Cooking and baking

It's been awhile since I've posted anything. Well, I've been practicing baking and cooking a lot more lately since I took a dear friend's advice (thank you Stephanie) on doing something for myself, and that turned out to be something I just love to do =D. I have some issues surrounding imperfections of my food such as hairs or not being as good as it could be (the former is my paranoia because there are so many cats and so much dust that I freak out that something will get botched, and then putting egg shell bits in by mistake...), but I still enjoy it when I am told that the food is good or great and just learning to prepare something new, then making it just to the point where I can declare it as my recipe and stuff like that. That, and having something really good to eat =D. I've come a long way since being a vegetarian and relying on cereals and processed foods for protein, but yea. Now I am cooking things like vegetarian fried rice, tofu, and even pizza. Still working on a greater variety, but as Becca said to me once, people rarely even do one or two things in baking and get it good, but I still want to aim for more. I'm going to make use of my time off from school and work to get in some baking and cooking on pizza, lemon bars, and oven baked french fries, as well as other things when I think of it =)

10:24 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Poetry Attempt

What is the world to me?
Endless pos-si-bility
Or a goal narrow-mindedly set?
With concerns based on one set of instances
Or none on none at all
Mayhaps all... Hopefully not- That'd just be a headache ;)

Given at least life, I am granted choices to take
To choose one single goal
Or none
Or several
Or all...

Yet, with everything else to choose from and pick
What really matters- such is the trick!
That nothing matters insomuch as the meaning behind it all
As long as the pursuit has meaning to the pursuer
That is the best life that one can lead.

Let love guide you
Jack

My attempt at poetry and being showy =P =D =)

11:00 PM - 2 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

Old "About Me Section"

I guess I like to save things to reflect on down the line- this was my old "About Me" section. I can't believe I wrote all that =)...

To sum up me in a nutshell right now, I'm trying to get my thoughts and actions to agree with one another where they conflict- who I think I am versus who I appear to be to everyone else about me. I enjoy thinking and thinking creatively- I want to be a biologist because I feel an understanding of them in the purest and broadest sense would allow me to do things only a movie- or cartoon-based mad-scientist villian could do. Making good eats for myself and those about me, and good sweets for me and profitablility. Developing plans and ideas I want to see given form in reality. Being me. Learning and getting to the point where I can truly say that it is a passion of mine to do. To grow beyond what I am now- I get nervous saying that because that is something I have not given myself over to completely and many people can offer opposing views on me in regards to this. I have an aggressive side to me to do things, but I tend to get bogged down in thought and worry- an instance where thought is something I care not for if only for the sake I can not do something that I feel I should. I also feel like I act like others at times, like playing a part given to an actor the way a good one would do it- that the person and imagine being them and acting akin to them... Annoying but informative =)- it gives sides of me outlet whcih before had none for there was no faculty for them... Though, at the same time, it means that I'm still a bit disconjointed as I haven't brought those bits and pieces together within me in a well enough way to matter to the the degree I'd like... God- I feel like I'm trying to do a job of advertising me which needs a great deal of working on to be truly effective, at least to such an extent as to convey who I am in a well a way as possible, but most of those things are a bit latent for the most part unless reacted with something that gets it going. I'm always coming back to thought and thinking- it is most likely because this is the most important thing in life to me... actually one of them- love, creativity and making it reality, and thought, as well as my physical body to such a degree that I still want to look good throughout my ddays, and never find myself in such a state of decadence that I am unable to do nothing more than sit, or be so incapable of moving about that I can only do so with the aid of mechanisms or the automatic sort. A good and complete life is my goal here, and now I need to define values and make sure all are in congruence with one another. Who am I, what do I want, how do I plan to get there and is that method in agreement with me and who I am...?

I like bike riding- it is the only form of aerobic/cardio that I enjoy doing aside from running as my right knee has issues that bother me... Caused by me running around with weight around my waste and in a backpack, but anyway... Baking and cooking are things I want to get better at and enjoy- I'm vegetarian in a house of meat-eaters and I would like to impress people with my culinary skills as well =). Thinking creatively is what I like to do, and just think in general is something I like doing- it makes me feel like I'm wake for one, rather than just going through life and just dealing with it as it comes... God I need to put English up as a thing to do to increase my ability to communicate ideas... I'm cheap to the extent of always wanting to save up money to buy a house, but I need to remember to not let that conflict with other things such as my academic and physical development, among other things.

*************
  ..src="http://live.quizilla.com/user_images/P/PainfulBliss/1116945703_QuoteLove.JPG">
Your wise quote is: "Love is life.
And if you miss love, you miss life" by
Leo Buscaglia.
Yes, love is indeed what you desire in your
life. If you have it or not is another matter,
but it is in your eyes the most important
feeling. You tend to be a romantic dreamer and
want you and your love to have that kind of
perfect love that you hear about in fairytales.
However that can be hard to find, but it
doesn't mean you are going to stop looking.


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You Have a Phlegmatic Temperament

..http://images.blogthings.com/whattempermentareyouquiz/phlegmatic.jpg" height="100" width="100"> Mild mannered and laid back, you take life at a slow pace. You are very consistent - both in emotions and actions. You tend to absorb set backs easily. You are cool and collected. It is difficult to offend you. You can remain composed and unemotional. You are a great friend and lover. You don't demand much of others. While you are quiet, you have a subtle wit that your friends know well. At your worst, you are lazy and unwilling to work at anything. You often get stuck in a rut, without aspirations or dreams. You can get too dependent on others, setting yourself up for abandonment.

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whattempermentareyouquiz/">What Temperment Are You?

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I'm just watching a bad dream I'd never wake up from.

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 You're most like laid back bounty hunter.

You're the cool headed Spike. Not much gets to you...seemingly. You hold some inner pain, but you keep it hidden as best as you can. Inner pain or not, you are incredibly bad-ass

 

 

Your Birthdate: February 22

While sometimes employing unorthodox approaches, you are capable of handling large scale undertakings. You assume great responsibility and work long and hard toward completion. Often, especially in the early part of life, there is rigidity or stubbornness, and a tendency to repress feelings.   Idealistic, you work for the greater good with a good deal of inner strength and charisma. An extremely capable organizer, but likely to paint with broad strokes rather than detail. You are very aware and intuitive. You are subject to a good deal of nervous tension.

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February
Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent andclever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislike unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

 

 

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  What Is Your Inner Soul Trying To Say? (For Girls and Guys; Contains Pictures)
 

 

Descriptionhttp://images.quizilla.com/L/LI/LIV/LiveColdHearted/1136329142_TTScontent.jpg">
Description>: Your inner soul is content with the way it is. In general, you are a very sweet, caring person! Occasionally you can work up a stormyour anger getting to the best of you, but otherwise, youre just yourself most of the time. You love to kick back and hang out with your friends, but you also enjoy time by yourself to read a book and catch up on your studies. You love the wildlife and you can always seem to make the day better. Your lover/friends/family is/are the luckiest person/people in the world, because people like you are rare to come across. You love life and live it to the fullest but always still have your head in reality.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Quote: Only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best.
(Sir Max Beerbohm)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Poem Verse:

A Sunset without a sun is no sunset at all.
A life without love is no life at all.
A rainbow without colors is no rainbow at all.
And heart without feelings is no human at all.
(Rachel Fogle)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Symbol: A snowflake (bliss to encounter)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Take this quiz!
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You are The Chariot

Triumph, Victory, Overcoming Obstacles.

The chariot is one of the most complex cards to define. On its most basic level, it implies war, a struggle, and an eventual, hard-won victory. Either over enemies, obstacles, nature, the beasts inside you, or to just get what you want. But there is a great deal more to it. The charioteer wears emblems of the sun, yet the sign behind this card is the moon. The chariot is all about motion, and yet it is often shown as stationary. It is a union of opposites, like the black and white steeds. They pull in different directions, but must be (and can be!) made to go together in one direction. Control is required over opposing emotions, wants, needs, people, circumstances; bring them together and give them a single direction, your direction. Confidence is also needed and, most especially, motivation. The card can, in fact, indicate new motivation or inspiration, which gets a stagnant situation moving again.

What Tarot Card are You?
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11:38 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Hmmm...

There was something I wanted to write. I think it is because I am not sure how a friend of mine is doing or what is up with her. I... guess that what was on my mind was thinking how much importance I place on her and how watching a person like that just drop off in my life feels like a void has been left that I don't feel like filling in again, just to watch another one crop up, or replace what has been lost for the sake of trying to replace it... Just something which has been bothering me for a while and which I couldn't really resolve very well. I really hope she is ok. There are things I still want and need to do for me, and the only thing I can think of taking from all of this is to move and act and just figure out some things and understand what I want from life and pursue it when I am strong. This makes sense to me and maybe to everyone else I'm wandering, but yea- keep going and trust and hope for the best, even in times of doubt... As that is the best way to think- positively.

8:00 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Algae

Just playing around  with this stuff- don't mind the mess or the blog... I guess I'm just trying to bundle up some knowledge into a convienent place =)   http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/e42/42b.htm   Blue-Green Algae

Blue-green algae or Cyanophyceae are able to perform a photosynthesis that resembles that of green plants very much. The energy-converting processes take place at the outer cell membrane, the plasmalemma and at the intracellular membranes. Intracellular membrane systems do occur in much the same way as in all bacteria, but are not as dominant as in eucaryotic cells. The cell wall consists of murein. The single cells of most species form colonies that are surrounded by often voluminous jelly coats. Blue-green algae are photoautotrophic organisms and have a considerable share in the production of biomass. The ecological importance is emphasized by their dominance in many inshore waters. They are often the cause of "water bloom".

Among the secretions of the cells are, besides the already mentioned jelly coats of varying consistency, also clearly structured, often layered sheaths or capsules that may surround the trichomes. The production of joint sheaths enclosing more than two trichomes lead to a state described as illusory branching. Besides this type, coccal, i.e. non-trichome forming species occur.

In addition, many blue-green algae secrete a whole variety of low molecular metabolites like amino acids, sugars, and others as well as numerous toxic substances.

The trichomes of many species contain at least two functionally different cell types: the bluish green photoautotrophic cells and the usually somewhat more voluminous colourless heterocysts. Depending on the species, they occur either terminally or they alternate regularly with the photoautotrophic cells.

Heterocysts are the places where nitrogen fixation is performed. Just as in the case of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, this process is extremely sensitive towards oxygen and very energy-consuming. These features explain the evolution of a diversion of function within a trichome. The different functional units are separated in space. On the other hand, this separation makes an intercellular transport of materials necessary, otherwise

1. the regular pattern (heterocysts occur at always the same span) and
2. the energy-supply of the heterocysts

could not be explained. In electron-microscopic studies, cell-cell contacts in the form of thin transverse walls with pits emerged. Blue-green algae do often live in association with bacteria. In some cases, certain bacteria are associated with heterocysts. It is assumed that these bacteria consume oxygen thus establishing oxygen-free spaces which helps increasing the rate of nitrogen fixation.

Many blue-green algae form resistant stages like akinetes or spores.

Movement by flagella or cilia were found in no species. The typical movement of blue-green algae is a gliding that may set the trichomes into oscillation, the reason why a common genus is called Oscillatoria.

About 2000 recent species of blue-green algae have been described. Most are aquatic. Sweet-water species are predominant, marine species are rarer. Some few genera like Nostoc live on moist soils, others even in dry habitats. Some species live in symbiosis with fungi and form thus new groups of organisms, being either endosymbionts as in the case of Geosiphon or living in extracellular associations as in the lichen genera Peltigera, Collema, and Leptogium or in green plants. A species of Anabaena, for example, lives in symbiosis with the water fern Azolla and supplies it with nitrogen-containing compounds. Nostoc species are known to live in the thalli of different liverworts, in the root cells of some Cycadean species, and in the rhizomes of Gunnera.

http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/e33/33a.htm

Lichens

Lichens are a group of organisms that can just like fungi not be counted among the plant kingdom, especially if blue-green algae (Anabaena, Nostoc, etc.) act as the green partner of symbiosis (phycobionts). Phycobionts are usually green algae (Chlorophyceae), yellow-green algae (Xanthophyceae), and some other groups of algae. It is pointless to argue where to group them. It is the fact, that successful new life forms developed by the combining of algae and certain fungi (usually from the ascomycetes group, more rarely also from the basidiomycetes or zygomycetes) that is important. The classic proposition of the system theory that a system is far more than the sum of its parts applies here. Lichens, about 16,000 recent species of which exist, are therefore to be studied and analyzed just like any other class of organisms as a group of their own. A separate nomenclature exists in lichenology in order to characterize the structure and propagation of the single species and to observe their life cycles. A more detailed covering of this topic would go beyond the scope of our project. The following three problem areas are helpful in understanding the interactions of plant and fungus (also called phycobiont and mycobiont).

1. Are the symbionts able to exist without their partners?
2. How does each partner contribute to the success of the symbiosis?
3. In which biotopes have lichens an advantage over other organisms?

1. Are the Symbionts Able to Exist Without their Partners?

Phycobionts are without exception able to live without their symbiont. Blue-green algae change their phenotype only little in the symbiosis with their mycobionts. Symbiotic green algae that belong mostly to Chlorophyta of the genus Trebouxia are able to exist without their mycobiont, too. It may be noticed that the genus Trebouxia is rather common in its phycobiont state, but occurs in nature rarely as a free-living alga. No zoospores and gametes are produced as long as the symbiosis exists. Isolating studies showed that the ability to produce them is not lost, though. Algae living as phycobionts do rather and just like their free-living counterparts immediately produce the mentioned stages of propagation after isolation from their mycobiont. A number of algal species that are multicellular when living on their own, are single-celled as phycobionts.

The fungal mycelium of real lichens is, in contrast to the algae, unable to survive in nature without its phycobiont. The mycelium is usually not capable of producing fruiting bodies, though exceptions may exist. The mycelium of some few species may grow under laboratory conditions (enough nutriments, addition of algal extracts) on agar, but no lichen-specific thallus is produced, and the development of a fruiting body does not occur.

2. How does each partner contribute to the success of the symbiosis?

Lichens do characteristically live in an autotrophic way, since the phycobiont is photosynthetically active. Trebouxia secretes about eight percent of the carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis as a free-living alga, while Trebouxia cells isolated from lichens secrete up to 40 percent. The secreted compounds are mostly simple sugars (glucose, etc.), as well as sugar alcohols like ribit, erythrit, sorbit, etc. The increased rate of secretion is induced by the fungus that causes a reduction of the plasmalemmas permeability and a change of the wall structure. Nitrogen-binding blue-green algae (like Nostoc) supply their partner in addition with reduced nitrogen compounds.

The commitment of the fungi seems to be larger. The different lichen species display different degrees of contact with the respective alga that mirror their evolutionary level. Numerous transitions between temporary associations of fungi and algae and permanent unions (the actual lichens) exist. The interactions can be classified as follows according to their increasing complexity:

1. Fungal hyphens and algae exist side to side but without a direct physical contact. The position of the alga has no influence on the orientation of the hyphens.

2. Single algae or groups of algae are loosely embraced by fungal hyphens.

3. Single algae or groups of algae are fitted closely by the fungal mycelium.

4. The hyphens differentiate and form specific clasping hyphens that enclose single algal cells or groups of them tightly.

5. Algae and fungi form tight contacts with each other. This may especially in primitive lichens lead to the development of haustoria.

Haustoria (sg. haustorium) are evaginations of the hyphen with which the fungus penetrates the cell lumen (in this case of the alga) through the cell wall. The cell content remains intact and enclosed by the plasmalemma. The contact areas of plasmalemma and haustorium are often changed preventing a super-proportional spread of the haustorium.

Microscopic preparations, especially that of higher developed forms, display an organization into zones. The surface is formed by an often scabby and pigmented cortex devoid of algae. It is followed (from outwards to the inner parts) by a core of loose mycelium. The advantages of this architecture can easily be recognized: the scabby cortex prevents a loss of water of the thallus and can at the same time store water very fast. The pigments and their positioning make sure that the algae are not exposed to too high but to still sufficient intensities of light.

Lichens can absorb large quantities of water. Their fresh weight is often a multiple of their dry weight. On the other hand are they rather unaffected by desiccation. They are able to survive longer periods of dryness without damage. The lichen thallus is species-specific. It is distinguished between crustose lichens-, foliose lichens, shrubby (fruticose) lichens and jelly lichens according to their morphology.

3. In which biotopes have lichens an advantage over other organisms?

Lichens belong usually to the most unpretentious organisms. Many species are pioneers: they settle in places that provide no habitats for other organisms. They can be found in the northern parts of tundras (up to 86 degree N) as well as in the Antarctic (up to 80 degree S). They live on high mountains (nearly 5,000 m max.), in deserts, semideserts, in the tropics, and in temperate climates. Lichens thrive also on rocky subsoils, an ability that is hardly shared by plants and fungi. Fungi lack the organic substrate in such an environment, multi-celled plants cannot cope with the short periods of vegetation characteristic for extreme biotopes, and algae are too sensitive to desiccation.

These difficulties resemble the situations that must have predominated the earths surface before it was largely covered by vascular plants and their precursors.

The versatile nature of lichens is also displayed by the fact that they were able to survive in large parts of the earth even when they became inhabited by plants. Lichens adapted easily to the new conditions. They can often be found on plants (at the bark of trees, on leaves) where they lead an epiphytic life. They are rarely parasitic and are able to take up and store ions selectively. Species living on the bark of trees, for example, contain a higher percentage of silicates, phosphates, magnesium oxides, iron oxides, and aluminium oxides than the bark itself. An accumulation of heavy metal ions is not uncommon. The growth of lichens is inhibited even by small amounts of sulphur dioxide. The disappearance of lichens in towns and in woods growing in the vicinity of towns was a reliable indicator of the atmospheres rising sulphur dioxide concentration long before the discussion about the acid rain started.

4:12 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Cooking...

I've been meaning to get good at this for a while, but I've never sat down to do it because I kept putting it off... At any rate, I attempted tofu burgers, cookies, and a stir-fry ( the former meant for a pot-luck at work). The baked goods should come out perfectish because I have refined it and practiced it so much, but the stir-fry was alright, while the tofu burgers need more work. I've been the sort to do trial and error with my cooking/baking and recording it- partly for refining the recipes, and partly just to practice recording results for future reference as a scientist woul (I am aiming to go into biology to do research)... It takes time and effort to get really good at this, as well as money, but bike-riding around earlier in the day and reflecting on that and my not being in school made me realize that I would not care for a life without development, and that I'd probably get bored really quickly just playing and working... As lame as that might sound to some =P =). Right now I am learning to get myself into gear fast enough to do stuff while dealing with work in the middle of the day- I guess this is what is called 'getting my priorities straight'... Well- time to get ready to fly to work, or else I'll be late =D.

1:50 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Exercising

Something I'm gonna try to start up to see if I can actually grow at this... Yea

()= Session stats for particular area, while # outside is date

Workout regimen

Exercise            

Arm Curls

Wrist Curls

Bench Press

Incline Press

Decline Press 

Dips (with bench vs

full suspension in air)

Overhand Pull-ups

11:28 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

This week in the life of me...

If I were to chronicle my major doings... Or rather, keep track of all my plans I want to do, would I have merely a bunch of headings with nothin else to them, or a lot to write about... Here I go...

Thi week I want to get some stuff done. I want to start up a rudimentary garden with plastic tofu containers. Get some studying in for a class of mine. Cook and bake good things. Define some things and get some values straightened out. Start using my benefits from UPS better. Looks like a nice start. That and finish Macbeth and look into Nietzche... Got his name wrong probably but yea.

9:38 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Support...

Probably the one thing that I'd need a long time to get good at is asking others around me for help and support when I need it. I just feel overwhelmed at times. When shit hits the fan, and from many different sources, producing a large amount of shit, it gets overwhelming to compensate from. I think I don't want to ask for the help I could use from others because of my academic experiences and getting help there in my younger days. That's coming back to haunt me and bite me in the ass when it comes to needing help to stay strong and together in the personal sense. Savvy?... :).   People for me... I feel like I need to be the strongest one and like a titan or something and stay up there. What seems to help is that I seem to channel people and ideas at times and that bolsters me when I can focus enough to change like that. Fortunately Gundam Wing has provided the idea of the Tallgeese and Gundam mecha for a symbolic image of strength to keep me together when the glue abou those cracks of mine is beginning to melt. And in case anyone in particular is reading this and worries, please don't- I'm odd enough to keep being a pain in the butt to life... Because it has a cute ass and I'm a horrible flirt ;). Just some ranting and raving... Ciaoder
 

8:55 PM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Gear-Upshifting

Goodness me- I've been busy for once :). Got a second job with a security agency (my first is with UPS as a porter), decorating my room slowly with cups with straws stuck in them for a future indoor garden water-fed by those cups, hopefully enrolling concurrently in Valley College to work at UPS and security job, and baking upside-down pineapple cake. Fun : D.But the fun part is seeing me through this for two yeara. It's scary to me because this'll be a change from what I'm used to, and I have to understand that. I hope it works out and I can stay focused. Ciao-der for now.

10:03 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment