#drgaellon

[copperbadge]

Thought you might be interested to know that the last two episodes of the "Proof" podcast (from America's Test Kitchen) both focused on the Chicago Italian Beef.

I saw! I haven't listened yet, though, because I've found I'm much more amenable to podcasts if they're about stuff I don't already know about. It's awful, but for example I can't listen to movie podcasts if they're about movies I've seen, because I'll start fights with the podcasters in my head, and it's frustrating because generally I can't/won't be able to express my opinions to the podcasters in reality. I even have a hard time listening to Citycast Chicago purely because I live there.

I probably will eventually, but it'll take me some time. I have a system for sorting podcasts into "listen immediately" "listen because it's good for you" "stuff to catch up on" and then way at the bottom "listen when you're feeling especially emotionally stable."*

I AM glad that the Italian Beef is getting out there now, because I've been evangelizing it for years over the deep dish pizza as the best food for a tourist to go in search of. I'm bummed it's become popular because of The Bear, which I disliked, but I will put aside my antipathy in the face of introducing more people to the best sandwich in the midwest.

Also I'm getting really good at making it myself! Although if I want to step up my game the next step is to acquire a deli meat slicer and that might be a bridge too far.

* Or intoxicated. Sometimes you just need a cocktail or two before you get into the Serious Business

[letsgostealthelouvre]

This is a seven-bladed penknife or “surgical kit” which makes me really glad I live in the 21st century. I might die in poverty if I get cancer in this country, but at least nobody’s using that pick on the right on my insides.

[ID: A penknife with a gold handle and seven blades arrayed outward from the handle like a fan; there is one triangular blade like a scalpel, four square blades, one pointed blade like a stiletto, and one that has a hook on the end. It looks both vicious and like anyone dealing with the business end of one of these was going to suffer.]

[bomberqueen17]

drgaellon reblogged your post and added:

PSADo NOT use bleach solution to clean your skin!!!!

oh my god no!!! do not!!!! you are correct!!!!

IDK if I didn’t make it clear enough but in my post about sanitation, the point of bleach solution is that it can sanitize a clean surface. it can’t sanitize anything where there’s organic material that would be harboring microbes. guess what your skin is!!!!!!!!

your skin is organic material!!!!

[sigh. before we had a handwashing sink in the slaughterhouse (before we were 5a-certified and state inspected and ostensibly were doing far fewer birds {ahem the previous owners of the farm were not really......... obeying laws}) we had a hose, soap, and then a bleach bucket (which was, at least, at the proper dilution, mostly), and yes, we would wash our hands by holding the hose in alternate hands and spraying them off with cold water, and then we’d dunk the hose end and our hands into the bleach bucket, and it was Not Ideal and was absolutely terrible for your skin, but nobody got sick from it so i guess it was okay? Don’t do this, kids. Just wash your hands. AND DRY THEM. If I had a nickel for every time I watched someone do a fantastic job washing their hands and then shake them off and then absently WIPE THEM DOWN THE SIDES OF THEIR CHICKEN-SHIT-COVERED PANTS I would have a lot of nickels, kids. DRY YOUR HANDS ON A PAPER TOWEL OR CLEAN CLOTH TOWEL and NOT YOUR PANTS.)

[1lostone]

drgaellon reblogged your post and added:

As you’ve likely realized, they aren’t “stealing”...

Hi there @drgaellon !  I think you’re confused about my post. Lord knows it’s easy enough to do with everything going on.  I was specifically posting about the Woodsign group of apps, and they absolutely did steal content and put it behind a paywall. 

The second app is actually not just one app, but a collection of them by a company called Woodsign j.d.o.o. The apps are available in the Apple app store. They are called Harry Potter Fan Fiction, P.J. Fan Fiction, K-POP Fan Fiction, Bulletproof Boys Scout / ARMY, 1D Fan Fiction, MCU Fan Fiction, Fantastic Beasts Fan Fiction, Sherlock Homes Fan Fiction, Slashfic, TWD Fan Fiction, and Real Person Fiction. These apps do appear to be redistributing fanworks. They also charge for access to many fanworks. We cannot say for sure that all works contained on these apps are being redistributed without permission, or that all of the works contained on these apps are from AO3, but user concerns and Tumblr discussion suggest that at least some are. 

 After people started complaining, Apple agreed, and took down the site.  I think you’re talking about pocket reader, etc.  AO3 just posted a post for clarification. (That’s what I quoted above, emphasis mine) and you can read about them here. :) https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/15103 Thank you though! 

[copperbadge]

dignitywhatdignity

Is the Steampunk Boot still available?

I do still actually have the steamboot around here somewhere, but it’s elderly and not fitted for this particular injury. I’m trying to decide how to trick out this boot. I don’t think I want to do steampunk again although I can’t deny putting brass fittings on the boot really classed it up. I’m thinking maybe woodgrain this time, some embroidery in the Fraktur style perhaps. 

I’ll dig out the steamboot photos and post those later today though because really that was so much fun. 

drgaellon

We really do need to wrap you in bubble wrap, don't we?

I had such a good run of not breaking bones, though! I mean yes okay there was the concussion but between the broken ankle and the concussion there were years and years, and the concussion was two years ago! 

Also I can’t even blame this one on the ADHD. This was pure “you’re getting older and your bones are brittle.” 

I take so much calcium. SO MUCH. 

memprime

So, no Halloween marathons?

I was supposed to do the Crypt 5K AND the Carrera De Los Muertos this month :( I’ll still go, but I absolutely can’t even walk the Crypt Run, and it’s dubious about the Carrera. 

[copperbadge]

FAR FEEV SEX

@drgaellon on AO3 gave to the fountain fundraiser and requested: Torchwood, Jack/Ianto, "Trying to Communicate" (yes, I want to see what you can riff off your own fic - I'm evil).

Title: FAR FEEV SEX

Rating: G (a tiny bit of Jack/Ianto if you squint)

Notes: A sequel to Trying To Communicate, which will probably somehow be mentioned in my obituary someday. 

Jack knew that they were facing long, if not impossible, odds in trying to battle the 456; they had superior technology, a virus capable of killing millions, and simple, if terrifying, demands. And, as he and Ianto made their way through the halls of Thames House, he knew that a last, desperate gambit of declaring war on the 456 would likely result in a lot of death. If not the death of the entire human race.

But he looked sidelong at Ianto, whose jaw was set firmly, and knew they had to try. 

Outside the door where the 456 ambassador lay in wait, he paused, took a deep breath, and -- 

“OHAI,” a voice said. 

Both men looked up, startled. Hovering above them, in a small ship that looked like a stuffed, fleece-linked cat bed, a small cat peered down at them. 

“Ceiling Cat,” Ianto said, and then looked baffled at Jack. 

“INVISIBLE INFLUENZA,” the cat said. “CEILING CAT IS WATCHIN’ U, FAR FEEV SEX.” 

Jack opened his mouth, unsure whether he was going to ask for help (what help could a small alien cat give?) or tell him to flee while he could. Before he could say anything, however, Ceiling Cat lowered his ship to eye level, tapped a control with his paw, and opened the door. 

“BRB. I CAN HAS ASSKICKIN,” the cat said, and zipped inside. The door slammed in Jack’s face when he tried to follow.

Ten minutes later, all communication ceased. The 456 went silent, the children were released, and the ships overhead all hurried away as if they were embarrassed to have been caught there. When they finally broke down the door they found the ambassador dead, a hole in the ceiling, and a note. It was a photo of Ceiling Cat, and in large block print letters on the front was the note:

U OWE ME WAN (1) CHEEZBURGR.

(Enjoy this fic? Consider supporting the fountain fundraiser and requesting one of your own!)

[copperbadge]

drgaellon

Sam, I love you with all my heart, and I say this with the best of intentions. KNOCK IT THE FUCK OFF RIGHT NOW. WE DO NOT NEED YOU CASSANDRA-ING ALL OVER THE PLACE. 💖

Look, my gift of prophecy is all I have going for me right now and I figure if I annoy the gods long enough either they’ll give me my own constellation or I’ll get turned into a small creature or plant of some kind, which would frankly be a welcome vacation at this point. 

[copperbadge]

Egg Pasta ahoy!

drgaellon

I just bought a pasta roller and cutter set for my KitchenAid! The extruder is next on my list. Do you have An Recipe to share for your pasta dough?

I do! I have two, even. 

This one was the winner from amongst a few doughs I tried from online recipes -- not sure where the recipe came from at this point, possibly Serious Eats, but it was a good combination of workable dough, texture, and flavor when cooked. 

2 cups all-purpose flour 2 whole eggs 4 yolks 1 teaspoon salt

Pour flour in a mound. Make a well in the center about 4 inches wide. Pour whole eggs, egg yolks, and salt into well and, using a fork, beat thoroughly. When combined, gradually incorporate flour into the eggs until a wet, sticky dough has formed. (Now, I do none of this -- I put the flour in the mixer bowl, make a well, add in the eggs/salt, then beat it with a fork until it’s dough-like enough that the kitchenaid dough hook can take over.)

Knead until dough develops a smooth, elastic texture similar to a firm ball of Play-Doh. If dough feels too wet, add flour in 1 teaspoon increments. If dough feels too dry, add water slowly using a spray bottle. 

Wrap ball of dough tightly in plastic wrap and rest on countertop for 30 minutes. May be refrigerated up to two days (but I’ve noticed it develops a weird color when you do that). 

---

The second one is literally just the one printed on the back of King Arthur brand pasta flour; it’s at the website here. This one has the advantage of not requiring egg yolks, so you don’t have to do the separation or constantly be finding uses for four egg whites. I’ve also found that the dough in this recipe is a little easier to work with once you’ve rolled it -- it doesn’t get as sticky and it holds together a little better at the really thin settings, or if you’re doing something like ravioli where you have to finesse the dough a bit. But this one definitely needs pasta flour, you can’t use any other flour and get good results, at least in my experience. 

My main goal with these recipes was ravioli, but I’ve made flat noodles with them too and they work great for that as well. I will say if you’re gonna make ravioli it’s also 100% worth it to get a ravioli tray mold -- they come out so much nicer and hold together better too.