Sunday, March 23, 2003

Source: Marc's Voice; 3/23/2003; 2:16:56 PM   The Invisible Computer: Why Good Products Can Fail, the Personal Computer Is So Complex, and Information Appliances Are the Solution Donald A. Norman This book changed my life. Just when I thought I was the only guy thinking out 10 years, Don shows he's 20 years out! The notion of "activity based computing" is one that we're working hard on getting right. [Marc's Voice] 6:22:24 PM    trackback []     Articulate []

Source: The Aardvark Speaks; 3/23/2003; 10:11:29 AM Quick Chicken Madras. This is a quick variation of a Chicken Madras. Nothing particularly special, but you can't get a decent hot curry any faster than this (well, you can, but I wouldn't recommend it). Takes about 30 minutes total and serves up to 4. 2 tablespoons ghee or vegetable oil 1 onion, chopped 600g boneless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces 1 capsicum (green bell pepper), deseeded and cut into 1/2" rings 5 fresh green chilies, chopped 1 small piece fresh ginger, chopped 1 can tomatoes 2 teaspoons tumeric 3 teaspoons coriander 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon hot chili powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1 large bunch green coriander, stalks and leaves chopped separately 1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala salt Heat 1 tablespoon ghee (or oil) in a large frying pan or wok and fry the chicken pieces until white all around (and slightly yellowish), then remove from the pan and put aside. Add the second tablespoon ghee, put in the chopped onion and fry until brown. Then add the capsicum, ginger and chilies and fry briefly for about 1 minute. Whizz the tomatoes in a blender, then pour the purée into the pan; add the tumeric, coriander powder, cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt and coriander stalks. Stir well and cook over high heat for a few minutes. Then add the reserved chicken pieces, reduce heat, cover and let simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat. Stir in the coriander leaves and garam masala. Let stand for a few minutes, then serve with rice and/or chapatis. [The Aardvark Speaks] 10:21:04 AM    trackback []     Articulate []

Source: Halley's Comment; 3/23/2003; 8:55:31 AM Mentors. Mentors Thinking about getting all the good men I know into my son's life so he can see the many ways of being a man. His Dad's an excellent dad and excellent man, but it's good to have him know many ways of living. When I was growing up, I wished I'd known more women of my mom's age who were taking a path like my mom, but also taking a path completely unlike my mom, would have given me a richness I didn't have. I remember a friend of my mom's who was an artist and actually was very physically fit, very beautiful in a bohemian way and one time when we all went on a sailboat trip and set up a picnic on a beach on a beautiful day, the men all had a beer and this woman, Marge, drank one too and I was really shocked by this, since my mom never drank. I thought this beer-drinking physically fit woman artist was really cool. It gave me something to imagine as a life ... and maybe is not that far from mine now. She also had four kids and wasn't as invested in them as my mom. She had a life and a husband and kids, but they all balanced out better than my mom's life -- no outside outlets, just us and a not-so-happy marriage. Later today, I'll have a beer, just to toast this woman Marge and thank her for showing me another way to be. [Halley's Comment] 10:13:24 AM    trackback []     Articulate []

Jaw Jaw, to a point. Feedster's reputation as the search engine du jour for blogs has jumped immeasurably in my opinion this evening. To Scott... [Ben Hammersley.com] 7:58:49 AM    trackback []     Articulate []