Warning: Nerdity Ahead

I was listening to NPR on my way to work this morning, catching the tail end of Culturtopia just as I was pulling out of the driveway.  They were talking about the things that made them happy this week. Someone said something that made them happy was the poet James Tate.  

He read a poem.

It made me happy.

I hope it makes you happy.

Teaching the Ape to Write Poems

by James Tate

They didn't have much trouble

teaching the ape to write poems:

first they strapped him into the chair,

then tied the pencil around his hand

(the paper had already been nailed down).

Then Dr. Bluespire leaned over his shoulder

and whispered into his ear:

'You look like a god sitting there.

Why don't you try writing something?'

Moonbase

     I'm all for space travel and exploration.  I'd love for future generations to colonize the moon and other planets. I'm an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy and things about outer space.

But Newt Gingrich is an idiot.

I submit to you first Neil Degrasse Tyson, everyones favorite astrophysicist:

Linky

I submit to you second the argument that an American Moonbase is against the law. Not just any law, mind you. It's against SPACE LAW! 

I submit to you third that even Warren Ellis thinks he's full of bullshit.

I don't normally get into politics on this blog. However, I hold firmly the opinion that Newt Gingrich is an idiot. It's nice to know that smart people like Neil Degrasse Tyson and Warren Ellis agree with me.

Grumpy Post

[Beware: snark ahead]

I hate it when people say "When I was a kid we didn't have [enter name of modern concept or technological device here]" 

Edison's kids said the same thing about electricity. 

It's called progress folks.  Move with the times.

[end rant]

Stop SOPA

Confused by what's happening today or what all the fuss is about?

Reddit, Wil Wheaton, and Warren Ellis (for those of you outside the US) - among many others - have pretty good explanations. 

Go. Read and inform yourself.

Then hie thee to Wikipedia, type in your zip code, and tell your local representative not to support S.968.

Thoughts in January

     It is approximately the middle of January. While we have only recently gotten our first snowfall of the season (thank you, global warming,) typically by this point in the winter we've been covered in snow for about two months.

     I hate it.


     I know, living in New England as I do, I should be used to the snow and the cold and everything New England winters bring. I'm not. People tell me I ought to take up skiing or snow boarding or some other winter sport.  I don't.


     I try to be more optimistic about it. Winter helps us enjoy summer more by comparison, right? And it's pretty, in a way.  For a little while.  Until it gets dirty and slushy and disgusting.  And we get to have nostalgic, Norman Rockwell Christmases.

 
     Norman Rockwell Christmases are over-rated.


    I try to keep my head down and trudge along in January.  Try not to think too much about it.  In February, I'm grateful for the short month; March I spend trying to catch whiffs of Spring in the air; April, I scan the forecast every day for warmer temperatures.

    There is very little to keep my hopes up in January.  Just the idea that I have two and a half more long months (at least) to get through until Spring.


   

December

     Wow. So I guess I fell off the radar there entirely. No post for over a month. Sorry 'bout that.  Things have been crazy here. Shows closing. Preproduction for new shows. New day job. Holidays. Traveling.

So, recap:

1. New job.
    Nothing too exciting. Receptionist for a real estate office. The major thing I have learned is that I find real estate to be incredibly boring. I see how it can be exciting for someone else (particularly the person doing the selling,) but not for me.  But it's a day job. I go in, do my time, then go home and forget about it. Not what I want to do for the rest of my life, but a decent way to pick up a paycheck while having plenty of time and brain power for other things.

2. Holidays.
   Christmas was nice. We went to The Boy™'s parents' house for the weekend.  I was sick, but it didn't prevent me from relaxing and having a good time.
    We're spending New Year's Eve with friends. I'm looking forward to that, too.

3. Traveling.
    First, there was the aforementioned trip to Downeast Maine. After New Year's, we're going to NY to my sister's. It's Dad's 60th next week, and the whole fam damily is coming to celebrate. I'm also looking forward to that. Haven't seen Parents, Sister or Nephews since June. And haven't seen my brothers or their families in two years.  It'll be a good time.

4. Shows.
   A tiny bit of a break right now.  Detritus starts rehearsal at the end of the month, then I'm pretty much booked through August.  This is not a complaint.

5. Derby.
   Still going great! We've added Tuesday practices and are now practicing three times a week.  I went up north a few weeks ago and had a great scrimmage with a couple of other teams.  We're planning another bout this winter, hopefully at home.  I'm looking forward to the Great Derby Social at the end of the month and the Triple D weekend in June.

   That's my life n a nutshell right now.  I'm home recovering from strep throat (aka Pixie Plague, as the entire derby team has had it.)  I'm hoping it's gone before we leave for Sister's.


    If I'm not back before the weekend, Happy New Year to you, Dear Readers.  May your 2012 be fantastic.

Laundry Soap

A few months ago, I experimented in making my own laundry soap. I've been using it for a couple of months and decided I really like it.  I finally ran out of the batch I made, so while making a new batch, I documented the process for you.

You will need: 

* 1/2 cup Washing soda (not the same thing as baking soda)

* 1/2 cup Borax

* 1 bar of Ivory soap (or 1/3 bar of Fels Naptha)

* essential oil (optional)

* container that can hold at least 1.5 gallons (I use one with a spout for easy pouring)

* grater, pot, spoon and stove (not pictured)

Step one: Grate the soap

Step two: put soap flakes in pot with 6 cups of water and heat until soap dissolves

(Before the soap dissolves, it kind of looks like thick potato flakes.)

Step three: add 1/2 cup washing soda

and 1/2 cup Borax

and stir until it's dissolved and remove from heat.

Step 4: pour 4 cups of hot water into your container

Step 5: Add soap mixture and stir.

Step 6: Add one gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir (note: one gallon is 16 cups.) If you choose to add essential oil, now is the time to do it.

Step 7: Let soap sit for 24 hours to gel up.  Use 1/2 cup per load.

A couple of things to know:

* The soap sort of a watery gel. I keep it in the basement (where my laundry facilities are) and found that it had a tendency to harden.  A good shake of the container before trying to pour the soap loosened things up a bit.

* This soap doesn't suds up, so don't get worried when it doesn't. You can still use your usual pretreater or bleach if you feel like you need to.