05/02/06 08:40 - 65ºF - ID#24983

Random Stuff

A random link

I like the egg one the most.

I talked with my grandpa on the phone just a few minutes ago. This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but the man has been terribly hard-of-hearing since before I was born. State-of-the-art hearing aids (digital, no less) help him hear normal conversation, as long as you talk directly toward him slowly and clearly. We just got them a cell phone, and the volume on it is loud enough for him to hear and comprehend. We had an entire conversation where I didn't have to repeat myself - that's not something I remember happening often.
So, thank you, cell phone company maker. You've given my grandpa the chance to be one of the cool kids and whip out a cell phone to hold obnoxious conversations in public places.
Wait until I teach him how to text message. Look out, world. They already know how to email and send IMs; this will make them much more dangerous :)

And finally, more proof that the current administration is well into its campaign to destroy the US health care system.

Kudos, esteemed senators. I bet taking away access to mammograms in every state, well-child care in most states

and dozens of other life saving procedures makes your corporate overlords happy.

Permalink: Random_Stuff.html
Words: 257
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: design

05/02/06 12:18 - 67ºF - ID#24982

New Design

Medaille College has a new design.

The concept came from a communications firm, but the code is all from me (with several generous assists from sites with cool, free javascript).
Hurrah.

Permalink: New_Design.html
Words: 35
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: food

05/01/06 07:37 - 69ºF - ID#24981

Cheesecakey Goodness again?

trying this again . ..
Since the dishwasher is on the fritz, again, and I can't run water through my sink, this recipe will have to wait until I have my kitchen back.
Until then, here's a recipe that's incredibly easy and really really bad for you.
Ingredients
12-18 vanilla wafers (((e:matthew)) - to make this glutenfree, I think you could use an equivalent crust of crushed nuts and butter)
2 8-oz. packages of cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
the twist I want to try - 1/2 - 1 tsp of raspberry extract
topping (any fruit, any pie filling, chocolate, nuts, go wild)
Steps
Line muffin tins with foil liners. Put a wafer (or nut crust) at the bottom of each.
Beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and eggs until creamy. Pour mix over wafer until cups are 3/4 full. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes.
Top with topping of your choice when cooled.
Makes 12-18 cakes.
I won't take credit for coming up with this recipe, but I will say that I could have eaten a dozen of them in one sitting.

Permalink: Cheesecakey_Goodness_again_.html
Words: 178
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: food

04/25/06 07:53 - 45ºF - ID#24980

Kitchen Woes

Thanks to very generous friends and family, I am now in possession of many new kitchen utensils. I even have a new cookbook, and since Sunday I've been inspired to bake giant muffins in my giant muffin tin, create casseroles in my pyrex pans, and make more granola with my new jelly roll pan. I had even looked up a few gluten-free recipes to make (e:matthew) happy.
Alas, it was not to be. The god of plumbing has chosen to smite our house, and whenever we run the kitchen faucet or dishwasher, gross water backs up through the downstair's neighbor's drain. This is most unpleasant. It's not anything in our drain and I don't know enough about plumbing to know what to do. Hopefully the plumber can come tomorrow and make it all work again. At least we can use the bathroom. I did manage to cook up some pasta this evening, and remembered to strain it into the bathtub. That was really weird.
Look for more recipes later this week. I plan to make a roast chicken, honey balls, crazy chocolate cake, and something involving rice.

Permalink: Kitchen_Woes.html
Words: 188
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: food

04/25/06 08:09 - 49ºF - ID#24979

La Tea Da

This weekend I had the distinct pleasure of visiting the La Tea Da Tea Room and Parlour

in Rochester. (There's a La Tee Da Tea Room in Buffalo on Allen Street, but I haven't been there yet).
It was wonderful, with outstanding food and a great atmosphere. As we walked in, the "Lady of the House" offered us a selection of hats and feather boas to wear. After settling in, we had trays and trays of little sandwiches, little cookies and scones that would make Paula

Dean

smile.
If you're up in Rochester and are looking to score some tea and scones, that is the place to go.

Permalink: La_Tea_Da.html
Words: 128
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: fun

04/20/06 08:26 - 74ºF - ID#24978

Dolphy Day

Today was Dolphy Day

at LeMoyne College

in Syracuse. This tradition stretches back many years, and is basically a day for all students to skip class and get drunk beyond all comprehension. The dining hall sets up grills outside, most classes are cancelled, and fun is had by all. Public drunkenness reigns; it's a great way to end the academic year.
The name of Dolphy Day has a few different potential origins. Some say it has something to do with jazz legend Eric Dolphy

; my issue with this theory is that, besides a choral group, the school is not musically oriented. I tend to believe that Dolphy is a corruption of "Dolphin," which is the school mascot. When you're too drunk to feel your own face, "Dolphy" would be a reasonable interpretation of that word.
From what I remember of my first Dolphy Day, I lived on campus, and after a few days of D-Day alarms, with M-80s going off outside my window, the day began at 4 a.m.
The day was damp and dark, and a hill on the quad got completely muddy from the weather, spilled beer and the amount of people trouncing around. I spent a lot of it covered from hair to foot in mud. Apparently, sliding down the muddy slope seemed like a good idea the first time I did it. The second time I was so filthy that it didn't seem to matter. I also remember eating donuts, not being able to tie my shoes, a nap in someone's lounge, and thinking "wow, hundreds of college students too blasted to stand. Cool."
Their alumni office, rather than try to ignore this time-honored tradition, actually sent out an email to let their graduates know that today was the day, complete with a slideshow. I appreciated it.

Permalink: Dolphy_Day.html
Words: 339
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: abby

04/19/06 10:59 - 60ºF - ID#24977

Happy Birthday, Abby

My dog was born one year ago today. Her main gift was a life preserver for when we're out sailing, and as her special treat this evening she had a giant bowl of ice cubes and a bunch of crunchy carrots.

My grandparents sent her a birthday card. They are the coolest people on the planet.

She's my bear.

Permalink: Happy_Birthday_Abby.html
Words: 68
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: spam

04/19/06 08:11 - 42ºF - ID#24976

SPAM

Anyone else get spam in the flavor of one of those Nigerian bank scams from johnmichael_2k@yahoo.com?
(e:paul) - the IP was 196.201.88.200.

Permalink: SPAM.html
Words: 25
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: gas

04/18/06 09:01 - 61ºF - ID#24975

Gasbuddy

Gas prices are really depressing me. It was $2.99 on our corner this afternoon. Check out gasbuddy.com or the local version

to scope out the best prices - and the worst.
We tuned up all our bikes (two "old fashioned" kinds and one vroom vroom zoom zoom kind), changing oil, lubing chains and checking air pressure. If it's above 50 degrees when I leave tomorrow I may be taking my other vehicle to work and out shopping.
I'll have to wake up a little earlier too, but I can do it! It will get me around the offensive construction that has clogged up Main Street from Bailey to Hertel. Does anyone have any idea what they're trying to do there? And when they'll be done?

Permalink: Gasbuddy.html
Words: 128
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: buffalo

04/17/06 08:18 - 54ºF - ID#24974

NFTA and local colleges

Buffalo's politicians and community leaders should be looking for innovative ideas to keep and to draw people to live, work and play in the city.
Here's one.
UB's newspaper had an article last week

about extending NFTA passes to all students for $25 each semester. This system is already in place for other local colleges, including my place of employment

but I think it could go much further.
There are an average of 20 working days each month. If I were to take the metro rail, which is quite convenient to our house, a monthly pass would equal about $1.37 per trip based on a monthly pass of $55

. When a one-way ticket costs $1.50, that's not much of a savings. So, I gas up my car for $2.96 or more per gallon, (and later this spring, strap on my helmet for a bike ride), and join the throng of commuters on the road wasting fossil fuels.
My solution would be to offer any business, organization, school or group in the region the chance to sign their employees up for a discounted rate. If they want more riders, that's the way to do it. I think $30-$35 would be my personal price point to commute daily, and I'd be encouraged to use it to go shopping and to zip around town. Heck, (e:strip) could present itself as a community organization, and all (e:peeps) could qualify.