Back on Thursday

I'm experiencing technical difficulties (computer down!) but I should be up and running again on Thursday. Thanks for your patience!

Only Four Shakers Left

The Shakers are a religious demonination that is an offshoot of the Quakers. Shakers are celibate; their faith has been continued by converts. Now there are only four Shakers left. Established in 1772, the Shakers have had a major impact on North American culture. Their furniture, especially, is well known, but they have also created thousands of songs, the most famous of which is Simple Gifts. Via dangerousmeta!

Coping With The Heat

The hottest time of the year, the dog days of summer, are upon us. The effects of the heat can range from minor discomfort to death. Suggestions are starting to pop up everywhere on the web for things people can do to take care of themselves. Two good sources for ideas to beat the heat are Rebecca Blood's description of how she copes with the heat and the good list of suggestions over at dangerousmeta! Make sure you also read the suggestions in the "comments" section of the latter. On a more frivolous note, you could also buy the latest trendy accessory for summer entertaining: ice cubes in the shape of diamonds (link courtesy of Boing Boing).

Free Electronic Newsletter For Amateur Photographers

If you like to take photos but want to improve the quality or learn how to do some imaginative projects, you might like to subscribe to Photojojo. This is a twice-a-week free newsletter that's free, very easy to read, and informative. As the site says, "We find the most kick-ass photo tips, DIY projects, and gear and bring them to you." One project mentioned: putting the faces of friends and family onto cupcakes. If you'd like to know in advance what you'd be getting, check out the archives. This site is definitely worth many repeat visits.

Tom Waits on Tour

News flash: Tom Waits is set to go on a short (8 locations) U.S. tour in August. According to the Billboard article, Waits explained his choices for the venues as follows: "We need to go to Tennessee to pick up some fireworks, and someone owes me money in Kentucky." Here in Regina we're very excited because the Rolling Stones are coming to town for what will likely be the biggest concert ever in our province's history. Now if only Tom Waits would come here. Via The Mumpsimus.

The Safer Products Project

If you're interested in preserving both your health and the environment, here's a web site to visit: Safer Products Project: Alternatives For a Healthy Home. The site offers information to help you choose the safest products in a variety of categories (from cosmetics to vehicles). There is also a list of links to other sites with more specialised information (such as sites that focus on pesticides, vinyl, or cleaning products). Via How to Save the World.

Strange Statues Around The World

Here's a link to a site called Strange Statues Around The World. There are some statues here that made me blink, but there are lots more that I don't think are strange at all. For example, there's a photo of what appear to be Fafard cows from Toronto. They don't seem strange to me, but maybe that's because in Regina we have Fafard cows (and some of his other sculptures) prominently placed, and I'm used to them. Still, the site is definitely worth a visit. Via Boing Boing.

What Flavour of Ice Cream Are You?

Summertime, and the livin' is . . . hot. I'm thinking of various strategies for staying cool. Thanks to Blogthings, I can visualise myself as an ice cream flavour; maybe that will help.

You Are Rocky Road Ice Cream

Unpredictable and wild, you know how to have fun. You're also a trendsetter who takes risks with new things. You know about the latest and greatest - and may have invented it! You are most compatible with vanilla ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

The 50 Most Important Albums

The Guardian has published a list of the 50 most influential albums of pop/rock music. The albums range from the Beatles (Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) to David Bowie (The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars) to Mary J. Blige (What's the 411?). It's a diverse list with interesting commentary. Via Yahoo! Picks.

A Good Blog for Fans of Blues Music

Fans of blues music might like to check out Honey, Where You Been So Long?, an audio blog featuring blues from the time between the two world wars. There are lots of recordings here by lesser-known artists (e.g. Issie Ringgold) and some by better known artists (Son House). You can browse the archives (which go back to May 2004) and which are divided into categories such as Country Blues, Delta Blues, blues by decade (e.g. 1920s, 1930s), Piano Blues, and more. Via Yahoo! Picks.

For Fans of Bewitched

Tomorrow is the beginning of the annual convention for Bewitched fans. It's held, of course, in Salem. I learned this, and many other bits of information, by visiting the site Bewitched@Harpies Bizarre. This site has all the information you'd ever want about the show: episode guides, cast information, interviews, background information, and much more. There's also news (most recently the sad news that Kasey Rogers, who played Louise Tate, has died). If you're a fan of the show, this is definitely a site to visit. There are a couple of nice little touches. For example, as you move the cursor across the screen, the pointer turns into a broom. Also, on the bottom left of the screen there is a constantly changing commentary, such as "You are quicksilver, a fleeting shadow, a distant sound." Via Weblog V2.

How Much Caffeine Would Kill You?

Here's an interesting site: Energy Fiend. Energy Fiend is a blog that discusses all things caffeinated. There are regular updates regarding news about caffeine (including a recent note on a new study that shows caffeine may protect against cirrhosis of the liver). There's also information on what ingredients are often found in energy drinks and a nifty caffeine database that lists how much caffeine there is per ounce of caffeinated drink. There's also an section that allows you to calculate how much of your favourite form of caffeine would be fatal. You enter in your weight and the type of caffeine (e.g. coffee, tea, soft drink) to get the result. I learned that I would have to drink 357.90 cans of Dr. Pepper or 386.15 cans of Pepsi. I don't think I'm going to worry. Via Yahoo! Picks.

Learning About Stevia

Until recently, I had never heard of stevia. Then I started to see references to it in some whole foods material I was reading. Now I've learned of a website dedicated to information abut stevia. According to this site, stevia is the "world's only all-natural sweetener with zero calories, zero carbohydrates and a zero glycemic index." There's lots of information on stevia here and the most recent research. You can compare stevia to other sweeteners, and you can also browse through recipes (such as vegan cornmeal-apple muffins, lemon cookies, or baba ganouj). Via How To Save The World.

Terrific List of Food Blogs

If you're interested in any aspect of food or cooking, make sure you check out the links on Kiplog's Foodblog. There are a dazzling number of links here to other food blogs, sorted alphabetically. Some links include The Adventures of Pie Queen, Algerian Cuisine, Eli's Cheesecake Blog, Gluten-Free Girl, Hot Sauce Blog, and many, many more. This site is definitely worth visiting numerous times.

Blogging For Charity

If you like to blog, don't mind staying awake for 24 hours, and want to benefit a charity, you might like to take part in Blogathon 2006. Here's how it works: · you sign up at the Blogathon site · you pick a charity to support (if you can't think of one, they provide a list of possible charities) · you collect pledges from sponsors (you can put a button on your site to let people know what you're doing) · on 29 July you sign in at the Blogathon site (so they can monitor you); · beginning at the same time as everyone else (according to the Fixed Time World Clock) you blog every 30 minutes for 24 hours There is also a Sabbath schedule for those who do not wish to blog on Saturdays. This event began in 2001, and over the years several hundred thousand dollars have been raised. Via Yahoo! Picks.

Vegetarians Only

According to ABC News International, large sections of Mumbai (Bombay), India are going completely vegetarian. House buyers can now look for a house in a vegetarian neighbourhood and many house sellers will now only sell to vegetarians. Many grocery stores in vegetarian neighbourhoods have stopped selling meat or fish. It's a practice that has been ruled legal by India's top court. Via Veggie Way.

The Three Things Meme

Here's a fun little questionnaire that I found recently. Three People Who Make Me Laugh · my sister · Brent Butt · Kinky Friedman Three Things I Love · reading · listening to music · researching Three Things I Hate · people who complain constantly but who don't do anything about what they're complaining about · liars · people who are deliberately mean or downright cruel Three Things I Don't Understand · extroverts · physics · cruel people Three Things On My Desk · a pile of writing that I've been revising · lots of little stones that I've picked up over the years · a stuffed animal (I think it's a seal) Three Things I'm Doing Right Now · listening to my ferrets eat · this survey · wishing I hadn't been woken up in the middle of the night by the people visiting my neighbours! Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die · move into a bigger house in a nicer neighbourhood · figure out FTP · own a piano Three Things I Can Do · multi-task · cook · deal with bureaucracy Three Ways To Describe My Personality · introverted · friendly · optimistic Three Things I Can't Do · sing · skate · draw anything that resembles anything Three Things I Think You Should Listen To · your instincts · good advice · music Three Things I Don't Think You Should Listen To Ever · the advice of untrustworthy people · the advice of people who don't like you · the negative things people say when they're angry, sick, tired, or hurt Three Things I'd Like To Learn · to sing · to speak Italian · to play the piano Three Beverages I Drink Regularly · water · soda water · Pepsi Three Shows I Watched When I Was A Kid · Bugs Bunny · Spiderman · The Jetsons Via Daring To Be Remarkable.

The Bullshit Generator

And now, a generator that calls it like it is: the Bullshit Generator. Here are some sample nonsense phrases that it's created, phrases that are similar to those that are all too common in the business world: · exploit one-to-one content · streamline real-time users · engineer cutting-edge portals · empower magnetic solutions Via Follow Me Here.

One Whole Clove

I've just discovered a wonderful food blog called One Whole Clove. It's sub-titled "Sweet and Savoury Experiments Through Quebec's Kitchens." I particularly like it that many of the recipes are vegan or vegetarian. There's an interesting recipe for vegan tourtière that I may try. The blog is well organised and attractive with categories such as the following: · Savoury Recipes Inspired By Quebec Kitchens · Sweet Recipes Inspired By Quebec Kitchens · Original Recipes · Quebec Food Products: Reviewed · Quebec: The Mini-Series There are also some great food memes (stay tuned, some of them will be showing up here). This blog author and I share a lot of interests—I think I'd like every one of the books on her Amazon wish list. I love the name of this blog, and I'm particularly impressed with the blog's official mascot. This is definitely going on my list of regular reads, and I'll be checking out her intriguing list of links to other blogs and food sites.

For Wile E. Coyote Fans

Wile E. Coyote was a staple of Saturday cartoons when I was growing up. One of the enjoyable parts of the cartoons, when I got a little older, was reading the mock Latin phrases describing him. You know the sort of phrases I mean: Eatibus Almost Anythingus; Eatius Birdius; Hardheadipus Oedipus. Here's a site that lists these names: Famishius. It's good for a smile. Via Weblog V2.

Berkeley Breathed's Web Site

My all time favourite cartoon character is Opus the Penguin, and the cartoon strip he first appeared in (Bloom County) is tied for first place for my favourite cartoon. Now I've just discovered that Berkeley Breathed, the creator of Opus and other memorable characters, has his own web site--although it's an appropriately quirky one. He's pretty modest here. For example, he does not mention that Bloom County won him the Pulitizer Prize for editorial cartooning in 1987. Check out the sum total of the info on his About Berkeley page. I was pleased to learn that Opus now has his own Sunday cartoon; you can review the archives at the Washington Post here.

Trading a Paper-Clip For a House

O.K., so it wasn't quite that simple. But Kyle MacDonald did start out by trading his red paper-clip for a pen, and then he traded the pen for a door knob, and so on up to a Hollywood movie role. His most recent achievement is a house on Main Street, Kipling, Saskatchewan (one town away from Kennedy, Saskatchewan, my husband's home town). I had no idea trading could be so productive. Would anyone like a silver paper clip? Via Boing Boing.

Etch-A-Sketch Art

As a child, I can remember looking at my Etch-A-Sketch and wondering what the point was—I could never manage more than a few squiggles before I got very bored. However, one young man has managed to create art using an Etch-A-Sketch. There are some impressive works of Elvis, the Beatles, Cal Ripken, and many more. Each work takes between 60-70 hours to complete. I never thought a children's toy could create something like this. Via Hassenpfeffer.

Mind-Boggling Number of Languages

I was browsing through Wikipedia the other day and discovered that in India (population over one billion) there are 800 different languages and 2,000 dialects. There are 23 different official languages (with Hindi and English being the two used for federal governmental purposes). The various states also have official languages. In Canada, way too many people complain because there are two official languages.

Lots of Hints From Professionals

Here's an interesting browse: Tricks of the Trade: Professional Secrets From Those In the Know. This site collects tips from a diverse range of professionals (teachers, campers, lawyers, computer programmers, travellers, and many more). They're quick and to the point. Here's an example of a tip from a paramedic:

To check if someone has had a stroke, do the F.A.S.T. test: · Face: Ask them to smile. It should be even. · Arm: Ask them to raise both arms They should be equal in height. · Speech Test: Ask them to say a simple phrase, perhaps their address. It should be understandable with no slurs. If they fail any of these checks, call an ambulance immediately. They could have had a stroke, and you may [have] just saved their life.

Here's a tip from a camper on how to make an omelette while camping:

· boil a pot of water on a fire; · put eggs in zip lock bag with cheese, meat, peppers or whatever you would like on your omelet · boil bag for 10 minutes. · voila: omelet

Update: here's an article explaining why the "omelette in a plastic bag" idea may be hazardous to your health--thanks, Bibliophile! Via Neat New Stuff On The Web.

Images of the Macabre

If you're feeling like looking at the stuff our far-distant ancestors had nightmares about, take a look at Supernatural and Fantastic Images of the Middle Ages. The images include representations of the Dance of Death, the Alphabet of Death, many demons (such as a demon carrying off a child promised to the devil), and much more. The site's creators give the following background:

These illustrations of medieval Devils, Demons, Witches, & Monsters are from authentic period sources. There are no 20th century-inspired fantasy images in this collection, nor any modern art with a medieval theme - these are the true visions our medieval ancestors had of the preternatural, the supernatural, and the unwordly.

It's an interesting browse. Via Incoming Signals.

A Fascinating Sufi Cookbook

Here's a lovely online cookbook: Serving the Guest: A Sufi Cookbook and Art Gallery. As the title suggests, it's more than just a cookbook—there are beautiful illustrations and some very good background information to Sufism. The background info covers such topics as Sufism itself, prayers suitable to meals, serving food as an expression of love, food in the time of Rumi, and Sufism and vegetarianism. The recipes include breads, grain dishes, soups, curries, beverages (such as almond milk), desserts (including several different recipes for halvah), and much more. The art gallery has some fascinating pictures, such as this photo of the Whirling Dervishes of Constantinople (at rest, not whirling). This is a wonderful site to browse, and I'm sure I'll be experimenting with the recipes. Via Weblog V2.

Ah Ha Jazz Site

Here's a site for jazz fans: Ah Ha Jazz. The site features information about some jazz greats (e.g. Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Anita O'Day). If you scroll down the left side of the main page you'll find a list of performers; click on the photos and you'll be presented with a page with some larger photos and a brief introduction to the artist. You can order prints of the photos, although they're a hefty price. There are two links pages. On the first one, you'll find links covering 25 topics, including jazz history, jazz in the movies, jazz composers, jazz dance, and jazz humour. On the "Offbeat Links" page, there are categories that range from "Jazz Protests Injustice" (with links to organisations such as Amnesty International) to "Jazz Keeps Good Company" (e.g. Coca Cola, which supported a music festival). Via Plep.

Tips For Tantrums

As tantrums are something I normally associate with children in grocery stores, it never occurred to me that they could be an imaginative adult pastime, but Ariana French seems to think otherwise. Check out her tongue-in-cheek Tips On Improving Your Tantrum Style. I was particularly struck by tips 1 and 4.

Top Jokes By Country

A few years ago scientists spent a year researching what people think is funny. They found that people from different parts of the world have different senses of humour. They also discovered that people were more likely to think a joke was funny if it involved a duck. I find that funny. Here are some of their results: "Top Jokes In Several Countries." My favourite was the top joke from Germany. Via Weblog V2.