I actually found something interesting at Instapundit: an article suggesting that the economic recovery may be partially due to an increase in self-employment. Hell, I’d love to think so, as a freelancer who isn’t pulling in any money yet (mainly because I’m behind the ugly 8-ball of not having enough capital to really get my ball rolling). I read a fascinating book on just this subject a while back, called Free Agent Nation. Check it out.
Ah, Google — is there nothing it can’t do?
The other day I decided that I wanted to make a stew using a couple of the too-many cans of black beans in our cupboard and a two-pound steak that’s been in our fridge for, shall we say, a bit longer than experts advise. (Not an unsafe amount of time, mind you.) So, I just put “beef black bean stew” into Google, and turned up this recipe. It worked very well, although I did have to make a couple of changes. The recipe calls for ground beef, but I just cubed the steak and tossed the cubes in seasoned flour before browning; I also used two cans of beans because the single can the recipe called for just didn’t seem enough. Basically I ended up with a chili made with black beans instead of kidney beans, and steak instead of ground meat, and Mexicorn added for good measure. Still, it was quite good. Tonight I’m whipping up some rice to serve over the stew. Tomorrow I’ll spoon it over Frito’s. The next day I might serve it with nachos. (It yielded at least three days’ worth of leftovers for me. The wife works nights, so she won’t get any more. Heh!)
So, next time I want to make something out of some specific ingredients, I’ll just type them into Google and let it tell me what to cook. Kind of like one of those restaurants where the chef whips up something based on what you tell him you like.
Share This Post
Fun with Objectivists!
Atrios points to a woman named Amber who writes a lot of stuff that relates Ayn Rand to, well, everything. It’s hilarious, really, because you can always tell a Randian by their logic: no matter what topic they are discussing, they follow the exact same train of thought. And I mean, the exact same. There is a Randian on one of the film music message boards I frequent, and that fellow applied that exact train of thought to film music that Amber applies to sexuality (and, really, this is one of the most mind-numbing essays I’ve ever encountered). The Randian train of thought goes like this:
1. A is A. (This is the Law of Identity.)
2. Logic is the Art of Non-contradictory identification.
3. Aristotle was a genius.
4. Nothing else of note happened in Philosophy after Aristotle until the clouds parted and Ayn Rand put pen to paper. (They may take a detour here to mouth-foamingly attack the work of Immanuel Kant.)
5. Because A is A, the X I am talking about right now is X.
6. Therefore, objectively, my opinions about X are true.
If you engage in any dialogue of any length with a Randian, sooner or later these exact points will come up. You could almost set your watch by it.
And for a truly breathtaking example of someone not having the faintest idea of what she is writing about, look at her screed on evolution. (P.Z. Myers might want to take a stiff drink before perusing that one. Ditto Dominion.)
If this woman gets a job writing somewhere, I just may shoot myself. Objectively.
(I’ve linked this article before, but it’s always good to bring it up again: Michael Shermer’s take on Rand’s followers, “The Unlikeliest Cult in History”.)
Share This Post
Upholding the “Sanctity” of Work
If you’re not reading Nathan Newman, you should be. I’ve been lately realizing that in the white heat of international wars and gay marriages and evolution v. creationism and states’ rights and judicial nominations and whatnot, a lot of very important issues are being fought over — and lost — on the side of labor and workers. Today he’s got a pretty depressing example of it: a judicial decision against workers, who were fighting for a somewhat more basic right than health care or decent pay.
Share This Post
Ooooh….say it like you mean it….
Had I not been on “blog vacation” last week, I’d have linked this already: Michelle imagines what it must be sound like when two biological anthropologists get together and talk dirty. I’m reminded of two things: that episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation when Data writes a horrible poem for his cat (read it here), and that scene in When Harry Met Sally… in which Harry expresses his skepticism that carnal relations are possible with a man named Sheldon (the first quote under the movie title here).
Share This Post
Mickey at 75
Somehow I missed this, but apparently Mickey Mouse turned 75 a few weeks ago. But I can never hear of Mickey’s birthday without thinking of George Carlin, who once opined thusly about the noting of Mickey’s birthday:
“No wonder nobody in the world takes our country seriously! We spend valuable television time informing the people of the age of an imaginary rodent!”
Oh well.
Share This Post
Dude, where’s my blog?
If at first you don’t succeed, get the government to buy ’em!
Since the Segway was less than a rousing success with the public, possible applications for the amazing vehicle (I’d love to ride one, but I have no desire to own one) are being studied by, you guessed it, the Pentagon.
Funny thing is, you strap a couple of blasters on this thing, and it starts to look like something ILM dreamed up for Star Wars.
Share This Post
[Keanu] Whoa! [/Keanu]
Via Warren Ellis I see this picture, which is apparently a graphical representation of the Internet:
So that is what the Matrix looks like! Such a fuzzy, pretty thing. Why do those meanies from Zion want to destroy it?
(I know, I’m reaching here. Gimme a break.)
UPDATE: Apparently my permalinks aren’t so “perma” today. I’m republishing the entire site, so theoretically they should work again.
Share This Post
Traffic Babbling
November ended up being my third-best month for traffic here, although it barely squeaked past June ’03 for the honor. And that was with taking a nine-day break in posting. Thanks to everyone who has stopped here, especially those who kept the fires burning while I was on hiatus. Onward and upward!
(BTW, I don’t plan any major breaks for a while, although I probably will not post on Christmas Day or the Day After Christmas.)