What possibly could make Jeffrey Epstein, child-raper, pimp, and human trafficker, seem even more depraved? Seems like he also planned on starting a breeding program on his ranch, and we’re not talking about racehorses. Apparently, he told acquaintances that he wanted to maintain a stable of women, by which he no doubt meant underaged girls, to impregnate. He’s gone beyond ‘Bond Villain’ status to ‘full-on Neo-Nazi eugenicist’ status.
The real weird thing is that he still maintained a ‘salon’ of intellectuals around himself, even though he had long passed the Medici phase, through the Borgia phase, eventually hitting Caligula status. He claimed a connection to Harvard (NOTE: Better Dead than Crimson), but it’s odd that such public figures as Alan Dershowitz and Steven Pinker would have spent so much time defending him.
I’d like to think that this atrocity can’t get any more disgusting, but I’m not really holding out any hope.
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Che Schifo, NYT
Como un vero contadino, I was thoroughly disgusted by a a recent tweet from The NY Times. Besides the fact that the real story behind the Gilroy Garlic Festival mass shooting is about a teenager radicalized by misogynistic, anti-Semitic right-wing (but I repeat myself) propaganda, the assertion that garlic is a ‘once-stigmatized ingredient’ has me scratching la testa pilata mia... once-stigmatized? By whom? Garlic has long been a prized ingredient in cuisines the world over... Italian, Chinese, Indian, Korean, Middle Eastern, Greek, Thai, Spanish, French... it even colonized the New World, capturing los corazones of Mexicans and Caribbean peoples. Maybe garlic was stigmatized by upper-class WASP-y twits until they discovered ‘ethnic’ food, but those people ceased to be on the culinary vanguard since the Delmonico family emigrated from Ticino.
It’s exactly this sort of tone-deaf, inane journamalism that got me to stop reading the Times... well, that and the fact that they just can’t fucking call racism racism (no, Trump’s NC speech wasn’t ‘racially tinged’). Not even a garlicky skordalia recipe in the Wednesday food section could win me back.
Now, I feel I have to defend the sacred honor of my beloved garlic... One of my favorite summer dishes, which perfectly showcases the simplicity of Italian cooking and the vulgar (in the literal sense) appeal of garlic, is a potato/string bean salad dressed with a ton of garlic and a generous application of extra virgin olive oil. All proportion are to taste, I usually go with a 70/30 potato/string bean ratio. Boil the peeled, chunked potatoes in well-salted water, then add the string beans shortly before the potatoes are fork-tender. Drain, then add crushed garlic to taste (at least four cloves to a pound of spuds for me), and pour over extra-virgin olive oil, the good stuff, bright green and fragrant. The residual heat will slowly cook the garlic. Serve warm or at room temperature... bellissimo!
Once-stigmatized, il culo mio!
It’s exactly this sort of tone-deaf, inane journamalism that got me to stop reading the Times... well, that and the fact that they just can’t fucking call racism racism (no, Trump’s NC speech wasn’t ‘racially tinged’). Not even a garlicky skordalia recipe in the Wednesday food section could win me back.
Now, I feel I have to defend the sacred honor of my beloved garlic... One of my favorite summer dishes, which perfectly showcases the simplicity of Italian cooking and the vulgar (in the literal sense) appeal of garlic, is a potato/string bean salad dressed with a ton of garlic and a generous application of extra virgin olive oil. All proportion are to taste, I usually go with a 70/30 potato/string bean ratio. Boil the peeled, chunked potatoes in well-salted water, then add the string beans shortly before the potatoes are fork-tender. Drain, then add crushed garlic to taste (at least four cloves to a pound of spuds for me), and pour over extra-virgin olive oil, the good stuff, bright green and fragrant. The residual heat will slowly cook the garlic. Serve warm or at room temperature... bellissimo!
Once-stigmatized, il culo mio!
Monday, July 29, 2019
Fuzzy Buddy
Lately, a couple of our sites have been overrun by cute, fuzzy caterpillars with 'spiky' white and orange bristles around their heads. They are very distinctive, and qualify as charismatic minifauna. This little critter found its way into our breakroom, where it graced the table:
Poking around the t00bz (Insect Identification, for the win!), I was able to identify them as sycamore tussock moth (Halysidota harrisii) larvae, which makes sense, because we have sycamore trees on the two sites where I've seen them.
I caught this little critter in a plastic cup and relocated it to the outdoors:
Our trees are regularly monitored by a contractor, and I haven't heard of any problems caused by these caterpillars, so I can feel okay about setting my fuzzy buddy free. If a problem arises, though, the friendship is OVER... I've loved the big tree long before I even met this caterpillar.
Poking around the t00bz (Insect Identification, for the win!), I was able to identify them as sycamore tussock moth (Halysidota harrisii) larvae, which makes sense, because we have sycamore trees on the two sites where I've seen them.
I caught this little critter in a plastic cup and relocated it to the outdoors:
Our trees are regularly monitored by a contractor, and I haven't heard of any problems caused by these caterpillars, so I can feel okay about setting my fuzzy buddy free. If a problem arises, though, the friendship is OVER... I've loved the big tree long before I even met this caterpillar.
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Egretful
Egrets, as the song goes, I've had a few, but never so many as I had this weekend. On Saturday morning, I counted nineteen (possibly twenty) great egrets (Ardea alba) on the jobsite:
The birds, given their large size and snowy, showy plumage, really stand out. They were gathered around the watercourse that is all that currently remains of our onsite pond, which had to be drained of about seventy-five percent of its water because of a large construction project that we are currently undergoing. The confines of our once sizable pond are now an all-you-can-eat buffet for waders seeking easy pickings. The egrets congregate in large breeding colonies, and I imagine that this lot wandered in from a nearby green space (of which there are quite a few).
I didn't even attempt to approach these birds- they tend to be shy (for good reason), I merely sat quietly, watching them as they interacted- jockeying for good fishing spots, occasionally squabbling. It was a nice way to spend the early morning hours, with no regrets, but many egrets.
The birds, given their large size and snowy, showy plumage, really stand out. They were gathered around the watercourse that is all that currently remains of our onsite pond, which had to be drained of about seventy-five percent of its water because of a large construction project that we are currently undergoing. The confines of our once sizable pond are now an all-you-can-eat buffet for waders seeking easy pickings. The egrets congregate in large breeding colonies, and I imagine that this lot wandered in from a nearby green space (of which there are quite a few).
I didn't even attempt to approach these birds- they tend to be shy (for good reason), I merely sat quietly, watching them as they interacted- jockeying for good fishing spots, occasionally squabbling. It was a nice way to spend the early morning hours, with no regrets, but many egrets.
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Weaponization of the DOJ Against Leftist Activists?
Perhaps I'm being a bit paranoid, but I found this tweet from Vulgarmort very disturbing:
The characterization of antifascist activists as terrorists follows upon a similar proclamation by Ted Cruz. It is particularly sinister in light of the proposed end of the moratorium on the federal death penalty. It is not inconceivable that the Trump Maladministration would label political opponents 'terrorists', with the threat of a potential death sentence hanging over their heads.
In three weeks, a coterie of far-right figures from around the country plans on staging an armed rally in Portland. They have threatened violence, but in the current media climate, the gutless commentators will probably cling to the narrative that the Portland natives who protest this invasion are the villains.
The current regime is exhibiting the fourteen characteristics of fascism, and this current push to label their opponents on the left as terrorists may signal that their policies might take a turn for the worse.
Consideration is being given to declaring ANTIFA, the gutless Radical Left Wack Jobs who go around hitting (only non-fighters) people over the heads with baseball bats, a major Organization of Terror (along with MS-13 & others). Would make it easier for police to do their job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 27, 2019
The characterization of antifascist activists as terrorists follows upon a similar proclamation by Ted Cruz. It is particularly sinister in light of the proposed end of the moratorium on the federal death penalty. It is not inconceivable that the Trump Maladministration would label political opponents 'terrorists', with the threat of a potential death sentence hanging over their heads.
In three weeks, a coterie of far-right figures from around the country plans on staging an armed rally in Portland. They have threatened violence, but in the current media climate, the gutless commentators will probably cling to the narrative that the Portland natives who protest this invasion are the villains.
The current regime is exhibiting the fourteen characteristics of fascism, and this current push to label their opponents on the left as terrorists may signal that their policies might take a turn for the worse.
Friday, July 26, 2019
Let Your Skyfingers Do the Skywalking
Being a child of the 1970s, it was inevitable that I would be a 'Star Wars' fan, albeit a lukewarm (HA!) one... I like the original movies, but I'm not obsessed with them. I'm more of a fan of written SF/Fantasy, a fan of the 'theater of the mind' that such fiction provides. Still and all, I am familiar with the movies and will often make reference to some of the better lines.
One of the iconic arcs in the original trilogy **SPOILER FOR DECADES OLD MOVIE** involves the loss of Luke Skywalker's hand and its replacement with a 'bionic' replica. In a nod to the movies (which makes me hope that some of the low-key tech in the movies will be developed), the developers of a prosthetic arm have named it in honor of Luke Skywalker. This prosthetic receives and sends signals via electrodes attached to nerves. It allows users to distinguish large objects from small, hard objects from soft. The good people of Mobius Bionics deserve some serious accolades. Ultimately, I believe that regenerative medicine will proceed to the stage at which limbs can be grown, these prosthetics are a great interim therapy.
Given the fact that this prosthetic is named after his signature character, I decided to check out Mark Hamill's Twitter feed and I found this reply to an actress who has a prosthetic arm:
Following this tweet down the rabbit hole, I discovered that this actress has tested various bionic arms. It's nice to see that she's received so much love from Mr Hamill, who, refreshingly, comes across as an unfailingly Good Guy. Now, I have to see about that leak in the roof, and figure out where this moisture is coming from, because it's not raining.
Post title taken from an old yellow pages ad... for anyone under the age of twenty-five, you'll have to look that up.
One of the iconic arcs in the original trilogy **SPOILER FOR DECADES OLD MOVIE** involves the loss of Luke Skywalker's hand and its replacement with a 'bionic' replica. In a nod to the movies (which makes me hope that some of the low-key tech in the movies will be developed), the developers of a prosthetic arm have named it in honor of Luke Skywalker. This prosthetic receives and sends signals via electrodes attached to nerves. It allows users to distinguish large objects from small, hard objects from soft. The good people of Mobius Bionics deserve some serious accolades. Ultimately, I believe that regenerative medicine will proceed to the stage at which limbs can be grown, these prosthetics are a great interim therapy.
Given the fact that this prosthetic is named after his signature character, I decided to check out Mark Hamill's Twitter feed and I found this reply to an actress who has a prosthetic arm:
Look no further than inspirational #BionicActress @aannggeellll for the next generation of @starwars heroes-
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) July 25, 2019
Clearly you believe in yourself. Now all you've got to do is work hard, never give up & ANYTHING'S possible! (The Force is obviously with you...)❤️-Mar🐫#FutureJedi https://t.co/agZsbzrX6z
Following this tweet down the rabbit hole, I discovered that this actress has tested various bionic arms. It's nice to see that she's received so much love from Mr Hamill, who, refreshingly, comes across as an unfailingly Good Guy. Now, I have to see about that leak in the roof, and figure out where this moisture is coming from, because it's not raining.
Post title taken from an old yellow pages ad... for anyone under the age of twenty-five, you'll have to look that up.
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Sunset Silhouette
I often remark on the beauty of my workplace. While I love my co-workers, I have to note that some of my most fantastic experiences on the job occur when everything is locked up and I have the place to myself. Recently, I had the great good fortune to see four very large wading birds (I suspect either great blue herons or great egrets, judging by size) fly by, and two of them landed to perch on a dead tree adjacent to our property:
You can just make them out in the center of the photograph, those unmistakable silhouettes set against a particularly gorgeous sunset. Sometimes, on the job, I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming... on this particular evening, the dream, by which I mean the reality, was particularly enchanting.
You can just make them out in the center of the photograph, those unmistakable silhouettes set against a particularly gorgeous sunset. Sometimes, on the job, I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming... on this particular evening, the dream, by which I mean the reality, was particularly enchanting.
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