(no subject)

Merry Christmas to them as do. To them as don't, I hope you're enjoying a day off.

For me, it's Day Three of "Kris doesn't have to write today yea yea". I have unearthed several months' worth of Vanity Fair and Harpers Bazaar and other magazines which need to be read. Filled a recycle bin with a two-foot stack of catalogs. I am now gearing up to start on the rump roast, which will be cooked thisaway. Yesterday, I baked lemon-ginger cookies, which I think came out very well. The only thing I will say is that despite what the recipe says about baking only until the edges are browned, letting them go longer, until they're light golden brown all over, won't hurt the final cookie and will, imho, improve the taste via caramelization of the sugars and all that. Still, a nice cookie that tastes like a sugar cookie with bennies.

In other news along the "Don't try this at home--whoops, too late," amateurs are getting into the bioengineering business:

In her San Francisco dining room lab, for example, 31-year-old computer programmer Meredith L. Patterson is trying to develop genetically altered yogurt bacteria that will glow green to signal the presence of melamine, the chemical that turned Chinese-made baby formula and pet food deadly.


Some of these folks call themselves "biohackers, innovators who push technological boundaries and put the spread of knowledge before profits." The pros and cons are discussed. Some say the freedom and lack of corporate and economic considerations could lead to important new discoveries. Others worry that lacking proper safeguards, an amateur could release a deadly organism that could cause disease or damage the environment.

(no subject)

Merry Christmas to them as do. To them as don't, I hope you're enjoying a day off.

For me, it's Day Three of "Kris doesn't have to write today yea yea". I have unearthed several months' worth of Vanity Fair and Harpers Bazaar and other magazines which need to be read. Filled a recycle bin with a two-foot stack of catalogs. I am now gearing up to start on the rump roast, which will be cooked thisaway. Yesterday, I baked lemon-ginger cookies, which I think came out very well. The only thing I will say is that despite what the recipe says about baking only until the edges are browned, letting them go longer, until they're light golden brown all over, won't hurt the final cookie and will, imho, improve the taste via caramelization of the sugars and all that. Still, a nice cookie that tastes like a sugar cookie with bennies.

In other news along the "Don't try this at home--whoops, too late," amateurs are getting into the bioengineering business:

In her San Francisco dining room lab, for example, 31-year-old computer programmer Meredith L. Patterson is trying to develop genetically altered yogurt bacteria that will glow green to signal the presence of melamine, the chemical that turned Chinese-made baby formula and pet food deadly.


Some of these folks call themselves "biohackers, innovators who push technological boundaries and put the spread of knowledge before profits." The pros and cons are discussed. Some say the freedom and lack of corporate and economic considerations could lead to important new discoveries. Others worry that lacking proper safeguards, an amateur could release a deadly organism that could cause disease or damage the environment.