Thing Place

http://AlphasInBeta.com/port.html Creativity is work. But it's worth it. Here's where I record the fun, frustration and ultimate(?) victory(?) that will maybe(?) no doubt result.

[paskeyland]

I was making chili with anchos (dried poblano peppers) when I thought, "Smokey, sweet... Hey, this would be interesting in coffee!" So I ground some in my coffee grinder, mixed them into water, honey, cane sugar and cinnamon, brought them to a boil and then made a sort of not-so-simple syrup. Here is my Ancho Cinnamon Latte! I love the way the spice, honey and anchos blended into an instantly sweet sip with just a bit of smoke and heat on the back end. Next time I would grind it a bit more until it was a finer powder that mixed completely into the syrup. I probably should have strained this first syrup to avoid bits of chili floating in the coffee.

[paskeyland]

This, along with homemade lemonade iced tea, might be my summer thing. I cut seedless watermelon into slices about an inch wide, froze it, then cut it into cubes, added about 12 to a blender with the juice of half a lime and about one tea spoon of Morena pure cane sugar. Blended it into a slush. So delicious. I eat it with a spoon and sip the rest with a straw. Because there's no added ice, it's just pure fruit fiber without being watered down in flavor. I think this would also be good with cantaloupe, but maybe honey instead of sugar for that.

[paskeyland]

Thanks to an early birthday gift from Kelli and Daniel, I will be going tomorrow to C2E2! I don't even know how many times we've gone now. I know it's been every year but the very first. Anyway, I never even know what celebrities are set to appear at these things until the day before. I got all excited and then immediately bummed to read under Cancellations Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jon Bernthal and Michael Rooker. But LUKE CAGE Mike Colter will be there, along with a bunch of kids from Stranger Things, and Zachary Levi and geek extreme Wil Wheaton. Sounds like fun. Plus, the final con appearances of Stan Lee before he goes into the Disney Vault.* *I'm kidding?

[paskeyland]

Library

Working out of a library today. The patrons here are such characters. All flailing arms and eyes flagging down anyone who looks like they may be able to remedy their dire straits with solutions of "click here" or "first you have to turn it on." One old man I've grown to both sympathize with and smile at the sight of makes his presence known with a series of sharp, heated "oh shit"s uttered in that too-loud whisper way. One day I suspect I will be in that position, when technology and my knowledge of it widens too greatly. But for now I feel I could blow the mind of a senior trying to use the dated public library devices as she surmises she is not really "with the times," letting her know that the times in this place are behind the times, as well.

[paskeyland]

Dream

In my dream I was in line at the checkout with a can of shaving cream, a pack of gum and a sense of accomplishment. The checker picked up a microphone and called out "CAN I GET A FACT CHECK ON A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT?" . . . "Sorry sir, I can't sell this to you."

#WOPWOP

[paskeyland]

Keyboard controller idea

Someone needs to make a keyboard controller where every key has a vibrato/whammy bar function (instead of the vibrato joystick often on the left side). My instinct when playing a key is to apply vibrato on the note I'm playing rather than on another control somewhere else on the board. This would also mean that only certain notes could have vibrato, rather than how the joystick applies vibrato to every key that is played at the time.

Mechanically speaking, it wouldn't have to be a sliding hinge type of thing on each key (expensive and too easy to break or wear down). Maybe it could have the functionality of those light switch dimmers that you are able to slide your finger over to to control light level. Basically, this would allow the vibrato function on each key while still reserving the up and down functionality for the semi- or full-weighted piano key feel.

Someone please Kickstart this for me.

Regards, David

[paskeyland]

Baking Powder vs Baking Soda

If you're like me, sometimes you're just sitting there and you wonder, "How are baking soda and baking powder different? Can I use them interchangeably? After all, they both have the word 'baking' in them, and that's what I'm doing." This is a very interesting piece for someone who has thoughts like that. http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2015/06/11/baking-powder-vs-baking-soda/

[paskeyland]

Tonight

Tonight I was holding my son Daniel in my arms, sitting in the chair in the dark in his room before bed. I had just said a goodnight prayer and softly sang the gentle lullaby "MLK" by U2, a nightly ritual for us ("Sleep, sleep tonight, and may your dreams be realized..."). Suddenly, Daniel began to make little musical sounds and I realized he was singing. It was the names of people and creatures he knew and loved ("Kitty cat, Momma Honey, Cocoa doggy, PopPop...") and it became clear he was singing a prayer. It was like witnessing a shooting star or the Northern Lights, such a beautiful thing that you just have to shut up and take it in. Only minutes earlier, he was blowing his nose with a baby wipe that I realized was what he had used on the potty to wipe his butt. So you never know what you're gonna get, but it's always something. THE END

[paskeyland]

Homemade pizza had to happen last night... And so it did! I made a no-rise whole-wheat crust, topped with fire-roasted diced tomato, purple onion, Napa cabbage, ham and three cheese.

[paskeyland]

My son. Loves the Jack Black Yo Gabba Gabba.

[paskeyland]

Fall is for lovers...of hearty food...

[paskeyland]

Good morning

[paskeyland]

Made bread again tonight. So delicious.

[paskeyland]

Iced tea. Because it's "too late" for coffee and "too early" for beer.

[paskeyland]

Somehow, all the cool cache accrued that led to be asked to serve as life coach left the instant he replied, 'Sure. Can you pay me in beer?'

[paskeyland]

SETTING: Daily Planet newsroom CLARK KENT, mid deadline, takes off glasses and rubs eyes. JIMMY OLSEN, LOIS LANE, together: Hey...waitaminute...! CLARK KENT, putting glasses back on: What? JIMMY, LOIS: Oh, nothing... Now where were we...? ANNNND... SCENE!

[paskeyland]

Thoughts on Alan Moore and “Unhealthy Escapism”

I would agree with this. BUT...most people these days are interacting with these superheroes in movie theaters, and THAT audience is skewing wide, from kids through adults. Apparently, the cinematic universe fandom is not spilling back down to the comic books themselves for many people. That's okay, except that it may prove challenging for any new comic characters to make the leap to the big screen, since it's probably unlikely to get a studio to back an untested "indie" source than a powerhouse like Marvel or DC. We will reach a saturation point with superhero movies (some would say we're already there! LOL), and that could potentially lead to fewer but (hopefully) better films as moviegoers begin to get burned by mediocre films.

http://www.cbr.com/alan-moore-criticizes-modern-superhero-stories-as-unhealthy-escapism/