Outwit the Nitwit, Volume III - Petroleum

Written by Translator on August 19, 2008 – 6:34 pm -

Crossposted at Dailykos.com

The second installation did not go over very well, and I accept the blame for it. It was without structure, and this one will have a bit.

This time there is a topic: petroleum. This is not to say that other questions are not welcome, but the focus of this post is questions regarding that substance.

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Posted in Diaries | 14 Comments »

Aubergine Squamatus Lounge

Written by Kate Petersen on August 19, 2008 – 5:00 pm -

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The lizard is still sulking, but I persuaded his cousin Pogona Vitticeps (much higher class, quite self-assured) to fill in for him.

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Posted in Purple Lizard Lounge | 8 Comments »

Stump the Chump - a New Series, Volume II

Written by Translator on August 18, 2008 – 8:01 pm -

Crossposted at Dailykos.com

Last time was fun for me, and I hope the readers as well.  We will try another episode, to see if this is viable.

Please consider this as an open thread for any and all questions related to science and technology.  If I do not know an answer, I will say so and ask others in the community with expertise to reply.

As usual, I am dancing naked, and will not look up anything on Wikipedia or in reference books except for the times when some numbers are required, such as the heat of formation of items.  Unfortunately, I can not keep all of those figures in my head.

With that said, let us go.  Questions, comments, or other?  Warmest regards, Doc.


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Posted in Diaries | 10 Comments »

The Sleepy Amphibian Lounge

Written by biscuit on August 18, 2008 – 6:19 pm -

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Posted in Diaries | 10 Comments »

Chicken pot pie soup a la Kate

Written by Kate Petersen on August 18, 2008 – 3:00 pm -

I love chicken pot pie. Comfort food nonpareil. Unfortunately, it no longer loves me. Between the wheat in the crust and gravy and the high-glycemic potatoes and English peas, I might as well just have a plateful of sugar topped with battery acid.

So I started thinking about ways to get that great comforting taste without the bad stuff.

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Posted in Recipes | 3 Comments »

Stump the Chump - a New Series

Written by Translator on August 17, 2008 – 6:26 pm -

Crossposted at Dailykos.com

I often write diaries having to do with science and technology, as those who read mine know.  Tonight, I would like to try something a little different.

This post may be considered as an open thread for questions about science and technology, and I will take on all questions.  I may not have answers for all, or even some, of them.  If I do not know I will say so.  I will not feed anyone a line of bull.

There exists the possibility that my take on any particular subject may be in error, and I ask the community to correct me if I am wrong.  I have been wrong before, and appreciate the opportunity to expand my database of correct knowledge.

If this is successful, perhaps it will be a regular feature.  We do need a break from politics.  So, please feel free to fire at me.

I am dividing my time between Politicook.net and Dailykos.com, so if you do not see an immediate response, hit the other site.  Warmest regards, Doc.


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Posted in Diaries | 11 Comments »

Stocking Up 101: Zombiegeddon or not, it’s still the 21st C.

Written by biscuit on August 17, 2008 – 3:59 pm -

And being that as it may, there’s a cool spreadsheet program to determine where your stores are at today, and what you need to stock up on.

Mwalla.

*hat tip to Shasha at Hen and Harvest who appears to be starting a pantry series. Be sure to bookmark!


Posted in Frugality, Stocking Up 101, TEOTWAWKI | 3 Comments »

“Boursin” cheese spread

Written by Kate Petersen on August 17, 2008 – 11:00 am -

This was posted on an email list I belong to. No attribution, or I would link back to the original.

I’ve never bought Boursin cheese, but the ingredients to this one looked tasty and I had them all. Yesterday I put it together, put it in the fridge overnight, and just taste-tested. YUM!

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Posted in Recipes | 2 Comments »

Late summer visitor

Written by biscuit on August 17, 2008 – 9:51 am -

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I grew up down the street from some Walkingsticks, but they weren’t this amusing.


Posted in Diaries | 2 Comments »

Apples are put up now

Written by Translator on August 16, 2008 – 8:25 pm -

It took hours to cut off the bad bits of the knotty apples that Preacher and Helen brought me, but I am done with them now. I got six pints of apple butter and nine half pints of pretty, clear jelly. I just took up the jelly, and it is cooling.

Here is a picture of the butter. I used about half the pulp’s volume in sugar, and added quite a bit of cinnamon and some allspice:

Here is a picture of the jelly. I used 3/4 cup of sugar per cup of juice, per most recipes. I did cheat and add one drop of red food coloring to the entire batch, not to each of the jars:

Apple Jelly

Next trip to Arkansas I will take most of this, since I eat sweets only rarely. Not from any medical condition, I just like them upon occasion. I hope that this brings pleasure to the readers. Warmest regards, Doc.


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Posted in Diaries | 7 Comments »