I saw this posted on CrafyPod. While it’s focus is on reading craft blogs, the tricks can be applied to any blogs you read. I love sorting everything by folders. I never realized you could find out information about your own blog, nor did I ever think of actually tagging posts before.
Google Reader Tricks for Craft Bloggers from Diane Gilleland on Vimeo.
I went to bed knowing there was an issue after seeing it posted on Scalzi’s blog, and having a fan question where the WoT books went on Twitter. But, really, I thought it was a technical glitch with bad timing. I emailed someone at work an fyi and left it at that. This morning I woke up to this:
Amazon Pulls Macmillan Books Over E-Book Price Disagreement
I’m going to second what Patrick said on Making Light:
Tor is part of Macmillan, but I have no more idea what’s actually going on than you do. And yes, I’m not thrilled with that fact.
And now I have a headache. Oof. So, I’ll leave you with this:
A Quick Note On eBook Pricing and Amazon Hijinx
Update: CEO John Sargent has issued a statement.
Tobias Buckell has an interesting post up on SFWA.
Update: Amazon Concedes on Electronic Book Pricing
And some great posts from Scazli and Westerfeld.
Cindy posted a new template on her scherenschnitte blog, so I gave it a try. I cut it out three times for practice and added a hat to one of the cats. And of course I arranged them here in sort of a scene. :P
You can download the template to try yourself here.
Ooh, and check this out: Now Available! Paper Cuts: 35 Inventive Projects
I am so gonna have to make that alice project!
Oh like this wasn’t expected. Ever since a certain someone posted this on her Facebook wall I’ve been listening to it nonstop. :P
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros official site | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
I got a bread machine for Christmas. Woot! I asked for it because store bought gluten-free bread is not only expensive, it’s pretty gross tasting (at least by what I’ve tried so far). The consistency is cardboard. I picked out the Breadman because it has a gluten-free setting. I also like that it has a little bit of a space pod feel to it. :P
What I’ve discovered though is that making bread is more like an alchemist project than cooking. And with gluten-free bread, it’s even more complex! My first two loaves came out complete fiascos. But the third, well that’s what you see here:
I probably should’ve wiped the extra flour off before I photographed it, eh? :P Anyway, It’s a cinnamon raisin bread made from bean flours and no yeast. I got the recipe from The Gluten-Free Gourmet Bakes Bread. I used the dark setting when cooking which is why you see some darker coloring spots. They look darker in the photographs than in person too.
Still, I may try medium next time and see how it goes. I went with dark this time because the loaves cooked so unevenly and left raw spots. Ick. This time though, it was cooked well all the way through. And man oh my, it tastes wonderful. I really thought I’d never get to have anything that tasted even close to real bread again. Guess I was wrong. :D
I’m SO gonna have to try to make pizza dough soon!!!
I finally caught up on reading back issues Experience Life Magazine and I came across an interesting article called Beauty Beware.
“99 percent of the chemical ingredients in personal-care products sold in the United States have never been tested for safety, despite research showing long-term health risks associated with some of these compounds. Here’s how to keep yourself looking great with safer, simpler, more natural ingredients.”
That statement pretty much sums the piece up. I’ve been spending so much time converting a lot of what I eat too whole/natural foods that it’s funny that I forgot about what I put on my body too. I went to the Skin Deep website and checked the safety levels of most all of the products I use. Wow, was I surprised by the chemical levels in things I use everyday, like face lotion and body wash. Egad. I had no idea.
I’m still working my through my product list but so far I’ve weeded out everything that falls in the 7-10 high hazard rage except hair dye. Not sure what I’ll do about that. Maybe try some natural henna? Who knows? Next I plan on using up what I have left that’s on the high end of moderate hazard. When they run low I’ll look at replacing them with something else. I’m not tossing everything since, you know, I’m not made of money. :P But my goal is to eventually move everything into that low end of the moderate level and below.
It’s been an interesting and enlightening process. That’s for sure
Here are some resources for more information:
WEB
BOOKS
I love this rendition of the dwarfs marching song from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Quirky, hypnotically cool. :)
Ruki is pretty much stoned out of her gourd here (Oh, dear me — I just used another dreadful cliché. :P). Yep. Catnip heaven. She stayed in that position for a long time too. Silly cat. Needless to say, she’s enjoying her evening. :P
Oh, and on a totally different note, I’ll add this one too:
That’s how she spent her Sunday afternoon. She crawled in and zonked out. Normally she only sits in there for a few minutes. Go figure. (Oh and ignore all the stuff behind her that I never got around to hanging up/putting away. I know, I know, months in the new place now and still no pics on the wall. I’m basking in the beauty of slooowww :P)
Oh, hey, Ruki just headbutted my leg. She must know I’m posting pics of her. Ut oh.
I’ve been lazy about sharing my posts from Cat ‘N Owl like I usually do on my Twitter account. So, I thought I’d just do a roundup of recent posts here:
Ta da. I feel less lazy now. :P
Have a happy day! :)
