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Anti-Bobby Flay Ring
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Most of you have probably heard about the list of radio songs that stations are being asked not to play. They went through it quickly last night as I was driving home, so I looked for the whole list this morning. Here it is. Some of these song I totally, 100 percent understand their placement on the list. Others, I don't get. Maybe I have to read through the lyrics or something. I wonder if people read that much into song, though. For example, "Falling For The First Time," by Barenaked Ladies is on the list. I heard it this morning and didn't think twice. Until, of course, I saw the list.
Very, very, very surprisingly, I did not see a specific Cure song on the list. I'm sure you know the one I'm talking about it. Maybe it doesn't get too much radio play, but come on... It was the first song that spring to my mind when I heard there was a list.
11:47 AM :
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Anyone know a good way to get rid of skunks? I mean, besides the old rat-poison-and-sardine method. I don't want to kill 'em (the problem is not that bad) I just don't want them digging up my yard. If you do, can you clue me in?
Edited: I think I found my answer. Since they're digging up the lawn to find grubs, I've been advised to put down grub repellent. Any other ideas (besides moth ball and an ammonia-soaked rag) are still welcome.
10:57 AM :
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Honestly, I am not a Robert Fulgham fan. But someone sent me this quote this morning, and I thought it was good enough to share. I just love the mental image that develops when I read this:
"Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination."
- Robert Fulghum
8:55 AM : * : ?
Of cows and virgins. (Much less risque than it sounds, but still odd.)
8:35 AM :
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Monday, September 17, 2001
OK, I just have to vent for a minute here, so please forgive me. A couple weeks ago, my company laid off a few people, including one of the editors on my magazine. So now, in addition to my work, I am doing his work, too. No, I'm not going to bitch and moan about all the work I have to do because yes, I am just happy that I have a job. However, he did a lot of the grunt work... stuff I haven't done in a very long time. Again, wouldn't be so bad if people weren't so dumb. One of the things I have to do is maintain our online buyer's guide. Basically, people can submit new listings or update old listings; I review them and then make the current listing active in the database. So, within the past two weeks I have gotten several "updates" from Company X. However, none of these updates showed anything new. It was the same old material. I e-mailed the contact person to inquire about it. I painstakingly explained that nothing changed. Perhaps she meant to change something and it didn't go through? She replied and said that she had no idea what changed. Umm... I guess I'm just confused why she bothered to update her listing in the first place, then. Just doesn't make any sense! Argh!
4:28 PM :
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OK, I'm really getting sick of getting press releases from video (and audio) conferencing companies hawking their products by taking advantage of a national tragedy in their press releases. This one is not the worst, but still, I feel that it is in poor taste:
Example: "Teleconferencing and other technology tools can help companies get back on track quickly to ensure we do not let the tremendously sorrowful events of September 11 cripple the US economy -- a major source of our international strength. Review the attached press release and let me put you in touch with the experts quoted within, including [company name deleted], the largest independent conferencing (audio, video and Web) company in the US."
Last Friday we got one that was even more blatant, even more offensive. A fellow editor decided to write to the PR rep who sent the e-mail and actually got an apology back from the VP of the agency. I'd post an excerpt, except I deleted it right away. Shame on these people.
1:23 PM :
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I think that baby chicks and cute piglets can put a smile on anyone's face.
10:33 AM :
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I did so much cooking yesterday. Well, there are days when I have done more, but all things considered, I did quite a bit. I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, which for some reason didn't stay together at all. They taste great, but they just crumble. Hmph. I also made banana muffins, which came out quite good. Usually my "from scratch" muffins come out kind of dense. But these are pretty good. And, of course, the soup which also came out very good. In case anyone wants to try it, here is the recipe. The only thing I did different, was in Step 3, I added a 1/2 cup of half & half and then 1/2 cup of water, instead of 1 cup of water. I wanted it a bit creamier. So yummy with the sour cream!
Butternut Squash Soup
1 med. butternut squash -- (about 2 1/4 pounds)
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1 medium onion chopped (about 1 cup)
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger - optional
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cups chicken broth
1-2 cups water - as needed
Salt and pepper to taste
Sour cream for garnish
1. Cut squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Arrange the halves cut side down in roasting pan that has been sprayed with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Bake squash in the oven at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until very tender. Set aside to cool. When the squash is completely cool, scoop the flesh from the skin.
2. Cook the onion and the ginger in the butter in a saucepan, over moderately low heat, for 5 minutes or until the onion is softened, Add the broth and simmer the mixture for 10 minutes, covered. Add the squash pulp to the sauce pan.
3. Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor, in batches, and puree until smooth. Add enough water to achieve the desired consistency, and salt and pepper to taste. Return the soup to the sauce pan and cook over moderate heat until it is hot.
4. Garnish each portion with the heaping teaspoon of low-fat sour cream.
8:32 AM :
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