Feb 15

Unless You’re Poor

There’s a streak of mean in the other Washington and in many state capitals against people who are at the low end of the income scale. Consider the following:

Unless you’re poor, medical insurance often will be combined with dental insurance.

Unless you’re poor, the items in your grocery cart won’t engender much scrutiny.

Unless you’re poor, there will be no work requirements to receive government largesse.

Unless you’re poor, you won’t get jailed for not paying a parking ticket or possessing a single joint.

Unless you’re poor, you’ll get empathy for your struggles with alcohol or drug addiction.

Unless you’re poor, you won’t get flak if you choose to stay home with your preschool children.

And finally, unless you’re poor, your vote will be eagerly solicited by politicians.

Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/02/15/unless-youre-poor/

Feb 15

Fun with Home Repairs

It’s a design feature.

No, Julian did not put his fist through the wall after reading another article on the fracas in the other Washington. I noticed a wet spot on the floor below this. The repair contractor came out and diagnosed a leak in the flashing on the upper deck. Now we need to wait until we get an estimate on what it will cost to fix this. Fortunately, this is the homeowners’ association problem.

Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/02/15/fun-with-home-repairs/

Feb 07

Ta-Ta, Tesla

Elon Musk sent a Tesla roadster into space yesterday. Today Tesla sent me an email revising the delivery date on the Model 3, for which I’d plunked down a $1000 deposit. It’s been moved back to early 2019. This is too long for me to wait, since I have to sell Die Frau (the Jetta not-so-clean diesel) back to Volkswagen by the end of this year. So I canceled my order. I hope the deposit didn’t go into space with the roadster.

Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/02/07/ta-ta-tesla/

Feb 04

Another Super Bowl Party

We hosted another Super Bowl party at Casa Sammamish this weekend. It was a smaller group than usual, but we still made a boatload of food. In honor of the teams, we made Boston-style baked beans and Philadelphia cheese steaks. We also made our time-honored Miami-style chicken wings. Our friends brought chips, salsa, salad, wine, beer, cider, and brownies. In addition to eating and drinking, we actually watched the game.

Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/02/04/another-super-bowl-party/

Feb 03

Mid-Winter on the Sammamish

You would think that the rain and cool weather would keep folks off the river. You would think wrong. Despite the area reverting to rainforest, someone’s always on the river. This morning I saw two stand-up paddle boarders and a kayak in a short time. There’s a rowing school that routinely has students paddling up and down the river in all weather. Folks up here know they won’t dissolve in the rain. However, they may take on a greenish cast from the moss…

Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/02/03/mid-winter-on-the-sammamish/

Jan 30

Informed Consent for Potluck Offerings

Over the years I’ve made many culinary experiments for work, church, and neighborhood potlucks. My statistics project in grad school was comparing responses to brownies made with cocoa and butter vs. brownies made with unsweetened chocolate, using a captive audience of students in the food science lab I taught. I’ve often joked that my friends and coworkers should grant informed consent to try some of my offerings. Therefore, to keep on the good side of my friends in my workplace’s Institutional Review Board, I’ve drafted the following Informed Consent document.

Informed Consent

The Effect of XXXXX on Potluck Satisfaction

Principal Investigator: Cindy Fuller

Sponsor: Cindy Fuller

INTRODUCTION

To help provide sustenance for this potluck, I have made XXXXX. This is a recipe from {}, and it was selected because it looked good to me and was easy to make the night before. This is the first time I’ve made it or brought it to a potluck.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESEARCH?

This is a research study. The purpose of this research is to see if my friends like this recipe, and if it’s worth making again.

WHAT DOES THE STUDY INVOLVE?

The study involves tasting XXXXX. Participation is entirely voluntary. You can participate in this study if you  want to try XXXXX. If you are allergic to or intolerant of any of the ingredients in XXXXX, you should not participate.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE HARMS AND SIDE EFFECTS?

You may be allergic to or intolerant of the ingredients in XXXXX. Although every effort has been made to assure a wholesome product, there is a small chance of food poisoning. [I usually avoid this by bringing bread, salad, or other items that aren’t as prone to food poisoning.]

RISKS AND DISCOMFORTS

You may overeat XXXXX and be unable to do productive work for the rest of the afternoon.

WHAT IF NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE?

If a better recipe for XXXXX  is found, you will be notified.

WILL THIS STUDY HELP ME?

You may receive a copy of the recipe for XXXXX upon request. Otherwise, this study may not benefit you.

DO I HAVE TO TAKE PART IN THE STUDY?

No. Your participation is completely voluntary.

TREATMENT AND COMPENSATION

I cannot offer treatment or compensation for food poisoning, broken teeth, dental cavities, or weight gain caused by eating XXXXX.

WHAT WILL THE STUDY COST ME?

The study should cost you nothing.

WHO IS PAYING FOR THIS RESEARCH STUDY?

Cindy Fuller bought the ingredients and made XXXXX.

WILL TAKING PART IN THIS STUDY BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL?

Yes, unless you decide to blog about it.

Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/01/30/informed-consent-for-potluck-offerings/

Jan 28

Cell Phone Sabbaths

As I’ve mentioned in an earlier post, 24/7 access is overrated. I usually leave my cell phone at home on the weekends. I don’t need it. It also means it won’t ring at inopportune times, like during the silent prayer/meditation time at church. Not that I’d actually get a call, since I’m picky about who receives my cell number, I just don’t like the idea of being interrupted. Remember the 13th or so commandment: Remember the Sabbath day, and leave your cell phone at home.

Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/01/28/cell-phone-sabbaths/

Jan 22

Rest in Peace, Rosie

The New York Times is reporting that the woman who was the model for the iconic World War II Rosie the Riveter poster has died in Longview, Washington at the age of 96. Her name was Naomi Parker Fraley. Click on her name to read the obituary, and the controversy over her identity.

The Rosie the Riveter poster begat many spinoffs over the years. My triathlon team, the mighty Team UUC, had t-shirts with a riff on Rosie with the motto, “If we tri we can do it”. I came home with a Rosie the Riveter action figure as my white elephant gift on Christmas Eve. It holds a place of pride in my cube. Archie McPhee, the quintessential white elephant gift store in Seattle, has several Rosie-related items.

Rest in peace, Ms. Fraley, and thank you for your service.

Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/01/22/rest-in-peace-rosie/

Jan 21

Moss Never Sleeps, 2018 Edition

The weather geeks have said that the last four years have been the rainiest on record hereabouts. As I’m typing, it’s raining again. All of this rain has had predictable results. The trees on the other side of the river from our condo are a brilliant green. They haven’t leafed out yet, it’s the moss. This morning I took another picture of a tree in front of our unit. Compare and contrast.

2017 moss accumulation.

Same tree, 2018.

I strongly suggest moving quickly around here, lest moss start growing on you.

Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/01/21/moss-never-sleeps-2018-edition/

Jan 21

France in Mourning Again

French icons seem to be dying of late. Last month it was Johnny Hallyday and a member of L’Académie Française. This month it was chef Paul Bocuse, the Lion of Lyon. Bocuse was named Chef of the 20th Century. He looked suspiciously like the chef in the Disney cartoon “Ratatouille“. (Coincidence? C’est possible.) This New York Times obituary gives his warts and all biography. In 2015 we went to one of his restaurants in Lyon, Le Sud. It was good, but not transcendent.  In 2016 we went to his Les Halles in Lyon. Most of the stores were closed. Although we didn’t have the best experiences, there’s no denying his influence on French cuisine. Restez en paix, Monsieur Bocuse.

Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/01/21/france-in-mourning-again/

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