Google Art

Be sure to check out google today. I love the different kind of art they do to celebrate various days and events. Somebody there must be a big music fan.

Boron Moron

Reading the NY Times today, I ran across this story about a correction they made to a story that ran last week in the science columns. It seem that this correction caught the attention of the staff writers at the Conan O'Brien Show. Be sure to scroll down and watch the video clip.

500th Post

My goodness! I just noticed that the last post represented number 500 for this blog. That represents either a startling waste of time or something of an accomplishment. I like to blog because I think that writing is good for the human brain. It represents a very specific kind of mental work-out that can't help but keep us cognitively flexible.

Also, as an English teacher, I think it's a good thing to stay connected to the writing process. Otherwise, you run the risk of forgetting what it's like for the kids who are in the trenches slogging through the basics. I also model a lot of simple five paragraph essays specifically for the kids, but they are profoundly not blog-worthy. They say in education that the best writing is done for "real audiences and purposes" so thank you, readers, for providing as much for me.

PETA Ad

If you haven't yet seen the banned PETA superbowl ad, you are seriously missing out. Okay, to be fair, you're not actually missing out on that much. I feel certain that PETA made this ad with the express purpose of having it banned thereby guaranteeing increased traffic on their website. I guess that's not a terrible strategy. I have such mixed feelings about PETA though. In many ways, they have a message I really respect and support. However, some of their tactics give vegetarians/animal rights supporters a bad name. Oh yes, and if you're going to watch the video, be sure to check out Whoopi Goldberg's impression of it as well.

200th Post

It seems like I was just writing the 100th post message. I'm glad you're still with me through all the odds and ends that get stuffed into this little blog. I promise to complain less, and to try and edit more carefully in future posts.

The melt is finally on for this snow storm! We got up to 42 degrees today, and it really did feel balmy by comparison. You can hear the water in the storm drains, and today I was very excited to see actual pavement in the road outside our house. Maybe one of these days I will actually get to drive myself to work again. M has been terribly kind to take me everywhere, but I am beginning to feel like a child. Daaaaaaaaad, will you drive me to work please?! Bring on the warmth!

Key Word Analysis

When I first began with this blog the only people who EVER read it were the family and friends who got a link. However, as I continue and the archive grows, I am getting more and more hits from "outsiders". How these people end up at my blog amazes me. They search for things completely unrelated to my entry, but then click on it anyway because, well, who really knows. Some of these are one off oddities such as "Pale Baby", but others such as "pfefferneuse" are repeated time and again. Anyway, I have decided to directly answer some of these queries for amusement value and such. I know this makes me a geek as well as a nerd, and I blame my various geeky friends and family for corrupting me. More to come.

Why Cucumbers are Spiky

Keyword analysis entry #4

As far as I know, cucumbers are spiky because this helps to prevent the cuke from being eaten by hungry beasties. Some people are not aware that cukes even have spikes because they are only familiar with the grocery store variety. Most grocery store cucumbers are "tumbled" after picking to remove the spikes. Many are also waxed with an edible (at least reasonably) food wax to give them that lovely gloss. Another possibility for spike-free cukes is finding one of those varieties that has the spikes bred out. This is contrary to cucumber nature, but then again, so are a lot of things.

Classic Phefferneuse Recipe

Keyword analysis answer #3

There are many ways to make this classic German cookie, but this is one of my favorite. I do not hold with anise in this cookie, so I was glad to discover a recipe without.

Phefferneuse/Pfeffernusse Recipe

3 cups all purpose white flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

pinch salt

pinch white pepper (this may sound odd, but please don't leave it out)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cloves

pinch ground cardamom

1/2 cup chopped candied lemon peel (optional but very nice)

1/2 sliced almonds (or almond flour is easier if you can get it)

3 large eggs

1 cup powdered sugar

1 apple slice (not in the recipe, but used later)

1 cup granualated sugar

Grind the almonds to a powder (coffee grinder or blender work). In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, spices, baking powder, and salt. In a mixing bowl beat pour the gran. sugar. Add eggs, lemon peel, and almond powder and blend. Gradually add flour and incorporate. Refrigerate for one hour or more. Dough may be dry and even a little crumbly. Roll out dough onto floured surface to 1/4 inch thick. Tradition is 1 inch round cookie cutters, but do what pleases you. Bake for 15 minutes in a pre-heated 350 degree oven. When cookies are completely cooled put them in a plastic ziplock with the powdered sugar and shake gently to coat. Store in an airtight container with the apple slice. The cookies are best after two weeks of "ripening" time.

Water Leak in your Mazda RX-7 Convertible

Answer #2 in the keyword analysis entries.

When my RX-7 was leaking inside the car without any visible source I searched and searched online for an answer. I could not find anything even close to helpful. Maybe this will save someone else some trouble.

Mazda RX-7 convertibles have excellent tops in that they do not tend to crack or leak. However, the shape of the top does necessitate a series of drains to move water off the top and to the ground without pooling in any unfortunate places. This means that your RX-7 has a little well on either side just behind the door. Each well leads to a small tube that allows the water to drain safely just under the car. If you park your car under trees or you let the car get very dirty these tubes can become clogged. Clogged tubes leads to water backing up the wells and pouring into the seatbelt assembly. This leads to a mysterious pool of water behind your seat. Luckily the cleaning of these tubes is reasonably cheap (about $200). Don't let them convince you to go in for dry-cleaning the carpets. I had only the slightest damp smell and even that is now gone.

So Your Baby is Pale

This is post number one in my keyword analysis answers.

If your baby is pale often or all the time it seems to me that there are three likely causes:

A) (S)he is just naturally pale. Is (s)he by chance a redhead? Does pale skin run in your family? Are you living in a underground bunker by chance? Are you a family of naked mole rats?

B) (S)he is anemic. This means that (s)he does not have enough iron in her blood, or that (s)he is unable to process it properly.

C) (S)he has breathing problems. In this case the paleness would probably be on the blue end of the spectrum.

These are, of course, just guesses, and I am emphatically not a doctor. Perhaps you should go and see one instead of visiting my silly blog. I don't mean to be insensitive, but this is your baby we're talking about here.