Wonkybusker

In the Beginning...

Everyone had brown eyes.  Then, at some point, there was a mutation that turned off that particular gene.  The result was that the body's ability to produce the right kind of protein for the eye was limited, changing the color from the dominant brown to a more muted blue.  If two parents both pass down this mutation, their kid has blue eyes, but if one parent passes down the original gene, allowing the protein to be made, then the kid's eyes are brown.  Hence, blue eyes are a recessive trait.  I'm unclear about where other eye colors like green and hazel come in, but they may have to due with varying amounts of protein being made.  I digress.  The point is that one small mutation in one person a long time ago caused all the blue eyes we see today and everyone with blue eyes is in fact related to that one person.  Pretty cool, right?

I Love My Husband

Chris is the sweetest person ever.  I've been sick this week and he's been taking good care of me.  Right now, he's at the drug store getting me more tissues and cough medicine.  Yesterday, he brought me over a lunch menu with all the things he could make me for lunch if I wanted. 

I'm feeling better already.

Stimulating Conversation

Over the weekend, Chris and I were discussing the economic pros and cons of the stimulus package.  The Washington Post had some editorials on the subject that were interesting to read after our conversation, as they touched on many of the same issues we discussed.

Why the Stimulus Package Shouldn't Stimulate You

A Better Way to Deal with Downturns

Kitchen Redo

Chris repainted the kitchen this weekend.  We went back and forth over the color, but in the end, it looks really nice in the space.

Before:

After:

Colbert Pilgramage

Chris and I went to the National Portrait Gallery today and I'm pleased and amused to say that the longest line there was for the bathroom.  Everyone wanted to have their picture taken with the new Stephen Colbert portrait, hanging in the entryway to the bathroom near the Hall of Presidents.  Once I figure out how to upload pictures from my cell phone, I'll add them here.  I can't help but wonder if it's all people from the area coming to visit or if people are actually making trips to DC just to see the portrait.  I'm not feeling all that well today, but I'm glad we went anyway.

Taxation without Representation

Today I saw a corner garbage can that had a sticker on it saying, "DC Voters: Your vote goes here."

Redecorating

So I think the bedroom is pretty much done, and I'm very happy with how it came out.  It needs some color on the walls since it's a little washed out, but for now I think I'll hold off on painting.  It could use some drapes too, but one step at a time.

Welcome to our new Thai spa inspired bedroom.

Before:

 

After:

And a closer look at some of the accessories:

Blah Blah Blah

I'm just busy researching France, trying French wines, an cracking open the Julia Childs cookbook to try my hand at French cuisine.  It's nice to have something so awesome to look forward to.  We've also been taking a look at potential new houses.  And redecorating our current place, which has been and entertaining project.  I'll post pictures of the before and after once it's all done.

I feel like I haven't offered much new in this post, so I'll leave you with something found on BoingBoing;  utensil pen caps.

Picture Perfect

I recently picked out some of my favorite photos of the ones Chris and I have taken to frame and hang on the wall.  When I framed them, I noticed that they were all pictures that hang vertically instead of horizontally.  It got me thinking and I looked at more pictures that we've taken.  It seems to me that nearly all our best pictures were taken with the camera turned.  Chris suggests that the world is generally taller than it is wide, i.e. people are certainly more vertical than horizontal, as are many buildings, statues, and quite a few plants.  It's an interesting point. 

Are most asthetically pleasing pictures taken vertically?

There's no Indian word for "Cheers"

Yet we drank up anyway!  Indian night was a complete success with the gourmet club.  We had chicken vindaloo, chicken tikka massala, aloo gobi, homemade naan, simosas, and many other very yummy things.  With a high percentage of our attendees sick, getting sick, or getting over being sick, it was an early night, but still a lot of fun. 

I made a drink for the event that actually worked out quite well.  If you are having Indian food for a party or would like a refreshing and unique summer drink, I would highly recommend it.

Indian Punch
2 cinnamon sticks
8 whole cloves
5 tea bags (any black tea)
3/4 cup sugar
64 oz. bottle of fruit juice (preferably tropical punch)
1 lemon
1 lime
1 cucumber
1 bottle white wine

Pour half the bottle of juice into a pot and bring to a boil, then remove from heat and add the cinnamon, cloves, and tea.  Let that steep or 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.  Add sugar and stir until it dissolves, then add the rest of the juice.  Slice the lemon, lime, and cucumber and add it to the mixture.  Place drink in fridge for at least 8 hours, stirring occasionally.  Before serving, add a bottle of white wine and spike with some vodka if desired.  It makes about 4 quarts.

It is truly yummy and the inspiration was from one of the Indian cookbooks my mom has.  I'll see if I can get the name of it and include a link because the book has a lot of really good recipes.

It looks like February might include a Spanish or French night.  And we may be putting together a recipe book of our successes, which I think would be fantastic.

Fixing a Broken System

I know that the current political system has been around for a long time and so far it has been arguably tollerable, for the most part.  However, I can't help but feel that there are a few places where it can be tweaked.  I may not be well versed in every element of the political process, but I would like to put forward a couple ideas.

1. Instead of having the electoral college members all vote for whoever won in their state, why can't the vote be more representative of the actual numbers?  For example, if a state's population went 60% for candidate A and 40% for candidate B, why couldn't 3 of the electoral votes go to one candidate and 2 to the other.  That's a simplification, but I'm sure you get the idea.  The details still need to be worked out, but that seems to me like it would be the perfect way to ensure that the candidate who wins the general election becomes president.

2. I happen to agree that Iowa and New Hampshire get way too much attention and power during primary time.  A friend suggested that each time the presidential primary season comes up, a few states are chosen to be the first to vote.  That way, a few states can get the attention and really sort through the candidates, yet it isn't the same states getting all the say all the time.  As far as I can tell, it would be fair and sensible.

Primary Blues

One would have thought that as the election of a new president crept closer, I would be excited and optimistic.  However, I'm having trouble getting enthusiastic.  I will admit, if New Hampshire is any indication and our choices are between John McCain and Hillary Clinton, it is going to be a step up from now, whichever way the election goes.  However, I feel both these candidates have had to "sell out" to gain mainstream electibility, which makes me a little uneasy.  At least they aren't Huckabee, who is quite charming and very, very scary.  I'm still undecided about Obama, but he's showing promise.

I think what I'm having issues with now is that the media is effectively choosing our candidates for us.  Presidential hopefuls who aren't doing well in the polls are just eliminated from debates and winners are predicted for primaries long before the citizens can vote.  FOX actually edited it's latest presidential debate to take out parts of Ron Paul's responses.

And one of the worst things is that a lot of the debates refused to include candidates who had not raised a certain amount of funds.  And if you don't get financial support from Philip Morris, big oil, and the like, you'd have a hard time getting all that cash.  So money talks and corporations will have a strong say in politics no matter who gets elected.  I guess it's hard to get excited when you realize how little things will actually change.

New Stuff

I didn't stay up until midnight on the 31st, but somehow the new year came anyway. I am greatly looking forward to 2008. It should be an adventure. Why? Well, I am pleased to announce to anyone who may not have heard already that Chris and I will be living in France this summer. You read that correctly. Here's a picture of where we'll be.

Pretty cool, right?  I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post this month.  We've been wrapped up in our summer planning as well as figuring out if/when we want to go through the process of selling our current home and buying a new one.  Lot of big, exciting things are going on.