Saturday, December 18, 2004

Eating the 'Polymeal' cuts heart disease by 76 percent [Science Blog] 9:52:04 PM  comment []  Trackback []     Citizens Journalism Project, the Response. UPDATED I've been inundated with kind words, questions and offers of assistance since the word went out last last week that I'm going to pull together a citizens journalism project. I'm working my way through the e-mail and will try hard to get caught up by tomorrow. Hope to have a few more details by mid-week as well. UPDATE: The folks from Korea's amazing OhmyNews, one of my inspirations in this project (and covered at some length in the book), interviewed me at a conference over the weekend. [Dan Gillmor's eJournal] 9:51:34 PM  comment []  Trackback []     An Honor. I just had the honor of introducing some extraordinary people to a Silicon Valley audience. They were Jim Hake, CEO and founder of Spirit of America, which I wrote about last spring. His operation is bringing help from U.S. citizens to people who need it in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it's worth your time to look at it. The stars of the lunch program, however, were Omar and Mohammed Ali, two of three brothers who have been writing the Iraq the Modelblog for over a year. It's an on-the-ground look at conditions they're seeing in a nation that's seen so much horror. They're working on a citizen journalism project for coverage of the upcoming elections. I wish them well on that and hope I can help in some small way. They have a leg up on this project because there's a new Arabic-language blogging tool, funded by Spirit of America, which will host blogs -- free of charge -- for people in the Arabic-speaking Middle East. Nice work by all. [Dan Gillmor's eJournal] 9:51:00 PM  comment []  Trackback []     The Racist of Earthsea. In Slate magazine, SF author Ursula LeGuin complains that the producers of the new Earthsea miniseries have butchered her work. One form of butchery that she zeroes in on is by casting characters who she intended to be red, brown, or black as white people. I have mixed feelings. LeGuin has every right ... [Armed and Dangerous] 9:50:39 PM  comment []  Trackback []     Bush Follows Historical Advice Regarding War Policy?. Sound Familiar? "Why, of course the people don't want war... but, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament or a communist dictatorship... voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger." Any guesses as to who said it? No, it wasn't Bush or anyone in his party. It was Hermann Goering, Nazi Commander, April 18, 1946 (Nuremberg) [What Do YOU Think? Comment on this Post!] [Testify!] [Father Dan] 9:48:53 PM  comment []  Trackback []     Holiday Advice From My Father. 1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls. 2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas! 3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat. 4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission. 5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. 6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog. 7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again. 8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day? 9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards. 10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Finally, Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" [What Do YOU Think? Comment on this Post!] [Testify!] [Father Dan] 9:48:20 PM  comment []  Trackback []     Beef N' Guinness. Shopping list: 4 pounds corned beef brisket 1 cup brown sugar 1 Guinness Draught in a bottle Directions 1. Preheat oven to 300ºF (150ºC). Rinse the beef completely (in water, not Guinness) and pat dry. (Use paper towels, not your hands, Einstein.) 2. Place the brisket in a roasting pan. (If you don’t own one, buy the disposable kind at the supermarket.) Rub the brown sugar on the corned beef to coat the entire beef, including the bottom. Pour the bottle of Guinness beer around and gently over the beef to moisten the sugar. 3. Cover with tin foil and place in preheated oven. Bake for 2 1/2 hours. Wait 5 minutes before slicing. Note: If you’re feeling very ambitious (and want to seem very Irish) you can add veggies right into the pan during the last hour of cook time. Add cabbage, small potatoes (you don’t have to peel them, just cut them up), onion, carrots, etc. You may need to add a little more beer with your vegetables. If you do this final step, reward yourself with another Guinness for being so fancy. [What Do YOU Think? Comment on this Post!] [Testify!] [Father Dan] 9:47:46 PM  comment []  Trackback []

© Copyright 2005 Gail Marsella. Last update: 1/2/2005; 5:51:57 AM.

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