Old Brick

In August, I blogged (link, link) about the methods anthropologists use to determine the age of ancient ceramics.  

Here is an article about a brick from Roman times that turned up at Fort Vancouver. The brick may have been part of a cobblestone street or Roman ruin in Great Britain. Historians speculate that during Colonial times, the brick was recycled for use as ballast in an English ship that traveled to British Columbia. The brick is adorned with the paw prints of an ancient Roman cat that stepped in the wet clay about 2000 years ago.

To E or Not To E

No one ever said writing a novel was easy. Even choosing the right words can be tough. But it could be worse.

In 1969, a French writer named Georges Perec wrote La Disparition, a 200-page novel that does not contain words spelled with the letter E. Then Gilbert Adair translated La Disparition into English, also refraining from words containing the letter E.

This post has 340 characters. 39 are E. That is 11%.

Does The Cheese Stand Alone?

So, how was that applewood-smoked, paprika-dusted cheddar?

I'm going to rate it a resounding --- Pretty Good.

Smoked cheeses tend to taste like a tailgate party, but the smokiness of this cheese was more interesting that usual. Would I be able to differentiate between applewood smoke and some other kind of smoke, like maple or cherry? Unlikely. The paprika was mild, and I wished they'd used the spicier variety.

Was this cheese my favorite of all time? No.
Did I like it? Yes.
Who knew buying cheese could be so much fun?


Wasn't it only last week, that I resolved to keep this blog on topic?

A Cheesy Experience

Yesterday, when I was at the cheese section in the grocery store, a man I didn't know (not a store employee) handed me a chunk of applewood-smoked cheddar, sprinkled with paprika and told me it was great.

"If you buy this cheese, you'll remember me," he said.

My face must have had the Oh-No-Another-Grocery-Store-Crazy look because he said, "I'd better stop talking to you before my wife gets back." I edged away from him, the cheese still in my hand.

When I got to the checkout lane, the checker said, "You must really like cheese."

I explained how a person I didn't know recommended the applewood cheese. "I wanted to try some new cheeses because the family of a close friend started a magazine just about cheese," I said.

The look on his face was Oh-No-Another-Grocery-Store-Crazy, so I went on to explain it was an upscale magazine like Bon Appétit or Gourmet. This seemed to reassure him because he told me a story about a friend who, when visiting France, was served cheese with maggots in it. The maggots were supposed to be there as they were part of the delicacy.

When I told my husband about the maggots, he said, "Chimps eat maggots and are glad to get them."

I haven't tried my applewood cheese yet, but I'm sure it has no maggots.

Waving from the evolutionary tree ...

To Wear Pants or Not ...

The idea started in NYC. January 12, 2008 was the 7th annual pantless subway day. One Saturday each year, several hundred brave souls ride the New York City subways without pants. (Yes, they wear underwear.)

The trend is spreading across the country. Tomorrow (1-10-09) is pantless day for the Los Angeles subway system. Yep, that Commander Dan Finkelstein they interviewed is my very own brother.

Somehow, this event seems less meaningful in Los Angeles. The weather is warm, and winter fashions tend to show skin anyway.

If I lived in a place that had a subway system, I would not participate. I'd be home revising my novel.

Going Green for Christmas?

This morning on NPR, I heard that Black and Decker is going green. They developed a Heat Leak Detector. Apparently this device will detect small cracks and crannies in houses where heat escapes.

I could use this tool to great advantage. Imagine a scene where I demonstrate to the burly repairman why I think heat is escaping from a certain spot in this house. "See, you point the ray gun at the wall, and if the light turns red, there's a leak."

I wonder if The Detector could be used to find the place where mice enter our house. Yes, 'tis the season for small rodent visitors. My husband catches them in live traps, then lets them go in the woods. He leaves a muffin for their first meal away from home.

Everyday Experiments

Yesterday evening as I was driving through our little town, a pickup truck pulled into the lane ahead of me. The truck was piled with furniture, including a mattress. To be on the safe side, I changed lanes. Then the mattress fell out of the truck. The young woman driving pickup, backed up (in the street) to retrieve her mattress. I assumed she was a University student who was taking advantage of the plentiful seasonal garage sales to furnish her apartment.

Apparently, this student hasn't taken Physics yet.

The experiment was partially controlled. On the way home from my errand, I saw another pickup carrying a box spring, but this driver had tied down the load. The box spring stayed in the truck at least as long as I traveled near it.

Glad I Caught That!

This morning in an email to a school administrator, I intended to write, Thank you for your rapid response.

As I attempted to type "rapid" rapidly, my left index finger somehow landed on the v instead of the r.

Fortunately, I caught it before I hit send.

Argh, Me Hearties!

I heard (third hand) that students at MIT can earn a Pirate’s License by taking four physical education classes.
sailing
fencing
pistol shooting
rock climbing

I was unable to confirm this rumor on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology website.

I Get a Charge Out of You

Here are some electrons that are seriously misplaced. A Japanese firm, will soon market a 15-inch robotic girlfriend that kisses on command.

While I find this idea disturbing, a tiny female robot could play a hilarious role in a YA novel. Maybe next time.