Happy Talk Like A Pirate Day!

In case you hadn’t noticed, fall is here.

The mornings have been crisp and cold, and apples are coming into season. Made an apple pie on Sunday, and I think I’m going to have to make several more while apples are at their prime. Especially since I just got individual serving pie dishes from King Arthur’s Catalog. Because sometimes it’s just too much to make an entire pie for two or three people, and pie isn’t something easily taken to work, like cookies.

But the pie I made really was very delicious.

Happy Birthday to the Constitution!

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Here are some of my favorite amendments:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment XIII

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Amendment XIX

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Amendment XXI

Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section 2. The transportation or importation into any state, territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

… one movie at a time.

Well, not just movies. Michael is also recommending science fiction books to her, and in the past month she’s read two John Scalzi books, and just started either Spin or Accelerando .

But last night, we watch The Matrix and she said it was okay, and she wouldn’t mind seeing the two sequels. Considering how violent The Matrix is, I figured that was pretty impressive. (Mind you, she chose to watch The Matrix over Chicago.)
However, she didn’t much care for X-Men, though I wonder if she would like it better watching it a second time, since things would make more sense.

She and Michael are also watching Star Trek: Voyager while I hide in the basement, because there are some limits to my geekatude.

Next up–we’re going to see if we can get her to watch Buffy.

Kick off! Maryland fumble. WVU recovers…

TOUCHDOWN!

Here’s hoping the happiness continues. (And this is MUCH better than last week, when we lost radio reception at the end of the first quarter on the way to VA .)

ADDENDUM the First:
Boo.

ADDENDUM the Second:
Why are radio commercials so absolutely horrific?

(Yes, I know the game is on ESPN. I’m watching it with the sound off so I can listen to the radio instead.

ADDENDUM the Third:
Amusing quote from the color guy. “That’s why they’re called a receiver; they’re supposed to catch the ball.”

ADDENDUM the Fourth:
I think I prefer watching football when I don’t care who wins.

ADDENDUM the Fifth:
Yay Noel Devine! (Though Pat White is still my favorite.)

Babies are here!

Helena Everett (not sure about the spelling of the second name) 4 pounds 6 ounces
and
James Ezra  5 lbs 1.7 ounces

Still no lengths.

Both have big blue eyes.

Yay! New cousins for me!

No! Not ME silly!

My cousin’s wife–the cousin who got married in January–she’s in the hospital now. The doctors are trying to hold things off long enough for the shot they gave to help the babies lungs develop work.

And yes, I said babies plural (which is why they’re coming early). She’s having twins. They were due at the end of October, but last estimate was that they were both about four pounds each, so although they’re early, they’re pretty large.
So keep them in your thoughts (or prayers if you do that kind of thing), that they’ll get through the birth as easy as possible (did I mention that at the last doctor’s appointment, one of the babies was breech?) and that the babies will be larger than estimated, so that they can get out of the hospital sooner.

Of course, that means no more sleep for Eric & Logan for the next several years, but hey, I’ll be sleeping fine right here!

I’m not saying there isn’t something to it, I’m just saying that my first reaction to this:

WVU researchers studying nutritional benefits of krill
Mention krill, and whales might come to mind. The tiny shrimp-like
crustaceans are the food of choice for whales – nutritionally dense,
easily harvested and abundant. It’s those same qualities that make krill
seem like a short-list candidate for the next big protein source to a
pair of WVU researchers. Drs. Janet Tou and Jacek Jaczynski, assistant
professors in WVU’s Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer
Sciences, have been collaborating with Taiwanese scholar Yi-Chen Chen on
a study of the nutritional benefits of krill for human consumption. The
research was featured in a recent issue of Nutrition Reviews.

…was to giggle.

I am a nerd queen! Bow to me and bring me books!

Additionally (from the website):

One of the biggest advantages of living in Morgantown is that because of the university, we get to see a lot of musicians, speakers, comedians, etc that we wouldn’t if we lived elsewhere in West Virginia.

Last night, we have the privilege of seeing Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

They started out with a John Coltraine set–five pieces I think. There was also a set of pieces written by one of the Orchestra members, Ted Nash, that were based upon modern art paintings.

They also did a couple pieces were more big band and New Orleans jazz, which I have to admit is my favorite, but they covered a good variety.

What I had forgotten, was that (being the good public radio listener that I am) I really like Wynton Marsaliss speaking voice. I’m not sure I can tell you precisely what it was, but his voice is enjoyable to listen to.The Orchestra itself was fantastic–an ensemble of talented players, most of which who played at least one solo.
However, the one thing that really stood out to me was that there were no female members. Why there are so few female jazz musicians (aside from singers and singer/pianists) I don’t know, but it was a very strange recognition.

But despite the lack of women, it was a fantastic show, and I highly recommend you see them if you get the chance.

I have to say that reading about Elyn Saks made me feel as if my own mental struggles are nothing.

She’s a lawyer and educator who just published The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness that talks about her struggle with schizophrenia.

You can read an article on her as well.

(more…)

For those of us who cringe every time we cross the state line, and who think that “open for business” makes us sound completely desperate, Manchin has finally heard our complaints, and we can now vote to get the state’s slogan changed to something reasonable.

West Virginians are first being asked whether or not you want a permanent slogan on the state’s welcome signs or not, since the interstate signs had gone without anything but a “Welcome to” for 15 years prior to 2006. If you do want a permanent slogan on the signs, you are asked to submit your choice. If the majority of voters wish to have a permanent welcome slogan then your submissions will be tabulated and a second round of voting will be initiated based upon the top choices.

Personally, I don’t care whether we have a permanent slogan or not. I just want “open for business” GONE.
So go! Vote!

Too bad there’s not a comment spot, so we can tell the governor how we really feel about “open for business”.

Goats sacrificed to fix Nepal jet

Nepal’s state-run airline has confirmed that it sacrificed two goats to appease a Hindu god, following technical problems with one of its aircraft.

Really, I don’t think there’s anything I can add to that.