Stuff I Can't Stand

I really try to keep my most seething hatreds in check. Most of them reflect badly on me, and I am very cautious not to burn bridges as a lot of times I end up being the one in the wrong.

But I have to start a list. Just to vent. I won't say much more than these are things I hate.

- the word GASTROSEXTUAL. "Metrosextual" was a confusing enough term (does it mean gay? Does it mean any guy that takes care of his looks? Can it apply to guys who don't live in Metro areas?) And gastro is a word that in most recent memory was attached to "gastric bypass surgery" which shrinks a person's stomach to hold approximately one half cup of food. Not the most beautiful word (it also reminds me of the guy from Monty Python's Meaning of Life who ate macaroni until he exploded.)

Just what I need-another weekend project!

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11293_7-6246557-1.html?tag=rb_mtx;wp_body

I have always been an audio bug. I really like radio, and have since I was a kid. My parents gave me tape players and records to mess around with and I got hooked.

So I wonder why I didn't realize the capacity of podcasting until now... what can I say? I'm a late bloomer. Also, within the past few weeks I have downloaded two radio programs-Punky Radio (funny, British and very punk) and OtakuNation (which left much to be desired.)

My first (literally) podcasting test is here. Click to hear the MP3 ( mine plays via Qucktime) or right click and "save link as" to download the MP3 (this was done using Firefox so other operating systems may have different wording.)

Note: The audio was recorded with a USB headset mic. Ben Merens was on in the background but the ambient music was downloaded from Flash Kit and was created by MACH NEW MEDIA at http://www.machnewmedia.com.

More podcasting for dummies.

More on eatin' weeds and 'shrooming

This morning I went looking for the elusive, delicious, rarity... morels.

From Wikipedia: "Morels grow abundantly in the two and sometimes three years immediately following a forest fire.

Although no symbiotic relationships have been proven between morels and certain tree species, experienced morel hunters swear by these relationships. Trees commonly associated with morels include ash, sycamore, tulip tree, dead and dying elms, cottonwoods and old apple trees (remnants of orchards). Yellow morels (Morchella esculenta) are more commonly found under deciduous trees rather than conifers, but black morels (Morchella elata) can be found in decidous forests, oak and poplar. Morels have not yet been successfully farmed on a large scale, and the commercial morel industry is largely based on harvest of wild mushrooms."

I did not find any.

BUT-it turned out to be okay. I found some lambs quarters and a whole field of garlic mustard.

http://dnr.state.il.us/orc/exotics/pdfs/GarlicCure3.pdf

And fresh catnip. Will be going back to collect more tomorrow.

P.S. Some great Morel Info. Also the MorelMasters are based in Southern Wisconsin.