to a baby gone and a baby coming
Dear Papaya, I miss you so much. I don’t know what we would’ve missed out on if you didn’t make yourself a house bunny. You are eternally sweet.
Dear future baby in Asma’s stomach, come on out. I’ve gone from being a little scared of you coming to being anxious for you to get out. Let’s get this poop party started.
Love,
me.
paleo diet
Here’s an incomplete snapshot of human life during the paleolithic area:
- hunting and foraging
- tools made of wood and stone
- most housing, clothing, and waste material gets converted into reusable parts for other life and life processes
- people moved their body a lot, day in, day out
- drought and famine
- “natural” medicines
- no hospitals, cars, or any other automation
But let’s focus in on that first part. And instead of hunting and foraging, let’s just go to some place that has refrigeration (maybe we’ll drive or get into some other metal-fuel-plastic contraption on paved roads) and pick and choose an abundance of specific foods that we think are optimal for our health.
informational things i want to create
- A set of tutorials on general programming, organized by complexity and/or subject area (e.g. beginning programming, objects, algorithms, etc.)
- General health tips and guides to getting healthier
- Good set of resources for recovering from exercise-related injuries
Of course, with a helpless little ape baby on the way and a house to fix up, this will have to go into the hobby bin.
Mother Jones magazine on Tumblr: MLK: "America, too, is going to Hell, if..."
In Memphis, March 18, 1968, a few weeks before he was killed in that city:
…And I come by here to say that America, too, is going to Hell, if we don’t use her wealth. If America does not use her vast resources of wealth to end poverty, to make it possible for all of God’s children to have the basic necessities of life, she too will go to Hell. I will hear America through her historians years and years to come saying, “We built gigantic buildings to kiss the sky. We build gargantuan bridges to span the seas. Through our spaceships we were able to carve highways through the stratosphere. Through our airplanes we were able to dwarf distance and place time in chains. Through our submarines we were able to penetrate oceanic depths.”
But it seems that I can hear the God of the universe saying, “even though you’ve done all of that, I was hungry and you fed me not. I was naked and ye clothed me not. The children of my sons and daughters were in need of economic security, and you didn’t provide for them. So you cannot enter the kingdom of greatness.” This may well be the indictment on America that says in Memphis to the mayor, to the power structure, “If you do it unto the least of these my brethren, you do it unto me.”…
things i’ve been making
I think I’m a little scared to do start any real home improvement project myself. So I’ve been baking more. Asma doesn’t seem to mind:
- bagels (a native New Yorker loves them, so I might be opening up a bagel shop this year)
- brownies
- cookies
Things I want to branch out to:
- breads (gluten-free and gluten)
- cakes (?)
- more cookies
- more brownies
Fact-Checking Drake: Does Toronto Really Love Him? : The Record
npr:
The rapper Drake has, if you go by one of his song’s lyrics, a short list of interests. The first is money. The second is the city of Toronto. In the world of hip-hop, it’s not outlandish to identify the acquisition of wealth as a motivator, nor is it particularly odd to claim mythical status in one’s hometown. At the ripe old age of 25, Drake estimates his worth to be about $25 million.
But “I run Toronto”? That part is different.
The fact that we can’t just open our window and note the number of times per hour “Marvin’s Room” leaks out of a passing car on Yonge Street makes us yearn to know: does the population of Toronto support its baby-faced star as much as he says it does? Or is Drake using his city’s relatively remote and exotic status, by hip-hop standards, to bluff some street cred? We called The New Yorker fact checker Carolyn Kormann and asked her how she would verify such an assertion if it were made by anyone in a piece published by that magazine. — Frannie Kelley
Haha.
one resolution
Floss regularly. At least once a week. Every other day is better. Every day is best.
declaration of kanye, 2012
Numerals indicate number of hours passed since January 4th, 2012 at 10:30 AM PST (approximately).
- 00 I appreciate everyone’s support for my clothing line but I wanted to clarify a few things…
- 01 The name of the line is Kanye West not DW… The Dw was a design element placed on the invite in homage to my mom : )
- I really appreciate the fake DW twitter page but since it’s not official I can’t co sign any information on it.
- 05 “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” - Leonardo Da Vinci
- 07 More clarity… I have no agency representing me currently… William Morris was fired after Cara lewis quit. I love Cara Lewis : )
- 09 I love being back at my fashion office learning and creating. It’s so challenging and fun and I’m surrounded by amazing people.
- They so you only live once but every time I come to work I feel like I’m starting a second life.
- 10 You guys might think I have some type of backing for my line but I don’t.
- I did the first fashion show out of my own pocket and used the money I made touring to follow my passion.
- I’ve been working at this for 8 years now …from the first offers to do urban clothing lines that I turned down…
- To begging Bape to do my line and never making any real headway…
- To having an office in LA that was shut down after the “MTV” moment along with my tour with GAGA
- I moved to Japan for one month after that and designed every night in my room… I had this opportunity to intern at Fendi and was also..
- …offered a position to at Versace wich I could not take due to my contract with LV which was for 2 years…
- I moved to Rome after I left Japan and worked at Fendi for 4 months under cover … I was there to give ideas for the men’s collection
- I snuck to Giuseppe Zanotti Factory still under contract and learned to design woman’s shoes for 2 years before my first show in Paris
- After doing the first LV collection I was sure I would get a second shot to create but was never given the opportunity
- I designed a sneaker called the YEEZY with Nike. I’m “allowed” to design 1 pair of sneakers every 2 years. I have more ideas…
- Early 2011 … I moved to Paris and opened a small design studio… the language barrier was quite difficult…
- I still don’t have a Paris VAT number to this day… I don’t know what a VAT but every time I asked why we didn’t have fabrics they said…
- … it was because of the VAT.
- In Paris I met many great people in design including the master Azzedine Alaia… Azzedine even came by my studio one day : )))
- This was the greatest feeling to stand in his presence in my embarrassingly small Paris studio in a courtyard opposite Collate
- I remember being 5 years old picking and my mother taking me with her shopping at the discount fur spots
- She said I would always point to the most expensive furs even as a child LOL
- It’s something about making clothing that always brings me back to that point. For the first 16 or 17 years of my life the only thing…
- I knew about my woman’s clothing was what my Mom would wear. I guess some critics would joke that I still don’t know anything LOL
- My Mom would wear blue jeans with a fur and an embellished “Cosby Show” sweater : ) to pick me up from school
- … the teachers said I couldn’t focus… I used to get kicked out of class for bringing dirty mags and drawing Nikeys in 4th grade
- Being a celebrity has afforded me many opportunities but has also boxed me in creatively.
- I was just discussing becoming the creative director for the Jetson movie and someone on the call yelled out.. you should do a Jetsons tour!
- This just happened a few hours ago. I was very insulted of course becuase for anyone that’s seen the Watch the Throne Tour…
- Or Coachella or Glow in the Dark or Runaway.. you know I have real ideas…
- I appreciate having the most nominations at the Grammies but I feel so conflicted by the fact that award shows sometimes are completely…
- …illogical
- Good logic tells me smile Kanye… the world likes you again… red or blue pill? … aaaaand Swallow lol
- I wouldn’t have the prestige I have if it wasn’t partially for the Grammies validation and I honor that
- ….hmmmmm what to wear… here I go again… Yeezy the trend setter or complete fucking fashion victim … the verdict is still out
- This is just a train of thought .. but figure it’s better to read than trained thoughts
- What good is fame and prestige if you can’t use it to help people… I want to help by doing what I know how to do best .. create
- I have started a new company and I’m so excited about the name…. it’s got the best name ever of all companies of all time!!!….
- The name of the company is DONDA
- 11 DONDA is a design company which will galvanize amazing thinkers and put them in a creative space to bounce there dreams and ideas…
- I used to blog all the time an fit was a way to get my opinion out…
- Dr Dre redesigned headphones and made more impact off of one product.
- I am assembling a team of architects, graphic designers, directors musicians, producers, AnRs, writers, publicist, social media experts…
- app guys, managers, car designers, clothing designers, DJs, video game designers, publishers, tech guys, lawyers, bankers, nutritionist …
- doctors, scientist,teachers…
- DONDA will be comprised of over 22 divisions with a goal to make products and experiences that people want and can afford…
- I want to put creatives in a room together with like minds that are all waaaay doper than me
- We want to help simplify and aesthetically improve everything we see hear, touch, taste and feel.
- …To dream of, create, advertise and produce products driven equally by emotional want and utilitarian need.. To marry our wants and needs.
- DONDA
- This will all take time but I wanted everyones to know what I really care about… I care about people. I care about my fans..
- I care about people who have never heard of me… There are over 7 billion people on the planet now…
- It’s something about coming from music that makes me so optimistic… Music travels and is not limited to only the wealthy.
- Sometimes my grammar is wrong but my thinking is right : )
- My mom was an English teacher so I know she sends an SMDH from heaven : )
- 5:18 am in London… My dreams keep me woke
- The Watch the Throne tour was a small example of what a Donda Experience can be…
- I’m currently working on a new 7 screen experience http://pic.twitter.com/4XmQmCL3
- This one of our projects to be released this year called 2016 OLYMPIC’s … It’s a semi sic-fi since 2016 is only 4 years away : )
- We would also like’ to design the MTV awards
- We’re taking everything 10 steps at a time LOL!
- I wanted to put this in the world in hopes that the people who can actually make a difference will stand up and reach out
- We need as many amazing powerful smart talented wealthy people to be involved… Come get on board… don’t just sit there… reach out
- We can collectively effect the world trough design. We need to pick up where steve jobs left off
- When I said wealthy I wanted to point out there are so many billionaires in the world that can come together and help to redesign it
- Help education. School systems were designed to turn people into factory workers.
- Schools should be designed to prep human beings for real life.
- Spike Jonze and I want to do a Summer school that tries new forms of cuuriculim
- Math classes should teach addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, accounting and money management aaaaaand cut!!! ….
- UNLESS YOU’RE A MATH MAJOR!!!! Kids you should be able to take majors starting in grammar school like how it is at performing art schools
- Instead of kicking kids out of schools for using there iPhones… why not promote it? Allow kids to use search engines to do test…
- like the real WORLD!!! Give kids the amount of test they would have in a year in one day but they have to get everything perfect…
- Some kids have better memories than others… what about emotional IQs… what about kids who do bad in school because of how bad there..
- …surroundings are? I meant to say their…
- excuse me… I just get excited at the possibilities… the more excited I get… the more grammatical errors you’ll see…
- We need to take what Michael Jackson felt and Mcqueen and Steve Jobs and we need make things better…
- When me and Jay toured… ever night I peered into the audience astonished by the different walks of life that came to support us.
- 12 The adrenaline is running… I don’t know if I can even get to sleep now… From Wall street to the London riots to Chicago murders…
- I sit everyday and ask what can I do to make a difference…
- I know this is not a very rapper thing to say but I haven’t bought a new car or piece of jewelry in about 2 years…
- I invest every dime back into creativity… hiring amazing creatives paying for flights, offices … etc…
- My area of expertise is in music, my passion is in music design film and products… my strength is connectivity…
- There are so many broken systems from the economy to school systems jail systems… we need experts for this…
- We need scientist and top world designers to directly affect governments.
- If anyone would like to reach out email us at contactDONDA@gmail.com
- I just wanted to share what’s been on my mind…
- “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. ….
- …But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” - George Bernard Shaw
Note that scientists are always referred to as singular.
christopher hitchens is dead, and i am glad
A warmongering xenophobe that vehemently opposed religion died a greasy, fat, sickly imperialist. What’s the point of being a loud atheist (antitheist, whatever) when you replace one set of simple truths and lies with another?
Good riddance.
Abominable/A Bomb In a Bird
Imagine a peacock gliding on a frozen lake. This is society. Now imagine that peacock swallows a bottle of nitroglycerin, this represents the effect of Darwinian evolution on society. …Genetic research may prove to be abominable, or like eugenics in society, a bomb in a bird.
new york-style bagels
This recipe is a good starting point. There’s a lot of practice involved, though: I’ve made notes along the way in bold.
Dough
- 1 1/2 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees F)
- 1 tablespoon dry active yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons malt syrup
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 4 1/2 cups unbleached bread flour (more if needed)
Kettle Water
- 6 quarts water
- 2 tablespoons malt syrup or powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Toppings
Whatever you want. It’s useful to have things in small bits that can be sprinkled evenly. Some example toppings:
- Everything: poppy seeds, sesame seeds, kosher/coarse salt, pepper, minced garlic, minced onions. Salt should probably be added separately so that it doesn’t dissolve from the moisture of the garlic and onions (if you want the rough texture).
- Cinnamon raisin: cinnamon, sugar. Raisins can be mixed in with the dough and patted onto the surface. The cinnamon and sugar can be sprinkled on as usual.
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add the yeast in gradually while constantly stirring, so that it doesn’t clump up massively.
- With a wooden spoon, stir in oil, malt and one cup of the flour. Add salt, then enough of remaining flour to make a stiff dough. Throughout this process, add the flour in gradually, making sure there aren’t too many lumps. As the dough gets stiffer, you’ll probably have to start punching it with the spoon. At some point, you can start working it with your hands. It should be a little sticky, but not wet (e.g. it doesn’t leave bits of dough behind).
- On a lightly floured surface, knead for 10 to 12 minutes [add a little flour as necessary if the dough is wet in places]. Cover with a floured dish towel and allow dough to rest on a board for about 15 minutes. Dough should be smooth at this point.
- Divide dough into 8 sections and form each section into 10-inch long strips. Roll the ends together to seal and make a ring. Place on a lightly floured surface, cover, and let bagels rest 15 to 20 minutes, rising about halfway and becoming slightly puffy. If you’re making bagels with large toppings, like raisins or blueberries, you can work those into each individual bagel at this point.
- Meanwhile, fill a large cooking pot or Dutch oven three quarters full with water. Add the malt syrup and salt.
- Bring water to a boil. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with baking parchment and, if desired, sprinkle generously with corn meal. Set aside.
- Line two other baking sheets with a kitchen towel, set near your stove. Reduce boiling water to a simmer and cook 2 bagels at a time (do not crowd the pot). Simmer bagels for about 45 seconds on one side, then turn and cook other side for another 45 seconds and then drain bagels on the towel-lined baking sheet.
- Carefully place bagels on the parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake bagels plain or sprinkle with a topping of your choice. Place in the hot oven, immediately reduce heat to 425 degrees F, and bake about 17 to 25 minutes. When almost baked, turn bagels over (a pair of tongs do the job easily). If you have a baking stone, finish bagels on the stone directly. Transfer bagels to wire rack to cool.
Papaya died the morning of the 9th. That morning was the first time since she’d been with us that she refused food. The moment we saw that, we knew she didn’t have long to live.
We took her to the park for the first time the day before (on our 8th anniversary) because we didn’t know if she’d have another chance. She didn’t get to run around, but she enjoyed the grass.
It’s been hard. Her death triggered a physical stress I’d never felt before. Like all the other stressful times of the past few years were just a build up and I’d never fully reached my limit yet. It’s still there a little. I’m trying not to let it get out of hand.
We moved to our new house that Friday, and she was supposed to come with us. We only bought a house now so that we’d have a stable place for the entire family, and that we’d be able to give the babies space to roam around more freely (and shape the space for their needs).
It’s not that any of the other kids deserved it as much as her. But she was getting old, and we really wanted her to experience the house. This sounds silly to most people.
Papaya is one of the most beautiful and sweetest beings I’ve known.
I love you and miss you so much, little stinker.
pg 1 of 8 forth »
Me
Following
Happily bonded for life to Asma (Maryam). Ape-Father to 12 wonderful children. Loves the East Bay. A little punchy. A lotta leftist.
Lucky, and thankful for that.
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