school or elsewhere. Parental demand for ingredient lists would bring a level of transparency to school food and shine light on everyone’s dirty little secret.

Communication

Making ingredient lists available allows us to begin having concrete discussions about school lunch. We all know that school lunch needs improvement, so let’s come up with a list of priorities based on the most basic components of school lunch, the ingredients that go into the food. It’s a start to a conversation about explicit problems in school foods and the types food changes needed. It might be opening Pandora’s box, but at least it’s better than sitting on the issue.

Accountability

With information available, it is easier to hold those who make purchasing decisions accountable for what they buy. The truth about school food is often in the ingredient lists. Gauging improvement is much easier and more reliable with two ingredient lists side by side.

Knowledge is power

Having ingredient lists easily accessible still doesn’t solve the underlying problems. It simply places information into the hands of the school community so that no one can ignore the facts any longer. The initiative, budget, and determination to carry out change do not come with ingredient lists. Parental demand for ingredient lists, however, signals to your school that the community cares about its food. It is a starting point, and one that may help your school cafeteria garner the support it needs to switch from thaw-and-serve to meals cooked in the school’s kitchen.

I help run a school cafeteria, and I’m excited to be part of the movement to shake up school lunch in the years to come. I can’t do it on my own because I don’t have control over many aspects of the cafeteria. I’m very lucky that my cafeteria has had the support to make many changes already that place my school ahead of the curve. There’s still a long way to go, and I need community support.

Recently, I put up a few ingredient lists to highlight an improvement. We began purchasing fresh, locally made bagels without the artificial dough conditioners that our frozen bagels came with. I bet other schools that have made positive changes are also making more information about their school food available. Sadly, it seems that the majority of schools out there are slow to make improvements. Demanding ingredients lists from your school might be a call to action.

Ms. A can be reached at bravenewlunch@gmail.com and her blog Brave New Lunch.

NOTE: all guest bloggers have contacted me of their own free will, have given consent, do not know me personally, and are not receiving compensation.

Good to know

2010-03-23T18:25:00.000-04:00

custom search strings work

2009-11-10T16:42:00.001-05:00

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=site:wsj.com

what are you thinking?

2009-11-10T16:36:00.001-05:00

"Rupert Murdoch has made this kind of noise before (and he gets wrong the extent of actual public access to Wall Street Journal content online, which is 100%). But in an interview with Sky News the News Corp chairman sounds a lot like he would be inclined to take up Google on its oft-repeated suggestion — to all old media titans who think they are being ripped off — to programatically withhold content from the search giant's massive gene pool of news links."

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/11/murdoch-could-block-google-searches-entirely/

Cool idea from Titus.

2009-11-02T11:09:00.001-05:00

Accessibility in Adobe [I don't know if just the free Adobe Reader does it of if it only works in Adobe Acrobat]:

    * Open a PDF file [where you can highlight the text] In Adobe Reader
          o Click on View
          o [At the bottom] Read Out Loud
                + Click "Activate Read Out Loud"
          o Then you can click on any text and it will start reading that page.
                + If you want it to read the whole document follow the first two steps
                      # Click "Read to End of Document"

sufjan stevens & the bqe

2009-10-30T10:00:00.001-04:00

Thought you might like this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_BQE_%28album%29

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=bqe&x=0&y=0

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114288376

Fwd: Do chimps grieve?

2009-10-29T15:09:00.001-04:00

From BoingBoing: Do chimps grieve?

Look at this photograph and just try to tell me the answer is no.
This incredible image was shot for National Geographic by Monica Szczupider, and shows chimpanzees at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in Cameroon. They're observing as the body of an elder troop member named Dorothy is taken to burial. She died at 40 years of age, which is pretty old for a chimpanzee.

The photo appears in the November issue of National Geographic Magazine, in the "Visions of Earth" section. [ Thanks, Marilyn Terrell ]

http://themanzine.blogspot.com/

2009-10-13T23:15:00.001-04:00

http://themanzine.blogspot.com/

"Ethics of Food & the Environment Series: Bryant Terry"

2009-10-08T20:16:00.001-04:00

Ethics of Food & the Environment Series: Bryant Terry

via Information Center blogs by vienoo@stanford.edu on 10/5/09

Bryant Terry, eco chef, food justice activist, author, and fellow of the Food and Society Policy Fellows Program, will be kicking off this year's Ethics of Food & the Environment Series. His topic will be "Redefining Soul Food: Politics and Pleasures of Food and Eating in the Black Communities."

Lecture: Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 7:00 P.M.
Annenberg Auditorium, Stanford Campus (435 Lausen Mall)

Bryant Terry is working to build a more just and sustainable food system. To learn more about his work, visit bryantterry.

His newest book, Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine, will be available for purchase at the event.

Specalizing in comprehensiveness

2009-09-24T17:36:00.001-04:00

Man is going to be displaced altogether as a specialist by the computer. Man himself is being forced to reestablish, employ, and enjoy his innate "comprehensivity." Coping with the totality of Spaceship Earth and universe is ahead for all of us.
--Buckminster Fuller--

"We hate those!'

2009-09-19T21:40:00.001-04:00

Mint love.


		Hi there, Your 'Bank of America - MyAccess Checking' got hit with a Account Maintenance Fee fee on 9/15/2009. We hate those! To view details go here: Cheers, The Mint Team P.S. Have a 401(k) with a former employer? Rollover to an IRA for lower fees & better investment choices.

i don't doubt the truth here.

2009-09-17T11:57:00.001-04:00

http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/qa-with-leon-logothetis-a-5-a-day-traveler/#comment-2557

I thought "wow, how cool would it be to travel the Western hemisphere on a shoestring budget by depending on the benevolence of strangers?" Then I remembered that I am Black and that it wouldn't strike people as quirky and bohemian as much as panhandling. Interesting article. Double your travels and your standards all at once. — iduknoweither

I don't doubt that one bit.

"Here's my new monitor"

2009-09-03T11:54:00.001-04:00

http://www.cubexvideo.com/

nice.

dang. Disney bought Marvel.

2009-08-31T17:48:00.001-04:00

I wonder what that means and I think that means some incredible ideas will never see creation.

~lee~

Time to think again is it worth it?

2009-08-29T14:38:00.003-04:00

I'm thinking again about society, change, ideas that influence us, controls, relationships, conversations, politics, and how we want to be.

A little bit lower I found this article on Standpoint while looking for something else entirely. Below is some interesting commentary from that article on how things are changing at a societal level -I think. I'm not saying my commentary is interesting. But combined with the article I'm quoting below it might be. So first my thoughts; then the article.

Certain companies in dominant industries where billions and billions are made every year, who control Media Entertainment, are losing money (surprise surprise). Those groups or companies are trying to exploit for their own gain us (you and me and the "others"). We work at exercising in our lives conscious choice. But by exploiting the perversions of obscure groups of people (in the example I use below and am taking about here: mostly men who are pursuing every porn peccadillo they can find), they are changing the nature of our relationships to each other.

I'd like to believe we are immune and the're just TV shows but I recently found this one on youtube.com:
http://www.youtube.com/show/mommyxxx
It's a reality show about a porn star and her kids from what I can tell. Haven't watched it. (hey, keep the jokes clean.) But, what if that is your frame of reference? What if you grow-up in hyper state of (x)? Every year there is an Advertising Conference held in Orlando about marketing to kids. I'm talking 2-7 year olds. Little little kids. Companies know that if you can get "product familiarity" at a young age, you have them for life. I never knew why we used Crest growing up. We just did. (I don't now btw).

The reason certain industries are wholehearthedly pursuing these groups is their slavish devotion to one aspect of their lives; in this case it's sex but more accurately, pornography. Themes of control and exploitation come to mind. But, my exploitation is very different from yours, if you're a woman.

My thoughts on this area come from many sources online and off, various conversations we've had about technology and choice, and from books some of you have recommended:
Can't Buy My Love
Pornified
Full-Frontal Feminism
What does it mean to be a man?
Culture of Fear
Management of the Absurd

I especially appreciate you recommending books. All the time. Feel free. Now, those quotes from that article.

http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/node/2076/full
"The free availability of hard-core pornography on the internet is changing relationships between men and women in ways we have barely begun to talk about, but it is also changing television. What should executives do with the knowledge that sections of their ever-fragmenting audience are watching images they could not have found in the greasiest Soho basements 20 years ago? Once they would have ignored them, but now that television's power is waning, it must run after every viewer it can find. It cannot give them porn — not yet, anyway — but with Mock the Week it can reassure the onanistic that they're good lads, really, just having a harmless laugh."

"The audience cheers. Boyle knows that the BBC's managers will not complain about a male guest telling a woman that he will be masturbating next time she is on television. The Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis established her superiors' indifference when she confronted the BBC's director-general with a Boyle line last year. O' Briain had asked the panel to come up with "things the Queen would never say during her Christmas speech," and Boyle replied, "I'm now so old my pussy is haunted."

So, next time you're in town or next time we have you over or the next time we get to talk at length, I'd love to have a conversation about what you might not be able to do in your life time. Or any other topic that requires us to slow down and think and respond and give and exchange ideas.

Personally, I think that is the only thing that can save us. If we need saving that is. Conscious conversation. And sharing.

~lee~

How many authors thank their library?

2009-08-22T13:52:00.002-04:00

From Salt -an overdue thank you to NYPL
Originally uploaded by leeleblanc.

Check out this thank you to NYPL.

Kinda neat.

doing un-thing

2009-08-14T15:59:00.001-04:00

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/growing-open-government-with.html

From googleblog:

The "un-conference" format let attendees decide session topics

At Google we're inspired by efforts to connect people to the political process, to useful public information and to their governments — and we're eager to participate. To hear more about the different kinds of bottom-up change proposed at Transparency Camp, head to the Google Open Source blog for a summary by Clay Johnson from the Sunlight Foundation.

[Web4lib] Firefox plugin Recap to provide free public access to PACER material

2009-08-14T10:03:00.001-04:00

-News from a listserv via Robert Malesko

An interesting development in accessing public court records
out of the Center for Information Technology at Princeton University.

Accessing US court material from PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic
Records) currently requires a credit card and charges 8¢ per page; accessing the same records from the Recap repository are free.

Recap, a Firefox plugin, uploads to a public repository (hosted by the Internet Archive) a copy of
items retrieved from PACER. It also notifies a user if requested PACER records have
already been uploaded. https://www.recapthelaw.org/

A book recommendation for people who love life

2009-08-13T18:49:00.001-04:00

I'm borrowing this statement and modifying a bit but: I can neatly define my reading epochs this way. There are books I read before The Places In Between and books I will read after The Places In Between. It cleaves my reading life into two new fresh epochs.

This story is phenomenal. Perhaps a recommendation for the book that gets selected -for Freshman I think it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Places_in_Between

Yet, I think we all enjoy books for our own reasons.

as a graphic novel: 'Fahrenheit 451'

2009-08-03T16:27:00.001-04:00

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106929166

"When Ray Bradbury was 15 years old, he saw images of books being burned in Hitler's Germany.

"It killed my heart and killed my soul," he says, "and the memory of Hitler burning the books caused me to sit down and write Fahrenheit 451."

FW: spare a moment?

2009-08-03T16:11:00.001-04:00

The cleanest out of office I've ever received.
---

Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 4:07 PM
To: LeBlanc, Lee
Subject: Out of Office AutoReply: spare a moment for CE survey?

Out of office.
I'll be back August 29

Cook'n!

2009-08-03T14:12:00.001-04:00

http://www.peta.org/cooking-mama/index.asp

Have fun.

a radio, a cap, a backpack, and conversation.

2009-07-28T14:09:00.001-04:00

I sound so cliche' but life, never, ceases to amaze me. It's also interesting, as I wonder, did he have a library card? Why, why not?

"Evidently, among his few possessions was a radio."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111091624

"Nissan’s Forest AC keeps drivers vigilant with aromatherapy"

2009-07-28T09:48:00.001-04:00

Sent to you by Lee via Google Reader:

Nissan’s Forest AC keeps drivers vigilant with aromatherapy

via Gizmo Watch by Bharat on 7/28/09

A nap while driving can be fatal, it's the best a driver can drive himself into distraction. But at times it's just unavoidable. To counter the human inefficiency here, Nissan has developed the "Forest AC", an air conditioning system that blasts attention increasing aroma into the car to keep the driver up and steady when on the wheel. The system will find place in the Nissan Fuga scheduled to debut in Tokyo later this year.

The Forest AC using a host of sensors detects a driver's mood in course, and then depending on the frame of mind delivers aromatherapy accordingly, controlling the temperature, ventilation, humidity and aroma all by itself. Creating an optimal internal environment, the systems also emits attention enhancing perfume when it detects the drive falling into a nap. Can a pleasant aroma keep a driver up, or are we looking in for jolting and shaking mechanisms to keep us alert?

Via: AutoBlog/Engadget

Things you can do from here:

Subscribe to Gizmo Watch using Google Reader
Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Re: I need your help

2009-07-27T08:05:00.001-04:00

Myself and co-author put together this piece to contact Florida's officials.

Southwest Florida is facing devastating economic times. President Obama recently came to our area to see firsthand the challenges facing the hardworking people in one of the hardest foreclosure regions in the country. With so many of southwest Florida's economies being hurt (Real estate, Tourism, Construction), educational institutions provide necessary, vital economic and intellectual stimulus. We add a seriously beneficial effect to the regional economies of southwest Florida –over 20 million dollars a year is generated by FGCU's presence within the community.

Two years ago the unemployment rate of our county was 3.4 percent. Last year that same rate was 6.7 percent. Last month: 12.2 percent. The community and economy of Lee County seems to be a battered ship fighting to stay anchored. Next month, next year: what will the unemployment rate be? Where will this ship be blown by these fierce economic winds? FGCU is one of the anchors providing some stability through these stormy times. With each new cut to our budget, however, the hold of FGCU's anchor weight is likewise reduced thus increasing the community's risk of being blown out to sea. Continued cuts to FGCU's budget will reduce, perhaps beyond repair, the opportunity for Lee county residents and the county as a whole to recover.

We highly encourage your efforts to support higher education and specifically Florida Gulf Coast University. Add to this fact the large populations of Floridians returning to pursue advanced degrees for retraining into jobs that are needed in the southwest Florida economy. FGCU must figure prominently into the Florida's legislature plan to stabilize and bring dramatic economic growth to the entire population of Florida. To do so, FGCU needs your support to help the economy of southwest Florida. Your effects may even serve to jumpstart the entire Florida economy.

Sincerely,

Concerned State of Florida Employees

PS Please remember that FGCU's direct economic impact generates massive income for the regional economies of southwest Florida. With reduced funding, our impact is minimal at best in these critical times.

From: Evans, Susan
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 11:10 AM
To: All University Faculty & Staff
Cc: Student Government President; Student Government Vice President; Student Government Treasurer
Subject: From President Bradshaw
Importance: High

Dear FGCU Students, Faculty and Staff:

As we have been sharing with you, the Florida Legislature is dealing with major economic challenges as it works to adopt a state budget that will take effect July 1 for all state entities, including FGCU. The Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate have significant differences in their proposed budgets, and there are potentially devastating budget cuts on the horizon for the state universities. These budget cuts would be in addition to the last two years of budget cuts for FGCU, in which 11% of our state operating budget has been cut on a recurring basis.

BUDGET CUTS FOR FGCU:

Budget negotiations in Tallahassee are happening quickly at this late stage of the legislative session, and the stakes for access to higher education are very high. The Senate budget contains for FGCU an operating budget cut of $5.8 million. The House of Representatives budget contains for FGCU an operating budget cut of $11 million. While the Senate budget cut would have a very challenging effect on FGCU, the House budget cut would be devastating for us.

In addition, the House budget contains a salary reduction for all state employees, including FGCU, of 4% for employees earning $26,400 and above, and 5% for employees earning $80,000 and above. The Senate budget's salary reductions do not apply to state university employees. It is important to note that the salary reduction provisions are the subject of budget negotiations, and thus are a moving target.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

It is important to share with legislators in key budget-deciding positions the potentially devastating effects of the proposed cuts on FGCU. I encourage you to email these legislators, and in a respectful and professional manner urge them to adopt a state budget that minimizes additional cuts to higher education. We recognize that the budget challenges are enormous and that legislators are dealing with a very difficult set of economic circumstances. However, we want to emphasize to them that access to higher education in the State University System is a critical element of economic and workforce development, a vital cornerstone in economic recovery for our region, state and nation.

If you would like to assist in sharing this message with key legislators, please do so on your non-work time and on your personal computer from home. Timeliness is critical, as state budget negotiations must conclude in the next few days (including the weekend) if the legislature is to end on its scheduled time.

Provided here is contact information for these key legislators.

Representative Larry Cretul - House Speaker

larry.cretul@myfloridahouse.gov

850-488-1450 (Telephone)

Representative Dean Cannon - House Speaker-Designate

dean.cannon@myfloridahouse.gov

850-488-2742 (Telephone)

Representative David Rivera - Chair of House Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development

david.rivera@myfloridahouse.gov

850-488-7897 (Telephone)

Senator Jeff Atwater - Senate President

atwater.jeff.web@flsenate.gov

850-487-5100 (Telephone)

Senator J.D. Alexander - Chair of the Senate Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means

alexander.jd.wb@flsenate.gov

850-487-5044 (Telephone)

Thank you for your continued support and hard work in providing access to higher education through FGCU. We will keep you posted as additional information becomes available.

President Wilson Bradshaw

Florida Gulf Coast University

San Fran NPR!

2009-07-24T09:49:00.001-04:00

nice.
http://www.kqed.org/radio/listen/

Listening to NPR online at any station around the US is awesome.

Fwd: volcano exploding from space

2009-06-29T11:23:00.001-04:00

http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-20/html/iss020e009048.html

http://spaceweather.com/

Re-create Tagliarini Picchi Pacchiu ( TAGLEE-REENY PEEKEY PAHKOOO)

2009-06-07T16:40:00.000-04:00

We're working to re-create great recipes for vegan/vegetarian/green/conscious consumption -and to save money. Falon and I love this one- Carrabba's -- Tagliarini Picchi Pacchiu ( TAGLEE-REENY PEEKEY PAHKOOO)
http://www.recipegoldmine.com/search.html?cx=partner-pub-2305199472659307%3Atts5pyd0dws&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=carrabba%27s&sa=Find+a+Recipe#392

Their version:
CARRABBA'S TAGLIARINI PICCHI PACCHIU
Source: Chef Avid Noble, Carrabba's Italian Grill - azfamily.com
4 oz. angel hair pasta
2 oz. extra-virgin olive oil
2 large cloves garlic, sliced
4 ripe Roma tomatoes, diced
4 to 6 basil leaves, roughly chopped
Pinch salt and pepper
Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, simmer sliced garlic in olive oil over very low heat for about 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and stir over medium heat another 2 minutes. Toss with cooked angel hair pasta and serve as a side dish for chicken or shrimp. Also makes a vegetarian entree.

Modified -because I personally think this is how it's done -well Falon and I do!

Sauce is simple:
Tomatoes
Garlic
Basil

Ingredients with commentary:
lots of angel hair pasta -don't use angel hair spaghetti; instead use the Fettuccine version
-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pasta
--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagliatelle
--Plenty of water
--very large pot
--you should probably think about getting a really large pot as pasta needs room to move around in the water. This cooks it evenly. In other words, there should almost be more water than pasta in the pot. But, I eat a lot of pasta. So take into consideration is all I'm saying -ya heard?

2 ounces extra-virgin olive oil ----bit more than that and use very light olive oil -don't need to be expensive either, just light -not low fat, light in color

2 large cloves garlic, sliced ----ehhhh, small unsliced cloves, about as small as thumbnail in length and if you cook it right feel free to add lots. Should be on the mild side by the time it's finished cooking -it's not raw garlic.

4 ripe Roma tomatoes, diced, ---de-seeded, big diced chunks, soak in olive olive over night with sea salt, oregano, basil, garlic, then strain/ brush that stuff off a bit. Really, you just want the tomatoes at this point.

10+ basil leaves, ---very roughly chopped, save a large leaf for the top to finish the dish for great presentation
Pinch sea salt --finely ground-- and fresh cracked black pepper

Start:
Simmer garlic in olive oil over very low heat for about 15 minutes. You're trying to cook the garlic to achieve a soft-snap when you bite, golden golden/ or golden-light yellow color (not golden brown), should not be crunchy from cooking but may be firm and snappy when you bite it -but it should taste cooked.
Simmer very very low heat, tomatoes in olive oil, pinch salt and black pepper, pinch of basil too
It's important to get really, red, ripe Romas- you may have to grow your own like I think we're going to have to do.

Don't start cooking the pasta until you think the sauce is about 5 minutes from being ready. Remember, it's just short of raw and gets its finish from the heat of the pasta. Again, it's not so much cooked as it is: awakened.

"Cook pasta according to package directions." LOL! Really!?!
Don't! stop cooking about 1-2 minutes before it's done. This fine pasta is ruined by a long cook time -heat is honestly its enemy. Think of cooking this gentle pasta a very precise operation that meals success rides on.
--Strain and seperate pasta so that it isn't a large, piled mass. The pasta at the center will continue to cook and turn to glue. Gently spreading it out on a cutting board is not a bad idea. Here's where we move quickly.

NOTE:
Here's the thing. As soon as you take the pasta off heat, separate it, ideally you must be sitting down to eat when the pasta comes out. So get everything else ready first. I mean down to having your plates set. You must toss this pasta with the remaining ingredients and stir. Then serve. At first the "sauce" which is only crushed tomatoes, garlic, and basil is not going to seem impressive but it's the simplicity of the flavors that shocks your palate. I'm almost starting to prefer it over heavy, thick red sauces -and for fine thin pastas it truly is better.

This is truly a fantastic dish that takes a kinda "be here now in the moment" process from start to finish. The key really is getting everything ready, combining, and then sitting down to eat. It is a dish that must be enjoyed as the freshness of the flavors wains the minute you lose temperature or if you overcook anything.

Falon and haven't done it successfully yet but when we do we will post pictures/video. We just kinda figured this out. Seems simple. Ain't. Probably why we like it so much.

Finished.

2009-06-03T22:17:00.001-04:00

I've finished my masters and wrote a fine final.

WTF: YOUR FINAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

2009-05-06T14:34:00.001-04:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Walter Wale" <walterwale007@msn.com>
Date: May 6, 2009 2:33 PM
Subject: YOUR FINAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
To:

Valued Attention :

Compliments of the season to you, We are using this medium to communicate with you that the board and the directors of Ecowas and the British High Commission from the DEBT SETTLEMENT UNIT are working seriously with the Europian Union authorities to ensure that you are partially settled with the flat sum of One Million Five Hundred United States Dollars ($1.5 Million) being for the compensation of all the money you wasted and problems created to you by some corrupt officials from this Sub Region of the World, who collided with some imposters to victimize innocent masses.

Presently, I am mandated to inform you that the authorities are ready to pay all the people who were victimized by those corrupt officials according to the order of the human right commision. So, be notified that your names are among the 15 names in the first batch who are to receive the first payment, but it is left for you as the beneficairy to show your interest on the fund by forwarding to the payment department of the western union in Benin all your current information and data so as the enable him forward them to the organizing board to endorse for the swift release and payment of your fund via a Western Union from Benin Republic.

Equip them with your under listed current information to enhance a fast communication to you by the payment department for a rapid submission and confirmation of your name for your payment by the asigned Western Union Bank:

Your complete names
Address
Telephone Numbers
Occupation
Nationality
Age and Marital Status
Sex

The aforemention informations are very vital to propel this payment without any further delay by the Western Union as soon as your information is submited and stabilzed in the debt clearance data base. CONTACT THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER WITH THIS INFO.
E-mail: w.union_moneyt@bk.ru
Phone number + 22993 00 28 40.
Contact Person: Dr collins Nelson

However, be informed earlier that you will only pay the sum of Two hundred and eighty five Euros €285 to them for the procession of all your file and reprogramming of your information for payment.

Yours Sincerely,
Mr Walter wale
For and on behalf of the Debt Settlement Board
Lot 620 St. Terita
Cotonou
Benin Republic

Fwd: FW: Become an expert IT panelist, shape the future of IT, and receive prizes!

2009-03-31T14:50:00.001-04:00

Really? You want me...

---

Subject: Become an expert IT panelist, shape the future of IT, and receive prizes!

Based on your profile as an IT professional and decision maker, we
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No authoritative answer about "Hillbilly" but an ..

2009-03-25T10:35:00.001-04:00

Subject: No authoritative answer about "Hillbilly" but an ..

Interesting crop of theories on Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillbilly

Bike Bandit

2009-02-17T17:47:00.001-05:00

Subject: Bike Bandit

This campus administrator is very intent on riding a bike...

http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/3618/video-of-university-administrator-taking-bicycle-posted-to-youtube

Home -found art?

2009-02-05T18:57:00.001-05:00

Lee LeBlanc -from my g1.

Fwd: FW: VERIFY YOUR fgcu.edu ACCOUNT

2009-01-31T18:09:00.001-05:00

Flip you.

-----Original Message-----
From: Grace Trigger [mailto:gtrig4kb@umw.edu]
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 3:25 PM
Subject: VERIFY YOUR ACCOUNT

Dear Staff/Student
This message is from the Webmail IT Service messaging center to all subscribers/webmail users. We are currently upgrading our data base and e-mail center due to an unusual activities identified in our email system. We are deleting all unused Webmail Accounts. You are required to verify your webmail account by confirming your Webmail identity. This will prevent your Webmail account from been closed during this exercise.
In order to confirm you Web-Mail identity, you are to provide the following data;
First Name:
Last Name:
Username/ID:
Password:
Date of Birth:
*Important*
Please provide all these information completely and correctly otherwise due to security reasons we may have to close your account temporarily.
We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Please understand that this is a security measure intended to help protect you and your Webmail Account. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Regards,
IT Service

http://yeahthatveganshit.blogspot.com/2008/04/braised-seitan-medallions-in-wine-demi.html

2009-01-27T11:51:00.001-05:00

just link firing.
http://yeahthatveganshit.blogspot.com/2008/04/braised-seitan-medallions-in-wine-demi.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_mori

2009-01-23T16:53:00.001-05:00

Learn some latin. It's good for you.

Fwd: Staff Finds White House in the Technological Dark Ages

2009-01-22T10:26:00.001-05:00

Got to love it.

Staff Finds White House in the Technological Dark Ages

By Anne E. Kornblut

If the Obama campaign represented a sleek, new iPhone kind of future, the first day of the Obama administration looked more like the rotary-dial past.

http://www.mcphee.com/blog/?p=216

2009-01-16T18:46:00.001-05:00

a good read.

http://www.mcphee.com/blog/?p=216

http://www.perpetualkid.com/

2009-01-16T17:11:00.001-05:00

ANIMAL FRIENDLY CARDBOARD DEER BUST

$24.99

http://www.perpetualkid.com/

Don't right in with the your hard core hunting neighbors and don't compromise your beliefs

Fwd: IOUSA the movie

2009-01-14T12:03:00.001-05:00

Subject: IOUSA the movie
Here is the short (30min) version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_TjBNjc9Bo

http://mysite.verizon.net/teridon/itunesscripts/index.html

2009-01-12T20:59:00.001-05:00

Nice.
http://mysite.verizon.net/teridon/itunesscripts/index.html

Google gives out-of-print books a new life online - International Herald Tribune

2009-01-05T10:36:00.001-05:00

Subject: Google gives out-of-print books a new life online - International Herald Tribune

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/05/technology/05google.php

http://www.helpchildsoldiers.com/

2009-01-04T18:12:00.001-05:00

http://www.helpchildsoldiers.com/

how about that: a wiki

2008-12-27T18:52:00.001-05:00

http://www.lis.fsu.edu/history/Wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Fwd: London Unveils Sleek Zero-Emission Double Decker Buses

2008-12-24T11:13:00.003-05:00

London Unveils Sleek Zero-Emission Double Decker Buses

via INHABITAT by Jorge Chapa on 12/23/08

Recently the London Transportation Department held a contest to redesign the iconic Double Decker bus, and we're excited to announce the winning entry by renowned architects Foster + Partners! They've created a zero-emissions, super accessible, and environmentally innovative double decker bus that heralds a new era of sustainable public transportation for London.

(more…)

Fwd: Free the metadata!

2008-12-24T11:13:00.001-05:00

Free the metadata!

via Joho the Blog by davidw on 12/23/08

The University of Huddersfield is making publicly available the metadata about the circulation of its books — 3 million transactions — over the past thirteen years. This includes a book's ISBN, number of times it's been checked out, by which academic department. (It does not include information about individual borrowers.)

BTW, the library used LibraryThing's ISBN lookup service to derive some of the ISBNs, and it includes "FRBR-ish" data, i.e., other books that may be closely related.

(Thanks to Seb Schmoller's post for the tip.)

ohmygod

2008-12-22T22:26:00.002-05:00

http://www.cutethingsfallingasleep.org/

Watched this bee with great interest.

2008-11-18T18:05:00.001-05:00

san jose city hall (12)
Originally uploaded by leeleblanc.

was most enjoyable.

DevLearn08 staging area

2008-11-12T15:42:00.001-05:00

DevLearn08 staging area
Originally uploaded by leeleblanc.

Doing DevLearn2008

2008-11-12T15:41:00.001-05:00

Very cool.

http://www.google.com/search?q=devlearn+2008&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

LOST pants

2008-10-30T07:56:00.001-04:00

http://flickr.com/photos/iblee/2051430309/

Two

2008-10-30T07:55:00.001-04:00

http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/publish/us/en/products/building_efficiency/capabilities/gws/gwi/projects_workplace_innovation/futures_workplace_innovation/oxygenz.html?WT.mc_id=www.oxygenz.com

http://coilhouse.net/2008/10/23/weekly-ad-uncoiling-black-decker-lawnmowers/

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/tip-sending-empty-messages.html

2008-10-29T21:50:00.001-04:00

They buy out of your cellphone contract

2008-10-29T17:03:00.001-04:00

http://www.credomobile.com/specialoffermatrix/default.aspx

Fwd: Holocaust-Era Boxcar at FGCU November 3-7 (Student Union)

2008-10-28T18:07:00.001-04:00

Holocaust-era Boxcar at FGCU
November 3 - 7, 2008

The Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida recently acquired an authentic World War II boxcar. The boxcar-which features 12 panels illustrating the devastation of the Holocaust and other genocides, past and present-is being used as a traveling educational tool, visiting schools in Southwest Florida.

About 100-120 prisoners were crammed into each of the thousands of 30-by-8-foot boxcars that were used to transport millions of victims to death camps during World War II. Many victims died before the boxcars arrived at their destinations. With no toilet facilities, no air, and little if any food, these cars became rolling torture chambers. Many dead bodies were recovered from these railcars after their arrival.

The boxcar will be displayed in the parking lot in front of FGCU's Student Union the week of November 3-7, 2008. There will be student guides to assist visitors, and literature from the Holocaust Museum, FGCU's Holocaust-studies center, Hillel, and other groups that have made this possible.

Schedule of Events and Locations

The boxcar will be open every day from 10:00am to 4:00pm in the Student Union Parking Lot 6. The Holocaust Museum, Hillel, and the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Human Rights Studies will have literature, as well as student guides, outside the boxcar and inside the Student Union. There will be a display in the Library and the lobby of the Student Union.

November 3, 2008 * Monday 11:30am - 1:30pm * Student Union 213 * Film: "Europa Europa" (112 minutes)
* The incredible but true story of a German-Jewish teenager who escaped persecution by masquerading as an "Aryan." This 1990 German film won numerous awards.

November 4, 2008 * Tuesday 2:00 - 4:00pm * Student Union 213 * Film: "Miracle at Midnight" (90 minutes)
* A valiant Danish doctor (Sam Waterston) and his family struggle against Nazi oppression and try to help their Jewish countrymen survive the Holocaust by escaping to neutral Sweden. This is a memorable recreation of one of the greatest rescue efforts of World War II.

November 5, 2008 * Wednesday 12:00 - 2:30pm * Student Union Ballroom * Film: "Uprising" (153 minutes)
* A powerful depiction of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising-the largest-scale Jewish revolt against the Nazis.
6:00 - 8:00pm * Student Union Ballroom "A Rail of Hope"
* This interactive program will be a panel discussion with representatives of various perspectives within the Jewish community as well as academic experts.

November 6, 2008 * Thursday 12:30pm * Lawn outside the Student Union
* Speech contest with cash prizes up to $300
* Sponsored by Regulate Unite Listen Engage Speak (R.U.L.E.S.)
* More information: jahope@eagle.fgcu.edu
2:00 - 4:00pm * Student Union Ballroom * Film: "Life is Beautiful" (115 minutes)
* Roberto Benigni's award-winning film mixes comedy with tragedy in its story of an Italian Jewish family that is sent to a Nazi camp.
7:00 - 9:30pm * Student Union Ballroom * Lecture: Dr. James Waller
* "The Christian Church and Genocide: From the Holocaust to Rwanda"

About the speaker
Dr. Waller
Dr. Waller is Chair and Professor of Psychology at Whitworth College in Spokane,
Washington, and is a widely recognized scholar in the field of Holocaust and
Genocide studies. His recent book Becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit
Genocide and Mass Killing presents an original argument for understanding why
political, social, and religious groups wanting to commit mass murder are never
hindered by a lack of willing executioners.

November 7, 2008 * Friday 12:00-2:00pm * Reed Hall 236 * Film: "Freedom Writers" (120 minutes)
* A young teacher (Hilary Swank) assigns her class an ambitious project. While studying works such as The Diary of Anne Frank, the kids keep journals about their troubled lives, applying history's lessons to break the cycle of violence and despair that threatens their
own futures.

Sponsored by
The week of activities has been made possible by The Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida, the Dean of Students Office and the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Human Rights Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University.

endorsements_map/endorsement_graph.html

2008-10-28T15:21:00.001-04:00

Check it.

http://infochimps.org/static/gallery/politics/endorsements_map/endorsement_graph.html

Re: Con doesn't mean they don't do anything

2008-10-25T21:06:00.001-04:00

Chain email going around. Cynicism is for people who give up. Con is a prefix; has a lot of meanings one is: with.

http://www.google.com/search?q=define%3Acongress

Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 8:03 AM

Subject: Con doesn't mean they don't do anything

Congress members should wear uniforms

like NASCAR drivers, so we could

identify their corporate sponsors.

Also… If con is the opposite of pro, then is congress the opposite of progress?

went with the G1

2008-10-25T11:58:00.001-04:00

Love it.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/16/t-mobile-g1-review-part-2-software-and-wrap-up/
Some good insights into the software platform, Android.

http://flickr.com/photos/iblee/sets/72157608299745405/
Me unpacking the G1.

Benefits and drawbacks just like the iphone too. Overall, I'd never go back to an average cellphone -ever. I do a lot online communicating though via social sites, send a lot of text messages and manage nearly all my appointments and contact information online. With Android being built for this online environment, all of these go extremely well.

Making calls is a freaking breeze; Message status indicators are simply awesome.

I had T-mobile already so I got one heck of deal on the price of the phone. It really feels like a minicomputer -I'm sure the iPhone feels this way too.

-------
blogs:
http://tametheweb.com/ttw-contributors/
http://bibliodox.blogspot.com

"We are born to learn, but somewhere along the way many of us pick up the idea that we must be taught in order to learn. We think that if someone doesn't stand up in front of us and talk to us with either a chalkboard or PowerPoint slides, we cannot learn. We must regain our sense of wonder and our desire to learn." --R.Tennant, "Strategies for Keeping Current," Library Journal, 9/15/2003, p.28.

Thanks gmail.

2008-10-21T19:36:00.001-04:00

"As part of this change, we're moving previously auto-added contacts back into Suggested Contacts. Only contacts that you've edited, imported or added to a group will remain in My Contacts. This will provide everyone with a clean slate and, we hope, a better point for syncing contacts with mobile devices (for example with Android). We'll be rolling this change out to everyone over the next few days."

call from 641-715-3900

2008-10-20T20:25:00.001-04:00

There seems to some fear around November 4th and this message. Got a mod'd version of it through a text message.

---
http://ask.metafilter.com/73258/I-prefer-my-life-as-a-godless-heathen-thankyaverymuch

Today I have received four of the same message texted to me from the email address mission@mission4christ.org. It reads thus:

"(You gotta hear this) Call 641-715-3900 then ext. 21657 wow, reality check. After you listen to it, send it, you know someone who needs to hear it."

This is bugging the hell out of me because 1.) I don't like unsolicited text messages or advertising and 2.) I *especially* don't like unsolicited religious text messages. It isn't from a website I've put my phone number in because the rest of my family has been receiving them all morning too (one woke me up, by the way, which is part of the reason I'm angry.) I looked for an option to block it in my phone (a blackberry 7250), but I think it's a bigger problem than that since my parents are receiving them too.

suuuuuuu-weet Android

2008-10-19T15:26:00.001-04:00

"But the best thing, in my mind, about Gmail on Android-powered phones, is the way email is deeply integrated with other applications. For instance, let's say I'm browsing the web, reading my favorite tech blog. When I come across a post that I'd like to share, I can simply press and hold my finger down on the link and then choose "share" to immediately create an email with that article's web address. The tight integration with Contacts on the device then allows Gmail to suggest contacts based on the first letters I type."

http://www.smearcasting.com/

2008-10-09T18:12:00.001-04:00

http://www.smearcasting.com/

AIG's invoice for Resort stay

2008-10-08T10:11:00.001-04:00

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1007083aig1.html

Fwd: Why buy DRM free?

2008-09-30T20:43:00.001-04:00

Wal-Mart Gives Up on Music Consumers, Highlights Bigger Problem with DRM

via TopTenREVIEWS Blog by Dan Hope on 9/27/08

You may recall when Yahoo Music went under and they turned off the DRM servers, effectively locking all the music bought from Yahoo. Well, it happened again, except this time it's Wal-Mart that will be thumbing its nose at consumers.

Wal-Mart announced that they would be turning their DRM-servers off, which will make any DRM-protected songs you bought from Wal-Mart useless. And Wal-Mart's solution to the problem? Just burn your music to a CD. That's it, no other help is available, no other options, no opportunity for a refund.

There is a small silver lining to the problem. Wal-Mart has been DRM-free since February 2008, so if you bought your music since then, you'll have no problems. If your music is older than that, tough luck.

This is a perfect example of why people shouldn't accept DRM. It's not because we plan on pirating music and software and making a profit off it. It's because we're afraid of being put in ridiculous situations like this, where we are punished for following the rules. How can they expect us to support DRM when music and software execs continually let the honest consumer get hurt.

This incident isn't going to start an uproar because there were probably only 32 people who have downloaded music from Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, it will probably take something bigger to make people realize that DRM only affects the honest. Can you imagine what would happen if Apple announced they were turning off the iTunes DRM servers?

You can see reviews of the major music download services here at TopTenREVIEWS, or you can read these other DRM-free blog posts:

iTunes cheating on iPhone with Alltel and nuTsie

The Lotus: What a Girl Wants

New Halo 3 Teaser

Apple Building Blocks: Piecing Together the MacBook Brick Rumors

The Trouble with the Android Phone: G1 Missed Opportunities

great ted talk on food

2008-09-28T11:44:00.001-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXvDLPu5vh0&feature=user

ice scream anarchism

2008-09-28T10:53:00.001-04:00

Then Gregory Belton, 26, a construction worker from East New York, Brooklyn, ordered a tropical-flavored ice pop and three pieces of propaganda: Know Your Rights, the Patriot Act, and Black Panthers.

"I want to learn about this stuff because I hate being stopped by cops," he said. "I got a ticket for being in the park late one night playing chess. I get stopped and searched by cops just walking down the street."

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/ice-cream-is-sold-with-sprinkles-of-anarchism/index.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Head to your radio and fire this tune up.

2008-09-24T23:16:00.001-04:00

Some great lyrics up in here.

"Dedicated to all you
all human beings"

Band: Radiohead
Song: Reckoner

Tomorrow is Thursday; enjoy it.

http://www.airvananet.com/

2008-09-24T20:46:00.001-04:00

http://www.airvananet.com/

Fwd: US Statistics

2008-09-23T12:47:00.001-04:00

Population
U.S.: 305,233,060 (about 4.5 % of world)
World: 6,725,458,205
Source: http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html

Yearly Military Expenditures
U.S.: 547 billion dollars (about 40% of world's
military expenditures)
World: 1339 billion dollars
Source:
http://yearbook2008.sipri.org/files/SIPRIYB08summary.pdf,
p.10

Daily Oil Consumption
US, 20,730,000 barrels per day (about 25 % of the oil
consumption of the world)
World: 82,234,918 barrels per day
Source:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2174rank.html

Prison Population
US: 1,962,220 (about 22 % of the imprisoned population
of the world)
World: 8,750,000
Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/r188.pdf

http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_list.php?dept_id=015&cat_id=050

2008-09-22T23:44:00.001-04:00

http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_list.php?dept_id=015&cat_id=050

The MacBook Dilemma

2008-09-22T19:46:00.001-04:00

Sent to you by iblee via Google Reader:

The MacBook Dilemma

via Patrick Haney, Not a Sausage by Patrick Haney on 9/18/08

It's only a computer. And I have 5 others at home. But it's the most important (and the most expensive) thing I own (the Boston area has made it quite easy to live without a car).

It was nearly 3 years ago that I finally left the Western NY area that I grew up in to take a job at Harvard, and it was a big change. The kind of change that you talk about making for years, but sometimes never go through with. It was a change I was excited about, and one that was long overdue.

Since I was making such a big change in my life, it felt appropriate to make a change in my computing habits. I grew up with Macs, in school and in my family, but eventually ended up with a PC at home (it was a Magnavox HeadStart 286, blazingly fast for its day). This trend continued, all the way through college, at the end of which I happily purchased my first laptop. For just over $2,000 (in the year 2000), I had myself a brand new Sony VAIO PCG-R505TEK. This "SuperSlim" model was then what the MacBook Air is now (except that it wasn't nearly as reliable, from the software to the hardware to even the cheap-feeling case). There was no optical drive (yes, you had to find an external 20x CD drive on your own) and the screen was 12.1″, making it as light as a feather (or 3.75 pounds of feathers).

The Change

Windows never really felt all that bad, but then I had been using it since version 3.0, and maybe I was just "used to it" (kind of like the way the star of "Ow My Balls!" from the movie Idiocracy was "used to" getting kicked in the groin). Or maybe I didn't know any better. Either way, as someone who was very familiar with various flavors of UNIX, the songs of Mac OS X were finally being heard by my perked up ears.

I asked Harvard for a Mac before I moved, preferring a PowerBook. I had been lusting over one for months, but would never get my hands on one. Instead, I was presented with an iMac. It would do, but I wasn't able to take my Mac love with me, and that ~~Dull~~ Dell tower at home was looking more like Britney Spears after 2 kids and a shaved head than anything remotely tempting.

Against my own will, I played the Apple waiting game. I wanted a PowerBook, but there were rumors (when aren't there?). Rumors about a new laptop. And they came true.

I bought Laserbeak (yes, my computers are all named after Transformers) the day the Intel-based MacBook Pros were released, ignoring all the nay-sayers who said things like "never buy a Rev A product from Apple!" and "wait for the next round, they'll be better!" I walked into an Apple Store that day and dropped $2,500 on a brand new 15″ laptop, the most money I've ever spent at once, and never looked back.

The Dilemma

By now you, the reader, are thinking, "That's a great story, you should tell it at parties. But what's this about a dilemma now?" And to you I say, "Hey, you're right, I should tell that story at parties!" But I digress.

As you know, computers don't stay top-of-the-line for very long. And while Laserbeak is still a fantastic machine, he's getting old (his pal Soundwave, my Mac Mini, is always giving him orders, which doesn't help). He gets awfully warm after a while, something Apple subsequently improved in other revisions of the MacBook Pro (OH GOD I SHOULD'VE WAITED 2 YEARS AND DID ALL MY WORK ON A CRAPPY PC). And he's maxed out at 2GB of RAM (occasionally I feel like an extra 2GB would be really nice to feed Parallels or any of the other memory hogging applications I need to run).

So I'm looking to replace him with a new model (shhhh… don't tell Laserbeak I said that…), just the way Tom Brady replaced his hot actress/baby-momma girlfriend Bridget Moynahan with hot model/model (has she ever had a real job?) girlfriend Gisele Bundchen (except that I didn't have any illegitimate children with my laptop). But that's not where the similarities between Tom & I end, you see. His injury happened on the football field, mine happened on the kickball field. He's moderately attractive, I'm extremely handsome. He plays on Gillette Field, I use a Gillette razor to shave my handsome face.

Oh, right. The dilemma.

What to replace my MacBook Pro with? The latest of many rumors say that the October 14th event will bring us new Apple laptops, possibly including a revised MacBook Pro. While I'm sure updates are coming for the MacBook line when it comes to increased drive capacity and a bump up in CPU speeds, I'm still on the fence about whether any major updates are likely (though the MacBook Pro case has remained almost exactly the same for its entire existence).

After October 14th, I need to make a decision. New MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air? The 15″ MacBook Pro has been good to me, driving a 24″ LCD at home and packing enough power to do nearly anything CPU intensive. The Air, however, is a beautifully simple piece of machinery, and is almost the perfect lap companion, generating very little heat on the undercarriage. Then there's the middle ground, the general purpose MacBook. It does its job and does it well.

Weighing the Pros & Cons

I've found Laserbeak to be a fantastic computer for nearly every situation. It's really the only machine I ever use, so it has to be able to handle any high-end work I need to do, but remain small and light enough to take everywhere (I participate in the Take Your Laptop to Work Day program, which for me is every day).

But the Air… god it's gorgeous.

Ignore comments like those from Craig Grannell of Cult of Mac who say that the MacBook Air is:

"… for people who happily set fire to $50 dollar bills…"

The Air is only $100 more than a fully equipped 15″ MacBook pro (which is what I bought with my $2,500 back in February of 2006) if you want the 64GB solid state drive, and $200 cheaper than the low-end 15″ MacBook Pro if you go with the typical 80GB 4200 RPM drive. If you're still not convinced, comparing it to the cheapest MacBook which rings in at only $1,100, forget about money for a second.

This thing isn't just a pretty face. It feels perfect in your hands, and on your lap. Using a MacBook Air is like having your favorite feline curled up on your legs on a cool fall day, except without the clawing or the excessive warmth (and in my case, the sneezing).

It's thin, it's light, it feels solid (as in, the exact opposite of how the VAIO felt), and it does your bidding. Just because it's small, doesn't mean it's slow. If you're using Final Cut Pro a lot, the Air probably isn't on your radar anyway.

And the screen. Wow. 13.3″ seems small when compared to a 15″ MacBook Pro, or a 19″ iMac, but that's what an external monitor is for. The brightness is unreal, and everything looks crisp and clear on the Air's display. The Craig Grannells of the world ought to spend a day with one before making any sort of assumptions.

I'm tempted to switch to the Air in a month or so, but what am I losing? Well, the optical drive for one. But if you remember correctly (and if you were paying attention earlier), I have plenty of other computers, including a Mac Mini. The Remote Disc feature that Apple touts for the Air really does work, though I can attest to the fact that it's somewhat slow (on a 802.11g network, as I don't own a 802.11n router yet).

And the ports. The MacBook Pro has more ports than a bad pirate movie. The question is, do I need them? The Firewire port has never gotten any use, and I rarely need more than 1 USB accessory (the Dell LCD at home has a built-in hub for this sort of situation). The audio-in jack is great for hooking up a mic, but I've only ever used that once (Bluetooth headsets usually work fine for what I need).

Then there's that ExpressCard slot. You know, that oddly shaped port on the left of the MacBook Pro that you never use? Well I actually found a use for it. Mine is always plugged with a Griffin ExpressCard 34 memory card reader (which seems to be discontinued since I haven't seen it anywhere in months) for getting pictures off of my digital camera's SD card. Then again, there are numerous USB card readers that handle that task just as easily.

For me, what it comes down to, is performance. Can I deal with a slightly slower CPU and only 2GB of RAM (considering my current laptop is only a hair faster than a new MacBook Air, I'd say "yes")? Is 2″ of screen real estate important? How much does the onboard graphics processor memory come into play with what I do daily? Does size really matter (get your mind out of the gutter…)?

How About You?

While I haven't yet made my decision (and perhaps that will depend on what's announced in less than 4 weeks), what are your thoughts? Have you used the Air, and has it made you rethink your next laptop purchase? Are you a happy MacBook user? Is the Pro the way to go?

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McCain Clueless When Asked About Fiorina’s $40 Million Golden Parachute: ‘I ...

2008-09-22T19:39:00.001-04:00

Sent to you by iblee via Google Reader:

McCain Clueless When Asked About Fiorina’s $40 Million Golden Parachute: ‘I Do Not Know The Details’

via Think Progress by Satyam on 9/22/08

For the past week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has been railing against Wall Street "fat cats" and pledging to "stop multi-million dollar payouts to CEOs who have broken the public trust."

This principled stance against excessive executive compensation, however, is undermined by the fact that McCain's senior economic adviser and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina received $42 million dollars in compensation after being fired from HP. On NBC this morning, host Meredith Vieira noted that Fiorina "is an example of exactly the kind of person you say is at the root of the problem." McCain replied, "I don't think so":

McCAIN: I don't think so. … Because I think she did a good job as CEO in many respects. I don't know the details of her compensation package. But she's one of many advisers that I have.

Q: But she did get a $45 million dollar golden parachute after being fired while 20,000 of her employees were laid off.

McCAIN: I have many of the people, but I do not know the details of what happened.

"How can you not know the details of her past? I mean, that would be awfully important," Vieira responded. Watch it:

Nor is McCain's statement that Fiorina did a "good job" as CEO of Hewlett-Packard quite accurate. The board of HP fired Fiorina in 2005, concluding "that she was spending too much time on the road, neglecting the nuts-and-bolts execution of her own strategic ideas," according to the New York Times. "[H]er superstar status was also her undoing."

As CEO, Fiorina parked profits overseas using tax shelters, even though it negatively impacted the economy. The company held more than $14 billion overseas in 2004, according to the Washington Post. The Wall Street Journal noted that her tenure was "marked by a drop in morale at a company with a legendary history of a collegial culture."

Fiorina's golden parachute and her rocky tenure at HP, however, don't seem to matter to McCain, who does "not know the details of what happened."

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6. U.S. colleges are urged to drop reliance on SAT and ACT

2008-09-22T19:33:00.001-04:00

Sent to you by iblee via Google Reader:

6. U.S. colleges are urged to drop reliance on SAT and ACT

via IHT.com: Most emailed articles of the last 1 day by By Sara Rimer on 9/22/08

Commission of college admission officials recommends tests more closely tied to high school curriculum and achievement.

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plush

2008-09-21T11:50:00.001-04:00

http://aiwa-9.deviantart.com/art/plush-toast-keychain-tutorial-64057573

soup and HFCS

2008-09-21T11:46:00.001-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/dining/10mini.html?ex=1378785600&en=1967bf7ddd5c12a9&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

http://www.seriouseats.com/2008/09/pro-new-hfcs-commercials-high-fructose-corn-syrup.html

palin hacked

2008-09-18T23:54:00.000-04:00

-------

Palin has come under fire for using private e-mail accounts to conduct state business. Critics allege that she uses the account to get around public records laws, as the Bush administration has also been charged with doing.

http://wikileaks.org/wiki/VP_contender_Sarah_Palin_hacked

homeless

2008-09-18T22:08:00.001-04:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/antichrist/2829058780/

Palin

2008-09-15T21:51:00.001-04:00

http://flickr.com/photos/bar-art/2838573511/

Got Google Chrome?

2008-09-10T17:08:00.001-04:00

Sure have tried it. Most of the stuff I've read about Chrome concerns how it runs, privacy issues, and postulating on Google's next move.

I use so many Firefox extensions to speed up what I do on the Internet that I'm not sold on it, yet.

picturing excess

2008-09-07T13:29:00.001-04:00

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/chris_jordan_pictures_some_shocking_stats.html

http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-us/default.aspx#

2008-09-06T20:50:00.001-04:00

http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-us/default.aspx#

Treadmill desk

2008-08-31T22:26:00.001-04:00

http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2006-rst/3278.html

http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2005-rst/2630.html
NEAT
http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/levine_lab/

http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge-television-2007/scripts/h28txt.html

http://jonathanfields.com/blog/how-i-burn-600-calories-a-day-blogging/
shelf from $19 Target shoe-rack

http://www.treadmill-desk.com/

http://officewalkers.ning.com/

http://www.treadmill-desk.com/2007/06/anders-burvall.html

http://rura.org/blog/2007/11/14/the-treadmill-desk-exercise-for-the-sake-of-hacking/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treadmill_Desk

SKYPE AND PORN

2008-08-30T19:56:00.001-04:00

http://www.loosewireblog.com/2007/12/meet-veronica-s.html

http://mspr.typepad.com/blog/2005/12/the_real_moneym.html

ABC News: ABC Reporter's Attorneys Want All Charges Dropped

2008-08-30T16:53:00.001-04:00

Funny, I tell people the Police are not impartial at all. Generally, those people look at me like I'm some crazy, paranoid anarchist.

ABC News: ABC Reporter's Attorneys Want All Charges Dropped

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conventions/story?id=5668622

Fwd: greensumption

2008-08-21T16:11:00.001-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft5SSIfmeKU&feature=related

Portuguese Kale soup

2008-08-15T14:16:00.001-04:00

http://www.leitesculinaria.com/recipes/port/caldo_verde.html

Handy: FYI: List of the keyboard shortcuts that are available in Windows XP

2008-08-14T23:36:00.001-04:00

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/301583

List of the keyboard shortcuts that are available in Windows XP

Article ID	:	301583
Last Review	:	January 15, 2006
Revision	:	4.2

This article was previously published under Q301583

On This Page

SUMMARY

MORE INFORMATION

General keyboard shortcuts

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

Microsoft natural keyboard shortcuts

Accessibility keyboard shortcuts

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts

Shortcut keys for Character Map

Microsoft Management Console (MMC) main window keyboard shortcuts

MMC console window keyboard shortcuts

Remote desktop connection navigation

Microsoft Internet Explorer navigation

Other information

SUMMARY

This article describes the keyboard shortcuts that are available in Windows XP.

Back to the top

MORE INFORMATION

General keyboard shortcuts

•	CTRL+C (Copy)
•	CTRL+X (Cut)
•	CTRL+V (Paste)
•	CTRL+Z (Undo)
•	DELETE (Delete)
•	SHIFT+DELETE (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin)
•	CTRL while dragging an item (Copy the selected item)
•	CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item (Create a shortcut to the selected item)
•	F2 key (Rename the selected item)
•	CTRL+RIGHT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word)
•	CTRL+LEFT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word)
•	CTRL+DOWN ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph)
•	CTRL+UP ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph)
•	CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Highlight a block of text)
•	SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document)
•	CTRL+A (Select all)
•	F3 key (Search for a file or a folder)
•	ALT+ENTER (View the properties for the selected item)
•	ALT+F4 (Close the active item, or quit the active program)
•	ALT+ENTER (Display the properties of the selected object)
•	ALT+SPACEBAR (Open the shortcut menu for the active window)
•	CTRL+F4 (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
•	ALT+TAB (Switch between the open items)
•	ALT+ESC (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened)
•	F6 key (Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop)
•	F4 key (Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
•	SHIFT+F10 (Display the shortcut menu for the selected item)
•	ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the System menu for the active window)
•	CTRL+ESC (Display the Start menu)
•	ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name (Display the corresponding menu)
•	Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu (Perform the corresponding command)
•	F10 key (Activate the menu bar in the active program)
•	RIGHT ARROW (Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu)
•	LEFT ARROW (Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu)
•	F5 key (Update the active window)
•	BACKSPACE (View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
•	ESC (Cancel the current task)
•	SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing)
•	CTRL+SHIFT+ESC (Open Task Manager)

Back to the top

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

If you press SHIFT+F8 in extended selection list boxes, you enable extended selection mode. In this mode, you can use an arrow key to move a cursor without changing the selection. You can press CTRL+SPACEBAR or SHIFT+SPACEBAR to adjust the selection. To cancel extended selection mode, press SHIFT+F8 again. Extended selection mode cancels itself when you move the focus to another control.

•	CTRL+TAB (Move forward through the tabs)
•	CTRL+SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the tabs)
•	TAB (Move forward through the options)
•	SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the options)
•	ALT+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option)
•	ENTER (Perform the command for the active option or button)
•	SPACEBAR (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box)
•	Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons)
•	F1 key (Display Help)
•	F4 key (Display the items in the active list)
•	BACKSPACE (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box)

Back to the top

Microsoft natural keyboard shortcuts

•	Windows Logo (Display or hide the Start menu)
•	Windows Logo+BREAK (Display the System Properties dialog box)
•	Windows Logo+D (Display the desktop)
•	Windows Logo+M (Minimize all of the windows)
•	Windows Logo+SHIFT+M (Restore the minimized windows)
•	Windows Logo+E (Open My Computer)
•	Windows Logo+F (Search for a file or a folder)
•	CTRL+Windows Logo+F (Search for computers)
•	Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help)
•	Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard)
•	Windows Logo+R (Open the Run dialog box)
•	Windows Logo+U (Open Utility Manager)

Back to the top

Accessibility keyboard shortcuts

•	Right SHIFT for eight seconds (Switch FilterKeys either on or off)
•	Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (Switch High Contrast either on or off)
•	Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK (Switch the MouseKeys either on or off)
•	SHIFT five times (Switch the StickyKeys either on or off)
•	NUM LOCK for five seconds (Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off)
•	Windows Logo +U (Open Utility Manager)

Back to the top

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts

•	END (Display the bottom of the active window)
•	HOME (Display the top of the active window)
•	NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign (*) (Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder)
•	NUM LOCK+Plus sign (+) (Display the contents of the selected folder)
•	NUM LOCK+Minus sign (-) (Collapse the selected folder)
•	LEFT ARROW (Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder)
•	RIGHT ARROW (Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder)

Back to the top

Shortcut keys for Character Map

After you double-click a character on the grid of characters, you can move through the grid by using the keyboard shortcuts:

•	RIGHT ARROW (Move to the right or to the beginning of the next line)
•	LEFT ARROW (Move to the left or to the end of the previous line)
•	UP ARROW (Move up one row)
•	DOWN ARROW (Move down one row)
•	PAGE UP (Move up one screen at a time)
•	PAGE DOWN (Move down one screen at a time)
•	HOME (Move to the beginning of the line)
•	END (Move to the end of the line)
•	CTRL+HOME (Move to the first character)
•	CTRL+END (Move to the last character)
•	SPACEBAR (Switch between Enlarged and Normal mode when a character is selected)

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Microsoft Management Console (MMC) main window keyboard shortcuts

•	CTRL+O (Open a saved console)
•	CTRL+N (Open a new console)
•	CTRL+S (Save the open console)
•	CTRL+M (Add or remove a console item)
•	CTRL+W (Open a new window)
•	F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
•	ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the MMC window menu)
•	ALT+F4 (Close the console)
•	ALT+A (Display the Action menu)
•	ALT+V (Display the View menu)
•	ALT+F (Display the File menu)
•	ALT+O (Display the Favorites menu)

Back to the top

MMC console window keyboard shortcuts

•	CTRL+P (Print the current page or active pane)
•	ALT+Minus sign (-) (Display the window menu for the active console window)
•	SHIFT+F10 (Display the Action shortcut menu for the selected item)
•	F1 key (Open the Help topic, if any, for the selected item)
•	F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
•	CTRL+F10 (Maximize the active console window)
•	CTRL+F5 (Restore the active console window)
•	ALT+ENTER (Display the Properties dialog box, if any, for the selected item)
•	F2 key (Rename the selected item)
•	CTRL+F4 (Close the active console window. When a console has only one console window, this shortcut closes the console)

Back to the top

Remote desktop connection navigation

•	CTRL+ALT+END (Open the Microsoft Windows NT Security dialog box)
•	ALT+PAGE UP (Switch between programs from left to right)
•	ALT+PAGE DOWN (Switch between programs from right to left)
•	ALT+INSERT (Cycle through the programs in most recently used order)
•	ALT+HOME (Display the Start menu)
•	CTRL+ALT+BREAK (Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen)
•	ALT+DELETE (Display the Windows menu)
•	CTRL+ALT+Minus sign (-) (Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing ALT+PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)
•	CTRL+ALT+Plus sign (+) (Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)

Back to the top

Microsoft Internet Explorer navigation

•	CTRL+B (Open the Organize Favorites dialog box)
•	CTRL+E (Open the Search bar)
•	CTRL+F (Start the Find utility)
•	CTRL+H (Open the History bar)
•	CTRL+I (Open the Favorites bar)
•	CTRL+L (Open the Open dialog box)
•	CTRL+N (Start another instance of the browser with the same Web address)
•	CTRL+O (Open the Open dialog box, the same as CTRL+L)
•	CTRL+P (Open the Print dialog box)
•	CTRL+R (Update the current Web page)
•	CTRL+W (Close the current window)

These came in handy.

bees

2008-08-14T23:24:00.001-04:00

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/08/06/070806fa_fact_kolbert?currentPage=all

Opening ceremony Milli Vanilli

2008-08-13T16:21:00.001-04:00

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2008/08/beijing-ceremon.html

Subject: Opening ceremony Milli Vanilli

http://www.girleffect.org/

2008-08-11T16:26:00.001-04:00

http://www.girleffect.org/

read all her books

2008-08-09T22:46:00.001-04:00

http://www.pamelapaul.com/

nbcolympics.com/

2008-08-09T16:48:00.001-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/sports/olympics/05swim.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

http://www.nbcolympics.com/

Mormon primer

2008-08-08T15:06:00.001-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy0d1HbItOo&feature=related

Olympics

2008-08-08T06:43:00.001-04:00

http://newteevee.com/2008/08/05/pirate-olympics-5-alternative-ways-to-watch-the-olympic-games-online/

Fwd: Back to Basics: A Guide to Traditional Skills

2008-08-05T10:36:00.001-04:00

Back to Basics: A Guide to Traditional Skills

via Get Rich Slowly by J.D. on 7/20/08

Based on reader suggestions, Kris and I made a trip to Costco on Friday to buy bulk yeast and a fifty-pound bag of bread flour. (We're serious about this whole home-made bread thing.) While I waited for Kris to pick up some other groceries, I leafed through Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills edited by Abigail R. Gehring. "Wow," I thought. "I am the target audience for this book." I bought it.

Here's an excerpt from the book's introduction:

Back to Basics is a book about the simple life. It is about old-fashioned ways of doing things, and old-fashioned craftsmanship, and old-fashioned food, and old-fashioned fun. It is also about independence — the kind of down-home self-reliance that our grandparents and great grandparents took for granted, but that we moderns often think has vanished forever…

At its heart Back to Basics is a how-to book packed with hundreds of projects, step-by-step sequences, charts, tables, diagrams, and illustrations to help you and your family reestablish control over your day-to-day lives.

Back to Basics is not for everyone. If you have no desire to grow and prepare your own food, or to build your own furniture, or to practice voluntary simplicity, then there's probably little of value here. But if, for whatever reason, you are drawn toward voluntary simplicity, this book offers a treasure trove of information.

art

2008-08-04T07:23:00.001-04:00

http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1015&Itemid=92

Up: It's time to stand up for the lesser apes.

2008-08-02T09:10:00.001-04:00

It's time to stand up for the lesser apes.

via Slate Magazine by Ben Crair on 7/29/08

At some point in the next four months, Spain will likely become the first country to extend legal rights to great apes, thereby protecting gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and bonobos from abuse, torture, and unnatural death. The measure will, in practical terms, prevent the inhumane confinement of and testing on great apes, which are singled out among nonhuman animals for their cognitive abilities—on par, it is believed, with a 1-year-old human child. But there's another ape that might be just as sensitive and intelligent as the great apes, and yet the Spaniards are prepared to offer it no special rights or protections. No one stands up for the gibbon.