Huh.

I'm waffling between being fascinated and horrified by this. I think I'll eventually land on horrified. I mean, what a terrible thing to do to a good book. And who really wants an awful book taking up space in one's home? But right now, I'm enjoying browsing the site and imagining just the right recipient for various books.... I really like the cover design on this one (and I think I know the person I would give it to, as well):


Speaking of books, have recently finished Only Approved Indians, Jack Forbes. (Short stories) Meh. Some of it is good, but somewhat repetitive-not surprising? I guess maybe especially if you already have considered some of the concepts/issues brought up. So maybe a good primer for someone just starting to delve into Indian issues? Well-written, though. Maybe I just shouldn't have read it straight through.

Also read Trans-sister Radio, Bohjalian. Again, meh. Such bitty baby steps to talk about (in a slow-moving novel with mostly likable characters) some of the issues an M2F transsexual in transition might encounter. Not altogether an unpleasant way to spend an afternoon, but nothing too special, either. But again, it seems written expressly to avoid shocking. Maybe that's the point, and perhaps that's its strength. Still, I can't imagine someone with really conservative views picking the book up and giving its ideas a good listen-to. I had heard good things about the author, so was a bit disappointed. Maybe I'll give hum one more try.

Having a better time with A Fabricated Mexican, Rick Rivera, which is also a collection of short stories, and has a bit more detail, personality, and punch.

Have also been hitting the SF bookshelf at Project Gutenberg, which is great for cheesy SF you would otherwise come across only in a used book store or library sale.

I'll be away from the computer for a while during the holidays, living in RL pretty much exclusively. See you in the new year!

Cats and trees

Here's a site I found years ago, but was thinking of again, as I browsed the Drs. Foster and Smith site looking at cat trees. The basic, mass market trees are so expensive, and I don't find them very aesthetically pleasing, for the most part. But these people have created an original, whimsical and in many ways beautiful home full of what is basically primitive (in the sense of untrained) art that is also cat-welcoming, and fun. Some day, if I get to tinkering, something similar might happen at our house. Or something like what Smith Industries does with natural trees for catteries.

Good night, bike!

We have put the bikes to bed for the winter, as I do not fancy riding on ice or snow. I have, however, managed to walk to work instead of driving a few days lately. It's cold walking in the dark, but I think sometimes it's even safer to walk than to drive, when there is ice, or that not-quite-slushy snow that is really granular and slidey.

Here are some fun bikes I recently came across, trying to find out more about Schwinn e-bike dealers in the US.

Giant Electric Bikes. Just very chrome-y cool.

Xtracycle Sports Utility Bikes. Do the shopping. Bring along the kids.

Baksfiet Cargo bike. The Dutch solution for shopping with kids.

ZEM. The swiss solution for bringing the whole damn family along. C'mon, wouldn't you rather see Ahnold and Maria in this than in the H-bomb?

Very cool new bike shop in the wrong part of the country for me!

Those of you who follow activist art probably already know about this one. Canadian artist Michel de Broin gets arrested for driving his motorless artwork/car in Toronto... apparently by a cop who called in a backup patrol of bike police! This trial should be fun to follow.

Mmmm

Sitting here surfing, eating soft-boiled eggs and toast and drinking coffee. Four layers of clothes, snow bonnet, extra socks, blanket and kitty. It's finally snapped cold this weekend, but I'm feeling pretty cozy. I'm trying not to keep being a greedy American, cranking up the heat every time I start to feel chilled. Hence the polartec hat. Seems to work pretty well. Yesterday, I was hatless, but decided I would get up off the couch and clean something every time I got cold enough to wish for more heat. I got a lot done! Plus, there was sunshine! yay.

Soft-boiled eggs are comfort food for me, but not one I wish for often. My mom used to make them for me if I were home sick. But every now and then, I get a yen for them. Even so, I rarely make them, since I am very particular about what the 'right' degree of done is. And I usually get it wrong, so then it's more of a disappointment than a comfort. Today, LP decided hu wanted soft-boiled eggs, so it was a marginal risk to tag along, I guess. Now, hu said hu had figured out the perfect time/method for soft-boiled eggs. And I know hu likes them way more runny than I can stand. Basically, according to hum, the yolk must be completely liquid. For me, there should only be enough liquid yolk to barely coat the firm whites when you put it all in a little bowl and chop it up to eat with a spoon (which is The Best Way to eat a 'sick' egg). It's good if there is some yolk that is not hard, but not liquid either. So, I put my eggs in with hus (at boiling, which is not the way I learned, but as mentioned above, I stink at this, so why not go with the flow?) and left them 2 minutes longer. 2 'large' (but these were on the small side for large eggs...) eggs, in at boiling, for 6.25 minutes, then run under cold water enough to handle, peel, chop, salt and pepper, whole wheat toast, mmm.

I'm writing this down so I don't forget!

testing

Hi. I''m about to start fiddling around with some widgets here. Please tell me if they are annoying. And, yes, I understand they won't make up for lack of content. But, I'm still playing by the " if you don't have something nice to say" rule. So.

In Very Exciting News, we moved stripey cat's litter box out of the bedroom today. And she has been sitting near or on us off and on throughout the day. And she just had a very nummy dinner. Ours, less so. Enh.

Edited to add: meh, nevermind. *I* don't like the look of the widgets I thought I wanted, They're much bigger than I thought. Anyone have a good source for teetiny widgets?