elizabear | Recent Entries

Okay, at least Google is trying. There's an update to GReader today that makes it less ugly. Not as easy to read as V.1, but tons better than V.2.

Lifted from

james_nicoll;

Andrew Wheeler on What Makes a Good Review?

Most books deserve mixed reviews; as the saying goes, a novel is a long piece of prose with something wrong with it. An honest reviewer honors that, dredging out the clumsy bits in the books she loves and talking about the elegant moments in the books she loathed ...

That makes me feel good about the YA review I just sent in about 10 minutes ago. I really liked the book, but didn't give it a star because it had some throwaway relationships that should have been better developed, or at least had an acknowledgment of why they were so shallow. I mentioned that flaw in the review, just as I try to say something positive if I can about a book I didn't like.

This is a very good article about reviews and reviewing, and not just for those doing the writing, but for those reading reviews as well. It hits many points

rosefox has always emphasized, including encouraging her bullpen to think about the appropriate market for whatever we're reading, and if we're not part of that market, to try to see the book through those eyes anyway. She trains us up right, and I think it shows in how many of us start working for her and end up reviewing for other editors, too.

"Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world." ~Jack Layton.

picked 8 from a choice of 13;

1 bunch scallions
1 bunch rainbow chard
1 bunch collard greens
2 heads butter lettuce
1 bunch escarole
1 bunch radishes
1 bunch salad turnips
1 bunch kohlrabi

(did not take: squash [1 piece? bah.], spinach [still left from last week's bounty], frisee [not really my thing], napa cabbage [just bought some], arugula)

pick your own (haven't done this yet);
strawberries - hunt and try your luck
snow peas - take what you'll use
snap peas - 1 pt
cilantro - 1 small bunch
basil
fava beans - 10 pods
flowers and herbs as desired

2 heads lettuce (I chose Butter lettuce, to go with a favorite Chinese lettuce cup recipe)
10 garlic scapes
1 lb spinach
1 bunch collard greens
1 bunch chard
1 bunch turnips with greens (7)
1 bunch beets with greens (3)
1 bunch kolrabi with greens (3)

pick your own is strawberries, snap peas, snow peas, and herbs, quantities unknown 'cuz I haven't gone to do that yet.

So - if you have kids and a video game system like a Wii, what are your house rules?

A friend of mine has entered the Neil Gaiman audiobook contest. Today is the last day to vote: if you could take a moment and vote for him, it would be appreciated!

http://neilgaiman.bookperk.com/engine/Details.aspx?p=V&c=29933&s=8034269

Okay, I know enough dancers and drummers to think this is really funny! (Okay, I was a dancer and drummer too, I admit it.)

Originally posted by

heeroluva at "Suspicious comments" and "Spam comments": LJ decision to 'block' spam is a big FAIL!

So I've been noticing in both my own journal and communities that I haven't been able to see some comments even thought it says there are more comments there than are actually showing up. Instead I'm getting a place holder that says (Spam comment) or (Suspicious comment).

Why are these showing up like this you may ask? In their rush to fight spam LJ has created a new filter that're AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON in ALL journals and communities, which screens comments that are made with 'suspicious links' ie links that are not on their safe whitelist, so pretty much the majority of the internet. There is no noted way to add to the 'whitelist'.

What really gets me is that they didn't inform people that they were doing this until a week after it was done and that it was automatically turned on.

So how do I turn it off you might ask.

That's simple. Go to your Settings, click on the Privacy tab, and half way down where it says Spam Protection uncheck the box next to "Comments containing a link to a non-whitelisted domain will be marked as spam and moved to a special section." This applies to both personal journal and communities and the opinion has to be manually changed in each one.

While I understand how this could be a good idea, I think they went about it in a very backhanded way, and have implemented it poorly. There was no message to anyone that the link has been screened. It's automatically done. This went on for over a week before they said anything about it. There is still nothing in the FAQs about it even. The only way I found out about this way going through the support pages where people were reporting similar issues.

Please share this!

ETA: This links really illustrates the problems.

Hope the movie actually lives up to this.

These amazing photos show the before and after views of the coastal areas hit by the tsunami. Just incredible. Slide the blue bar between the photos to the left and right to see all of each photo.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/13/world/asia/satellite-photos-japan-before-and-after-tsunami.html?src=tp

This is a local-ish guy, and I saw an article about him in my local paper because he has a few of his pieces on display in my town. I thought his work looked kind of neat. Then I went through the gallery on his web site, and I'm filled with respect and awe.

http://www.jayrogersboxes.com/

I especially recommend to you his gallery of portrait boxes, where he has created beautiful and utilitarian art works that deeply relate to the people they were made for.

The other galleries are cool, too.

Doorbell rings, E goes to the window and tells me it's a truck labeled "Atlantic Beef Company". I think about not answering, but decide it's my chance to point out the No Soliciting sign I put up after being bothered by too many door-to-door salespeople. Guess the guy saw it after he rang the bell, since he was exiting the driveway when I opened the door.

Must be the car in the driveway that makes those salesmen stop. Maybe I should have found a bright red No Soliciting sign instead of the black and white one.

A quick check on teh intarwebs shows Atlantic Beef Co has a BBB rating of F, and a Rip-Off Report saying the meat seems to be a decent price, but then is crappy quality and has a lot of hidden fat on the cuts. Other search results say there's a lot of high-pressure sales, and their cuts are 7oz when the salesperson said "about 9oz".

I'm glad my sign drove them away before I had to talk to them.

Dan had a wonderful insight - Charlie Sheen's quotes all sound perfectly in character for Bucky, the cat from GET FUZZY. Picture it - you'll see what I mean.

Lifted from a comment in another LJ.

At Boskone, one suggestion was that an SF protagonist wins conflict by being smarter, better prepared, or having better tools, while a fantasy protagonist wins by being a better person -- sometimes more magic or destiny, sometimes more morality or friends.

Great new phrase: "Sheenanigans".

"Silences make the real conversations between friends.
Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts."

~Anonymous

LIGHTS OUT, a new series on FX, debuts Tuesday night. It's getting very good reviews from critics. Bill Irwin has a recurring role as a "shady power broker".

It's kind of amazing that this wonderful man, known for decades as a clown and comedic actor, now has a second career wind playing dramatic bad guys (ref CSI, Law & Order: SVU, etc). Easier on the body, though, and should take him far.

I didn't think the show necessarily needed fixing, but season 2 introduced two female characters to balance out the three males. We're not caught up in watching, but I need to put these thoughts down after watching the first two episodes of the season.

Adding Mrs. Pucci seems okay - Winston is going to grouse about things anyway, and now he gets to have someone who listens to him. She's been somewhat useful without getting anyone in danger, and her money helps explain how Chance can afford what he's doing.

Ames, on the other hand, is a problem. I'm not quite sure what she's supposed to be doing in her role as a thief aside from a quick pocket pick in ep#2, but what she IS doing is diluting the fabulous character of Guerrero. Guerrero is so interesting because he's dangerous in a completely psychotic way while being smart and quiet and unexpected. Having Ames as his sidekick is pulling his teeth and making him look less effective, less unpredictable, and, well, almost cute. Bleah. I hope this gets a lot better in the next few eps.

The first thing that came into my head when reading this article is the number of people who have flicker-triggered migraines. What are the odds that "flickering faster than the eye can see" will cause problems for them?

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2010/12/28/ceiling_lights_to_transmit_coded_internet_data/

The Associated Press
Ceiling lights to transmit coded Internet data
Minn. firm says technique could ease Wi-Fi traffic
By Chris Williams
Associated Press / December 28, 2010

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Flickering ceiling lights are usually a nuisance, but in city offices in St. Cloud, they will actually be a pathway to the Internet.

The lights will transmit data to specially equipped computers on desks below by flickering faster than the eye can see. Ultimately, the technique could ease wireless congestion by opening up new expressways for short-range communications.

The LVX system puts clusters of its light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, in a standard-size light fixture. The LEDs transmit coded messages — as a series of 1s and 0s in computer speak — to special modems attached to computers.

A light on the modem talks back to the fixture overhead, where there is a sensor to receive the return signal and transmit the data over the Internet. Those computers on the desks are not connected to the Internet, except through these light signals, much as Wi-Fi allows people to connect wirelessly.

More at the link.

Irony is cleaning up a big pile of old papers and finding a book on clearing clutter.

Very interesting: my new review book lists the prices as $7.99 US/$7.99 Canada. It's about time the industry stopped punishing Canadians for buying books! The dollars have been very close for a long time, and I'm glad they're finally adjusting things.

I'm sad that the Baronial Great Council meeting has now dropped to an average of 15 people attending. Almost always the same people.

Council used to be a don't-miss event. 60-70 people regularly attended. Things were handed off, stuff got done and discussed, and connections were made.

Can it be fixed? Does it need to be fixed? Is it a relic of the past and not necessary to hold the group together?

Angry Birds has a graphics error on the Samsung Android that makes it impossible to play level 2-15. (Some of the lower ones were hard, but 2-15 is impossible.)

Fortunately, I have the option of playing it on my Droid.

Probably better for me that I won't have it in my pocket all the time when I have a few minutes to spare.

But GRR - I have to replay all of my levels again, and I was 3-star on almost every one.

Since his diagnosis of kidney disease, we've been hydrating Ben with sub-q fluids every two days, and he's perked up a lot and seems to feel much better. We've switched to Hill's Prescription Diet K/D; dry is out all the time, and I've started giving them the wet stuff about every two days. Some of their old food is out, too, and they nibble it now and then. I'm weaning it out. Phoebe likes the K/D wet food more than Ben, but I have seen Ben eating it.

Benedick is still losing weight, and so is Phoebe. From a high of about 11.5 lbs most of his adult life, Ben was at 9 lbs 10 oz when diagnosed last month. He maintained for a couple of weeks at 9-9, but he's at 9-6.5 today. Phoebe's high was around 8.5 lbs, and she was at 7-4.5 in September. Like Ben, she maintained that for a couple of weeks, but she's at 7-2.5.

They are both acting normally, patrolling the house, snuggling, being active, doing their cat things, but they need to stop losing weight and hopefully put some on. Anyone out there with CRF/kidney disease cats who can offer some advice? Google searches haven't really given me anything useful. I will start putting out the wet food every day, but I need something attractive to Ben.

Thanks.

The Lt I spoke to called back: he spoke to the officer, who said "he might have had the sun in his eyes" (lame- he was wearing sunglasses) and that "the lights were flashing on the bus, but the stop sign hadn't swung out yet". The Lt assured me that he has kids on the bus himself, and he'd reviewed proper policy with the officer. He also said he'd spoken to the Community Services officer, and they will be trying to put cruisers on my road during pickup and drop off, and that the DMV was also doing some awareness projects and they might try to team up for my area. So I'm glad I called all the way 'round.

As the bus slowed down to pick up Z, I saw a police cruiser coming the other way. "Aha!", I said to myself, "I know he will stop." Well, he did. But when TWO cars pulled around the bus and passed it as the lights were flashing, THE OFFICER DID NOTHING. As he drove by me, I shouted "Those cars passed the bus!", but he just glanced at me and kept going.

I have called the police and spoken to a Lt, who took my complaint and promised to get back to me today. Unfortunately, I was too upset to have gotten the cruiser number, so all I have is time, place, and a description of the officer.

Livid.

Current Mood: pissed off

these are officially licensed Sesame Street products:

I am thinking about ordering some unusual grains and flours through Amazon, but in order to get their good prices, the quantities are huge. Would anyone be interested in going on on these?

Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Garbanzo Fava Flour, 22-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4) - $17.17 ($4.29/bag)
Bob's Red Mill Adzuki Beans, 28-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4) -$25.29 ($6.32/bag)
Bob's Red Mill Light Spelt Flour UNBL White, 22-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4) - $17.60 ($4.40/bag)
Bob's Red Mill Whole Grain Teff, 24-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4) - $22.15 ($5.53/bag)
Bob's Red Mill Whole Grain Teff Flour, 24-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4) - $24.74 ($6.18/bag)
Bob's Red Mill TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein), 10-Ounce Bags (Pack of 4) - $9.23 ($2.30/bag)
Bob's Red Mill Organic Coconut Flour, 16-Ounce Units (Pack of 4) - $24.86 ($6.21/bag)

[largely lifted from DSR]

DSR caught a glimpse of something odd in the back yard, turned, looked more closely, and his brain clicked through: that's a very large bird -- that's a raptor -- that's a peregrine falcon in about a second. He grew up fairly close to the peregrine breeding program at Cornell University, and once his parents hosted a bird in their crabapple tree for a quarter hour or so.

The usual predator birds around here are red-tailed hawks, which are brown with red tails -- this one had a distinctly charcoal grey-black head and a striped belly. It was quite large, and thus probably a female.

The bird had caught and killed something, which I think was one of our yard bunnies. The prey was large enough that the bird had to grab it in one foot and start hopping along the yard in order to get enough thrust to take off.

There are peregrine falcons in Boston itself among the high buildings -- apparently they think skyscrapers make an adequate substitute for cliffs, and pigeons are tasty and plentiful.

Unfortunately, the good camera was unavailable, so DSR had to use his Droid. The Droid thought the window screen was more important than the bird, so sorry about the blurry shot.

Edit: may well have been a juvenile red tail - the markings look similar to the peregrine.

gaaked from

woodardp

Jewel puts on a disguise and sings Jewel songs at a karaoke bar. I love the crowd reactions to hearing this "office worker who only sings at Christmas parties" give such an amazing performance.

depending on the text, it's either H.P. Lovecraft or James Joyce. Interesting ...

Grabbed from

metaquotes because it's so awesome. Original post is here.

My earliest childhood dream was to be an astronaut. This was before I found out that they do not in real life get to go to other planets and fight aliens. So I became a writer instead and now get to go to as many planets and fight as many aliens as I want.

I think it worked out.

[Note: not to say working parents don't do a lot of the things SAHs do, but it's different when you do it ALL DAY. EVERY DAY.]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/22/AR2007052201554.html?referrer=facebook

TELL ME ABOUT IT ®
By Carolyn Hax
Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Carolyn:

Best friend has child. Her: exhausted, busy, no time for self, no time for me, etc. Me (no kids): Wow. Sorry. What'd you do today? Her: Park, play group . . .

Okay. I've done Internet searches, I've talked to parents. I don't get it. What do stay-at-home moms do all day? Please no lists of library, grocery store, dry cleaners . . . I do all those things, too, and I don't do them EVERY DAY. I guess what I'm asking is: What is a typical day and why don't moms have time for a call or e-mail? I work and am away from home nine hours a day (plus a few late work events) and I manage to get it all done. I'm feeling like the kid is an excuse to relax and enjoy -- not a bad thing at all -- but if so, why won't my friend tell me the truth? Is this a peeing contest ("My life is so much harder than yours")? What's the deal? I've got friends with and without kids and all us child-free folks get the same story and have the same questions.

Tacoma, Wash.
( really - what do SAHs do all day? )

According to Google, "A panting bird is overheated, overexerted and uncomfortable", which certainly explains the scene outside my window. There's a robin and about 8 house sparrows just sitting in the grass panting. I've never seen anything like it before.

Hmm. Long holiday weekend in July ... that must mean

Happy birthday msmemory and marysdress!

With the support of the New York Public Library, Improv Everywhere re-created a scene from GHOSTBUSTERS.

http://improveverywhere.com/2010/05/18/who-you-gonna-call/

Happy birthday, Liam!

From ResearchBUZZ:
Popular Science Archive Free Online for the win!
"I read an article in Wired last week that made me very happy: Popular Science is now online as entire archive, and it’s free! The magazine has teamed up with Google Books to make its archive available.
To search, you can start at http://www.popsci.com/archives ...."
(for the rest of the review, see: http://www.researchbuzz.org/wp/popular-science-archives/ )

If you like the tv show Castle, I recommend picking up the meta-tie-in novel, HEAT WAVE by Richard Castle. It's like reading an extended episode of the show, and made me laugh and smile while reading it. The book flaps are well worth reading, too.

Even if you don't watch the show, it's an amusing light romantic mystery. Won't take you long to read it, and it's fun.

Is there anyone out there experienced in raised bed gardening who can give us a reasonable estimate of the money involved in setting one up? We're thinking of two, each about 4'x8'.

DSR, feeling low energy and ill: "Do we have any chocolate-frosted sugar bombs?"
Z, gasping: "Those are REAL?!?!?"

We had a nice Superbowl party here at home with my folks and the kids. We explained a lot of the game to the boys, and they managed to make it through the first half. It was clearly bedtime at halftime, though, and I need to go back and watch the 3rd quarter and half of the 4th that I missed (and the commercials!).

My mom turns 75 on Friday, and she'd like an iPod. I figure we will chip in with my dad (and mom's winnings from Foxwoods yesterday) and pick one up at Costco.

I know there are a lot of different kinds, but I have no experience with them. What do you have and why, and are you happy with it? Would you buy it again, or would you pick something different if you had to do it over?

Happy Birthday, Bubba and Nikki!!

Cover story today in the Boston Globe Magazine, prominently featuring people we know:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/

No poll, since I have a free account. But here's the question:
Two Thousand Ten or Twenty Ten?

The radio news station I listen to seems to be pushing Twenty Ten.