Just Us Family Here

No Pink!

Over the years I’ve bought "pink" when it was a little more expensive so that susan g komen would continue to get funds for the cure.

I’ve passed around sign-up sheets through seas of cubes for walk-a-thons, took part in fund raisers, and pushed the cause. I’ve had several friends/family members who’ve had breast cancer, and only a few of them have "been lucky", and it’s important for all women.

But susan g komen has decided to play politics – deciding the cause was worth more than poor women’s health. For the big faux-conservative donor’s, they’ve cut all funding for Planned Parenthood.

So please, if that 7-up can has a pink ribbon, buy a drink that doesn’t. Buy anything but pink.

Tes Animation

from the photojojo tutorial

Have the flu – one thing an iPad is good for is throwing up a few links here, while laying in bed, before sleeping another 10 hours…

When I read this, I laughed out loud (if you know me well, you know I have stomach issues), and then I realized the implications. Wow. Genetically Engineered Stomach Microbe Converts Seaweed into Ethanol – and with a lot of possibilities and avenues to explore. Things like this is where the next jobs are going to be. Some of us may be putting: Ethanol Molecule Production Engineer on our resume.

This is actually good news for all of us. In Google’s latest adjustments to their algorithm, Pages With Too Many Ads "Above The Fold" Now Penalized By Google’s "Page Layout" Algorithm. Hooray!!!!!!!!!

With all the talk about Romney and his tax-returns, and who should make public what, you can actually got to Tax History Project: Presidential Tax Returns, and see for yourself not only who’s released what, but the actual tax returns. It was kinda-fun. And while on the subject of taxes, lets look at the compilation of tax plans from the current GOP candidates put together by the Courage Campaign How Does Each Proposed Initiative Cost the Typical California Taxpayer, from stats/break-downs published by the Sacramento Bee and the San Francisco Chronicle. Scary.

There’s a few days left in the Six-Word Essay Contest at StudentsFirst.org. I couldn’t resist a submission, can you?

Often "late to the game", recently stumbled on Angry Black Lady Chronicles, a blog with some pretty interesting posts. The linked post, Shorter Ron Paul: The South Will Rise Again, is quite an angry read, and so is the one on Today in Rick Santorum: ‘Eat a Bag of Dicks’ Edition.

We hear a lot about State Rights, and too big a Federal Gov, mostly from the republican side. Here’s an example of ths issue from the Democrats side (hint: it’s not guns, gays, or God). Supreme Court Overturns California Ban On Slaughtering Downed Animals.

And as final proof that there’s something out there for everyone’s political bend, have you seen the Tea Party for Obama? Read through their posts, even if you’re not a fan of either the Tea Party or President Obama. Some interesting views.

On a side note, as an Obama supporter, I’m excited at the Prospect of Newt getting the Republican Nominee. Finally it’ll show the world what many of us have known for quite a while. The Democrats are the true Family Values party and the Family Values candidate is President Obama.

It’s been pretty busy around here with all our contracts, trying to squeeze in a bit of glass work and barely keeping up with house/laundry/groceries/meals. And I’ve been flu-ish, slow and dull. Luckily Mark hasn’t caught this. First year I didn’t have a flu shot, though we know people who’re sick and it was the first year they got the shot. Must be a lot of strains out there this season.

We did have a nice Skype with Rachel and Jackson. Rachel looks great, obviously pregnant and she’s keeping up with work and Jackson! He was looking forward to a friend coming over and football with Bill. Unfortunately we know how the football game turned out.

If you haven’t heard, Kay, the part time mime, fell off her unicycle and smashed her wrist. She had out-patient surgery the next day to repair it and put in a large plate with 4 big screws. I’ve seen the x-rays, the plate and screws are a lot bigger than I could’ve imagined. She’s doing great, will be out of the cast quickly — but her unicycle career is over.

Sarah and Randall had the official wedding and following reception at The Sequoia House, and it was great. The area was decorated fabulously, food was real good, the photo booth was a big hit, and of course, Sarah was a spectacular bride.

Thanks for sending your photos so all of us get to enjoy them

Mike and Pennie had their get-together on the 24th this year due to work schedules and Sarah covering her parents and Randall’s mom’s holiday spread. Yep, Randall made it home for the holidays and the public version of their wedding (this coming Saturday). He’s the one taking the picture of Sarah below. My favorite pictures were the ones where everyone is loudly and actively doing Michael Jackson on the WII and Tes can’t figure out what’s going on or how to get by!

Mad Mikes America: Obama on Mars

Information technology, instant connectivity, opinion overload, misinformation purposeful or snow-balled through social networking. Cook this, wear that, decorate this why don’t ya?, all thrown at you before the screen refreshes and moves on leaving you "so last minute". Some things stick, catch me enough to read in entirety, maybe even make it to a temporary book mark.

MadMike’s is always good at highlighting the silly, and the quick piece on Barack Obama time travels to Mars and other weird stuff, really shows a side of 2011 that MSNBC just doesn’t give you. But my favorite piece is the plea to the media in, Surging Santorum. Like most instantly connected people, I too chuckle over these turns of phrase.

This piece came out a few days after Mark and I had this conversation about how nothing on her ever moves. Newt Gingrich’s Wife Callista’s Prissy Style Problem. Wasn’t sure why it bothered us, but it really stood out. This is one take on what her lacquered look might be saying.

Having had several hundred tech interviews, I’ve been asked a lot of odd questions. Ones ranging from "who do you follow on Twitter" to "What’s the most unique question you’ve been asked in an interview, and how did you answer it?" So I enjoyed The 9 Oddest Job Interview Questions Asked at Tech Companies in 2011. If you like them, be sure to follow the link to the top 25.

For those of us who worry that maybe it’s all just paranoia on our part, apparently we’re not alone. NPR’s Congress Really Is As Bad As You Think, Scholars Say, really brought out the posters. Do browse through the hundreds of comments! The quotes are flying as well as a little name calling and opinion expressing.

This little post, with it’s few comments cracked me up for two reasons. It’s humor that comes close to the line, and because it was in a newsletter that treated it like it was fact. I offer you… Local Wal-Mart Apologizes for Accidentally Carrying Hanukkah Wrapping Paper. And for a little extra comedy, The 10 Craziest Economic Policy Ideas Of 2011, brought to you by Think Progress and the Republican elected officials/nominees.

It was a momentous moment that pretty much went unnoticed by the media. NASA Grail probes circling the moon on New Year’s Day. They are mapping the moons gravity with a pair of probes, trying to see which theories on why the moon is lopsided are correct. I’m betting on the two moon collision. Some other great posts are also linked to.

Find your lost camera by it’s film. Stolen Camera Finder uses the serial number stored in your photo to search the web for photos taken with the same camera. Really. With a growing index. Just something to keep in mind, just in case.

Surfing this blog, you’ll see that I have a strong opinion on Global Warming and how we should be acting now. Think Progress has another compelling article with great graphics debunking again a lot of the nonsense out there. Sorry, Deniers, Study of "True Global Warming Signal " Finds "Remarkably Steady " Rate of Manmade Warming Since 1979.

The paradox of technology

One of my favorite comic frames this year is from a specialty site on usability. The article is The paradox of technology and 5 ways to avoid it. The cartoon is shown to the left.

I look at a lot of web pages from all over the world. There are some incredibly fun things being done, even on ordinary business pages. This BBVA GlobalNet "Team" page has been made entertaining. Run your cursor over the people and you’ll see it.

And now for something warm and fuzzy. It’s the story of an elk and a marmot, Elk Stuns Idaho zookeepers. The big guy has a heart, or doesn’t want marmot in his water.

A not so funny info-graphic, but interesting it what it depicts How Riot Gear Has Changed Over the Years. This is the re-printing version (original NY Times is linked there) from gizmodo.com. Picked this one because of the comments it drew.

One last info-graphic. The Mega Companies Behind 90% Of Media, it says it all.

And finally, the most impressive article and recipe I’ve ever seen for potato latkes comes from a food editor at Bon Appetite. The No-Fail Guide to Perfect Hanukkah Latkes is sub-titled "How to Make 400 Latkes"! It’s a great recipe read, if you’re into reading recipes…

Hear it’s 2012 (that’s twenty-twelve people) already, and I’m still on my 2011 to-do list. Posting some of the photos and updates to this blog being one of them.

Mom was here the 23-26 of December, and while she visited we made well over a hundred bath bombs. This post did have to wait, since several West Coaster’s got them with their holiday gifts.

The bath bombs were made with a variety of spa salts (Premium Epsom, Bokek Dead Sea, Himalayan Pink), Grape Seed Oil, Baking Powder, Corn Starch, Citric Acid and a variety of Essential Oils. Recipe was an adaptation of one on Instructables.com. Turned out pretty good too!

Come on by and you can have some, or drop me a line and I’ll send you some.

We ended up celebrating Thanksgiving over multiple days this year, and it turned out to be a fun thing to do. The first T-Day was traditional, at Mike and Pennie’s. Endless food (nibbles, turkey, sweet potatoes, desserts, you name it), kids running around, good conversation in the kitchen, and football.

For the second one, we went to visit mom in Cloverdale where fall as painted the fields and vines. From there we went to galleries in Cloverdale and Healdsburg, pillaged through Goodwill bins, snacked at the Brew Pub while greeting friends, and ended with a dinner at the Francis Ford Coppola’s Winery and monument to himself. Coppola’s has the Tucker car, the Godfather desk, costumes, props and models from films including the ships from Marie Antoinette. And an incredible venue with swimming pool, cabanas, large reception rooms, restaurant, multiple tasting bars, etc.

Crystal Ornaments

Have to say I just loved this post about the dog who drives; Dog Takes Double-Decker Bus For A Spin. His owner says he’s going to change that break to make it harder…

VroomGirls.com seems to be the only car site specifically targeting women. Car kits, kid schlepping, you name it, it’s here.

I do enjoy spending time at PhotoJoJo, not only paging through all the incredibly cool stuff they sell, but reading all their great photo craft and odd things you can do with camera ideas (you can sign up for their email). The Photo Tunnel Book is just one example of hundreds of ideas and how-to’s. I’ve also created several Time Capsules — then you get great emails with photos from exactly 1 year ago.

Just waiting for the day these accessible biz cards (article) hit the market. Braille and QR codes (image) combined with large font. If you don’t know what a QRC code is, it’s the square on the card that you can hold your smart phone up to and it will take you to a web site with more information. Something for everyone here, and QRC’s can be designed to incorporate a logo or a neat graphic.

My Cracked sense of humor has once again got me posting a link to Cracked.com. This time it’s The 5 Current Genetic Experiments Most Likely to Destroy Humanity, if for no other reason than that great photo of a jelly fish/sea anemone/God’s big joke. Go look.

I like a lot of the stuff over at Viva Terra, though a lot of it’s a bit pricey. These Quartz Crystal Ornaments are pretty cool, and you don’t have to be Christian, have a tree to enjoy them. The Twisting Vine Candlesticks and These Buddah Bowls are pretty cool too. Think I’ll see if Harold might be interested in the Buddah Bowl. Looks like it’d go pretty well with his Neti Pots.

Tes Holiday 2011

Took Tes to the Eldorado Dog Club Holiday Photo Session for Charity. She didn’t enjoy it. Was full of ill-behaved dogs that were pushy and had owners who didn’t attempt to control them. Pictures OK, and all money goes to PAWS.

She did enjoy the photographer’s attention once we got past the unruly pack, though she didn’t get why the photographer’s assistant kept squeaking toys in her face, and that thought shows.

We both need to drop some weight too. 128 pounds exactly for both of us.

Though not a single piece, I sometimes wander over to The Christian Left for a refreshing read. Mostly look at their Tell It section, peruse the latest comments and read about others’ who just can’t grasp what’s with the extremists of the Religious Right. Its a reassuring read.

I’m a sucker for most of the climate pieces on Think Progress, and the recent one, How Media Bias Works Against Clean-Air Rules, is exactly what I keep trying to explain. It’s all in the way it’s phrased and where the emphasis is put. I love to say "I do nothing poorly" — as in I get myself in trouble when I’m idle… Another post of theirs, Water. Coal. Fracking. Texas. Sanity. One of These Words Does Not Belong, clearly outlines the consequences of the extreme water use in fracking, drought conditions in Texas, spending more water than they earn, and what state planners are seeing looming in the scary near-future.

Living near UC Davis, I’ve listened to, read, and watched tons of stuff about the recent events. The site Bicycle Barricade has some interesting posts, though the best so far is the Open Letter to Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi, a must read. Another interesting, continually updated post (on the left wing site, The Nation) is the one from Greg Mitchell The OccupyUSA Blog—Special Weekend Edition! — full of interesting links on things in the moment. And if you still haven’t enough, try Glenn Greenwood’s piece on Salon, The roots of the UC-Davis pepper-spraying, and how Wikileaks ties in. The last non-word though, is the moment of silence video. UC Davis Chancellor Katehi walks to her car. Good for you UCD!

Grit currently has a short and informative post that asks the question: Why are we eating bluefin tuna to extinction? It gives a concise explanation of the confusion in types of fish, the issues with things like global boycotts, and what’s happening to the Blue Fins.

Though not an opinion piece, if you missed the NY Times article on Older, Suburban and Struggling, ‘Near Poor’ Startle the Census, it’s a look at a new, growing, class of hard working people, the Near Poor. The Census Bureau on these stats: "These estimates defy the stereotypes of low-income families". This pretty much leads back to what the Occupy Movement is protesting and a post from Jay Rosen’s Press Think, Occupy PressThink: Tim Pool and a great parallel between an API (Application Programming Interface) and the movement.

Megan McCardle over at The Atlantic has a series of opinion posts on education and opportunity today The Tyranny of Meritocracy and the follow-up Elite Firms Fishing in a Very Small Hiring Pool, are a pair of short, to the point pieces.

Birthday Roses

Busy. Busy. Busy.

Had a fabulous birthday, with tons of well wishes, lots of conversation, too many gifts, with a Chinese meal out to top it all off. The roses were from Alan and Cassie, who are on their last day in North Carolina visiting the clan while Mason and Jenelle dog sit Quinnie. Yeah – that’s an iPad2. See what I mean?

Tes had her holiday photo taken by a professional dog photographer (a charity event) yesterday through the El Dorado Dog Club up on the corner, and we’re waiting to get our password to look at proofs. I’m just as excited as Rachel was over Jackson’s pictures, and no, it’s not pathetic. And yes, we did spend part of yesterday together making Egg-Free Liver Cookies to share with her doggy friends over the holiday. Athena’s allergic to eggs.

Mark, who’s contract would’ve been up on December 6th, has been informed by both the client and his agency, that his contract is in the process of being extended. He just doesn’t know if it’s through March or longer yet. Good news either way. Winter is always a tough time to find new contracts. Clients don’t want contractors on staff during periods when employees are likely to be vacationing or not giving the work 100%, too involved in family and the holidays.

I’ve been extended on the project through Delegata until the end of November and possibly a couple of weeks longer. Still working remotely for the CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission) — working very hard and in a pretty brain dead state once the work day kinda ends. Which is pretty much why I post here so irregularly.

Recently I’ve updated the Asante Africa Foundation web site after a successful annual fall event. They’ve got pictures of the volunteers, including me at my computer. Also recently posted the 10th annual Sculpture Exhibit Call to Artists for the Cloverdale Arts Alliance. They draw in some quality outdoor sculptures for this jurried event.

We hear that there’s going to be a huge bash at the Leonard Grossman’s on Wrigthsville Beach with the Bill Jones’ and basically the entire Vernon clan showing up, along with family of family and friends who are like family. Too far for us, though we’ll be thinking about them. Mark, Tes and I will be spending some of turkey day at the Michael Brown’s (and taking Grandma’s Potato Rolls), working on Friday and then spending a 2nd Thanksgiving with mom in Cloverdale on Saturday. Tes won’t be coming. She’d like being there, but hates getting in the car, and the drive itself. We’ll get to spend part of the day wandering through art galleries in Healdsburg, some even owned by people we know. Jill has moved Hammerfriar’s into a new two-story location I’m anxious to see.

I’d only had this cake once, and never made one — never had access to enough reasonably priced, ripe finger bananas.

Decided to try one with grocery store bananas – and it turned out to be about the best banana cake I’d ever made, though not at all what Mark expected a banana cake to be. Yummy rich, and with all the eggs, the bottom layer of the cake becomes something like a firm custard, as it cooks.

Vietnamese Baked Banana Cake

• 4 good size bananas, quite ripe, but not all black.
• 1/4 cup sugar (use extra fine for creamier texture)
• 1 can (14 oz) fat-free sweetened condensed milk (or not fat-free if you prefer)
• 7 eggs
• 1 cup melted butter
• 1 1/3 cup white wheat flour (or bleached white if you prefer)
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Slice the bananas thin and arrange on a platter. Sprinkle with sugar and set aside for 30 minutes (covered).
2. Preheat oven to 400.
3. Lightly butter a cake pan, and line with parchment.
4. Beat eggs until well combined, add condensed milk and butter. Be sure to shake the milk well.
5. Fold in bananas, and pour into cake pan.
6. Bake 1 hour until really nicely browned. It should brown over the majority of the top and be a rich, dark color.
7. Carefully remove from pan (it’s not that hard to do) and cool on a wire rack. We eat it warm or room temperature, and cold. traditionally it’s in the fridge for at least an hour or two before serving.