Christmas 2012

Sausage biscuits are made. I tried something new. Mini sausage biscuits. Foggy this morning. Did not get to do luminaries last night because of rain but the kids involved enjoyed my reading of the night before Christmas and the treats that followed.

Control

Life is many wonderful things but it does not allow us to control and prevent horrible things from happening. We can control who we are and the choices we make. We can each choose to make the world a better place each and every day.

Film and Book

An important film for people to see (also in book form) is "We Need to Talk About Kevin".

Sandy Hook 2

As a follow up on the previous post, some of those who use God as an excuse to kill others even state that they are doing those killed a favor - they are assured a place in Paradise as they wete killed because God wanted it.  What sick  sadistic thinking.

Sandy Hook Tragedy and Religion

The massacre at Sandy Hook is almost beyond belief and explanation. Some people are saying we need more religion in our lives. We need To be careful with this thought though as some groups use religion And GOD as an excuse to murder.

Numbers

12/12/12 today! Life is good...

Sausage Biscuits

Just finished the sausage biscuits. Sausage rolled into the biscuit for a nice swirl. Sausage biscuits, old family tradition, fruit tart, current family tradition.

For Conspiracy Theorists and Reality

Polar wandering or Polar shift has been happening since 2007. It is about 55-60 KM per year. This messes up the Van Allen Radiation belt protecting earth. A few large coronal mass ejections could render this phone obsolete. A complete pole reversal would be very "interesting". Match this up with the planetary alignment happening in Dec. 2012 and maybe the Mayan's were right.

Four More Years

Four more years of well placed drone strikes.

Is there an ap for that?

Ways to Spend Money

The political ads have cost millions of dollars..  There are so many better ways to spend that money.

Living in a Swing State

This AM every TV ad break has been filled with political ads.  Yesterday, we got about five political calls!  And it was just mentioned on the news that Romney and Biden were visiting  somewhere in Virginia today.

It will all end soon.

Power Box

About one week ago the lights over the entire house began to flicker.  As we had heard at some point in time, we immediately called the power company.  Within only a few minutes, a repairman was at the meter box on the back of our house.  Apparently, old houses can have the bolts in the box come loose (or it is due to the earthquake). Our were loose and sparking! The power company repairman said we were close to having a fire.  So glad we called.  BTW, the power company is the only people allowed to open the meter box..

Hurricane Sandy

We began preprations on Friday so we are hunkered and ready. Fire in the fireplace and sipping hot coffee; still have electricity.

VP Debate

Last night we caught the tail end of the vice presidential debate and were shocked to see how Ryan was treating both his opponent and the moderator. His facial expression were insulting and rude. Scary to think he might become President; he might even be worse than Obama!

Impersonating FBI

Impersonating the FBI is illegal even if through email. If you get a false email, report it to them. They will be able to track the sender's IP address and arrest them.

Proved Correct 2

BTW rioting folks (re: Proved Correct post), now poeple will be very anxious to see the film. Thanks for bringing it to everyone's attention!

More BBC!!

Via our wonderful public library, we have discovered yet more great BBC shows. We are currently engrossed by a show called "Trial and Retribution". Every evening we look forward to the next case and story line. Another favorite of ours is "New Tricks". This show offers not only good cases but usually a hefty dose of humor. Bravo BBC!

Proved Correct

Apparently, a film was produced that makes someone not appear not in a favorable light so people are killing others and rioting in their countries. Guess the film was correct!

Google Has Screwed Itself

In an effort to strong-arm Adobe into supporting Flash for Android, Google has screwed itself.  August 17 it remove Adobe's Flash Player from its apps store leaving millions of Android users unable to play most web videos. the only videos that will play are YouTube ones.  What Google has not realized is that anyone with a Google phone (all Androids are Google phones) will never buy one again.  When consumers now see Google associated with phones they will run in the other direction!

Olympics!

We are thoroughly enjoying watching the Olympics!  Archery, canoeing/kayaking, rowing, swimming, cycling and shooting. 

We realized that part of the reason we like these in particular is that they are rarely on TV.

What a wonderful World celebration.

9/11

There are people who sat down with the 9/11 terrorist, ate meals with them, knew about what they were going to do and actually chose not to report it to the FBI and stop it.

9/11 was a stupid senseless act where thousands of people were killed and many thousands more who were hurt.  No one anywhere benefited and absolutely no positives came from it   Someone once said that the country pulled together afterwards and wasn't that good?  No, it isn't.  It could have been prevented and cowards did not stop it.  The terrorists think they were doing what they did for a "higher cause" - what junk.  Instead they could have done daily acts of kindness to others and those acts actually would have done something good - something real and positive.  Next time someone imagines (because that is all their "higher cause" was - imagination and nothing more) doing something to hurt others thinking it will result in some benefit, stop and look in the eyes of their own loved ones.  Imagine them dead as a result of their actions.  Maybe then they will stop or at least notify people who can stop senseless acts of violence.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a truly amazing film.  It is a powerful comment on how very personal 9/11 was to so many people.  Written through the eyes of an 11 year old who lost his father, the film has superb acting.  Recommended watching for everyone!

More BBC

We have discovered two more BBC shows that arewonderful:

• Hu$tle = a show about con artist that is delightfully fun and funny
• The Last Detective - Fun show about a detective who is a sweetie pie among a bunch of aggressive cops.  Cute fun show with good mysteries.

Verizon Is Bullying Again....Ho Hum

Earlier today, we got a call informing us that Verizon was forcing us to replace the line we have running up to our house with fiber optic.  When I asked if we had a choice, they said we could stop being a Verizon customer so we contacted Comcast.  We could have saved literally hundreds of dolars if we had switched awhile ago!!   Starting next week, our 3 business lines and 2 DSLs will now be Comcast along with our home phone.  Oh well...so much for Verizon trying to get us to switch to FIOS!!  And they will be out of  $350 of payments each month to their company!!

Maymont Adventure

We took a photographing trip to Maymont and here are some pics!

Benefits to Defoliation

Making lemonade out of lemons, benefits to having your trees defoliated by inchworms:

• Fewer leaves to rake when fall arrives
• Able to plant colorful sun-loving flowers in areas usually in the shade
• If we have hurricanes, there is less chance of trees coming down
• More sunlight to make colorful prism oatterns in all of our rooms (this is usually true only in the winter)
  

Inchworms Everywhere

We have been plagued by inch worms this spring - literally. All over our cars, our house and they have defoliated our trees. No shade this summer for the entire yard!

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2012/apr/03/6/tdmain01-inchworm-infestation-returns-ar-1813814/

Definition of Gossip

In recent discussions, there has been some questions as to what is considered gossip. To clear things up, here is the definition from Wiktionary:

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gossip

gossip (plural gossips)

1. Someone who likes to talk about someone else’s private or personal business.
2. Idle talk about someone’s private or personal matters, especially someone not present.
3. A genre in contemporary media, usually focused on the personal affairs of celebrities.

Kindly note the second definition. Thanks.

BBC Shows

Some BBC shows are viewed here in the US via PBS stations or BBC America. Many shows are not shown at all. So we have begun to venture into the world of BBC TV Via our local library. Here is a sampling of the shows we have watched:

• Midsomer Murders - really delightful murder solving show; lots of humor and copious numbers of bloodless murders
• Life on Mars - wonderful show that ran for two seasons; detective transports back to 1973; much humor that makes you appreciate our current existence
• Law and Order UK - British version of the US show; we watched on BBC America
• Rosemary and Thyme - bloodless murder mystery show focused on tow female friends who have a gardening business
• Blue Murder - humorous detective show about a DCI solving crimes and raising a famil

Roasted Beef Tenderloin

The following produced the best beef we have ever had.

After trimming the tenderloin, sear it in olive oil. Place the tenderloin in a lightly oiled (olive oil) roasting pan. Pour oil from the searing pan over the tenderloin. Salt and pepper the beef then turn it over. Drizzle olive oil on the upturned surface and then salt and pepper it.

Roast tenderloin in 325 degree oven for 22 minutes per pound. Hand slice thin and enjoy!

Wallander

BBC and PBS have had three seasons of a mystery show, "Wallander". We have found the cinematography suberb, the plots intriguing, and the acting top-notch. Excellent TV show.

Waldorf Salad Time ansd Space Family Way

This is an adaptation of the Joy of Cooking version of Waldorf Salad which calls for grapes and walnuts.

2 red delicious apples, cored and diced
2 green apples, cored and diced
1 celery heart, cut into bite size pieces
1 c raisins
1/4 c chopped pecans or pecan bits
3/4 c mayonnaise

In a large container or serving bowl, mix apples, raisins, celery and pecans. Add mayonnaise and stir until completely blended.

11/24/11

Sausage biscuits are all made
The Christmas tree is up
A fire in the hearth
Now for Turkey and the stuff

Portal 2

Wow. "Portal 2" is an amazing game. Incredible brain work is required to solve the puzzles. We are playing the XBox 360 version and am enjoying it night after night. It has even occurred to us that designing the game would have been fun. Highly recommended to anyone.

Sausage Biscuits

A favorite of mine since I was a kid was the creation of Sausage Biscuits for Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings. This is a tradition I carry on. Not that sausage biscuits are hard but I have made them a bit easier.

Buy 2 tubes of Pillsbury Grands Flaky Original biscuits.

Buy a 1 lb of Jimmy Deans regular premium pork sausage.

Take out the biscuits and mash them together into one lump. Roll out the biscuit dough on a cutting board or something making it relatively flat and square. Take sausage and using chunks, spread it over the big square biscuit. Roll the dough with your hands from the bottom up into a sausage swirled tube. Cut the dough roll into 1/2 inch sections and place on a greased cookie sheet.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook 14-17 minutes.

Makes about 16 sausage biscuits!

Richmond times Dispatch Article

Nice article on my SMV show. http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/rtd-entertainment/2011/nov/17/tdweek13-the-art-of-math-and-science-at-the-scienc-ar-1464265/

The art of math and science at the Science Museum

"Fractal 1" by Melissa Holly is part of an exhibit at the Science Museum of Virginia.

By: Times-Dispatch Staff
Published: November 17, 2011

» 0 Comments | Post a Comment

The Science Museum of Virginia is exhibiting "The Beauty of Math and Science," a series of paintings by Richmond artist Melissa Holly. The artist has studied math and science for most of her life in tandem with art. She notes that the endeavors may seem contradictory but aren't because they share the study of patterns — a subject she finds fascinating.

"The beauty of math and science is everywhere!" she noted in her artist's statement. "When I look at a verdant landscape, I not only see all the wonderful combinations of patterns and colors in the leaves and plants, but also the beauty of the science behind the scene."

The exhibition runs through Dec. 30 at 2500 W. Broad St. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For details, call (804) 864-1400 or visit www.smv.org.

Jo Lord

Dissertation on Google

From 24 years ago, it is now out on Google books!

http://books.google.com/books/about/Differentiability_of_Lipschitz_continuou.html?id=-jyHNwAACAAJ

Alias

We have gotten 2 seasons so far from the library of the older TV show by JJ Abrams called "Alias". What a treat! Great acting, fun music, and spy actionmixed with fringe science! Hard to beat!

L.A. Noire

We have begun to play LA Noire. It is fun and the programming is amazing. The game is programmed to have many scenarios. In fact, we have discovered one that is not in any of the game walkthroughs.

In "A Marriage Made In Heaven" towards the end, you can go after Sheldon for the hit and run but you can also go directly from the morgue to the Patterson's house and arrest them. This avoids a long, difficult (for us) car chase and closes the case. We found this a better way to end the case.

Response from the Fed

The Federal reserve web site stated that responses usually take 2 weeks.  we heard back within 2 hours.  They are reporting the situation to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for further investigation.

Our local branch manager told us the same thing was realized by another customer too.  It was also obvious that she sees what is being done by Wells Fargo as "not quite right".

Wells Fargo's Hidden Money

After the Depression when people did "runs" on banks, withdrawing all of their funds only to find that the banks had loaned out all of the money, the US government made banks keep a percentage of their account balances in the Federal Reserve.  Originally, the banks actually had to keep a percentage of their account balances at the fed.  Now banks are allowed to do temporary barrow funds from the Fed (at the Fed rate).  This is all based on banks accurately reporting their funds.  Wells Fargo has found a way to hide money.

As an example, let's say you deposit $5000 into your Wells Fargo account.  The deposit consisted of a $5000 check drawn on another Wells Fargo account. What Wells Fargo is doing is immediately removing the $5000 from the account upon which the check was written but not giving credit for the deposit until 24 hours later.  The $5000 becomes "hidden" money as it is no longer in the original account but it has not been deposited into the other account.  For 24 hours, this money is in neither account.  Now imagine this across billions of accounts.  This huge amount of money becomes "hidden" and will not be reported to the fed as part of Wells Fargo account structure requiring a matching reserve at the Fed.

If banks are allowed to get way with practices such as this, the US economy is in much greater trouble than billions of dollars in national debt.

Wachovia vs Wells Fargo

Overall the transition has been smooth. However, today, we discovered a methodology used by Wells Fargo's Float Management department that is very questionable from a legal standpoint. Wells Fargo is falsifying their reporting data to the Fed on their balances. Later, I will explain this further.

EARTHQUAKE

We are okay but WOW. We were at home when the quake hit. Our first and holy $%$#! I wonder if we will have aftershocks...

Programming a Comcast DVR

Here are some things you can do with your Comcast DVR box that few people know about.

First, all of these techniques are done with your DVR OFF and your TV ON. This is extremely important.

Take your remote and point it at the box. Locate, on the lower right, the small button that says "HD/Zoom". Hold this button down until a blue screen shows up on your TV. the screen will give you instruction concerning the buttons the in the upper central part of your remote. There are three buttons labeled A, B and C. The A button is in a yellow triangle, the B button is in a blue square and the C button is in a red circle. Follow the instructions on the screen to set up or reprogram your DVR. It also might be useful to have your TV manual with you when you do the set up so you can make the TV's specs. This same menu system can be found by holding down the "Guide" button down simultaneously with the "Info" button on the front of the DVR (again with the box off).

Another way to program your DVR (again with DVR off and TV on) is to hold down the "guide button". A screen will be displayed that has a black background and highlighted information. If you press the down directional button (down button is one of four surrounding the OK button) you can then go to the various changeable areas and make alterations. This is a much more technical set of instructions, but these can make a bigger difference. As an example, we lost power a couple of days ago. When we got it back, the TV image seemed fuzzy. i hit the zoom button to see the setting and noticed that the settings were at 480 i when our TV is 1080i. Following the above instructions, I was able to reset the DVR to recognize our TV!

Tour de France Ends

What an exciting race this year! During the last few stages of the race there were several switch ups. The first Australian ever to win, Cadel Evans, was the final winner with the yellow jersey. Mark Cavendish was the winner of the green jersey. We have had so much fun watching this race over the last several weeks!

Tour de France Weather

France had a severe drought so the rain is thrilling the French. However, the cyclists in Tour de France are tired of it. This year, there has been more rain than sun. Also many more accidents (several due to back wheels locking on turns - one rider ended up in bushes) than typical.

We watch it and then watch it again. Love the shots of France and adore the announcers!

New Game

Here is a link to a new game: http://lifesspacestation.com

Check it out!

What Romans and Beethoven Had In Common

In the previous post, the analysis of Beethoven's hair (553 strands!) was discussed. Well, he had much in common with the Romans. We now know that the Romans used lead to make eating utensils. Glazes on pottery also contained lead; their plumbing was almost entirely lead based. They also enjoyed a sweetener made from boiling grape juice in lead-lined vessels producing a sweet liquid called "sugar of lead". Could this have led to the demise of their culture?

Beethoven's Problems

Recent analysis of Beethoven's hair explained why his life was fraught with illness, including deafness - he suffered from lead poisoning. Researchers think he got the lead poisoning from his frequent visits to spas. In fact, Beethoven had 100 times the normal levels of lead in his system!

Tour de France

Watching the Tour de France is a wonderful travel log. The cameras are mounted on motorcycles so the close ups of the riders can be discerning. But the aerial shots are incredible. Yesterday included a shell of a gray stone cadtle. Absolutely beautiful!