16
Whatever / Re: Strange times!
« on: September 05, 2019, 11:39:59 AM »
Just for a time. 
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17
Whatever / Re: Strange times!
« on: August 29, 2019, 12:49:58 PM »
I am honored to have recorded the results of this conversation.
Yes, I was taking minutes.
Yes, I was taking minutes.
18
Whatever / Re: More or Les (was Bloody Plurals)
« on: August 29, 2019, 12:46:43 PM »
Regarding vegemite . . .
I stumbled across the secret recipe for vegemite. Start with salt. Add salt. If your blood pressure can stand it, add more salt. If not, add twice as much. Any additional flavor or nutritive value is coincidental. Serve with salt.
On a more serious note, this concentration of salt would kill any form of brewer's yeast, and would certainly not make a good beer. Maybe they started with the yeast residue and added a very few veggies and more and more and more salt?
On an unrelated topic, it appears that I have been working for my company for exactly half a minute. Today was my thirty second anniversary. I'm guessing they did not drag out a stopwatch for this.
- A
I stumbled across the secret recipe for vegemite. Start with salt. Add salt. If your blood pressure can stand it, add more salt. If not, add twice as much. Any additional flavor or nutritive value is coincidental. Serve with salt.
On a more serious note, this concentration of salt would kill any form of brewer's yeast, and would certainly not make a good beer. Maybe they started with the yeast residue and added a very few veggies and more and more and more salt?
On an unrelated topic, it appears that I have been working for my company for exactly half a minute. Today was my thirty second anniversary. I'm guessing they did not drag out a stopwatch for this.
- A
19
Whatever / Re: More or Les (was Bloody Plurals)
« on: August 17, 2019, 01:38:07 PM »
So . . . at my lovely bride's workplace they bought too much food for a meeting. Everyone went home with a sizeable fruit bowl. Some of the culinary people made some comments regarding what I might do with it. Yes, they have been on the Food Channel and all of that. They also like my cooking.
I'm thinking about a mixed fruit upside-down-cake. The mixed fruit might not have the tartness of pineapple, so I might have to add some lemon zest. Might work. Play with your food.
I'm thinking about a mixed fruit upside-down-cake. The mixed fruit might not have the tartness of pineapple, so I might have to add some lemon zest. Might work. Play with your food.
20
Whatever / Re: music in Ireland
« on: July 21, 2019, 01:57:46 PM »
This is not really what I meant, but The Pogues are a bit closer to the target than Enya.
Lately I have been working on an Irish dance tune from back in the 80's.
That would be the 1680's.
For some unknown reason the composer did not post this on YouTube, did not release a CD, and didn't even press it on vinyl. How inconsiderate!
- A
Lately I have been working on an Irish dance tune from back in the 80's.
That would be the 1680's.
For some unknown reason the composer did not post this on YouTube, did not release a CD, and didn't even press it on vinyl. How inconsiderate!
- A
21
Whatever / Re: More or Les (was Bloody Plurals)
« on: July 21, 2019, 01:14:23 PM »
Coming back to work means there is the inevitable piles of email to deal with.
So . . . Who is the patron saint of copying people on emails?
Wait for it . . .
Saint Francis of the CC.
So . . . Who is the patron saint of copying people on emails?
Wait for it . . .
Saint Francis of the CC.
22
Whatever / Re: other music
« on: July 19, 2019, 01:09:46 PM »
This evening I met a friend and offered to play a very recent recording of a new tune we have been working on.
I told her this is a dance tune from back in the 80's. The 1680's.
She told me that music from the 1600's really sucked (her word, not mine). I told her this one is really pretty, and she let me play the recording (holding my cell phone to her ear).
She was enraptured by the first half (which is a very nice tune) and then the second half ascended to a more ethereal octave. That's when I volunteered to take my phone away from her ear, since she did not like music from the 17th century. She told me that if I took my phone away she would hurt me.
This tune is not ready for prime time, not by any means. We need to do much work on it.
It felt good to open her eyes, if only for a moment, then the moment's gone.
I told her this is a dance tune from back in the 80's. The 1680's.
She told me that music from the 1600's really sucked (her word, not mine). I told her this one is really pretty, and she let me play the recording (holding my cell phone to her ear).
She was enraptured by the first half (which is a very nice tune) and then the second half ascended to a more ethereal octave. That's when I volunteered to take my phone away from her ear, since she did not like music from the 17th century. She told me that if I took my phone away she would hurt me.
This tune is not ready for prime time, not by any means. We need to do much work on it.
It felt good to open her eyes, if only for a moment, then the moment's gone.
23
Whatever / Re: Spelling Bee
« on: July 17, 2019, 01:19:23 PM »
My response is a qualified yes and no.
Spelling is important, but misssspelling can also be important.
Every now and then I misssspell a word and Chi accepts the alternate spelling. I click on it, and learn that the alternate sssspelling is a completely different word with a meaning far removed from the original target word. Long sssstory made short, I have learned a new word.
Spelling is important, but misssspelling can also be important.
Every now and then I misssspell a word and Chi accepts the alternate spelling. I click on it, and learn that the alternate sssspelling is a completely different word with a meaning far removed from the original target word. Long sssstory made short, I have learned a new word.
24
Whatever / Re: Help with windows 10
« on: July 17, 2019, 01:05:29 PM »
Reminds me of back in the day when I and several of my co-workers gathered around the printer, waiting for our output.
I told them we were playing at being Walt Disney.
Some . . . day . . . my prints . . . will come . . .
I told them we were playing at being Walt Disney.
Some . . . day . . . my prints . . . will come . . .
25
Whatever / Re: More or Les (was Bloody Plurals)
« on: July 17, 2019, 12:57:00 PM »
So . . . Who is the patron saint of copying people on an email?
Saint Francis of the CC.
Saint Francis of the CC.
26
Whatever / Re: Odd use of verb 'to see'.
« on: July 13, 2019, 02:01:33 PM »
Glad to hear that you are both doing well.
What's this about a 10 minute speed test? Very interesting. My lovely bride and I typically spend about 10 minutes on the puzzle. Puzzle time is always in short supply.
These days I've been spending too much time at work but have also done some berry picking. This year there was a bumper crop of wild raspberries, probably due to the unusual rainfall and moderate temperatures in May and June.
Really, if there is food that good waiting to be picked? You think I might take advantage of this, and maybe cook something interesting for a few friends who need more food? Surely you jest! There might have been some wild raspberry muffins involved.
What's this about a 10 minute speed test? Very interesting. My lovely bride and I typically spend about 10 minutes on the puzzle. Puzzle time is always in short supply.
These days I've been spending too much time at work but have also done some berry picking. This year there was a bumper crop of wild raspberries, probably due to the unusual rainfall and moderate temperatures in May and June.
Really, if there is food that good waiting to be picked? You think I might take advantage of this, and maybe cook something interesting for a few friends who need more food? Surely you jest! There might have been some wild raspberry muffins involved.
27
Whatever / Re: Odd use of verb 'to see'.
« on: July 09, 2019, 01:35:56 PM »
So many comments, so little time.
In the case of Neil Diamond, we should grant him a generous measure of poetic license. The need for alliteration does not imply illiteracy.
I am not yet convinced that forumites write more properly than they speak. It might equally well be true that forumites speak better.
Many, many thanks to Calilasseia for her learned discourse on ancient Greek. This is one of the many reasons I value the forum so highly. Very sorry that you are sometimes confused by the lack of the verb "to be" in a sentence. Had to chuckle while writing that last one.
On the whole, I agree with RM's observation that word misuse is more common in rural areas and in the south.
On a more important note, I have noticed the lack of a resounding thrashing by RM and RF in the daily puzzles. Are you OK? We miss you!
In the case of Neil Diamond, we should grant him a generous measure of poetic license. The need for alliteration does not imply illiteracy.
I am not yet convinced that forumites write more properly than they speak. It might equally well be true that forumites speak better.
Many, many thanks to Calilasseia for her learned discourse on ancient Greek. This is one of the many reasons I value the forum so highly. Very sorry that you are sometimes confused by the lack of the verb "to be" in a sentence. Had to chuckle while writing that last one.
On the whole, I agree with RM's observation that word misuse is more common in rural areas and in the south.
On a more important note, I have noticed the lack of a resounding thrashing by RM and RF in the daily puzzles. Are you OK? We miss you!
28
Whatever / Re: More or Les (was Bloody Plurals)
« on: June 06, 2019, 01:42:27 PM »
A minor footnote to OJ's beef post . . .
There is another way of cooking this that is rather traditional for many in the US south, but can be done better. I am talking about Southern Fried Steak.
The normal way to do it starts with a cubed steak, which is a bottom round steak sent through a medieval device to break up the connective tissue. I say no. Select a nice sirloin and have the butcher run it through the same device (ask to have it cubed). This will be melt-in-your-mouth tender, with good flavor.
Start cooking with a few strips of bacon (US bacon, not UK. Big difference. It's from the belly.). After you have the grease from that, saute some green beans sprinkled with garlic powder. I'm a big fan of fresh garlic, but not for this. Set the beans and the bacon aside.
Southern Fried Steak should have a puffy crispy coating and it must be served with mashed potatoes and generous portions of gravy. If you can see any portion of the plate, you have not made enough gravy. The traditional gravy is a simple white cream sauce, but I think we should do better (don't you agree?).
Serve it with a brown gravy made from the bacon and beef juices, with sweet onions (Texas Sweet or Vidalia) and mushrooms. Chop up the bacon and throw it in, then add some sour cream at the last minute. Pepper is good. As wonderful as the meat can be, especially with the puffy and crisp coating, this time the star of the show is the gravy.
It's perfectly OK if you need to reheat the green beans in the microwave. It will actually do them some good, but don't overcook the veggies.
- A
There is another way of cooking this that is rather traditional for many in the US south, but can be done better. I am talking about Southern Fried Steak.
The normal way to do it starts with a cubed steak, which is a bottom round steak sent through a medieval device to break up the connective tissue. I say no. Select a nice sirloin and have the butcher run it through the same device (ask to have it cubed). This will be melt-in-your-mouth tender, with good flavor.
Start cooking with a few strips of bacon (US bacon, not UK. Big difference. It's from the belly.). After you have the grease from that, saute some green beans sprinkled with garlic powder. I'm a big fan of fresh garlic, but not for this. Set the beans and the bacon aside.
Southern Fried Steak should have a puffy crispy coating and it must be served with mashed potatoes and generous portions of gravy. If you can see any portion of the plate, you have not made enough gravy. The traditional gravy is a simple white cream sauce, but I think we should do better (don't you agree?).
Serve it with a brown gravy made from the bacon and beef juices, with sweet onions (Texas Sweet or Vidalia) and mushrooms. Chop up the bacon and throw it in, then add some sour cream at the last minute. Pepper is good. As wonderful as the meat can be, especially with the puffy and crisp coating, this time the star of the show is the gravy.
It's perfectly OK if you need to reheat the green beans in the microwave. It will actually do them some good, but don't overcook the veggies.
- A
29
Whatever / music in Ireland
« on: May 28, 2019, 11:26:47 AM »
For the last several years I have enjoyed playing Irish music. It's delightful. It can be quite lively or hauntingly beautiful or it can be many other things.
My lovely bride and I just returned from our first trip to Ireland. We were impressed by their friendliness, the beauty of their island, their history, and by many other facets of their culture. We are also significantly heavier, primarily due to our new found love of their seafood.
By and large we were not impressed by the music. Most of their musicians seem to be fixated on Johnny Cash and John Denver, with a few playing Billy Joel or the stray Beatles tune. It seems that Irish music might be dead in Ireland, or at least on life support!
I would love to be proven wrong. I would love to hear that traditional Irish music is alive and well in Ireland. I'm guessing that as much as I hope and wish, that is not likely.
- A
My lovely bride and I just returned from our first trip to Ireland. We were impressed by their friendliness, the beauty of their island, their history, and by many other facets of their culture. We are also significantly heavier, primarily due to our new found love of their seafood.
By and large we were not impressed by the music. Most of their musicians seem to be fixated on Johnny Cash and John Denver, with a few playing Billy Joel or the stray Beatles tune. It seems that Irish music might be dead in Ireland, or at least on life support!
I would love to be proven wrong. I would love to hear that traditional Irish music is alive and well in Ireland. I'm guessing that as much as I hope and wish, that is not likely.
- A
30
Whatever / Re: cooking for good
« on: March 10, 2019, 02:52:54 PM »
6qt sounds big, but it's not unusual.
Several years ago we realized we needed to get a new set of cookware. The best deal we could find locally was at Macy's. The largest pot in the set was 6qt. This was strictly for home cooking; we bought it in a shopping mall.
This could have been done in the 4qt pan, but then where would I cook the rice?
Regardless, it felt good to do the cooking and it felt better to deliver it to those who needed it.
- A
Several years ago we realized we needed to get a new set of cookware. The best deal we could find locally was at Macy's. The largest pot in the set was 6qt. This was strictly for home cooking; we bought it in a shopping mall.
This could have been done in the 4qt pan, but then where would I cook the rice?
Regardless, it felt good to do the cooking and it felt better to deliver it to those who needed it.
- A