I have decided to call my Friday ramblings the "Friday Round Up" as opposed to the Friday Wrap Up. Round up seems to describe this link gathering better than wrap up.
The United for Peace and Justice March takes place this weekend in Washington, DC. For more information including schedules, etc., visit DC Metro Action. One of my favorite sites.
The Howard Association is a benevolent association whose home is in Norfolk, VA. This association was formed druing the 1855 Yellow Fever epidemic. 1 in 3 Norfolk and Portsmourth, VA residents were killed during this epidemic. People sent in contributions to set up a hospital, orphanage and to help lay the dead to rest. Gulf Coast and Atlantic coastal communities ponyed up supplies and medical personnel as well.
In the 150 years since the Yellow Fever Epidemic the money has continually been used for medical relief.
The Howard Association was merged with the Norfolk Association in 1986. Now here comes the very cool part of the story. When Hurricane Ophelia was approaching (this was around September 14, 2005) the Association sent a check for $50,000 to the Greater Baton Rouge Area Foundation. A Virginia newspaper story noted that this was in a symbolic way a partial repayment of a 150 year old debt to the Gulf States.
I can remember when I first learned to make a bechamel sauce. Now I was never overly thrilled with making sauces, all that infernal stirring was just too boring. I could be curled up somewhere reading the latest Nancy Drew instead of stirring some sauce. Bechamel was different though. I knew if I learned how to make a bechamel sauce then I could make my mothers fabulous recipe for macaroni and cheese. To this day I still make a bechamel sauce as the base for mac and cheese. For the milk component I've used cream, whole milk, skim milk, but they still can't compare with making it from milk that comes from a cow that you know personally.
I came upon deep fried macaroni and cheese the other day and boy did it set my mouth to watering. I can feel my arteries clogging just looking at the picture.
If you ever come to my home to visit you will eat a lot, laugh a lot and generally have a good time. However, upon entering my home you will be asked to either remove your shoes or to don a pair of paper booties. You know, the kind that are worn in operating rooms, by hazmat teams, etc. The reason for this is twofold. I don't know what you have been traipsing through all day, and you probably don't know what you have been traipsing through either. I don't want my home dirtied, and as an asthmatic I don't want to breathe all sorts of foreign matter from the outside. Perhaps I should invest in this.
And speaking of clean floors the folks from iRobot have done it again. I think everyone has seen or heard of Roomba. You know the cute, gliding,Frisbie-shaped vacuum cleaner. Well now there is Scooba. Scooba preps, washes, scrubs and dries your floor.
Have a wacky weekend.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Never Heard of Librarians
I guess the people who use these resources have never heard of libraries or librarians. Grrrr.
Things I've Learned
Before I get into the things I've learned let me say HAPPY AUTUMN!!! It's finally here. Pretty soon it will be my favorite month October and all will be well. Just remember starting today the veil between our world and the spirit world will get thinner and thinner until Samhain (Oct 31) when the spirits can finally pass through.
There are quite a few books out that have Things I've Learned as part of their title. Alan Alda has one, William Thrasher, and a host of others.
I thought I would write about a few things I've learned.
1. Never, ever, ever trust people. Especially people on the job. I will even go one step further. Try and not tell people too much of your personal business. Believe me they will use it as ammunition if they get the chance.
2. Never, ever tell anyone your hopes, dreams or even things that you like. Humans have a tendency to exhibit all sorts of odd behavior when confronted with someone elses likes. They will spend an inordinate amount of time telling you why you shouldn't do something, why something that you like is bad, etc. If you tell another human that you are going somewhere, and this is really exhibited to the utmost degree when you tell someone you have accepted another job; humans tend to get a very pained expression on their faces all the while telling you all of the bad things they have heard about the place you are going.
3. You can never really know anyone. Not 100% anyway. Every minute of every day we are all changing in one way or another. I know many of the things that I am interested in now I was not interested in 15 or 20 years ago. We evolve. Some of us regress. Or devolve, which I understand is questionable when talking about the opposite of evolve. Anyway I digress.
4.That it doesn't matter how liberal or racially evolved people think they are-when they get backed into a corner, when they feel that you are better than they are at something, all of their true "colors" come out and one can see how truly racially retarded most folks really are.
5.There are no stupid questions.
6.I've learned that money can buy just about anything, but it can't buy class.
7. I've learned that education can improve a person in so many ways, but trash is trash.
8. I've learned that generally when you say yes to something, you have to say no to something else. (that may have to do with my socioeconomic status more than anything else).
9.I've learned that women are just as filthy as men when it comes to not washing their hands after using the lavatory.
10. I've learned that your place of employment will only show interest in you when you give notice.
11. I've learned that there are drive-thru Starbucks.
12. I've learned that Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, and E. Ethelbert Miller, 3 of my favorite poets do not or in the case of Langston Huges did not drive.
13. That making one bad decision can alter your entire life.
14. That the older you get the more convoluted, sad and joyless life becomes.
15. That having hordes of money is truly the only thing that matters.
There are quite a few books out that have Things I've Learned as part of their title. Alan Alda has one, William Thrasher, and a host of others.
I thought I would write about a few things I've learned.
1. Never, ever, ever trust people. Especially people on the job. I will even go one step further. Try and not tell people too much of your personal business. Believe me they will use it as ammunition if they get the chance.
2. Never, ever tell anyone your hopes, dreams or even things that you like. Humans have a tendency to exhibit all sorts of odd behavior when confronted with someone elses likes. They will spend an inordinate amount of time telling you why you shouldn't do something, why something that you like is bad, etc. If you tell another human that you are going somewhere, and this is really exhibited to the utmost degree when you tell someone you have accepted another job; humans tend to get a very pained expression on their faces all the while telling you all of the bad things they have heard about the place you are going.
3. You can never really know anyone. Not 100% anyway. Every minute of every day we are all changing in one way or another. I know many of the things that I am interested in now I was not interested in 15 or 20 years ago. We evolve. Some of us regress. Or devolve, which I understand is questionable when talking about the opposite of evolve. Anyway I digress.
4.That it doesn't matter how liberal or racially evolved people think they are-when they get backed into a corner, when they feel that you are better than they are at something, all of their true "colors" come out and one can see how truly racially retarded most folks really are.
5.There are no stupid questions.
6.I've learned that money can buy just about anything, but it can't buy class.
7. I've learned that education can improve a person in so many ways, but trash is trash.
8. I've learned that generally when you say yes to something, you have to say no to something else. (that may have to do with my socioeconomic status more than anything else).
9.I've learned that women are just as filthy as men when it comes to not washing their hands after using the lavatory.
10. I've learned that your place of employment will only show interest in you when you give notice.
11. I've learned that there are drive-thru Starbucks.
12. I've learned that Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, and E. Ethelbert Miller, 3 of my favorite poets do not or in the case of Langston Huges did not drive.
13. That making one bad decision can alter your entire life.
14. That the older you get the more convoluted, sad and joyless life becomes.
15. That having hordes of money is truly the only thing that matters.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
ANWR
For those in the Washington DC area-
Congress is getting ready to vote on whether there should be drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. How drilling in this pristine wilderness could even be something under consideration is beyond me. Oh wait, that's right-we have to have gas for our Hummers and other equally obnoxious mobile freezers. Grr......
Join the rally from Tuesday, September 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the West Lawn (facing the Mall) of the Capitol. For more information go here.
Congress is getting ready to vote on whether there should be drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. How drilling in this pristine wilderness could even be something under consideration is beyond me. Oh wait, that's right-we have to have gas for our Hummers and other equally obnoxious mobile freezers. Grr......
Join the rally from Tuesday, September 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the West Lawn (facing the Mall) of the Capitol. For more information go here.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Book Donations for Gulf Coast Libraries
I'm posting the following information concerning book donations for the Gulf Coast Libraries that were destroyed by Hurrican Katrina. I got this information from Washington DC poet E. Ethelbert Miller's blog.
Subject: Texas Library Association is accepting book donations
The Texas Library Association is accepting book donations (can be from anywhere) to help the Gulf libraries prepare to re-open for business. The Association is accepting book collections to help libraries fill their shelves.
TLA will ship the donated materials to Gulf Coast states as soon as libraries are ready to receive the materials. To make a book donation, you can ship materials to Braker Self Storage, ATTN: Katrina Book Drive, 2607 West Braker Lane, Austin, Texas 78758.
State library officials in the Gulf Coast report that many libraries have been completely demolished. Those facilities will have to be completely rebuilt and re-equipped. The items most needed include new or very lightly used children's books, adult fiction and nonfiction, reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, almanacs), and Gulf Coast-area collections. They ask that materials have recent publication dates.
Since it will likely be several months-perhaps even a year or two-before libraries are able to take these collections, the Association has partnered with the Texas Mini Storage Association (TMSA) to collect the books and store them in climate-controlled facilities until area libraries are able to receive collections.
Ginny Sutton, executive director of the TMSA, said "We are thrilled to help in any way we can. We want to let our Gulf Coast neighbors know that we are here for them over the long term. We want library officials to know that our member facilities, led by Braker Self Storage in Austin, are very happy to help in this noble effort to replenish the libraries in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama."
Additional information, including information about local relief programs in the affected states, can be found at www.txla.org.
-- Robert P. Doyle
Illinois Library Association
33 W. Grand Ave., Suite 301
Chicago, IL 60610-4306
phone: 312-644-1896
fax: 312-644-1899
Subject: Texas Library Association is accepting book donations
The Texas Library Association is accepting book donations (can be from anywhere) to help the Gulf libraries prepare to re-open for business. The Association is accepting book collections to help libraries fill their shelves.
TLA will ship the donated materials to Gulf Coast states as soon as libraries are ready to receive the materials. To make a book donation, you can ship materials to Braker Self Storage, ATTN: Katrina Book Drive, 2607 West Braker Lane, Austin, Texas 78758.
State library officials in the Gulf Coast report that many libraries have been completely demolished. Those facilities will have to be completely rebuilt and re-equipped. The items most needed include new or very lightly used children's books, adult fiction and nonfiction, reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, almanacs), and Gulf Coast-area collections. They ask that materials have recent publication dates.
Since it will likely be several months-perhaps even a year or two-before libraries are able to take these collections, the Association has partnered with the Texas Mini Storage Association (TMSA) to collect the books and store them in climate-controlled facilities until area libraries are able to receive collections.
Ginny Sutton, executive director of the TMSA, said "We are thrilled to help in any way we can. We want to let our Gulf Coast neighbors know that we are here for them over the long term. We want library officials to know that our member facilities, led by Braker Self Storage in Austin, are very happy to help in this noble effort to replenish the libraries in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama."
Additional information, including information about local relief programs in the affected states, can be found at www.txla.org.
-- Robert P. Doyle
Illinois Library Association
33 W. Grand Ave., Suite 301
Chicago, IL 60610-4306
phone: 312-644-1896
fax: 312-644-1899
Friday Wrap Up(mostly cake)
For those of you in the Silver Spring, MD area that are looking for something to do this weekend check out the DC Labor Film Fest. The film festival is being held at the AFI Silver Theater in downtown Silver Spring.
How I missed this I will never know, but if you are looking for a blog and you just can't seem to locate it, Google Blog Search(of course) to the rescue. The writer of the wonderful Timberlines clued me into this. Thanks so much.
The Library of Congress(LOC) Memory Project is fabulous. One could literaly spend days perusing the many collections. One that I stumbled upon is the Women of Protest collection. The images are of various members of the National Women's Party. This group, formed in 1913, was dedicated to women's suffrage. The site also contains an overview, timeline and profiles of group members. The Suffrage Prisoners Gallery shows women that were imprisoned for their role in the suffrage movement. There's just something so surreal seeing these women in their period garb and thinking about them being in a jail cell.
I remember when I got my roommates list before I started my freshmen year in college. There were 4 names on the list. I could have just died. I was going to be sharing a room with 4 other females. I had always had my own room so I wasn't too keen on even having one roommate, much less 4. It all worked out well. The room was huge, I met Mon, and we took to each other like a flea takes to a dog (sorry for the rural analogy-they crop up from time to time). Mon and I decided to decorate our corner of the room with our favorite words. Mon's was "thighs". She loved how it sounded. My favorite word at that time was "mesmerizing". As soon as you came in the room that's the first thing you saw. In giant font "Mesmerizig Thighs". Apparently we aren't the only 2 people who had/have favorite words. Check out My Favorite Word. See if your word is already there.
For the last couple of years cupcakes have been all the rage. I started seeing some of the cooks on the Food Network making them on their shows. Here is a woman who is trying out a new cupcake recipe a week. Her blogs name-you got it-52 Cupcakes. Boutique cupcake stores are also all the rage. There's Sprinkles Cupcakes (Chicago and Beverly Hills, the Cupcake Cafe, and the Magnolia Bakery (can't find their site-do they have one?), both located in New York City. If you have ever watched Sex and the City, Magnolia Bakery is where Carrie and her cohorts could be seen wolfing down cupcakes. Yeah, right. We all know once the cameras were off the ultrathin ladies spit those captivating carbs right into a bucket. What a waste!!!! If you can't visit the Magnolia Bakery you can still give their recipes a try by reading their cookbook The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook: Old-Fashioned Recipes from New York's Sweetest Bakery.
Speaking of cake, check out Cake Fun. This blog features some incredible looking cakes.
One of the "cake" blogs reminded me of a place I have meaning to visit, but I just can't ever seem to get over there. Cake Love is a bakery/cafe started by Warren Brown. Warren Brown was a Department of Health and Human Services attorney who gave it all up to start a cake baking business. He opened up Cake Love and now he is going to have a show on the Food Network. His show is supposed to be called Sugar Rush. I don't see any information on the show on the Food Network site, but I'll keep you posted.
Have a wicked weekend.
How I missed this I will never know, but if you are looking for a blog and you just can't seem to locate it, Google Blog Search(of course) to the rescue. The writer of the wonderful Timberlines clued me into this. Thanks so much.
The Library of Congress(LOC) Memory Project is fabulous. One could literaly spend days perusing the many collections. One that I stumbled upon is the Women of Protest collection. The images are of various members of the National Women's Party. This group, formed in 1913, was dedicated to women's suffrage. The site also contains an overview, timeline and profiles of group members. The Suffrage Prisoners Gallery shows women that were imprisoned for their role in the suffrage movement. There's just something so surreal seeing these women in their period garb and thinking about them being in a jail cell.
I remember when I got my roommates list before I started my freshmen year in college. There were 4 names on the list. I could have just died. I was going to be sharing a room with 4 other females. I had always had my own room so I wasn't too keen on even having one roommate, much less 4. It all worked out well. The room was huge, I met Mon, and we took to each other like a flea takes to a dog (sorry for the rural analogy-they crop up from time to time). Mon and I decided to decorate our corner of the room with our favorite words. Mon's was "thighs". She loved how it sounded. My favorite word at that time was "mesmerizing". As soon as you came in the room that's the first thing you saw. In giant font "Mesmerizig Thighs". Apparently we aren't the only 2 people who had/have favorite words. Check out My Favorite Word. See if your word is already there.
For the last couple of years cupcakes have been all the rage. I started seeing some of the cooks on the Food Network making them on their shows. Here is a woman who is trying out a new cupcake recipe a week. Her blogs name-you got it-52 Cupcakes. Boutique cupcake stores are also all the rage. There's Sprinkles Cupcakes (Chicago and Beverly Hills, the Cupcake Cafe, and the Magnolia Bakery (can't find their site-do they have one?), both located in New York City. If you have ever watched Sex and the City, Magnolia Bakery is where Carrie and her cohorts could be seen wolfing down cupcakes. Yeah, right. We all know once the cameras were off the ultrathin ladies spit those captivating carbs right into a bucket. What a waste!!!! If you can't visit the Magnolia Bakery you can still give their recipes a try by reading their cookbook The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook: Old-Fashioned Recipes from New York's Sweetest Bakery.
Speaking of cake, check out Cake Fun. This blog features some incredible looking cakes.
One of the "cake" blogs reminded me of a place I have meaning to visit, but I just can't ever seem to get over there. Cake Love is a bakery/cafe started by Warren Brown. Warren Brown was a Department of Health and Human Services attorney who gave it all up to start a cake baking business. He opened up Cake Love and now he is going to have a show on the Food Network. His show is supposed to be called Sugar Rush. I don't see any information on the show on the Food Network site, but I'll keep you posted.
Have a wicked weekend.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Friday Wrap Up
Watercraft and trains have always been a fascination for me. I love all sorts of watercraft from rowboats to yachts. I find it fascinating that so many of our ancestors came to this country on ships; whether they were forced to come or came on their own accord they generally arrived here by ships.
The Ship List is chock full of ships' passengers lists. There's even information on marriages at sea and shipwrecks. Very interesting site.
I am always amazed at the wonderful items people choose to collect. I was aware that people collected all sorts of transportation timetables, and now some nice person has a site of maritime timetable images. I could look at these ephemera images all day. They are just amazing.
Uniball Vision Elite-that's my current favorite pen. I love the weight of it and how smoothly the ink glides across the paper. Plus it's refillable. I always, always, always use black ink. Or occasionally purple. I have been using pens since senior high school. I never liked pencils, and I was thrilled when I entered 10th grade and we were allowed to use pens. I even collect floaty pens, but that's for another post.
I suppose there are pen people and pencil people. One pencil person has an excellent blog on the subject Pencil Revolution. I have become totally fascinated with all of the pencil factoids and other information on this blog. Timberlines is another pencil blog, but this blog focuses on the pencil industry. Absolutely fascinating.
Take a gander at the world's largest pencil. The gentleman behind the pencil is Count
Count Anton Wolfgang von Faber-Castell in front of the family castle at Stein near Nuremberg. I have seen and used Faber-Castell products, but never actually thought about it being a family owned company. They have been making writing instruments since the 1700s.
Have a good weekend.
The Ship List is chock full of ships' passengers lists. There's even information on marriages at sea and shipwrecks. Very interesting site.
I am always amazed at the wonderful items people choose to collect. I was aware that people collected all sorts of transportation timetables, and now some nice person has a site of maritime timetable images. I could look at these ephemera images all day. They are just amazing.
Uniball Vision Elite-that's my current favorite pen. I love the weight of it and how smoothly the ink glides across the paper. Plus it's refillable. I always, always, always use black ink. Or occasionally purple. I have been using pens since senior high school. I never liked pencils, and I was thrilled when I entered 10th grade and we were allowed to use pens. I even collect floaty pens, but that's for another post.
I suppose there are pen people and pencil people. One pencil person has an excellent blog on the subject Pencil Revolution. I have become totally fascinated with all of the pencil factoids and other information on this blog. Timberlines is another pencil blog, but this blog focuses on the pencil industry. Absolutely fascinating.
Take a gander at the world's largest pencil. The gentleman behind the pencil is Count
Count Anton Wolfgang von Faber-Castell in front of the family castle at Stein near Nuremberg. I have seen and used Faber-Castell products, but never actually thought about it being a family owned company. They have been making writing instruments since the 1700s.
Have a good weekend.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Lines
There seems to be this new phenomenon of people not knowing proper line etiquette.
To wit, I went to CVS the other day and although I know better, I went at lunchtime. The line that I got in was quite long and of course there was only 1 cashier. After I was standing in the line for a few minutes another cashier went behind the counter to open her register. All of the customers start moving in place, patiently awaiting the magic words, "Next in line." The cashier did say the magic words and one person moved over. One person. Instead of others moving over and starting a second line, the line I was in become a feeder line for both cashiers.
Now this is not the first time I have seen this happening. I am a drug store nut so I am in CVS and Eckherd quite a bit. This has been happening more often than not for the past few months.
I have a theory that perhaps people are just too afraid of becoming a victim of line rage to take the initiative and move over and start a line. I'm sure you have been a witness to this sort of thing. Someone moves over to form a new line and someone starts shrieking, "I'm next, I was here. I'm next". So possibly to avoid someone have a conniption we now have "feeder lines". Any thoughts?
To wit, I went to CVS the other day and although I know better, I went at lunchtime. The line that I got in was quite long and of course there was only 1 cashier. After I was standing in the line for a few minutes another cashier went behind the counter to open her register. All of the customers start moving in place, patiently awaiting the magic words, "Next in line." The cashier did say the magic words and one person moved over. One person. Instead of others moving over and starting a second line, the line I was in become a feeder line for both cashiers.
Now this is not the first time I have seen this happening. I am a drug store nut so I am in CVS and Eckherd quite a bit. This has been happening more often than not for the past few months.
I have a theory that perhaps people are just too afraid of becoming a victim of line rage to take the initiative and move over and start a line. I'm sure you have been a witness to this sort of thing. Someone moves over to form a new line and someone starts shrieking, "I'm next, I was here. I'm next". So possibly to avoid someone have a conniption we now have "feeder lines". Any thoughts?
Lines
There seems to be this new phenomenon of people not knowing the proper line etiquette.
To wit, I went to CVS the other day and although I know better, I went at lunchtime. The line that I got in was quite long and of course there was only 1 cashier. After I was standing in the line for a few minutes another cashier went behind the counter to open her register. All of the customers start moving in place, patiently awaiting the magic words, "Next in line." The cashier did say the magic words and one person moved over. One person. Instead of others moving over and starting a second line, the line I was in become a feeder line for both cashiers.
Now this is not the first time I have seen this happening. I am a drug store nut so I am in CVS and Eckherd quite a bit. This has been happening more often than not for the past few months.
I have a theory that perhaps people are just too afraid pf becoming a victim of line rage to take the initiative and move over and start a line. I'm sure you have been a witness to this sort of thing. Someone moves over to form a new line and someone starts shrieking, "I'm next, I was here. I'm next". So possibly to avoid someone have a conniption we now have "feeder lines". Any thoughts?
To wit, I went to CVS the other day and although I know better, I went at lunchtime. The line that I got in was quite long and of course there was only 1 cashier. After I was standing in the line for a few minutes another cashier went behind the counter to open her register. All of the customers start moving in place, patiently awaiting the magic words, "Next in line." The cashier did say the magic words and one person moved over. One person. Instead of others moving over and starting a second line, the line I was in become a feeder line for both cashiers.
Now this is not the first time I have seen this happening. I am a drug store nut so I am in CVS and Eckherd quite a bit. This has been happening more often than not for the past few months.
I have a theory that perhaps people are just too afraid pf becoming a victim of line rage to take the initiative and move over and start a line. I'm sure you have been a witness to this sort of thing. Someone moves over to form a new line and someone starts shrieking, "I'm next, I was here. I'm next". So possibly to avoid someone have a conniption we now have "feeder lines". Any thoughts?
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Kanye and Stroopwafels
Kanye West will never know it, but "I got his back".
So finally the Prez came out and said these people weren't refugees. I have been complaining about this since the bozo started calling the hurricane victims that. Of course we all know what that's all about. If the majority of these people were white the word "refugee" would have never crossed his pea-size brain.
Somehow people's bigotry always finds a way to present itself. I am just so sick of all of the covert ways people find to cover their bigotry. Kind of like my place of work.
On another note to lighten the tone of this entry a bit I found a new treat. I have never been one for store-bought cookies. I had a baking mother and grandmother and I have always baked. Sure, when I was an undergrad my girlfriends and I would pig out on a bag of Chips Ahoy and Zingers, but that was in school where store-bought, high hydrogenated fats were queen.
A friend of mine was telling me about Stroopwafels. These Dutch treats are 2 very thin waffley cookies with a caramel filling sandwiched between the two waffles. Apparently they are called treacle wafers, caramel cookies wafers and syrup wafers. I love typing and saying Stroopwafel.
My friend is a big hot tea drinker and she said that she puts her Stroopwafel on top of her hot, steaming tea to melt the caramel. Well, I am not a hot drink person, but I wanted to try these cookies so I bought a box a Whole Foods and thought what the heck, I'll make some tea.
I put the Stroopwafel on top, hoping that no crumbs would get in the tea. That would totally gross me out. (yes, I'm 6) I just let it sit there for a minute or so. When I took the cookie off of my teacup the cookie was starting to bend so I thought great, I've achieved melted caramel.
These are very nice. Now they aren't my usual chocolate, but they are a nice, light treat. Even though I am not a hot drink person these were very nice with tea.
Here is some information on Stroopwafels. Here is some more information on this treat. The brand I purchased are Sandy Maple Farm Organic Stroopwafels that apparently does not have a website.
So finally the Prez came out and said these people weren't refugees. I have been complaining about this since the bozo started calling the hurricane victims that. Of course we all know what that's all about. If the majority of these people were white the word "refugee" would have never crossed his pea-size brain.
Somehow people's bigotry always finds a way to present itself. I am just so sick of all of the covert ways people find to cover their bigotry. Kind of like my place of work.
On another note to lighten the tone of this entry a bit I found a new treat. I have never been one for store-bought cookies. I had a baking mother and grandmother and I have always baked. Sure, when I was an undergrad my girlfriends and I would pig out on a bag of Chips Ahoy and Zingers, but that was in school where store-bought, high hydrogenated fats were queen.
A friend of mine was telling me about Stroopwafels. These Dutch treats are 2 very thin waffley cookies with a caramel filling sandwiched between the two waffles. Apparently they are called treacle wafers, caramel cookies wafers and syrup wafers. I love typing and saying Stroopwafel.
My friend is a big hot tea drinker and she said that she puts her Stroopwafel on top of her hot, steaming tea to melt the caramel. Well, I am not a hot drink person, but I wanted to try these cookies so I bought a box a Whole Foods and thought what the heck, I'll make some tea.
I put the Stroopwafel on top, hoping that no crumbs would get in the tea. That would totally gross me out. (yes, I'm 6) I just let it sit there for a minute or so. When I took the cookie off of my teacup the cookie was starting to bend so I thought great, I've achieved melted caramel.
These are very nice. Now they aren't my usual chocolate, but they are a nice, light treat. Even though I am not a hot drink person these were very nice with tea.
Here is some information on Stroopwafels. Here is some more information on this treat. The brand I purchased are Sandy Maple Farm Organic Stroopwafels that apparently does not have a website.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Could Not Have Said It Better...
I found this on the web, and I could not have said it better. Bloggers are passing it around and I thought I would join in.
"I grieve for the individuals in New Orleans as I grieved for those caught up in the tidal wave. As for those caught up in Bopal. And for those butchered in Rwanda. And for those living on a sea of oil in Iraq. And, you know, as a gardener and environmentalist I choose to focus my attention on the things I can change and work with. I try to garden and show folks how to garden in ways that are environmentally sound - that do not add to global warming and make our lives better. But it's really your choice.
"If we continue to elect politicians who - like Louisiana's governor - campaign against pollution control - then we'll continue to reap the whirlwind we've sown. And it's usually the poor who pay the steepest price - whether it's the poor in Fiji, Iraq or Louisiana.
"So yes, I think it is right that we stop and look at what's happening down South and try to help as best we can - with your prayers or more importantly your wallet. But if you ignore the root causes of these problems you are part of the problem and not part of the solution. And it really is your choice.
The author of these words can be found here.
"I grieve for the individuals in New Orleans as I grieved for those caught up in the tidal wave. As for those caught up in Bopal. And for those butchered in Rwanda. And for those living on a sea of oil in Iraq. And, you know, as a gardener and environmentalist I choose to focus my attention on the things I can change and work with. I try to garden and show folks how to garden in ways that are environmentally sound - that do not add to global warming and make our lives better. But it's really your choice.
"If we continue to elect politicians who - like Louisiana's governor - campaign against pollution control - then we'll continue to reap the whirlwind we've sown. And it's usually the poor who pay the steepest price - whether it's the poor in Fiji, Iraq or Louisiana.
"So yes, I think it is right that we stop and look at what's happening down South and try to help as best we can - with your prayers or more importantly your wallet. But if you ignore the root causes of these problems you are part of the problem and not part of the solution. And it really is your choice.
The author of these words can be found here.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Blatant
Today I am foregoing the Friday Wrap-Up to talk about the situation on the Gulf Coast. I know that I am with the rest of the country when I say how much it upsets, shocks and saddens me to see what is going on down South. The situation all over the Gulf is terrible, but New Orleans appears to be particuarly horrendous.
I am terribly upset about the governments lack of a response to this situation. Poverty and neglect are partly responsible for the situation in New Orleans, but I can't help but feel that if this happened in Beverly Hills or some other mainly rich, white area the response would be expedient. When you are poor and black or poor and white in this country you are given short shrift. The lack of response to me is nothing more than class discrimination and out and out blatant racism. There isn't anyone that can tell me anything differently.
I will never understand how a country as rich as the United States can be so totally unprepared for catastrophes.
These people have been without food, water, and medical care for days now. You can't tell me that the government could not have some sort of water drops or food drops for these people. I can't imagine what sort of person I would become if I had lossed loved ones or had no idea where loved ones were, had not had food or water in 5 days, was not able to bathe, and sitting around in stench. If you treat people like animals that's the type of behavior you are going to receive. I can't condone the lawlessnes that is happening at the Superdome, but put yourself in these peoples shoes for a moment.
The Internet community has really been active in providing information, creating wikis, and doing what it does best-linking people with information. This Katrini help-wiki is one of the best ones I have seen.
I will never be able to say enough positive things about the people who are opening up their homes up to total strangers. If you look on the Manpower and Volunteers Offered page you can read some of the posts from people who are offering aid.
I, like everyone else, want to load my vehicle with everything I can think of and head down there and do whatever I can, but that is not just not feasible for now. The way I was raised and the area where I grew up is filled with people who always lend a helping hand. To sit idly by while someone needs help is just not something I will ever get used to doing. At this point in time the only thing I can do is contribute money. I think everyone reading this knows the best organizations that can use your donation. I heard on the radio this morning that a lot of bogus organizations are cropping up so be careful to whom you send your donations.
As usual Hollywood has come forward and has organized a telethon for tonight (Friday, 9/2/05). It will be televised on NBC, CNBC and MSNBC. I think these are good things, but I also think with the money these celebrities earn they could all just donate a million dollars and call it a day. I am probably just being cranky here, but these actors, singers and athletes earn obscene amounts of cash. I"m just saying....
As with the rest of the nation, my thoughts and well wishes are with the Katrina victims.
I am terribly upset about the governments lack of a response to this situation. Poverty and neglect are partly responsible for the situation in New Orleans, but I can't help but feel that if this happened in Beverly Hills or some other mainly rich, white area the response would be expedient. When you are poor and black or poor and white in this country you are given short shrift. The lack of response to me is nothing more than class discrimination and out and out blatant racism. There isn't anyone that can tell me anything differently.
I will never understand how a country as rich as the United States can be so totally unprepared for catastrophes.
These people have been without food, water, and medical care for days now. You can't tell me that the government could not have some sort of water drops or food drops for these people. I can't imagine what sort of person I would become if I had lossed loved ones or had no idea where loved ones were, had not had food or water in 5 days, was not able to bathe, and sitting around in stench. If you treat people like animals that's the type of behavior you are going to receive. I can't condone the lawlessnes that is happening at the Superdome, but put yourself in these peoples shoes for a moment.
The Internet community has really been active in providing information, creating wikis, and doing what it does best-linking people with information. This Katrini help-wiki is one of the best ones I have seen.
I will never be able to say enough positive things about the people who are opening up their homes up to total strangers. If you look on the Manpower and Volunteers Offered page you can read some of the posts from people who are offering aid.
I, like everyone else, want to load my vehicle with everything I can think of and head down there and do whatever I can, but that is not just not feasible for now. The way I was raised and the area where I grew up is filled with people who always lend a helping hand. To sit idly by while someone needs help is just not something I will ever get used to doing. At this point in time the only thing I can do is contribute money. I think everyone reading this knows the best organizations that can use your donation. I heard on the radio this morning that a lot of bogus organizations are cropping up so be careful to whom you send your donations.
As usual Hollywood has come forward and has organized a telethon for tonight (Friday, 9/2/05). It will be televised on NBC, CNBC and MSNBC. I think these are good things, but I also think with the money these celebrities earn they could all just donate a million dollars and call it a day. I am probably just being cranky here, but these actors, singers and athletes earn obscene amounts of cash. I"m just saying....
As with the rest of the nation, my thoughts and well wishes are with the Katrina victims.
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