Friday, January 27, 2012

Mmmm

29 comments:

  1. Zounds! Howard Dean!

    "The selection of a Republican candidate for the presidency of this globalized and expansive empire is – and I mean this seriously – the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been." ~ Fidel Castro, 26 January 2012

    Well, it's at least in the running! And something that always strikes me as incredible is that candidates, particularly Republicans, always seem to think that Batista partisans and their descendants in Florida are typical of latinos throughout the United States. Bizarre.

    I finished CS Forester's The Pursued. The binding and paper seemed lower quality than I should have expected, and the proof reading was also less than satisfactory. I estimate that there were around ten or twelve obvious typographical errors, all of the sort a computerized spellchecker would miss but a high school graduate certainly should not. But on to the story--really good, the pace varies but it never drags, there is anticipation and tension, perhaps not as many twists as in a bowl of spaghetti but plenty none the less. It keeps one guessing all the way. There is often a sense of inevitability, but at the same time a sense that inevitability can be guided or shaped by human agency. The way the conclusion is written is, although not unique, rather unusual and similar to that in Forester's Payment Deferred. Both stories feature bad husbands who get bumped off. It would be interesting to see if similarities could be discovered among other British crime noir writers, since that would bespeak a group trend, emulation of The Pursued being impossible since it was lost for the better part of a century. I'd say it's definitely worth a read. If one happened to be passing by Canada, it might be worth popping over the border to find a copy! Or would amazon.ca sell a copy to folks in the US? Probably can't, but it might be worth a try. Again, I can share. TTFN

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  2. Woke to hip pain and leg cramps. Came down for calcium and magnesium. And after an hour of contemplating the Roxy, decided on naproxen instead. Now eating a salad to keep it down where it belongs.

    The promised heavy rain/thunderstorms beginning. (Heck! I thought they were going to miss us. . . . ) Lightening, high winds, sheeting, and very warm (fifties). Some winter we're having.

    Alan, astute observation about the Republicans not being able to tell the difference between the Batista offspring and the other flavors. I think they don't have too many compartments in their brain for "others different than me" so they just lump 'em alltogether. . . .

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  3. From "Low IQ & Conservative Beliefs Linked to Prejudice":

    "Polling data and social and political science research do show that prejudice is more common among those who hold right-wing ideals than those of other political persuasions, Nosek told LiveScience."

    http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=fb6_1327606245

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  4. River's running jade and about half culvert: good thing that was just one of the storms promised and not all of them

    Bit of blue out there just now, and was above fifty degrees when I woke.

    Beau out/in/finished eating/asleep.

    Been perfectly Atkins for 24 hours, and just beginning to shed water w/o diuretics. Next 24/48 should be a real PITA, lol! Then it'll level some. Was wondering if the effect would have the same effect at a loop diuretic or a potassium sparing one ~~ so far haven't been able to track it down, but Lord! duz luv me my internets: having long been a seeker, was remembering what it took to track down facts twenty years ago. . . .

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  5. Thanks for that book review, Alan. Mind if I pass it along to my coworkers?

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  6. They also seem to assume that news printed in the USA is not seen in other countries...such as Cuba. Say whatever you like while candidating, without a thought to how your articulated views might impact foreign relations once you get elected?

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  7. I'm not doing you any favours posting photos of sweets! Sorry!
    A feast for the eyes, at least. ;-)
    These photos were taken while at the "hot chocolate" cafe with the grands on Sunday.
    I actually didn't eat any of them.

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  8. 40F here. We got pretty much all rain (a brief bit of sleet mixed in around 8:30am), and the wind is gusting to 40mph. It blew over our trash can and tossed our recycling bin clear across the yard, almost against the house!

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  9. Sick day. Coughed up a little green phlegm this morning, which could indicate bacterial bronchitis. So, of course, owing to the predictions of freezing rain this morning, Mah*Sweetie took the Mini to work and I can't drive his pickup (it's too old, the pedals are too far away, and I don't have the key anyway). So I called the doctor's office and an excellent young nurse helped. She conversed with me about all my symptoms of the week, checked with the doctor and soon called me back. They think it could still be "just a cold" and I could get over it with home remedies. But if that dull feeling in my left lung worsens or my fever returns, I can go in tomorrow as they'll have some Saturday office hours. Helps.

    Had to postpone a guidance meeting so I could just rest.

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  10. There's nothing shocking in that is there? ;-)

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  11. Na. Doesn't hurt me at all, lol! Picture was wonderful to look at! Gonna try making a cottage cheese cheesecake (very small) tonight to cover some of the sweetness wish. It'll do.

    I basically *like* Atkins, and am very glad to be back on it, having worked my way through the four gallons of ice cream laid in for post op.

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  12. Medical mercies!

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  13. Funny how *warm* fifty felt yesterday, because today's fifty had a definite icy undernote. Which has played out: it's dropped to 40ยบ, but sunny with a bit oh wind.

    The furry genius that is ma puppy found a *new* way under the porch, from the step side. And then managed to get himself back out without tangling the cable (after I showed him the way). I put him on the run so I could block the new way under. He's kind of like a two year old: always one broken bottle ahead of you, lol!

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  14. Up side of that was he did it while it was relatively warm and dry, and not under the drip line.

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  15. Well, that's good. I had to wash a muddy collie this week. Not easy.

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  16. There are times I envy people who love little dogs. Alas, I am not one of them. So, ya, I do *exactly* understand.

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  17. Not at all; it is, of course, very informal. I decided not to read his third crime noir novel, Plain Murder, but those two are definitely worth reading. I understand he also wrote one science fiction novel. I must admit I have read none of his other books.

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  18. Bill Thomasson1/27/2012 07:08:00 PM

    Hope you get better soon.

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  19. Like Hillary Clinton talking about dropping atom bombs on Iran while she was running for President, maybe?

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  20. That sounds like a lot of work, puddle--you deserve a rest! [grin]

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  21. Bill Thomasson1/27/2012 07:13:00 PM

    Got word this morning that a neighbor died Tuesday. About my age or a bit older. Our next-door neighbor offered to take us to the wake tonight, but haven't got word of when we're leaving.

    And that same message mentioned that another neighbor, maybe five or ten years younger, had died some time ago. Coincidence to hear about the two deaths at the same time, but leaves me feeling a bit odd.

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  22. An invitation to all from my alma mater:
    http://www.goddard.edu/occupy

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  23. Hi, Renee!

    I got off work two hours early today--nice. I can have an early dinner and a good nap before toodling off toward Salt Mine No. 2 at 10:30 PM. Have to consider what to take for reading material--Marion Zimmer Bradley? Zenna Henderson? Both good choices.

    I swung by the library on my way from court back to the lab and got a new library card. They printed up a plastic barcoded one together with a little one to put on the key ring right then and there; all very modern. They seemed to be doing a good business in DVD's, by the way.

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  24. As I recall, there is a review of The Pursued on The Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk
    I think that's where I first heard about it.

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  25. Ah, Bill, I imagine it would feel odd...and sad. In several ways their deaths are hitting a little too close to home. Let's hear it for individual differences! ♥

    As for me, I'd like to make it to 80, as neither of my parents did. After that I'll take what comes.

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  26. Just made a meatloaf. Should be interesting to see how it goes -- was made with ground venison. And dried ramps, and a cup of pureed greens (which I forgot to label before freezing), half a cup of tomato slushee, and an egg and seasoning salt. Oh, and a dollop of mayonnaise because the venison is SO lean. Just beginning to smell good. The Goobey thinks so, too, as he keeps going over to the oven and just *inhaling* lol!

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  27. He's a scream! =^. .^=

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  28. :wave: everybody.

    Getting ready to turn in a bit early. It's been a really exhausting week--as you might guess, it is NOT easy to start teaching new classes a month after the quarter has started. Thankfully, administration and fellow faculty members have been *really* nice.

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  29. Bill Thomasson1/27/2012 11:21:00 PM

    Yes, I can imagine, having been a college teacher myself back in the day. But it's good to hear everyone has been nice.

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