Odd Lots
- I’ve been playing with the new generation of desktop “all-in-ones” at Best Buy etc. and can’t get my head around the notion of using a touch screen on a desktop–especially a big touch screen. I thought I was just being a grouch, but now I have company.
- This slightly confused piece from the BBC raises a crucial issue–what the whole self-esteem movement is doing to our kids–but appears to confuse “self-esteem” with “confidence.” Confidence means “I am well-calibrated.” Self-esteem means “I don’t need to read the dial.”
- Make is going deep on Raspberry Pi. Check out that repurposed Mac Classic.
- One of my domains got on an RBL the other day. Not sure why; it’s off now. But it’s a good time to remind you of the valli.org RBL checker.
- We’ve experienced a very sudden burst in sunspot formation in recent days, which you can see on this startling photo. When I was projecting the transit of Venus on foamcore this past summer, line of sight to the setting sun passed through the approach to O’Hare Field, and I saw four or five of these much quicker transits. It’s nice to see one captured, for those who didn’t get to see them in realtime.
- And while we’re talking sunspots, here’s a good piece on the technical details of how we count sunspots.
- This past Christmas I had my first sip of Goldschlager in 30+ years. Was stronger than I remember it, or maybe I’m just weaker. Moot point: I’m holding out for Ytterbiumschlager.
- Made me wonder how strong booze has to be to be burnable in an alcohol lamp. When absinthe burns, what happens to the wormwood?
- Carol had heard good things about Shasta sodas, particularly their diet ginger ale. I wasn’t sure where they could be found, but they have a “soda finder” that I wish more independent brands would emulate, particularly Green River.
- That said, you can get diet Green River from Wal-Mart, but you have to order a case. I don’t think it’s in their stores.
- Alas, the wonderful retro soda-maker across the street from my alma mater vanished in 1986 and won’t be found again: The Lasser factory building has been converted to half-million dollar lofts. I do remember having a lime rickey or two while at DePaul. I guess I just like seriously green sodas.
- I think they did this in Colorado last fall.
Posted in: Odd Lots.
Tagged: astronomy · hardware · humor · psychology
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I think the point of 100 proof alcohol is, having 50% alcohol means that it burns, which is 100% proof that you’ve got… 50% alcohol. But that may be an urban myth.
Oh, try Vernor’s ginger ale. Old recipe, it’s a bit tart, but you may find it interesting.
That’s good news, since the question came up while I was taking notes on a scene. If whiskey can be burned in an alcohol lamp, I have a good scene opener. If it doesn’t, I don’t. I’m a good citizen scientist, so I’m going to buy a cheap oil lamp at Pier 1 and do the experiment. I’m pretty sure we have an old, opened bottle of whiskey in the pantry. If not I’ll buy one of those little plastic bottles they sell behind the counter at liquor stores.
We’ve tried Vernors–we used to live in Rochester, NY where it was everywhere–and it’s an odd flavor, somewhere between what I call ginger ale and cream soda. Which isn’t to say it’s bad; it’s just not quite what we’re looking for.
Like Green Soda?
On your next cross country gambit pull off 80 at Wilton, my home town
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilton_Candy_Kitchen
or
http://www.wiltoncandykitchen.com/
Oldest shop of its kind in the world.
Ha! Never heard of that, but we pass within a couple of miles of it at least once a year, when we make our summer trip to Chicago and back. Will have to get to it this summer. That must be somewhere near the big and kitschy Iowa 80 megatruckstop, where we generally take a potty break and walk the dogs a little.
I’m reminded a little of the Buffalo, an ice-cream shop in Chicago where my parents would take us now and then, until it closed in the 70s.
I assume you’re not there anymore, or we’d give you a shout-out.
Wilton is a few miles west of the big truck stop. The Google directions are good.
Lots of park areas around Iowa for walkies.
Yes, I’ve moved away from Wilton m_a_n_y years ago.
The wikipedia article on alcohol proof has a charming explanation of the term “proof” in terms of sailors and their rum rations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_proof
That should provide some fodder for a literary treatment. Just have your characters sprinkle some gunpowder in their watered down booze.