Drinks

Sorry that I just want to ramble on today. I'm feeling seriously rebellious. I think I want to completely overhaul my lifestyle. Mostly my diet. Okay, so I've got: a wheat allergy and chronic fatigue syndrome. The last thing I want is pity - I don't need it. I got through a graduate biology program. But I'm annoyed at our society for its silliness with edibles.

Should I stop drinking? It's so dumb how I google cider recipes and they all have booze in them. That alone makes me want to boycott the industry. I'm definetly cutting back on coffee because I'm having palpitations again when I have too many cups or alcohol.

I wonder if I should just go whole hog and live a crazy vegan lifestyle. I also google vegan recipes and they all have wheat. I can't eat those. Can you see why I want to start diet groups on Vox? People keep saying to me, "Oh, I don't know how you can stand to go without cake / coffee / booze / steak". Yeah, thanks for the words of wisdom.

On a happier note, we have heroes like Alton Brown to educate us on cooking techniques. And I still love Ace of Cakes, I bet they would make a cake just for me. My favorite episode was when they made a cake for the author of a kid's book called Ghost Girl, a child who was teased in school. Then she died and she learned what real friendship is.

Appropriate for my dilemma, I guess. Maybe I'll change my attitude along with what I consume.

ghostgirl

Green_tea

So I've sent out my resume, I'm waiting patiently to hear back from potential employers. I can't wait for school to send my diploma so I can take that stupid word "Candidate" off my title for "Master's of Science".

My mom thinks I should apply for a college teaching job. You know, so I won't get eaten by some beast in the forest. I can't imagine anything I'd want to do less. I'm in biology so I won't have to work with humans, remember?

The one advantage to teaching is that I'd  teach those brainwashed students about evolution. In the vet tech program, our cell biology teacher was a devout Christian. A student asked about Intelligent Design, and she replied, "This is a science class, so we're not going to discuss religion". Score!

Although it may be brutally cold I'd rather be watching bobcats anyday than stuck in a monkey suit at a desk. Being an ecologist means I can dress casual and be a socially awkward geek if I like. Not that I can help it.

I'm at least tempted to volunteer for science groups that stand up for Evolution in schools. And a new arrival at my favorite bookstore showed Origin of the Species in illustration form. Yay!

Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation

News:
OMG Spiderman was arrested!  I love how they're hauling him away in front of kids.

US Attorney General Eric Holder is expected to announce that  Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be transferred from Guantanamo Bay to New York to stand trial.  Welp, this should be a fun news day then shouldn't it?  I can hear it now.  OMFG OBAMA SUPPORTS TERRORISTS!!!  He wants to bring them HERE!!! To let them roam free in your back yard!  Because you know, you good God fearing Americans who work in prisons cannot be trusted to keep them in prison.  You're gonna set them free soon as they get here.  Bunch of traitors.  To be honest, THEY were probably safer in Guantanamo.  But that's not how we're supposed to do things.  Commit a crime and  sooner or later you're supposed to face the justice system.  That's how I learned things.  Of course I learned in public schools.  Friggin socialists!  They probably taught me a lot of bullshit.  Blame my dad. He died young.  Didn't grow up and get rich and send me to a fancy rich private school, so I don't know any better.  Oh someone on Morning Joe already asked why NY?  Erm, where was the main 9/11 attack again?  Dumbasses.  You do usually prosecute where the crime happens.  Should we send them to Iowa courts instead? Not to mention NY courts are some of the biggest in the country.  They handle big cases.  They have big security. 

Books: 
Finished reading Rosemary and Rue: An October Daye Novel 4/5 stars.  I'm really generous with my stars, if it entertains me and I could read it again it's usually 5.  But I just couldn't do it.  Teetered between 4 and 5.  Something was just not 100% on this one.  I suspect the next in the series will make it to 5.  It's entertaining alright.  I think it was because a few of the characters that we should have better met, we didn't.  A few we didn't need to meet so well, we did.  Stuff like okay so you were basically totally healed with magic right?  But... in the next fight the wound was re-opened?  Wait didn't we make a huge deal over how big of a deal it was that they went to that person to heal you?  How potent that magic was?  Otherwise, I loved it. 

Now onto Grave Secret (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 4).  I decided on it next since it's a series I'm already well into.  Saving Fire and Graceling to read together.

Keegan:
He's so cute.  Back when he did the MS walk, I left him a thank you.  He must have just gotten around to logging into his MySpace.  I just got this message today - "YOUR WELCOME IT HURTS YOUR LEGS BUT YOUR WORTH IT BECAUSE YOUR A FAMILY MEMBER THATS WHY I DO IT EVERY YEAR."

This from the preceding post:

And Dr Collins sees no problem with where aliens might fit in with the belief that man was created in God's image.

"Every creature reflects the goodness and the creativity of God. Humankind, we certainly would argue that we represent that most fully and most completely," he said.

"But all of creation represents God's creativity. So any extraterrestrial being would certainly represent that creativity as well and may be or may not be more developed than we are."

I've long thought that humans make a fundamental mistake in that they arrogantly assume that the universe is all about us. That is why stupid statements like the above are made. We see God as some super human who created a stupendous universe for us to run around sinning in. And, what's more, we are supposedly made in God's image. All the other creatures on this Earth apparently weren't. Only us. Yeah, right. God must be delighted with that one. Think Hitler.

We weren't even around for most of the Earth's history. The first life appeared 4,000 million years ago. Something resembling us (and supposedly God) appeared on the scene 60 thousand years ago. Why did God take so long you may ask? And just when did we acquire a soul? One would think such questions could be easily answered by the men who point to a book written 2,000 years ago for answers. Of course they can't. So I do wonder why they pontificate at such length with such inane garbage that can be easily disproved by anyone who cares to exercise a few brain cells.

Do they really think we're that stupid? Apparently so. I think I need another drink. 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/13/2742484.htm?section=justin

Alien life is possible: Vatican

By Barney Porter for The World Today

Posted 1 hour 35 minutes ago

The Pope's chief astronomer has conceded other intelligent beings could exist in outer space.

The conclusion has been drawn by scientific experts called in by the Vatican to study the possibility of extraterrestrial life and its implications for the Church.

It has been four centuries since the Catholic Church locked up Galileo for challenging the belief that the Earth was at the centre of the universe.

The Vatican's five-day conference attracted 30 astronomers, physicists and biologists, including non-Catholics.

It was led by Jesuit priest Father Jose Gabriel Funes, an astronomer and director of the Vatican Observatory.

Father Funes says the possibility of alien life raises "many philosophical and theological implications" but that the gathering was mainly focused on the scientific perspective.

One of the organisers was Chris Impey, a professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona.

He says the aim was to assess the most recent research in the burgeoning field of astrobiology - the study of life in the universe.

"And also getting a sense of when you know the vital breakthrough is going to be made, which is the discovery of life elsewhere," he said.

"Because even though we're looking hard we still only know one planet anywhere with life and that's this one."

Breakthrough coming soon

He says that major breakthrough may be just around the corner.

"If you were going to take a set of bets of the 30 scientists gathered for that meeting, I think most of them would have said on about a time scale of 10 years maybe," he said.

That's a guess from the scientists involved and it could come from either of two directions - it could come from a planetary mission within the solar system that looks at one of the most hospitable places for life nearby which is probably Titan, Europa or Mars.

"Or it could come from telescopic observations of planets that we're finding in increasing numbers around distant stars."

But before one starts looking at the concept through Hollywood eyes, professor Impey has another observation.

"I think there's a big distinction between the finding of microbial life, bacteria or something like that which is actually the most likely form of life to discover initially, and intelligent life - sentient beings with technology, and that's a different strategy," he said.

"So I think on the former, on microbial life it's not likely to challenge the world's major religions - but if we find creatures that rival us or exceed us in intelligence, then I think that's going to be very interesting."

Church's positive response

But perhaps not too interesting, according to Dr Paul Collins, a former priest and now Church historian and Catholic commentator.

He says a belief in extraterrestrial life does not necessarily contradict any basic tenets of the Catholic religion.

"I would think that our response would be a positive one," he said.

"I'm not infallible on this of course, but the reality is that I don't think it does contradict anything within Catholicism.

"Essentially what the Christian faith generally is saying and certainly Catholicism specifically is saying is that God is the ultimate source of life, the ultimate source of reality."

The views of the Catholic Church have shifted radically since the Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake as a heretic in 1600 for speculating other worlds could be inhabited.

The Vatican Observatory has been at the forefront of efforts to bridge the gap between religion and science and today senior clergy openly endorse scientific ideas such as the big bang theory and evolution.

And Dr Collins sees no problem with where aliens might fit in with the belief that man was created in God's image.

"Every creature reflects the goodness and the creativity of God. Humankind, we certainly would argue that we represent that most fully and most completely," he said.

"But all of creation represents God's creativity. So any extraterrestrial being would certainly represent that creativity as well and may be or may not be more developed than we are."

Almond blossoms

I have a really amazing friend in California, she's an artist and also a practicioner of Ayurvedic medicine. When she lived here she gave me some shards of wisdom. Like drinking hot water with lemon in the morning.

Now I've become intrigued by the practice on a deeper level. I know that the practice is from India or South Asia. And they emphasize yoga.

I was reminded by Aubrey about my seasonal habits. I change my environment as the seasons change. I put away my beach photos and put out photos of old snow-covered barns in Vermont. I bust out my maroon fleece pajamas. Blankets get draped over chairs. It is very much like the moon cycles, it's quite a feminine aspect.It's quite a mystery, thought.

It's a mystery to me, though, why I have these cravings. It's not as though it's always warmer in March than it is in November. I have to wonder if humans evolved with the agrarian cycles. Or if it's even more primitive.

So I was pleased to hear that part of Ayurvedic medicine is to encourage people to tune into these seasonal cycles. They also encourage a gluten-free diet. Yay!

Java

Here is my Greenwashing report for the week, I'm using someone else's blog because it's so brilliant. Triple Pundit has a Greenwashing Archive. There's some really funny stories in there. Like the new food labelling project called "Smart Choices".

Their goal is to point to products that are healthy for us. Among their certified cereals? Fruit Loops and Cocoa Crispies. Yeah, take that before your marathon!

And the new Republican stance on CO2: more of it will actually benefit life on Earth! Yes, you can buy back those SUVs now.

On a more practical note, here are 5 ways to green your coffee!  :)

Brew Your Own: Eliminate your need for disposable cups and save money in the process by making your own coffee at home- hot or iced.  Even better, take the Good Earth Coffee “Brew at Home” Pledge and Good Earth will donate $1 to The Trust for Public Land, a non-profit that works to conserve parks, gardens, and natural places.

Buy Organic, Shade Grown, and/or Fair Trade: Organic coffee is grown without the use of pesticides; shade grown coffee is grown without unnecessary clearing of rainforest, which disrupts bird habitats (shade grown is also sometimes referred to as “Bird-Friendly”); and Fair Trade refers to the practice of providing fair wages and conditions for workers.  Ideally, choose a coffee that meets all three standards.

Drongo cuckoo

Invest in a Reusable Filter: At this point, I hate buying any product intended for one-time use.  Although paper filters can be composted, there is still an environmental cost associated with their production.  (Also, I just think the coffee tastes better run through a reusable filter.)

Use a Thermos: Rather than leaving the coffeemaker on “warm”, making multiple pots, or reheating in the microwave, conserve energy by making a day’s worth of coffee and pouring it into a vacuum-sealed thermos.  This will ensure that you have a constant supply of hot coffee to keep you going all day.

Compost the Coffee Grounds: Finally, make sure your grounds make it into the compost bin.  Or, during the growing season, sprinkle the grounds over flower and vegetable beds as a nitrogen-rich mulch.