Daily Kos: Huff Post Breaks Huge Corruption Story--And We Must Do Something About It
TL;DR: Bailout companies try to buy off Congress with bailout money. We the people must force campaign finance reform.
Miscellaneous crap pertaining to the in-between life of an in-between girl called PikaPikaChick.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Foodblogging: simple tomato basil soup
I haven't written a homecooking foodblog in a while. I don't have pretty pictures today but I do have a really simple recipe that turned into an absolutely fantastic quick dinner.
Tomato Basil SoupWe also had crab cakes from Trader Joe's. Total time spent on dinner: 20 minutes.
1 14.5 oz can chicken broth
2 14.5-oz cans crushed tomatoes
1 tsp sugar
1 stem's worth of fresh basil, finely chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup butter
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
Bring chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, and crushed red pepper to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer about 10 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and remove from heat. Stir until butter melts.
Serves 4-6
Losing hope
I'm a grammar snob. This is no secret. I'm a bit on the pedantic side when it comes to the written word. I'm by no means perfect, but I do have a minimum set of standards when it comes to punctuation, capitol letters, homonyms, and basic spelling.
So it goes without saying that a large number of people on the Internet infuriate me. Native English speakers. People whom their respective educational systems and parents have failed. I am most infuriated by the people who simply do not care. They actually get defensive about their illiteracy. Like it's this trivial, excusable thing. Grown adults who couldn't tell you the difference between there, their, and they're or spell the word restaurant. My ten-year-old nephew can write better prose than these people.
What has been sending me over the edge lately is a great majority of expectant mothers on a number of pregnancy message boards I frequent. These are the people who are going to be raising the next generation. These people's kids are going to inherit this brave new world. These people cannot string a coherent sentence to save their lives. And in the meantime all across this country the number of kids graduating -- graduating -- from high school who can't even read at a fifth grade level is rising. And for those millions of kids who don't even make it out of high school… who knows.
These people are breeding. They couldn't care less if their kids can write a high school-level essay. As long as young Bryttny and Hunter pass those standardized tests and win that soccer/football/gymnastics match, then by God they're doing just fine. And one day when their barely-English resumes are launched into the circular file faster than the HR person can laugh at them, they can always stay at home and take care of mommy in between their shifts at the local laundromat.
So it goes without saying that a large number of people on the Internet infuriate me. Native English speakers. People whom their respective educational systems and parents have failed. I am most infuriated by the people who simply do not care. They actually get defensive about their illiteracy. Like it's this trivial, excusable thing. Grown adults who couldn't tell you the difference between there, their, and they're or spell the word restaurant. My ten-year-old nephew can write better prose than these people.
What has been sending me over the edge lately is a great majority of expectant mothers on a number of pregnancy message boards I frequent. These are the people who are going to be raising the next generation. These people's kids are going to inherit this brave new world. These people cannot string a coherent sentence to save their lives. And in the meantime all across this country the number of kids graduating -- graduating -- from high school who can't even read at a fifth grade level is rising. And for those millions of kids who don't even make it out of high school… who knows.
These people are breeding. They couldn't care less if their kids can write a high school-level essay. As long as young Bryttny and Hunter pass those standardized tests and win that soccer/football/gymnastics match, then by God they're doing just fine. And one day when their barely-English resumes are launched into the circular file faster than the HR person can laugh at them, they can always stay at home and take care of mommy in between their shifts at the local laundromat.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
New owners to spice up Taste of MN
New owners to spice up Taste of MN
Oy. Long, long ago the Taste was actually a good way to spend the 4th of July. Remember when the Taste of Minnesota actually had food vendors -- get this -- from Minnesota? I remember watching the crowds from the steps of the State Capital. I remember sitting on the Capital lawn to watch the fireworks show that was actually one of the best in the Twin Cities. The bands were never really all that great, but they were passable.
Over time the bands got worse, the food got trucked in by folks on the national fair circuit (and was sold at outrageous prices), and then the whole thing got moved to Harriet Island. Nail? Meet coffin.
The idea that they actually want to charge admission for this sorry excuse for a festival actually made me snort in contempt. That the Taste could ever compare to Summerfest, which year after year brings in relevent national acts, is a pipe dream.
Yeeaaahhh, good luck with that, fellows.
Oy. Long, long ago the Taste was actually a good way to spend the 4th of July. Remember when the Taste of Minnesota actually had food vendors -- get this -- from Minnesota? I remember watching the crowds from the steps of the State Capital. I remember sitting on the Capital lawn to watch the fireworks show that was actually one of the best in the Twin Cities. The bands were never really all that great, but they were passable.
Over time the bands got worse, the food got trucked in by folks on the national fair circuit (and was sold at outrageous prices), and then the whole thing got moved to Harriet Island. Nail? Meet coffin.
The idea that they actually want to charge admission for this sorry excuse for a festival actually made me snort in contempt. That the Taste could ever compare to Summerfest, which year after year brings in relevent national acts, is a pipe dream.
Yeeaaahhh, good luck with that, fellows.
False Nepotism
Some fabulous coworkers decided to throw me and my boss (technically my boss' boss, but whatever) a joint baby shower. His wife and I got pregnant at almost exactly the same time. So the invitation goes out to the entire office that is worded in a very confusing way:
"Come help celebrate [PPC] and [boss]'s soon to arrive babies"
We both knew the second we saw it that people were going to start making assumptions. I started getting weird looks in the hallways. I could tell that people were whispering. A few brave souls came up and asked us to clarify or emailed to ask, but I know there are still a large number of confused people around the office.
I'm going to make a sign for my cube with a picture of Husband and a large arrow that says, "THIS IS MY HUSBAND WITH WHOM I AM HAVING A BABY."
Oh, the horror.
"Come help celebrate [PPC] and [boss]'s soon to arrive babies"
We both knew the second we saw it that people were going to start making assumptions. I started getting weird looks in the hallways. I could tell that people were whispering. A few brave souls came up and asked us to clarify or emailed to ask, but I know there are still a large number of confused people around the office.
I'm going to make a sign for my cube with a picture of Husband and a large arrow that says, "THIS IS MY HUSBAND WITH WHOM I AM HAVING A BABY."
Oh, the horror.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Integrity in the radio world
Indie 103.1 Goes Off the Air to Keep Integrity - Damn the Man! | BeatCrave - Music Blog, MP3 Downloads, Videos, News, Giveaways
Can you imagine if this technology was around back in the Rev105 days?
Yes. I am one of those Twin Citians who are still pining over the loss.
Can you imagine if this technology was around back in the Rev105 days?
Yes. I am one of those Twin Citians who are still pining over the loss.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Morning links roundup
Woman too stupid to figure out Ubuntu (and the Save As... menu option) quits school over it
Really, if it was that damn hard why didn't she just go out and buy a copy of Windows?
DynCorp has a corporate culture of trafficking children for sex in Bosnia... all while ripping off the US government and putting soldiers at risk with shoddy repair work. Oh, and they fired the whistleblower too.
Are there ANY non-corrupt government contractors? Anyone? Anyone?
There is no low to which Scientology won't stoop.
But we knew that already. Every time they reach the bottom of the barrel we figure they can't possibly scrape it any further, but surprise! They do!
Hey parents! Common sense was right all along!
Using the TV to "babysit" your child? Un-fucking-believable.
I have to end on a positive note so here is a panda somersaulting down a hill.
Really, if it was that damn hard why didn't she just go out and buy a copy of Windows?
DynCorp has a corporate culture of trafficking children for sex in Bosnia... all while ripping off the US government and putting soldiers at risk with shoddy repair work. Oh, and they fired the whistleblower too.
Are there ANY non-corrupt government contractors? Anyone? Anyone?
There is no low to which Scientology won't stoop.
But we knew that already. Every time they reach the bottom of the barrel we figure they can't possibly scrape it any further, but surprise! They do!
Hey parents! Common sense was right all along!
Using the TV to "babysit" your child? Un-fucking-believable.
I have to end on a positive note so here is a panda somersaulting down a hill.
I do not own a gun.
What You Should Know Before Going to America - Topic Powered by Eve For Enterprise
It's so awesome to hear what the rest of the world thinks of us crazy giant gun-toting Americans.
It's so awesome to hear what the rest of the world thinks of us crazy giant gun-toting Americans.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Sorry, no, hate it.
Official Google Blog: Google's new favicon
It's a silly thing to have an opinion about, but damn that new favicon is fugly.
It's a silly thing to have an opinion about, but damn that new favicon is fugly.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Is America's Love Affair with Stupidity Finally Over? | | AlterNet: "Idiocracy is supposed to be a comedy, but it's hard not to get a little chill after you see it and realize that this world is closer to us than Russia is to Sarah Palin's breakfast nook. Every time an ad screams 'EXTREME!', every time we glimpse the failures of abstinence-only education (like the teen pregnancy rate going up in 2006 for the first time in 15 years), every time an SUV that amounts to a panic-room-on-wheels slops its grotesque bulk into more than one parking space, every time a cadre of degreed journalists report on what Suri, Shiloh and Apple are wearing to each other's birthday parties, every time Paris Hilton is in our line of vision, we inch closer to Judge's future."
Hooray! Maybe this will be what gets the ball rolling
BART officer arrested on murder warrant in NY Day shooting
(Some) cops have been getting away with some pretty atrocious things for a long time. I just hope that this well-deserved arrest (and hopefully conviction) will wake more DAs up around the country.
(Some) cops have been getting away with some pretty atrocious things for a long time. I just hope that this well-deserved arrest (and hopefully conviction) will wake more DAs up around the country.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
I'll give you "bored..."
CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Palin slams ‘bored, anonymous, pathetic bloggers who lie’ � - Blogs from CNN.com
I think we bloggers should straight up just start making up shit now. If she wants lies, we'll give her lies.
How about: I once saw Sarah Palin backhand a Jewish kid outside his bar mitzvah.
Or maybe Sarah Palin could just, you know, GO AWAY NOW. Doesn't she have some snakes to handle or tongues to speak in or grandbabies to raise?
I think we bloggers should straight up just start making up shit now. If she wants lies, we'll give her lies.
How about: I once saw Sarah Palin backhand a Jewish kid outside his bar mitzvah.
Or maybe Sarah Palin could just, you know, GO AWAY NOW. Doesn't she have some snakes to handle or tongues to speak in or grandbabies to raise?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Special delivery
I received a package today from my cousin in Korea. I've been expecting a DVD but had no idea what to expect. I'm trying very hard to learn Korean by sort of immersing myself every day with podcasts, Rosetta Stone software, online flashcards, you name it. When my cousin found out that I'm trying to learn he immediately asked for my address.
Anyway, he sent me a DVD of a South Korean kids show called (okay, here's where my Hangul reading skills get tested) "ong an gul i ya angu." (?) It's hard to read because the letters are all jumbled together. It features a guy in a strange felt tamborine hat, cape, plaid cargo shorts, and skate shoes (he's usually in a big computer thing), an adorable little girl in pigtails, and a tiger whose markings are made of Hangul characters. Oh yeah, and a squid named Pupi/Bubi. It came with a little workbook/sticker book.
I watched about 30 minutes of it tonight and I do think it's going to help me. It's always good to hear native speakers speaking natively.
Anyway, he sent me a DVD of a South Korean kids show called (okay, here's where my Hangul reading skills get tested) "ong an gul i ya angu." (?) It's hard to read because the letters are all jumbled together. It features a guy in a strange felt tamborine hat, cape, plaid cargo shorts, and skate shoes (he's usually in a big computer thing), an adorable little girl in pigtails, and a tiger whose markings are made of Hangul characters. Oh yeah, and a squid named Pupi/Bubi. It came with a little workbook/sticker book.
I watched about 30 minutes of it tonight and I do think it's going to help me. It's always good to hear native speakers speaking natively.
Stunning ignorance
Minor Matters � Blog Archive � Joe the Plumber: media should be abolished from reporting
I...he...it's just............
!!!
I...he...it's just............
!!!
Friday, January 09, 2009
Dream job
Daily Express | Odd News :: Mother's touch can alter brain
Who got to tickle the baby rats? I WANT THAT JOB!
Who got to tickle the baby rats? I WANT THAT JOB!
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Foodblogging: First Course
First Course
5607 Chicago Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55417
The food was brilliant. The flavors were incredible, the portions weren't stingy for a four-course meal, and it was surprisingly vegetarian. The decor is lovely. And as a foodie nerd I liked being able to peek into the small but functional kitchen.
The only thing that dropped it down to four out of five stars for me was our server. She seemed confused, ill-prepared, and slightly unprofessional. When she first arrived there was a good twenty seconds of awkward silence and staring. "So... are you going to do the fixed menu then?" she asked, as though we had a choice...or any clue as to what was going on. I guess if I'm going to be spending forty bucks on a meal I expect some level of knowledge and professionalism. She started off telling us what we were eating as each course came out, then kind of dropped off. I still don't remember the menu's description of the dessert and we have no idea what kind of wine came with two of the courses.
5607 Chicago Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55417
The food was brilliant. The flavors were incredible, the portions weren't stingy for a four-course meal, and it was surprisingly vegetarian. The decor is lovely. And as a foodie nerd I liked being able to peek into the small but functional kitchen.
The only thing that dropped it down to four out of five stars for me was our server. She seemed confused, ill-prepared, and slightly unprofessional. When she first arrived there was a good twenty seconds of awkward silence and staring. "So... are you going to do the fixed menu then?" she asked, as though we had a choice...or any clue as to what was going on. I guess if I'm going to be spending forty bucks on a meal I expect some level of knowledge and professionalism. She started off telling us what we were eating as each course came out, then kind of dropped off. I still don't remember the menu's description of the dessert and we have no idea what kind of wine came with two of the courses.
So this is the new year
I made sure I did a lot of sleeping yesterday so I could make it to the Commissioner's Ball, an invite-only (ooooh) party at the Herkimer. Points of interest for the night:
- Me actually staying awake the whole time
- A tres romantique dinner at First Course Bistro to start the evening -- more on that later
- Chatting with Jessica about the coolness of my parents
- Lots of hugs
- The promise of punk rock baby gear from Colin
- Colin suggesting that I use magic mama powers to change Lily into a boy so we can name him Murphy or Colin
- Ole crowd surfing to "Party Hard"
- A bar-wide singalong to "Proud To Be An American" full of irony and snark
- Being REALLY annoyed by the jackhole who parked us in... and then being saved by a couple of nice cowboys in very tight leather pants from the VFW
- Writing "YOU FAIL AT PARKING" on aforementioned jackhole's vehicle
- Getting home before 12:30 and avoiding the majority of drunks on the road
- Being in bed well before 2:00
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