Sometimes you look at old pictures and think "Awwww".  I just look at this one and think how beat city my lawn was in 2006.  Yikes.  Eila looks cute, though.

I made weber_cam's No Knead Foccacia (video below) Sunday night for a big dinner we had with some friends.  Highly recommended, it was very tasty and extremely easy.  My only regret was I didn't shoot a picture to put here.  I'll give this another try this weekend...

Last weekend I made pulled pork, my first time doing real Barbeque, not regular grilling, but low and slow hours long Barbeque.  Joe, from work, had sent me a few links on some techniques.  But not too long after looking for some more information I found the  Virtual Weber Bullet site, then I found weber_cam. After reading a few posts from these places I found new inspiration for documenting what I've been doing and the things that interest me -- perhaps for the only purpose of writing it down to learn from it later: sort of a personal logbook. Here's what I'm interesting in looking into next: * Homebrew: not sure if I'll really do this.  I probably need to drink more to make this worthwhile. * Getting back into RC planes: I never really flew one very successfully and this would be great to have a new start in.  I've already spent a fair bit in the up-front costs.  I'll probably need to get new batteries. * More Barbeque * Perfecting baguettes.  weber_cam has some good techniques and videos that I'm going to try. So with that, I begin.  We'll find out how long the inspiration lasts this time.

Here is a palm tree. It's not really that warm in phoenix. But then again -- it's not that cold either. But yes, the sky is blue and the sun is out.

In an amazing self-referential meta-list find, I bring you: List of United States Congressional Lists.  This page contains a list of, well, lists.  And -- to take it one level deeper there is this page, which contains a list of lists of lists.

In case you're looking for something to wear today in the cold, here's a pie hat (and instructions for making one yourself).  Perfect for thanksgiving. Link (from BoingBoing)

I need a place to store my ideas as they come in -- so for my own reference as well as other's: 320GB Portable HDD 500GB External HDD Computer Parts (Amazon Wish List) Amazon gift card are always nice if you can't find something specific (convenient and they have everything). also, a link to my general Amazon Wish List which has a lot of other ideas i've collected.

If you're not familiar, Durian is a fruit from southeast Asia that has an odor so distinct foul that it is banned from many places.   Well, someone had some in my office yesterday -- and after a little scare that there was a gas leak in the building (it turned out to just be Durian), I had to find out how it was, with the following conversation:

(3:24:41 PM) brian-yee: how was the durian ? (3:24:56 PM) brian-yee has set the topic to: Toybox 1 Questions and Durian, how was it? (3:25:15 PM) chris-czub: stinky and it left a funny garlicky/onion taste in my mouth (3:25:21 PM) chris-czub: it's the most conflicted i've ever been over food (3:25:29 PM) chris-czub: because the initial taste is sweet and custardy (3:25:58 PM) chris-czub: then the taste of rotting sewage and onions sneaks up behind you and clobbers you, rubbing itself all over the inside of your mouth before laughing at your misfortune (3:25:59 PM) chris-czub: yes (3:26:21 PM) brian-yee: wow

Thanks to Chris for his review of the Durian.

Shorpy.com is a great photo site for history buffs.   The site collects photos from the Library of Congress' archive, processes them for contrast and posts them in high resolution.  Some are over 2000 pixel along the long edge which allows you to clearly see details in the photos and really get immersed in what's going on. Most are from 1910 - 1930, but there are some excellent color photographs of the World War II era as well. [caption id="attachment_25" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="A Model T, sitting in the show room in 1924."] [/caption]

On this sign outside Bronner's in Frankenmuth, check out the distances to Rome: I also have to question the distances to Mecca.