Author Archives: bilborg

About bilborg

I am who I am, there's plenty of data on this site to tell you more. Briefly, I'm a husband, computer geek, avid reader, gardener, and builder of furniture.

Commercial news

By | |
1 Comment

I saw a Lexus commercial accidentally while watching Mythbusters. The context is appropriate because … I’ll return to that thought. Anyway, the takeaway concept is also found on this automaker page:

Lexus vehicles, now, and certainly in the future, could be powered by a whole range of different energy sources. Lexus Hybrid Drive can be used to optimize any power source, whether it’s an internal-combustion engine like we have today or some future power source.

My initial thought after dropping a bit of anti-matter into the fuel tank is … where’d the car go? Fast, eh? Or not. And now we’re back to Mythbusters, and why my immediate reaction to that statement was so appropriate to the context. The funny part is that this was one of the less-exciting non-exploding episodes.

*   *   *

Pfizer is in court to extend the patent-coverage of one of the corporation’s most lucrative drugs by several more years by claiming that it’s covered by a second patent that doesn’t expire until 2019. This would have an upward-enhancing effect on Pfizer’s revenues, but an additional (some might say “off-label”) effect of making Teva’s earnings limp along for about seven years.

I thought I had a funny joke about this topic relative to former Congressman Weiner (whose page is still up at the moment – oh, “up”, eh? There’s a connection, eh, nudge nudge, wink wink.) Something related to publicly available prior art … but any activities in the last couple of years certainly isn’t very prior.

*   *   *

Time to walk the dog. I’m on call for a few extra days, for several different reasons that seemed good to someone (else) at some time in the recent past. Between that and school, I’m actually pretty whacked. I might try to get to sleep before 11 tonight. Ciao!

When there are no tomatoes

By | |
2 Comments
Potatoes and zucchini

Potatoes and zucchini

When the tomatoes are still two or three weeks away, eat what’s coming out of the garden. So, some potatoes and zucchini, a couple of small serrano peppers, and an over-grown green onion (all that out of the garden) with a chunk of garlic and a bit of left over pork, all simmered together … well, that  makes supper and two lunches. Yow, and those peppers are HOT!

What? No, I used just two of the smaller zucchini, and about 1/3 of the potatoes. Going to have to think of more stuff, because unlike salsa, I don’t see zucchini as a breakfast food.

Eleven more

By | |
Comments Off on Eleven more

Our condolences to the families and units of these fallen warriors:

  • Capt. Michael W. Newton, 30, of Newport News, Virginia,died June 11 at Faryab province, Afghanistan,of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident.
  • Lance Cpl. Joshua B. McDaniels, 21, of Dublin, Ohio, died June 12 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Lance Cpl. Sean M. N. O’Connor, 22, of Douglas, Wyoming, died June 12 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Lance Cpl. Jason D. Hill, 20, of Poway, California, died June 11 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Staff Sgt. Nicholas P. Bellard, 26, of El Paso, Texas, died June 13 in Wasit province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Sgt. Glenn M. Sewell, 23, of Live Oak, Texas, died June 13 in Wasit province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Staff Sgt. Jeremy A. Katzenberger, 26, of Weatherby Lake, Missouri, died June 14 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
  • Pfc. Eric D. Soufrine, 20, of Woodbridge, Connecticut, died June 14 in Farah province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.
  • Pvt. Ryan J. Larson, 19, of Friendship, Wisconsin, died June 15 at Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Sgt. Mark A. Bradley, 25, of Cuba, New York, died June 16 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Spc. Marcos A. Cintron, 32, of Orlando, Florida, died June 16 at a medical facility in Boston, Mass., of wounds suffered June 6 at Baghdad, Iraq, when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire.

 

Zucchini

By | | ,
Comments Off on Zucchini
Zucchini from the garden

Zucchini from the garden

The zucchini – the smallest is 3/4″ diameter by about 5″ long, and the cup measure partly visible in the upper right corner yields more scale for your eyes. Good to harvest out so that the plant keeps working at new veg, rather than making monsters (which we’ve done in the past). Not much else to say – school work this evening after spending some of yesterday at work, and the balance of the day helping the folks from Cottonseed Glory set up Marcia’s new Handi Quilter machine into the evening. Marcia == v.v.happy! Ciao!

Save Ferris

By | |
Comments Off on Save Ferris
Roasting Panamanian

Roasting Panamanian

Yeah, there’s crappy news from around the world, but I’ll just keep trying to make lemonade. Or at least a really good cup of coffee. The bright spot in visiting CNN today was seeing a picture of the young Matthew Broderick, and thinking to myself, “SAVE FERRIS!”

On the coffee front, there’s Sweet Maria’s to help me with that. Tonight I roasted a pound of Panama Las Flores de Boquete using my Behmor 1600 roaster, profile P4, D mod. I let it run the full 23 minute roast cycle, and it took the coffee about a minute past first crack, which is right in the center of the recommended range for these beans. They’ll rest for the next day and a half, so my first pot from this batch is Friday morning.

While I could brew from this tomorrow, it’s generally been my experience (reinforced by the information from @sweetmarias) that the flavor of unburnt coffee really develops considerably when it’s rested for 24 hours or more after roasting. Yes, brewing from it tomorrow, it would taste like coffee. But on Friday, it’ll taste like really, really good super yummy coffee, and may stay on the upslope of flavor change for 3 or 4 days before starting on a slow decline. By then, I’ll be two days from roasting the next batch – I generally get 6 days or a week out of a roasted pound of coffee, depending on bean size and how much coffee Marcia wants me to brew. I can get a week of 10-cup pots from almost any pound of beans.

Be well.

June weather visits for a bit

By | | , ,
Comments Off on June weather visits for a bit
Potatoes and zucchini

Potatoes and zucchini

When I go out into the back garden after work, it’s a good time to let Lexi roam back there for a bit.  We’re concerned that she’ll discover and widen a rabbit gap, and make her great escape. So she doesn’t get unmonitored play time in the back yard. I suppose I should do something about that one of these days. Not today, but maybe in the fall. Meantime, the garden is becoming productive. Frankly, those potatoes look yummy. Red potatoes have always been more visually appealing, but fresh out of the ground is a world of difference compared to the dirty brown/reddish color of the store-bought ones. Count me as super-pleased on this experiment.

Today: the second day of June weather. Previously, we’d been “enjoying” late July weather, with overnight lows in the mid-80’s. For this week, we’re barely breaking into those temps for highs! And better yet, this is supposed to last for the week. If only we’d get a couple of good soaking rains.

Tonight: Relational Algebra and Relational Calculus: I sure know how to party, eh?

In Harm’s Way

By | |
Comments Off on In Harm’s Way

Our condolences to the families and units of these fallen warriors:

  • Cpl. Paul W. Zanowick II, 23, of Miamisburg, Ohio, died June 3 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Sgt. Christopher R. Bell, 21, of Golden, Mississippi, died of wounds suffered June 4, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Sgt. Joshua D. Powell, 28, of Quitman, Texas, died of wounds suffered June 4, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Spc. Devin A. Snyder, 20, of Cohocton, New York, died of wounds suffered June 4, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Spc. Robert L. Voakes Jr., 21, of L’Anse, Michigan, died of wounds suffered June 4, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Chief Warrant Officer Kenneth R. White, 35, of Fort Collins, Colorado, died June 5, in Khost province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered as the result of a helicopter crash.
  • Chief Warrant Officer Bradley J. Gaudet, 31, of Gladewater, Texas, died June 5, in Khost province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered as the result of a helicopter crash.
  • Sgt. Joseph M. Garrison, 27, of New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, died June 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Cpl. William J. Woitowicz, 23, of Middlesex, Massachusetts, died June 7 while conducting combat operations in Badghis province, Afghanistan.
  • Spc. Emilio J. Campo Jr., 20, of Madelia, Minnesota, died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
  • Spc. Michael B. Cook Jr., 27, of Middletown, Ohio, died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
  • Spc. Christopher B. Fishbeck, 24, of Victorville, California, died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
  • Spc. Robert P. Hartwick, 20, of Rockbridge, Ohio, died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
  • Pfc. Michael C. Olivieri, 26, Chicago, Illinois, died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
  • Cpl. Matthew T. Richard, 21, of Acadia, Louisiana, died June 9 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Pfc. Matthew J. England, 22, of Gainesville, Missouri, died June 8, in An Najaf province, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Lance Cpl. Nicholas S. O’Brien, 21, of Stanley, North Carolina, died June 9 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

 

Garden rising

By | |
Comments Off on Garden rising
The garden, 12 June 2011

The garden, 12 June 2011

Yeah, yeah, the lawn is brown and grotty – that’s what comes of 3+ weeks of no rain. I’ve done about everything I can do to bring the rain: Today I watered in front for about 5 hours, and I washed my car. In a little bit I’ll be barbequeing, which might just tip the scales in our favor.

The garden, though, is loving the hot sunny weather. The fastest-growing tomatoes are about walnut size now, and I’ve got some 6″ zucchini on those vines. The onions are doing well, and some of the peppers are starting to become fecund, as well. I think we’re going to have a bumper crop out of the garden this year. But only time will tell. Back later.

 

Hey! Potatoes!

By | |
Comments Off on Hey! Potatoes!
First harvest - red potatoes

First harvest - red potatoes

Yep, first out of the garden, just a few weeks after going into the ground, I’ve got fresh red new potatoes. These were literally hanging out at the surface of the soil – I spotted them when doing a bit of supplementary watering. And joy of joys, it appears we might get a small smattering of rain tonight – I hear the thunder bearing down on us. The radar confirms that rain is nearly here … but often it seems to split north and south, and miss us altogether. We haven’t had any rain to speak of in perhaps three weeks. All the lawns are brown. Anyway, I’m pleased about the potatoes. Now, back to Oracle database work for school.

More Zoë

By | | ,
2 Comments

Zoë Keating, last night. Two items of interest: First, Wil Wheaton introduced me to Zoë’s music with this blog post. Second, listen to Zoë talk about her music and play in Musicians@Google: WNYC’s Radiolab + Zoë Keating. In the latter, Zoë describes how the version of each composition gets selected for an album, and how that relates to what gets played live. When she loops and layers music so intricately, there are infinite variations for every work. I could recognize the bones of nearly every piece she played last night, but deeply appreciated the nuance and freshness of each piece. I’m so, so happy she added Annapolis to her tour, and I can but hope she returns to our area someday soon.