"Can I grind up pasta to get flour?!" written by Tinypliny on estrip.org

12/26/09 04:14 - 33ºF - ID#50664

Can I grind up pasta to get flour?!

Well, what do you think? I am slowly getting through everything on my grocery shelves. The idea is to completely finish all stored grains, grain products, lentils, beans, rice and other non-perishables in the next 6 months. I am on a clean-up-the-whole-kitchen-and-start-completely-afresh drive.

I have some pasta but I am not very keen on making it because I tend to cut down on my vegetable portions if I eat too much pasta with regular meals. I do want to try my hand at some bread again - so if I take the pasta (white, acini de pepe) and grind it to a coarse powder will that make a good bread flour along with ground bulghur? I am thinking of making some kind of fruit/banana/apple based bread.

Does this sound insane? Well... it does sound a bit weird but still, do you think it might just possibly work? Thoughts?

Permalink: Can_I_grind_up_pasta_to_get_flour_.html
Words: 149
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: art

12/26/09 11:43 - 36ºF - ID#50660

Julie and Julia

Is pitch perfect.

Only, I think Amy Adams was a very poor choice. She is just too goody-shoes to be convincing and absolutely fades in front of Meryl Streep. That actress who played Bridget Jones could have been more effective. The real author could have been a fabulous choice.

The movie was a nice contrast between the 60s and now; a look at just how far we have come in terms of personal freedom of expression without bureaucratic constraints. Evidence is this blog that came to life as the movie.

Of course, being recognized for it in the face of enormous odds of sinking into oblivion, is a fairytale and a real one. But really, that is very thin justification for casting that chirpie unreal disney fairytale fluff woman. I think the movie could have done on the "Julie side" with a lot more grittiness and conviction - would have made it happier, ironically.

Throughout the movie, I wondered about the cooking. If Julia Child's cooking was so iconic here, what influence did she really have on American home-cooking, in general. Could it be that her rich French recipes were slightly misinterpreted across the pond and people ended up with more plaque in their arteries than they could manage? I have never really read her recipes or seen her shows but what were the portion sizes she advocated? Anyone know?

dimartiste writes at 04:17:58 12/28/09 - Comment #54053: Did you get the DVD with the Bonus Disc? It was more expensive,but my mom and I watched it the other night over Chinese Take out. Go Figure! Anyhow. This movie really got me thinking about the courage Julia Child had and what she did for American Cooking. As well as blogging, but I mentioned that in my post. The extras were cool. There was a 90 minute best of the best with Julia Child. Merryl Streep did an amazing job. Rene Zellwiger definately can do train wrecks better than most. Have you seen New In Town? Very funny. I did like Amy Adams in both rolls. Although during the meltdowns a page from Bridget Jones would have made for an intreguing possiblity. Although the real Julie did not seem the same as either might have portrayed her.

tinypliny writes at 12:59:38 12/26/09 - Comment #54022: Hehehe, I didn't say I dislike Adams, in fact I think she was way beyond AWESOME in Enchanted (which I LOVED!) but it is just that the original author of Julie and Julia was not as privileged or "sophisticated" as the real Julia Child seems to be. She was forced to blog at a time when her life was full of negatives.

I know they tried to portray it in the movie, but I am really critical of cooking movies, so I felt something was missing in sarcasm and darkness that goes into cooking usually - on Julie's side. It was too sunny. Sometimes, humour is just dark. Cooking humour is almost 90% dark. I simple HATED that movie "No reservations" because it was terrible in my opinion. I liked this movie but I couldn't identify with any of the cooking or the chefs, and that took away something from the movie. Maybe I had too high expectations... But the movie, on the whole, was beautiful.

The cinematography was amazing, the colours popped everywhere, the sets were detailed and really picture perfect!

mike writes at 11:55:05 12/26/09 - Comment #54016: I'm sorry you are so wrong but Amy Adams was perfect for that movie! I loved the movie and i loved her. But i always love her so maybe i am bias. But i love that movie!

Permalink: Julie_and_Julia.html
Words: 237
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: eating in

12/21/09 07:58 - 28ºF - ID#50619

CSA: First Share Pickings (Thorpe Farms)

My first winter share through the Community Supported Agriculture plan from Thorpe Farms was waiting for me today morning under my office desk - thanks to my wonderful officemates. :) It was quite a surprise. Given that four of us are splitting the share, I wasn't expecting much but I received:

Grapefruit

Florida Oranges

Tangelos

Carrots

Turnips

Beets

Radishes

Garlic

Onions

Parsnips

Brussel Sprouts - on a stalk!

Swiss Chard

Potatoes

I gave away the potatoes because they are banned from my kitchen. I also gave away the garlic for no particular reason.

PS: Just roasted some of these root veggies and they are incredibly tasty! They beat regular grocery veggies by oodles and oodles of awesomeness!

Permalink: CSA_First_Share_Pickings_Thorpe_Farms_.html
Words: 142
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: opinion

12/18/09 06:40 - 22ºF - ID#50598

Christmas Presents

What odd/crazy things are people getting for other people this holiday? I am asking because I need to put together a collection of odd/crazy things for someone and a standard gift-basket seems like a boring thing to do. I already have one apparently nifty thing on my list and one thing that I know the person likes:

a) The scalp massager.
b) Super-Soft Fuzzy Blanket

But that's about it for my list. I can't think of anything else thanks to my completely dead unimaginative brain when it comes to gifts.

What small strangely crazy/useful/fun/weird things did you get or gift that you always remember or had tons of fun with? Any ideas, suggestions for random things are really really appreciated! :)

Permalink: Christmas_Presents.html
Words: 125
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: science

12/17/09 05:24 - 18ºF - ID#50586

Beers & Beer-Bellies aren't associated.

Seriously? Someone actually did a study on this and got published in a fairly good journal? I so need to get on this slipping sleigh.

[box]BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The term 'beer belly' expresses the common belief that beer consumption is a major determinant of waist circumference (WC). We studied the gender-specific associations between beer consumption and WC (partially in relation to body weight and hip circumference (HC) change).

PARTICIPANTS/METHODS: Within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam study (7876 men, 12 749 women), cross-sectional associations were investigated applying general linear models. Prospective analyses of baseline beer consumption and an 8.5-year WC change were assessed using multivariate general linear models and polytomous logistic regression. To test the site-specific effect of beer consumption on WC, an adjustment for concurrent changes in body weight and HC was carried out. In addition, the relationship between change in beer consumption and change in WC was studied.

RESULTS: A positive association in men and no association in women were seen between beer consumption and WC at baseline. Men consuming 1000 ml/d beer were at 17% higher risk for WC gain compared with very light consumers. Significantly lower odds for WC gain (odds ratio=0.88; 95% confidence interval 0.81, 0.96) were found in beer-abstaining women than in very-light-drinking women. The adjustment for concurrent body weight and HC change diminished effect estimates notably, explaining most of the association between beer and change in WC. Decreasing beer consumption was related to higher relative odds for WC loss, although not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Beer consumption leads to WC gain, which is closely related to concurrent overall weight gain. This study does not support the common belief of a site-specific effect of beer on the abdomen, the beer belly.
[/box]

I have no idea what they set out to achieve. I hunted the paper down and read through their justification for the study and I see this weak unreferenced statement in the introduction:

Abdominal obesity is one of the most potent cardiovascular risk factors, making it of interest to understand whether beer consumption increases the risk of this site-specific fat patterning.

First, abdominal obesity was never really "the most potent risk factor" of cardiovascular disease as they claim. Second, there are a million other "potent risk factors" for cardiovascular disease and abdominal obesity figures rather low on that list. Third, there are strong hormonal, genetic and gender-related determinants of who accumulates fat near their bellies and who doesn't. Ignoring this fact completely in the justification section is rather dodgy.

Most importantly, doesn't every one pretty much know that Beer is just empty calories and that consumption without exercise will lead to weight gain? Was it so essential to wade in, and analyze a huge dataset to death just to show that it does lead to weight gain and is not really specifically associated with Beer Bellies?

What is the message they are trying to convey to the public anyway - that it is okay to drink Beer because you will only gain weight, and not grow a Belly? A truly "what-the-hell-do-epidemiologists-do-when-they-are-out-drinking-beer" study. Maybe I should start drinking beer now and coming up with random publication ideas. Or maybe I should just get that soymilk carton I have been craving and start drinking with abandon. The effect will be eerily similar to drinking beer.

tinypliny writes at 06:32:46 12/21/09 - Comment #53875: I don't have a primary physician in Buffalo because I haven't really had a condition serious enough to warrant a visit to the clinic. I had a major fall from my bike in Rochester - but I just had to visit the Student Health Clinic there for a precautionary wrist X-Ray. I can't do that in Buffalo. So I don't ride my bike here. Haha

For non emergencies, there is always this tendency to self-diagnose and self-medicate (which is not very advisable, but I can't help it!) I guess I do need to find a primary here but I don't have the motivation to research and find one, if I can deal with a minor problem such as a cold, fever or infection quickly at home. :/

libertad writes at 01:48:30 12/21/09 - Comment #53870: I just noticed your last comment. Thank you for such a thorough response! I feel much better about having had done the CT scan done now. If I get cancer it will most likely be from other factors anyways.

I don't see that MD anymore actually. I don't even have one now. It comes back again to me being distrustful of them or feeling that they just don't care. I definitely need to find one soon to be my primary care physician. Where do you go or do you go anywhere at all?

Everything you said about your bodies natural ability to heal is all very encouraging. I use that (in much simpler terms) to encourage people about the benefits of quitting smoking.

tinypliny writes at 11:32:18 12/19/09 - Comment #53821: Having swollen/painful lymph nodes for a long time is very worrisome. I don't blame you. You shouldn't repent getting it checked out. You did the best thing you could to have them investigated. It might not have been required, but reducing doubt and uncertainty about what the condition could be is part and parcel of your medical consultation.

You could argue that other more conventional methods (more extensive history-taking/examination/conservative wait-and-watch methods) could have been followed by the doctor - however, sometimes the tendency to quickly reach the resolution of doubt takes over doctors too. It is only human. In resource-poor conditions where the cost of the CT might be prohibitive for the patients paying out of their own pockets, the approach to resolution of this diagnostic problem could have been more invasive - eg. the lymph nodes could have been biopsied. Here, where people are able to affort CTs/MRIs and a battery of other non-invasive tests, patient comfort takes precedence.

What I am trying to say is, though there are a million approaches to diagnosis, what path is eventually followed is a result of the patient-doctor interaction and the various cultural, financial and personal cues from each party within that interaction. I think the final question is asking yourself the reason for the residual annoyance at your interaction with your physician. Are the lymph nodes still swollen and you feel the approach didn't do anything to give you specific answers? Are you unsatisfied with the explanations given to you to justify the CT? Are you unsatisfied with the time the physician spent with you at the consultation session? The answer to each question determines just how effective the physician was in being effective at his/her consult interaction with you.

The risks associated with medical radiation (x-rays, CT, radioactive contrasts, dyes, etc.) are minimal compared to what uncontrolled radiation (eg. radiation accidents, warfare or nuclear plant leaks ) might do to your DNA. The risks from radiation comes mainly because of its ability to introduce flaws in your DNA. The human body is a wonderful thing because of its ability to repair flaws and regenerate. Each time new DNA is made from an old template (to put into new cells that come into existence), it is painstakingly checked and rechecked by the DNA repair mechanism - which is extensive in humans.

In the normal course of proliferation and growth, several new cells are created all the time. The DNA repair mechanism is able to sequence-check the new DNA very very efficiently so that mutations (base-sequence changes in the DNA) don't propagate to new cells. As in all cases, this repair mechanism has a BIG buffer BUT it you throw it more work (more flaws to correct), it is able to handle it.

If the radiation dose is massive (eg. accident), the DNA repair mechanism can't handle so much work and gives up and your new cells will have some flaws. Over time, these flaws add up because each cell with flaws gives rise to more cells with flaws . The DNA repair mechanism doesn't catch them after they are allowed in that one parent cell because it is mainly carrying out comparisons with the parent cell DNA templates for repairs - so anything the parent template has is considered the "correct sequence" for the new cell.

Medical radiation doses are designed so that they lie within the buffer that MOST people's DNA repair mechanisms can handle. It is possible that some have faulty DNA repair or a DNA repair with a thin buffer - these people are the ones who are more susceptible to radiation-induced DNA damage.

Maybe in the future, science will define who these people are exactly and find tests for determining exactly how much buffer their DNA repair mechanism can handle - so that you can reduce the radiation doses to them. Currently, we are just starting to find out about all these intricacies (exciting studies, huh?) so its a one-size-fits-all for now. But who knows, in the future, your physician might order another test before he orders a CT to make sure that your buffer is as "normal" as the buffers of most people out there. :)

tinypliny writes at 10:56:14 12/19/09 - Comment #53820: Sometimes studies are a bit illogical because the sad reality is that its really publish or perish in the field. I won't be surprised if my future publications are criticized in a similar way. It makes me sad that sometimes research is marginalized by livelihoods that depend on it.

Most scientists try to be fair and genuinely interested in what they do - otherwise they wouldn't be there and there would be no "science". However, there are times when your publications are the only thing that employers and advisors look at and those are the times when you feel desperate and your inspiration seeps down the drain because the numbers count more than they should.

libertad writes at 09:44:56 12/19/09 - Comment #53806: So I was probably a bit over dramatic in my previous comment about how stupid studies are. I know they have their place and many of them are important.

Really I should have asked more questions when my MD ordered the CT scan. In retrospect, it was kind of dumb on my part that I didn't know that they emitted radiation. The reason I had it done was I was worried that I had cancer because of swollen and painful lymph nodes (over long period of time). The MD said it was fine but he could tell I was still nervous and so ordered the CT scan to make me feel better. Turns out I am allergic to the contrast dye.

To answer your question (e:tinypliny), my fat accumulates around my midsection. It does in my Dad too who also likes beer! Mine isn't so noticeable right now because I am fairly active throughout the day. It's weird because I wouldn't mind gaining weight but I want to lose the fat in the midsection at the same time. I know what I need to do to achieve that but I just don't because it takes more work and discipline than I want to put in.

tinypliny writes at 06:25:29 12/18/09 - Comment #53789: Good question, (e:James): They did control for age, no. of smoked cigarettes, physical activity (h/week), education (university degreeÂ¼reference), total non-beer energy intake and alcohol g/d from other alcoholic beverages (non-alcoholic beer, wine, fruit wine, sparkling wine, spirits and aperitif)

@(e:libertad): LOL, you are one the most handsome people I know, why on earth would I think you had a beer belly! Do you have one? Really? I am so checking it out next time. Why did you have a CT scan? Now, I am so curious. ;-)

james writes at 12:40:36 12/18/09 - Comment #53772: So, they didn't control for calories consumed? So, the dude with a desk job takes no exercise and eats 4,000 calories a day and no beer is on the same footing as the tri-athlete who drinks beer?

booo

jbeatty writes at 10:51:23 12/17/09 - Comment #53763: That sentence makes no sense. Low levels of radiation are highly unlikely to have any contribution to cancer risk.

jbeatty writes at 10:46:18 12/17/09 - Comment #53762: Truth be told cancer risk from low levels of radiation are highly unlikely to have any contribution to cancer. The data the Health Physics Society uses is extrapolated from doses several orders of magnitude higher than that of a single CT. It is impossible with any certainty to say that a single CT or even five in a year contribute to an increase in cancer risk.

jenks writes at 09:56:04 12/17/09 - Comment #53760: 'substantially' (oops)

jenks writes at 09:52:23 12/17/09 - Comment #53759: To say that a CT "subtantially" increases your risk of cancer isn't quite accurate, in my opinion. Yes, there is SOME risk. But it's still small.
For example- while going from one in a million to two in a million is technically a 100% increase in your risk- it's still VERY unlikely.

If that makes you feel any better.

(I will also beg to differ that "most" studies are stupid and unnecessary- but I understand what you're getting at.)

libertad writes at 09:29:56 12/17/09 - Comment #53758: What sparked this interest in beer bellies? It better not be mine! I know that much of what you do revolves around research but I'm glad that you realize the much of it is just plain b.s. I'm so sick of stupid studies. For example, I just found out that having a CT Scan increases substantially that you will get cancer. Great. I had a CT scan done that was completely unnecessary and was my MD's way of shutting me up. I didn't know that CT scans emit radiation when I got it done (call me stupid). I was never told but if they did tell me I wouldn't have needed this study to tell me that I was increasing my risk of cancer. I'm so mad at the MD that ordered the study even though he knew that it really wasn't needed. Most studies in my opinion are just so completely stupid.

Permalink: Beers_amp_Beer_Bellies_aren_t_associated_.html
Words: 552
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: fact

12/16/09 06:13 - 22ºF - ID#50577

Rochester's bus fares are $1 because...

they scrapped the transfer charges of $0.30 and charge $1 for every ride regardless of however many transfers you might be taking.

Honestly, I would prefer that scheme. I never have that ridiculous quarter AND a five-cent coin or three ten-cents coins anyway and end up paying $1 or $0.50 for transfers. Also, I rarely transfer within city limits or while going to the nearest malls/airport.

I am just a little annoyed that the fares are $1.75 here because of poor management of public transport while our neighbouring city has better sense and judgement.

Oh, and on another note, I derailed someone's lunch plans to go downtown and see if I could catch the Matrix bloke, but all I saw was a white tent. That's it. I couldn't see even the cameras! Unfair. Were they shooting inside or what?

There seemed to be most barricading near the M&T gold-domed bank building.

I am speculating that Henry's crime might well be that he ripped the 24 carat gold leafing off of the dome in broad daylight and chilly winds and didn't wave at Buffalo denizens while scaling the dome.

Yeah, that was off the Intehn3ts.

metalpeter writes at 08:01:10 12/18/09 - Comment #53797: I think there are some ways NFTA could make more money.

I think the train should be expanded. There should be a line (yes a bus does this) that goes to the airport. You get off switch trains and it goes out there. Yes there is a mall shuttle. But you know what would be cool if you could hope on the train and go from mall to mall and get off at a stop and walk up steps and be at the mall, kinda like Toronto. I Include the the downtown mall in this. Yes I know there isn't much left other then the food court. Yes there is a bus that you can take to different schools UB, Canisius and Buffstate but why not have more connections.

I also wonder about if 24 hour service to all stops is possible. I get off work at 3am there is a bus. I know I would pay $3 to walk out of a bar stagering and I walk a block to the #3 or what ever and then it shoots to my part of the city.

uncutsaniflush writes at 10:12:00 12/18/09 - Comment #53769: thanks for the article (e:libertad) . Apparently, RGRT has no debt. That is a very major difference with the NFTA. The NFTA has debt because of the airport and the harbor (and probably mismanagement and corruption - this is Buffalo after all). One of the interesting things mentioned in the NYT article that it costs over $2 a passenger to provide bus service. And if the fare is $1 no matter how many people ride the bus, the farebox will never cover the costs of services provided. Other sources of funds are needed and apparently found.

tinypliny writes at 08:47:35 12/17/09 - Comment #53756: Hmmm... so do you really think that having the metro light rail raises the cost justifiably for Buffalo? Can you think of some means that might actually be better than the existing system for the metro rail?

How about charging all those high schools and colleges that subsidize NFTA's services for their students so heavily, a bit more - just like RGRT? How about cutting some trains? Instead of running every 8/12 minutes, could they run every 15 minutes? Over time, such small measures are bound to add up.

On the same note, I wonder how many fare checkers and police the NFTA employs... Can't they simply install swipe gates at stations like NYC/Delhi and get rid of the checkers altogether and make more money in the long run?

metalpeter writes at 08:01:37 12/17/09 - Comment #53754: What (e:uncut)... Says is correct but see it gets more complex then just that.

In Rochester they let the cops police anything that goes down on the buses. But see here we have and underground train system and NFTA has to pay the people who check for fares. They have to pay the nfta cops and their cars and all of that stuff. Yeah if they wanted to be dicks they could pass that onto the city. Who can't even pay everything now. The other issue is it being underground you think the cops really are going to go down to the underground station.

Back to the ticket checkers since it is on the honor and then they check them, I'm sure people only going a couple stops cheat all the time.

All those other things NFTA is dippid into raises costs so that raises fares.

tinypliny writes at 11:55:13 12/16/09 - Comment #53727: @(e:libertad) I have read that before too - I think you must have posted it before. :)

Someday, you need to explain over lunch about the cultural disdain for long sensible coats here! If you cross the pond, you will find that the sexiest and the most masculine men are often in the longest warmest coats. ;-)

tinypliny writes at 11:32:47 12/16/09 - Comment #53724: (e:uncutsaniflush) - RGRT is making a lot of revenue from charging $1 instead of the $0.25 for each and every transfer! I was talking to an RGRT employee on the bus when I went to Rochester a couple months back. He told me that bus usage is up nearly 40% since they lowered the fare.

Apparently, the $1 fare came at the right time - just before the depression hit the city and many people lost their jobs. He said that at peak hours, there was sometimes no place to stand in the buses and the bus drivers don't even stop at designated stops because they are under instructions not to go beyond a dangerous limit of passengers. Some routes have 2x frequency now because of so many people taking the bus. He said that in the morning, he often sees people dressed to the nines on the bus - headed for their offices at UofR or downtown.

I was in the city at an off-peak afternoon hour and a route that I knew wasn't crowded 2 years back was overflowing in the afternoon! I think I expressed surprise at this and that is why the employee (who was recording passenger statistics on his digital counter clipboard) told me how it was all working!

The NFTA needs to take economics and business lessons from the RGRT.

libertad writes at 11:21:43 12/16/09 - Comment #53722: Since you asked uncut, I searched for this article I had read some time ago. Did you post this before tiny? I think someone did, maybe it was even me but I just can't remember.

:::link:::

As far as winter apparel tiny, I don't think I could wear what you wear and not get beat down. There has to be a better way! BTW, I mean no offense to your coat, for you it works and I imagine you are never cold in it.

uncutsaniflush writes at 08:04:42 12/16/09 - Comment #53716: From what I've heard, one of the reasons NFTA fares are what they are is because it's not just a bus/rail service. They own and operate the airport and the harbor as well. I would love to know how the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority can manage a $1 fare.

tinypliny writes at 07:22:36 12/16/09 - Comment #53713: You totally dangled the celebrity carrot here yesterday, how could I have ignored that?! Imagine. I was probably within 5 metres of the Matrix man... and he didn't know. *Cue creepy music*

@(e:libertad): You need a heavy-duty down-filled snowcoat reaching your knees or even longer. It keeps you warm and toasty and has enough air trapped to prevent sweating when you are walking fast.

I was talking to one of my officemates today and he told me that there is a cultural barrier against wearing longer coats here. Apparently people think longer coats are only worn by older women. Is that true? That really sounds ridiculously vain.

theecarey writes at 07:08:50 12/16/09 - Comment #53712: good grief woman, I told you there would be nothing to see downtown!:)

The news had some shots and I guess some people made their way in to have a look. Bank robbers coming out of the bank was something that was shown.

libertad writes at 06:47:56 12/16/09 - Comment #53711: That is true! I really could use better clothing for the weather. Today I wore two jackets and was both cold and sweating at the same time!

tinypliny writes at 06:34:03 12/16/09 - Comment #53708: It took us 40 minutes to get from the Theatre stop to the Allen/Medical campus stop on the train today. I don't know why we even bothered taking the train back. I wouldn't have, had I gone alone. I always prefer walking as well. :-)

As the Scandinavians say, there is no such thing as bad weather, only insufficient clothing.

tinypliny writes at 06:30:37 12/16/09 - Comment #53707: They don't realize that more people would take the bus if it were $1. Its all about psychology of paying just a dollar. McD's has it down to a fault. Dollar-menu, 0.99c food etc. NFTA lacks business acumen. They probably might have more than made up their massive deficit if they had actually brains in their executive branch thinking about what goes on in their consumer's heads.

libertad writes at 06:24:30 12/16/09 - Comment #53705: NFTA ridership is way down since increasing fares. I rarely ride the bus and walk almost everywhere even when it is cold. I would probably ride it more if it were less and I didn't have to wait longer than it would take me to walk myself.

Permalink: Rochester_s_bus_fares_are_1_because_.html
Words: 195
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: eating in

12/14/09 12:50 - 34ºF - ID#50550

It was so good that...

some people declared they could eat it at various intervals ranging from every second (of their lives? in hell? who knows?!) to every other day (in jail? on mars? in a geriatric ward?), and yet some others admitted to tossing 2/3rd of whatever they took discreetly into trash, and the rest were poisoned.

The point is, this recipe is not without its risks. With such variation in human reaction (and there were quite a variety of us at the potluck - from 7-ft palm trees to politically incorrect short pygmies to a graduate horticultural-establishment-management student from Cornell [who knew?!] - and of course the one normal person who threw 2/3rd in the trash, btw), there is a slim chance that you may meet some grotesque fate if you tried it.

Ah, disclaimer out of the way, time for the recipe. Really its just 5 steps.

1. Chop vegetables (Just pick something from across the colour spectrum and you will have a good mix. If you don't have a good knife, the acorn squash can turn into a hand-stuck-in-snowblower-like disaster.)

2. Toss in peanut oil, coarse ground cumin, salt and coconut shreds. Put into oven at around 150 - 175 degrees C (For you non-metric weirdos :

-

) Wait for the onions to turn very very slightly caramelized at the tips. Don't let the veggies burn - keep a watch. Roast the garlic cloves whole. (What? You couldn't spot garlic in that picture? Look again!)

3. Chop a bunch of fresh coriander (Sorry, (e:Paul)!), smash the roasted garlic into it. Mix in garam masala (Dry-roasted and ground: 5 (coriander seeds): 2 (black peppercorns): 2 (cumin): 2-3 cloves: Dried red chillies to taste: 2 (unroasted cardamom): 1 (dried mango powder/amchur) Mix in chopped green onions, and cooked garbanzo beans (Canned garbanzo is just gooey - you need to go the dried-beans-soak-6hrs-and-cook way. I heard that some canned garbanzo packs come with an additional risk of botulin sometimes - so its up to you).

4. Mix it all in with the roasted vegetables and give it another go in the oven - same temperature, till onions are a bit more caramelized, maybe 10-15 more minutes (Or you could skip the roasting-again bit, because its really murdering the veggies a bit more at this point).

5. Sprinkle with a mixture of toasted nuts (peanuts and cashewnuts) and crispy potato shreds with red chillie powder and salt). Serve.

666. Step back and watch the ill-effects on your unsuspecting victims.

PS: Heh, yes, the garlic cloves were not really visible in that picture. I figured you deserved at least a nice headache for reading the recipe, especially considering the wealth of emotions the people at the party ended up with. You are welcome.

PPS: No, I am SO not sorry.

Permalink: It_was_so_good_that_.html
Words: 467
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: science

12/11/09 04:08 - 20ºF - ID#50540

That whooshing sound from the piano!

I listen to a lot of classical piano, and I have always been bothered by that whooshing sound between keystrokes that I can always hear (but some of my friends and my brother can never hear!)

In a distracted moment today, I learned that it is the sound of the open strings vibrating against the soundboard of an acoustic piano. So, THAT'S where it comes from!

In some recordings, they specifically place the recording equipment close to the soundboard because it gives the richest sound output - however the drawback is the whooshing sound... which apparently, not many people can hear.

The frequency of this "whooshing" is very low - hovering around 20-25 Hz. Some human ears can't pick up sounds in this frequency and auditory scientists speculate that the range of frequency hearing is genetically determined.

Fascinating, huh?!

tinypliny writes at 08:17:25 12/12/09 - Comment #53607: hehehe ;-)

paul writes at 07:30:09 12/12/09 - Comment #53606: freak! just kidding. I will have to check it out and see.

tinypliny writes at 09:40:00 12/11/09 - Comment #53596: I didn't know that! How interesting. So I guess I prefer the audience version of the recording!

And about Gould - I KNOW!!! I think its adorable that you can hear him in a sort of low croon when he is tuning the pieces internally!

uncutsaniflush writes at 09:07:08 12/11/09 - Comment #53595: (e:tinypliny) - During my time spent in recording studios, I learned that many sound engineers seek out the sound that you refer to as "whoosh". They consider it part of the natural sound of the piano box and think that it adds richness to the sound. If memory serves correctly, the idea to reproduce the sound of the piano that pianist experiences. On other hand, some sound engineers feel that a piano should be recorded so that it sounds it does from the audience in a concert hall - so no sound of the box and no whooshing.

My "problem" with classical piano is Glenn Gould. In some of his recordings you can hear him humming (for lack of a better word) as he plays.

jenks writes at 05:24:23 12/11/09 - Comment #53587: Oh, OK, so you're saying I'm more evolved (i.e. more advanced)? Ok, I can handle that.

;)

tinypliny writes at 05:14:28 12/11/09 - Comment #53586: Maybe this undercuts my evil intent, but its interesting to analyze what this really means. As you probably know, lower frequencies are travel farther than high frequencies.

And there is that popular science observation that Elephants can actually hear the lower frequencies rather than feel them - and they use this fact to communicate across the wilderness of Africa.

As humans, we live closer to each other, we don't hunt anymore, our societies have little to do with predation and danger awareness as probably mammals in the wild do.

It is possible that through evolution, we have progressively lost the gene-expression needed to hear the low frequencies - or maybe the allele controlling the trait is recessive. So hearing or not hearing these kind of sounds is merely an indication of what kind of population we share our genetics with, and where in the evolutionary tree we diverged from the parent population in Africa - and of course, which alleles we received from our parents and whether they are homozygous or heterozygous for the trait. :)

tinypliny writes at 04:50:28 12/11/09 - Comment #53583: Yes, that was my total evil intent.

jenks writes at 04:37:48 12/11/09 - Comment #53580: Gee thanks Tiny.
Now I feel insecure about my inferior ears that can't hear that sound.

GREAT.

Permalink: That_whooshing_sound_from_the_piano_.html
Words: 141
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: science

12/09/09 07:05 - 38ºF - ID#50517

SoyMilk Vs Fat-Free Milk: Nutrition Data

I keep thinking about getting another delicious carton of Soymilk ((e:tinypliny,50430)) but it is really just a very impractical and unwise obsession. The comparative nutrition charts show just why soymilk is not the rational choice.

Sunrich Soymilk 1 Serving.

It has added sugar (cane juice), vanilla flavour and carrageenan (a plant-based gum). I have never added these to my regular milk - why would I want to drink them now? Especially sugar?

Upstate Farms Fat-Free Milk 1 Serving.

Fat-free milk wins hands down in terms of higher quality of nutrients, clear-cut essential ingredients and no added sugar.

Take that, lizard brain.

PS: AAAAAAAargh. I still want it. This is getting so ridiculous! Anyone want to talk me out of this madness?!
PPS: Worse, I now want to get Biscoff Speculoos to dunk in them! Nice going. :/

tinypliny writes at 08:47:48 12/10/09 - Comment #53523: Soy has isoflavones that have a structure similar to the hormone, Estrogen. However, some animal studies have shown that the actions of these phytoestrogens (estrogens from plants) are not exactly the same as estrogens from animal sources.

But the jury is out on this one because
a) Whatever epidemiological studies have been done are all inconclusive if taken together (some indicate decreased risk and others indicate increased risk).
b) Some later cell-culture studies have seen that phytoestrogens act on the same signaling receptors and pathways as estrogens do.

There is an ecological argument that soy is protective against breast cancer because it is common in the diets of women from South-East Asia and these women have low breast cancer incidence/prevalence rates. However, it would be a stretch to say that these low rates are because of soy consumption because their diets and environment are also completely different when compared with Caucasian women or African-American women.

libertad writes at 07:00:28 12/10/09 - Comment #53520: Can too much soy lead to breast cancer?

tinypliny writes at 10:13:25 12/09/09 - Comment #53516: What is this - like a tit-for-tat evil thought induction??! You actually made me search stores that retail this light brand and I just found out the Tops, Niagara Street sells an unsweetened version!!

I want to go to there....

And just you wait, I am going to get you for this.

Jim, you are my sole friend in the morass of temptation!

theecarey writes at 08:44:23 12/09/09 - Comment #53514: when I drink cow milk it is always skim; I like the watery taste :) Hated milk as a kid (parents always bought "2%", most friends had "whole") and didn't know there were differences in milk until I had, in my 8 year old opinion, a "good" cup of milk at a friends house. I was so blown away that I made sure to remember what was different about it. Happened to be that it was Skim. 1% is the max I will go before it gets thick and gross feeling in my mouth.

Now, for soy milk, for much of the same reason, I prefer the Silk brand light plain
or light vanilla. :::link:::

check them out, and you might find that you can continue with your soy milk obsession.

Now I feel like a drug pusher. hehe

jim writes at 08:09:15 12/09/09 - Comment #53511: SOY MILK: THE DEVIL'S JUICE

tinypliny writes at 07:43:11 12/09/09 - Comment #53510: Um yeah... how is that supposed to talk me out of buying soymilk?

heidi writes at 07:33:22 12/09/09 - Comment #53509: What's the difference between fat free milk and water besides calories? Ew ew ew. Milk is supposed to be white, not blue or clear.

Permalink: SoyMilk_Vs_Fat_Free_Milk_Nutrition_Data.html
Words: 139
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: art

12/09/09 04:17 - 43ºF - ID#50514

The Pink Glove Dance

The Pink Glove dance was choreographed in St. Vincent Medical Centre, Portland, Oregon for the Medline glove division as a fundraiser for cancer awareness.

I love the sheer energy of everyone in the dance.

As a bonus for promoting their pink gloves, when this video gathers one million hits, apparently the glove company will be making a contribution to the St. Vincent hospital, as well as offering free mammograms for the community around the hospital.

Its good to hear about companies finding creative ways of using social media for donating to healthcare. A month back it was the #beatcancer experiment on Twitter - for every tweet, 1c was donated to 3 cancer research/care institutions. It didn't amount to much in the end (~$6K) but it was a nice gesture and good way to get people involved.