Close encounters of the canine kind

So you know that thing I do where I go running in the mountains with dogs? One of my running companions is now famous for his brush with death, followed by a jovial ride on our city's public transit. 

Gotta love bus drivers.

WTF?

(Please excuse the fact that the following post is fuelled entirely by my mundane love of food/Jamie Oliver, rather than my fascination with the current prevalence of pirates in international headlines - which I realize would be much more interesting to discuss.)

I have no idea what Twitter is, but I have noticed it being spoken of everywhere. For instance, the front page of the Globe & Mail's Saturday Life/Style section had this recipe for Roasted Asparagus printed on it:

Put 1 lb asparagus on baking sheet, drizzle with 2T o oil. Bake at 450 for 4 to 10 min. S&P. Sprinkle with shaved parm.

I had no idea why the recipe was abbreviated this way, and also wondered why one needed a recipe for roasted asparagus (as with other roasted things, don't you just sprinkle it with oil-herb goodness and put it in the oven?) but as I read on I was amused at the challenge that Twitter poses to various chefs: reporting recipes in 140 characters or less.

I made the salmon - delicious - and the asparagus. A great pairing.

And still I must ask, what the fuck is Twitter??? And must I join it in order to swoon over Jamie Oliver's 140 character concoctions? Say it ain't so.

Cutest thing ever/great social experiment

Keep an eye out for this adorable little (inanimate) creature?

Joshua Tree

Something about the desert - desperation? lack of water? extremes of temperature? history? - seems to bring out the resourcefulness in people.

Joshua Tree Narrated

models of friendship

I want this picture of General MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito framed on my wall:

osprey

Ospreys nearly went extinct in the 20th century due to DDT in the fish they ate, which made their eggs' shells so fragile that the eggs cracked when the mother sat on them to incubate.

But they have made a big comeback in the last few decades, and can be found nesting (on trees and old phone poles) throughout coastal areas of the eastern seaboard.  There has likewise been a rise in osprey-cams installed by enthusiasts above nests so as to monitor their behavior from a distance.

This is one of my favorites.  The male and female have moved in and have built a nest.  Sometimes you can see them having sex.  In a few weeks there should be eggs and then babies.

vegan for jesus?

Hi friends,

I missed Lent this year.  I don't feel guilty about this as I have a free-form approach to religion, in any case.  But here's what I'm thinking: I'm going to incorporate an Orthodox practice into the Catholic liturgy and fast from Sunday to Saturday night.  I don't mean I'm not going to eat; I think my form of fasting is basically equivalent to many people's veganism: no meat, fish, dairy, no weird fruit-flavored candy or soda.  One big meal per day (lentil/tofu heavy) and nothing else.  Then after midnight mass next week I will have pancakes or something.  Any recipes would be appreciated.

vegetable soup.

delinquent blogging redeemed by an extraordinary link

The Beatles Complete on Ukulele.