I have some reason to dislike April weekend snowstorms.
They bring Tornadoes.Before and After pics.
Monday, April 28, 2008
another weekend snow storm
I have some reason to dislike April weekend snowstorms.
They bring Tornadoes.Before and After pics.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
world grain production has fallen short of consumption in
seven of the last eight years....
Just when it seemed that things could not get much worse,
the United States, the world’s breadbasket, is planning to double
the share of its grain harvest going to fuel ethanol—from 16
percent of the 2006 crop to 30 percent or so of the 2008 crop.
With this enormous growth in the U.S. capacity to convert grain
into fuel, the world price of grain is moving up toward its oil equivalent
value. This ill-conceived U.S. effort to reduce its oil
insecurity has helped drive world grain prices to all-time highs,
Although attention commonly focuses on energy use on the
farm, agriculture accounts for only one fifth of the energy used
in the U.S. food system. Transport, processing, packaging, marketing,
and kitchen preparation of food are responsible for the
rest. The U.S. food economy uses as much energy as the entire
economy of the United Kingdom.30
The 14 percent of energy used in the food system to move
goods from farmer to consumer is equal to two thirds of the
energy used to produce the food. And an estimated 16 percent
of food system energy use is devoted to canning, freezing, and
drying food—everything from frozen orange juice concentrate
to canned peas.3
The most energy-intensive segment of the food chain is the
kitchen. Much more energy is used to refrigerate and prepare
food in the home than is used to produce it in the first place. The
big energy user in the food system is the kitchen refrigerator, not
the farm tractor. While oil dominates the production end of the
food system, electricity dominates the consumption end. With
higher energy prices, the modern food system that evolved when
oil was cheap will not survive as it is now structured.36
From an agricultural vantage point, the world’s appetite for
crop-based fuels is insatiable. The grain required to fill an SUV’s
25-gallon tank with ethanol just once will feed one person for a
whole year. If the entire U.S. grain harvest were to be converted
to ethanol, it would satisfy at most 18 percent of U.S. automotive
fuel needs.57
The price of grain is now keyed to the price of oil.
Although there are no alternatives to food for people, there
are alternatives to using food-based fuels. For example, the 4
percent of U.S. automotive fuel currently supplied from ethanol
could be achieved several times over—and at a fraction of the
cost—simply by raising auto fuel-efficiency standards by 20
percent
predictions or history?
as the world oil crisis deepens
and the property values of suburban homes plummet.”71
The food sector will be affected in two ways. Food will
become more costly as higher oil prices drive up production and
transport costs.
As oil costs rise, diets will be altered as people
move down the food chain and as they consume more local, seasonally
produced food. Diets will thus become more closely
attuned to local products and more seasonal in nature.
Air transport, both passenger travel and freight, will suffer
as jet fuel prices climb, simply because fuel is the biggest airline
operating expense. Although industry projections show air passenger
travel growing by some 5 percent a year for the next
decade, this seems highly unlikely. Cheap airfares may soon
become history.7
seven of the last eight years....
Just when it seemed that things could not get much worse,
the United States, the world’s breadbasket, is planning to double
the share of its grain harvest going to fuel ethanol—from 16
percent of the 2006 crop to 30 percent or so of the 2008 crop.
With this enormous growth in the U.S. capacity to convert grain
into fuel, the world price of grain is moving up toward its oil equivalent
value. This ill-conceived U.S. effort to reduce its oil
insecurity has helped drive world grain prices to all-time highs,
Although attention commonly focuses on energy use on the
farm, agriculture accounts for only one fifth of the energy used
in the U.S. food system. Transport, processing, packaging, marketing,
and kitchen preparation of food are responsible for the
rest. The U.S. food economy uses as much energy as the entire
economy of the United Kingdom.30
The 14 percent of energy used in the food system to move
goods from farmer to consumer is equal to two thirds of the
energy used to produce the food. And an estimated 16 percent
of food system energy use is devoted to canning, freezing, and
drying food—everything from frozen orange juice concentrate
to canned peas.3
The most energy-intensive segment of the food chain is the
kitchen. Much more energy is used to refrigerate and prepare
food in the home than is used to produce it in the first place. The
big energy user in the food system is the kitchen refrigerator, not
the farm tractor. While oil dominates the production end of the
food system, electricity dominates the consumption end. With
higher energy prices, the modern food system that evolved when
oil was cheap will not survive as it is now structured.36
From an agricultural vantage point, the world’s appetite for
crop-based fuels is insatiable. The grain required to fill an SUV’s
25-gallon tank with ethanol just once will feed one person for a
whole year. If the entire U.S. grain harvest were to be converted
to ethanol, it would satisfy at most 18 percent of U.S. automotive
fuel needs.57
The price of grain is now keyed to the price of oil.
Although there are no alternatives to food for people, there
are alternatives to using food-based fuels. For example, the 4
percent of U.S. automotive fuel currently supplied from ethanol
could be achieved several times over—and at a fraction of the
cost—simply by raising auto fuel-efficiency standards by 20
percent
predictions or history?
as the world oil crisis deepens
and the property values of suburban homes plummet.”71
The food sector will be affected in two ways. Food will
become more costly as higher oil prices drive up production and
transport costs.
As oil costs rise, diets will be altered as people
move down the food chain and as they consume more local, seasonally
produced food. Diets will thus become more closely
attuned to local products and more seasonal in nature.
Air transport, both passenger travel and freight, will suffer
as jet fuel prices climb, simply because fuel is the biggest airline
operating expense. Although industry projections show air passenger
travel growing by some 5 percent a year for the next
decade, this seems highly unlikely. Cheap airfares may soon
become history.7
The overriding challenge for our generation is to build a new
economy—one that is powered largely by renewable sources of
energy, that has a much more diversified transport system, and
that reuses and recycles everything. We have the technology to
build this new economy, an economy that will allow us to sustain
economic progress. Can we build it fast enough to avoid a
breakdown of social systems?
economy—one that is powered largely by renewable sources of
energy, that has a much more diversified transport system, and
that reuses and recycles everything. We have the technology to
build this new economy, an economy that will allow us to sustain
economic progress. Can we build it fast enough to avoid a
breakdown of social systems?
The failure of the "Free market"
The market is in many ways an incredible institution. It allocates resources with an efficiency that no central planning body can match and it easily balances supply and demand. The market
has some fundamental weaknesses, however. It does not incorporate into prices the indirect costs of producing goods. It does not value nature’s services properly. And it does not respect
the sustainable yield thresholds of natural systems. It also favors the near term over the long term, showing little concern for future generations.
One of the best examples of this massive market failure can be seen in the United States, where the gasoline pump price in mid-2007 was $3 per gallon. But this price reflects only the cost
of discovering the oil, pumping it to the surface, refining it into gasoline, and delivering the gas to service stations. It overlooks the costs of climate change as well as the costs of tax subsidies
to the oil industry (such as the oil depletion allowance), the burgeoning military costs of protecting access to oil in the politically unstable Middle East, and the health care costs for treating respiratory illnesses from breathing polluted air.16 Based on a study by the International Center for Technology Assessment, these costs now total nearly $12 per gallon ($3.17 per liter) of gasoline burned in the United States. If these were added to the $3 cost of the gasoline itself, motorists would pay $15 a gallon for gas at the pump. In reality, burning gasoline is very costly, but the market tells us it is cheap, thus grossly distorting the structure of the economy. The challenge facing governments is to restructure tax systems by systematically
incorporating indirect costs as a tax to make sure the price of products reflects their full costs to society and by offsetting this with a reduction in income taxes.
-Lester Brown- Plan B 3.0
has some fundamental weaknesses, however. It does not incorporate into prices the indirect costs of producing goods. It does not value nature’s services properly. And it does not respect
the sustainable yield thresholds of natural systems. It also favors the near term over the long term, showing little concern for future generations.
One of the best examples of this massive market failure can be seen in the United States, where the gasoline pump price in mid-2007 was $3 per gallon. But this price reflects only the cost
of discovering the oil, pumping it to the surface, refining it into gasoline, and delivering the gas to service stations. It overlooks the costs of climate change as well as the costs of tax subsidies
to the oil industry (such as the oil depletion allowance), the burgeoning military costs of protecting access to oil in the politically unstable Middle East, and the health care costs for treating respiratory illnesses from breathing polluted air.16 Based on a study by the International Center for Technology Assessment, these costs now total nearly $12 per gallon ($3.17 per liter) of gasoline burned in the United States. If these were added to the $3 cost of the gasoline itself, motorists would pay $15 a gallon for gas at the pump. In reality, burning gasoline is very costly, but the market tells us it is cheap, thus grossly distorting the structure of the economy. The challenge facing governments is to restructure tax systems by systematically
incorporating indirect costs as a tax to make sure the price of products reflects their full costs to society and by offsetting this with a reduction in income taxes.
-Lester Brown- Plan B 3.0
sunny, but snowed in
Can you believe it? Another snow storm in April! This weather throws us back to what March should have been. And we are not plowed out yet. We get terrible drifting over our driveway and the small amount of clearance had by our minivan and pruis just doesn't cut it for drifted drives.
May is only 4 days away. My dad suggested May may not be coming this year. I told him that that would explain the weather, but it would also mean that I would pregnant forever- And I think I am against that notion.
I can't really guess at how much snow we got, as the wind made it quite thin in some places and quite heavy in others. All I know is our Sam Dog wanted out yesterday afternoon, and as soon as he got out there he looked around and changed his mind. I made him stay out for a while anyways.
So today I guess I get to make pancakes, and hang out with my sewing machine-.. working on all the indoor items on my "To do before the baby comes" list.
Which is really kinda sad, I was hoping to get out of the house today... I wanted to go to church and participate in Sis. Philaja's class on the talk given by King Ben to his people. But I guess that is life.
In the old days they had horses that pulled plows. Kinda makes me think about the usefulness of the horse. We have lots of deer. I wonder how it would work to have 6 white tailed deer pulling a plow? Sam would love to herd them.
well, enough with topic jumping and what not. Baby needs some pancakes!
She is a bony twerp at this point. Always at the surface with nice hard bones- grown mostly without milk, but heavy on the broccoli, beans and almonds.
She is definitely getting bigger, her bones have mostly filled up my belly and went beyond the first several ribs. She is nearly up to my sternum. She is going to have learn to grow out, and not just up. 7 more weeks. And then we get to see this cute little thing.... see if our guess are right and she is nothing but bones. I was teasing Mike that she could be like Grandpa Paul at birth. 6.5 pounds and 22.5" long. Grandma said he looked like a plucked squirrel. Galen was 22.5" long but 10 pounds, and he looked skinny too.
We shall see.... and I promise pics when the baby comes.
May is only 4 days away. My dad suggested May may not be coming this year. I told him that that would explain the weather, but it would also mean that I would pregnant forever- And I think I am against that notion.
I can't really guess at how much snow we got, as the wind made it quite thin in some places and quite heavy in others. All I know is our Sam Dog wanted out yesterday afternoon, and as soon as he got out there he looked around and changed his mind. I made him stay out for a while anyways.
So today I guess I get to make pancakes, and hang out with my sewing machine-.. working on all the indoor items on my "To do before the baby comes" list.
Which is really kinda sad, I was hoping to get out of the house today... I wanted to go to church and participate in Sis. Philaja's class on the talk given by King Ben to his people. But I guess that is life.
In the old days they had horses that pulled plows. Kinda makes me think about the usefulness of the horse. We have lots of deer. I wonder how it would work to have 6 white tailed deer pulling a plow? Sam would love to herd them.
well, enough with topic jumping and what not. Baby needs some pancakes!
She is a bony twerp at this point. Always at the surface with nice hard bones- grown mostly without milk, but heavy on the broccoli, beans and almonds.
She is definitely getting bigger, her bones have mostly filled up my belly and went beyond the first several ribs. She is nearly up to my sternum. She is going to have learn to grow out, and not just up. 7 more weeks. And then we get to see this cute little thing.... see if our guess are right and she is nothing but bones. I was teasing Mike that she could be like Grandpa Paul at birth. 6.5 pounds and 22.5" long. Grandma said he looked like a plucked squirrel. Galen was 22.5" long but 10 pounds, and he looked skinny too.
We shall see.... and I promise pics when the baby comes.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Pregnant Satifaction in a pan
A total of 357 grams of direct fat.
plus 3 1/2 cups of chocolate- dark (not counted in the fat)
Some nuts, vanilla and a fair amount of sugar....
what else could a pregnant women want?
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies
Brownie Base:
2 sticks (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups Dutch process or Hershey’s “Dark” cocoa
1 teaspoon salt - if using regular salted butter, decrease to 1/2 tsp.
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 large eggs
1 tablespoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Filling:
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 scant teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
8 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, lightly spooned and swept
Topping:
1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 teaspoons butter or vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13×9 inch square pan with Release foil or parchment.
In a 2 or 3 quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in sugar and cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute or until sugar melts and mixture takes on a nice sheen. Add cocoa and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and pour mixture into a mixing bowl. Let cool for about 5 minutes, then stir in the salt and baking powder. Stir in the eggs (one by one), then add the vanilla, flour and chocolate chips. Spread batter in pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until brownies are set. Let brownies cool on a rack for at least a half hour.
Prepare filling. Beat together butter, salt (if using), both sugars, milk and vanilla. Add flour and stir until flour is incorporated. Spread this mixture over cooled brownies and place in refrigerator for about 30 minutes to help firm up dough.
. If using a microwave, combine chocolate and butter and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir and repeat until melted. Spread melted chocolate mixture over cookie dough. Sprinkle walnuts over top. Allow chocolate to set, then lift from pan and cut into bars.
plus 3 1/2 cups of chocolate- dark (not counted in the fat)
Some nuts, vanilla and a fair amount of sugar....
what else could a pregnant women want?
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies
Brownie Base:
2 sticks (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups Dutch process or Hershey’s “Dark” cocoa
1 teaspoon salt - if using regular salted butter, decrease to 1/2 tsp.
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 large eggs
1 tablespoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Filling:
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 scant teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
8 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, lightly spooned and swept
Topping:
1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 teaspoons butter or vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13×9 inch square pan with Release foil or parchment.
In a 2 or 3 quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in sugar and cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute or until sugar melts and mixture takes on a nice sheen. Add cocoa and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and pour mixture into a mixing bowl. Let cool for about 5 minutes, then stir in the salt and baking powder. Stir in the eggs (one by one), then add the vanilla, flour and chocolate chips. Spread batter in pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until brownies are set. Let brownies cool on a rack for at least a half hour.
Prepare filling. Beat together butter, salt (if using), both sugars, milk and vanilla. Add flour and stir until flour is incorporated. Spread this mixture over cooled brownies and place in refrigerator for about 30 minutes to help firm up dough.
. If using a microwave, combine chocolate and butter and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir and repeat until melted. Spread melted chocolate mixture over cookie dough. Sprinkle walnuts over top. Allow chocolate to set, then lift from pan and cut into bars.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
7.5 weeks to go
That means 5.5 weeks left of school, 3.5 weeks left of preschool. Of course mine is not scheduled. It might decide that 7.5 weeks is not it's number and do something like Clay and wait 8 weeks, or something like Ian and choose 6.5 weeks. But that doesn't concern me.
What concerns me is the never ending list of stuff that I would like to get done first. So far the 2 I was supposed have accomplished by now have not been completed. we still have to moved beds, get new bunk beds and put clay upstairs. I still have my little crib bumper to finish.... and I don't even want you to think about how bad my house looks right now. It is easy to tell that I was working rather then cleaning yesterday.
The good news is, all that sand comes from a sandbox that has received hours and hours of use since the weather warmed. The more they are outside, the better they sleep!!! Especially that Galen kid.- who doesn't want to go to school, but instead be playing outside. And physically, I can not get him dressed or drag him on to the bus any more. He has to have some measure of cooperation. Which will make it more challenging for school. School will now have to convince Galen that it is worth going......
Sounds like a challenge. Do you think the school can compete with sand and sun?
What concerns me is the never ending list of stuff that I would like to get done first. So far the 2 I was supposed have accomplished by now have not been completed. we still have to moved beds, get new bunk beds and put clay upstairs. I still have my little crib bumper to finish.... and I don't even want you to think about how bad my house looks right now. It is easy to tell that I was working rather then cleaning yesterday.
The good news is, all that sand comes from a sandbox that has received hours and hours of use since the weather warmed. The more they are outside, the better they sleep!!! Especially that Galen kid.- who doesn't want to go to school, but instead be playing outside. And physically, I can not get him dressed or drag him on to the bus any more. He has to have some measure of cooperation. Which will make it more challenging for school. School will now have to convince Galen that it is worth going......
Sounds like a challenge. Do you think the school can compete with sand and sun?
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