Rosencrantz319

The Song for today

2010-01-06T15:42:33Z

Found this song while poking around a lyric search engine this morning. It's one of those tunes tend to hum while walking. I love the words and the sentiment.

THE MINSTREL BOY
by Thomas Moore

The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone
In the ranks of death you will find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;"
Land of Song!" said the warrior bard,
"Tho' all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain
Could not bring that proud soul under;
The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder;
And said "No chains shall sully thee,
Thou soul of love and brav'ry!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free,
They shall never sound in slavery!"

From The Writer's Almanac this morning

2010-01-05T15:33:39Z

It was on this day in 2007 that the man who invented instant ramen and Cup Noodles, Momofuku Ando, died at the age of 96. He'd eaten instant ramen noodles up until the day before he died, as he'd done nearly every day since inventing them in 1958.

Japan was suffering from food shortages in the decade after World War II, and Ando developed the noodles trying to alleviate this problem. He experimented with flash-frying for months to come up with the perfect way to make precooked noodles that would be ready to eat shortly after opening the package. When the noodles first appeared on grocery shelves in Japan in the late 1950s, they were a luxury item and cost about six times as much as a bowl of udon or soba cost in a restaurant. Now, they're one of the most inexpensive ready-made foods in the world.

Momofuku Ando is the subject of a new book, The Ramen King and I: How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life (2009), by Andy Raskin.

This is as clear as I can make it.

2010-01-04T19:49:50Z

I saw the second half of the Last Tennent episode of Doctor Who.

Did it seem like it went several plot points too far?

First this happens and that was cool and creepy.
Then that happens and that was bizarre and weird.
Then that other thing happens. WTF!
After that I kind of lost it. There was too much stuff going on I got confused.

And The Pinheads pull one out of their...read on.

2010-01-03T20:54:07Z

We played a team last night that should have creamed us but we managed to hold our own. One member of the other team has bowled 7 perfect games in career. I started nibbling on the last game 128,147, and 103. Our final score was 2 and 6. We won two games and managed to get most pins by 8.

rosencrantz319 @ 2010-01-01T11:44:00

2010-01-01T17:44:39Z

Yappy Hew NEar!

The Holidays are doing their damage

2009-12-29T20:51:05Z

But What If the Device Falls Into the Wrong Hands?

2009-12-28T19:00:29Z

A 55-year-old British man whose bowel was ruptured in a nearly catastrophic traffic accident has been fitted with a bionic sphincter that opens and closes with a remote controller. Ged Galvin had originally endured 13 surgeries in a 13-week hospital stay and had grown frustrated with using a colostomy bag until surgeon Norman Williams of the Royal London Hospital proposed the imaginative operation. Dr. Williams, who was interviewed along with Galvin for a November feature in London's Daily Mail, wrapped a muscle transplanted from Galvin's leg around the sphincter and attached electrodes to tighten or loosen the muscle's grip. [Daily Mail, 11-10-09, 11-13-09]

Last News of the Weird for the year.

Christmas was really nice.

2009-12-27T22:21:02Z

I spent the whole week end with cressdia42. We had dinner with Mom and my sister at Curran's who were open Christmas eve. Christmas Day we spent at my place. Most of my gifts from her was cook ware. I gave her DVDs including the Leonard Nimoy one man play about Vincent Van Gogh.

We ordered a pizza from Galactic on Christmas eve. Not only were they open they delivered. They rock!

We had a nice Christmas gathering at her brother's place with her family. Just so I have something to open her brother gave me a Rock-em Sock-em robots.

Sunday was spent staying in watching tv and cross stitching.

Merry Christmas.

First subject of the month post for 09

2009-12-23T20:46:21Z

Jan. Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,
Feb. News of the weird-Baby Born with 12 fingers and toes.
March. And then we went to a buffet this afternoon
April. And I'm okay with that
May. Writer's Block: End of the World as We Know It
June. Ain't that the truth
July. I'll make a more detailed post about CON later.
August. Sorry I thought you were walking up to the bus stop.
Sept. Writer's Block: As the Cookie Crumbles
Oct. This isn't pledge related.
Nov. This isn't work related.
Dec. Yeah I hadn't been talking about this for a while.

Holy crap that's a big...animal.

2009-12-23T16:42:21Z

Boy attacked by 60 pound beaver. Sounds like it was bigger then the boy.

A Christmas Memory

2009-12-23T15:36:57Z

When I worked at a disc shipping place in the early nineties we had a Jamaican Christmas cd that included a version of Santa Claus is Coming to Town sung by someone that didn't know the words at all. Most of the song is mumbled but the tune is recognizable. During the chorus the singer pipes up with...

SANY CRAW IS COMING (UUuunng Uuuuuuuuughn)

Everyone in the office must have sung that out loud a dozen times each.

The office has since closed a decade ago but It's a fond memory.

Since you asked...

2009-12-22T23:23:22Z

I'm 13 pounds closer to my goal.

Writer's Block: You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch!

2009-12-22T16:37:49Z

Are there any classic holiday movies or TV shows that you look forward to watching year after year? What are your all-time favorites? Are there any you simply can't stand?

View 1201 Answers

My Christmas movie is A Lion in Winter.

Snarky but classic english cinema.

This isn't that much of a spoiler

2009-12-21T16:44:16Z

I saw Doctor Who and The Waters of Mars. I have to resent the fact that it started with a carrot.

I'm going to need you to lower your drawers and bend over.

2009-12-18T16:35:27Z

I had my physical this morning. Everything is in the right place and doing what it's suppose to do. It was my first prostate exam. Of course it's never as bad as you think it's going to be. I got my flu shots for the year as well including the R2D2, sorry the H1N1.

I can't help contemplating my own health situation over the last 3 years. Before my cardiac event I really didn't worry about diet and exercise that much. Now I'm taking three meds for blood pressure and cholesterol and I'm cooking healthier meals. Is this middle age? While the guy down stairs is partying with friends I'm upstairs refilling my pills. I am enjoying my self more. I like cooking different things and the walking takes the edge off of work. I'm looking into cross country skiing when the lakes freeze over.

I know that my compulsion towards dieting comes from the same place as some friends tendencies to eat more. I know people who go out of their way to all you can eat joints and buy one get one deals. They don't cook for one they cook for a dozen. There is comfort in food.

I, on the other hand, don't want to die of heart attack like my father or grandfather. There is a family history that I can't ignore but I'm trying to avoid. So I have the spinach salad over the pasta. Seltzer over the sugary caffeinated soda. People look at me funny if I talk about walking to the mall from work.

Maybe I'm over thinking and maybe it's no big deal. I don't know. Was it arrogance to wear my superman boxer shorts this morning.

Writer's Block: Simply wonderful

2009-12-18T16:12:45Z

It's often said that the simple things in life are the most precious. What small pleasures make you the happiest?

Submitted By nisie

View 935 Answers

Filling Cressida's water glass in the morning.

I am ignoring you.

2009-12-18T02:14:17Z

Is it really necessary to keep ringing that bell? We know why your there. Do you really need "I am a bell ringer" printed on your vest? It's pretty obvious what you're doing.

That time again

2009-12-17T19:49:41Z

This is freaking adorable.

2009-12-11T19:48:21Z

There is no Y in Sci Fi

2009-12-11T14:12:11Z

I went into work this morning wearing my Connie Hat on top of my Cunning Hat with my Doctor Who scarf and a flannel Fire In The Sky Shirt.

Science Fiction, it'll keep ya warm.

And that's all I'm going to say about that...

2009-12-10T15:06:03Z

It's such a relief when my siblings agree on something when I originally expect hassles.

Sentence for today

2009-12-08T20:51:42Z

No Broccolli on my phone!

"Can I please have a doll now," said my friend Bill

2009-12-08T14:45:46Z

On the bus this morning there was a woman in a wheel chair with a bumper sticker on the back that said "Don't be Normal Be Free."

I appreciate the sentiment and was amused by the irony.

Carpe Diem

2009-12-08T14:42:28Z

Happy Birthday Horus

I earned my lasagna merit badge.

2009-12-04T19:16:59Z

I need about 30% more sauce and it could use more spices for my taste.

Ultimate Vegan Lasagna
Vegetarian Times Issue: February 1, 2009 p.54

This recipe eliminates the messy, time-consuming process of preboiling the noodles—use any whole-wheat, brown rice, or regular lasagna noodles right out of the box. They’ll cook in the sauce.

Ingredient List
Serves 8

Filling
2 tsp. olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped (2 cups)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
1 10-oz. bag fresh baby spinach
2 12-oz. pkgs. firm tofu, drained
1 8-oz. pkg. vegan cream cheese
½ cup chopped fresh basil
¼ cup nutritional yeast

Lasagna
5 ½ cups Speedy Red Sauce

12 uncooked whole-wheat lasagna noodles

12 oz. vegan Italian sausage links, cut into thin rounds, or soy sausage crumbles, broken apart

1 cup shredded mozzarella flavor rice or soy cheese (3 oz.)
Directions
1. To make Filling: Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onions and garlic in oil 4 to 5 minutes, or until golden. Add spinach, and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until wilted. Transfer spinach mixture to bowl of food processor. Add tofu, cream cheese, basil, and nutritional yeast, and purée until mixture is thick and smooth. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
2. Spread one-quarter of Speedy Red Sauce recipe on bottom of 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Cover with one-third of noodles (4 or 5 noodles), then half of Filling, and ladle on another one-quarter of sauce. Repeat layer of noodles and remaining Filling. Spread sausage evenly over top, and top with one-quarter of sauce. Finish with final layer of noodles and remaining sauce. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.

3. Cover lasagna with foil, and bake 30 minutes, or until bubbling hot. Uncover, and bake 15 to 20 minutes more, or until noodles are tender and topping is melted. Remove from oven, and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information
Per : Calories: 508, Protein: 33g, Total fat: 19g, Saturated fat: 3g, Carbs: 60g, Cholesterol: mg, Sodium: 817mg, Fiber: 13g, Sugars: 10g

Speedy Red Sauce
Vegetarian Times Issue: February 1, 2009 p.54

This all-purpose pasta sauce can be used on spaghetti as well as in our Ultimate Vegan Lasagna. Puréed roasted red peppers help thicken it quickly.

Ingredient List
Makes 5 ½ cups

1 Tbs. olive oil
1 12-oz. jar roasted red peppers, rinsed and drained
2 small onions, diced (2 cups)
2 Tbs. dried basil or 3 Tbs. finely chopped fresh basil
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
1 28-oz. can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
Directions
1. Purée roasted red peppers in food processor or blender until smooth. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onions, and sauté 5 minutes, or until golden. Add basil and garlic, and sauté 1 minute more. Stir in tomatoes and roasted red pepper purée. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Simmer 10 minutes, or until slightly thickened.

Nutritional Information
Per : Calories: 53, Protein: 2g, Total fat: 1g, Saturated fat: 1g, Carbs: 10g, Cholesterol: mg, Sodium: 352mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugars: 6g