Machine of Death
Five years ago, Ryan North published on is comic (Dinosaur Comics) published this comic, presenting an idea that caught the imagination of his readers, his colleagues, and the public in general. Last week, The outcome, edited by Ryan North, Matthew Bennardo, and David Malki ! (yes, he spells his name with an exclamation point one space past his name), was released and on the release day hit #1 on the Amazon Bestseller list. Partly, this was due to many of the contributor's pleas to buy the book that day solely to hit #1, but after reading the book, it definitely deserves that #1 spot, and I would encourage the world to do their best to get it back there.
The premise is simple: A machine has been created that 100% accurately predicts how you will die. It doesn't give you a date, it doesn't give you specifics, but it gives a word or phrase that, at least at the end of your life, describes your death. The word could be DROWNING, or CAR ACCIDENT, or OLD AGE. However, something like OLD AGE isn't necessarily fair game. OLD AGE could mean that you get shot by a bed ridden old person when you try to rob their house. The machine almost seems to delight in toying with the users.
What each author does with this premise is not so simple. There are stories about irony, where someone gets a prediction, say BOAT ACCIDENT, tries to avoid that their whole life then all of a sudden, something happens and they die, like they're driving and a boat on a trailer crashes into them knocking their car off a cliff. But there are other stories that go much deeper. There are stories about true love. There are sci-fi thrillers set in a totalitarian future. There is a heart wrenching story about a couple who had had multiple miscarriages and the only reason the machine of death was involved was the very end of the story. There is an AMAZING story that is only one page long. (The cause of death in that one is HIV INFECTION FROM MACHINE OF DEATH NEEDLE).
Further, each story made me feel something different than the next one. Some made me see positives of the machine (Such as TORN APART AND DEVOURED BY LIONS), some made me feel frustrated at how the only reason these people died the way they did is BECAUSE they read their reading. A couple stories deal with people trying to prove that the machine is fallible, by trying to die in a way unrelated to the machine's suggestion.
More than anything, this book is a look at the human psyche. It is putting human reactions under the microscope and seeing how a simple change, like introducing a vague cause of death, can exasperate existing tendencies.
A free PDF download was published on the Machine of Death website, feel free to read it. But I would HIGHLY reccomend that you buy this book. They self-published the book after publishers told them it wouldn't sell (after admitting that they loved the book). It has a plentiful amount of good stories, as well as a wonderful full page piece of art for each story. I can't promise that you'll find it as powerful as I did, but If you enjoy the book one tenth as much as I did, it'll be worth the $17.95 you spent on it.
Breaking News: Rocket Scientists Not That Smart
You read that right folks, a recent study shows that "rocket science is not brain surgery."
A recent post in Popular Brain Surgery found that while being a rocket scientist does require a certain intellect, it is nothing compared to a the intellect required to be a brain surgeon. Soon after the article was published, a spokesperson from the American Society of Rocket Scientists pupblished a rebuttle claiming that the study was "state-of-the-art pro-brain surgeon propaganda."
Know that if anymore updates on this stunning controversy appear you'll hear them here first. Well. Second. Or third. You'll hear it when I hear it.
Housesitting: Day 2
Today has been eventful. Though nothing compares to right now.
Harry (the dog) is definitely trying to have sex with his doggy bed.
Derek and Charlie are here, we're watching some netflix and Harry is holding is toy in his mouth, pulling part of the bed up to himself and humping. This has happened like 7 times. Derek is trying to record a video. look on Youtube for it later if we get a good video.
I can't think of anything else now that this entertainment has happened.
House Sitting: Day 1
I am house/dog sitting for a friend's family this week. I thought it would be a perfect chance to re-ignite some blog writing. Expect a look at my life as I live alone for the first time (as well as take care of a dog for the first time).
Today I arrived at the house around 9:30 and took the dog out for a walk. When we got back, he just lay down. I think I wore him out pretty hard core. I forgot to bring my yogurt from home so I had to try and find something more creative for breakfast. The family said could use some stuff from their fridge, so I checked it out. They had some eggs, so I fried one up. It was fairly delicious.
For lunch I made a delicious turkey sandwich, then I hung out with Charlie and Derek for a short bit. Derek came over and we hung out for a bit With Harry (the dog). Later, after Derek left I went outside and played catch with harry for a bit.
Next I am going home to grab some dinner then I'll be back to watch TV, hang with Harry and play some video games. Come back tomorrow for a new Post!
Watermelon Jam
Like I may have mentioned earlier, I started following a new blog called Tasteologie. One of the first recipes I saw on there that I wanted to try was Watermelon Jam. It would give me something delicious as well as add another technique to my cooking skill list: canning. The result is a delicious (though I only tasted the stuff that was still on the funnel I used to put the jam in the jars) brightly colored jam.
However, i should note that the recipe is suposed to make 7 jars and I wound up with 2.5 jars. Some of that is because I lost some after starting in far too small of a pot. Some if it is also likely due to me boiling off more water than I was supposed to because I was using an IR thermometer when I should have been using an insertion thermometer. Therefore my Jam may turn into watermelon candy instead of watermelon jam, but i have hope.
Update: It is very thick, but VERY delicious! expect more canned things in the future too!
The recipe follows the break!
Liege Waffles
In Eugene the last couple years a new food slowly surfaced. Off The Waffle opened and introduced me to the greatest waffles ever made. I've since moved back to Portland, and here I was dying to have a Liege waffle.
First, Liege waffles are one of two kinds of waffles from Belgium. Often when you get a "Belgian Waffle" you are ordering a Brussels style Belgian waffle. Both Brussels and Liege waffles are named after cities and are both Belgian waffles. True belgian waffles are also prepared as a dough, not a batter, but are still cooked in a waffle iron. The most notable difference between a Brussels and a Liege waffle is that Liege waffles use pearled sugar, kind of like broken sugar cubes, to create a carmelized, crispy sugar shell on the outside of the waffle. It is a delightful taste and I'd reccomend getting one made by a professional, but if that is not possible the next best option is to make it yourself.
This is where I come in. I made some today and they came out wonderfully. I found a recipe through google, but couldn't find pearled sugar. Instead I bought sugar cubes and broke them into pieces (~1 cm). Everything else is pretty standard cooking/baking supplies. I hope you enjoy!
(recipe after the break!)