Entries from January 2009 ↓

The Dilemma

Jon and I both cook. We like to eat good food, and we don’t mind spending time in the kitchen putting it together.

The problem is, we can’t ever think of what to make. So, right now (as I type this, ADD-style) we are trying to come up with meals for the week.

Our Tools

To accomplish this task, we have a notebook and pen, the Better Homes Cookbook, an orange cat (he supervises) and two laptops.

We Fail

We have come up with and rejected several meals, mostly because Jon will say something like, “Is there anything in particular you’d like to eat?” and my responses always revolve around cheese, beef or candy, and we don’t want to eat any of those for every meal (well, one of us doesn’t) on the basis that it is unhealthy in large doses. (Well, one of us thinks so.)

We have rejected chili, bacon-wrapped hamburgers, taco pizza and something in our slow-cooker. Also, every couple of seconds, I get distracted by something more interesting, and Jon breaks out into song or goes to get something in another room. We are further delayed by the fact that I am checking my tweetstream and writing blog posts while we are having this discussion.

The Solution

So, after a great deal of discussion, we have decided on meatloaf and turkey burgers for two meals, and I’ve loaded the grocery list up on fruit and dairy and other weird things I’ve been craving lately. Yes, dairy is a weird thing to crave, because I believe that milk is the enemy and should be shunned whenever possible.

Oh My God, What About Tomorrow?

Although today’s crisis has been averted, does anyone have any suggestions for good places to find ideas on what to cook?

Online food databases are great if you have a specific recipe in mind, but if you’re going in blind, you end up making horrible soups and someone’s misguided attempt at a casserole. Recipe books are good, but unless you enjoy leafing through them at random, they are not very helpful for coming up with ideas.

What I’m looking for is a list of fun things to make. Ideally, a list that excludes chicken, fish or lentils, because they are shifty foods and not to be trusted. Suggestions appreciated!

Image credit: chili and angry cow

I have a theory about Steve Jobs’ plans.

My theory (which is not based on any facts at all) is that he is faking his health conditions in order to sabotage Apple’s reputation and investors’ confidence.

Once everyone’s feeling good and defeated and has unloaded all their stock, he’s going to announce his new position as a senior executive at Google, and then proceed to take over the world.

It would be like Lord of the Rings, when Saruman teamed up with Sauron and there was no hope for Middle Earth.

And if Yahoo is Gandalf, we’re doomed.

Or, if we’re relying on wizards to bail us out, we’re probably still out of luck, because I don’t think Harry Potter has a lot of corporate experience.

Excellent plan, yes? I wish I’d thought of it. Unfortunately, in order to pull this off, I would have to be Steve Jobs.

Maybe I can jump in Smeagol-style and bite off his finger and steal his heirlooms. The great thing about this world is that no matter what you’re selling, someone on eBay will buy it.

Watch your ass, Steve. I’m on to you.

Image credit: original image of Mordor and original image of apple.

I was checking for zombie updates on Justin Flowers’ blog The Flowercast when I discovered the coolest new toy.

Well, okay, it’s not 100% new because it launched in April. But this is the first time I’ve seen it. (Sorry Mashable, I missed your article.)

Seesmic is a video-blogging web app with a Word Press Plugin that allows you to leave video comments on people’s blogs.

The plugin works like regular comment features. You can post and moderate the video comments, and while Seesmic isn’t the first video application (see: Youtube, Vimeo & Viddler), the main benefits seem to be how quick it is, and how easy.

I like quick and easy applications.

Therefore, I must try this one.

I wonder if it will break my current comments application, Intense Debate.

In the immortal words of Winnie the Pooh, think, think, think.

Anyway, if you haven’t seen Seesmic’s video comments yet, I hope this post gets you interested. If you have, why didn’t you tell me about it? This is such a great way to spread evil propaganda (think 1984 Perpetual War here).

Image credit: film and bear.

Cake?!

In Valve’s game Portal, you are promised cake upon completion of the game. Rumor has it, the cake is a lie, perpetuated by a deranged computer program.

Good news for everyone out there – if you strive to complete new challenges and are unafraid to blast holes in walls with experimental weapons, people WILL eventually give you cake.

True story – I got cake today. It didn’t look exactly like Princess Sabrina’s castle cake pictured above, but it was chocolate with chocolate frosting, and a little chocolate on top. So, clearly, it was better.

Why Do I Get to Be Special?

Although my co-workers do sometimes hand out cake just for fun (not kidding, they should add free cake to the HR benefits), today’s cake had a PURPOSE.

Due to the kindness of management and also from a pile of hard work, I’ve been granted a promotion, which happily includes a new title, new responsibilities, and cake.

What is it I Do, Again?

I’ve been working in projects and operations for this company for a year, and in operations before that. For the most part, I’ve found that projects can be accomplished through organization, networking, and common sense. It also helps if you are kind of OCD – you can kind of get an idea of my loving relationship with Excel from this post.

I’m reading Project Management for Dummies by Stanley E. Portny so I can get a bit more up to speed. Also, so I have an excuse to create more charts. It’s basic, but full of good information, and it’s helping to fill in the gaps in my project management knowledge.

Next step, Microsoft Project. I’ve tried Basecamp, but I am inexplicably drawn to Gantt charts, a feature that Basecamp currently lacks.

If you think about it, taking over the world is really just one big project to manage. Just for fun, when I complete Dummies, I’ll apply Stanley’s project plan format to world domination and post it.

Image credit: cake and PM book

Jon and I went to the store to pick up some clothes for him, and to return a sweater.

Since I get bored in clothing stores, I followed him into the dressing room and took pictures. Call it shopping 2.0. There is no more privacy in this world.

One of the sweaters attacked. Apparently, they do that to the unwary.

But, after a couple stern threats involving unraveling, we subdued it.

There were some casualties.

Then, we bought some books – Project Management for Dummies (for me, because it’s useful for work and also has a shiny yellow cover), Three Cups of Tea (for my entertainment), The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (for Jon), and Home Buying for Dummies (for both of us).

Finally, we got some things for me to set on fire. (I get upset if I don’t have something to put a torch to every couple of days.)

And now, we’re waiting for my slow cooker to cook, so we can eat its insides. Beef stew with vegetables and potatoes, mmm.

I think it significantly slows things down when you open the lid up, but I like to do it anyway, because then the flavors waft through the air. Clearly worth it.

I’m watching a movie right now, and I have no idea what is going on. There’s a vampire (or else a very pale child prone to frequent bouts of violence) holding a solved Rubik’s cube in the snow.

Now, he’s asking another pale potentially violent child about her birthday, while they sit on one of those metal playground toys that are no longer around, because school administrations think children are pansies these days.

The movie is called Let the Right One In, and it’s very possible that the reason I’m having difficulty following the story is that I don’t speak Swedish, and only read subtitles when really motivated.

Pan’s Labyrinth is a good example – I was very motivated to know what was going on when the giant cannibalistic monster stood up and started ripping heads off of fairies.

But back to the story. Now they are whipping each other in the play yard. Where are their parents? And now they are planning secret codes. Would you let your kids sit outside in the snow devising secret codes? Of course not, they might be planning your overthrow.

In any case, I’ve just gone and read the wikipedia synopsis and now all the suspense is gone. Clearly it is time for bed.

Image credit: book cover & the pale man.

Emails Aren’t Always True

This post is for anyone who has ever received an email forward containing a cautionary tale with an unknown origin.

Existing Email Scams

These emails may include the following stories:

• Household items contain agents that will kill you
• Truck drivers will run your car off the road
• Cell phones numbers are being given to telemarketers
• Calling #77 on your cell phone will connect you to the police, no matter where you are
• Vague missing person reports

Why Do These Scams Succeed?

I have been taken in by many of these emails, and don’t doubt that there are valid situations where some of these stories may have occurred.

I also often receive these emails from kind-hearted people who are so concerned about warning their friends that they don’t think to validate the story before passing on the message.

Don’t Be Duped, or Dupe Your Friends

Although you may want to warn others as quickly as possible, it’s worth doing a quick search online before you spread the story and worry the people in your life.

You are a trusted source for most of these people, and receiving this email from you makes others more inclined to trust the story.

Scammers are counting on it.

What Can You Do About It?

Please take 30 seconds to check the facts at snopes.com.

You can search for the subject line or keywords related to the email you’ve received. If it’s a popular forward, snopes will tell you:

1. If it’s true
2. Where the story came from
3. Accurate information that may help you.

For example, the #77 email is a myth – not all states use #77, some use other codes, or no code at all. Snopes suggests that to be safe, you should always dial 911.

How Do I Know Snopes is Accurate?

In their FAQ, Snopes explains, that they are not “the ultimate authority on any topic” but that “the research materials [they've] used in the preparation of any particular page are listed in the bibliography displayed at the bottom of that page so that readers who wish to verify the validity of [their] information may check those sources for themselves.”

If, for your peace of mind, you feel that you should send the email warning just in case, please do. But, you should be aware that the story you’re sending may not be gospel truth, and you may want to indicate that information at the start of your forward.