Okay, so I hate grocery shopping. Which means that I do my best to avoid it as much as possible, stretching it out until I absolutely run out of milk. Which is basically every two weeks, if I'm lucky. The location of my store is nice, in that I can walk to it in less than 15 minutes. But I don't know where everything is, and I am convinced that they know ahead of time, somehow, what I am going to need that week, and are determined to be out of at least one item. Or at least not stock it. On purpose. Much like one of my sisters, growing up, would intuitively know what sweater I would decide to wear the next morning, and would sneak it out of my closet the night before. I mean, I didn't even know what I was going to wear until I got up, so how did she always manage to pick that very sweater the night before?
So yesterday Chickie and I went grocery shopping, mainly because I was down to my last 1/3 cup of milk. And needed other stuff too. And I think the people in the grocery store are starting to know me a little, mainly as "that woman who rants and raves about stuff." Which is probably not good, but they haven't thrown me out yet. Yesterday there was no whole wheat raisin bread. But, they also keep this on the top shelf, so I have to stand on all the other shelves in order to find this out. So not only do I look like a nut standing on the shelf (and setting a nice example for my 4-year-old), I am also a little peeved when I find out that they are completely out of what I am looking for. Which means I start verbally railing against the shelving and the other people who took all the bread. The only solution I can think of at this point is disco shoes.
So, at other points, I have also ranted and raved, while pacing in the aisle, about:
- The lack of pure maple syrup at this store. Sorry, I do not like fake syrup.
- My inability, after much searching, to locate the rice cakes. Are they with the snack food, the cereal, the popcorn, what??? Do they just not sell rice cakes at that store?
- They have a bakery department, which sells lots of kinds of bread and bagels. They do not, however, make or sell individual donuts. What is up with that? Especially when those are used by certain of us mothers to bribe our children into behaving at the grocery store.
- This store only sells red grapes. Also, they are not out with the rest of the produce, but are hidden away in a little dark inlet, as if intended for some secret grape-sacrificing ceremony, and not for public consumption.
I think those are the only things so far, although I'm sure there will be more in the future. That's just the kind of relationship I have with this store.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Long Live the Mycophycophyta!
I bet you have no idea what that word means, but don’t worry, I’m getting there. Mycophycophyta is the phylum name for Lichens. Since I took a Fungi course last fall, I thought I would elaborate on some interesting points I learned about lichens, since they really are pretty cool. Lichens, in case you were not aware, are a mutualistic symbioses between a fungus and either an algae species or a species of cyanobacteria. The fungus brings in the water and minerals, while the algae/cyanobacteria brings home the carbon compounds. Most lichens are 95% fungus, so the fungus gets to be boss and determine the shape of the organism. There are classifications based on shape, but we won’t get into that here, since that is not interesting to most people. However, lichens do not have any roots or absorptive organs, and live without soil, so they are dependent on rain for nutrients. This makes them very sensitive to pollution; so if you see them in an area, it is a good indicator of clean air.
Now for some interesting facts:
- Usnea fillipendula (“fishbone beard lichen”) contains usnic acid, which is a natural antibiotic. It has been used since ancient times throughout the world as a remedy.
- Cladinas are the lichens you see used for shrubbery on your grandfather’s train set.
- Parmelia omphalodes and P. saxatilis have been used by the Scots, Irish, and Laplanders to make dye. However, lichens only grow 1-10 mm a year, so these species tend to quickly become rare, and synthetic dyes are more commonly used now.
- Litmus paper is made from lichen.
- Due to the slow growth rate of lichens, they have been used to date rock surfaces (such as cracks caused by faults and shifting bedrock). Lichens have also been used to date surfaces when carbon dating fails. A minimum date is determined using the diameter of the largest lichen at a site. For more, see: Armstrong, R.A. (2004). Lichens, Lichenometry and Global Warming. Microbiologist, 9: 32-35.
- Lichens are also being explored as a natural alternative for herbicides and pesticides. Usnic acid, a product of some lichens, inhibits cartenoid synthesis, which bleaches the leaves of some plants (this results in a decline in chlorophylls and carotenoids). Synthetically created versions have already been used in creating herbicides. Other lichen products, such as depsides, barbatic acid, and lecanorin, act as PSII inhibiting herbicides, through the interruption of photosynthetic electron transport in chloroplasts. For more information, see: Becker 2001 and Dayan and Romagni 2001.
- Lichens are not poisonous, and can be considered ‘edible’, if, say, you are hopelessly lost in the woods and out of food; or dropped out of a helicopter by aliens with no supplies and have no idea what any of the plants around you are (and don’t go by what the animals are eating; their digestive systems are different than ours).
Now for some interesting facts:
- Usnea fillipendula (“fishbone beard lichen”) contains usnic acid, which is a natural antibiotic. It has been used since ancient times throughout the world as a remedy.
- Cladinas are the lichens you see used for shrubbery on your grandfather’s train set.
- Parmelia omphalodes and P. saxatilis have been used by the Scots, Irish, and Laplanders to make dye. However, lichens only grow 1-10 mm a year, so these species tend to quickly become rare, and synthetic dyes are more commonly used now.
- Litmus paper is made from lichen.
- Due to the slow growth rate of lichens, they have been used to date rock surfaces (such as cracks caused by faults and shifting bedrock). Lichens have also been used to date surfaces when carbon dating fails. A minimum date is determined using the diameter of the largest lichen at a site. For more, see: Armstrong, R.A. (2004). Lichens, Lichenometry and Global Warming. Microbiologist, 9: 32-35.
- Lichens are also being explored as a natural alternative for herbicides and pesticides. Usnic acid, a product of some lichens, inhibits cartenoid synthesis, which bleaches the leaves of some plants (this results in a decline in chlorophylls and carotenoids). Synthetically created versions have already been used in creating herbicides. Other lichen products, such as depsides, barbatic acid, and lecanorin, act as PSII inhibiting herbicides, through the interruption of photosynthetic electron transport in chloroplasts. For more information, see: Becker 2001 and Dayan and Romagni 2001.
- Lichens are not poisonous, and can be considered ‘edible’, if, say, you are hopelessly lost in the woods and out of food; or dropped out of a helicopter by aliens with no supplies and have no idea what any of the plants around you are (and don’t go by what the animals are eating; their digestive systems are different than ours).
Saturday, March 1, 2008
In Which I Become A Music Critic
I wouldn’t presume to review an album I hadn’t even heard yet . I’m not that ‘educated’ (or that stupid). However, I do consider myself to have a relatively wide taste in music, and having played flute, trumpet, and percussion from elementary school through college, I consider that I have had enough experience to not only know what I like, but to also have enough experience to know what sounds good and what doesn’t. Thusly, (thank you Bucky Katt ). I am going to expound upon a few things that bother me, which I think the music world should not only read, but immediately implement upon finishing the last sentence. Because I am a consumer, and what I say matters, so there.
1) Although, as a general populous Americans may seem stupid, and television shows and personal interactions may tend to confirm this, this does not mean that we also want our music to be stupid. If I can predict the end point of every single line of your song, then I don’t want to listen to it. I do not want to listen to something that I could have written, because then I would be the singer/songwriter/rockstar and you would be the environmental scientist (or working at your local fast food joint. Your pick). Most Christian worship songs are good (or bad) examples of this. Although there are some better ones out there (‘Grace like Rain’) comes to mind. But mainstream music has plenty as well, mostly in the pop genre, which I try to avoid.
2) This may be picky, but don’t make the lyrics particularly annoying. For instance, I am a fan of Feist in general. But the lyrics to “1234” bother me. Every single time. I mean, “One, two, three, four, five, six, nine, and ten/Money can't buy you back the love that you had then” What happened to seven and eight? Does she have a personal vendetta against those numbers? Or was it just that they didn’t fit in with the melody? Either way, I want to somehow squeeze them in whenever I hear that song.
3) Don’t just sing the same lyrics over and over because you ran out of things to say. Unless you are Radiohead , and it’s somehow being used to make a point. Or, in the case of Sons and Daughters (Decemberists) and it’s part of a very successful, very melodic round.
4) This may be forgiven in some instances, if you can get me to forget the lyrics in view of the music. For instance, and I have a hunch it’s the overwhelming baseline, but Finger Eleven’s Paralyzer does this. Even though they repeat the chorus over and over….
5) Call me picky, but not only do I want interesting lyrics, I also want interesting music. If the music is only playing the same melody line as that sung by the lyricist, then I am b-o-r-e-d. Put in a syncopation, a rhythm section, something. For instance, in 15-Step (Radiohead, In Rainbows), the song key signature is 5 (1-2-3-4-5), not the typical 4-time (1-2-3-4) of almost every other rock/pop song played today. Count it, conduct it (if you truly are a nerd, like me), it is. Amaze your friends (or not, if you don’t want them to call you a nerd. Unless they, too, were in marching band. In which case, they may be impressed).
So, I’m done ranting and raving now. Time for all you people in the music industry to go out there and change things. Simon says.
1) Although, as a general populous Americans may seem stupid, and television shows and personal interactions may tend to confirm this, this does not mean that we also want our music to be stupid. If I can predict the end point of every single line of your song, then I don’t want to listen to it. I do not want to listen to something that I could have written, because then I would be the singer/songwriter/rockstar and you would be the environmental scientist (or working at your local fast food joint. Your pick). Most Christian worship songs are good (or bad) examples of this. Although there are some better ones out there (‘Grace like Rain’) comes to mind. But mainstream music has plenty as well, mostly in the pop genre, which I try to avoid.
2) This may be picky, but don’t make the lyrics particularly annoying. For instance, I am a fan of Feist in general. But the lyrics to “1234” bother me. Every single time. I mean, “One, two, three, four, five, six, nine, and ten/Money can't buy you back the love that you had then” What happened to seven and eight? Does she have a personal vendetta against those numbers? Or was it just that they didn’t fit in with the melody? Either way, I want to somehow squeeze them in whenever I hear that song.
3) Don’t just sing the same lyrics over and over because you ran out of things to say. Unless you are Radiohead , and it’s somehow being used to make a point. Or, in the case of Sons and Daughters (Decemberists) and it’s part of a very successful, very melodic round.
4) This may be forgiven in some instances, if you can get me to forget the lyrics in view of the music. For instance, and I have a hunch it’s the overwhelming baseline, but Finger Eleven’s Paralyzer does this. Even though they repeat the chorus over and over….
5) Call me picky, but not only do I want interesting lyrics, I also want interesting music. If the music is only playing the same melody line as that sung by the lyricist, then I am b-o-r-e-d. Put in a syncopation, a rhythm section, something. For instance, in 15-Step (Radiohead, In Rainbows), the song key signature is 5 (1-2-3-4-5), not the typical 4-time (1-2-3-4) of almost every other rock/pop song played today. Count it, conduct it (if you truly are a nerd, like me), it is. Amaze your friends (or not, if you don’t want them to call you a nerd. Unless they, too, were in marching band. In which case, they may be impressed).
So, I’m done ranting and raving now. Time for all you people in the music industry to go out there and change things. Simon says.
I am Wonderwoman!
Okay, maybe not. But I do have superpowers. I knew from a young age that I had the ability to talk to animals, which was later confirmed in an on-line test. A quick google or yahoo search of on-line test + superpower will lead to lots and lots of free tests that will show you your secret (waiting to be unleashed) superpower right now. Of course, they may also want some personal information, so they can email you forever and ever about any other tests that you didn't know you needed to take right this instant!
Since becoming a mom, I have discovered other superpowers that I didn't know that I had. Like my superfast reflexes for catching things (food, toys, drinks that are ready to spill, open bottles of paint) before they fall off the table, the ability to forsee an accident before it happens, etc. Even more recently, now that my child is into craft-type things, I can no longer fool her with watercolors (who introduced her to 'real' paint?). So it happens that I have discovered I have the amazing power to remove BLACK paint from a LIGHT BROWN carpet. Even after it has dried. I am that good.
However, I do not have the power to transcend the parent-child time continuum of unquantifiable confusion, in that I have yet to be able to explain the term 'mad skillz' to my daughter. She wants to know 1)What they are, exactly; and 2)Where I keep them. If this is your secret superpower, please, come to my rescue!
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