(no subject)
Jul. 21st, 2020 01:17 pmHappy birthday, ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
coughingbear!
coughingbear!(no subject)
Jun. 28th, 2020 02:11 pmWe have resumed our watching of The Americans, as I've been on a bit of a spy kick lately - I've been reading Ben MacIntyre and rewatching Tinker, Tailor and Smiley's People.
If I had any icon slots left, I'd make one of Elizabeth Jennings captioned "Moscow Centre Hood".
If I had any icon slots left, I'd make one of Elizabeth Jennings captioned "Moscow Centre Hood".
(no subject)
Jun. 22nd, 2020 12:34 pmI have a weakness for trope pics that take an, on the face of it, implausible premise, and make it work. Clone Wars "fake marriage fix-it au", in which Mace Windu agrees to get fake-married to Cody in order to take advantage of loopholes in galactic law and custom that would make the clones citizens falls under that heading for me, but blackkat's novel-length hunting towards heartstill is really well done, and comes with action adventure on a deliciously creepy trip to an apparently abandoned Sith planet, too.
(no subject)
Jun. 2nd, 2020 10:36 amDid the slightly gloomy job - in view of the probably-LJ leak of data - of removing access from old LJ account and from DW accounts that appear to be dead.
(no subject)
May. 27th, 2020 02:29 pmIn non-plague news, today I learned that Val McDiarmid was inspired by childhood reading of the Chalet School:
in one of the more bizarre examples of literature influencing life I was guided by the Chalet School books, which I loved. It is through these that I realised that being a writer was actually a job. And all these girls went on to higher education at either the Sorbonne, the Kensington school of Needlework, or Oxford.
in one of the more bizarre examples of literature influencing life I was guided by the Chalet School books, which I loved. It is through these that I realised that being a writer was actually a job. And all these girls went on to higher education at either the Sorbonne, the Kensington school of Needlework, or Oxford.
(no subject)
May. 26th, 2020 10:57 amSomeone asked about shipping Captain Flint and Timothy in the Facebook Arthur Ransome group. It went about as well as you would have expected...
(no subject)
May. 22nd, 2020 02:52 pmI love Tooth And Claw, but this nonetheless seems like a rather unfair take on Trollope to me...
For one thing: yes, Mark Robards is a fool. That’s not a matter for discussion, really, the narrator is quite clear about it, while also showing us why Mark behaves in this abysmally stupid way. Of course the particular circumstances are not ones that would arise today, but is it really incomprehensible that vanity, loneliness, and a desire to be in an in crowd you can’t quite afford to run with - and having those weaknesses exploited by someone cleverer and more ruthless than you - should get someone into serious trouble?
For one thing: yes, Mark Robards is a fool. That’s not a matter for discussion, really, the narrator is quite clear about it, while also showing us why Mark behaves in this abysmally stupid way. Of course the particular circumstances are not ones that would arise today, but is it really incomprehensible that vanity, loneliness, and a desire to be in an in crowd you can’t quite afford to run with - and having those weaknesses exploited by someone cleverer and more ruthless than you - should get someone into serious trouble?
(no subject)
Mar. 14th, 2020 10:14 amOh, ffs, I see the racists and conspiracy theorists are out in force:
https://twitter.com/davidvidecette/status/1238487118030258180?s=21
https://twitter.com/davidvidecette/status/1238487118030258180?s=21
(no subject)
Mar. 13th, 2020 10:52 pmThis thread seems to make sense of what the government is trying to do:
https://twitter.com/iandonald_psych/status/1238518371651649538?s=21
I just hope it works...
ETA: ‘hope’ does not imply confidence.
https://twitter.com/iandonald_psych/status/1238518371651649538?s=21
I just hope it works...
ETA: ‘hope’ does not imply confidence.
This is actually based on Urvashi Pitrie's Kenyan Kunde black eyed pea and peanut stew, but taken in a more northern direction (and also not using Swiss chard, because I don't think we can get that locally). It does rely on having access to a berbere spice blend - we have a local Ethiopian restaurant, so the berbere we can get is really good (and very hot).
1 onion, chopped
1 cup dried black eye peas (about 170g)
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 bag spinach (400g or so)
2 1/2 US cups water
A generous 1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
Salt to taste
2tsp berbere
Neutral tasting oil to cover the bottom of the pot.
Sauté your onion until glassy. If any sticks, use an extra splash of water to deglaze the pot.
Add the water, beans, berbere, salt, and stir. Pour the tomatoes on top, then add the peanut butter on top of that, do not stir.
Pressure cook on high for 15 mins. NPR, or if you're in more of a hurry, allow to sit for 10 minutes before releasing the rest of the pressure manually.
Open the pot, cancel 'keep warm', press sauté, stir in the spinach and keep stirring till it's wilted.
Notes: if pushed for time, you can skip sautéing the onions and add the spinach to the pot before pressure cooking, as long as you don't mind it having a distinctly pond-weedy look when you're done. I might try it with cabbage instead...
1 onion, chopped
1 cup dried black eye peas (about 170g)
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 bag spinach (400g or so)
2 1/2 US cups water
A generous 1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
Salt to taste
2tsp berbere
Neutral tasting oil to cover the bottom of the pot.
Sauté your onion until glassy. If any sticks, use an extra splash of water to deglaze the pot.
Add the water, beans, berbere, salt, and stir. Pour the tomatoes on top, then add the peanut butter on top of that, do not stir.
Pressure cook on high for 15 mins. NPR, or if you're in more of a hurry, allow to sit for 10 minutes before releasing the rest of the pressure manually.
Open the pot, cancel 'keep warm', press sauté, stir in the spinach and keep stirring till it's wilted.
Notes: if pushed for time, you can skip sautéing the onions and add the spinach to the pot before pressure cooking, as long as you don't mind it having a distinctly pond-weedy look when you're done. I might try it with cabbage instead...
(no subject)
Mar. 6th, 2020 03:31 pmOne of the things I was trying to do this Lent, and haven't really done anything about till now, was to try to do something about my plastic footprint. However, this afternoon I have signed up for milk deliveries, in glass.
I've never had to worry about remembering to cancel the milk when I go on holiday before....
I've never had to worry about remembering to cancel the milk when I go on holiday before....
Ash Wednesday on the Picket Line
Feb. 26th, 2020 01:16 pmStrikers at the University of Winchester held a service on the picket line:
https://twitter.com/WinchesterUCU/status/1232644739574456320?s=20
https://twitter.com/WinchesterUCU/status/1232644739574456320?s=20
(no subject)
Dec. 21st, 2019 09:42 amThe North German station NDR does a good line in long, interesting but not breathtaking documentaries about the north German countryside (either about nature or daily life). I find them very relaxing.
I also, as a result, also know that there is a population of feral rheas in Mecklenburg. They have taken to it surprisingly well, but the farmers are starting to complain because they eat the oil seed rape...
(There is also, less surprisingly, a population of wolves, but the wolves don't eat the rheas, which is in many ways a shame, as I suspect it would instinctively swing the farmers to Team Wolf. As it is, the government is distributing allegedly wolf-proof fences to shepherds, and subsidising them buying guard dogs).
I also, as a result, also know that there is a population of feral rheas in Mecklenburg. They have taken to it surprisingly well, but the farmers are starting to complain because they eat the oil seed rape...
(There is also, less surprisingly, a population of wolves, but the wolves don't eat the rheas, which is in many ways a shame, as I suspect it would instinctively swing the farmers to Team Wolf. As it is, the government is distributing allegedly wolf-proof fences to shepherds, and subsidising them buying guard dogs).
(no subject)
Dec. 15th, 2019 07:32 pmWait, someone gave me account time? Thank you, anonymous benefactor!
(no subject)
Nov. 28th, 2019 12:40 pmHappy Thanksgiving to all those who are celebrating! May your turkey (or turkey-substitute) be delicious, and the conversation enjoyable.
(no subject)
Oct. 17th, 2019 07:22 pmMeanwhile, I have been cheering myself up with sixbeforelunch's series of stories about two Vulcans learning to love each other and to build a family in the wake of a very unpropitiously arranged marriage and against the background of the Dominion War, Pi'maat. Vivid world building and a story which doesn't shy away from darkness, but is nonetheless quietly optimistic about the possibilities of healing, recovery, and new growth.
(I must have seen it recced somewhere, but I don't know where - if it was you, thank you!)
(I must have seen it recced somewhere, but I don't know where - if it was you, thank you!)
(no subject)
Sep. 24th, 2019 04:13 pmGo Supreme Court!
(I don't imagine it will lead to us not leaving unless something dramatic changes, possibly involving Corbyn having both a Damascene conversion to Remain and a personality transplant, but yay for the rule of law).
(I don't imagine it will lead to us not leaving unless something dramatic changes, possibly involving Corbyn having both a Damascene conversion to Remain and a personality transplant, but yay for the rule of law).
(no subject)
Sep. 12th, 2019 09:40 pmApparently green beans can be very successfully air-dried and rehydrated as required.
No reason to mention this, of course....
No reason to mention this, of course....
