randomness

[gfish]

What the hell? Roald Dahl wrote a Bond film? (You Only Live Twice.) And the screenplay for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was also based on an Ian Flemming novel? What? This is forcing some very odd curvature to be added to my mental map of the world.

I spent yesterday working out the RPMs for the various belt settings on my lathe, something I should have done a long time ago. After some dumbass mistakes, I ended up with this chart. Of course, I now have remarkably little faith in the numbers, even thought the lowest one at least eyeballs as pretty close. I'd like to buy a nice stroboscope to measure it directly. It's even tempting on general principles: stroboscopes are just plain cool.

Last night, after helping with an interesting but less-than-successful attempt at making vegetarian marshmallows with agar agar, I was drinking absinthe and watching the previously mentioned Bond movie. And about half way through, I scared myself by starting to really like it. The absinthe, not the movie. I always suspected it was a taste I could learn to appreciate, but not this quickly. I'll definitely have to order another bottle once this one is finished off. It's horribly pretentious, sure, but we all have our vices.

This morning I woke up with a very strong urge to try my hand at doing bonsai. (The combination of absinthe and You Only Live Twice might be to blame...) Unfortunately the classes starting next week will overlap with the Alaska trip, so it will have to wait. But I found out that Weyerhaeuser has a very nice looking bonsai collection locally that I'll have to go see. Open most days, free of charge, guided tours Sundays at noon. Anyone else interested in going?

Comments

[maida-mac.livejournal.com]

I've actually been meaning to stop by there some time.

Weirdly enough, I knew both those things about Roald Dahl.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately my weekends are pretty much full until... um... June? Ack.

[maida-mac.livejournal.com]

Heh. I can relate, since I used to be that way. Lately, I don't dare plan something out for the next week. :P

[helenangel.livejournal.com]

making vegetarian marshmallows with agar agar

Vegetarian marshmallows? I didn't think marshmallows had any meat in them or am I just daft? Animal fillers then? I thought it was just sugar, corn starch, and glycerine? (I made marshmallows once long ago)

[gfish.livejournal.com]

As it was explained to me marshmallows keep their fluff because of gelatin, which is non-veggie. It wasn't my project, nor am I even vegetarian myself, so I don't know the details.

[helenangel.livejournal.com]

Ahh okay. I know you can buy animal-filler-free gelatin at health food stores but I didn't use any in mine. Of course, my marshmallows WERE a little hard, but still... ;)

[niac.livejournal.com]

I hope that's not real absinthe... To quote this (http://www.maripoisoncenter.com/ctr/9601absinthe.html),

Chronic effects (absinthism) included vomiting, gastritis, slowed and deteriorating mentation, restlessness, seizures, forgetfulness, frank psychosis, pica behaviors (especially a craving for terpenes and essential oils), tremors, coma and visual effects (white objects may appear violet, then yellow).(1,11,13) Thujone was addicting and caused personality changes. Direct cortical damage could lead to recurrent and sporadic seizures resembling epilepsy. The delirium associated with abstinence from absinthe was said to be more severe than that of ethanol withdrawal.(10) Walker describes the chronic absinthe user as suffering from:

More results can be had by Googling for "absinthe toxicology." Take care...

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Yes, real absinthe, imported from the Czech Republic by way of the UK. I got it about a year ago and have been slowly working my way through it ever since. Very interesting stuff. If it wasn't for the taste (and the price) I'd be a huge fan.

The emphasis in that article is on chronic. A similar paragraph describing alcohol abuse or nicotine poisoning would look just as frightening. They are all poisons that can be safely and profitably harnessed.

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

Oh hey, you didn't mention a tour. I'll go. :)

[corivax.livejournal.com]

Me too!

[niac.livejournal.com]

Well, have fun. :)

[callmem.livejournal.com]

If you're looking to try again on the marshmallow front, you could use "Emes Gelatin", which contains pectin, guar gum, and other fun vegetable products but no actual gelatin. Real gelatin is traditionally made from boiling cow skins and bones, and is mostly made up of various animal proteins like collagen.

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

Yay a new Bond/Chitty Chitty Bang Bang connection! But now to find how Roald Dahl fits into Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059797/) to make the trilogy complete.

[shadowblue.livejournal.com]

This morning I woke up with a very strong urge to try my hand at doing bonsai. (The combination of absinthe and You Only Live Twice might be to blame...)

It's been far too long since I've visited.