see more Lolcats and funny pictures
FINEST KIND CLINIC AND FISHMARKET.... Discussing medicine, culture, and the joys of cooking Pansit.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Musical interlude for the day
"When the dark wood fell before me
And all the paths were overgrown
When the priests of pride say there is no other way
I tilled the sorrows of stone
I did not believe because I could not see
Though you came to me in the night
When the dawn seemed forever lost
You showed me your love in the light of the stars
Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
RoachBot?
Forget C3PO and Data: The future of robot design could be a roach.
The problem is that robots being built today can walk, but the researchers say that the robots absorb far too much energy and computing power to be particularly useful. Roaches on the other hand can run without really having to even think about what they are doing.
.
Archy the cockroach would be pleased.
The problem is that robots being built today can walk, but the researchers say that the robots absorb far too much energy and computing power to be particularly useful. Roaches on the other hand can run without really having to even think about what they are doing.
.
Archy the cockroach would be pleased.
Stuff that makes you go "WTF?"
The WAPOST via the anchoress:
today’s front-page story in the Washington Post.
British citizen (born in Pakistan) descent smuggles drugs in China and is executed...
his family, who never wondered what he was doing in China, is aghast. How dare the Chinese execute a British citizen!
---------------------------------------
In the meanwhile, The Pantybomber was pushing Islamofascist propaganda in London...but no one noticed?
What's wrong with this picture?
---------------------
headline of the day:
What a match-up! America's new most-admired women -- Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton
------------------
The Iranian government is staging "pro government" demonstrations, and bozos like this one on "Belief net" only are upset when protesters asking for freedom invoke Ali, echoing the tyrant's propaganda.
today’s front-page story in the Washington Post.
-------------------------------------Abdulmutallab remains in a Detroit area prison and, after initial debriefings by the FBI, has restricted his cooperation since securing a defense attorney, according to federal officials. Authorities are holding out hope that he will change his mind and cooperate with the probe, the officials said. (Emphasis added)
where is Jack Bauer when you need him?
British citizen (born in Pakistan) descent smuggles drugs in China and is executed...
his family, who never wondered what he was doing in China, is aghast. How dare the Chinese execute a British citizen!
---------------------------------------
In the meanwhile, The Pantybomber was pushing Islamofascist propaganda in London...but no one noticed?
What's wrong with this picture?
---------------------
headline of the day:
What a match-up! America's new most-admired women -- Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton
------------------
The Iranian government is staging "pro government" demonstrations, and bozos like this one on "Belief net" only are upset when protesters asking for freedom invoke Ali, echoing the tyrant's propaganda.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Craft item of the day
How to make a Dali style melting clock
How to Make a Dali Style Melting Clock - More DIY How To Projects
How to Make a Dali Style Melting Clock - More DIY How To Projects
stuff below the fold
Schmaltzendiesel?
A new use for chickenfat.
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Is Acupuncture as effective as Effexor to treat hot flashes?
I suspect placebo effect, since other studies show that placebo alone reduces hot flashes 50%.
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Susan Boyle has not received any money so far from her singing.
--------------------------------
Instapundit asks:
----------------------
and finally:
The Educational video of the day: A rap song about neurotransmission across the synaptic cleft.
A new use for chickenfat.
------------------------------
Is Acupuncture as effective as Effexor to treat hot flashes?
I suspect placebo effect, since other studies show that placebo alone reduces hot flashes 50%.
-----------------------------
Susan Boyle has not received any money so far from her singing.
--------------------------------
Instapundit asks:
SO WHICH’LL IT BE — Alzheimer’s, or cancer
more HERE.
------------------
From Discovery News: they found the tomb of General CaoCao:
Shuo Cao Cao, Cao Cao jiu dao, says a Chinese proverb. It means: "Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao will be there."
It's the equivalent of the English phrase "speak of the devil."
More than 1,700 years after his death, Cao Cao, warlord and ruler of northern China during the Three Kingdoms period, has indeed appeared, according to China Daily.
more HERE
--------------------
Factoid of the day:
Taro Aso, the former PM of Japan, is a Catholic, likes manga, is related to the Royal family, and suffers from malapropisms and foot in mouth episodes, similar to GeorgeBush 43.
----------------------
and finally:
The Educational video of the day: A rap song about neurotransmission across the synaptic cleft.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Uncover the bosom, promote breast feeding
to promote breastfeeding (and prevent the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children from diarrhea related to bottle feeding expensive formula) the Vatican says: take it off...
actually, the Vatican is promoting the Madonna Del Latte to remind people that Jesus was fully human. But in the Philippines the plan is to use the icon to promote breast feeding.
coconut milk
We drink local (waterbuffalo) milk here...and no, we don't use soy in the Philippines.
For certain recipes, we make coconut milk..LINK
But if you don't have a coconut tree in your back yard, and the equipment to open and shred the nut, it's a lot of work.
An American version of our "shrimp and coconut milk" recipe is here:
How to Make Shrimp & Coconut Milk Risotto -- powered by eHow.com
For certain recipes, we make coconut milk..LINK
But if you don't have a coconut tree in your back yard, and the equipment to open and shred the nut, it's a lot of work.
An American version of our "shrimp and coconut milk" recipe is here:
How to Make Shrimp & Coconut Milk Risotto -- powered by eHow.com
How to make "milk"
if you can't tolerate lactose, JubandiBlog has instructions on making "milk" from seeds and nuts.
Stuff below the fold
The PhilInquirer discusses how to get rich as a politician in the Philippines...
Follow the money...
What is believable is a moneymaking scam which involves the connivance of national officials with local government units. It is called “downloading” and it involves the transfer of funds from the different departments to provinces and municipalities through facilitators who get between 40 percent and 50 percent of the amount for them and their patrons.
With 40-50 percent already taken off, what usually happens is the projects will never be implemented...
Among the most notorious departments linked to this scam are the Department of Agriculture and its agencies, including the National Irrigation Administration; the Department of Public Works and Highways, through the road right of way settlements and the Road Users Board; and the Department of Agrarian Reform, through the VOS (voluntary offer to sell).
The article is about the Amputuans who massacred their political opponent (and 27 reporters)...but it explains why a certain politician went after his opponent in our town, an action that killed one of our relatives who was a bystander.Follow the money...
Moon Pie
Photo From WKRG:
Well, the song says the Stars fell over Alabama and the moon over Miami,
But actually, it's the Moon Pie over Mobile Alabama:
Photo AlCom
The papier-mache Moon Pie -- in storage for the past year -- will be lifted at midnight at Mobile Landing just south of Cooper Riverside Park, officials said...
Barbara Drummond, City of Mobile spokeswoman, said officials are also working to get fireworks to burst behind the Moon Pie.
Why a MoonPie?
The moon pie has been the popular throw at Mobile's Mardi Gras since 1974.
And what is a Moon Pie? From Wikipedia:
A moon pie or MoonPie[1] is a pastry which consists of two round graham cracker cookies, with marshmallow filling in the center, dipped in chocolate or other flavors.
This one is chocolate covered (The only ones worth eating)
And the Moon Pie company has recipes on how to use them (if you or your kids don't eat them first):
Banana Split MoonPie
Ingredients:- 1 chilled banana MoonPie
- 1 banana
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Chocolate Syrup
- Chopped Nuts
- cherries
Remove top cookie layer of chilled MoonPie. Place thin slices of bananas on top. Place on a plate and cover with 2 scoops ice cream and a thin coat of chocolate. Sprinkle with nuts and add a cherry to each half. Be leery of lurking kids or spouse. Retreat to your favorite easy chair and ENJOY!
News articles that make you go "WTF?"
Good news:"This bill is good for Medicare and Medicare enrollees," said John Rother, policy director for the AARP, which has supported the legislation.
And then you read the next paragraph:
The Senate bill calls for $483 billion in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and other programs over 10 years. A Department of Health and Human Services report this month said the cuts could cause fewer doctors to treat Medicare patients.
And you probably thought the AARP represented Retired persons...
-----------------
In a related article:
DaveBarry does the "goodnews/bad news" review of 2009.
And then you read the next paragraph:
The Senate bill calls for $483 billion in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and other programs over 10 years. A Department of Health and Human Services report this month said the cuts could cause fewer doctors to treat Medicare patients.
And you probably thought the AARP represented Retired persons...
-----------------
In a related article:
DaveBarry does the "goodnews/bad news" review of 2009.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Stuff below the fold
Is there a patron saint for figureskaters?SisterMaryMartha says Yes: she is St. Ludwina.... The bad news? She fell and hurt herself while skating, and spent the rest of her life in bed praying for us sinners.
---------------------------
Parallel Universes: Podcast1...Podcast2...
BBC special on YOUTUBE...
PBS Elegant universe
-------------------------------
Yum! Chicharron! This Colombian recipe leaves some meat on the chicharron...
another version that is lower in fat is just get some pork skin and "nuke" it.
Here, Jennie's Chicharon in Bulacan sells a microwave version of their product.
But of course, here we eat "locally": our cook Dita just buys it at the Palenke and deep fries it for us.
If you are a vegetarian, try this recipe: Mackerel Chicharron (using tapioca)...
Musical Interlude for the day
The old Christmas carol "The Holly and the Ivy" was originally actually about the war of the sexes.
Maria Elena explains...
To the medieval mind, the male was considered the dominant sex, and a support for the weaker and more delicate female, thus the rigid holly shrub and the twining ivy vine must have seemed like natural embodiments of those traits.
----------------------
Attention Captain Lessard
from the UKTelegraph:
The first fish hotel has opened in Amsterdam. The hotel allows you to drop off your fish when you go on holiday and has a 'tennis court' and 'swimming pool'
Picture: BUZZ NEWS AGENCY
Headlines of the day
Iranian protests on CNN... AlJazeerah reports Mr. Mousavi's nephew may have been killed, and over 300 people arrested.
Photo from Tehran24, who has more at his website.
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BoingBoing discusses the "new" rules on airline safety. More inconvenience for passengers, and wouldn't really have stopped the Pantybomber.
----------------------
Disaster tourists at Mayon Volcano are making local cops risk their lives...
and another ferry sank, 20 people missing..
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Attack on dissadent Mullah in Iran
Persian Paradox discusses the meaning of Ashura, and notes:
Last night hooligans armed with clubs attacked Jamaran, the home of the late Imam and the center where he delivered his speeches and sermons. Former President Khatami was speaking there when this attacked occured . The audience was attacked with clubs and other Chinese made anti riot gadgets.
-----------------------
Videos HERE
In our prayers...
Last night hooligans armed with clubs attacked Jamaran, the home of the late Imam and the center where he delivered his speeches and sermons. Former President Khatami was speaking there when this attacked occured . The audience was attacked with clubs and other Chinese made anti riot gadgets.
-----------------------
Videos HERE
In our prayers...
Family news
Party here for the workers all day...
also we had a brownout,( so no internet), and then the pump burnt out, so no water.
Ah, the joys of living in the provinces...
also we had a brownout,( so no internet), and then the pump burnt out, so no water.
Ah, the joys of living in the provinces...
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Nutella recipes
One of the most delicious but expensive spreads we have here is Nutella, made from Hazel nuts.
Jugalbandi has recipe and instructions on how to make Vegan Nutella at home.
EHow on how to make a Nutella Sandwich.
Recipezaar has another version, with peanut butter and banana.
JRoland80 has a video on making a StrawberryPopTart and Nutella sandwich.
CookingWithCaitlin has a video on making a Nutella version of a French toast Fluffernutter sandwich.
and if you want to die happy from all the fat and calories:
SprytesPlace instructs you on how to make a deepfried Nutella sandwich.
Jugalbandi has recipe and instructions on how to make Vegan Nutella at home.
EHow on how to make a Nutella Sandwich.
Recipezaar has another version, with peanut butter and banana.
JRoland80 has a video on making a StrawberryPopTart and Nutella sandwich.
CookingWithCaitlin has a video on making a Nutella version of a French toast Fluffernutter sandwich.
and if you want to die happy from all the fat and calories:
SprytesPlace instructs you on how to make a deepfried Nutella sandwich.
Having a Snow day? Warm up with these
Webecoist has instructions on how to make Mulled cider, REAL hot chocolate, Waissel, and other wintertime favorites.
And PAllenSmith's video shows you how:
As for Wassail, the video on how to make a non alcoholic version is HERE
Don't have a fireplace?
Just play this on your laptop and enjoy.
And PAllenSmith's video shows you how:
As for Wassail, the video on how to make a non alcoholic version is HERE
Don't have a fireplace?
Just play this on your laptop and enjoy.
Stuff below the fold
Don't eat the lights and other weird pictures of animals.
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If Lawyers wrote "The Night Before Christmas"
via Instapundit
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Forcast for the year 2010: We're all gonna go broke.
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If they were so bad, Why didn't they just nuke the Na'vi?
What, you want logic from the guy who had a heroine survive for an hour in freezing water?
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it's Muharram...Photos of the festival in Tehran24...
and for the Shiia (in Iran and Iraq) Sunday is Ashura...
Prayers for the safety of the pilgrims and protesters.
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The Blind Side: The Real Story.
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FIlippine news: Small ferry collision here leaves 23 missing..
awaiting the big blowout from Mayon...
But some good news: An endangered Visayan warty pig had 4 piglets at the NFEFI conservation center
(Photo from Oregon Zoo who has more facts on the species HERE).
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas
the Holy Family
From our parish website.
more photos of the parish HERE.
We will be having Christmas dinner this afternoon/evening at Dr. Angie's place.
NORAD is tracking Santa on Line
He was here already but will be headed East.
Right now, as I am writing this, he is at Cape Verde...
and check out the webcams of his trip all over the world.
This year he had a new place to visit...
Right now, as I am writing this, he is at Cape Verde...
and check out the webcams of his trip all over the world.
This year he had a new place to visit...
Thursday, December 24, 2009
The Worst Christmas Special award goes to
THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL...from 1978.
(headsup AceOfSpades who warns:
Here is the full length version of the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special that was shown on CBS on November 17, 1978. It has never been shown on TV again since then nor ever released on VHS or DVD. It was so horrible that George Lucas won't even acknowledge it to this day, though at one convention he is quoted as saying that, "If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track down every copy of that show and smash it.")
(headsup AceOfSpades who warns:
Here is the full length version of the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special that was shown on CBS on November 17, 1978. It has never been shown on TV again since then nor ever released on VHS or DVD. It was so horrible that George Lucas won't even acknowledge it to this day, though at one convention he is quoted as saying that, "If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track down every copy of that show and smash it.")
Headlines below the fold
The good: Plane overshoots runway, breaks apart, many hurt but no fire and no one died.
The Bad: Executive order to let foreign police work inside the US and outside of US law?
The Ugly: Echoing Yeats, and linking to St Peggy, The Anchoress reprints here essay on the coup of the elites, and suggests a remedy.
-------------------
The Good: Radio Prague remembers Cardinal Beran, opponant of Nazis and communists. MP3Link
The Bad:Fire in Makati makes 1000 homeless, and thousands in shelters waiting for Mayon to erupt.
The Ugly: Rushing through a health care bill that no one has read, just to make an artificial deadline.
The Bad: Executive order to let foreign police work inside the US and outside of US law?
The Ugly: Echoing Yeats, and linking to St Peggy, The Anchoress reprints here essay on the coup of the elites, and suggests a remedy.
-------------------
The Good: Radio Prague remembers Cardinal Beran, opponant of Nazis and communists. MP3Link
The Bad:Fire in Makati makes 1000 homeless, and thousands in shelters waiting for Mayon to erupt.
The Ugly: Rushing through a health care bill that no one has read, just to make an artificial deadline.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Musical interlude (take two)
"...This video is the 2009 ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID (with English sub-titles). The cast was composed of different artists, newscasters, staff under ABS-CBN and Star Cinema, and common Filipinos singing side by side with them, this wonderful tune dedicated to Jesus Christ, who is known as Bro in one of the station's soap opera, May Bukas Pa..."
here there is no snow and pine trees are only in the mountains, so the symbol of Christmas is the star...the star lanterns, called parol are hung up all over to celebrate Christmas.
here there is no snow and pine trees are only in the mountains, so the symbol of Christmas is the star...the star lanterns, called parol are hung up all over to celebrate Christmas.
Science Stuff below the fold
WebEcoist has some beautiful photos of rainbows.
...
------------------------------------
SmartPlanet links to their most popular videos of the year...
this video goes back
13.7 billion years in six minutes.
-----------------
How to teach Physics to your dog...
--------------------------------
and finally, from David Ng:
Whereby:
(1) mystery tweet = M2c2(A/Ï€)(mx+b)-XF(q/t)
And given that:
(1.a) A = πR2 (area of a circle)
(1.b) y = mx+b (linear equation)
(1.c) F=MA (from Newton's laws of motion)
(1.d) S=q/t (classical Entropy definition)
Then:
(2) mystery tweet = M2c2R2y-XMAS
And given that:
(2.a) E = Mc2 (Einstein's equivalence of mass and energy equations)
Therefore:
(3) mystery tweet = MER2y-XMAS
(4) mystery tweet = MERRy-XMAS
Craft Item of the day
tipnut has lots of holiday craft ideas...
including this one from SalihanCrafts.
Crochet, add small magnet and instant refrigerator decoration.
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
The Good:Five Years After Indian Ocean Tsunami, Millions Of Survivors Assisted And Moving On With Their Lives
nice to know your donations helped people.
-------------------------------
The Bad:Santa more naughty than nice, says expert;
Santa is promoting an unhealthy lifestyle of overeating, drinking and lack of exercise, says an Australian academic.
Yes, and generosity to children and strangers, hospitality and joy...
--------------------
The Ugly:Paging Sarah Palin: the death panel is unkillable.
explanation from MSNBC
you won't be refused medical care if they decide it's too expensive. It just won't pay your doctor very well, or maybe not at all...
nice to know your donations helped people.
-------------------------------
The Bad:Santa more naughty than nice, says expert;
Santa is promoting an unhealthy lifestyle of overeating, drinking and lack of exercise, says an Australian academic.
Yes, and generosity to children and strangers, hospitality and joy...
--------------------
The Ugly:Paging Sarah Palin: the death panel is unkillable.
explanation from MSNBC
you won't be refused medical care if they decide it's too expensive. It just won't pay your doctor very well, or maybe not at all...
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Musical interlude of the day
From Zimbabwe:
Mercy Mutsvene singing...
One commenter translates:
this is shona from zimbabwe she is saying let's Celebrate coz the heavens have brought mercy for us,
we have been given a baby boy Jesus Christ,
so that we can be delivered from our sins
lets Celebrate, lets Celebrate
and yes, turn up speakers and dance!
Mercy Mutsvene singing...
One commenter translates:
this is shona from zimbabwe she is saying let's Celebrate coz the heavens have brought mercy for us,
we have been given a baby boy Jesus Christ,
so that we can be delivered from our sins
lets Celebrate, lets Celebrate
and yes, turn up speakers and dance!
Bad news stories of the day
Here in the Philippines, volcanos and tropical storms and now an earthquake...it woke me up, but mainly we felt vibrations and a loud noise like a very heavy truck rumbling by
----------------------
US Senate passes a bill that uses a "shell game" tactic to pretend that your tax money won't pay for abortion for convenience. Sigh.
The idea is to pass this bill right in time for Christmas...
----------------------
and just when you think proposing horrible things couldn't get any worse:LINK
------------------------
Demonstrations in Iran at rebel ayatollah's funeral...and more are expected on Sunday
---------------------
----------------------
US Senate passes a bill that uses a "shell game" tactic to pretend that your tax money won't pay for abortion for convenience. Sigh.
The idea is to pass this bill right in time for Christmas...
----------------------
and just when you think proposing horrible things couldn't get any worse:LINK
------------------------
Demonstrations in Iran at rebel ayatollah's funeral...and more are expected on Sunday
The opposition is planning nationwide protests that day, and the fact that Ashura coincides with the seventh day since Montazeri’s death, an important date in the Shia mourning ritual, will give them greater impetus.
HERE is a video on the background of Ayatolah Montezeri---------------------
Blizzard food
EpiLog discusses the best food for blizzard eating.
Since I had boys, and they tended to be happy for their "snow day" off of school...they were outside playing, or (more likely) they and their friends would be playing Ninja in our dining room, where I would move the table to the next room and the dining room instead became a big open play room.
So I would keep a pot of beef stew on the stove/crockpot.
Recipe:
Brown onions and garlic, brown beef cubes, then add water, potatoes and carrots and peas. Ratio would be one part beef, one part potato, half part carrot, and enough peas to make it look interesting.
Spice with one bay leaf and lemon pepper, and tomatoes or tomato soup/puree.ketchup: enough tomato to make the colour pinkish tan.. Add other spices as desired and salt of course.
Stew for one to two hours (crockpot on high) then keep it warm (crockpot on low).
Toward the end of the cooking, I'd stir in a tablespoon or two of cornstarch, that I had mixed with a quarter cup of water.
(do this part yourself: My son once did it for me, added half a cup directly into the stew, and then wondered why it turned into "glue").
Serve with homemade bread and butter. (TGFB: Thank God for Bread-making machines).
Another "let the kids feed themselves" stew recipe is to brown a lot of chicken parts for ten minutes, brown two medium onions, sliced.
Then add water, chicken broth, and poultry spice and salt, and rice. Cover with lid (or foil if you don't have a lid)...rice percentage is one part rice to two parts water/broth, which makes the rice a bit soggy if the lid is tight, but for my pot was okay.
Half way through, I'd check and add more water if too much had evaporated.
Place in oven at 350 degrees for one to one hour if I had added hot water, add another half hour if the water was cold.
I had a huge "turkey roaster" pan that I used for this.
When done, take out, and if it's not eaten in an hour, put into the fridge in portions...the kids microwaved it as needed.
Since I had boys, and they tended to be happy for their "snow day" off of school...they were outside playing, or (more likely) they and their friends would be playing Ninja in our dining room, where I would move the table to the next room and the dining room instead became a big open play room.
So I would keep a pot of beef stew on the stove/crockpot.
Recipe:
Brown onions and garlic, brown beef cubes, then add water, potatoes and carrots and peas. Ratio would be one part beef, one part potato, half part carrot, and enough peas to make it look interesting.
Spice with one bay leaf and lemon pepper, and tomatoes or tomato soup/puree.ketchup: enough tomato to make the colour pinkish tan.. Add other spices as desired and salt of course.
Stew for one to two hours (crockpot on high) then keep it warm (crockpot on low).
Toward the end of the cooking, I'd stir in a tablespoon or two of cornstarch, that I had mixed with a quarter cup of water.
(do this part yourself: My son once did it for me, added half a cup directly into the stew, and then wondered why it turned into "glue").
Serve with homemade bread and butter. (TGFB: Thank God for Bread-making machines).
Another "let the kids feed themselves" stew recipe is to brown a lot of chicken parts for ten minutes, brown two medium onions, sliced.
Then add water, chicken broth, and poultry spice and salt, and rice. Cover with lid (or foil if you don't have a lid)...rice percentage is one part rice to two parts water/broth, which makes the rice a bit soggy if the lid is tight, but for my pot was okay.
Half way through, I'd check and add more water if too much had evaporated.
Place in oven at 350 degrees for one to one hour if I had added hot water, add another half hour if the water was cold.
I had a huge "turkey roaster" pan that I used for this.
When done, take out, and if it's not eaten in an hour, put into the fridge in portions...the kids microwaved it as needed.
Monday, December 21, 2009
History of Santa
Professor Bob has two part podcast on the history of Santa
Part one
Part two
and trivia of the day: The Russians have a nuclear sub named for St. Nick...who is a patron saint of sailors
Saint Nicholas (270 - 6 December 346) is according to Wikipedia the patron saint of sailors. He is often portrayed on Eastern Orthodox icons shown standing in a boat or rescuing a drowning sailor. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus.
Part one
Part two
and trivia of the day: The Russians have a nuclear sub named for St. Nick...who is a patron saint of sailors
Saint Nicholas (270 - 6 December 346) is according to Wikipedia the patron saint of sailors. He is often portrayed on Eastern Orthodox icons shown standing in a boat or rescuing a drowning sailor. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus.
Musical interlude of the day
sung by Harry Belafonte.
The song is about the true meaning of Christmas
Headlines below the fold
Cold and snow in Europe...Chunnel passenger nightmare...NE US hit by blizzard.
Well every cloud has a silverlining:
Nude protesters on bikes had to wear clothes.
----------------
Climate summit was not about global warming, but about establishing a NWO, says Roger Simon. and others
Many Americans are sceptical, but here in the Philippines, all the elite believe the NYTimes.
Besides, Copenhagen was a success for our lovely president who brought home the "Green Bacon": promises of $360 million for "green projects"
Quick what is 20 percent of 360million?
-----------------------
As for the headlines here, the Mayon volcano is predicted to explode by New Years...
and another "tropical depression" is due to hit the Visayas...
The police are on alert for terrorism because everyone is going home to celebrate Christmas.
The good news:Another Ferry has collision, goes aground in Cebu, no one killed.
-----------------
Iranian cleric Ayatollah Montazeri, who opposed government tyrannical policies as making people hate Islam has died of old age...
Demonstrations expected.
------------------------
Time to update your dictionary: Buzzwords of 2009
Well every cloud has a silverlining:
Nude protesters on bikes had to wear clothes.
----------------
Climate summit was not about global warming, but about establishing a NWO, says Roger Simon. and others
Many Americans are sceptical, but here in the Philippines, all the elite believe the NYTimes.
Besides, Copenhagen was a success for our lovely president who brought home the "Green Bacon": promises of $360 million for "green projects"
Quick what is 20 percent of 360million?
-----------------------
As for the headlines here, the Mayon volcano is predicted to explode by New Years...
and another "tropical depression" is due to hit the Visayas...
The police are on alert for terrorism because everyone is going home to celebrate Christmas.
The good news:Another Ferry has collision, goes aground in Cebu, no one killed.
-----------------
Iranian cleric Ayatollah Montazeri, who opposed government tyrannical policies as making people hate Islam has died of old age...
Demonstrations expected.
------------------------
Time to update your dictionary: Buzzwords of 2009
Catchphrases and buzzwords can tell us much about a year past — what resonated, what stuck, what the year revealed about the sensibility of the nation, whether you’re a wise Latina woman, a mini-Madoff, a teabagger or Balloon Boy.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Musical interlude take three
They played a version of this song before church this morning...and this version is so cute I had to post it.
Stuff below the fold
Librivox has downloads of Christmas carols LINK
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Just in time to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, the Senate will pay for abortion as birth control, (by using a "shell game strategy that pretends that it isn't).
So much for "pro life Democrats".
---------------------
Has DarkMatter been detected for the first time?
-------------------
Major species die off...and it's man's fault.
between 15 and 42 percent of the mammals in North America disappeared after humans arrived.... 13,000 years ago...
---------------------------------
If you are a policeman, check out this video.
--------------------
remember to tell santa what you want:
----------------
---------------------------
Just in time to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, the Senate will pay for abortion as birth control, (by using a "shell game strategy that pretends that it isn't).
So much for "pro life Democrats".
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Has DarkMatter been detected for the first time?
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Major species die off...and it's man's fault.
between 15 and 42 percent of the mammals in North America disappeared after humans arrived.... 13,000 years ago...
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If you are a policeman, check out this video.
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remember to tell santa what you want:
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Musical interlude (take two)
this one is sadder, about families parted.
So many of our families seek work overseas, and are parted...
the singer is Lea Salonga
So many of our families seek work overseas, and are parted...
the singer is Lea Salonga
Musical interlude for the day
a popular Christmas song here in the Philippines.
The town square is all lit up, and they are having concerts and parties for folks...last night we could hear the music.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Philippine news
Our lovely President Gloria calls for a New World Order...brags that the Philippines has a carbon footprint of 1.6 tons...
Ah yes, isn't poverty wonderful?
Oh yes, she adds: No loans please, send money.
Guess it's easier to divert the usual 20 percent if it's cash.
------------------------
As for greenhouse gas: It's the rice fields stupid
Using the IPCC guidelines, Yan and his colleagues estimated that the methane emissions of Philippine rice fields is 744,000 metric tons or 744 Gigagrams (Gg), which, they said,
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Evil does exist:
MANILA, Philippines - A man who admits to have worked as a child assassin for the powerful Ampatuan clan based in Maguindanao province came forward with "shocking" testimony of mass murders carried out by young boys in the service of the Ampatuan family.
----------------
and ManilaBulletin headlines say Junior was attacked "by an angry mob".
ABS CBN merely says he was "harassed" and "photos thrown into his face" by angry journalists.
----------------------
Mayon hasn't had "the big one" yet, so farmers are sneaking back to work on their fields and care for their animals.
and now there is a new business: Disaster tourism.
Ah yes, isn't poverty wonderful?
Oh yes, she adds: No loans please, send money.
Guess it's easier to divert the usual 20 percent if it's cash.
------------------------
As for greenhouse gas: It's the rice fields stupid
Using the IPCC guidelines, Yan and his colleagues estimated that the methane emissions of Philippine rice fields is 744,000 metric tons or 744 Gigagrams (Gg), which, they said,
-------------------------------
Evil does exist:
MANILA, Philippines - A man who admits to have worked as a child assassin for the powerful Ampatuan clan based in Maguindanao province came forward with "shocking" testimony of mass murders carried out by young boys in the service of the Ampatuan family.
----------------
and ManilaBulletin headlines say Junior was attacked "by an angry mob".
ABS CBN merely says he was "harassed" and "photos thrown into his face" by angry journalists.
----------------------
Mayon hasn't had "the big one" yet, so farmers are sneaking back to work on their fields and care for their animals.
and now there is a new business: Disaster tourism.
Friday, December 18, 2009
The Russians are coming! the Russians are coming!
The UKTelegraph notes that not only have rumors said that the "climategate" files were hacked by the Russians, but now the Russians are claiming that the UK Climate folks cherrypicked only the favorable data from the Russian observations.
I wrote about it on BNN and Gateway pundit has more HERE.
Pravda report is HERE...but bringing up some important points if you sift through the socialist rhetoric: That pushing green tech will keep poor countries from real development, while letting rich countries pollute..
and I find it amusing that if you go to the bottom of the story, you find all the pertainent links to internet social sites (Digg, facebook, Stumble upon, etc) and google ads on the side...and then there is this link:
---------------------------
I wrote about it on BNN and Gateway pundit has more HERE.
Pravda report is HERE...but bringing up some important points if you sift through the socialist rhetoric: That pushing green tech will keep poor countries from real development, while letting rich countries pollute..
and I find it amusing that if you go to the bottom of the story, you find all the pertainent links to internet social sites (Digg, facebook, Stumble upon, etc) and google ads on the side...and then there is this link:
Join Pravda.ru forum to experience freedom of speech
----------------------------------------------
Does drilling for geothermal energy cause earthquakes? If so, too bad: geothermal would be a clean energy source for those of us on the Pacific rim...
well, you can always build a "green" nuke plant... over an earthquake fault instead...link2...link3...link4...
-------------------------------------
The "Gore effect" hits Copenhagen...
-----------------------------------
Depressed? Head South, young man...
it's the sunshine...no SAD when you can go out in the sunshine.
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Mary appearing in Egypt?
not a good sign, since the "Genuine" appearances seem to precede or predict wars or disasters (e.g. Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Mosul...)
----------------------
coffee and tea prevent Diabetes? and Dark Chocolate too...
Chocolate contains flavonoids, or plant-based compounds, that are medically proven to promote heart health. Yes, Science Daily documents at least 66 studies confirming it!
Notably for us diabetics, one study found that a chocolate bar had no greater effect on blood sugar than another "more traditionally recommended snack," if calories were equal. Researchers attribute this to the slow absorption of sugar when eaten with fat (which we knew, thanks!).
---------------------------
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Trilobite report evolution going great
yes, it's the Onion..
One of their "biggest headlines" of the last few billion years.
Cute Links of the day
Animator vs Animation
headsup Col Updraft
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and this one is adorable:
----------------
altogether now, folks:
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
headsup Col Updraft
---------------------
and this one is adorable:
----------------
altogether now, folks:
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
UH OH
QuidPleura?Blog
visits the Rivendell Condos in Ocean Park MD, and
takes a peek behind The Hobbit Restaurant...and then notices something:
UH OH:
visits the Rivendell Condos in Ocean Park MD, and
takes a peek behind The Hobbit Restaurant...and then notices something:
UH OH:
Run, fat hobbitses! It’s a cookbook! It’s a cookbook!
Sad news of the day
Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon volcano in Albay province at dawn on Tuesday. (Nelson Salting/Associated Press)Mayon volcano was predicted to sputter along for a couple of months, but now two growing lava domes make scientists worry that it will have a "big bang" explosion...and more families are in danger if it rains and causes mudslides...
30thousand evacuated so far, twice that many will be evacuated if things get bad.
There goes the tomato harvest...but 70 farmers were killed in the last eruption trying to work on fields, so the gov't is being cautious.
----------------------
Bah Humbug...government here says no street caroling by kids and no "Merry Christmas" at the airport, because people might think you're asking for a tip.
Their excuse is that people "exploit" street children to beg, but actually a lot of mountain farmers have a yearly Christmas trip to Manila to increase their income by begging, and they are blocking traffic. Their romantic looking lifestyle at home is in reality a hard life of poverty, because farming and fishing traditionally won't sustain the increasing population or compete with globalization LINK LINK
--------------------------------
Violence in Zimbabwe's 2008 election included systematic rape of women in the opposition party..
Doesn't stop Mugabe and friends from being wined and dined in Copenhagen...Grace needs to shop, after all...
--------------------------------
Gateway Pundit is documenting a scandal called "Fistgate" don't ask for details here, it's X rated, and Massachusetts parents have been up in arms against it for years...
LINK LINK2 link3
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And the really really sad news of the day
Hello Kitty got a ticket...
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Recipes Recipes
The Stephanie Plum/Evanovich fansite has recipes for junk food for people from Jersey.
from the webpage:
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
3 eggs
1 cup of flour
1 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons unsweetened pineapple juice
5 tablespoons butter
1 cup brown sugar
Unsweetened pineapple slices
Melt the butter in a nine inch pie plate. Dump brown sugar into the plate and mash with a fork until it's all mixed with the melted butter and covers the bottom of the plate. Arrange pineapple slices on bottom of plate in single layer. Mix eggs, flour, sugar, baking powder and pineapple juice by hand in a small bowl until smooth. Pour mixture over pineapple slices. Bake in a 350 degree oven until a pick comes out clean (maybe 30-45 min.) Remove cake from oven and set on rack for a couple minutes. Put cake plate over the hot cake in the pie plate and CAREFULLY but quickly turn the pie plate upside down. Remove pie plate and let cake cool to room temperature. Pineapple slices should be on top! (If you let the cake cool in the pie plate you'll NEVER get it out). When cool spread lots of globs of whipped cream on it ...the real stuff, none of that fake stuff in a can! Eat too much.
I used to make it for my kids all the time, but I used a box of yellow cake mix to make the cake part.
--------------------------
Peachie has an easy way to make Pork Caldereta at Youtube:
------------------
and from My Colombian Recipe Blog: This link is to a recipe for Pizza Colombiano
What, you never had pizza with avocado and cilantro? Shame on you....
------------------
contrast and compare to Pinoy Pizza: one way to use your mango, pineapple, and chicken Lechon leftovers.
from the webpage:
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
3 eggs
1 cup of flour
1 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons unsweetened pineapple juice
5 tablespoons butter
1 cup brown sugar
Unsweetened pineapple slices
Melt the butter in a nine inch pie plate. Dump brown sugar into the plate and mash with a fork until it's all mixed with the melted butter and covers the bottom of the plate. Arrange pineapple slices on bottom of plate in single layer. Mix eggs, flour, sugar, baking powder and pineapple juice by hand in a small bowl until smooth. Pour mixture over pineapple slices. Bake in a 350 degree oven until a pick comes out clean (maybe 30-45 min.) Remove cake from oven and set on rack for a couple minutes. Put cake plate over the hot cake in the pie plate and CAREFULLY but quickly turn the pie plate upside down. Remove pie plate and let cake cool to room temperature. Pineapple slices should be on top! (If you let the cake cool in the pie plate you'll NEVER get it out). When cool spread lots of globs of whipped cream on it ...the real stuff, none of that fake stuff in a can! Eat too much.
I used to make it for my kids all the time, but I used a box of yellow cake mix to make the cake part.
--------------------------
Peachie has an easy way to make Pork Caldereta at Youtube:
------------------
and from My Colombian Recipe Blog: This link is to a recipe for Pizza Colombiano
What, you never had pizza with avocado and cilantro? Shame on you....
------------------
contrast and compare to Pinoy Pizza: one way to use your mango, pineapple, and chicken Lechon leftovers.
Insomnia download of the day
Having trouble sleeping?
Just play a selection from Herodotus' Histories, and voila, instant sleep.
And if you still can't sleep, at least you will find out all about the Persian wars.
They also have an audio download of the children's book A Dog of Flanders.
or you can watch it on YouTube or Viddler
or if you prefer, the 1960 version is at youtube too.
Just play a selection from Herodotus' Histories, and voila, instant sleep.
And if you still can't sleep, at least you will find out all about the Persian wars.
They also have an audio download of the children's book A Dog of Flanders.
or you can watch it on YouTube or Viddler
or if you prefer, the 1960 version is at youtube too.
Podcast of the day
at the FreeLibrary of Phila...TerryTeachout discusses the life of Louis Armstrong.
and here is Louis in action
and here is Louis in action
Headlines below the fold
Arms dealer upset his guns were used for killing...
"I thought I was on the side of the good guys"
Guess he never heard of "extrajudicial killings"...
--------------------
Anti HIV gel, like condoms doesn't work in Africa to lower HIV rates...
CWN questions if it was ethical to have a placebo used in the study...since earlier studies hinted the gel cut the HIV rate down by 30percent.
---------------------
Audi Executive says electric cars are a sham, and diesel engines are the way to go.
In the States, the Audi A3 TDI is one of two clean diesels sold by the company. The A3 TDI won green car of the year honors at the 2009 LA Auto Show.
Well, that is true here, at least...and if worse comes to worse, biodiesel could be made locally.
and I worry about the ecological implications of throwing away all those batteries...
-----------------
MP3 players will soon have legal limits to how loud they can be played.
Actually, my MP3 players already only can go to 100 db...so Lolo can't use them to listen to music.
--------------------
Simbang Gabi starts today...
I persuaded Lolo that getting up every day at 3 am was too much, but our church has a 5 pm mass for those who want to make the novena but can't get up early.
"I thought I was on the side of the good guys"
Guess he never heard of "extrajudicial killings"...
--------------------
Anti HIV gel, like condoms doesn't work in Africa to lower HIV rates...
CWN questions if it was ethical to have a placebo used in the study...since earlier studies hinted the gel cut the HIV rate down by 30percent.
---------------------
Audi Executive says electric cars are a sham, and diesel engines are the way to go.
In the States, the Audi A3 TDI is one of two clean diesels sold by the company. The A3 TDI won green car of the year honors at the 2009 LA Auto Show.
Well, that is true here, at least...and if worse comes to worse, biodiesel could be made locally.
and I worry about the ecological implications of throwing away all those batteries...
-----------------
MP3 players will soon have legal limits to how loud they can be played.
Actually, my MP3 players already only can go to 100 db...so Lolo can't use them to listen to music.
--------------------
Simbang Gabi starts today...
I persuaded Lolo that getting up every day at 3 am was too much, but our church has a 5 pm mass for those who want to make the novena but can't get up early.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Santa Lucia
RectaRatioBlog notes that Sunday celebrated the feast of St. Lucy, the patroness of the blind. In Catholic churches, the saints and statues all have a "hint" to tell you who they are. Well, since St Lucy had her eyes put out before she was martyred, she usually carries a tray with eyeballs on it so you know it's her, not St. Agnes (who usually carries a lamb).
The legend is that prior to being martyred she wore candles on her head so she could carry more supplies when she traveled through the dungeons to bring bread to those imprisoned for their faith. So the Swedish custom is for a girl to do the same. Often there are processions of girls, one with the crown, and others with a single candle..
On St. Lucy's Day
each year by tradition one of the daughters of the family is chosen to be St. Lucy. She gets up early and takes coffee and 'Lucia' buns (Saffronsbrod) to the rest of the family who are still in bed. She dresses in a white robe with a scarlet sash and wears on her head a crown of green leaves with five candles in it.
The traditional bun is a Lussekat, (St. Lucy's Cat) or Saffron bun.
Rectaratio has the recipe HERE.
The legend is that prior to being martyred she wore candles on her head so she could carry more supplies when she traveled through the dungeons to bring bread to those imprisoned for their faith. So the Swedish custom is for a girl to do the same. Often there are processions of girls, one with the crown, and others with a single candle..
On St. Lucy's Day
each year by tradition one of the daughters of the family is chosen to be St. Lucy. She gets up early and takes coffee and 'Lucia' buns (Saffronsbrod) to the rest of the family who are still in bed. She dresses in a white robe with a scarlet sash and wears on her head a crown of green leaves with five candles in it.The traditional bun is a Lussekat, (St. Lucy's Cat) or Saffron bun.
Rectaratio has the recipe HERE.
Gift Item of the day
SteriPen, a new portable water purifier that uses ultraviolet instead of chemicals to kill germs...
StrategyPage says soldiers can now officially use it...
I like their headlines:
Light The Little Suckers Up And Watch Them Die
The SteriPen uses ultraviolet light to kill all microbes in water. The battery powered device weighs 4.5 ounces (189g) and is 7.3 inches (18.6cm) long. It takes 48 seconds to clean half a liter (16 ounces) of water (and 90 seconds for a liter). Just stick the probe in the water, press the button and watch the countdown timer.
Sounds a bit faster than the old fashioned ceramic.terracotta jug sterilizer we used to use before Lolo dug his deep well.
StrategyPage says soldiers can now officially use it...
I like their headlines:
Light The Little Suckers Up And Watch Them Die
The SteriPen uses ultraviolet light to kill all microbes in water. The battery powered device weighs 4.5 ounces (189g) and is 7.3 inches (18.6cm) long. It takes 48 seconds to clean half a liter (16 ounces) of water (and 90 seconds for a liter). Just stick the probe in the water, press the button and watch the countdown timer.
Sounds a bit faster than the old fashioned ceramic.terracotta jug sterilizer we used to use before Lolo dug his deep well.
More bad news for the Philippines
There goes the Mayon Volcano
it's in Luzon but far south of Manila, so no threat to us here.
it's in Luzon but far south of Manila, so no threat to us here.
Stuff below the fold: The good, the bad, and the ugly
The Good:
Muelmar Magallanes, the Hero who saved 30 lives from drowning in the typhoon floods here has been honored by locals giving donations to build his family a new house...
-----------------------
The Bad:
Some of the illegal guns owned by the Ampatuan clan were gifts from other politicians...and are types that are not allowed to be owned privately
The Ugly:
Instapundit links to a site that claims: TIME FOR A sexual bill of rights...
Actually, Aristophanes satirized that idea 2500 years ago, and it wasn't pretty...
...altogether now: PaulVI was right...
Muelmar Magallanes, the Hero who saved 30 lives from drowning in the typhoon floods here has been honored by locals giving donations to build his family a new house...
-----------------------
The Bad:
Some of the illegal guns owned by the Ampatuan clan were gifts from other politicians...and are types that are not allowed to be owned privately
"...(Defense Secrtary) Gonzales said the clan’s patriarch, Andal Ampatuan Sr., would often ask for firearms in exchange for the favors that he and his family provided to other politicians..."
--------------------------The Ugly:
Instapundit links to a site that claims: TIME FOR A sexual bill of rights...
Actually, Aristophanes satirized that idea 2500 years ago, and it wasn't pretty...
...altogether now: PaulVI was right...
Monday, December 14, 2009
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