Have to go through it again to pick out the points I'd like to address, but . . . brilliant.

I'm curious though. One man's finances are mentioned, but in a community which isn't sustaining itself agriculturally yet, how does everyone else pay for, say, the laundromat?

"Roving Cannibal Hordes." Ah, one of the great American obsessions. I've got to get serious about excavating Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" from under the Washington Post, among other things, and do the apocalypse thing by Turkey Day.

The article's photo of Earthhaven reminds me a little of the Jarrell Plantation in middle Georgia ( http://gastateparks.org/info/jarrell/ ), which, when it first opened up, had wonders like a dismembered Hupmobile whose engine and various parts had been used to power various things. That was nearly thirty years ago, so I don't know how it looks today. But the place's messy functionality made me realize I was visiting something like the Franklin County, Virginia homestead that my great-grandfather and his family had left many years ago. I'm told the log cabin is still there, in use as a summer house by vastly more affluent descendants.

I dunno about back-to-the-earth. As much as I admire the tiny garden-farms of Japan, I can't forget that they're highly subsidized. Those subsidies may be worthwhile. I'm certain Japan enjoys better food than we do. And maybe freshly-harvested rice really tastes better. In western North Carolina, I'd be willing to guess that the spots worth farming were farmed circa 1900, and that the farmers on to more lucrative work in the cotton mills.

Here in Florida, we celebrated a perfect Saturday without air conditioning. Everybody's doors were wide open.

I filled the little station wagon with plants at a local botanical garden's sale. Needle palm, old-fashioned "Martha Gonzalez" rose bush for a Christmas present,some bromeliads for the yard, and even rain lily bulbs from the garden's own bed, which is currently dug up for rehab.

Thinking of self-sufficiency, Japan is full of Asian persimmon trees, utterly beautiful with their golden-orange fruits and few if any leaves in the fall. If everyone in Gainesville, Florida had a persimmon or two in the yard, the town would be better-fed, prettier, and Gator-colored.

(Pseudo repost)

I really liked Joel's article. He's got this type of writing down to a science.

The Earthaven residents seem like very nice and sincere people who are on an extended camping trip. I don't see how anyone can truly establish a legitimate self-sustaining low-carbon footprint unless they live like the Amish.

And Joel also mentions a key problem to making even modest changes in energy use - pesky legal dependents who are used to a high-energy lifestyle.

As a child of the 70s, I have tried to encourage more efficient habits. (I mean, must the television be on every stinkin' hour of the day?) But pushing too much makes them angry, which makes my wife cranky.

There is just so much domestic discord that a family can withstand in the name of energy efficiency.

I know people who don't even own TVs.

It was easier when summer vacation was TV rerun season.

Kbertocci and I had a blast at the book fair today.

To answer dr's question, I got off the plane and she was waving her semafores, but I don't know the code, so I wasn't sure it was her. Actually, she was waving TomFan's "Hi Boodle" sign from one of the early BPHs. THEN I recognized her.

Report and pictures of today's events to follow....

Hi, TBG, kb!

I'm reposting the Pablo Neruda poem from the previous boodle, since the appreciation of simple, fundamental things fits this one very well - and it mentions fireflies. And it's a slow night on the boodle. (Dave, the radio gardener here was talking about Asian persimmon trees today, how they're superior to American persimmons and have beautiful fall color. Oh, and I just now thought of a couple former boodlers from Florida, Shiloh and amo.)
I came across this poem by Pablo Neruda, and thought I would post it especially for dr and the other knitters and crocheters of the boodle (as well as the nature lovers and poetry lovers and everyone else):

"Ode to My Socks" by Pablo Neruda (translated by Robert Bly)

Mara Mori brought me
a pair of socks
which she knitted herself
with her sheepherder's hands,
two socks as soft as rabbits.
I slipped my feet into them
as if they were two cases
knitted with threads of twilight and goatskin,
Violent socks,
my feet were two fish made of wool,
two long sharks
sea blue, shot through
by one golden thread,
two immense blackbirds,
two cannons,
my feet were honored in this way
by these heavenly socks.
They were so handsome for the first time
my feet seemed to me unacceptable
like two decrepit firemen,
firemen unworthy of that woven fire,
of those glowing socks.

Nevertheless, I resisted the sharp temptation
to save them somewhere as schoolboys
keep fireflies,
as learned men collect
sacred texts,
I resisted the mad impulse to put them
in a golden cage and each day give them
birdseed and pieces of pink melon.
Like explorers in the jungle
who hand over the very rare green deer
to the spit and eat it with remorse,
I stretched out my feet and pulled on
the magnificent socks and then my shoes.

The moral of my ode is this:
beauty is twice beauty
and what is good is doubly good
when it is a matter of two socks
made of wool in winter.

tbg and kb, looking forward to the FL pics...

here are a few interesting links about sustainability and green buildings.

the uc system has admirably adopted a green building/sustainability policy:
http://www.ucop.edu/facil/sustain/welcome.html

there is a good green building reference page here:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/GreenAll.html

and a related research center:
http://greenbuildings.berkeley.edu/

unfortunately, prop 87 didn't pass:
http://www.yeson87.com/

anyway, just posting these references in case they are interesting
or useful to anyone.

The "Hi Boodle!" sign! Ha!
(But I can't actually take credit for it, I'm afraid. I did indeed hold the sign up at a BPH, but I didn't create it. If I recall correctly, SciTim was the one to put Sharpie to paper. Or maybe that was just the "Hi Eurotrash!" sign . . .)

OK, time to unplug the computer now . . .

I've visited Earthaven numerous times.
It is not for everyone, but I often wish I lived there rather than stuck in DC suburbia. Maybe one day when there are less bills to pay.

I do not think enough can be said about their construction methods with regard to using materials at hand from their surroundings to make energy efficient homes.

I salute the efforts the residents, and especially those of the founders who have made an effort to DO something about making the world a better place. I give them joy and wish there were more like them, willing to make sacrifices for a better world.

I do not think enough can be said about their construction methods with regard to using materials at hand from their surroundings to make energy efficient homes.

Good morning, friends. Earthhaven sounds like what many of those living in the mountains do out of necessity. Of course, by now, perhaps that is not the case. At one time people living in the mountains lived in abject poverty, in fact, it was frightening the way they lived. HBO took a camera crew up there one time and did a documentary of a family. Earthhaven does not look new, only the mindset has changed. Now it is with a purpose, at one time it was called living.

Out all day yesterday, and the weather was beautiful. The day started without a cloud in the sky, just that beautiful Carolina blue. Although here it started on a rather sour note, the football team lost their game without even scoring. Football here is on the same scale as eating.

Have to get moving, Sunday school and church beckons. The g-girl and I have much to do to get ready. I do hope your weekend, although at the end, is going well. Today would be an excellent time to give God some of your time, and remember that He loves us so much more than we can imagine through Him that died for all, Jesus Christ.

Morning, Cassandra. I was surprised when I saw the football score. What the heck happened to your home team? I can understand that it wasn't a good start for a weekend. OTOH, UNC beat NC State, so life's good at my house...

Joel's story is beautifully written, as always. But I dunno. I'm certainly not ready to go off grid! Hubby is always turning off lights so that I stumble around in the dark. Even energy-inefficient light bulbs aren't the problem. The problem is things like his huge TV, which draws power all the time! I really should make him turn it off at the surge protector...

I did identify with Joel's point about being left alone. Hubby and I have offices side-by-side, so we drive to work togther (yes, against City policy, but I got nowhere, so I've just dealt with it). We take my car, which gets about twice the mileage of his truck. But boy, am I looking forward not to driving with him! When we had my old van, I just let him drive all the time. But with my new car, when he drives it takes me three or four days to get the seat and mirrors back to where I want them, so I've been driving. I don't drive to suit him, so it's tough.

23 more days in the office till I retire...

Cassandra - your first paragraph is very insightful.

Has anyone else seen this?

http://www.slate.com/id/2151739/

I just need to see how much of this stuff I can do before I am accused of being obsessive.

(BTW: My son just called to tell me he is number 34 in line for the Wii. His mother drove him over at 6:15 this morning. Somehow I do not think the Earthaven lifestyle is in this family's future.)

Good Morning
I'm glad to see Cassandra is sounding better. *reading what he's written Boko seems confused, looks to dog, is reassured, soldiers on*
Today I'm going to participate in a great Canadian tradition. I'm off to a party where I'll feast on ribs, beer, and watch the last NASCAR race of the season. I promised to bring the guacomole and Spanish rice so I'd better get on my bike and start preparing them. Have a happy Thanksgiving, all you American type people.

Joel, only had time to read about have your article yesterday, a crazy day around here two hockey games, two sets of hockey pictures and a family dinner. Felt really guilty about our carbon footprint yesterday. I am trying to be more energy efficient, new fluorescent bulbs (much improved by the way), set back thermostat, insulation and furnace to come and at some point newer windows. I wish someone could find a realistic way to be energy efficient yet still maintain a modern lifestyle - is that possible?

Forgot two things, I like the article and more economical energy efficient items would help. Currently my mind is willing, pocketbook not so much.

I've replaced all the incandescent lightbulbs in the house with energy efficient flourescent bulbs. They may cost more up front but not only do you save money on your electricty bill they last much longer than incandescent bulbs.
Flourescent bulbs don't ligt instantly but after a while you get used to the tiny time lag.

The glow of the future: LCD, LEDs and similar lighting sources. It'll feel like being trapped inside a firefly's bottom.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060401110202.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/10/051021123902.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/06/040623083024.htm

It seems half sad to think that in 40 years or less, kids may be born who have never seen Thomas Alva Edison's invention and will be asking "what is that thing over people's heads in the comics?"

If they would work on more energy efficient, lighter TVs I wouldn't mind either.
I've seen home theatre systems that are nice and not that bulky, but the bulbs are 500 bucks and burn out after a few thousand hours. Yikes!

Speaking of energy expenditures, Wilbrodog insists I do some walking.

What an excellent article, Joel.

Last week Cambridge Energy Research Associates (a highly reputable energy economics consultancy) released a study Why the Peak Oil Theory Falls Down: Myths, Legends, and the Future of Oil Resources. From the press release:

In contrast to a widely discussed theory that world oil production will soon reach a peak and go into sharp decline, a new analysis of the subject by Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) finds that the remaining global oil resource base is actually 3.74 trillion barrels -- three times as large as the 1.2 trillion barrels estimated by the theory's proponents -- and that the "peak oil" argument is based on faulty analysis which could, if accepted, distort critical policy and investment decisions and cloud the debate over the energy future.

The new report describes CERA's liquids supply outlook as "not a view of endless abundance." However, based on a range of potential scenarios and field-by-field analysis, CERA finds that not only will world oil production not peak before 2030, but that the idea of a peak is itself "a dramatic but highly questionable image."

Global production will eventually follow an "undulating plateau" for one or more decades before declining slowly. The global production profile will not be a simple logistic or bell curve postulated by geologist M. King Hubbert, but it will be asymmetrical - with the slope of decline more gradual and not mirroring the rapid rate of increase -- and strongly skewed past the geometric peak. It will be an undulating plateau that may well last for decades.

During the plateau period in later decades, according to the CERA analysis, demand growth will likely no longer be largely met by growth in available, commercially exploitable natural oil supplies. Non-traditional or unconventional liquid fuels such as production from heavy oil sands, gas-related liquids (condensate and natural gas liquids), gas-to-liquids (GTL), and coal-to-liquids (CTL) will need to fill the gap.

Yoki again. I have ordered a copy of the full paper and will have a look see at the methodology etc. I would be more inclined to give the Peak Oil people some of my time if they weren't so stridently cult-like; in fact, they present themselves very much as do the anti-climate change cabal Joel so brilliantly illuminated (though using energy efficient light bulbs, no doubt) in a previous article.

Fun thing for the day. I usually drive one of my neighbours to her church of a Sunday. I had just got her comfortably tucked into the passenger seat when, over the radio, came the La Ci Darem La Mano duet from Don Giovanni. My neighbour sighed with delight and said, "Isn't this music sublime!" I, in my way, nearly popped a blood vessel stifling my giggles. La Ci Darem is better known to some of us as the tune for "The Lumberjack Song."

RD, can you give me a review of the Wii once your son has tested it? The gamers in my house agree that if it works well, and if there are enough games available, it may be the coolest thing ever.

Yoki, I found a brief translation of the original lyrics of La Ci darem La Mano...

Don Giovanni sings to Zerlina:
La ci darem la mano,
La mi dirai di si.
Vedi, non e lontano;
Partiam, ben mio, da qui.

Translation:
"There you will give me your hand,
There you will tell me 'yes.'
You see, it is not far;
Let us leave, my beloved."

Zerlina sings her thoughts:
Vorrei e non vorei;
Mi trema un poco il cor.
Felice, e ver sarei,
Ma puo burlarmi ancor.

Translation:
"I'd like to, but yet I would not;
My heart trembles a little.
It's true I would be happy,
But he may just be tricking me."

From this to the Lumberjack song is certainly a leap of comic genius, although the last line in the translation gives us a certain insight in what may have inspired such a leap.

You sure, though, Yoki?

Here are the lyrics:
http://bau2.uibk.ac.at/sg/python/Scripts/TheLumberjackSong

Oh well, Monty Python would back your right to say what you like about Mozart.

http://bau2.uibk.ac.at/sg/python/Scripts/ContractualObligations/TheDecomposingComposers

Yoki - I asked my son some days ago why he wanted to spend pretty much all of his disposable income for the year on the Wii, as well as why it was worth standing four hours in the cold. Evidently the next version of his favorite game, "Zelda" requires a Wii. And I guess what Zelda wants, Zelda gets.

Regarding the actual Wii device, the reviews thus far are highly positive. It was quick and easy to set up. The wireless motion-sensing controllers are fun to use, especially with the included sports games. The graphics are better than the GameCube, (although still not as nice as the much more expensive Playstation 3.) Finally, it seems to have no trouble running the old GameCube games.

The only downside is that each additional controller, when you include the optional extension, runs about $60 (US).

Excellent post this morning at 6:41, Cassandra. The first paragraph is accurate. Many, many thousands of people living along the Appalachian Mountain range from Georgia up to Maine lived that way for years and some still do. Some of my ancestors from southern New York and northern New Jersey are included in that. They had to live that way. I don't quite understand why someone would *want* to live that way.

Wilbrod - those articles on LEDs are very encouraging. I think, for the reasons Joel points out in his article, that increasing the energy efficiency of things we already use is a good strategy. LED lights I can see people using. 10 watt bulbs, well, not so much.

Yoki, I actually just saw Don Giovanni and I must admit that slipped by. Here's a Youtube clip with La Ci Darem La Mano. I'm still not sure I'd call it more than "inspired by", but it's definitely there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efHHZkEvxc0

RD, congrats to your son for paying for it himself. I think "Wii" refers to the (we the) parents that are the ones normally paying for things like this.

re: James Bond. This just in: Rumour has it that not just Casino Royale but perhaps THE ENTIRE SERIES may have been written as escapist fiction. All meetings of the Tolstoy and Fleming Book Club have been cancelled pending this breaking news.

Wilbrod you are making me feel guilty. Put up some greenery outside on our balcony and the christmas lights. I keep looking at the LED christmas lights but can't justify throwing away good lights for new ones, even ones that are energy efficient. I will replace them as they burn out.

Anyone have any good tips on removing the sap from pine boughs from your hands?

I also had to clean out the flat roof on the balcony, it was a an accumulation of leaves that had been sitting in water, STINKY. I am also freezing four hours outside, in the cold with my hands in cold water, its going to take awhile to warm up.

SofC - ha ha!

dmd, we always have some sort of handmade soap - usually a "gardener's soap" or "mechanic's soap" for getting gook off our hands. I would guess those soaps have plenty of lye - and they usually have some sort of rough material worked into them. Or a good softsoap should work too. Or a scrub brush.

I don't have it in me for living without electricity or running water. A few years in VA with a not-deep-enough well made me vow never to be without running water again (imagine Scarlett O'Hara, at the end of Part 1). I do think we should do what we can to limit our energy use, use more solar energy, build houses that are "green." A friend of ours in MN uses solar energy almost exclusively for his electricity.

mostlylurking, loved the poem.

Must share this - found on Youtube while looking up the Don Giovanni thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajJFJ8RZ1hs

Hint: Kill the wabbit! Kill the wabbit!

Yoki, I look forward to your report on the CERA article.

Mostly, I'm right with you. My mother had a well; it provided plenty of water, until the power was out. I enjoy camping, in the right weather. Do it full-time isn't my idea of fun.

We read your story, Joel, and want you to know that we went around our Miami Beach hotel and turned off all the appliances. Even the bedside lamp won't work anymore.

But in the meantime, we both pedalled our energy-creating laptop and Internet connection (a la Fred Flintstone) and have uploaded our pictures and the stories of our adventures here in Miami here...

http://tbgboodler.blogspot.com/2006/11/achengirls-gone-wild-at-miami-book-fair.html

Oooh, don't forget the "Catalogue" aria from Don Giovanni, "Il catalogo questo" in which Giovanni's conquests are listed by number: A thousand and three in Spain, for example. "Mille e tre" gets repeated frequently in the aria to great dismissive effect. I love the final lines, too. Leporello, Giovanni's servant, sings:

Purché porti la gonnella,
Voi sapete quel che fa.

(If she wears a petticoat,
You know what he does.)

Or as I also read it translated:

As long as she is wearing a skirt,
You know where he will be.

tbg & kb, loved the report and pics!

Very cool story and pics about the book fair, TBG and kbertocci. You got to meet and chat with both Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen. That is great stuff! Thank you and enjoy your visit together.

Thanks for posting, TBG. Now I am going to guess at all the greek girl names that you didn't name your daughter.

Diane, Helen, Dorothea, and Alice are greek names, but nobody makes a fuss about them.

Hmm, must be something unique.
Top 10 greek names TBG probably did NOT name her daughter as:

Hippolyta
Antigone
Electra
Kirke (Circe)
Alecto
Hekate
Cassandra
Calliope
Envy
Eris
Ophelia

Although it's true that the Earthaven folks are just living like people used to have to live -- and still do live, out of necessity, they are to be commended, not ridiculed, for doing it by choice. They're not doing it for fun, but in response to concerns about this planet's resources and climate. Perhaps one day we'll *all* go back to having to live like that -- our current levels of consumption just won't be an option. The people at Earthaven are getting a head start.

************

"The term 'consumer' is not appropriate because it sanctions an injustice. The society of consumers means speed, overproduction, waste. The body of the consumer is an anxious body . . . children are taught like battery chickens to be the consumers of the future. Teaching children not to want to be consumers is an extraordinary educational project."

-- Carlo Petrini, founder of the Slow Food movement

********

And one more thing:
TBG and kbertocci, the trip report and photos are superb!

SoC, thanks for the link!

I love the smell of carrots in the morning!

Oops -- I'd planned to post the link to Slow Food as well . . .

http://www.slowfood.com/

KB and TBG, the pictures are great, and it looks like both of you enjoyed this a lot. KB, you look great in your picture. It is nice to have a face to go along with the name. I've seen your picture, TBG, from the porching hour.

I keep a light burning in the bathroom at night, so I'm probably using more than my share of energy. For someone that suffers from my ear problem, darkness is not good for me. Because the balance mechanism does not work in my ears, I feel like I'm suspended or floating when in the dark. But I think I compensate by not using much heat in the winter. I don't like a lot of heat having lived in cold houses as a child.

JA, the article was very good, and informative. As always, it is a learning experience here on the boodle. And that to me is always good. I'm half way through "Captured by Aliens", can't read with the g-girl here.

Slyness, I don't keep up with the games. My father listens to the games on the radio, and he told me about Friday's game. Your town or city had the better players, but I'm sure everyone was looking for a better game, and we just did not come up to that expectation. This county is so proud of its football team. I mean they just go nuts over football. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great, but I do not go to the games. I cannot stand sitting on those metal bleachers, my tush gets too cold.

The Slow Food link mentions Terra Madre, which made me think of this farmstead cheese place in Galax, VA:
http://www.meadowcreekdairy.com/
They went to Terra Madre a couple of years ago. The reason I know about them is that I work with the woman's brother (another transplant from NoVA), and have eaten their cheese and it's really good. They don't have too many kinds to order online this year, but it is in quite a few stores in the DC area. Mmmmm, chee-eese, Gromit!

I'm wondering... is it Ear Thaven or Eart Haven?

I mean those ear thavens are a real pain in the, er.. ear; but a haven for earts?

C'mon, really.

TBG, that missing second "H" was really bugging me, too!
I have finally come to accept that it is E. Art Haven.

I wonder if they have a beeth oven to cook with? You know... to fix Beet Hoven.

i also spent a few minutes pondering the 'h' issue.

perhaps someone could ask them on the wapo radio program
tomorrow morning. :-)

I guess they were trying to conserve H's.
I commend them for that.

I haven't read the article yet, but I glanced at the photos. I couldn't help noticing the 5-gal. can of WD-40 on the covered porch of the house, in the first photo. I didn't realize that you could buy it in such quantities. Wow!

Cassandra, I tried to like football. I really, really tried. I went to games at Appalachian and games at Carolina. In those stadiums they have plastic seats, so no cold backside. Even so, I utterly failed. But it's important to the hubby, so I at least know about how his favorite teams are doing.

TBG and Kber, thanks for the photos and commentary! Sounds like the book fair was quite a success. Betcha Dave Barry doesn't have as many comments on his blog as Achenblog does.

Karen and TBG,
You made the book fair fun! Enjoyed the photos, but it would be nice to read cutlines. I had a feeling that the Obama tickets would be hard to come by.

We have old Ridley Pearson paperbacks around the house--I, his 1988 "Undercurrents. My husband read his 1993 "The Angel Maker." His B&W photo is on the inside back cover of the latter book--he appears quite young, so I'm not matching him easily against your more current photo.

I would have loved to attended the Florida event to to have seen and heard James Reston, Jr. as well as some other notables who did not make the Texas Book Fair.

Dreamer - I agree that the Earthaven folks should be commended for their idealism and sincerity. However I really do not think they represent the future. The future, I suspect, will look more like Hong Kong.

Loomis... we didn't even try to get Obama tickets; the line for the tickets was at the same time Dave Barry was speaking (which I attended) and kbert's Jonathan Franzen event. (Dave kept telling his audience he hoped we would attend his concert instead of Obama's talk, but he didn't realize that if we were in the room listening to him, there was no way we'd end up with Obama tickets.)

Ridley Pearson isn't in any of the pictures, so it's no wonder you couldn't find him. You can just see his head is looking down to the right of Andy Borowitz on stage. Ridley played the bass and sang several good old rock 'n roll songs. He was a very nice guy and had a smile on his face every single time I saw him.

You know, I don't think I've seen a bunch of people have as much fun as the Rock Bottom Remainders were having on that stage last night. As Dave Barry explained to his audience yesterday: even as we get old, we Baby Boomers will always still think we're cool.

[I'd love to have put captions with the pictures, but alas, Blogger doesn't work that way; I tried to work the narrative and the pictures together at least chronologically since I can't guarantee what you see where on your computer screen.]

TGB and kb,
Thanks for sharing your adventures. Dave Barry responding to "Hey, Dave" is too funny - and he didn't edge away when you mentioned the Achenblog, and he knows what the boodle is - too much. Isn't Amy Tan in the rock group sometimes? Doesn't look like her in the picture, but it's hard to tell. Wish I could have been there - wish Seattle still had a book fair (guess I should have attended when I had the chance).

Joel,

Your article was very thought provoking and timely and worrisome. I do wonder if a negative comment to a Sunday story you wrote a while back from a blogger chastising you for allowing your children to leave all the lights on had an effect. It appears so. Hey, that's a good thing.

Lights out!

Joel,

Your article was very thought provoking and timely and worrisome. I do wonder if a negative comment to a Sunday story you wrote a while back from a blogger chastising you for allowing your children to leave all the lights on had an effect. It appears so. Hey, that's a good thing.

Lights out!

This is a sort-of random comment from someone other than Random Commenter - I'm trying to remember little details (like name, author) of a sci-fi book I read probably 20 years ago about a future earth where everyone lives sustainably. One of the main characters is a big-shot local politician, which means, in the book's version of the world, that her travels for politics must come from her personal, meager quota of energy available. There is no way in this society to avoid being responsible for one's own energy usage and NO ONE - not even Al Gore! - can use more than his or her share. So she has to do without more than the average Joe when she's at home so that she may go to events she must, for her job. Also vaguely remember that it's set in the Southwest - New Mexico, perhaps?

Does anyone remember this? I know it's a long shot. It's sort of stuck with me, but I think Alzheimer's is what's going to be with me from now on.

Thanks.

Wilbrod:

I was out of my country for a year, and when I returned, cable was off (dues not paid for a year). We had other stuff to take care of, so restoring cable got put off for a few weeks. Me and my wife so thoroughly enjoyed those weeks, we finally we decided not to get cable back.

It's been 2 years, and we've never regretted the decision: we spend our free time very contendedly talking, reading, just sitting with each other or going for walks. I just hope more people realize the importance of switching off the idiot box.

There's more to the invisible technological system than whether one knows what a Brussels sprout plant looks like or how the demand for rubber for automobile tires has altered the landscape and social economy of the topics, to name two things we should be aware of but possibly aren't. A high-consumption society needs to be controlled. Just-in-time manufacturing, for example, requires a lot of supporting systems, which in turn require regularity, so that the high-volume transactions tend to become the only ones the system supports. This is not necessarily a sinister conspiracy, but it can seem like one when you see the supermarket give its shelf space to only the few most popular products.

Good morning, friends. Prashant, it really is an idiot box, but because I live alone, it's like another person in the apartment, so the cable company drains me. I believe anything that makes us aware of our consumption of energy is a good thing. I don't know if the goal is within reach, but it is all good.

Slyness, you are brave, and I commend the effort, just don't have it in me. And as a teenager, my sisters and I followed my father around to every town to watch Friday night football. Perhaps it was overkill.

I sincerely hope the weekend was good for you, and that you got to do all those things planned. The g-girl and I spent the whole weekend at church in support of our missionary anniversary. It was a three day event. So I did not take my own advice about getting some rest.

We hope to walk this morning, but the weather person is calling for rain. I hope not, I really need to get back into my walking. One just feels better when there is some exercise in the loop.

I know, I know, some of you are dreading Monday, but look at it this way, you get a chance to begin again, and new beginnings are mostly good. This morning in my prayers I asked for blessings for all of you, and in this new beginning, I ask for joy and thanksgiving. But most of all, I asked that we all come to know just how much God loves us, so much more than we can imagine, through Him that died for all, Jesus Christ.

Good morning, Error Flynn, Nani. And what's up, Mudge? You were so quiet this weekend. I hope not stranded in the wilds again?

Almost forgot.......

Thanks, boko, I do feel better.

And did anyone see the wedding picture of Cruise and Holmes? I thought there would be more hoopla on the Internet, but not much. Yet I keep thinking how many times can a person get married, and it really be like "exciting". I mean does it not get a little like "the same old thing" after so many marriages? And after which number?

Can I talk, I'm a two time loser?

Good morning!

As a magician, there are many times I wish technology was invisible!

Cassandra, I hope you can walk today, and I concur about the tv seeming like another person. As can computers. . . the thing that struck me about the wedding photos was she's mainly into him, he's totally into the camera.

I wonder how much lack of time has to do with our energy crisis. We're always running, it seems reasonable to do a small load of laundry because we have time at that moment, instead of waiting to conserve resources. I was beeped @ 4 am, the problem still isn't resolved. As I wait, why not turn on a *second* computer to check the boodle and my home e-mail, run a partial dishwasher load because it'll help me get through the week, use a ceiling fan because the room is a little warm?

I'd like to see a return to conservation, especially with appliances that remain in standby mode, as well as a decrease in solar prices.

'Morning, boodle. 'Morning, Cassandra. Yes, Cassandra, I was quiet over the weekend. On Satyrday morning my wife and I went to Georgetown Hospital's emergency room--my bad leg has been getting worse, and over the past week I'd developed a bad, full-blown case of cellulitis again. (Had it bad two years ago, almost died from septic shock from it.) Among other things, they did an ultrasound on my leg to see it there were any blkood clots, but I passed with flying colors. They put me on an intravenous antibiotic, and then gave me a prescription for more antibios, and sent me home in time for dinner.

I have a diabetes clinic check-up this morning, along with a follow-up mn my leg, so I won't be boodling until afternoon some time. I hate being sick and constantly visiting doctors all the time: diabetes guy, cardiology guy, dermatology people for my leg and melanoma checkup, limb center for my leg which never healed properly after my quad bypass, etc. I hate getting old. I was 57 years old before I ever spent a night in a hospital, so I guess I've been lucky. I sometimes joke that I just wish they'd amputate the damned leg and let me wear a pegleg, because I'd make a dandy pirate. My wife thinks that's a sick joke, but I'm halfway serious. I'd get a nice teak model (maybe I'd have Padouk carve it) with mermaids and dolphins on it. Get a parrot for my shoulder. Aaargh!

On Sunday we went down to the Lower Potomac in Virginia where we're building a vacation cottage. I finished building the support surround for the big cast-iron antique bathtub my wife insisted on using (instead of a modern fiberglass bathtub/shower I could have installed in give minutes). I had bought a cheapy tile-cutter at Lowe's, and had some marble tiles I bought at the Habitat for Humanity yardsale for about $5, and cut them to fit under the lip of the tub, and glued them down on the surround I'd built. On the next visit I get to tile the entire area from floor to ceiling. (I hate tiling and grout, but I guess I have to do it.)

I had the Redskins game on our little 5" TV, but the small scale didn't make the loss any less depressing. In my football column I write I picked the Redskins, Denver and the Colts to win, and lost all three. Tonight I picked Jacksonville over the Giants--don't know how I'll do on that one.

Glad to see you seem to be feeling better.

Still trying to read Joel's article--got about a page into it before I feel asleep last night. (No offense, Joel--it wasn't your article that put me to sleep.)

My son woke us up about 10:30 (just after I'd nodded off) to tell us the bat was back and flying around the kitchen. He made me go with him to the kitchen, but we couldn't find it. So it's still in the house somewhere. I think maybe what I need to do is build a belfry on this house.

Mudge take care and I hope you get better soon.

Mudge, that's waaay too much activity for a restful weekend! Do take care of the leg, and the rest of you!

Morning all! *waving*

Cassandra, glad you're doing better.

'Mudge, YOUR turn to get better!

TBG, kbert -- Dave Barry knows the Boodle?????? *verklempt*

:-)

So now we know what Joel was doing a few months ago in NC when he got up in the morning, and the sun forgot to rise. Remember that kit?

Happens to me all the time.

The wife took a junkett trip with her sister up to Lancaster this weekend. the kids and I were left without the convenience of instant transportation. So we cleaned the house, raked leaves, took the bus to the mall, and probably walked several miles shopping for clothes. I got all 4 kids back to the house, and we all arrived in 1 piece, too exhausted to search for the remote. I tell you, a mall to a 4 year old is just as fun as an amusement park.

Mudge, take care of yourself. Cassandra, glad to hear you are feeling better.

And hear is my solution to everything: Get more exercise!

Mudge writes: "On Satyrday morning my wife and I..."

Sounds like you're feeling *much* better, buddy. Knowing you, this might be my favorite Freudian Typo EVAR.

Not a good day for picks for me, either I'm 9-6 on the weekend, and I have the New York football Giants in tonight's game.

Cassandra, I'm glad you're feeling better.

bc

I was listening to NPR this am and Honda has invented environtology or something like that. It must be a way of making vehicle's emissions magically disappear. In any case, I hope it's not a distant relative of scientology. BTW, a city in Oregon, I think, is going to begin charging a carbon tax on residents and businesses in an effort to encourage conservation, encourage residential homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient and thus cut emissions by energy suppliers. The goal is to reduce emissions 10-15% over the next decade. This may be a strategy that can be utilized to encourage the purchase of more energy efficient vehicles: calculate the annual average carbon foot print for your vehicle and develop a fair way to chargeindividuals for pollutine. That's it, pollution with a face. Speaking of food with a face, we bought the kids athte complete collection of the DINOSAURS television series. One of the first episodes included a vignette where Earl had a discussion about the importance of family with the creature, strikingly like a small mammal, that was to be his dinner. Earl was convinced to spare the critters life. That creature later became executive assistant to Earl's boss. No moral, just funny. Get well, 'Mudge.

San Antonio assistant op-ed page editor Robert Seltzer writes a collection of news bits titled "The Bottom Line" for Monday's op-ed pages. Today, one of his briefs was about about [California] "Blue state raises its glass [to President Bush]."

Seltzer writes: It is hard to imagine a state so blue embracing a politician so red, but surveys do not lie. [Disagree! So much depends on the survey design.] This survey conducted by the California Wine Club, named President Bush the "favorite choice among wine lovers to have over for Thanksgiving dinner," according to the San Francisco Examiner. The president received 36 percent of the vote, beating out Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, Paris Hilton, and Sen. Clinton.

"Why?" Seltzer writes. Even the club has no answer, Seltzer claims. Yeah, right.

Ummm, Bobby Koch, married to Doro Bush, is Bush's brother-in-law? What's in the family stays in the family? Robert should look at cluster groups, genealogically speaking. How close are the ties between The Wine Institute and the California Wine Club? I'd love to know.

http://www.wineinstitute.org/industry/issues/2006/wi_encourages_ca_message.php

"Calling attention to the favorable image of California and California wine further develops the U.S. market for our members and supports Wine Institute's public policy mission," said Robert P. "Bobby" Koch, President and CEO of Wine Institute.

About Wine Institute
Wine Institute is the association of 887 California wineries and affiliated businesses whose members account for 85 percent of U.S. wine production and 95 percent of U.S. wine exports. Established in 1934, the organization is dedicated to initiating and advocating state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible consumption and enjoyment of wine. Wine Institute seeks to broaden public understanding of the wine industry and its role in the American economy, lifestyle and culture.

http://www.californiawineandfood.com/wine/trade-japan.htm

SAN FRANCISCO -- Wine Institute President & CEO Robert P. (Bobby) Koch has joined Governor Schwarzenegger on his Trade and Tourism Mission to Tokyo, November 10-13, to help the governor promote California. Japan is the third largest market for California wine exports and the largest market for the state's wine exports in Asia. Revenues to the state's wineries reached $76 million for Japan in 2003 and are expected to increase.

SCC: San Antonio...San Antonio Express-News assistant op-ed page editor

Good Morning
I thought you Americans were celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend. Apparently not, to judge by CNN. Please save the good wishes I sent yesterday and apply them on the appropriate date. I must have been thrown off by our local mall being decked out for Christmas. Santa was there and everything! Only 90 days 'till the Indianapolis 500!

Mudge, Sorry to hear you're not up to snuff.
Hoping your're back to par soon.
People who wear wooden legs should give boats a wide berth. When my mother's little brother fell out of his fishing boat, his wooden leg foated, keeping his head underwater and he drowned.
A very sad end for Uncle Bob.

Boko you're making an open wheel/NASCAR joke, right?

Speaking of apppropriate dates, the Indy 500's not until May 27th, 2007, which is a bit more than 90 days. And the traditonal start of the pro racing season here in America - the Daytona 24 hour is January 27-28th, which is a bit less than 90 days.

For me, the pro racing season gets started new year's day with the crazy dangerous Paris-Dakar, and really gets rolling with the treacherous WRC Rallye Monte Carlo (aka the 'Monte'), Jan 19-21.

I suppose you might mean that NASCAR thing in Daytona after the Super Bowl? *g*

While we're on the topic of environmental impact and alternate energies, I would note that the top American open wheel racing (Indy Car and Champ Car) leagues have been fueled by methanol and ethanol - not gasoline - for nearly four decades.

I made a serious propsal to the NASCAR powers that be (aka the France family) through some intermediaries about a half dozen years ago to switch over to the same alcohol-fueled engines that the Indy Racing League used; was told "thanks for your interest and good day, sir". Fortunately, I also told industry insider Peter DeLorenzo about the idea, and he's carried the torch for it since then. I doubt it'll happen soon, but one can only hope...

bc

Mostlylurking, I loved that Neruda poem. I tired to tell you yesterday but my dialup was, well its dialup with an accelerator program, and everytime the firewall program updates itself, the connection goes kaffluey. but I did loive that poem.

There are too many people who live the way the Earthaven folks do of neccesity. I hope we find a way to even the economic score.

While Earthaven is a fine concept, the greater challenge is illustrated by the community members taking their laundry out to a laundromat. We are a culture of convenience, and when we don't feel like it, the fall back position will always be the ease of modern energy consumptive lifestyles.

We have a lot of deadfall on our property. Years worth of heat, and reason says we should be using it for heat. We did look into an energy efficient wood burning system, but discarded the idea because we would be tied to cutting wood for months of the year. If we did not work we could do it, and might very well go that route, but not with more than full time jobs.

I know there is a lot more we can do, but not while working full time. There are just not enough hours in a day. We hope to revert back to farm mode, living much closer to the earth, when we can leave the workforce.

Listening to WaPo Radio, doggone if JA's air time hasn't been preempted yet again by breaking news.

This time it's the announcement regarding the new District Chief of Police.

bc

The single best thing I could do to improve my house in terms of energy efficiency (that I haven't already done) would be to replace all my windows, which date from the 1950s. Unfortunately, this would run to many thousands of dollars (even if it pays off in the long run, I have to buy groceries today).

Virginia has no tax credits for things like that that I'm aware of, but it wouldn't help anyway--generally, you can only claim those credits if you itemize deductions, and we don't make enough to make that worthwhile. (Tax lawyers feel free to correct me.)

Likewise, I received no tax credit when we replaced our 20 mpg minivan with a 50 mpg Prius, because the Prius was used, nor for the roof and insulation improvements on the house, which keeps the house much cooler in the summer.

All these things have saved us money (we figure the Prius saves us $1500 per year in gas), but we would be willing to do much more if it was financially feasible, or even financially neutral.

Well, I'm a regular poster at the mommy blog, but Sunday's wonderful article brought me here...

I live in a cohousing neighborhood (www.cohousing.org), which is a variety of intentional community that is closer to a suburb than to Earthaven-- but is still much more environmental than a traditional suburb. We have privately-owned homes and a commonly-owned large clubhouse/commonhouse. Everything is pedestrian-oriented (cars at the periphery) and is based on having real relationships with your neighbors (though still with private homes to retreat to). Although having a supportive community around is the main point, we are also much more environmental. The fact that we have a nice commonhouse with guest bedrooms, a kids' playroom, a large great room for parties, etc. means that our own house can be much smaller. We moved from a 2400 square foot house to an 1800 square foot house and feel that our smaller home works much better for us.

Unlike Earthaven, we feel that living in cohousing makes life much easier as well as more environmental. Our kids go to preschool 5 days a week, but because of carpooling with 2 other families we only have to drive 3 out of the 10 trips. We swap childcare, meals, and often pick up items for each other at the store so that they don't have to get in the car just to get eggs. We have a CSA that delivers farm-fresh veggies to our neighborhood every week. We are large enough to create a market and so the farmers come to us. Best of all, we live next door to some of our best friends, and have impromptu parties all the time.

This kind of neighborhood is unusual in America, but very common in other parts of the world. In Denmark, 20-30% of the population lives in a cohousing neighborhood.

bc- That's what I get for repeating what I think I hear on TV. The commentators on yesterdays NASCAR race seemed to be authourative, though I may have misunderstood what they were saying as I was elbows deep in the scrum around food table fighting towards the potato salad.

Dooley, you have hit the nail on the head for a lot of us. Saving energy, making the changes to be the most efficient costs big bucks. Up here the government used to have a $1000 credit program in place, BUT you had to have your home assessed before and after for consumption to qualify, total cost of the two inspections, about $600. No previous upgrades counted because it was tied to the insepction. So the windows, doors, funace, hot water heater, lighting, attic insulation, all done before the program was announced would never qualify. There are no tax credits, no other program to encourage people to do it, other than the soaring prices of energy.

psst, bc I was listening as well then noted the show is on tomorrow. Great minds think alike - hehehe.

I couldn't help but notice the juxtaposition: Joel's feature about Earth Haven and the photo and cutline in this weekend's paper about the annual ceremony at our local University of the Incarnate Word, occurring this past week, during which the juice is turned on for more than a million lightbulbs across campus--holiday lights.

Then there's nearby Valero Energy and the lighting of trees on its corporate campus, the cypresses on the River Walk draped in strand after strand of multi-colored bulbs, numerous examples of residential excess in terms of seasonal light displays.

What hath Thomas Alva Edison wrought? *wink, I think* To splurge or to conserve, that is the question?

bc;

You'd think NASCAR, with its roots, would positively go nuts over alcohol-based fuels!

:-)

Howard Kurtz includes an interesting (if rather predictable and depressing) item today:

__________________________
"Glenn Beck at CNN interviewing the first Muslim congressman in American history says, 'Prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.' It's a pretty amazing thing to say. The obvious question I would have for Glenn Beck, Prove to us that you are not working with our enemies.

"Never mind the impossibility of proving a negative. The enemies I'm talking about are ignorance, intolerance, racism. The enemies I'm talking about are the people that don't want us to have a diverse, pluralistic society.

"In the same breath Glenn Beck insists that he has been to many mosques and has many Muslim friends. Let me be the first to say, I doubt it."

Would a Jew be asked to prove that his loyalty wasn't to Israel, or a Catholic to the church? I don't think so.
____________________________

*SIGH*

I'm not sure that most of us will conserve energy in any meaningful way until or unless we find a strong leader to inspire us (a Carter-type in a sweater isn't going to cut it) or a significant monetary incentive. We've gone from a weekly bath in our grandparents day to daily (or more often) long hot showers, from room fans or maybe an a/c window unit, to central air, even here in the northeast where it really isn't necessary. We are spoiled, but how much would we be willing to do without?

I certainly admire the people of Earthaven for their principles, but I wouldn't voluntarily do what they do. We have downsized our living situation, using less electricity and heating fuel as a result. But "S" now has a very long commute and so is using much more gas. Seems like you can't win.

Regarding "food with a face," last night I mentioned to my daughter that I had bought a fresh turkey from a local farm. She said she didn't want to know where it came from as she would feel funny eating it. She couldn't explain why there was a difference in her attitude other than that the bird grew up down the street and was a neighbor (I think she was kidding, but with her, I can never be certain).

Speaking of turkeys, I watched the show that Mudge recommended on the Food Network about frying the bird. It was hilarious. Not that I had any desire to fry one, but after watching what they went through, ladders, pulleys and ropes, fire extinguishers, etc., I'll never look at a step ladder the same way again.

And speaking of Mudge, you take care of yourself sir, please.

dmd, I blame it on the alcohol.
Shoulda known it - JA's ALWAYS on "No Soap, WaPo Radio" on Tuesdays.

Scotty, you're right, except that all the teams would want to distill their own sp-, er, fuels. Seriously, it makes sense for NASCAR to put stuff like Wolfe's "The Last American Hero" and the 'Southern 500' behind them from a Madison Avenue marketing per$pective... Though with big sponsorships from Anhauser-Busch, Miller, Crown Royal, Jack Daniels, etc. they *can't* be that worried about it.

NASCAR's technology is mired in the 1960s for the most part (note that a Cup car's rear suspension is based on 1960's Ford and Chevy technology, and they still use carbs for induction), they're not in a hurry to embrace crazy "new" stuff like fuel injection, overhead cams or alternate fuels.

Their first attempt to embrace some sort of significant technology update, the "Car of Tomorrow", is one *ugly* duckling, and has what I think is a big potential problem with the front end of the car under racing conditions.

I can't believe I'm posting that here.

bc

Mudge, for a guy not feeling well, it sounds as if you did a lot over the weekend, including the stint to the emergency room. Does the word "rest" have any meaning in all of this?

Diabetes is a full time job, if my information is correct. And you're still hanging in there with these other pursuits? Just get better, Mudge, and take care of yourself. I'm scolding, I know, but just want you to take care.

Scotty, don't watch Glen Beck, too much like wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy out there.

And the alcohol thing about NASCAR was funny, although some at NASCAR might not think so.

And thanks everyone, I do feel better, just still tired. The g-girl is a handful, and then some.

Pat, this morning we walked, and the sky was so cloudy, and those clouds were not trying very hard, there was success. And the lake was full of ripples as the wind lifted the water up as if to pull it up the banks. And the air was so cold, not crisp, but cold as if blowing off ice. The backdrop of all those clouds was greenery, and decay in the form of lingering bits of fall. There was a hint of hurry and rush in all this, as if a hand was pulling one from this mixture of cold, wind, and clouds, dictating movement, and erasing all the calm I once felt standing on the bank of the lake. I missed the calmness and peace I usually felt while watching the ducks, for even the ducks, were hiding this morning.

bc, Crown Royal is a Nascar sponsor, up here anyways not something I would associate with a Nascar crowd.

S'nuke: I heard that NPR will be running an interview of the gentleman you're referring to on the News & Notes segment, scheduled to air this evening at 10 p.m.. Beck's question is a reminder that people have mental schemes for people that hold different views than themselves. These schema are hard to accomodate and change, unless one spends the time to befriend and get to know different people. In the absence of this, people assume the worst.

Makes me want to watch "Good Neighbors" again.

dmd, I've been drinking a mix of Royal Crown cola with Crown Royal. I call it the "High King". Can you tell?

And yes, I'm using it to wash down my breakfast Moon Pie.

bc

Breakfast of champions, bc.

bc, I am thinking Crown Royal has a totally different marketing strategy in the US than it does at home. Your "High King" is rye and coke up here :-).

Warped minds think alike, jack...I was just about to type "breakfast of champions" and my keyboard died...

Loomis, re: "This survey conducted by the California Wine Club, named President Bush the 'favorite choice among wine lovers to have over for Thanksgiving dinner,' according to the San Francisco Examiner." He's a teetotaler so maybe they'd invite him because he wouldn't drink up all their wine.

And jeez looeez 'mudge, I hope you're feeling better. It sounds like you don't let it slow you down much.

The weatherman said partly cloudy, but we must be in the cloudy section. It is quite chilly here, the first morning I felt like I should have worn gloves and wished that the car would have warmed up faster. Dull and dreary, blah!

Cassandra;

Trust me, the only Beck I'm interested in is Jeff, and he doesn't talk.

:-)

"High King" is easier to say than "Royal Crown Royal". And if you asked for rye & coke down here, you're likely to get a piece of bread and a CoCola.

bc

Bad Sneaks, after what seems like weeks of grey gloomy weather so far this weeks predictions are for at least some sun - with luck it will head your way.

Any one with an older home check those attics you never know what you might find, including mastodon teeth.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2006/11/19/mastadon-teeth.html

ac in sj:
Loomis, re: "This survey conducted by the California Wine Club, named President Bush the 'favorite choice among wine lovers to have over for Thanksgiving dinner,' according to the San Francisco Examiner." He's a teetotaler so maybe they'd invite him because he wouldn't drink up all their wine.

I knew that--about Bush being an abstainer or a recovering alcoholic. What I didn't know until I looked into Kitty Kelley's book, "The Family" a little later this morning is that Bobby Koch, Doro's second hubby, is--or was--quite the Democratic, having worked for Gephardt from Missouri, and later Tony Coelho from Merced, which probably explains how Koch got out California way. I wonder where Koch's working Wine Institute office is located?

There was wine being served at the Twig Bookstore when Doro rolled through town last Wednesday. The woman next to me was offered a glass. I was drinking a red. She politely declined. Then the woman, with some insistence in her voice, asked "Are you sure?" The woman than had to explain that she is a recovering alcoholic. How sad that often we can't take a simple "No, thanks" for an answer.

What Mudge did in the way of trimming tiles, he could pretty much have done sitting on the floor off his bad leg.

That said, I'm surprised his wife didn't try and stop him or find some other activities. It does sound like she's a trifle addicted to the "honey do" list, come hospital or high water.

Boko brings up a very good point about wooden legs. That's why all peglegged pirates wear a parrot-- it's a counter-flotation device. A service animal, if you would.

Dogs do good work nowadays in that regard-- they'll fetch you a leg if you ask, and it's definitely easier if it's a stick of a peg to start with.
(Get a mature, trained and really salty one-- no chewies allowed anywhere around a wood leg.)

Just don't call the dog "Sharkbait."

Loomis, some cultures require food or drink be offered at least twice-- first refusal is often politeness in those cultures, not wishing to look greedy.

I could tell you stories of how I had to deal with "food pushing" before I figured out the system.
I think the pattern of "leaving food on the plate" to be polite is also a safeguard against further offers of food.

Being from a "clean your plate" family, it's interesting how I was driven to desperation to leave just one pea or something on the plate to block further offers of food.

In other words, I suspect the recovering alcoholic could probably have just said "yes, I'm quite sure." It's just a matter of cultural confusion over what constitutes politeness.

I've never had to refuse alcohol more than twice for the message to be accepted.

I'd like to see Mudge with a service Labrador or Newfoundland.

Newfoundlands are a bit supersized, drooly, and shaggy, but completely worth it for sea rescue ;).

Thanks for the Eurotrash reminder mostlylurking. The list is now up to one hundred. all '12 of them' indeed...

"all '12 of them' indeed..."

Assuming that we aren't all just Pat, posting imaginary comments about himself...

Or worse, Pat is a multiple personality and only one is actually blind. ;).

Yes, Wilbrod! I remember our visiting French friends finally confessing that they had many hungry and thirsty moments at our house after they politely refused our first offer of food and drink, expecting a second offer that never came. Soon they learned to accept any offer that came their way.

Yeah, I'm a little bit schitzo and maybe that's why I get away with paying only half price rush hour fare on the Metro?

Howdy, Neighbor! (You must remember that there is an embargo on France and things French here.) The cohousing idea sounds very sensible.

Beautiful sunny, blue sky day here. The weather folks are calling it a sunbreak, but it's lasted quite awhile, so I'm calling it a full out sunny day. More rain in the forecast, though. I'm off all week, my son is here to visit, so it should be a fun time.

Mudge, take care of yourself. My neighbor had cellulitis last year, and she suffered a lot from it. I need to lose weight - need to get out and walk everyday.

Howdy y'all. What an excellent story. It reminds me of my grandmother, who got off the farm the first chance she could, moved to town, and gave away her antiques. She didn't want that "old stuff". My dad put in central heat in 1950 and kept the house warm, remembering years spent in heatless upstairs bedrooms breaking the morning ice in washbowls. I keep the same house at about 65 degrees in the winter and we wear sweaters, but I understand the impulse (we're still using his 1950s windows, though, and despite repeated reglazing they haven't aged well, so I'd just be heating the great outdoors). I'm fighting the energy battle with running water and turning off lights, but my bete noir is all those vampire appliances. I wish I could turn off at least a few but there'd be open rebellion. Surrounded by Vampires.

Nicely done chat Joel, even though that "bc" person tried to push you off-topic.

Not that I would push a conversation off topic, but Wilbrod's "clean your plate" comment reminded me of the time I had dinner with a classmate who had a very traditional Chinese mother.

I kept trying to clear my plate to be polite. She kept adding more food to be polite.

I started to panic that I would explode, while she, I have since learned, kept wondering how much this skinny boy could eat.

My friend just watched it all while laughing to himself.

Sometimes the medical profession makes me berserk. I've had this long-standing (3 months or more) appointment with my diabetes guy for a quarterly checkup, I take off half a day of work, I have to drive instead of take the bus, so I incur a total of $22 in parking costs, I fight rush houre traffic--and he's not there. Instead, I get a pre-interview with a fourth year medical student. (She was very nice, very intelligent, took good notes--but she looked about 14 and was named Tammy. At least she didn't say, "Dr. Tammy," which would have made me laugh. I just have trouble taking seriously a 14-year-old named Tammy.) After Tammy, I got an intern, and had to repeat my whole story. She nodded and also took good notes --- and did nothing. (She was maybe...28? And I didn't get her name, which was possibly Indian and hyphenated. She apologized for my doc not being there, and said they weren't going to charge me for the visit. YA HEAR THAT, INSURANCE COMPANY????? I SAVED YA SOME MONEY, YOU TURKEYS. (I'm not fond of insurance companies; I know that will shock some of you.) Then they handed me a form and told me to go down to the Vampire Room to give them blood and urine samples. Have you ever waited an hour to give a urine sample? When you're already on three diuretics? I think I got a charley-horse knotting my eyebrow. "Here's your sample cup, Mr....hey, look at that old man run!"

Alas, Cassandra and Wilbrod, I would indeed have like to spend the day resting yesterday, but rest isn't in my wife's vocabulary. But thanks for the suggestion.

Curmudgeon, if you ask nicely SoC might be able to give you a nice note for your wife.

Or Ivansmom... I'm pretty sure making an ill man with a rotting leg grout n tile comes under the heading of "spousal abuse."

Meanwhile, take vitamin C (megadoses) and do as the doctor ordered.

"Resting", in the Husbands' Dictionary is defined as:
"Letting the man watch football or other sport of his choice on TV, in his most comfortable chair or bed. This should not be interrupted even if the man falls asleep. It is an integral part of the experience."

Wilbrod, you just described how I found my husband last night.

Cease And Desist Order

Complainant, Curmudgeon, averring that he has recurring cellulitis, which causes extreme pain and necessitates visits to an emergency room physician, causing different yet comparable pain,

AND averring that he has the chronic condition of diabetes, requiring quarterly medical review, in itself a form of torture and involving the repetition of his personal medical information to a succession of young women with white coats and clipboards, but no experienced medical professional,

AND averring that the previously mentioned physicians and assorted medical personnel all recommended various treatments including REST and RELAXATION,

AND averring that Defendant, Mrs. Curmudgeon, disregarding this explicit and specific medical advice, requires Complainant to continue home repair and installation projects above and beyond regular light household chores,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant, Mrs. Curmudgeon, CEASE AND DESIST from any demand or requirement of said home repair and installation projects, exclusive of any nautical projects the Complainant himself may wish to undertake. It is further ORDERED that Defendant, Mrs. Curmudgeon, allow Complainant to follow medical advice while at home by engaging in REST, RELAXATION and similar indolent and even somnolent activities.

WITNESS OUR HANDS AND THE SEAL OF THIS COURT.

In the chat Joel mentioned that Earthaven has a website. Here it is:

http://www.earthaven.org/

Mudge when you get your own blog you'll just ask your driver to wait for you while you visit the doc. Who will work for you full time.

Did anyone see this:

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlDC/the_revolving_door/breaking_vandehei_harris_leave_washington_post_to_start_new_multimedia_news_venture_47850.asp?c=rss

Everyone's leaving. You all heard that DVD is going, right? The Vonster?

Yikes.

Ivansmom, why aren't you Chief Justice of the Supreme Court yet? Got my vote!

(Er...you're not gonna bill me, are you?)

From your comments at the end of "The Grand Idea" I know that David von Drehle is a friend of yours, so I am sorry to hear that he will be leaving the Post.

And even if you, yourself, should one day end up somewhere else, fear not. You have a solid fan base.

I mean, we will find you.

We have our ways.

Rest easy, Mudge.

I'll run a tab.

I hadn't heard about DVD.

Plus this.

Yikes indeed.

bc

PS I did *not* try to push the chat off topic, I was just sharing some of my strategies for reducing my energy shoe size.

One excellent way to save energy is to never slow down, once moving.

DVD is leaving? Does this mean that you will now be unable to associate except in dark little bars in out of the way corners, and even then you will have to wear sunglasses, a geeky looking hat, and possibly one of those fake mustaches, just in case anyone notices 2 internationally known writers?

Joel, as long as YOU stay, the rest of us will be okay.

Say, are you okay? You are, aren't you?

We don't want anything to happen to you!

bc - Hmm, I guess you are correct. The random sampling of television could be considered a legitimate method for reducing power usage. I might try it tonight while my wife tries to watch "Two and a Half Men."

Of course, before I do this, I should ask Mudge to recommend a good doctor because I will, like, need it.

dr, what you're describing in your 3:37 is a typical BPH.

Ohmygosh, common sense has broken out!

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/16060836.htm

Oooooh, you beat me to it, anonymous poster!!!! *shaking fist*

:-)

Anonymous poster is of course one of Pat's many unnamed multiple personalities. I suggest A.P. Hill as a nickname.

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/Simpson/Dna.htm

University of Missouri-Kansas City website.

O.J.: Deoxyribose nucleic acid

Re the 3:49, Well its about time. The ordinary and sensible of the world strike a blow for the common good.

Mudge, I never thought of that. Be aware,the guy in the geeky hat, with the flyaway hair might just be the boss.

Did anyone notice how he worked his hair into the chat? Smooth move, I say.

And just in case any one missed this important event,

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2006/11/20/cup-fixed.html?ref=rss

BC won but Saskatchewan fans cheered louder. Louder than what you ask? We weren't playing, but that has never mattered before, we just cheer. Its not connected to beverage consumption or anything. Or so I am told.

dr, it was Grey Cup - its all about the beverage consumption.

'mudge: when I read "I think I got a charley-horse knotting my eyebrow..."I had to come to a full stop, I was laughing so hard. What a picture.

And I'm so glad they pulled the OJ extravaganza, though I'm cynical enough to believe it was because of the PR disaster and not because Mr Murdoch was as dismayed as we were.

Petty point of information -- there are several points in the article in which Joel or one of the Earthaven residents refers to using up so-and-so many watts in a day or in a year. From the usage, I deduce that this actually means kilowatt-hours (kWh). Otherwise, it implies that Joel is dealing with 7000 W refrigerators, which would surely not receive a favorable EnergyStar rating. If a fridge uses 7 kWh in a day, then it draws 292W, about 3 times a standard 100W lightbulb. We humans each produce about 100W of body heat at all times. When the fellow gets cranky about the computer drawing 180W over a weekend -- well, again, is that 180W for 48 hours = 8.6 kWh, or is that 180 watt-hours, meaning it drew 3.75 W continuously? Wasted electricity, yes, but not very wasteful.

The question came up recently -- is a laptop computer an energy hog, compared to a desktop? Well, my laptop has a 65W power supply. When the CPU is working flat-out on some intensive calculation, then it gets quite warm and devotes most of that 65W to computational activities (which means, it does lots of calculations and makes 65W of waste heat in the process). When it is not working flat-out, which is the case with most computers 95% of the time (roughly), power-consumption for both CPU and monitor is much less. I would deduce that the average laptop, unless it is doing something compute-intensive like compiling code, or calculating detailed infrared radiative-transfer models, or running a DVD, probably suck up about 1/3 of the power supply's capacity -- about 22 W. I think you will find that that is a lot less than a desktop computer. Most of the savings, however, I think is in the monitor. A desktop with an LCD monitor should be about the same as a laptop, but will use more power in running a cooling fan.

Somebody on Joel's chat mentioned disbelief that you can have a technological society that uses 1/3 as much power as we do now. Maybe. We can make lighting systems that are at least 10 times as efficient as currently (with LEDs) or about 3 times as efficient compared to incandescents using compact fluorescent lamps. We can dramatically improve our energy demands for transportation if we invest in intelligently-designed inter-city and commuter rail for most big cities, plus we centralize the pollution source (electric power plants) so that we can use immobile scrubber systems. We can design our buildings to have more natural light, so that we use electric lighting during the day only to augment natural light. We could design buildings with lighting zones so that we turn on full electric lighting only where natural light is insufficient. We could do a lot better, but it would take an investment.

A quick trip to the breaker box in your house can make you 'energy independent'.
Now, who's gonna do it? LOLOL

mudge mudge mudge - PLEASE take better care of yourself and your blue bottom! sheesh!

anyone hear about michael richards tirade? i'm absolutely shocked and sickened! this is even worse than mel gibson's anti-semitic tirade!

mo,
I heard about Michael Richards - that does sound bad and it's very disappointing.

Good articles about Alice Walker:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/19/AR2006111901048.html

solar energy:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/19/AR2006111900688.html

Arlo:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/17/AR2006111700448.html

mo, you always were very protective toward my blue bottom, and I thank you. Unfortunately, it's my leg that's the problem. But I digress.

Yes, I saw the Michael Richards clip. Very weird. For parts of it it sounded like it was part of the joke, but other parts you could tell he was off his rocker. And the heckler was nuts, too. Very disturbing. Supposedly Richards has apolgized--but that sort of confoirms that he wasn't fooling around.

dr, you folks got to get yourselves a sturdier Grey Cup, methinks.

Here's a link to the Michael Richards incident - really awful. Hard for me to imagine what makes anyone say such horrible things. He's such a gifted comedian, but I guess he should stick with the script. I'll never see him the same way, that's for sure.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/20/AR2006112000401.html

The anonymous post about OJ was from me. Soorrry!

I like to think of it as age related, sort of like needing bifocals, and Jimmy Carter sweaters, Mudge. Its just age related reapirs.

You might like this. Its a wiki entry and i hope the link works. If not look for the misadventures heading.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Cup#Misadventures

The original and real Stanley Cup is on display at the Hockey Hall of fame. Its too fragile to handle.

And another article I thought was interesting (oh no, goes the collective scream from the boodle). My sister asked one of our aunts how she got such a flaky pie crust - her answer was lard:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/mighty-appetite/2006/11/tubolard_virgin.html#more

As for me, I buy ready made, frozen pie crusts for my husband, the pie man. (I mean, he makes the pies in our house. I just eat them.)

Here's an EPA Web site on how to calculate one's carbon footprint.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html

Alas, ScienteTim and Joel, I'm about as pessimistic as I can be about this energy conservation business. Tim, a lot of what you suggested were good ideas--but they'll never happen in a million years. What we're basically talking about is entirely transforming our society--and that ain't gonna happen absent some sort of catastrophic event. Basically, the future I see is more or less Bladerunner. Very regretfully, I have to answer Joel's question, "Do we all have to live like hippies in the woods," the answer is pretty much yes. And it'll never happen.

I'm very sympathetic to the ecology movement and the energy conservation issues (I was the lead reporter on the very first Earth Day story back in 1970 or whenever it was), and have intermittent experience over the years dealing with some of these questions. And over time I've come to two conclusions: (1) strictly from a PR point of view, many/most of the advocates (the "Greens") of all these plans and schemes make for pretty horrible spokespeople for their causes. It doesn't matter how intellectually worthy or technologically do-able any of these things are; they are still tough, tough, tough sells. And when you marry a tough sell with a flakey spokesperson or advocacy group, you wind up with zilch. And there is NO repeat NO major, concerted leadership. (And don't give me Gore as an example.)
(2) The American (or world) public is about as ready to "see the light" and make all these major changes as the Iraqis are to suddenly adopt democracy because Arbusto wants them to. Ain't gonna happen, Jack.

mostlylurking. This Thanksgiving we shall be venturing, as is our custom, up the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. There, we shall consume baked goods prepared by devilishly clever local women who shamelessly embrace the culture of lard.

And it shall be good.

Mudge the history of the Grey Cup is much like the history of the Stanley Cup, the players get to take the cup around and celebrate, this results in much mischief and some fun stories and the odd kidnapping. Considering what the cups have been put through we are lucky they exist.

Oh, Padouk, the vision of a Pennsy Dutch Thanksgiving feast just gives me goosebumps. Instead of a tune cootie it's like a food cootie. Must be spectacular.

And yes, mostly, most (older) bakers and cooks know the secret joys of lard, as well as bacon grease. Unfortunately, as everyone also knows, lard and bacon grease are pretty much widowmakers. But what a way to go.

Grey Cup Trophy history highlights, first donated in 1909.

Short article from the Globe & Mail today, not the first time the cup broke.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061119.wspt-brokencup19/BNStory/Front

SciTim - I'm sure the "7000 Watt" fridge was just some of that literary hyperbole I've heard tell of. I agree, though, that the "180 Watts" comment is incomplete, although common sense would suggest your latter interpretation.

Personally, I like to translate all my power requirements into Joules-per-fortnight, because it keeps everyone on their toes.

Mostly, you just gave me a great memory of my mom, her pie crust was her signature, very flaky and she always used lard. Her butter tarts were famous, closer to your pecan filling that our traditional butter tart, she used corn syrup so they were slightly sticky, with raisins and walnuts and a bit of carmelization on top all inside a flaky crust.

As an aside how did you manage three links in one post - very impressive!

Actually Mudge, check with your doctors and their foodie people in the know. My dad's doctors and dietitians (Quad bypass) tell him that the more natural a product is, the better it is. Butter, ok. Margarine, not ok anymore. Lard, homemade, fine, purchased not so much. Absolutely no 'vegetable shortenings. Bacon fat, not good under any circumstances however, bacon with most of the fat cooked out of it, not so bad as you'd think. All that said fat is not the enemy, just a fellow you have to watch really close cause he's kinda sneaky.

My middle son has made actual from scratch pie crusts, as well as a filling made from real fresh apples. I am so proud, and it was very edible.

Curmudgeon, cellulitis is really dangerous, please rest until your leg is cured/at least not red. My brother-in-law was hospitalized four times last year before the infection was finally cured, and that was by having daily infusions of antibiotics for (as I recall) four weeks. Driving from home each day to the hospital. NO FUN!

Curmudgeon, please take care of yourself. You have never heard of/from me before but I am a regular lurker on this blog (when I have time)and you are my favorite blogger. No offense meant to the others, who are also good, but when I have to skim the blog for lack of time, I look for your name. I missed you when you 'disappeared'. As to your comment about hating to get old, you will never be old as long as you keep your sense of humor
and your sharp mind. I am much older than you (69 ) and I can tell you that being old is also a state of mind, though the body does do its dirty tricks. If you start thinking like an old man, which you are far from being, you might turn into one. So think young. All the best to you.

I see this article as part of the grand three pronged plan for a cultural shift on climate change. Challenges don't get any bigger, and it shares a lot in common with large scale religious conversion:

1. Discredit the unbelievers and the heretics. See for example, "Clouds are hard".

2. Extol the virtues of the faithful. In this regard, the Earthaven residents are like the ascetics.

3. Provide guidance and direction for the rest of us. Here's where, to continue the analogy, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Climate change will the ultimate litmus test on whether or not democracy works. Can a system of government that measures success or failure in terms of months or years succeed in addressing a problem on the scale of decades? Should be interesting. Hard not to think of the metaphor of the frog swimming around in ever-warming water.

dr, ha! I aspire to the high praise of "it was very edible".

SoC, I tend to think of it in terms of a Survivor for the lobby groups - each veying for their share of the pie $$$.

sofc, i think we already failed the democracy test badly with the katrina disaster - knowing for decades the risk of a large hurricane to the new orleans levees and doing nothing about it.

i'm afraid the energy situation won't be any different, except that the economic risks of depending on oil from certain nations might force us to change before a full-scale environmental disaster. let us hope.

Ah, Nameless, Nameless. Have I ever mentioned I've always loved older women?

LA Lurker, I prefer to think that the response to Katrina was a failure of leadership, not a failure of democracy. Surely it would have been better, if James Lee Witt had still been at FEMA. Sometimes baseline competence is just simply necessary. I notice that this particular failure has had an impact on the administration. Imagine that.

De-Juiced
http://blogs.philly.com/blinq/
Another interesting take on how *Fox Kills OJ Special* (as it's referenced on the front page)--with all the negative press, who would buy commercials anyway, and now Fox has the publicity without having to air it.

John Grogan's column on global warming and the energy crisis. http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/16055481.htm

Don't know how coherent this will be (full day @ work), but I think we're separated from more than other people. I believe many people are separated from their authentic selves. You (many people) set a goal of x dollars, or y title at work without realizing what the true cost is. Then because you have little or no leisure, you're always driven, our society pushes consumption as the thing which will make you feel better. They tell you that's why you do it all, to end up with *all this stuff* (sorry, Steve Martin in *My Blue Heaven* flashback) in exchange for your life. It takes more space to store, creates more trash and requires needless energy expenditure to produce.

You can never get enough of what you don't really want. (One of my 2 mottos to live by)

I turned down a promotion today. I had worked towards it for