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yanagi_wa Mar. 20th, 2010 11:29 amyanagi_wa Mar. 20th, 2010 11:29 ampurpletigron Mar. 19th, 2010 08:21 pmProductive day at work, with seemingly some real progress, and certainly, some impressed noises from my managers.
I had two hours of lieu time this afternoon, taken as gardening leave: we're now filling the new flower beds at the Yoga Ashram with soil :-)
The Flooger! has been rather off his food since starting on his kidney disease medication last week, which was very worrying. However, today his appetite seems to have suddenly returned. Given that he seemed unable to smell the strongest 'appetizing food enhancer spray' the other day, I'm wondering if he's had a cold?
N's birthday present as finally arrived, and is much appreciated: a lemon tree to grow in their polytunnel - it even arrived with a lemon ready to eat. I will get to see it on Tuesday 6 April ... train workers willing ...
D's home and we had 'rapid dinner' centred on a new kind of Fairtrade cashew nut veggie burgers (worth the risk as all the monkeys here love cashews), and they've been voted 'definitely worth buying again' (Goodlife brand).
I'm definitely feeling fitter than I have since ... well, last time I visited N, back in September, before I got 'gastric flu'. So I've been doing more ... so I'm more tired. _Yawn_ ... very nearly time for bed.
Going to see Mater tomorrow - hopefully, for a potter about, and watching Billy Elliot the movie, which is one of the many aspects of modern culture that have thusfar passed me by. Then, more ashram gardening.
I had two hours of lieu time this afternoon, taken as gardening leave: we're now filling the new flower beds at the Yoga Ashram with soil :-)
The Flooger! has been rather off his food since starting on his kidney disease medication last week, which was very worrying. However, today his appetite seems to have suddenly returned. Given that he seemed unable to smell the strongest 'appetizing food enhancer spray' the other day, I'm wondering if he's had a cold?
N's birthday present as finally arrived, and is much appreciated: a lemon tree to grow in their polytunnel - it even arrived with a lemon ready to eat. I will get to see it on Tuesday 6 April ... train workers willing ...
D's home and we had 'rapid dinner' centred on a new kind of Fairtrade cashew nut veggie burgers (worth the risk as all the monkeys here love cashews), and they've been voted 'definitely worth buying again' (Goodlife brand).
I'm definitely feeling fitter than I have since ... well, last time I visited N, back in September, before I got 'gastric flu'. So I've been doing more ... so I'm more tired. _Yawn_ ... very nearly time for bed.
Going to see Mater tomorrow - hopefully, for a potter about, and watching Billy Elliot the movie, which is one of the many aspects of modern culture that have thusfar passed me by. Then, more ashram gardening.
dreamweaver Mar. 18th, 2010 04:11 pm
Snag Films
Legal, free, and has the Supersize Me and The Future of Food films:) This might be a good way for people across the pond, and other places to see some films from the US:)
Legal, free, and has the Supersize Me and The Future of Food films:) This might be a good way for people across the pond, and other places to see some films from the US:)
liz_marcs Mar. 18th, 2010 01:59 pm
Have I mentioned how much I love it when pro authors write fanfiction?
In honor of the Suvudu Cage Match,![[livejournal.com profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
grrm has written a short fic about Tyron and Jamie Lannister vs. Cthulu.
Clearly he's culling favors from the voting public, but it is funny as all hell.
Warning: To truly appreciate the funny, you need to be familiar with Martin's Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series.
In honor of the Suvudu Cage Match,
grrm has written a short fic about Tyron and Jamie Lannister vs. Cthulu.Clearly he's culling favors from the voting public, but it is funny as all hell.
Warning: To truly appreciate the funny, you need to be familiar with Martin's Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series.
azurehart Mar. 16th, 2010 07:30 pmI swear I live with the Kitten Mafia, with Homeboy playing the part of the Godfather.
I go out into the garage to get the cats in for the night, and there (on a nice rug) is Homeboy rolling around all cute. Cute at least until I realize he's rolling on a barely alive rodent of some sort (I think a small gopher). Yes the mighty hunter has struck again.
Dad used a bag to scoop up the poor rodent just as it expired. Then we realized the rug was a loss (I am NOT cleaning rodent blood out of carpet) and tossed it to. Homeboy just sat and purred and strutted around like he had taken down a thousand pound rabid fire breathing moose or something.
Then Dad (who has been watching too much CSI) tried to figure out where the "scene of the crime" happened by following the splatter evidence. Much to the amusement of our next door neighbors who could hear the whole thing.
And people think that I'm weird... okay, so I am, but that's not the point...
I go out into the garage to get the cats in for the night, and there (on a nice rug) is Homeboy rolling around all cute. Cute at least until I realize he's rolling on a barely alive rodent of some sort (I think a small gopher). Yes the mighty hunter has struck again.
Dad used a bag to scoop up the poor rodent just as it expired. Then we realized the rug was a loss (I am NOT cleaning rodent blood out of carpet) and tossed it to. Homeboy just sat and purred and strutted around like he had taken down a thousand pound rabid fire breathing moose or something.
Then Dad (who has been watching too much CSI) tried to figure out where the "scene of the crime" happened by following the splatter evidence. Much to the amusement of our next door neighbors who could hear the whole thing.
And people think that I'm weird... okay, so I am, but that's not the point...
dreamweaver Mar. 16th, 2010 09:16 amSourceWatch
The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) publishes SourceWatch, this collaborative, specialized encyclopedia of the people, organizations, and issues shaping the public agenda. SourceWatch profiles the activities of front groups, PR spinners, industry-friendly experts, industry-funded organizations, and think tanks trying to manipulate public opinion on behalf of corporations or government. We also highlight key public policies they are trying to affect and provide ways to get involved.
To get started, there's a link to your left on the basics of how you can help write history. We also have guides, such as how to research front groups and uncover propaganda tactics, such as the use of the "third party technique," as well as great insider tips for web researching.
Launched in 2003, SourceWatch now has 49,554 articles, as of today, thanks to interested contributors like you, and over five million visitors to its pages a year.
dreamweaver Mar. 16th, 2010 08:30 amState Agency Databases
Oh yeah, and I remembered the link this time, LOL. Seee ^^^^^^. Sorry about that, I edited the post from yesterday so the link is there now:/ I was in a hurry and forgot to link it, but it's all fixed now.
This for all fifty states. Very interesting and useful list. Check it out by state. It might save you some search time in future. The state 411 database has all sorts of agencies listed AND phone numbers:)
Oh yeah, and I remembered the link this time, LOL. Seee ^^^^^^. Sorry about that, I edited the post from yesterday so the link is there now:/ I was in a hurry and forgot to link it, but it's all fixed now.
This for all fifty states. Very interesting and useful list. Check it out by state. It might save you some search time in future. The state 411 database has all sorts of agencies listed AND phone numbers:)
purpletigron Mar. 16th, 2010 10:17 amStrapped for garden space needn't mean being strapped for home-grown veg, as an experienced London balcony gardener reveals
When it comes to making the most of what you've got for a vegetable garden, Callum Saunders is something of an expert. He'd have to be, having technically no garden to speak of. Unless you count the tiny balcony of his first-floor London flat, that is.
http://londonvegetablegarden.blogspot.c
http://www.theecologist.org/green_green
When it comes to making the most of what you've got for a vegetable garden, Callum Saunders is something of an expert. He'd have to be, having technically no garden to speak of. Unless you count the tiny balcony of his first-floor London flat, that is.
http://londonvegetablegarden.blogspot.c
http://www.theecologist.org/green_green
liz_marcs Mar. 15th, 2010 09:01 pm
You know, a couple of years ago when we got slammed with rain, I remember being worried about living so close to the Charles River. I was told, "Ah, don't worry. If the Charles threatens to flood, they'll just open all the locks and the level will go down. The Charles never floods."
Apparently, this bit of information is wrong. When you get more than 10 inches of rain in 24 hours, it can flood to epic proportions.
The Charles does indeed flood. And since someone can only get home by crossing the Charles, when news came out that the state is so worried about one of your possible routes home that Governor Patrick is standing right on that bridge, it's best to clear out of work early.
Keep in mind, I have only three possible routes home, all of which require me to cross a bridge over what is now a flooded Charles River or a tributary.
Needless to say I didn't just walk out the door, I ran.
On the upside, I'm not in danger of getting flooded out because I'm on relatively high ground. My basement isn't even flooded. The bad news is quite a lot of people in my area can't say the same thing.
But because I'm crazy, and because there's still a residual reporter still living inside, I couldn't resist sneaking out in the pouring rain mixed with hail to capture some of the disaster.
Behold! The Ides of March!
Photos of mess below the cut.
( It's Rainageddon! Run! )
And that's what I did with my early release from work! Went back out into the rain and got soaked to the bone to take these pictures.
I do it because I care. And because I'm crazy.
Now I need some green tea to warm up.
Apparently, this bit of information is wrong. When you get more than 10 inches of rain in 24 hours, it can flood to epic proportions.
The Charles does indeed flood. And since someone can only get home by crossing the Charles, when news came out that the state is so worried about one of your possible routes home that Governor Patrick is standing right on that bridge, it's best to clear out of work early.
Keep in mind, I have only three possible routes home, all of which require me to cross a bridge over what is now a flooded Charles River or a tributary.
Needless to say I didn't just walk out the door, I ran.
On the upside, I'm not in danger of getting flooded out because I'm on relatively high ground. My basement isn't even flooded. The bad news is quite a lot of people in my area can't say the same thing.
But because I'm crazy, and because there's still a residual reporter still living inside, I couldn't resist sneaking out in the pouring rain mixed with hail to capture some of the disaster.
Behold! The Ides of March!
Photos of mess below the cut.
( It's Rainageddon! Run! )
And that's what I did with my early release from work! Went back out into the rain and got soaked to the bone to take these pictures.
I do it because I care. And because I'm crazy.
Now I need some green tea to warm up.
dreamweaver Mar. 15th, 2010 07:06 pm
10 Search Engines to Explore the Deep End of the Invisible Web
Ever heard of the "Deep Web"? Well this article explains what it is and gives several search engines to access it. :)
Incredibly great and extremely useful for people like me who are too busy doing research to post to my Journal lately, LOL.
Ever heard of the "Deep Web"? Well this article explains what it is and gives several search engines to access it. :)
Incredibly great and extremely useful for people like me who are too busy doing research to post to my Journal lately, LOL.
purpletigron Mar. 14th, 2010 04:48 pmThe Boof!er has been diagnosed with early stage kidney disease, on top of diabetes which hasn't quite come under control, and some kind of flaring 'IBS'. He's lost a little weight, and seems a little subdued, but reasonably OK in himself - it was a change in eating habits and insulin needs which alerted us: suddenly, he was much hungrier yet needing considerably less insulin.
We want to adopt a new feline friend for Wong!le before he suddenly can't find his Uncle Boof! (who is heading towards 17 in May) any more.
Meanwhile, Social Services have finally got their act together to meet with me tomorrow morning about Mater's direct payments for non-residential care. The new rehab training for her carers is starting to work - they were able to persuade her to go shopping at the second attempt this weekend, and got her helping to make her own lunch today.
Had a lovely weekend at D's father's 82 birthday celebration - after going through a slightly down patch, he's looking like he's a sprightly 70-something again :-)
We want to adopt a new feline friend for Wong!le before he suddenly can't find his Uncle Boof! (who is heading towards 17 in May) any more.
Meanwhile, Social Services have finally got their act together to meet with me tomorrow morning about Mater's direct payments for non-residential care. The new rehab training for her carers is starting to work - they were able to persuade her to go shopping at the second attempt this weekend, and got her helping to make her own lunch today.
Had a lovely weekend at D's father's 82 birthday celebration - after going through a slightly down patch, he's looking like he's a sprightly 70-something again :-)
azurehart Mar. 13th, 2010 01:55 pm
Let me set the scene for you:
It's in the evening, and I'm sitting on my bed using the remote to flip through the TV listings in hope of finding a decent movie to watch. So there on the classic movie channel I see "The Beast from 20,000 Leagues", only my brain sees it as "The Breasts from 20,000 Leagues".
That's weird enough, but then my mind goes here: the old movie poster for "Jaws". I don't know if any of you recall, but it had some blond woman swimming for the surface of the water with a big shark coming up from underneath. Only my brain supplies a poster (complete with faded spots and curled corners as if exposed to the weather) of some guy swimming for the surface like his life depends on it, with these gigantic boobs chasing him.
It was at this point that I was laughing so hard that I slipped off of my bed onto the floor and sat there giggling for a good five minutes or so until I managed to get myself together.
liz_marcs Mar. 12th, 2010 12:36 pm
First, I have a confession to make:
I love Science Blogs and have been reading it for awhile, even though I only just added it to my list o' Links located to the left of this entry.
It's funny. The more I realize that I'm actually good at Life Sciences, the more I'm starting to invest my free time into reading it. Keep in mind, this is something that I would've laughed at 6 years ago...yes it's taken me that long to realize I'm good at some kind of science.
Oh, the damage a bad high school-level science education can cause. While my school was top flight when it came to the humanities, it sucked donkey dung when it came to the maths and sciences. My truly scientifically gifted classmates usually ended up going to the community colleges for their sciences and used the science classes the rest of us attended to take a nap on their desks. It was pretty sad.
And I haven't been just loving Science Blogs, I've also addedontd_science to my FList. I know the ohnotheydidnt mothership "brand" on LJ is viewed as a frivolous gossip site, but the sub-communities for politics, science, creepy stories, and other special interests are actually quite good aggregators of "what's hot" and includes informative posts with links to the source material and where the silliness is kept pretty much to a minimum.
Anyway, I've been recently reading over on Science Blogs a new addition to the blog family there called Obesity Panacea.
Now, what I love about it is that the authors, both PhDs in exercise physiology, write very good, fair-minded, and well-researched information about common "beliefs" about health and obesity, i.e. the usefulness of BMI measurements. The blog also points out that the most important thing you can do to ensure your long life and health even into the geriatric stage is to get up off your ass and exercise (nutrition is important, too, but the stress is on movement, no matter how slight).
But the best thing of all on Obesity Panacea? Debunking the claims of weight loss schemes (their old archive is here, and it's well-worth clicking through). I love those articles.
It's weird how I'm slowly turning into an amateur life sciences geek...
I love Science Blogs and have been reading it for awhile, even though I only just added it to my list o' Links located to the left of this entry.
It's funny. The more I realize that I'm actually good at Life Sciences, the more I'm starting to invest my free time into reading it. Keep in mind, this is something that I would've laughed at 6 years ago...yes it's taken me that long to realize I'm good at some kind of science.
Oh, the damage a bad high school-level science education can cause. While my school was top flight when it came to the humanities, it sucked donkey dung when it came to the maths and sciences. My truly scientifically gifted classmates usually ended up going to the community colleges for their sciences and used the science classes the rest of us attended to take a nap on their desks. It was pretty sad.
And I haven't been just loving Science Blogs, I've also added
ontd_science to my FList. I know the ohnotheydidnt mothership "brand" on LJ is viewed as a frivolous gossip site, but the sub-communities for politics, science, creepy stories, and other special interests are actually quite good aggregators of "what's hot" and includes informative posts with links to the source material and where the silliness is kept pretty much to a minimum. Anyway, I've been recently reading over on Science Blogs a new addition to the blog family there called Obesity Panacea.
Now, what I love about it is that the authors, both PhDs in exercise physiology, write very good, fair-minded, and well-researched information about common "beliefs" about health and obesity, i.e. the usefulness of BMI measurements. The blog also points out that the most important thing you can do to ensure your long life and health even into the geriatric stage is to get up off your ass and exercise (nutrition is important, too, but the stress is on movement, no matter how slight).
But the best thing of all on Obesity Panacea? Debunking the claims of weight loss schemes (their old archive is here, and it's well-worth clicking through). I love those articles.
It's weird how I'm slowly turning into an amateur life sciences geek...
.