It's the weekend so the usual avalanche of newsletters about the news typically delivered to my inbox on a weekday is absent, leaving me with more time to do nothing than I normally have available for such important pursuits. On the plus side, someone at the Federalist is working today and so I did receive a briefing from them.

Reflecting on how I can be rude to adults on the internet without repercussions. One of the reasons why I like the internet. I never liked (as I'm sure neither do many others) the whole 'respect your elders' thing. Bin Laden was older than me, for f's sake.

Weird. My Roku Ultra has appeared in the list of possible destinations for my cast from the Chrome browser. I'm not sure what specifically that implies, but I'm tingling with excitement.

I just remembered that I baked a pumpkin pie last Thanksgiving but I didn't get to enjoy a piece because it was all gone by the time I was ready to eat some. So this year I'm making 2 pumpkin pies.
I need to brush up on my crust-making skills so I'm going to make an apple pie today.

And the sky doesn't look as smoky today as it has been so my kid and I may actually be able to leave the house and breathe in some outdoor air this weekend!

-Teresa

(November 17, 2018 at 11:55 am)DodosAreDead Wrote: Reflecting on how I can be rude to adults on the internet without repercussions. One of the reasons why I like the internet. I never liked (as I'm sure neither do many others) the whole 'respect your elders' thing. Bin Laden was older than me, for f's sake.

Go to your room!!

Sipping some beautiful jasmine tea.

(November 17, 2018 at 2:13 pm)Tres Leches Wrote: I just remembered that I baked a pumpkin pie last Thanksgiving but I didn't get to enjoy a piece because it was all gone by the time I was ready to eat some. So this year I'm making 2 pumpkin pies.
I need to brush up on my crust-making skills so I'm going to make an apple pie today.

And the sky doesn't look as smoky today as it has been so my kid and I may actually be able to leave the house and breathe in some outdoor air this weekend!

-Teresa

Might I make a recommendation?

Sugar Pie Crust (2-9in)
Ingredients:
• 1 egg
• 6 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup butter, cut into pieces
Directions
1. In a small bowl, mix egg and sugar together. In a separate bowl, combine salt and flour. Cut in butter. Stir in egg mixture, then knead dough into a smooth ball. Keep refrigerated for 15 minutes.
2. Roll dough to 1/8 of an inch thickness and place it in pie pan; prick edges with a fork.

This is an incredibly easy and very tasty crust. I usually add about a half teaspoon if cinnamon when making apple or pumpkin pie.

(November 17, 2018 at 3:27 pm)Nakara Wrote: Sipping some beautiful jasmine tea.

Viewing some of your artworks (a week or so ago), bloomin' excellent I say

Spent the afternoon wrestling with an old heat vent that had to get removed so that I can install a shiny new one.

I think I'll change into something less dusty and toddle over to the Humanist Association meeting. Neil Carter of Godless in Dixie is the featured speaker tonight (not sure if live or over the Web).

Just got back from the monthly chapter meeting of the Humanists of MN. There was a panel of speakers composed of two city planners and one associated with a coordinating body that oversees the development of 181 separate cities in my region. They were talking in general about the business of urban planning and what they do to promote the sustainability and success of communities and cities in the region. It was an interesting talk, prompted by a ten year plan concerning the region and its cities which anticipates trends and realities likely to occur over a 20 year horizon. One of the most startling of those realities was that several years ago, one of the core cities in the region was ranked in the top five in disparities based on race, and how, unless that issue was addressed, it would undercut all our plans for a healthy and successful group of communities. I had known of the issue as a consequence of my discussions with my ILS worker, but I had not been aware of its extent and likely impact on my future and that of my region. In particular, rather than successfully addressing problems in access to affordable housing in our communities, many have either stalled or even lost ground in that fight. And the inter-connection between urban planning and the impending climate crisis was also a focus of the discussion. In particular I learned that, in the entire 100-150 year history of record keeping concerning such matters, 10 of the 15 worst storms ever recorded occurred in the last 15 years. Some truly alarming facts to consider. And all the while I was contemplating how to respond to Neo's comments about me in the Civil Discussion thread, a subject which is weighing heavily on my mind this evening. All told, not exactly the carefree afternoon I typically hope for my Saturdays to be. I did not stay afterward for the socializing that is scheduled for the time after the substance of the presentation had concluded. There were few familiar faces and I was not eager for confronting my social anxieties and shyness on this occasion.

All the way home, only one thought occupied my mind, besides the above mentioned topics. I dearly looked forward to having a fruit cup when I got home. Seeing that I haven't yet, I shall do so now.