The beaver is a proud and noble animal
Notes from a bemused canuck
I just lurve it when I get random comments like this:
Hello. Good day
Who listens to what music?
I Love songs Justin Timberlake and Paris Hilton
it's an anonymous comment on my latest blog entry, from some random IP in Brazil (201.24.199.180).
Yay, internet.
* 25th Hour, The
* Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the (box set)
* Alegria
* American Beauty
* American History X
* Any Given Sunday
* Babylon 5 - Two volume Set - The Gathering
* Babylon 5 (Season 1)
* Babylon 5 (Season 2)
* Babylon 5 (Season 3)
* Babylon 5 (Season 4)
* Babylon 5 (Season 5)
* Babylon 5 (The Movies)
* Babylon 5 - Cruisades (box set)
* Banlieu 13
* Being John Malkovich
* Beetlejuice
* Ben Hur
* Big Lebowski, The
* Blown Away
* Bourne Identity, the
* Box of Moonlight
* Caligula
* Carlito's Way
* Cars
* Casino Royal
* Collateral
* Contact
* Corruptor, The
* Corsican Twins, The
* Couch in New York
* Count of Monte Cristo, The
* Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
* Cyrano de Bergerac
* Daredevil
* Dark Crystal, The
* Dead Poets Society
* Eddie Murphy Raw
* Enemy at the gates
* Fifth Element, The
* Fight Club
* Frank Herbert's Dune
* Freshman, The
* Full Metal Jacket
* Ghost in the Shell
* Gladiator
* Godfather, The
* Godfather, part II, The
* Godfather, part III, The
* Good Morning Vietnam
* Good Will Huunting
* Great Escape, The
* Grosse Point Blank
* Hackers
* Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone
* Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets
* Heat
* Hero
* History of the world - Part 1
* Hithhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
* Hoodlums
* Howl's Moving Castle
* Hustle - Season 1 Box set
* Hustle - Season 2 Box set
* Hustler's Barely Legal
* Incredibles, the
* I, Robot
* Insider, The
* Italian Job, The
* Jarhead
* Kill Bill, Volume 1
* Kill Bill, Volume 2
* Kissing Jessica Stein
* Last Samourai, The
* Law & Order (Season 1 - 6 DVD Box set)
* Leathal weapon 1 - Director's Cut
* Leathal weapon 2 - Director's Cut
* Leathal weapon 3 - Director's Cut
* Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels
* Lost in translation
* Mary Poppins (40th Anniversary Edition)
* MASH Collector's Edition - Season 1
* MASH Collector's Edition - Season 2
* MASH Collector's Edition - Season 3
* MASH Collector's Edition - Season 4
* MASH Collector's Edition - Season 5
* MASH Collector's Edition - Season 6
* MASH Collector's Edition - Season 7
* MASH Collector's Edition - Season 8
* MASH Collector's Edition - Season 9
* MASH The Movie
* Mask, The
* Matrix, The
* MIB
* Minority Report
* Monty Python - Quest for the Holy Graal - SE
* Mulan
* Mummy, The
* Mupper Xmas Carol
* Muppet Show - Season 1 Box Set
* Muppet Treasure Island
* Muppets from Space
* My big fat greek wedding
* National Treasure
* Negotiator, the
* Nightmare before xmas, The
* Ninja Scroll
* Ocean's Eleven
* Office Space
* Payback
* Phantom of the Opera
* Pink Floyd - The wall
* Pink Floyd - London 1966-67
* Pink Floyd - Making of DSOTM
* Pink Floyd - Pulse
* Pirates of the Caribbean
* Pulp Fiction
* Pump Up the Volume
* Pushing Tin
* Rachel Papers, the
* Ref, The
* Replacement Killers, The
* Reservoir Dogs
* Return of Sherlock Holmes, the (box set)
* Revenge of the ninja
* Ronin
* Rounders
* Scent of a Woman
* Score, The
* Seven
* Shawshank Redemption, The
* Sherlock Holmes Feature Film Collection
* Sherlock Holmes - The Complete Collection (Jeremy Brett)
The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes
The Return Of Sherlock Holmes
The Casebook Of Sherlock Holmes
The Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes
* Shrek
* Sin City
* Snatch
* South Park - Bigger, Longer, Uncut
* Spartacus
* Spawn - The complete animated series
* Spirited Away
* Star Wars Episode IV-VI Remastered Editions box set
* Suicide Kings
* Thomas Crown Affair, The
* Three to tango
* Truth about cats and dogs, The
* Two if by Sea
* U571
* Underworld
* Untouchables, The
* V for Vendetta
* Who framed Roger Rabbit?
* X-Men
* X-Men 2
* Yamakasi
* About a boy
* Angel - Season 1 (box set)
* Angel - Season 2 (box set)
* Angel - Season 3 (box set)
* Angel - Season 4 (box set)
* Angel - Season 5 (box set)
* Back to the future trilogy
* Barbara Curries Power Packed Yoga
* Batman Begins
* Benny & Joon
* Big Fish
* Bill Bailey - Bewilderment
* Bill Bailey - Cosmic Jam
* Bill Bailey - Part Troll
* Black Books - Season 1
* Black Books - Season 2
* Black Books - Season 3
* Brothers Grimm
* Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Complete Seasons Box Set
* Butterfly Effect, the
* Catch me if you can
* Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
* Chicago
* Chronicles of Narnia - BBC TV Box Set
* Constantine
* Corpse Bride
* Crash
* Donnie Darko
* Dungeons & Dragons (box set)
* Edward Scissorhands
* End of Days
* Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
* Exorcism of Emilie Rose
* Finding Neverland
* Gothika
* Grey's Anatomy - Season 1
* Grudge, the
* Hannibal Trilogy (box set)
* Ice Age 1
* Ice Age 2
* Lakehouse, The
* Legally Blonde
* Magnolia
* Memoirs of a Geisha
* Millenium Season 1
* Millenium Season 2
* Millenium Season 3
* Miss Congeniality
* Moulin Rouge
* Queen - Live at Wembley Stadium
* Queen on fire - Live at the Bowl
* Queen - Greatest video hits 1
* Queen - Greatest video hits 2
* Ring
* Ring 2
* Saw
* Saw 2
* Shaun of the Dead
* Village, the
* True Lies
* Two weeks notice
* Village, The
* Walking with Dinosaurs (box set)
* War of the worlds
I've been listening to scientists prattle on all day and it only reinforces my views that most academics can't speak in public to save their lives. I hate it, but apparently at least I'm entertaining when I give a presentation. These people are… dull. Not only are they boring, they drone on and on and on and make what could be a really interesting topic about as interesting as a rectal enema. My brain shut down about an hour ago and right now, I'm trying to sit quietly and not droll on myself.
If you havent been to New Orleans youve probably never eaten a Beignet, but youve probably had something similar. Cafe au Lait and Beignets, is New Orleans for Coffee & Donuts.
The most famous place in New Orleans for Beignets and Cafe au Lait is Cafe Du Monde on Decatur on the riverside of Jackson Square, which is legendary, you have to go once.
New Orleans Style Beignet Recipe
1 Envelope Active Dry Yeast
3/4 Cup Warm Water
1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
1 Beaten Egg
1/2 Cup Evaporated Milk
3 1/2 – 3 3/4 Cups A.P. Flour
1/8 Cup Butter
Vegetable Oil for Frying
Powdered Sugar in a shaker or sifter
Combine the Yeast, Water, and Sugar in a large mixing bowl. Let this sit until frothy, about 5 minutes, then add the Salt, Egg, and Evaporated Milk. Mix well, then add half of the flour until it starts to come together, then add the butter. When the butter is incorporated start adding the remaining flour, a little at a time until most of it is incorporated. At this time I always turn the dough onto a floured bench to finish by hand, just like when I make bread; its a touch thing. Knead the dough adding just enough flour as necessary to make a non-sticky, smooth dough. Place the dough into a large oiled bowl, loosely cover and let rise (about 1h in a warm cupboard)
After the dough has doubled in bulk, punch it down and turn it onto a floured surface and roll out into a rectangle that is about 1/2thick. With a very sharp knife working at a diagonal to the rectangle, cut into 2wide strips. Now cut into diamond shapes by making diagonal cuts in the opposite direction. Place the Beignets on a floured baking sheet to let rise another hour in a warm place.
When the Beignets have risen, deep fry them in vegetable oil at 180C. Place 2-3 Beignets into the hot oil at a time, being careful not to smash or deflate them. When they are golden brown, flip them over until golden brown on the other side (They go pretty quickly so start checking them right after they go into the oil). Remove to paper towel lined plates to drain. Serve hot topped with plenty of powdered sugar (because the dough doesnt contain much sugar, you will want a lot!). Best served with Cafe au Lait. Enjoy!
Makes about 2 dozen.
This is based on Delia Smith's recipe
Ingredients
8 oz (225 g) dried tagliatelle
5 oz (150 g) smoked pancetta, cubed or sliced (could use lardons or bacon)
2 large eggs
4 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano (could use parmesan)
4 tablespoons double cream
freshly milled black pepper
olive oil
First of all, cook the pasta. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the pancetta until its crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Next, whisk the eggs cheese and cream in a bowl and season generously with black pepper.
Then, when the pasta is cooked, drain it quickly in a colander, leaving a little of the moisture still clinging. Now quickly return it to the saucepan and add the pancetta and any oil in the pan, along with the egg and cream mixture. Stir very thoroughly, so that everything gets a good coating what happens is that the liquid egg cooks briefly as it comes into contact with the hot pasta. Serve the pasta on really hot deep plates with some extra grated Pecorino.
Today, I have:
– cooked a pheasant and liver terrine, from scratch
– cooked beignets from scratch
– cooked our usual sunday roast (half a leg of lamb with assorted roast veg)
– installed a shelf in the bedroom to finally clear off the top of our chest of drawers
– unpacked and reconstructed my zen garden
– built the footstool for the Poang chair in the living room
– supplied Katy with copious amounts of tea while she was studying.
In a word, I'm tired – but it's a content tired.
I am wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
It's been a while since I was this tipsy. Honestly I don't remember when the last time was. I'm slurring my vowels and apparently, my breath could stun a small horse. I blame the cheap wine. You will note, however, that my spelling is still up to par, so I can't be *that* bad. Why am I tipsy, you ask? Tonight was the silent auction for the village parish and they were generous with the wine in the hopes that people would bid! bid! bid!
Guess what? It worked :) Luckily, people were more drunk than us so we got off relatively cheap. We bought a dinner for two at our local pub for close to the amount that we normally pay; two bottles of nice german white wine, a nice frame for our guest bedroom and a jar of homemade marmalade. We were also embroiled in a bidding war for a Victoria sponge cake, which we had to win as a matter of principle. We did. Go us!!
The money was going to the upkeep of the local church, so it's for a decent cause. We also got to meet a lot of people from our village, which was fun.
All in all, a good night's fun.
But I am still drunk :D So, wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Things are very routine and not a lot is happening at the moment, though we are slowly getting things planned out for the next few weeks. I'm going to Antwerp in two weeks to attend Javapolis, a week-long java programmer conference. I'm going to join Katy in Leicester the weekend I get back because she's having a tea party at her folks' place for an early birthday celebration. The following week, Katy and I are going to spend a few days in London for her proper birthday do, and then it's xmas. In between all of that, we have to fit in lots of cooking for xmas prep, a bit of home DIY and home decoration and get the xmas shopping done. It's going to be a busy time.
A lot of my daily work time is spent answering support emails. Usually, people ask questions that fall into a few general categories and these are quickly dealt with. Once in a while, they have a genuine bug to report or encounter a snag we haven't seen before. All of which are ok.
Once in a while though, you get dumbasses.
We have a very comprehensive user manual for all the projects we work on. It takes a lot of time to make sure it's up to date and complete. It is. Sadly, the dumbasses never seem to use it.
I have just spent the last 15 minutes politely answering questions sent by email when all I want to do is send a one liner that would simply state “clearly, you haven't read the fucking manual”.
One day, I will.
A Russian woman who drank up to 5 000 litres of Coca Cola has successfully sued the company for making her ill. Natalya Kashuba, 27, the owner of an upmarket clothes shop, drank up to three litres of the soft drink every day for five years. She took legal action against the soft drinks giant after claiming that she had suffered insomnia and heartburn, reports the Telegraph.
Miss Kashuba said she had become addicted to the drink as a result of a promotional offer that allowed consumers to swap Coca Cola caps for prizes. Dozens of inflatable mattresses and radios she won were used as key evidence in the case.
“In October 2005, as a result of an examination by a gastroenterologist, she was diagnosed with a chronic condition whose main symptom is heart burn,” her lawyer, Alexey Monakhov, said.
In a landmark ruling, two Russian courts agreed that Coca Cola had failed to warn of the potential health risks of drinking too much Coke and awarded Miss Kashuba
Though the sum in itself is derisory, Miss Kashuba's victory is unprecedented and could, lawyers predict, prompt an avalanche of similar suits.
Miss Kashuba herself is seeking a further from Coca Cola in “moral damages”. – Ananova.com
So what do you know. Drinking 5000 liters of coke will make you wired and give you heartburn. Well fucking DUH!