.the gpb kids.

Frances + James TTD - Times Square + Coney Island

Posted by Mike - October 7, 2008 at 12:10:14 pm

Frances + James TTD - Times Square + Coney Island from StillMotion on Vimeo.

Mortars and Pestles

Posted by Jules - October 4, 2008 at 03:10:22 pm

I’ve had mortars and pestles (m&p) on the brain lately. Probably because I’ve been using them in lab lately. So Coors (yes, the beer company) also makes great ceramic products for laboratory use. The only types of m&p that I’ve used in both academic and industrial laboratory settings have been Coors ceramic mortars. I settled on a marble one for my kitchen years ago because it’s not readily available at your local kitchen store. At least not the one that I wanted. While m&p come in wood, stone, marble, and steel flavors as well, I feel that the ceramic non porous finish is best. It’s durable, non reactive, nonporous (aka stain resistant), and easily sterilizible. I’ve been making do with a marble one these past few years, but soon! I found the 275 ml size that I want being offered on Amazon. Sometimes I feel like they sell everything. Yay Amazon.

Oh, and what do I use it for? Mainly to crush pistachios to mix in with my vanilla ice cream. I guess I crush spices occasionally too. But mainly pistachios. It’s the best way to eat vanilla ice cream. Heavy on the pistachios please. Pre-m&p days, I would smash my pistachios on a cutting board with a hammer. Not so good for the neighbors, and with occasionally explosive results.

Biking down a Mountain

Posted by Mike - October 3, 2008 at 02:10:42 pm

BART

Posted by Jules - October 2, 2008 at 10:10:21 am

So I got on the BART this morning to get to school. For the next 3 stops, the train would start going, then lurch to a stop every 200 feet or so. Repeat formula. I was rather nauseous by the end. And I thought it was kind of funny how they never explained what the heck was wrong, even though the train clearly had some issues. Perhaps they thought that if they pretended it wasn’t happening, no one would notice the lurching stops.

On another BART note, I’d really like to get an ezrider card so I don’t have to keep on buy paper ones and stop to refill them all the time. I’ve been checking back with their ezrider sign up page. Supposedly they are going to open up sign ups again sometime this month. Woot.

Finally!

Posted by Jules - September 29, 2008 at 11:09:23 pm

After much delay, I am happy to announce that I finally got my lap top back after three weeks. Blogging shall resume shortly. I am reminded again just how dependent on computers I am. For now, good night!

Wrapped up

Posted by Mike - September 18, 2008 at 08:09:03 pm

Social Consciousness

Posted by Jules - August 30, 2008 at 09:08:29 pm

I was contemplating buying this shirt from anthropolgie, because it looks like something I would wear. However, the political tendencies of the the owner, Richard Hayne, don’t agree with me. He also happens to own Urban Outfitters. He generally keeps his politics well hidden, and supports only safe causes through his companies, such as breast cancer research. From his clientele and offered merchandise, you might suspect that he was a left leaning, anti-establishment, liberal, hipster type. Instead, I found out that he was a rather conservative republican who obviously understands marketing to the disposable-income-masses. He hires hipsters to find the new trends and set the tone. He has donated around 12k to the infamous has-been senator Rick Santorum. Granted, if you compare this  to his yearly take, 12k looks like chump change. In case you don’t know Rick Santorum was a pennsylvanian senator, popularly known for his anti-abortion, anti-homosexual stances.

Many of the women in my orchestra are fluid and openly lesbian. It’s a great orchestra to be in, because everyone is so warm and welcoming. When we were in florida for the music gala, we happened to pass by an urban outfitters. I started to wonder- would you support a store if you new the founders/ mission statement did not align with yours? Or would you continue to buy stuff because you like the style, regardless of who runs the corporation? I feel like there are many queer/liberal/left leaning folk who shop and work at urban outfitters near my university. I wonder what they think? If they’re aware? And if they are aware, what their justifications are? Something to ponder…

Meatless Cooking

Posted by Mike - August 26, 2008 at 11:08:56 am

Well, at least it’s easier cooking without any meat. Mmmm pancakes.

On being ovo-lacto-pescatarian just because he’s bored

Posted by Jules - August 25, 2008 at 11:08:35 pm

So mike has too much time on his hands, and wants to see if he can be a “vegetarian”. Who eats eggs. And dairy. And all seafood (do duck legs count as seafood? They do spend some time in the water, after all… just kidding. Really). Behehhe… And recently, he said that this challenge was just too easy. I mean, it’s soooo easy being a vegetarian. Who also eats eggs. And dairy. And seafood. So I think maybe he should try being an actual vegetarian, and see how hard that is ~_^ Yeah? Yeah?

Quick Post

Posted by Jules - August 25, 2008 at 11:08:37 pm

Today’s Stream of Consciousness: School is going to start in 2 days. Back to classes. Yay. I’m getting a bit stressed out thinking about grant applications, and qualifying exams. Argghhhh… time to start studying this weekend. We just had our first departmental graduate student meeting for the year. Apparently I am now a graduate assembly delegate alternate. If it’s interesting, I may go to all the meetings, regardless of whether or not the other PMB delegate is there. I’ve never been a part of student government. Last year they successfully lobbied for a vision plan to be part of SHIP, which is huge. Previously, we only had dental and health. I’m curious as to what they’ll focus on this year.

Today’s movie: Be Kind Rewind (mike watched, I only half paid attention. But it seems like an entertaining movie. I am just easily distracted today)

Today’s bedtime reading: The God of Small Things (I was vacillating between this book and The God Delusion in the bookstore. Not that they are in any way related in either subject matter or.. anything else, for the matter. Well, other than ‘God’ in the title)

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