This weekend, the Tribune's "Daily Question" asked if "the cleanliness of modern society undermine[s] human immune systems?"
Excuse me? This is a question about which opinion should be polled? Are they next going to commission a poll asking people's opinions about whether or not 2+2=4?
Maybe I am missing something, but the answer to questions like this can really only be answered by scientists, after conducting rigorous tests in controlled environments. To poll opinion about it is patently ridiculous.
Monday, June 19
Thursday, June 15
Go Read Mike's Great Post on Gaza's "Sinking of the Maine"
In a scene eerily reminicent of the Hearst falsification of the "Sinking of the Maine" which caused us to prosecute the Spanish American War, Hamas has tried to dupe the world into thinking that Israel fired missiles onto a Gaza beach.
Independent evidence is now showing that the explosion in Gaza was the result of a Hamas mine, not an Israeli attack. This hasn't stopped Hamas from using this lie as justification for more bloody acts of terrorism against Israel.
Mike has done some good research up on LBP. Go read his post.
Independent evidence is now showing that the explosion in Gaza was the result of a Hamas mine, not an Israeli attack. This hasn't stopped Hamas from using this lie as justification for more bloody acts of terrorism against Israel.
Mike has done some good research up on LBP. Go read his post.
Neighborhood Council 7 Supports Lap Swimming at Michell Pool
Yesterday Neighborhood Council 7 sent the following letter to Patty Rearden, Interim Director of the City Park and Rec Department. If you agree with our viewpoint here, I ask you to send Ms. Rearden a similar letter.
[LETTERHEAD OF THE CITY OF GREAT FALLS]
Neighborhood Council 7
Representing the Lower North and South Sides of Historic Great Falls
June 13, 2006
Patty Rearden, Interim Director
City of Great Falls Department of Park and Recreation
1700 River Drive North
Great Falls, MT 59401
Dear Ms. Rearden;
As the summer now begins in earnest, we would like to compliment both you and your department for its good planning and management of our city’s parks.
We write today, however, to discuss a suggestion to make more and better use of the Mitchell Pool facility for our city’s residents. For the past several years, no lap swimming periods have been scheduled at this facility, the only 50 meter pool in Northcentral Montana.
As you know, an all-comer’s swim meet has been scheduled on July 31 at the Mitchell Pool. However, without scheduling lap swimming periods in this facility, it is impossible for potential entrants to properly train for this event. Training in a 25 yard facility can not fully prepare an individual for a race swum in a 50 yard pool.
At present, the Mitchell does not open to the public until 1 p.m. on weekdays. We suggest and request that you open this pool to lap swimming from noon to 1 p.m. on weekdays. Lap swimmers should have to pay a monthly or daily fee, similar to that currently paid at the Moroney Natatorium, to cover the additional expenses involved in another hour of operation.
In prior years, the Mitchell historically scheduled a lap swimming period. Even without an upcoming meet, such a period allowed both adults and children an avenue for low to non impact exercise in an outdoor environment. We submit that the city and your department should encourage this kind of activity.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Bob Gaskell
Mike Taylor
Erin Tropila
Aaron Weissman
Cc: Dona Stebbins, Mayor, City of Great Falls
Wednesday, June 14
Problems with Linksys PSUS4 firmware rev 6033
In one location, I am using a Linksys PSUS4 printserver, firmware rev 6033, on a small LAN in a mixed operating system environment. The PSUS4 is connected via USB to a Brother HL-1440 printer.
Whenever the printserver is sent a large print job, it hangs the device. Worse, at least on my LAN for some reason whenever the device hangs every other device on the LAN, except the device originally sending the packets/printjob to the PSUS4, loses its connection to the router.
This may be related to a DoS vulnerability previously published on the device, more information here. If you use this device, I recommend restricting HTTP access and monitoring the jobs sent to the device. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be any IP filtering built into the device.
Due to these vulnerabilities, I cannot recommend the use of that device. Linksys has known about this DoS vulnerability for more than a year, and they are still propagating a firmware revision from 2004.
Whenever the printserver is sent a large print job, it hangs the device. Worse, at least on my LAN for some reason whenever the device hangs every other device on the LAN, except the device originally sending the packets/printjob to the PSUS4, loses its connection to the router.
This may be related to a DoS vulnerability previously published on the device, more information here. If you use this device, I recommend restricting HTTP access and monitoring the jobs sent to the device. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be any IP filtering built into the device.
Due to these vulnerabilities, I cannot recommend the use of that device. Linksys has known about this DoS vulnerability for more than a year, and they are still propagating a firmware revision from 2004.
So What is IGCC, anyway?
IGCC, or "Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle" coal power plants are often cited by many in our community as a preferred alternative to the CFB, or "Circulating Fluidized Bed" plant that SMC is proposing to build here.
I am pretty darn ignorant of these technologies. I don't know that I, or many of the pundits speaking about this issue throughout our town, are particularly competent to compare these technologies.
Both are advertized by their supporters as "clean coal" technology. Those that I consider to have competence in this area have stated that IGCC may produce less emissions than CFB, but has not yet been fully tested. Everyone I have spoken with agrees that an IGCC plant would be significantly more expensive than a CFB plant.
The first link of this post refers to a November, 2005 article published by the BBC on IGCC technology. Thanks to Jeff Mangan's blog for the referral to this source. That article speaks at length about the IGCC technology, in a way that even I began to understand it. However, I was struck by a few things:
1) The technology is not a "zero emission" alternative, as its supporters have indicated. The carbon emissions are buried underground instead of vented in the atmosphere. Other waste by-products of the technology still require attention.
2) The technology is very new, and relatively untried. Indeed, the article states that:
For those of you with more expertise in this area, I welcome your experience. An upcoming post will provide more information on CFB technology.
I am pretty darn ignorant of these technologies. I don't know that I, or many of the pundits speaking about this issue throughout our town, are particularly competent to compare these technologies.
Both are advertized by their supporters as "clean coal" technology. Those that I consider to have competence in this area have stated that IGCC may produce less emissions than CFB, but has not yet been fully tested. Everyone I have spoken with agrees that an IGCC plant would be significantly more expensive than a CFB plant.
The first link of this post refers to a November, 2005 article published by the BBC on IGCC technology. Thanks to Jeff Mangan's blog for the referral to this source. That article speaks at length about the IGCC technology, in a way that even I began to understand it. However, I was struck by a few things:
1) The technology is not a "zero emission" alternative, as its supporters have indicated. The carbon emissions are buried underground instead of vented in the atmosphere. Other waste by-products of the technology still require attention.
2) The technology is very new, and relatively untried. Indeed, the article states that:
Coal gasification plants are seen as a primary component of a zero-emissions system. However, the technology remains unproven on a widespread commercial scale.
For those of you with more expertise in this area, I welcome your experience. An upcoming post will provide more information on CFB technology.
Tuesday, June 13
New Topic; Highwood Generating Station
As a community, we need to fully understand all of the implications of the Highwood Generating Station, the 250 megawatt coal-fired power plant which Southern Montana Energy, a co-op of five Montana communities including Great Falls, has proposed to build East of Great Falls.
Philosophically, I have problems with a municipality owning and managing a resource I would argue is inherently commercial. My problems are lessened by the fact that the resource would actually be owned by a co-op, but it is a co-op owned by governmental organizations. However, I don't think that such concerns should be paramount in this debate.
What should be paramount? Well, we need to examine the advantages and disadvantages, the costs and the benefits, to the stakeholders, i.e., us. We, the taxpayers of the City of Great Falls, will own 25% of this plant. More than that, the proposed plant will be built and run here, by our residents. The majority of any environmental problems resulting from the plant will also be felt here.
What does this station mean for our community? What are the benefits? Well, one thing it does mean is jobs and tax revenue. How much?
Discounting the construction jobs and revenue (which are considerable), in its first year of operation this plant is budgeted to employ 45-60 people, at an average wage of $45,000. Millions of dollars in annual payroll, and in annual tax revenue for our county and school districts.
Consider the one-time shot in the arm generated by the construction of the plant. That revenue represents more than triple the amount currently under protest by PPL. Quite frankly, this debate renders our upcoming hard decisions about school closures moot.
It could mean more jobs than just that. Manufacturing requires great amounts of power, and locating a manufacturing plant near a power station means that your plant does not have to pay nearly as much in transmission costs. A 250 megawatt facility would almost certainly bring more primary sector jobs to our community. In a declining local economy, the benefits of the growth offered by this proposal are a substantial benefit that we neither can nor should ignore.
So, what are some of the costs and disadvantages?
First, if our city were running this operation I would definitely be opposed. Our city has proved that it does not have the ability to run a large, complicated facility like this. However, while we will be stakeholders, our municipal leaders will not be managing this operation.
In addition, plant detractors have raised legitimate concerns regarding the environmental impact of this plant. The plant's stack will generate emissions. In addition to carbon dioxide, those emissions will include roughly half a flask, or 35 lbs., of mercury per year. In addition to stack emissions, the plant will also generate a large amount of ash which must be dealt with as a by-product.
The plant will also utilize water as a cooling agent in the boiler. Indeed, most of the emissions of the stack will be steam. Approximately 1/10 of 1% of our municipal water supply will have to be diverted to the plant for its operations.
Personally, I submit that the water consumption is negligible and the plant will be paying the city for its use. In addition, I submit that the plant's plan for the ash (to place it in lined pits covered by clay) are sufficient remediation. The pressing environmental issues seem to be the CO2 and Mercury emissions.
Are these emissions worth the benefits we receive from the growth and jobs offered by the plant? I submit that question is the issue before us.
A side issue, the benefits of IGCC (coal gasification) techonology vs. CFB (Circulating Fluidized Bed) technology also requires some debate. My next post will begin to discuss that issue.
Philosophically, I have problems with a municipality owning and managing a resource I would argue is inherently commercial. My problems are lessened by the fact that the resource would actually be owned by a co-op, but it is a co-op owned by governmental organizations. However, I don't think that such concerns should be paramount in this debate.
What should be paramount? Well, we need to examine the advantages and disadvantages, the costs and the benefits, to the stakeholders, i.e., us. We, the taxpayers of the City of Great Falls, will own 25% of this plant. More than that, the proposed plant will be built and run here, by our residents. The majority of any environmental problems resulting from the plant will also be felt here.
What does this station mean for our community? What are the benefits? Well, one thing it does mean is jobs and tax revenue. How much?
Discounting the construction jobs and revenue (which are considerable), in its first year of operation this plant is budgeted to employ 45-60 people, at an average wage of $45,000. Millions of dollars in annual payroll, and in annual tax revenue for our county and school districts.
Consider the one-time shot in the arm generated by the construction of the plant. That revenue represents more than triple the amount currently under protest by PPL. Quite frankly, this debate renders our upcoming hard decisions about school closures moot.
It could mean more jobs than just that. Manufacturing requires great amounts of power, and locating a manufacturing plant near a power station means that your plant does not have to pay nearly as much in transmission costs. A 250 megawatt facility would almost certainly bring more primary sector jobs to our community. In a declining local economy, the benefits of the growth offered by this proposal are a substantial benefit that we neither can nor should ignore.
So, what are some of the costs and disadvantages?
First, if our city were running this operation I would definitely be opposed. Our city has proved that it does not have the ability to run a large, complicated facility like this. However, while we will be stakeholders, our municipal leaders will not be managing this operation.
In addition, plant detractors have raised legitimate concerns regarding the environmental impact of this plant. The plant's stack will generate emissions. In addition to carbon dioxide, those emissions will include roughly half a flask, or 35 lbs., of mercury per year. In addition to stack emissions, the plant will also generate a large amount of ash which must be dealt with as a by-product.
The plant will also utilize water as a cooling agent in the boiler. Indeed, most of the emissions of the stack will be steam. Approximately 1/10 of 1% of our municipal water supply will have to be diverted to the plant for its operations.
Personally, I submit that the water consumption is negligible and the plant will be paying the city for its use. In addition, I submit that the plant's plan for the ash (to place it in lined pits covered by clay) are sufficient remediation. The pressing environmental issues seem to be the CO2 and Mercury emissions.
Are these emissions worth the benefits we receive from the growth and jobs offered by the plant? I submit that question is the issue before us.
A side issue, the benefits of IGCC (coal gasification) techonology vs. CFB (Circulating Fluidized Bed) technology also requires some debate. My next post will begin to discuss that issue.
Couldn't Say it Better Myself
Reading the paper today, I was struck by the cancellation of the golf tournaments. I was tempted to put fingers to keyboard, but Geeguy has already done so in a very cogent post. Go read his analysis, and then contact the city commission and register your distaste for the "management" the city is providing.
Monday, June 12
I Didn't Really Think the Joke was Worthy of Publication ...
In the Tribune's story this past week on Mayor Stebbins' performance in her position, they mentioned a small (very small) lighthearted moment while I was sworn in as a member of NC7. I didn't ever expect to see it in print, but you can find it here.
Mitchell Pool Should Offer Lap Swim
First the good news and public service announcement. There will be an all-comers swim meet at the Mitchell Pool on July 31, from 6-8 p.m. I will be competing, and I hope that you might consider joining in the fun.
Now the not-so-good. Due to Park and Rec policy, it is impossible to properly train for this meet. Why? Let me explain.
The Mitchell Pool is a 50 meter facility. Every other pool in Great Falls is 25 yards. This presents a few problems:
1) A meter is a #$%^*()@! of a lot longer than a yard, and
2) 50 is more than 25.
Training in a 25 yard facility acclimates you to certain conditions; i.e., a turn every 25 yards, a pace designed for optimal effort at a certain length, etc. In a 50 meter facility, you don't get that extra breath during the 25 yard turn, and that 200 meter event is considerably longer than the eight lengths you did for your practices at the Nat, the Peak or the GFHS pool.
It isn't like there isn't demand for lap swim at the Mitchell. Until the white elephant opened up a few years ago, the Mitchell always offered noon lap swim. There were always a dozen or so swimmers. Several swimmers I have spoken with over the past few weeks have said that they would like the option of lap swimming at the Mitchell.
So I propose a simple solution; from noon to 1 p.m. each weekday the Mitchell should be open for lap swimming. Lap swimmers should have to pay a set fee (maybe $30 per month) to cover the additional expenses involved in another hour of operation.
I will be presenting this idea at our Neighborhood Council 7 meeting this evening, 7 p.m. in the Gibson room of the Civic Center. If you like the idea, please come to the meeting.
Now the not-so-good. Due to Park and Rec policy, it is impossible to properly train for this meet. Why? Let me explain.
The Mitchell Pool is a 50 meter facility. Every other pool in Great Falls is 25 yards. This presents a few problems:
1) A meter is a #$%^*()@! of a lot longer than a yard, and
2) 50 is more than 25.
Training in a 25 yard facility acclimates you to certain conditions; i.e., a turn every 25 yards, a pace designed for optimal effort at a certain length, etc. In a 50 meter facility, you don't get that extra breath during the 25 yard turn, and that 200 meter event is considerably longer than the eight lengths you did for your practices at the Nat, the Peak or the GFHS pool.
It isn't like there isn't demand for lap swim at the Mitchell. Until the white elephant opened up a few years ago, the Mitchell always offered noon lap swim. There were always a dozen or so swimmers. Several swimmers I have spoken with over the past few weeks have said that they would like the option of lap swimming at the Mitchell.
So I propose a simple solution; from noon to 1 p.m. each weekday the Mitchell should be open for lap swimming. Lap swimmers should have to pay a set fee (maybe $30 per month) to cover the additional expenses involved in another hour of operation.
I will be presenting this idea at our Neighborhood Council 7 meeting this evening, 7 p.m. in the Gibson room of the Civic Center. If you like the idea, please come to the meeting.
Wednesday, June 7
More on Google Spreadsheets
I have now had a chance to play a little bit with Google's spreadsheet. I still have grave concerns about its security and HIPAA compliance, which to my mind makes it little more than an academic exercise. However, it still could be a useful tool for data that doesn't have any sensitivity.
One problem with this system for complex spreadsheets are outside cell references. In many cases, I have one spreadsheet that generates a figure, which is used by another spreadsheet as an input toward a separate figure, or for a report. In actuality, many of my work reports concatenate data from multiple spreadsheets.
This is a problem here. Unless I am missing something, any spreadsheet on Google's servers has to live in its own sandbox, without referencing any data not somewhere in its own workbook. This is a severe restriction on complexity.
One problem with this system for complex spreadsheets are outside cell references. In many cases, I have one spreadsheet that generates a figure, which is used by another spreadsheet as an input toward a separate figure, or for a report. In actuality, many of my work reports concatenate data from multiple spreadsheets.
This is a problem here. Unless I am missing something, any spreadsheet on Google's servers has to live in its own sandbox, without referencing any data not somewhere in its own workbook. This is a severe restriction on complexity.
Inflation in Building Supplies is Out of Control
I normally do not blog about anything relating to my job. Among other reasons, my job is not germane to the topics I blog about.
However, a situation is continuing to develop regarding building supplies, particularly metals. A roll of copper wire, which would have cost $15 in January 2005, and which cost me $38 in January 2006, costs (wait for it) $130 today.
Price quotations from electrical and plumbing supply shops are now only good for 3-4 hours. Pipe, wire, plate, lumber and other basic commodities have prices that increase by significant amounts daily.
Some of this is from demand in Asia. Some is due to increasing costs for oil, a fundamental input into just about everything.
However, a good part of this inflation (and the increase in oil prices) is due to our country's 5 year old policy to decrease the price of the dollar. A cheap dollar may have some benefits (increased price of imports, cheaper exports, etc.) Many of you reading this page have a better grasp of monetary policy than I. So I ask, are the benefits of a cheap dollar really worth the increased price we are all experiencing for basic commodities?
However, a situation is continuing to develop regarding building supplies, particularly metals. A roll of copper wire, which would have cost $15 in January 2005, and which cost me $38 in January 2006, costs (wait for it) $130 today.
Price quotations from electrical and plumbing supply shops are now only good for 3-4 hours. Pipe, wire, plate, lumber and other basic commodities have prices that increase by significant amounts daily.
Some of this is from demand in Asia. Some is due to increasing costs for oil, a fundamental input into just about everything.
However, a good part of this inflation (and the increase in oil prices) is due to our country's 5 year old policy to decrease the price of the dollar. A cheap dollar may have some benefits (increased price of imports, cheaper exports, etc.) Many of you reading this page have a better grasp of monetary policy than I. So I ask, are the benefits of a cheap dollar really worth the increased price we are all experiencing for basic commodities?
Primary is Finally Over!
The Primary is over. At least in Cascade County, the election meant a win for incumbents. For the two big races, Beltrone and Castle each held on to their party's nomination. For Castle, it means that he will remain our Sheriff.
I didn't get too involved this primary season. I never was too motivated; everyone running for the county jobs was extremely qualified and would have been a good choice. Other blogs did more than enough talking about the big Senate race; I was glad to sit this one out.
I didn't get too involved this primary season. I never was too motivated; everyone running for the county jobs was extremely qualified and would have been a good choice. Other blogs did more than enough talking about the big Senate race; I was glad to sit this one out.
Tuesday, June 6
Google now has a Spreadsheet. Hmmmm....
As anyone with a browser probably already knows, Google has a spreadsheet. From all reports, it is another AJAX tool, like their maps. I haven't played with the tool (hopefully yet), but I have signed up to play.
The benefits seem clear; write a spreadsheet and anyone you think should be able to edit the document, can edit the document. What's more, every time anyone updates figures, everyone on that sheet's access list would have live access to the most recent "version" of the document. No more multiple-versions of the same sheet, and no more losing figures because edits were made to old versions. I agree, email attachments are not very convenient.
However, would I use this tool for most jobs? Definitely NOT. Why?
Spreadsheets usually contain information that most companies, individuals and organizations would like to remain private. In today's world, in addition to normal competitive pressures, we have to keep in mind fiduciary responsiblities and requirements under laws such as HIPAA. While I may be able to create a list of authorized individuals to access my spreadsheets, I am unable to ensure that the owner of the system, Google, wouldn't have the ability to access the document. In addition, I have no way of knowing just how secure Google's servers really are.
Google has created what looks like a valuable and powerful tool. However, unless there can be some firm guarantees of data security and privacy it is just an academic exercise.
The benefits seem clear; write a spreadsheet and anyone you think should be able to edit the document, can edit the document. What's more, every time anyone updates figures, everyone on that sheet's access list would have live access to the most recent "version" of the document. No more multiple-versions of the same sheet, and no more losing figures because edits were made to old versions. I agree, email attachments are not very convenient.
However, would I use this tool for most jobs? Definitely NOT. Why?
Spreadsheets usually contain information that most companies, individuals and organizations would like to remain private. In today's world, in addition to normal competitive pressures, we have to keep in mind fiduciary responsiblities and requirements under laws such as HIPAA. While I may be able to create a list of authorized individuals to access my spreadsheets, I am unable to ensure that the owner of the system, Google, wouldn't have the ability to access the document. In addition, I have no way of knowing just how secure Google's servers really are.
Google has created what looks like a valuable and powerful tool. However, unless there can be some firm guarantees of data security and privacy it is just an academic exercise.
Why I don't buzz around the Buzz
As Geeguy noted, the Trib has been talking about their on-line forum, the Buzz. I don't spend much time in that sandbox. Why, you ask?
Because it is a walled-off sandbox. To read that site, you have to go through the bother of mucking around in that system, on that site.
I tend to read a lot of blogs, and enjoy reading what other people are thinking. I'll let you in on a trade secret; unless I am posting a comment, my reading is almost exclusively done through RSS.
With one application (in my case, Bloglines) all of those thoughts and musings come to one central place on my screen. Pretty darned convenient.
So to the Trib; thanks for creating a forum. How about you activate an RSS feed?
And to both of my regular readers, you can syndicate this site through the RSS/Atom feed to the right.
Because it is a walled-off sandbox. To read that site, you have to go through the bother of mucking around in that system, on that site.
I tend to read a lot of blogs, and enjoy reading what other people are thinking. I'll let you in on a trade secret; unless I am posting a comment, my reading is almost exclusively done through RSS.
With one application (in my case, Bloglines) all of those thoughts and musings come to one central place on my screen. Pretty darned convenient.
So to the Trib; thanks for creating a forum. How about you activate an RSS feed?
And to both of my regular readers, you can syndicate this site through the RSS/Atom feed to the right.
Monday, June 5
Evolution in a cup of yogurt
This was interesting. A team of scientists have mapped the genome for Lactbacillus bulgaricus (L. bulgaricus), one of the "live cultures" in the cup of yogurt you had for breakfast.
It turns out that a couple of decades on our refrigerator shelves have fundamentally changed old bulgy. He can no longer manufacture much of his own protein; now he has to live in fermented milk.
Given so many examples of such behavior, I am at a loss to explain why some would choose to deny that evolution exists.
It turns out that a couple of decades on our refrigerator shelves have fundamentally changed old bulgy. He can no longer manufacture much of his own protein; now he has to live in fermented milk.
Given so many examples of such behavior, I am at a loss to explain why some would choose to deny that evolution exists.
The Distraction is back on the Agenda
Today's Trib ran a front page article on the upcoming congressional vote for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
One commentator on the radio this morning said that there was no more important issue that our country faces. Excuse me?
We are at war in Iraq and Afganistan. Gas is just about $3 per gallon. The National Debt is such a dizzying number that it is inconceivable, and it is increasing by billions each week. More and more of our economy is financed by the consumption of goods made overseas. The list of really important issues goes on and on and on, and we are worried about what consenting adults do in their own home.
Congress has real work to do. I understand why they are wasting our country's time with this drivel, but they are our fiduciaries. Isn't it time they started acting like it?
One commentator on the radio this morning said that there was no more important issue that our country faces. Excuse me?
We are at war in Iraq and Afganistan. Gas is just about $3 per gallon. The National Debt is such a dizzying number that it is inconceivable, and it is increasing by billions each week. More and more of our economy is financed by the consumption of goods made overseas. The list of really important issues goes on and on and on, and we are worried about what consenting adults do in their own home.
Congress has real work to do. I understand why they are wasting our country's time with this drivel, but they are our fiduciaries. Isn't it time they started acting like it?
Friday, June 2
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Yes, I did say tuna noodle casserole. Stop making that face.
I don't mean one of those icky things where the first ingredient is "open a can of cream of mushroom soup," I mean a good, hearty middle of the week, get the family fed with good food meal. The only pre-packaged food used is two cans of good tuna and a package of egg noodles. So, like I said, stop making that face. It might stick that way.
Anyway, the ingredients are simple:
Bring a large pot of H2O to a boil for the pasta. Add the pasta to the pot and cook for four minutes only. Pasta should be quite al-dente and not fully cooked. Drain and transfer pasta to ice bath to stop the cooking process.
While the water is coming to a boil, saute the miripoix in butter until it is soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and the mushrooms, cook for a few minutes and season to taste.
Turn vegetables, pasta, herbs, broth and tuna into large bowl. Mix well.
Add 3 cups of cheese and enough bread crumbs to mix until thick. Add bread crumbs until no longer "wet."
Turn mixture into large casserole and top with remainder of cheese. Bake for 45 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes and enjoy!
I don't mean one of those icky things where the first ingredient is "open a can of cream of mushroom soup," I mean a good, hearty middle of the week, get the family fed with good food meal. The only pre-packaged food used is two cans of good tuna and a package of egg noodles. So, like I said, stop making that face. It might stick that way.
Anyway, the ingredients are simple:
- 6 cups miripoix, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, diced
- 1 cup mushrooms
- Unsalted butter
- NACL
- Pepper
- 1 quart vegetable broth
- 2 cans water packed tuna (best quality available)
- 2-3 cups bread crumbs
- 5 cups montegro cheese (You can use parmesan if you are not allergic to cow-dairy. I write what works for me.)
- 1 cup fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, basil, oregano, chives and dill would all work well here.)
- 1 package of large egg noodles
- 1 large bowl of ice H2O
Bring a large pot of H2O to a boil for the pasta. Add the pasta to the pot and cook for four minutes only. Pasta should be quite al-dente and not fully cooked. Drain and transfer pasta to ice bath to stop the cooking process.
While the water is coming to a boil, saute the miripoix in butter until it is soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and the mushrooms, cook for a few minutes and season to taste.
Turn vegetables, pasta, herbs, broth and tuna into large bowl. Mix well.
Add 3 cups of cheese and enough bread crumbs to mix until thick. Add bread crumbs until no longer "wet."
Turn mixture into large casserole and top with remainder of cheese. Bake for 45 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes and enjoy!
Picasa for Linux!!!
Picasa, by Google, is a great image organization tool. IMHO, there hasn't been a linux tool that could match it.
Well, now there is. Picasa for linux was announced this week. Go download it, it works great.
Well, now there is. Picasa for linux was announced this week. Go download it, it works great.
Thursday, June 1
Air Force to host Shavuos Services
The Air Force is hosting a Shavuos celebration in Great Falls!
Rabbi Schecter will lead Shavuos services on Thursday, June 1; Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, June 2; Shabbat morning services as well as Havdallah and discussion on June 3 and Hebrew school on June 4.
Rabbi Schechter has strong ties to the Electric City. Her grandmother is a life-long Great Falls resident and her mother is a Great Falls native. Her father, Rabbi Phil Schecter, was stationed in Great Falls as an Air Force chaplain in the mid-1960s.
“He (my father) has always spoken in glowing terms about his experience in the Air Force, so it just seemed obvious that I would join the same branch of service,” said Schecter in an Air Force interview last year.
Rabbi Schecter is stationed at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California. A native of New York, she received her certificate of Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union College in 2003.
Before entering the rabbinate, Schecter spent her first year of college abroad on a kibbutz program in Israel, and then attended college in Kyoto where she conducted research on the history of the Jewish community of Japan and Israeli-Japanese trade relations. Wanting to strengthen ties between Israel and Japan, she worked for a time for the Consulate of Israel in Tokyo as an interpreter for visiting delegations from Israel.
In 1996 Schechter enrolled in rabbinic school, and over a seven-year period she received a Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters, a Master of Arts in Jewish Education, and was ordained Rabbi from HUC. She was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the Reserves in September 2003 and entered active duty service in January of 2004. Chaplain Schechter is the first female Rabbi to serve in the United States Air Force, and for a time was the only Active Duty female Rabbi in the Department of Defense.
Schecter was inspired to serve in the military because of 9/11.
“Clearly, supporting our troops was the best way to help our country,” Chaplain Schechter said. “The experience has gone above and beyond my expectations.”
Chaplain Schechter explained the major difference of serving as a rabbi in the civilian sector versus in the military is that the majority of civilians being served are Jewish, while serving as a chaplain in the military, it’s the complete opposite.
“You join [the military] because you want to be present for that small number of Jews who are here, and you want to be there for everyone else as well,” she said.
For Chaplain Schechter, the most rewarding aspects of being a military chaplain are job satisfaction, being there for those she serves and the military lifestyle.
Serving the needs of everyone regardless of background or religious beliefs, military chaplains are not only spiritual leaders but also serve as a clearinghouse for information and referral services at the base.
Chaplains assist service members of various military services with the unique challenges of military life: deployment, certain types of family stress unique to the military lifestyle, marital issues, depression, etc.
In addition to leading services, Chaplain Schecter will be available for one-on-one meetings with congregants; active duty and otherwise; while she is in Great Falls.
Rabbi Schecter will lead Shavuos services on Thursday, June 1; Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, June 2; Shabbat morning services as well as Havdallah and discussion on June 3 and Hebrew school on June 4.
Rabbi Schechter has strong ties to the Electric City. Her grandmother is a life-long Great Falls resident and her mother is a Great Falls native. Her father, Rabbi Phil Schecter, was stationed in Great Falls as an Air Force chaplain in the mid-1960s.
“He (my father) has always spoken in glowing terms about his experience in the Air Force, so it just seemed obvious that I would join the same branch of service,” said Schecter in an Air Force interview last year.
Rabbi Schecter is stationed at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California. A native of New York, she received her certificate of Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union College in 2003.
Before entering the rabbinate, Schecter spent her first year of college abroad on a kibbutz program in Israel, and then attended college in Kyoto where she conducted research on the history of the Jewish community of Japan and Israeli-Japanese trade relations. Wanting to strengthen ties between Israel and Japan, she worked for a time for the Consulate of Israel in Tokyo as an interpreter for visiting delegations from Israel.
In 1996 Schechter enrolled in rabbinic school, and over a seven-year period she received a Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters, a Master of Arts in Jewish Education, and was ordained Rabbi from HUC. She was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the Reserves in September 2003 and entered active duty service in January of 2004. Chaplain Schechter is the first female Rabbi to serve in the United States Air Force, and for a time was the only Active Duty female Rabbi in the Department of Defense.
Schecter was inspired to serve in the military because of 9/11.
“Clearly, supporting our troops was the best way to help our country,” Chaplain Schechter said. “The experience has gone above and beyond my expectations.”
Chaplain Schechter explained the major difference of serving as a rabbi in the civilian sector versus in the military is that the majority of civilians being served are Jewish, while serving as a chaplain in the military, it’s the complete opposite.
“You join [the military] because you want to be present for that small number of Jews who are here, and you want to be there for everyone else as well,” she said.
For Chaplain Schechter, the most rewarding aspects of being a military chaplain are job satisfaction, being there for those she serves and the military lifestyle.
Serving the needs of everyone regardless of background or religious beliefs, military chaplains are not only spiritual leaders but also serve as a clearinghouse for information and referral services at the base.
Chaplains assist service members of various military services with the unique challenges of military life: deployment, certain types of family stress unique to the military lifestyle, marital issues, depression, etc.
In addition to leading services, Chaplain Schecter will be available for one-on-one meetings with congregants; active duty and otherwise; while she is in Great Falls.
They're calling it the "Great Falls Effect"?!?!? Excuse Me?
They're calling it the "Great Falls Effect." Well, now we are known for something.
What you ask? Failure. Specifically, a failed Lewis and Clark event. Upcoming Lewis and Clark events in Missoula and Billings are being drastically scaled down so as not to recreate the massive disappointment we experienced here.
I am glad we could provide an object lesson?
What you ask? Failure. Specifically, a failed Lewis and Clark event. Upcoming Lewis and Clark events in Missoula and Billings are being drastically scaled down so as not to recreate the massive disappointment we experienced here.
I am glad we could provide an object lesson?
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