"Chuck Norris CAN believe" written by Tinypliny on estrip.org

Category: the odes

08/19/10 11:01 - 74.ºF - ID#52477

Chuck Norris CAN believe

that it's not butter.

But I can't believe that
I share my birthday with HIM!

Permalink: Chuck_Norris_CAN_believe.html
Words: 17
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/19/10 11:01

Category: eating in

08/19/10 08:34 - 75.ºF - ID#52476

Wishful Dinner

What I would really like to make for dinner today...

But didn't.

Permalink: Wishful_Dinner.html
Words: 14
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/19/10 08:34

Category: the odes

08/18/10 08:59 - 66.ºF - ID#52467

Bread Crust

As a kid, I always liked the brown crusty edges of bread and the two extreme-end slices (that are completely crusty on one side) way more than the white portion. Even now, I really like the brown bits and eat them first.

No one else in my family liked bread enough to eat it so I had no idea that many people actually prefer to throw the brown crusty edges out when they make sandwiches. I am constantly amazed whenever some kid makes a fuss about the edges. Surely everyone knows the crust is the most delicious part of any bread!!? If I were given a choice, I would like all my slices to be the extreme-end slices.

PS: Extreme-end slices toasted with a hint of hummus, mint sprigs and raw crispy red onions. Mmmm...

Permalink: Bread_Crust.html
Words: 138
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/18/10 09:03

Category: science

08/12/10 12:56 - 75.ºF - ID#52418

What are the right questions?

How do you know you are asking the right questions in research? I was in a fascinating meeting with a brilliant basic science researcher at Roswell recently. I went in with my ideas and background and after the discussion, came out with a virtual unique-coloured lens that lends an entirely new perspective to what I thought I knew before.

There are infinite ways to look at a problem. And of course, there are infinite problems. So in the midst of all this infinity, how do you pick the one problem, the one perspective that really will go forward and help the patients? How?

If you trawl through NIH RePORT website

you will be amazed at how many billions and billions of dollars have been awarded to the vast landscape of researchers and institutions across the board. Research has become an industry. But what are the products that this industry is so industriously producing? How many of these generously funded projects are actually making any tangible positive impact on what an average patient with cancer is going through? Are we even thinking of this patient?

Is it possible to think of the patient when you are dabbling in population research and you can't really say anything with a lot of certainty about any one individual? I thought about all of this after the meeting. There are so many ways I could dissect what I know. How would I really know which approach is the correct one that will perhaps lead me a smidgen closer to my personal objective? Time will tell - but I wish there were some kind of certainty today and at this very moment.

I could present a counter argument to my own thoughts that Science is always a quest towards the unknown - and so it is perhaps prudent not to look at the ends too much. But I am conflicted about treating Science as an abstract entity. I want to be involved and productive in Science that has a tangible practical impact on people who need it the most. I am just not clear about the path to this personal Nirvana, though. This lack of clarity worries me... I need to work out a way to cut through some of this smog of consciousness.

Meanwhile, I am loving this speech by Atul Gawande.

Even more entertaining are the comments. Spot on!

You don't know where the solar plexus is? Really? It lies tangent to the velluvial matrix, just below the avorial passages.

Permalink: What_are_the_right_questions_.html
Words: 447
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/12/10 12:05

Category: the odes

08/11/10 11:14 - 76.ºF - ID#52417

Amazing.

I have seen the swallow-dance incorporated into so many films and videos, but I think this is probably right up there among my favourites.

Permalink: Amazing_.html
Words: 27
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/11/10 11:15

Category: eating in

08/08/10 02:39 - 82.ºF - ID#52397

My blender jar just shattered

I was expecting the motor to give way before this happened.

I knew this day would come, with all the torture I put it through but it's depressing, nevertheless.

Permalink: My_blender_jar_just_shattered.html
Words: 31
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/08/10 03:11

Category: art

08/06/10 11:06 - 63.ºF - ID#52378

Lights. Art. Music!

The gorgeous opening sequence of the Pillars of the Earth.

::Download Flash Video::

With an awesome score by Trevor Morris.

Without the SFX

::DOWNLOAD SOUND::

tinypliny writes at 08:01:13 08/14/10 - Comment #57817: MAN! They killed one of my favourites! What is this? The medieval version of Spooks?!

tinypliny writes at 12:57:22 08/12/10 - Comment #57782: Ohhhh - you mean the ridiculous Macbeth-like premonition dream?! Yeah, too melodramatic and too Shakespearean... I wish they had not put that in but they use it as a plot-device to fake-garrote the redhead. Apparently, that didn't happen in the book where people didn't have Hamlet-like scenes and their dead-uncles preaching to them through a curtain of blood streaming down willy-nilly.

tinypliny writes at 12:51:32 08/12/10 - Comment #57781: Well... I don't think you need your tongue to project your voice into a tune. Think about it. Birds do it all the time. There is no enunciation required - just adjustment of the air columns for the right frequencies. Also, I think the stones singing is an analogy - as he explains to the Earl's daughter. He follows the hollows and thickness of the stone to find the right carving line. Many of the ancient sculptures in India are carved out of natural stone that could not be moved and the technique of "listening" to the stone was widely used for carving in many temples across the country. So I guess Follett did his research well when he wrote the book. The red haired bloke is able to carve his father because his mum describes that singing scene to him and the rest of the bunch in detail - remember? I thought the carving was intentional.

I am sure no one else is religiously watching the series on here as both of us seem to be. ;-) So what is the biggest one?? And I don't really care about spoilers. I am more inclined to watch things if I know something. Heh.

metalpeter writes at 07:55:42 08/11/10 - Comment #57767: There are a few super natural things going on, but I guess they could be called Miricales not that they have been called that. Guy with no toungue (witness) sings and somehow his son who doesn't know about it makes the statue of it. It is as if some how the rock (or something else) talks to him and that is how he makes it. The Biggest one I can't mention cause it is to much of a spolier (4 episodes so far for me but not sure when the newest one airs so...)

jenks writes at 08:03:59 08/10/10 - Comment #57737: book. not back. ugh.

jenks writes at 08:02:44 08/10/10 - Comment #57736: ooh, I've always been meaning to read that back... didn't know they've made it into a show!

tinypliny writes at 01:15:45 08/10/10 - Comment #57732: I am caught up as well and can't wait for the next ep!

All the whingers on the net seem to be nitpicking about the book-screen discord; some even going to the lengths of saying that the story is incomprehensible. I can only say, what a herd of blind sheep bleating in discordant unision! Have they even heard of the term artistic license and variation? Besides, a novel is not really a play. You can't really translate any book to screen word for word. Everyone interprets each book and its characters differently. It's an impossible task to please everyone. I guess, not having read the book is an advantage in this case.

I think the series, by itself, is beautifully made. The acting is spot on because the villainous bunch are creeping me out and the good guys are getting some empathy - always a good sign. I remember some of the other costume dramas in the past which have been so hilariously off-track and so badly acted that I have laughed through "tragedies" and "tortures".

I agree, it does have an old school look about it. I actually like that there is no crazy supernatural omg-what-the-hell-was-that stuff going on. That is probably what is hilarious and off-tune about some of the other period dramas. I am not counting the Austen dramas of course - even ordinary plots in them are so unbelievable that they are unnaturally hilarious.

metalpeter writes at 07:53:19 08/09/10 - Comment #57726: I'm kinda caught up, I watched 4 episodes. With out giving anything away the story seems good with a lot of twists and turns but maybe that is just me, but I have no idea if it follows the book or how closely. The battle scenes are good. In terms of look it is kinda dark and kinda looks like a movie you might have seen in school, not that it is a bad thing, kinda looks like and older style. It could also be that since it is supposed to be england that it is dark and gloomy and so that effects the look, I like it so far.....

tinypliny writes at 11:45:27 08/07/10 - Comment #57669: that is strange. I can still watch the video. Can you watch it on my channel --> :::link:::

metalpeter writes at 10:56:52 08/07/10 - Comment #57663: Hoping to watch this this weekend sunday, you tube pulled the video or atleat on here they did

Permalink: Lights_Art_Music_.html
Words: 30
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/08/10 03:10

Category: the odes

08/04/10 10:34 - 77.ºF - ID#52365

French Press Mesh Vs. Permanent Mesh Filter

The wikipedia entry on the French Press reads...

A French press consists of a narrow cylindrical beaker usually made of glass or clear plastic, equipped with a lid and a "plunger", made of metal or plastic, which fits tightly in the cylinder and which has a fine wire or nylon mesh filter.

Because the coffee grounds remain in direct contact with the brewing water and the grounds are filtered from the water via a mesh instead of a paper filter, coffee brewed with the French press captures more of the coffee's flavour and essential oils, which would become trapped in a traditional drip brew machine's paper filters.

So does this mean that using a mesh filter instead of paper filters will produce better coffee in a regular coffee maker?

Reviews for this gold mesh coffee filter on Amazon don't really address the question of taste.

Has anyone tried the mesh filter instead of paper and noticed their coffee tasting better?

Permalink: French_Press_Mesh_Vs_Permanent_Mesh_Filter.html
Words: 204
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/04/10 10:45

Category: opinion

08/03/10 10:57 - 76.ºF - ID#52360

Avoid Verizon in Buffalo

Okay, so you are thinking of moving to Buffalo, or are in Buffalo and looking for a high speed internet service? Well, let me make your decision a little easier with simple and easy-to-remember points.
1. Verizon has the WORST dsl service in Buffalo and Western New York.
2. Their technical help is non-existent and they put you on hold for an average of 1/2 hour.
3. After 1/2 hour or more of holding, they transfer you to an outsourced call center where people speak with strange made-up imitation American accents - that are even more difficult to understand than what their regular accents might have been.
4. Most of Verizon's technical support personnel have a flowchart in front of them that automatically assumes that the customer is an idiot and needs to be told to check their wall sockets a zillion times over.
5. Verizon's technical service representatives are masters at evading the real issue and waste as much of your time as they possibly can.
6. And as for Verizon's DSL service, you seldom get more than 1/4th of the speed you paid for and they couldn't care less about your concerns - as amply demonstrated by their mind-numbingly inept technical "support".

Avoid Verizon. Ditch them if you have them. I am not sure if Time Warner is good but I am pretty sure that no one can be worse than Verizon in Buffalo and the whole of WNY.

Update on RoadRunner: I just phoned them and in spite of what their web page here:

says about their rates, they outright denied that the Road Runner Lite and Basic packages even exist and tried their surly best to sign me on to their TV-Phone-Internet bundle. The fact that I don't have a TV and don't plan to get one just to put their service on seemed incomprehensible to the bloke I spoke to. Seems to me that both Verizon and Time Warner run their shoddy off-peak time technical/sales support services through the same herd of insolent and rude technical representatives. This has been one totally frustrating evening. Maybe I need to start making plans to poison entire call centers of both Verizon and Time Warner. Both of you, I hope all your employees are cut off internet services when they really need it.

tinypliny writes at 10:24:11 08/04/10 - Comment #57622: So much frustration once you run into problems with these ISPs! I located a company called Buffalo Wireless Inc. :::link::: They list residential services. :::link::: The installation sounds a bit pricey at nearly $200 but if it saves me from having to deal with Verizon and TWC induced-stress and chaos, I think it might be worth the extra price. The problem is they are not really a 24 hour call center company. So I can't call them for information any time I want. But then, we all know what kind of "service" a 24 hour call center provides. Heh.

metalpeter writes at 07:54:36 08/04/10 - Comment #57618: my mother has the phone jack thing. I don't know if it is the computer or version but it seems no mater what browser I use (firefox won't work no matter what I do) at some point everything frezes up, I bet it is verizon............

paul writes at 10:01:00 08/04/10 - Comment #57612: Now you can appreciate mobile broadband. Even if your home line is down, at least you phone connection works.

I do have a funny story about verizon tech support. One night the internet was down back when we has DSL. I called and had much the same experience as you. I was even jerky with the people after the long wait. Long story short, the problem was the modem was unplugged ;( I felt so dumb I hung up.

vincent writes at 09:51:19 08/04/10 - Comment #57610: Yea, tell me about getting screwed over by TWC, I just got a notice in the mail today informing me that the monthly rate will increase from $49.99 to $54.95 for internet only customers. F'ing Bastards!

libertad writes at 07:18:59 08/04/10 - Comment #57607: I hate Verizon. They are awful just as you say. I would say though that I haven't had any problems with my DSL connection and the speed is good enough for my needs. I never checked whether the speed is what they advertise. Their customer service for sure is wretched but they can get away with it because really they don't have much competition. RoadRunner is too expensive and yes they screw you if you don't get a tv bundle.

Permalink: Avoid_Verizon_in_Buffalo.html
Words: 386
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/03/10 11:42

Category: eating in

08/03/10 06:55 - 80.ºF - ID#52359

Golds, reds and greens soup.

This is an easy low glycemic index, high protein soup, especially for (e:leetee).

You will need:
1. Split yellow peas (soaked overnight and steamed with salt till soft) GI: 32
2. 1 big zucchini GI: 15
3. 1 big green bell pepper GI: 15
4. Several ripe tomatoes blended GI: 15
5. 1 white onion Gl: 10
6. Curry leaves
7. Less than a teaspoon olive oil
8. Black Mustard seeds (a pinch)
9. Dried red chillies
10. Minced garlic
11. Turmeric powder
12. A bunch of Kale
13. Powdered coriander/cilantro seeds

- Heat the olive oil in the pan
- Drop in several torn shreds of dried red chillies and mustard seeds.
- Give it an occasional stir, till mustard seeds just about start to sputter.
- Add the chopped curry leaves (a good bunch of them), powdered coriander seeds, minced garlic and chopped onions.
- Saute till onions are translucent.
- Add the chopped zucchini, finely chopped kale, a pinch of turmeric and green bell peppers. Saute for a couple minutes.
- Add the blended tomatoes and the cooked yellow peas, give it all a good stir, bring to a boil.

Add salt to taste. And that's it - a soup that is guaranteed to be tasty, satisfying and that will not tax your insulin stores. :-)

PS: Split yellow peas don't taste like green peas at all, they are extremely rich in protein and have a very low glycemic index.

PPS: I am going to try and post more recipes for you (e:leetee). Being vegetarian is probably the easiest way to keep the diabetes in check.