check out the Shire, Rivendale, Bree, Helms deep and other LOTR scenes done in Lego bricks.
This is
Minis Tirith
headsup ThinkGeek
FINEST KIND CLINIC AND FISHMARKET.... Discussing medicine, culture, and the joys of cooking Pansit.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
LOTR in LEGO land
check out the Shire, Rivendale, Bree, Helms deep and other LOTR scenes done in Lego bricks.
This is
Minis Tirith
headsup ThinkGeek
New Mexico Fires
The NMNational Guard is busy helping with the fires near Alamagordo, as is the California Air NG.
All those fighting and helping with the fires are in our prayers....
and a fire on Sam Donaldson's ranch has burnt 43000 acres and spread to the the Apache reservation. The last time this happened, we had to make evacuation plans for the hospital, just in case...the area is mountainous, and the fires can "flash" with the wind down the narrow canyons, so they can spread easily. And you can't keep people in a hospital when there is smoke in the air...some of our employees quit to fight the fires back then, and we still could see the scars/deforestated areas from a previous fire nearby.
The lowlands tend to be drier and have trees mainly around the rivers, so there is a danger of grass fires, but in the mountains, the tall trees often catch like tinder...
The Mescalero used too have their own fire fighting group, who often left to fight forest fires all over the west, but the BIA shut them down due to budget cuts in 2008...
Actor Jay Tavare, whose birthparents were White Mountain Apache and Navajo, has a report about attending an "honor your life" meeting in Mescalero, and writes about it and the nearby fire on Huffblog.
Fireinformation blog here.
Headlines below the foldCr
Creative commons copyright article....Corey Doctorow makes it onto the BBC
Me, I figure if the Chinese pirates can get a first line movie on the street before it hits Manila, why worry if I borrow a photo (that I usually link to the source)(although I usually ask private bloggers, and only have been turned down once).
----------------------------------
"Reach for a Camel instead of a sweet" was right:
Non-smoking woman are more likely to be obese and die of associated illnesses than those who smoke, according to research.
--------------------------
Michael Yon on the Kabul attack....it's the publicity, stupid...
And StrategyPage figures another month and Ghadaffy is gone.
-------------------------------
The background on the Spratlys: summary: Imperial China once "owned" the area so it's theirs forever.
This claim sends fear not only into the Philippines, but Vietnam and Korea, which they also once "owned"...
usually liberal PhilInquirer editorial points out it's the corrupt elites in China seeing easy pickings in these Philippine islands,and the Philippines is too weak to fight back because it decided it didn't need America's protection twenty years ago...
---------------------------------------------
The Somali pirate threat is getting worse: They are attacking ships far from the Somali coast now...most of the sailors they hold (and abuse) are Indian or Filipino...but India has a Navy and....
------------------------------------
Makati finds and recycles 1.58 tons of lightbulbs and batteries...ah but what about the rest of the country?
we have a "recycle battery" kiosk in our mall, but so far our dead lightbulbs are going into our drawers (and I suspect some of them end up in the landfill).
I suspect in a few years, mercury contamination will be a major problem...
------------------
We were hoping the Ampatuan massacre trial would be on the TV, but it's not...however, the Inquirer notes it is being streamed on the internet LINK
-----------------------------------
After the Philippines and Indonesia pass regulations to protect their maid from abuse and pay them a minimal wage while working in Saudi, the Kingdom decides to ban them from being hired.
more bad news: the "saudification" plans may force employers to fire OFW in favor of the local unemployed.
Me, I figure if the Chinese pirates can get a first line movie on the street before it hits Manila, why worry if I borrow a photo (that I usually link to the source)(although I usually ask private bloggers, and only have been turned down once).
----------------------------------
"Reach for a Camel instead of a sweet" was right:
Non-smoking woman are more likely to be obese and die of associated illnesses than those who smoke, according to research.
--------------------------
Michael Yon on the Kabul attack....it's the publicity, stupid...
And StrategyPage figures another month and Ghadaffy is gone.
-------------------------------
The background on the Spratlys: summary: Imperial China once "owned" the area so it's theirs forever.
This claim sends fear not only into the Philippines, but Vietnam and Korea, which they also once "owned"...
usually liberal PhilInquirer editorial points out it's the corrupt elites in China seeing easy pickings in these Philippine islands,and the Philippines is too weak to fight back because it decided it didn't need America's protection twenty years ago...
---------------------------------------------
The Somali pirate threat is getting worse: They are attacking ships far from the Somali coast now...most of the sailors they hold (and abuse) are Indian or Filipino...but India has a Navy and....
------------------------------------
Makati finds and recycles 1.58 tons of lightbulbs and batteries...ah but what about the rest of the country?
we have a "recycle battery" kiosk in our mall, but so far our dead lightbulbs are going into our drawers (and I suspect some of them end up in the landfill).
I suspect in a few years, mercury contamination will be a major problem...
------------------
We were hoping the Ampatuan massacre trial would be on the TV, but it's not...however, the Inquirer notes it is being streamed on the internet LINK
-----------------------------------
After the Philippines and Indonesia pass regulations to protect their maid from abuse and pay them a minimal wage while working in Saudi, the Kingdom decides to ban them from being hired.
more bad news: the "saudification" plans may force employers to fire OFW in favor of the local unemployed.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Factoid of the day
One reason the Hittite empire fell apart was not just civil war, but the invasion of the sea peoples occured at the same time, so the Phrygians took over eastern Anatolia.
The Phyrigians not only included Midas, Croesus, and the Gordian knot.
the city goes 11 stories deep.
.
;
The Phyrigians not only included Midas, Croesus, and the Gordian knot.
more HERE
And in 700 BC or so they built a large underground city that could house 30 thousand folks.
It is unknown why Derinkuyu was created. The huge stone doors and access to water mayhave meant that it was designed to be a stronghold should the Phrygians be attacked. The presence of churches and other religious buildings also suggested that the complex may have been used for religious purposes. Only about ten percent of the stronghold has been excavated and so scientists are still learning more about the structure as they go along. It is believed that while the city may have been started in the 8th to 7th centuries BCE it may have been expanded and enlarged during the Byzantine era.
the city goes 11 stories deep.
.
;
Headlines below the fold
The world is going up in flames, so we need a Secretary of State to stay on the ball.So the photo in the Manila Bulletin shows Hillary presenting a placque to a Zamboanga prosecutor who worked against "human trafficking", pushing "women's rights" in a speech to the African Union, and promoting Lady Gaga to appear in a Rome Gay pride parade.
It's nice to know that the US State Department has it's priorities in order.
-----------------------------
Heh. The Pope Twitters...from his IPad...
-----------------------
FILIPINO boxing champion and congressman Manny Pacquiao (center) poses with boxing gloves as he expresses support for a House of Representatives bill providing for P125 across-the-board wage increase for the private sectors in a news conference Tuesday in Quezon City. (AP)
Yes, Manny Pacquiao has a blog...that's SENATOR Paquiao... If he continues like this, he may become a popular president, just like Erap...
----------------------
Living in the Philippines exposes you to floods, typhoons, and dengue fever, but don't forget to worry about the killer water buffalo...
---------------------------------
Michael Sandel is giving talks in China...
his website "Justice" has some videos on his course...
his talk at TED on the importance of civil discourse:
---------------------------
Sahara greening from Climate Change?
---------------------------------
Good news for local chicken farms: They might stop imports of cheap chicken from SEAsia.
Like the Chinese imports that destroyed small manufacturers here by underpricing, the cheap imports meant our chicken farm Inow rented out) could never make a decent profit.
the bad news: Floods have wrecked a lot of the newly planted rice, and fishkills are raising demand and prices on chicken and pork..
----------------------------
Father Groeschel talks with Christoff Arnold of the Bruderhof.
they are a pacifist communal society whose roots date back to the Anabaptist movement of the reformation...an Australian article about them HERE. More HERE
their books can be found HERE...
-------------------------------
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Insomnia downloads of the week
Attention Mystery fans: Edgar Wallace is now at Librivox
they also have a whole bunch of Sherlock Holmes mysteries
and a bunch of short stories:
another link, for Catholic readers: Caussade's book and Spe salvi in MP3 can be found at BostonCatholic webpage
they also have a whole bunch of Sherlock Holmes mysteries
and a bunch of short stories:
- Various. "Library of the World's Best Mystery and Detective Stories, Volume 1" · (readers)
- Various. "Library of the World's Best Mystery and Detective Stories, Volume 2" · (readers)
- Various. "Library of the World's Best Mystery and Detective Stories, Volume 3" · (readers)
- Various. "Library of the World's Best Mystery and Detective Stories, Volume 4" · (readers)
- Various. "Library of the World's Best Mystery and Detective Stories, Volume 5" · (readers)
- Milne, A. A.. "Red House Mystery, The" · (readers)
- Nesbit, E. (Edith). "Mystery of the Semi-detached, The" (in "Ghost Story Collection 004") · (readers)
- New York Times, The. "1888-10-02 London's Awful Mystery: The Whitechapel Murderer Still Untracked" (in "Historical Newspaper Articles, Volume 1") · (readers)
another link, for Catholic readers: Caussade's book and Spe salvi in MP3 can be found at BostonCatholic webpage
Headlines below the fold
all the news not fit to print.
-------------------------------
.."gay rights" could mean a way to marginalize churches in the US.
-------------------------------------
As doc, I am old enough to remember when "rights"triumphed over public health... this, however, is a taboo subject can only be discussed on the "Arts" page.
--------------------------------------------
Tweeting information in Libya.
and the ICC has an arrest warrant against Gadaffy and friends.
---------------------------
Pacific algae and fish are migrating into the Atlantic: global warming destruction of arctic ice is allowing a current to mix the oceans.
one wonders why they didn't migrate during the medieval warm period, when it was warmer than it is now.
----------------------------------
Sudan is bombing it's breakaway southern provinces....much of the oil is in the border of the breakaway area...and much of the oil goes to China, so Bashir is visiting there to discuss what's going on....
--------------------
there may be a new civil war brewing in Rwanda.
----------------------------
Death Panels redux:
Lamm: Rationing could fix health care.
yeah, must get rid of that out of date Hippocratic oath, he says...
------------------------------
and the really important headline of the day:
Finches tweet using grammar
-------------------------------
.."gay rights" could mean a way to marginalize churches in the US.
-------------------------------------
As doc, I am old enough to remember when "rights"triumphed over public health... this, however, is a taboo subject can only be discussed on the "Arts" page.
--------------------------------------------
Tweeting information in Libya.
and the ICC has an arrest warrant against Gadaffy and friends.
---------------------------
Pacific algae and fish are migrating into the Atlantic: global warming destruction of arctic ice is allowing a current to mix the oceans.
one wonders why they didn't migrate during the medieval warm period, when it was warmer than it is now.
----------------------------------
Sudan is bombing it's breakaway southern provinces....much of the oil is in the border of the breakaway area...and much of the oil goes to China, so Bashir is visiting there to discuss what's going on....
--------------------
there may be a new civil war brewing in Rwanda.
----------------------------
Death Panels redux:
Lamm: Rationing could fix health care.
yeah, must get rid of that out of date Hippocratic oath, he says...
------------------------------
and the really important headline of the day:
Finches tweet using grammar
Monday, June 27, 2011
another sign that the end of the world is nigh
Be Prepared:
Get your very own Hellokitty gas mask
headsup from HelloKittyHell
Headlines below the fold
From StrategyPage:
The Inquirer reports that Gloria and friends used the local charity lottery as a source of income.
The tip of the iceburg, but don't hold your breath to see her prosecuted.
---------------------------
HuJia has been released.
----------------------------------
Gay marriage by popular vote? Nope...Follow the money...
-------------------------------
and the decision to lose the Afghanistan war is also about wooing campaign donations...
and this show of weakness is why the Philippines (and VietNam) figure the US won't be there to protect us from Chinese agression.
and Russia and India are trying to move their own chess pieces into the region to counteract China and Iran.
In Iran, Pakistani, Iranian and Afghan diplomats met and agreed to cooperate in the battle against Sunni Islamic terrorists (al Qaeda and the Taliban, plus the many Pakistani based terror groups). Another major target is the opium and heroin producing operations in southwest Afghanistan. These gangs cause enormous problems in all three countries, by making it possible for over seven million people to become drug addicts. Iran hosted the meeting in part to promote itself as a better ally for Afghanistan and Pakistan than the United States. In the past, Iranian empires had controlled most of western Afghanistan. While Iran has fans in Afghanistan and Pakistan, there is still fear that Iran, despite being a religious dictatorship now, will revert back to its old imperial ways.
------------
------------------------------
(there is)...an eight year old American program that hunts down and destroys these missiles. Over 32,000 have been found and destroyed so far. That's out of about a million that have been manufactured in the last half century. Most have been destroyed (because of old age or obsolescence) in that time, but thousands are believed to be unaccounted for and possibly in the wind.
The Inquirer reports that Gloria and friends used the local charity lottery as a source of income.
The tip of the iceburg, but don't hold your breath to see her prosecuted.
---------------------------
HuJia has been released.
----------------------------------
Gay marriage by popular vote? Nope...Follow the money...
-------------------------------
and the decision to lose the Afghanistan war is also about wooing campaign donations...
and this show of weakness is why the Philippines (and VietNam) figure the US won't be there to protect us from Chinese agression.
and Russia and India are trying to move their own chess pieces into the region to counteract China and Iran.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Factoid of the day
Heh. The Pope's coat of arms includes a bear, a shell, and a crowned African.
The African is the symbol of Freising Germany, and probably is based on either the one Magi who was supposed to be African, or on St. Maurice, a Roman soldier from southern Egypt, (hence, a "Moor") who was martyred nearby.
The shell is the symbol of a pilgrim and of baptism, and the bear is a symbol of the bishop who converted Bavaria.
St. Maurice is the patron of the infantry and of the mountain troops.
(and is traditionally invoked if you have menstral cramps, but no one says why)...
Hobbit headsup
actually, he's too thin and too young...Bilbo was supposed to be 50 or so in the Hobbit (the equivalent of 32 or so in human years) and a bit middle aged and stuffy...
Frodo was also supposed to be that old, but since he possessed the ring, he stopped aging at 32 (the equivalent of 21 human years) so the previous movie wasn't too far off in it's choice of actor (although they shifted the "servant/master" theme into a buddy relationship, since few folks have faithful servants nowadays).
Factoid of the day
I just looked up the word Cowabunga, and no, it didn't originate with the mutant teenaged ninga turtles:
It's from HowdyDoody.
It's from HowdyDoody.
(exclamation): Originating as a greeting by Chief Thunderthud (the only Indian ever to have a moustache) to the Peanut Gallery on the 50's television program "The Howdy Doody Show", the term was later adopted by surfers in the 60's.
Chinese pyramids
Internet archive has a NatGeo film about Chinese pyramids
they also have a lot of ancient issues of the National Geographic on line
and books such as scenes from every nation or national parks to read on line
there are also a lot of Smithsonian books there
they also have a lot of ancient issues of the National Geographic on line
and books such as scenes from every nation or national parks to read on line
there are also a lot of Smithsonian books there
Factoid of the day
Vietnam had an emperor? Who wudda thot?the Last Emperor of Vietnam
Knowing he would be dismissed, in 1955 Diem (on the advice of Lansdale) arranged a referendum that would put the choice to the public: retain the former emperor or make Diem president of a new Republic of Vietnam. With his own men in charge of the polling places and Bao Dai unable to campaign on his own behalf there was to be no doubt about the outcome of the “vote”. Bao Dai protested but could do more and when a ridiculously large majority came back in favor of Diem he resigned once again and formally ended, for good this time, his political role in Vietnam. His former wife, the beloved Empress Nam Phuong, having died Bao Dai married again in 1972 to a French girl, Monique Baudot... He died in Paris in 1997 passing his legacy on to his eldest son the Prince Imperiale Bao Long.
at the MadMonarchist blogspot.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
The Gratuitous Lady Gaga post of the day
Hall of Fame spokesperson Margaret Thresher said the dress took on a "dark, beef-jerky" look while dehydrating, so it was painted to look "fresh" afterward.
Lady Gaga joins Madonna, Taylor Swift, Debbie Harry, and a host of other women who defined rock. Unfortunately, Katy Perry's whipped-cream- spraying bra is not joining the meat dress as dessert.
from DaveBarry
CSLewis on line
I brought quite a few CSLewis books with me to the Philippines, and I don't always like or agree with his essays/books (he tends to be a bit stuffy and talk down to folks)
but for those of you who want to fill up your ebook library, Annotations blog asks readers to link to his works on line (e.g. for free)...
but for those of you who want to fill up your ebook library, Annotations blog asks readers to link to his works on line (e.g. for free)...
FIRE!
Fire acts differently in space than on Earth. Sandra Olson, an aerospace engineer at NASA's Glenn Research Center, demonstrates just how differently in her art. This artwork is comprised of multiple overlays of three separate microgravity flame images. Each image is of flame spread over cellulose paper in a spacecraft ventilation flow in microgravity. The different colors represent different chemical reactions within the flame. The blue areas are caused by chemiluminescence (light produced by a chemical reaction.) The white, yellow and orange regions are due to glowing soot within the flame zone.
Good news below the fold
The Atlantic has an article on Weird Al Yankovic.
more at Wired... who includes links to some of his (worse) video performances.
----------------------
Inside a Maya tomb.
--------------------------
Ancient Standard is having a series of essays on Theusus...
one of the few ancient heroes who hasn't had his own movie...
------------------------------------
Yes, I speak Dog.
from Dustbury
----------------------------------
YUM Fried Coolaid
video was removed, but here is the recipe at another site.
---------------------------
Why those blond Gobi guys are probably not related to the Romans..
on the other hand, the Burmese/Tibetan tribe in India who claim to be Jews will now be allowed into Israel...more here.
------------------------------------
I know about Civil war reenactments in the US, but scienceblog has an article on darek age reenacters, webpage HERE.
------------------------
more at Wired... who includes links to some of his (worse) video performances.
----------------------
Inside a Maya tomb.
--------------------------
Ancient Standard is having a series of essays on Theusus...
one of the few ancient heroes who hasn't had his own movie...
------------------------------------
Yes, I speak Dog.
from Dustbury
----------------------------------
YUM Fried Coolaid
video was removed, but here is the recipe at another site.
---------------------------
Why those blond Gobi guys are probably not related to the Romans..
on the other hand, the Burmese/Tibetan tribe in India who claim to be Jews will now be allowed into Israel...more here.
------------------------------------
I know about Civil war reenactments in the US, but scienceblog has an article on darek age reenacters, webpage HERE.
------------------------
Bad news of the day
we still have heavy rains here...
Raining and flooding and tornadoes and...water hyacinths?
Yup. they are causing fish die offs and (along with garbage) blocking drainage of the heavy rains in some areas.
Ah, the pleasures of living on a tropical island!.
we are okay, since our house is on "high" ground but the roof is leaking...luckily the bedroom is still dry
--------------------------
Minot ND Flooded.
------------------
the end of gender?
I don't think so...reality if a bitch, and reality shows biological differences are hard wired....but these influential utopians pushing this are making laws that don't agree with biological reality, and that is dangerous...
Friday, June 24, 2011
Family news
Joy flew home for her uncle's funeral...rains heavy here, and schools are shut because the streets are flooded.
The good news: it's cooler.
The good news: it's cooler.
Stuff below the fold
First they came for the transfats, then they came for your sodapop, and now:
the food police are coming for your potatochips.
------------------------
LadyGagaSan says Japan is safe for tourists.
Presumably she has a degree in nuclear medicine and is qualified to tell us this.
--------------------------
The meat is made from what?
the food police are coming for your potatochips.
------------------------
LadyGagaSan says Japan is safe for tourists.
Presumably she has a degree in nuclear medicine and is qualified to tell us this.
--------------------------
The meat is made from what?
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Hello Kitty goes Gaga
see more Must Have Cute
this is supposed to be a "sailor kitty" print, but she actually looks like LadyGaga
...
but she looks more like LadyGaga
hopefully, Kitty won't damage her hair with hair bleach and she too has to go bald until it recovers.
How to roast a pig
My daughter in law asked me how to roast a pig.
Here, we roasted it over coals in our garden for our last big feast.
The 3guysinMiami website has instructions for other ways to do it.
or if you want a smaller cut of meat, check their recipe out HERE.
the trick is the marinating process, by cutting into the meat and letting it sit for awhile in the liquid...Alternative ways is to use a vacuum process (if you have one of these to freeze your food it probably has an attachment to do it) or you can borrow a 50 cc syringe from your doc and inject the marinade.
we did this last method when we roasted a whole goat...tasted quite nice.
Here, we roasted it over coals in our garden for our last big feast.
The 3guysinMiami website has instructions for other ways to do it.
or if you want a smaller cut of meat, check their recipe out HERE.
the trick is the marinating process, by cutting into the meat and letting it sit for awhile in the liquid...Alternative ways is to use a vacuum process (if you have one of these to freeze your food it probably has an attachment to do it) or you can borrow a 50 cc syringe from your doc and inject the marinade.
we did this last method when we roasted a whole goat...tasted quite nice.
Muslim women wear scarves for piety, and some Catholics are encouraging wearing a veil in church. But the dirty little secret is that hats or scarfs are underused in the US.
They protect the head from the sun in summer, the cold in winter, and keep the dirt out when you clean.
Here is how to tie a scarf for the clueless:
How to Tie a Head Scarf -- powered by ehow
more ways HERE and HERE
when I came back from Africa, I wore a "duka" outside to protect my bun... where you take a scarf and tie it behind your head with the tip of the scarf tuked in...but I gave it up when I moved to Minnesota and had to wear a heavier hat.
They protect the head from the sun in summer, the cold in winter, and keep the dirt out when you clean.
Here is how to tie a scarf for the clueless:
How to Tie a Head Scarf -- powered by ehow
more ways HERE and HERE
when I came back from Africa, I wore a "duka" outside to protect my bun... where you take a scarf and tie it behind your head with the tip of the scarf tuked in...but I gave it up when I moved to Minnesota and had to wear a heavier hat.
Future energy
I don't know if you are following the news, but the Japanese problems with their nuclear reactors are on going (and some are blaming the US design of the plants).
Freakonomics (an economics blog) discusses the pros and cons and what might replace them...
If the meticulous Japanese have problems, what will happen to all those new nuke plants in China?
Another story is that many of the US plants are aging, and may have problems, and that the recent tornadoes and floods have threatened nuclear plants in the US, however, fires inside the plants are still the most common problem.
here in the Philippines, we get lots of our energy from renewable hydroelectric or geothermal power, but we still get most of our electricity from "conventional" sources.
and luckily the greens have kept the Bataan power plant from being completed (it is located on a major fault line).
Freakonomics (an economics blog) discusses the pros and cons and what might replace them...
If the meticulous Japanese have problems, what will happen to all those new nuke plants in China?
Another story is that many of the US plants are aging, and may have problems, and that the recent tornadoes and floods have threatened nuclear plants in the US, however, fires inside the plants are still the most common problem.
here in the Philippines, we get lots of our energy from renewable hydroelectric or geothermal power, but we still get most of our electricity from "conventional" sources.
and luckily the greens have kept the Bataan power plant from being completed (it is located on a major fault line).
Headlines below the fold
Global rice prices have been stable but now are predicted to go up.
This is good news for those of us who sell rice (the family business is selling organic brown rice). but bad news for the poor.
but the really bad part of the report is this part:
-------------------------------
June 21 started Salmon gil net season in Alaska, so anyone who viewed Sarah's Alaska series knows they have a limited time to work the nets....
But the press is interpreting this as "giving up"...guess they can't google (or don't watch TV).
her show is now here in Asia, and like the other "blue collar" shows (dirty jobs, the fishing shows), it helps to counteract the "Americans as rich lazy promiscuous drug taking society" messages that fill MTV and other TV shows from the US...
--------------------------------------
Indonesia is now banning maids going to Saudi after a maid there was executed for killing someone who was abusing her.
The Philippine gov't report says that the only "safe" place to work in the Middle East is Israel and Omar, and even they have problems...and they note that suicides are so common (in response to abuse) that the deaths don't even get reported in the press...
--------------------------------------
George Clooney has a new movie about "a young, idealistic press secretary (Gosling) who works for presidential candidate Governor Mike Morris (Clooney), and despite himself becomes dangerously involved in a web of deceit and corruption."
yawn....
--------------------------------
Austin Bay reports Ghadaffy is losing on four fronts, but Obama's lack of leadership and showing weakness in pulling out of Afghanistan is giving Ghadaffy hope...
yes, and I suspect his weakness is why China is planning to reclaim the Spratlys now...
-----------------------
some good news: AiWeiWei has been released from a Chinese prison
----------------------
Medicaid glitch...heh. I am spending a fortune keeping up my US medical insurance, but now it turns out I am eligible for Medicaid.
Maybe they should have "outsourced" the health care bill to the public (as they did with Palin's emails) so someone could read it before passing it.
-------------------------------------------
hmm...my itunes isn't updating some of my podcast feeds...anyone else have the problem?
---------------------------
some varieties of the Strep germ are getting nasty...scarlet fever causing deaths in HongKong...
these diseases come and go...rheumatic fever was common up to the 1960's and then disappeared...but then in the 1980's we saw some viralent strep sepsis (that's what killed Jim Henson) and then some strep got partial resistance to Penicillin, especially in Europe.
Scarlet fever used to be a killer, but more recently we didn't see it as much of a problem...sounds like it's reverting back to killer status.
-----------------------------
Behold: The SpongeBob mushroom:
it was given the name because it resemble a seasponge rather than a mushroom...
This is good news for those of us who sell rice (the family business is selling organic brown rice). but bad news for the poor.
but the really bad part of the report is this part:
This news is so important that the G20 is discussing it: background HERE.
global rice prices which have remained relatively stable, rising only 17 % since June last year against a 50-150 % hike seen in the prices of other crops are likely to increase in the coming months as rising production could force Asian countries to expand their reserves or impose bans on rice exports.
-------------------------------
June 21 started Salmon gil net season in Alaska, so anyone who viewed Sarah's Alaska series knows they have a limited time to work the nets....
But the press is interpreting this as "giving up"...guess they can't google (or don't watch TV).
her show is now here in Asia, and like the other "blue collar" shows (dirty jobs, the fishing shows), it helps to counteract the "Americans as rich lazy promiscuous drug taking society" messages that fill MTV and other TV shows from the US...
--------------------------------------
Indonesia is now banning maids going to Saudi after a maid there was executed for killing someone who was abusing her.
The Philippine gov't report says that the only "safe" place to work in the Middle East is Israel and Omar, and even they have problems...and they note that suicides are so common (in response to abuse) that the deaths don't even get reported in the press...
--------------------------------------
George Clooney has a new movie about "a young, idealistic press secretary (Gosling) who works for presidential candidate Governor Mike Morris (Clooney), and despite himself becomes dangerously involved in a web of deceit and corruption."
yawn....
--------------------------------
Austin Bay reports Ghadaffy is losing on four fronts, but Obama's lack of leadership and showing weakness in pulling out of Afghanistan is giving Ghadaffy hope...
yes, and I suspect his weakness is why China is planning to reclaim the Spratlys now...
-----------------------
some good news: AiWeiWei has been released from a Chinese prison
----------------------
Medicaid glitch...heh. I am spending a fortune keeping up my US medical insurance, but now it turns out I am eligible for Medicaid.
Maybe they should have "outsourced" the health care bill to the public (as they did with Palin's emails) so someone could read it before passing it.
-------------------------------------------
hmm...my itunes isn't updating some of my podcast feeds...anyone else have the problem?
---------------------------
some varieties of the Strep germ are getting nasty...scarlet fever causing deaths in HongKong...
these diseases come and go...rheumatic fever was common up to the 1960's and then disappeared...but then in the 1980's we saw some viralent strep sepsis (that's what killed Jim Henson) and then some strep got partial resistance to Penicillin, especially in Europe.
Scarlet fever used to be a killer, but more recently we didn't see it as much of a problem...sounds like it's reverting back to killer status.
-----------------------------
Behold: The SpongeBob mushroom:
The fungus, named Spongiforma squarepantsii by the researchers at San Francisco State University (SFSU), was found during an expedition to the forests of Borneo.
it was given the name because it resemble a seasponge rather than a mushroom...
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Bronowski Ascent of life
The old (1973) BBC series Ascent of man is now present on youtube.
and no, evolution doesn't bother me as a Christian since I am able to distinguish the science of evolution from the philosophical theory of materialism/scientism....
Cardinal Schonborn explains the difference HERE.
and no, evolution doesn't bother me as a Christian since I am able to distinguish the science of evolution from the philosophical theory of materialism/scientism....
Cardinal Schonborn explains the difference HERE.
Hobbit stuff
Peter Jackson has a facebook page to keep you up to date.
I follow the One Ring net for updates.
Brian Sibley has pictures of Goblintown by Alan Lee and John Howe on his blog.
and the LATimes has a blogpost quoting the Tolkein professor on why there might be new characters in the film.
I follow the One Ring net for updates.
Brian Sibley has pictures of Goblintown by Alan Lee and John Howe on his blog.
and the LATimes has a blogpost quoting the Tolkein professor on why there might be new characters in the film.
Caring for the unwanted
Pastor Lee Jong-rak runs South Korea's only private orphanage for disabled children. For years, he has had a drop box for parents to leave unwanted children. Authorities say the box is against the law, which bans abandonment, and are threatening to close down the orphanage, which houses 21 children, most of them infants. (Matt Douma, For The Times / June 20, 2011)
LINK
A Green Popemobile?
the Vatican has confirmed details of Pope Benedict XVI’s newest eco-vehicle. The Pope will be riding a custom-made M-Class plug-in hybrid based on the Mercedes Vision S500 plug-in hybrid.The Vatican said that they opted for a plug-in hybrid, versus an all-electric popemobile for safety reasons (they wanted a car that could accelerate quick enough in case of an emergency).
Stuff below the fold
StrategyPage has an Iran update
accusations of Corruption vs witchcraft, and here come the lifestyle cops.
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Chinese counterfeits are worrying the US military...
and Senator McCain backs VietNam and the Philippines against China's claim the the Spratlys.
I wrote about the Spratlys on BNN, and the comments are chilling:
one said China "needed" the area because of it's huge population.
Ah yes, the "lebensraum" argument.
Another said archeology showed Chinese lived there two thousand years ago, so it's theirs.
So when Sweden claims Russia and Kiev, and Norway claims Canada based on archeology that they were there first, presumably China will back the claim.
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Professor Bob not only has podcasts on where in the world is St John the Baptist's head, but what happened to Mohammed's beard and Buddha...
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Chesterton once wrote a mystery story about "the invisible man", who turned out to be a waiter.
in a similar vein, the UKMail relates the tale of when slaves spied for the north.
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Eat the flowers: Epilog advises you what flowers can be added to your menu.
full story HERE.
---------------------------------
YUM! Frankenmeat!
it's kosher, halal, can be eaten by vegetarians, and most of all, no methane emissions.
accusations of Corruption vs witchcraft, and here come the lifestyle cops.
---------------------
Chinese counterfeits are worrying the US military...
and Senator McCain backs VietNam and the Philippines against China's claim the the Spratlys.
I wrote about the Spratlys on BNN, and the comments are chilling:
one said China "needed" the area because of it's huge population.
Ah yes, the "lebensraum" argument.
Another said archeology showed Chinese lived there two thousand years ago, so it's theirs.
So when Sweden claims Russia and Kiev, and Norway claims Canada based on archeology that they were there first, presumably China will back the claim.
---------------------------
Professor Bob not only has podcasts on where in the world is St John the Baptist's head, but what happened to Mohammed's beard and Buddha...
-----------------------
Chesterton once wrote a mystery story about "the invisible man", who turned out to be a waiter.
in a similar vein, the UKMail relates the tale of when slaves spied for the north.
----------------------------------
Eat the flowers: Epilog advises you what flowers can be added to your menu.
full story HERE.
---------------------------------
YUM! Frankenmeat!
it's kosher, halal, can be eaten by vegetarians, and most of all, no methane emissions.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Factoid of the day
The first Folsom point was discovered by a black cowboy
The Folsom type site is a bison kill site, in Wild Horse Arroyo near the town of the Folsom, New Mexico. It was famously discovered in 1908 by the African-American cowboy George McJunkins,
so how big were they:
29.3 mm in length, 22 mm wide at the center and 20 mm wide at the base.
the Clovis projectile was discovered by a Native American kid.
in constrast, the Clovis points also tend to be thicker than the typically thin latter stage Folsom points. Length: 4–20 cm/1.5–8 in. Width: 2.5–5 cm/1–2 inches.
Clovis points are the characteristically-fluted projectile points associated with the North American Clovis culture. They date to the Paleoindian period around 13,500 years ago. Clovis fluted points are named after the city of Clovis, New Mexico, where examples were first found in 1929.[1]
so who used them?
Folsom points are found widely across North America and are dated to the period between 9500 BC and 8000 BC. The discovery of these artifacts in the early 20th century raised questions about when the first humans arrived in North America. The prevailing idea of a time depth of about 3,000 years was clearly mistaken. In 1932, an even earlier style of projectile point was found, Clovis, dating back to 13,500 years BP. Clovis points have been found in situ in association with mammoth skeletons.[2]
I'm listening to Prof Carter's lectures
Prehistory and the Birth of Civilization (feed),
alas the webcasts often remove them from the site quickly so I didn't link it at the side.
Mismanaged Funds for tribes: Suit won?
the long mismanagement of tribal lands by the BIA has been in a long lawsuit for at least 15 years.
it was okayed by congress and the president and now the judge okayed the settlement.
Now it has been settled for $3.4 billion.
it was okayed by congress and the president and now the judge okayed the settlement.
Now it has been settled for $3.4 billion.
Stuff below the fold
The "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" monkeys date back to Confucius.
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EWTN podcast discusses forgiveness...
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A lecture on art history: Has modern education ignored the best to be PC?
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The Iceman's last meal. YUM!
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From Archeoblog:
recipe HERE.
wikipedia article on Dormice.
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EWTN podcast discusses forgiveness...
---------------------------
A lecture on art history: Has modern education ignored the best to be PC?
-----------------------------
The Iceman's last meal. YUM!
------------------------------
From Archeoblog:
Dormice, sea urchins and fresh figs: the Roman diet revealed
recipe HERE.
wikipedia article on Dormice.
Family news
internet is on and off.
The rains stopped: another storm due this weekend.
Blackie's last puppy went to his new home...still two puppies from Angel not weaned yet.
Robin writes she visited Florinda and they will go to Chicago for family reunion.
The rains stopped: another storm due this weekend.
Blackie's last puppy went to his new home...still two puppies from Angel not weaned yet.
Robin writes she visited Florinda and they will go to Chicago for family reunion.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Can one forgive the unforgivable?
A couple years ago, a man entered into a small school run by the Amish and killed some children.
Such killings get headlines (that inspire copycat killings) but how often do we hear of the aftermath?
Bill Moyers discusses:
and yes, the video is now on Youtube:
Such killings get headlines (that inspire copycat killings) but how often do we hear of the aftermath?
Bill Moyers discusses:
and yes, the video is now on Youtube:
Green Nebula
This glowing emerald nebula seen by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope is reminiscent of the glowing ring wielded by the superhero Green Lantern. In the comic books, the diminutive Guardians of the Planet "Oa" forged his power ring, but astronomers believe rings like this are actually sculpted by the powerful light of giant "O" stars, the most massive type of star known to exist.
Named RCW 120, this region of hot gas and glowing dust can be found in the murky clouds encircled by the tail of the constellation Scorpius. The ring of dust actually is glowing in infrared colors that our eyes cannot see, but show up brightly when viewed by Spitzer's infrared detectors. At the center of this ring are a couple of giant stars whose intense ultraviolet light has carved out the bubble, though they blend in with other stars when viewed in infrared.
Gift item of the day
Is your car having a bad hair day?
Well, cheer her up by dressing her up with some car eyelashes.
headsup Randomgoodstuff
oh yes: If you own a masculine car, they also have some car mostaches for sale.
YUM! GummiBrains
you can feed them: GummiBrain...
from thinkGeek...
and if you are over 18, check out their video at link
Headlines below the fold
I knew the USArmy was issued blackberets by Clinton as a "feelgood" exercize, but I didn't realize that they were supposed to be worn with fatigues, not just with the regular uniform. When worn with the fatigues, they look...silly... and they are hot, bulky, hard to clean, and don't fit in the pocket, so in dirty areas the patrol cap was used.
Now theArmy has finally okayed Patrol cap as the official gear for wearing with fatigues.
However, the Special forces types will keep their berets.
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Leicester UK city council admitted that they were not prepared for a zombie attack.
And lo, the zombies did attack.
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Cell phones and brain cancer? Wait a second, say scientists, then why is the cancer often in a part of the brain far from the cellphone, and since it takes 15 years to develop, why is the cancer found in those who didn't use cellphones 15 years ago?
Alternative explanation: You think it's bad now, just wait a decade or two...
Factoid: Lymphoma of the brain is much more common in those with HIV and immune problems...
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StrategyPage on China's move to take over the Spratlys.
The Philippines has only one destroyer (a World War II surplus ship) in their fleet, and is sending it to the Philippine coastal waters as a warning...
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School holiday here for Rizal's birthday
And lots of rain from a tropical depression...flooding expected.
China and parts of India already have massive floods, and this bodes bad for the newly planted crops.
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Saffron Trade war: Iran floods the market between Iran and Afghanistan.
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pSST pass it on: HPV seems to work.
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and the science headline of the day:
Astronomers find comet full of fizz
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Happy Father's day
see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!
we went out for supper for Father's day, so blogging with be light.
Factoid of the day
so who is the bishop of the moon? Father Z mulls the question, but points out that usually "new" lands were under the jurisdiction of the bishop of the home port of those who "found" the new lands.
So the Catholic bishop of the moon would be the bishop of Orlando Fla.
So the Catholic bishop of the moon would be the bishop of Orlando Fla.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Craft item of the day
see more Must Have Cute
Another tutorial on making flowers from duct tape flowers can be found be found at
HowJoyful .
PDF HERE
Stuff below the fold
Corruption is world wide. StrategyPage has a good discussion of this little noted problem. MP3
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MyPetArts has lots of examples of costumes via old art prints.
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You know the Disney version, but do you know the real story of Mulan (via AncientStandard)
more HERE.
photoWikipedia.
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Persian Paradox has photos of the flower festival in Tehran, and notes: " The political atmosphere in Tehran is grim, but the flower exhibition was beautiful."
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Articles on SEAL dogs...PHOTO...
Factoid of the day:their combat vests allow you to put in cold packs so they can tolerate the heat, and some even wear cameras.
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and the headline of the day:
Anglers banned from using white bread bait amid 'fat fish claims'
Photo: ALAMY
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MyPetArts has lots of examples of costumes via old art prints.
-------------------------
You know the Disney version, but do you know the real story of Mulan (via AncientStandard)
more HERE.
photoWikipedia.
---------------------------
Persian Paradox has photos of the flower festival in Tehran, and notes: " The political atmosphere in Tehran is grim, but the flower exhibition was beautiful."
-------------------------
Articles on SEAL dogs...PHOTO...
Factoid of the day:their combat vests allow you to put in cold packs so they can tolerate the heat, and some even wear cameras.
-------------------------
and the headline of the day:
Anglers banned from using white bread bait amid 'fat fish claims'
Photo: ALAMY
Thumbelina take two
Watch at your own risk:
Thumbelina the cartoon, with songs by Barry Manilow:
or if you prefer, Barbie Thumbelina:
there is also a Thumbelina Manga style...
and don't miss:
HELLO KITTY THUMBELINA
Thumbelina the cartoon, with songs by Barry Manilow:
or if you prefer, Barbie Thumbelina:
there is also a Thumbelina Manga style...
and don't miss:
HELLO KITTY THUMBELINA
Friday, June 17, 2011
Censored opinions
The soundbites in much of the news and opinion centers allow bashing of not just Muslims but Catholics.
At least the BBC usually has the Islamic version for you to judge (also on youtube), but the Brits (and by extention many US intellectuals) still spout only bad things about Catholic. This ignores a lot of subtle things (as an Asian, all the nonsense about the terrible Christian wars ignore that many of the worst Mass murderers were Asians like Mao, or those who are hailed as conquerers, like some of the Chinese emperors or Genghis Khan).
I ran across this on an education site, but it's also on youtube.
a lot of this is just pointing out facts found scattered in other history lectures, but not in the popular culture.
At least the BBC usually has the Islamic version for you to judge (also on youtube), but the Brits (and by extention many US intellectuals) still spout only bad things about Catholic. This ignores a lot of subtle things (as an Asian, all the nonsense about the terrible Christian wars ignore that many of the worst Mass murderers were Asians like Mao, or those who are hailed as conquerers, like some of the Chinese emperors or Genghis Khan).
I ran across this on an education site, but it's also on youtube.
a lot of this is just pointing out facts found scattered in other history lectures, but not in the popular culture.
Craft item of the day
AnaPaula has a nice pattern for an Amigurumi jelly fish.
other patterns for jelly fish can be found
HEREand
HERE.
Favism
For the third day in a row, the "healthy recipe" on the NYTimes include fava beans.
I wrote a letter to the editor about that, but of course only got a computer answer.
So I wrote about the problem of Fava beans at my BNN site.
Most of it I already knew, since we had to avoid sulfa medicines in our black patients in the US.
But when I tried to google why they haven't produced a "safe" fava bean, it seems that they are trying, but they are bee dependent, hard to pollinate by hand, and not always breeding true.
Maybe Frankenfava to the rescue? no, not unless they see money in it...
I wrote a letter to the editor about that, but of course only got a computer answer.
So I wrote about the problem of Fava beans at my BNN site.
Most of it I already knew, since we had to avoid sulfa medicines in our black patients in the US.
But when I tried to google why they haven't produced a "safe" fava bean, it seems that they are trying, but they are bee dependent, hard to pollinate by hand, and not always breeding true.
Maybe Frankenfava to the rescue? no, not unless they see money in it...
Attention Washington Post
The entire Pentagon papers are now on line, and the Washington Post and other papers will be soliciting their readers to help them examine the thousands of pages of documents to find the dirt about the VietNam war.
Oh, sorry, that request was to read Sarah Palin's emails...
----------------------
The WSJ laments modern campaign finance laws, and quotes defenders of John Edwards, who complain that if it wasn't for those pesky campaign finance laws, that it wouldn't be "illegal" for John Edwards to use $900 thousand from two campaign supporters to keep his mistress quiet.
----------------------------------------
Bad news of the day: The "solar minimum" (lack of sunspots) could lead to a new ice age.
The "good" news: Global warming will help prevent this.
--------------------------------
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Frankenmilk: Human breast milk from cows? I don't think so....and MJ notes pasteurizing it will destroy the cells and some of the proteins that help protect infants.
and no, I'm not a "fresh milk" fan:We had an outbreak of Camplobacter in our patients who would get free fresh milk from local dairy farmers who allowed neighbors to siphon off a bit of milk for their own use under a barter system type agreement.
----------------
Ketamine takes away depression?
Uh, it also causes nightmares and hallucinations, which is why we docs rarely use it in adults, even though it doesn't drop the respiratory rate or blood pressure like other medicines... and then we use it with other medicines to counteract these side effects.
But it's easy to administer.
In one African hospital, we used it as anesthesia with local nerve blocks: We ran in a "drip" and increased the drip rate when the patient started to move, and decreased it when the patient slowed his breathing rate. The drip was regulated by the guy who usually cleaned our floors...
------------------
Article of the week: Jelly Fish!
Yes, they survived other "mass extinctions" and are thriving due to global warming.
So get out your recipe book and enjoy!
And if you don't want to prepare the suckers, just buy some Instant Jellyfish.
Oh, sorry, that request was to read Sarah Palin's emails...
----------------------
The WSJ laments modern campaign finance laws, and quotes defenders of John Edwards, who complain that if it wasn't for those pesky campaign finance laws, that it wouldn't be "illegal" for John Edwards to use $900 thousand from two campaign supporters to keep his mistress quiet.
----------------------------------------
Bad news of the day: The "solar minimum" (lack of sunspots) could lead to a new ice age.
The "good" news: Global warming will help prevent this.
--------------------------------
----------------------
Frankenmilk: Human breast milk from cows? I don't think so....and MJ notes pasteurizing it will destroy the cells and some of the proteins that help protect infants.
and no, I'm not a "fresh milk" fan:We had an outbreak of Camplobacter in our patients who would get free fresh milk from local dairy farmers who allowed neighbors to siphon off a bit of milk for their own use under a barter system type agreement.
----------------
Ketamine takes away depression?
Uh, it also causes nightmares and hallucinations, which is why we docs rarely use it in adults, even though it doesn't drop the respiratory rate or blood pressure like other medicines... and then we use it with other medicines to counteract these side effects.
But it's easy to administer.
In one African hospital, we used it as anesthesia with local nerve blocks: We ran in a "drip" and increased the drip rate when the patient started to move, and decreased it when the patient slowed his breathing rate. The drip was regulated by the guy who usually cleaned our floors...
------------------
Article of the week: Jelly Fish!
Yes, they survived other "mass extinctions" and are thriving due to global warming.
So get out your recipe book and enjoy!
And if you don't want to prepare the suckers, just buy some Instant Jellyfish.
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