Friday, November 29, 2002
Does it strike anyone else that the Radiohead's album Kid A is a symphony? Like most symphonies, you can listen to a single movement and enjoy it, but it is so much more cohesive than a collection of songs. Pink Floyd's albums, especially Dark Side of the Moon, is somewhat symphonic, but not in the way that Radiohead does it. I think it is the incredible depth of their music, the fact that it isn't so much "rock music" as it is abstract expressionist.
Not that I am dissing Pink Floyd in any way whatsoever.
Not that I am dissing Pink Floyd in any way whatsoever.
"Down New Mexico way
something about
the open road
I knew that he was
looking for some Indian Blood and
find a little in you find a little
in me we may be
on this road but
we're just
Impostors
in this country you know....
I don't know what
takes hold
out there in the
desert cold...."
A Sorta Fairytale, Tori Amos
Now that I'm contemplating moving across the country again, the affect of land and space has become important to me once more. During the time I was in New Mexico I spent a fair amount of time driving through the desert, through Arizona and California to the coast, up to Flag or up to Santa Fe and even Taos. And I must say that the desert and the mountains have a qualitatively different feel to them that doesn't just amount to scenery. I've always been a road dog, and driving through the desert with the Navajo station on, drums thumping as the car eats mile after mile of desert ribbon is not the same. Not the same as anything else. This changed me, and I wonder what the green of Oregon will do for me.
Illinois--Chicago--is still home, and no matter where I go I can't feel the same as I do walking down Broadway or Devon, and so I am already starting to feel a weight as I prepare to leave. The fact that no place has ever felt so comfortable as Chicago is not something I understand. I grew up outside of the city, even if it was near. I didn't go to school here, and I am leaving it with only some reluctance. I have been to Europe, to many states, to tropics and deserts and mountains. But nothing feels like home the way Chicago does, and it always has, ever since I was a small child.
I'll be back.
something about
the open road
I knew that he was
looking for some Indian Blood and
find a little in you find a little
in me we may be
on this road but
we're just
Impostors
in this country you know....
I don't know what
takes hold
out there in the
desert cold...."
A Sorta Fairytale, Tori Amos
Now that I'm contemplating moving across the country again, the affect of land and space has become important to me once more. During the time I was in New Mexico I spent a fair amount of time driving through the desert, through Arizona and California to the coast, up to Flag or up to Santa Fe and even Taos. And I must say that the desert and the mountains have a qualitatively different feel to them that doesn't just amount to scenery. I've always been a road dog, and driving through the desert with the Navajo station on, drums thumping as the car eats mile after mile of desert ribbon is not the same. Not the same as anything else. This changed me, and I wonder what the green of Oregon will do for me.
Illinois--Chicago--is still home, and no matter where I go I can't feel the same as I do walking down Broadway or Devon, and so I am already starting to feel a weight as I prepare to leave. The fact that no place has ever felt so comfortable as Chicago is not something I understand. I grew up outside of the city, even if it was near. I didn't go to school here, and I am leaving it with only some reluctance. I have been to Europe, to many states, to tropics and deserts and mountains. But nothing feels like home the way Chicago does, and it always has, ever since I was a small child.
I'll be back.
Cool new pictures of my trip to Oregon! Check them out. The beach shots are especially cool.. These are the promised pictures with starfish and sea anemones and blue herons.
Friday, November 22, 2002
If we can only find a shovel, our trials will be over.
Second best is only hard without pudding.
Don't ever let a penguin convince you to purchase unwanted real estate.
The only color worth saving is red.
Cats are a leading cause of gum disease.
None of the following are true: soap, ping pong, Appleton.
No one ever apologized for eating glass.
Second best is only hard without pudding.
Don't ever let a penguin convince you to purchase unwanted real estate.
The only color worth saving is red.
Cats are a leading cause of gum disease.
None of the following are true: soap, ping pong, Appleton.
No one ever apologized for eating glass.
Thursday, November 21, 2002
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
I was just doing a quick little blurb on Dandelions for a friend and I was struck again by how *cool* they are.
Those of you who know me well realize that I have a complete and utter lack of what would commonly be called "school spirit". So the following outburst will probably be the one and only direct expression of excitement or fraternity-style cheering that you are likely to see from me:
*ahem.* Excuse me.
WOO HOO! U OF I! U OF I!!! GOOOO ILLINOIS!
Thank you.
*ahem.* Excuse me.
WOO HOO! U OF I! U OF I!!! GOOOO ILLINOIS!
Thank you.
Monday, November 18, 2002
Cartoon of the day. Hopefully, I will have a link here soon that shows the AWESOME pictures of the Oregon coast that we got today. I ate wild blueberries! Saw a blue heron and starfish and sea anemones! And we gathered *fresh mussels* and steamed 'em. Yum!
Saturday, November 16, 2002
From the BBC website:
Many scientists think it is physically impossible for homeopathy to work - but new research suggests how remedies might be having an effect.
Many homeopathic treatments take ingredients and then dilute them in water many times over.
In some cases, it is believed that the more times a remedy is diluted, the more potent it becomes.
This flies in the face of established scientific wisdom, which states that diluting a liquid will weaken its effects.
In fact, it has been calculated that some of the degrees of dilution involved in homeopathy mean there is unlikely to be even a single molecule of the original ingredient still present in a dose.
However, research reported in New Scientist magazine claims to have found a curious phenomenon which might challenge this belief.
It doesn't prove homeopathy, but it's congruent with what we think and is very encouraging
Dr Peter Fisher, Royal London Homeopathic Hospital
A team of chemists from South Korea found that dissolved molecules do not simply spread out in a regular fashion in the solution.
Instead, the team found, they tend to clump together in bigger clusters of molecules - and then as even bigger lumps composed of these clusters.
This would suggest that a heavily diluted homeopathic remedy might by chance contain more of the "active" ingredient than expected.
German chemist Kurt Geckeler, part of the team at the Kwangju Institute of Science of Technology, said: "We want people to confirm it.
"If it's confirmed it will be groundbreaking."
The level of dilution tested by the scientists corresponded only to the more "concentrated" solutions used by homeopaths, perhaps diluted only six-fold rather than to "infinity", as in some preparations.
Dr Peter Fisher, the director of medical research at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, said: "The whole idea of high-dilution homeopathy hangs on the idea that water has properties which are not understood.
"The fact that the new effect happens with a variety of substances suggests it's the solvent that's responsible.
"It doesn't prove homeopathy, but it's congruent with what we think and is very encouraging."
Acid test
However, it is unlikely to convince some of the scientists who are firmly against homeopathy.
This is because clinical trials have so far failed to provide clear evidence that homeopathy can work better than simply giving the patient an ingredient-free placebo.
If it's confirmed it will be groundbreaking
Kurt Geckeler, researcher
Some trials have given homepathy a slight advantage, while others have shown the reverse.
A review of all of these in 1997 slightly favoured homeopathy, but did not find a margin of proof likely to satisfy the majority of doctors that such treatments are worthwhile.
Professor Edzard Ernst, an expert in complementary medicine based at the University of Exeter, said that he hoped that large scale clinical trials could be set up to settle the question once and for all.
He told BBC News Online: "The evidence in my book - as somebody who tries to be between the two groups - is not convincing.
"I think the overall success of homeopathy is comparable with something like non-steroidal anti inflammatory creams - which are sold all over the place.
"The size of any effect they produce is very very small."
Other theories
Other teams have attempted in the past to find some scientific reasoning behind the possible effects of homeopathy.
One oft-quoted theory is the "memory of water" concept, which suggests that even if a solution is so dilute that it is unlikely a molecule of the original ingredient is present, the water itself may retain an "imprint" of it.
This "imprint" might be able to have a physical effect on the body, it was suggested.
This theory was given a little credence by work which suggested that such "imprinting" might take place - although the evidence of this persisted for only a matter of milliseconds.
The research reported in New Scientist was also published in the journal Chemical Communications.
See also:
25 Jun 00 | Health
Doctors support acupuncture
30 Dec 00 | Health
Prince calls for alternative research
31 Aug 98 | Health
Alternative approach to tackling migraine misery
Internet links:
New Scientist
Research Council for Complementary Medicine
University of Exeter - complementary health studies
Many scientists think it is physically impossible for homeopathy to work - but new research suggests how remedies might be having an effect.
Many homeopathic treatments take ingredients and then dilute them in water many times over.
In some cases, it is believed that the more times a remedy is diluted, the more potent it becomes.
This flies in the face of established scientific wisdom, which states that diluting a liquid will weaken its effects.
In fact, it has been calculated that some of the degrees of dilution involved in homeopathy mean there is unlikely to be even a single molecule of the original ingredient still present in a dose.
However, research reported in New Scientist magazine claims to have found a curious phenomenon which might challenge this belief.
It doesn't prove homeopathy, but it's congruent with what we think and is very encouraging
Dr Peter Fisher, Royal London Homeopathic Hospital
A team of chemists from South Korea found that dissolved molecules do not simply spread out in a regular fashion in the solution.
Instead, the team found, they tend to clump together in bigger clusters of molecules - and then as even bigger lumps composed of these clusters.
This would suggest that a heavily diluted homeopathic remedy might by chance contain more of the "active" ingredient than expected.
German chemist Kurt Geckeler, part of the team at the Kwangju Institute of Science of Technology, said: "We want people to confirm it.
"If it's confirmed it will be groundbreaking."
The level of dilution tested by the scientists corresponded only to the more "concentrated" solutions used by homeopaths, perhaps diluted only six-fold rather than to "infinity", as in some preparations.
Dr Peter Fisher, the director of medical research at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, said: "The whole idea of high-dilution homeopathy hangs on the idea that water has properties which are not understood.
"The fact that the new effect happens with a variety of substances suggests it's the solvent that's responsible.
"It doesn't prove homeopathy, but it's congruent with what we think and is very encouraging."
Acid test
However, it is unlikely to convince some of the scientists who are firmly against homeopathy.
This is because clinical trials have so far failed to provide clear evidence that homeopathy can work better than simply giving the patient an ingredient-free placebo.
If it's confirmed it will be groundbreaking
Kurt Geckeler, researcher
Some trials have given homepathy a slight advantage, while others have shown the reverse.
A review of all of these in 1997 slightly favoured homeopathy, but did not find a margin of proof likely to satisfy the majority of doctors that such treatments are worthwhile.
Professor Edzard Ernst, an expert in complementary medicine based at the University of Exeter, said that he hoped that large scale clinical trials could be set up to settle the question once and for all.
He told BBC News Online: "The evidence in my book - as somebody who tries to be between the two groups - is not convincing.
"I think the overall success of homeopathy is comparable with something like non-steroidal anti inflammatory creams - which are sold all over the place.
"The size of any effect they produce is very very small."
Other theories
Other teams have attempted in the past to find some scientific reasoning behind the possible effects of homeopathy.
One oft-quoted theory is the "memory of water" concept, which suggests that even if a solution is so dilute that it is unlikely a molecule of the original ingredient is present, the water itself may retain an "imprint" of it.
This "imprint" might be able to have a physical effect on the body, it was suggested.
This theory was given a little credence by work which suggested that such "imprinting" might take place - although the evidence of this persisted for only a matter of milliseconds.
The research reported in New Scientist was also published in the journal Chemical Communications.
See also:
25 Jun 00 | Health
Doctors support acupuncture
30 Dec 00 | Health
Prince calls for alternative research
31 Aug 98 | Health
Alternative approach to tackling migraine misery
Internet links:
New Scientist
Research Council for Complementary Medicine
University of Exeter - complementary health studies
Two cool links.
One is useful and socially relevant.
One is just neat.
Today I went to the Eugene Saturday Market, which was extremely cool. As I said to my friend Emily as we were leaving, "So, Eugene is basically one big hippie town, right?" And the fact that there were more tie-dyed clothes, hemp products, candle makers, and silver jewelry than you can shake a stick at probably had a lot to do with my statement.
But the organic vegetables were AMAZING. I left with a big bag of shiitake and maitake mushrooms (fresh!), parsnips, celeriac root, mixed salad greens, and a bunch of other yummy stuff. Then I went back to Emily's place and made soup with the chicken stock we had left over from the other day. (P.S. Put a nice dark beer in with your vegetable soup next time, especially if it has a lot of root veggies in it. Trust me on this one, 'kay?)
One is useful and socially relevant.
One is just neat.
Today I went to the Eugene Saturday Market, which was extremely cool. As I said to my friend Emily as we were leaving, "So, Eugene is basically one big hippie town, right?" And the fact that there were more tie-dyed clothes, hemp products, candle makers, and silver jewelry than you can shake a stick at probably had a lot to do with my statement.
But the organic vegetables were AMAZING. I left with a big bag of shiitake and maitake mushrooms (fresh!), parsnips, celeriac root, mixed salad greens, and a bunch of other yummy stuff. Then I went back to Emily's place and made soup with the chicken stock we had left over from the other day. (P.S. Put a nice dark beer in with your vegetable soup next time, especially if it has a lot of root veggies in it. Trust me on this one, 'kay?)
Friday, November 15, 2002
Thursday, November 14, 2002
My little sister gets to go out drinking with one of my favorite cartoonists. He's super cool and you should buy his stuff. Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind one of his books for Christmas.
I'm in Eugene, Oregon.
People--total strangers--here in Eugene, Oregon keep trying to convince me to move here. So far I've had three people I've never met try and argue Eugene's case. One even gave a valiant attempt at convincing me that Eugene was as much of a cultural mecca as Chicago (suuuuuure it is. But hearing her compare Eugene to Manhattan was cute. And she was a *very* nice lady, so if you need marketing in Eugene you should call her.)
I haven't seen too much of the landscape to know whether or not it's pretty. It's warm here, and I think the climate would be better than Chicago. Besides the fact that complete strangers are making me feel like moving to Eugene is like joining a cult (joooooin uuuuusssss....) it seems okay. The beer here is good. They sell spruce ale--an alcoholic beverage made with spruce needles--at the grocery store. This, and the presence of approximately 1.2 billion microbrews, is a good sign. Then again, I haven't yet actually *tried* the spruce ale, so we'll see. Maybe it tastes like turpentine.
But Eugene, Oregon is a long way from home.
People--total strangers--here in Eugene, Oregon keep trying to convince me to move here. So far I've had three people I've never met try and argue Eugene's case. One even gave a valiant attempt at convincing me that Eugene was as much of a cultural mecca as Chicago (suuuuuure it is. But hearing her compare Eugene to Manhattan was cute. And she was a *very* nice lady, so if you need marketing in Eugene you should call her.)
I haven't seen too much of the landscape to know whether or not it's pretty. It's warm here, and I think the climate would be better than Chicago. Besides the fact that complete strangers are making me feel like moving to Eugene is like joining a cult (joooooin uuuuusssss....) it seems okay. The beer here is good. They sell spruce ale--an alcoholic beverage made with spruce needles--at the grocery store. This, and the presence of approximately 1.2 billion microbrews, is a good sign. Then again, I haven't yet actually *tried* the spruce ale, so we'll see. Maybe it tastes like turpentine.
But Eugene, Oregon is a long way from home.
Monday, November 11, 2002
This should keep ya'll busy for awhile. SERIOUS English Witches. If anyone here has ever run across the silly people dressed in medieval garb calling themselves "witches" here in America , or ever had to deal with obnoxious Newagey crap, here's a reminder that in the Auld Country, they're NOT KIDDING AROUND. An interesting read is this one about the Celtic head cult (!)
Now, before I get any hostile emails from anyone, keep in mind that I am, after all, an herbalist, and I am not denigrating someone with heartfelt and spiritual respect for any of the many religious and spiritual paths that revere nature or that focus on embodiments of spiriitual forces as Gods or Goddesses (whew). What I'm talking about is the silly wankers who dress up in velvet and pompously declare they're "Magick", when really all they're up to is trying to get laid at the nearest renaissance fair.
Let's be perfectly clear here: I oppose any and all spiritual posturing. And this would include *you*, Mr. Pat Robinson.
Now, before I get any hostile emails from anyone, keep in mind that I am, after all, an herbalist, and I am not denigrating someone with heartfelt and spiritual respect for any of the many religious and spiritual paths that revere nature or that focus on embodiments of spiriitual forces as Gods or Goddesses (whew). What I'm talking about is the silly wankers who dress up in velvet and pompously declare they're "Magick", when really all they're up to is trying to get laid at the nearest renaissance fair.
Let's be perfectly clear here: I oppose any and all spiritual posturing. And this would include *you*, Mr. Pat Robinson.
I'm goin' to Oregon tomorrow, so who knows what'll be here and when. In the meanwhile, check out my friend Emily's website.
Sunday, November 10, 2002
Anyway.
So lots of TV watching in my household, as we've gotten satellite TV. For awhile, I boycotted it, but I've been sucked in. My show of the moment is the Anna Nicole Smith show. It's like being able to watch a train wreck in slow motion. And I have to say--she obviously adores her son, I think she actually *did * love her geezer hubby, and she doesn't fuck around. Okay, so there's the whole question (or should I say, obvious problem) of her painkiller addiction, but for sheer, mindless, entertainment, you can't beat an stoned Amazon diva lipsticked to the hilt and babbling incoherently. Or maybe that's just *my* idea of entertainment.
And for those of you who are hardcore herb geeks, this link's for you. Props must also go out for my girl Eva for sending me an awesome site on yarn, which sounds boring but is actually supercool.
The tune of the week is "Sweet Sangria" by Tori Amos.
So lots of TV watching in my household, as we've gotten satellite TV. For awhile, I boycotted it, but I've been sucked in. My show of the moment is the Anna Nicole Smith show. It's like being able to watch a train wreck in slow motion. And I have to say--she obviously adores her son, I think she actually *did * love her geezer hubby, and she doesn't fuck around. Okay, so there's the whole question (or should I say, obvious problem) of her painkiller addiction, but for sheer, mindless, entertainment, you can't beat an stoned Amazon diva lipsticked to the hilt and babbling incoherently. Or maybe that's just *my* idea of entertainment.
And for those of you who are hardcore herb geeks, this link's for you. Props must also go out for my girl Eva for sending me an awesome site on yarn, which sounds boring but is actually supercool.
The tune of the week is "Sweet Sangria" by Tori Amos.
Friday, November 08, 2002
Wow. Long time, no see.
Sorry about that. Those of you that know me understand the grand mitigating circumstances that made creating a 'blog the VERY LAST THING on my Priority List,.
Let it just be said that the cats of the world have lost a friend.
Sorry about that. Those of you that know me understand the grand mitigating circumstances that made creating a 'blog the VERY LAST THING on my Priority List,.
Let it just be said that the cats of the world have lost a friend.
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