sauergeek

More tab closing, more tasty links.

The Complete List of American Whiskey Distilleries & Brands, actively maintained by the blog owner. Trying to find US-made and bottled whiskey? This will tell you who's making their own vs. who's bottling someone else's. Informative.

Much more interesting for the list of old spooky radio shows than their particular selection, The 15 Spookiest Episodes of Old Time Horror Radio couldn't help but include probably the most famous one: War Of The Worlds. But it goes on to list a variety of shows. The only one I recognized was Lights Out, which originally broadcast Chicken Heart, since done as a live radio show by the Post-Meridien Radio Players.

A variety of maps of the cosmos across history in Cosmigraphics: Picturing Space Through Time in 4,000 Years of Mapping the Universe. While this is ultimately a book review for the book, it has pictures of several of the maps, which are fascinating to look at and to try to derive the level of understanding of the cosmos at the time.

One set of 9 Small Beer Cities That Deserve National Attention. I've been to two of them -- Portland, ME and Burlington, VT -- and if the rest are as good as those two, all nine are worth visiting.

A recipe for Fresh Apple Salsa that I've made several times, and rather enjoy. Mostly here for me, so I don't have to keep searching for it and saying "wait, is this the right one?".

A historic look at wallpaper in New England, with a browsable online archive of their whole collection. Historically interesting, and also a neat source of ideas for decorative patterns.

Once again closing tabs, and finding several that I think will be of interest. Enjoy!

The Rocky Horror Muppet Show. A script for a Muppet/RHPS crossover, with Kermit starring as Dr. Frank N. Frogger. kelkyag had never seen this, so I dug it up. Then I figured some of the rest of you might not have seen it either.

The King In Yellow. HP Lovecraft had his own literary influences, and Robert W. Chambers was one of them. A series of stories by the original creator of the King in Yellow as well as several other aspects of the Cthulhuverse.

A master ice cream recipe (custard, cooked) that also includes several recipes and ideas for how to tweak it. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks promising.

Photographs of keys can now be used to make duplicates, courtesy of a phone app. One more bit of security to keep track of.

I recently discovered I can't digest raw or lightly cooked onions anymore (onions cooked into oblivion appear to be fine, but I'm still experimenting), so I've had to start looking for onion-free recipes. One tasty recipe I found was an onion-free macaroni salad, which I made several times over the summer. Pancetta (though I've been using prosciutto), fresh thyme and lemon, yum! I leave out the sugar.

Man Constructs 3D Printed Concrete Castle. No explanation needed -- it's exactly what it says on the tin. He first had to build a 3D printer that could print in concrete. Per his website, he's looking for backers for bigger projects.

And finally, a timely link: The 2014 Massachusetts Ballot Questions Explained in Plain English. A short explanation of what each ballot question is asking, with a similarly short set of points on why you might want to vote for or against each.

Unexpected find in the condo trash bin: a box containing a mail shirt. It's (likely) steel rings, weighs 30 lbs, all the rings are riveted so far as I can tell, and too small for me to fit into -- my hand will not pass the cuff. It may need some cleaning, and appears to be oiled. The sleeves have what look like were intended to be leather mitten mounts, but there's no leather mitten.

There are also has two separate legs with sturdy built-in leather soles for the feet, that my feet are entirely too large for. The legs are each about 7 lbs.

There was also a pair of linen drawstring shorts in the box, but no gambeson or any other sort of under-protection in evidence.

Anyone small (both relatively short and relatively thin) in the SCA or other medieval fighting recreation group need some fighting armor? I'm pretty sure this will pass. Any similarly-sized larper want realistic prop armor? For those who know her, Mikka fits in the shirt. Without padding, it is knee-length on her, and the sleeves are too long. A good padded gambeson would eat up a fair bit of the length. With the shorts on for some padding, she can't quite get the legs all the way on, but her feet fit the built-in soles.

A couple years ago, in a fit of something, I decided that there needed to be more savory ice cream. The flavor I settled on was Mole Negro.

This recipe goes surprisingly well on cold -- or warm -- chicken.

( The Recipe )

The texture of the ice cream is a little off, and I'm not even sure how to describe it, mostly because I don't mind or notice it. Other people have pointed it out. I suspect it's the onions causing the problem, but it might be any of the other ingredients, with almond flour being my next suspect.

Inspired by a friend's Facebook request for SMTP wedding vows, I came up with this:

( Behind a cut, because it's long )

lizzielizzie volunteered to take pictures of Bixby for me. (Have I mentioned before that lizzielizzie is a goddess? 'Cause she is.)

( The results )

This is not the Hyundai Elantra Touring I initially said I was going to get. Instead, I realized that if I got the Touring, I'd probably always wonder about the Subaru Impreza wagon, but if I got the Impreza, I likely wouldn't wonder about the Touring. That plus talking with rhysara about her 2009 Impreza wagon and it regularly getting better than rated mileage got me to change my mind.

lizzielizzie is a goddess
She took me to where my wrecked car was
So I could get all my stuff out of it
And helped take the plates off in the sun
Even though it was well over 90 degrees outside
Then drove me to get a rental car
Spotted far more wrong with it than I did
(How did all those dents get in the roof?)
In my still semi-addled state
(An accident will do that)
And waited until I was in the car
Ready to drive away
lizzielizzie is a goddess.

One in a likely long series of ways not to start your day: single-car accident on an interstate. If you were stuck behind a gang of rubberneckers on I-495 north just before the 113 exit shortly after 10 AM on the 17th, that was me. In trying to avoid hitting a large chunk of tire in the lane, I not only failed to miss the chunk of tire, I also lost control, swerved several times, bounced off a guard rail, and came to rest across the left lane of 495. I had the presence of mind to back out of the roadway.

I didn't hit anyone else. I have superficial welts and scrapes from the airbag deploying. The car is not so fine, with both the left front and left rear corners damaged, the coolant system breached (might be the radiator, might be just a hose), the left front wheel likely rubbing the inside of the wheel well, and who knows what else wrong.

The insurance company has told me to expect the car to be totaled -- not surprising, given a nine year old car with significant damage. I have a rental (covered by insurance, excellent) that doesn't even come close to being a Miata. It's a Kia Spectra.

Given that I expect the Miata to be totaled, I am likely in the market for a new car. I'm looking for either another convertible or a hatchback, preferably one with a roof that opens. Right now the top of my list is the Mazda M3, but I'm open to other suggestions.

I saw my third movie this year: Batman Begins (no, I had not seen it before). Of the cast on screen, I recognized exactly one actor: Morgan Freeman. So, for my entertainment (and possibly yours), I list the places, if any, I have seen or heard the other first-billed actors.

( Read more... )

Odaiko New England is having reVISION[1], its 15th anniversary concert at Arlington Regent Theater.

There are two shows: Saturday, 30 May, 8 PM; and Sunday, 31 May, 3:00 pm. Tickets available at the theater website.

I will be helping out, but not playing, at both shows.

[1] I am not responsible for the silly caps.