A Challenge

[KeilCoppes]

Naked Empire wasn't bad. Interesting ideas - their abilities weren't the danger, their beliefs were. I read a review of Jordan in which he claims that it is the duty of scifi writers to deal with concepts and morality.

I've read a bit of Herbert and his crossing of Islamic / Arab culture with scifi and eugenics is interesting. I very much enjoyed God-Emperor of Dune, but couldn't get past Chapterhouse. I wonder what it was that bogged me down.

One of the neat things about Herbert are his environmental ideas. I have particular interest since I'm in a semi-arid climate here in Colorado. I'd like to see lawn care be such that I don't have to water it or do much maintenance. Kentucky bluegrass really doesn't belong. Don't worry, though - I'm not about to rush out and try and build a stillsuit... the idea of working with and manipulating micro-climates is interesting, though.

 

[KeilCoppes]

I'm glad the bread is done I'm getting a little hungry. I'm gonna pick up Farnhams Freehold and Timestorm next time I'm on Amazon. They both sound like books I'd enjoy.

I had forgotton what Stranger was about - it was F.Freehold I was remembering. As for TimeStorm, it's ultimately about a man who doesn't have the ability to love and then some.

As for bread, tomato sauce and romano have been applied, and the edges brushed with olive oil. I'm using my pizza stone for the cooking for the first time. It's about time, since it was a christmas gift a few years ago. :^)

The ticker is ticking...

 

[kelco]

Every author has their own concepts and their own standards of morality and they are bound to be evident in the books they write. The interesting thing for me was how he portrayed an isolated culture. They were so intent on the aspect of peace that they forgot how to fight for what they believe in. Does that make sense?

Chapterhouse was a little hard to get through. It was more of a history of the Bene Gesserit religion and the history of Arrikis. Not a whole lot of plot line there.

Herbert was years ahead of his time on with the enviromental ideas. He stressed that the climate influences culture in more ways than one.

If you don't want to build a stillsuit, might try just a small still tent. That would take care of watering the grass.

 

[kelco]

I had forgotton what Stranger was about - it was F.Freehold I was remembering. As for TimeStorm, it's ultimately about a man who doesn't have the ability to love and then some.

As for bread, tomato sauce and romano have been applied, and the edges brushed with olive oil. I'm using my pizza stone for the cooking for the first time. It's about time, since it was a christmas gift a few years ago. :^)

The ticker is ticking...

I've always wanted to try a pizza stone. I get really good results by putting the pizza directly on the rack for the last few minutes of baking. I like a really crisp crust.

If you don't hurry up with the bread I'm going to perish from hunger.

 

[KeilCoppes]

OK - bread is done and pizzas are made. They smell good, and the bread was toasted on the pizza stone. Good consistency to the bread - it's a more european crumb, strong enough to hold together, but when toasted crumbles just the smallest bit. Mmmm.

And grapefruit juice. What can I say, I'm a single guy and I like grapefruit juice!

 

[kelco]

Sounds wonderful! Enjoy your food Keil. I'm off to bed. I need to get up for church in the morning. Nite!

 

[KeilCoppes]

The interesting thing for me was how he portrayed an isolated culture. They were so intent on the aspect of peace that they forgot how to fight for what they believe in. Does that make sense?

Absolutely. And it's a present-day commentary by Goodkind. You realize of course that this shows up in at least 3 other places?
In Battlestar Galactica the quote was "There are those who believe that the opposite of war is peace. We have come to learn that at times the opposite of war is slavery." That culture had to fight for their survival.
Jefferson's version was "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance".
And today there is fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not to be political, but Goodkind was saying that it is necessary to stand up for your principles and fight if necessary, even if it means war becomes necessary.

Chapterhouse was a little hard to get through. It was more of a history of the Bene Gesserit religion and the history of Arrikis. Not a whole lot of plot line there.

I can imagine - it's often a challenge to build an original and coherent plotline in a prequel. Some authors skip writing the back story to the back story, and it's hard to make things rich, coherent, and make all the details match up. Case in point - the current Star Wars movies. In that case, the author had changed philosophically between the writings and so they don't match up (Zen basis replaced with scientific basis).

Herbert was years ahead of his time on with the enviromental ideas. He stressed that the climate influences culture in more ways than one. If you don't want to build a stillsuit, might try just a small still tent. That would take care of watering the grass.

(smile) I currently have native species growing in the front yard and haven't watered all summer. They're due to be replaced. I was thinking of using buffalo grass. I was also surprised that you can grow a thyme yard with minimal watering. The goal is no watering. My home does have some mods to deal with the high heating costs, though.

 

[KeilCoppes]

Good night and enjoy your sabbath day!

 

[KeilCoppes]

OK, end of the day!

did you know you can make French bread pizza from italian bread? I'll put my vote in for the focaccia-style pizza, even cold.... mmmmm.

 

[Out of the Flames]

Mmmm....It's been so long since I've made homemade focaccia. I even have sun dried tomatoes in my pantry somewhere and a box of italian bread mix that I could throw in for the machine to make dough out of and then throw some sun dried tomatoes and basil and a little bit of parmesan cheese at the end of baking.

<drool> I'll have to remember to do that after I get back from vacation.

 

[wvmtnkid]

This thread took a yummy turn again. I think maybe Keil should have been a chef instead of an engineer.....

 

[LadyDJ]

Good morning everyone

 

[Tink]

Pizza sounds great. Any leftovers?

PS HI everyone.

In Christ,
Tink

 

[Out of the Flames]

BTW - where does Trogdor come from? I have a work acquaintance who used to draw him on whiteboards. I thought he made him up himself.

Trogdor was a character from a Strong Bad email. Pretty funny stuff. www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail scroll down to the one called Trogdor. I had a great laugh over that one.

 

[KeilCoppes]

Mmmm....It's been so long since I've made homemade focaccia. I even have sun dried tomatoes in my pantry somewhere and a box of italian bread mix that I could throw in for the machine to make dough out of and then throw some sun dried tomatoes and basil and a little bit of parmesan cheese at the end of baking.

<drool> I'll have to remember to do that after I get back from vacation.

I have yet to make my own from-scratch sun-dried tomato bread. I've made the mixes, but I've had challenges in finding sun-dried tomatoes. They're not all that common an off-the-shelf ingredient around here. Maybe if I tried over at Wild Oats...

 

[KeilCoppes]

This thread took a yummy turn again. I think maybe Keil should have been a chef instead of an engineer.....

Well, I'm just an inventor in general. Cooking and engineering are just two sides of the same coin. :^)

(plus, my resident chef never showed up!)

 

[KeilCoppes]

Pizza sounds great. Any leftovers?

You're about a day too late - the last of the pizza made a nice Sunday evening meal. I have enough bread to make more, though. :^)

 

[Out of the Flames]

I have yet to make my own from-scratch sun-dried tomato bread. I've made the mixes, but I've had challenges in finding sun-dried tomatoes. They're not all that common an off-the-shelf ingredient around here. Maybe if I tried over at Wild Oats...

You should be able to find them at Safeway, packed in oil. They're in the produce aisle, usually on an endcap. If not there, check in the aisle with the olives and pepperocinis.

 

[Tink]

You're about a day too late - the last of the pizza made a nice Sunday evening meal. I have enough bread to make more, though. :^)

I'm going to make some Jewish cookies tomorrow. I can't remember what they're called. Anyhow, I'm looking forward to making something new. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

I hope everyone is having a good week.

In Christ,
Tink

 

[KeilCoppes]

You should be able to find them at Safeway, packed in oil. They're in the produce aisle, usually on an endcap. If not there, check in the aisle with the olives and pepperocinis.

I've seen various types, but I wonder - does anyone make dry and almost powdered sun-dried tomatoes? I'd like to pre-mix some bread mixes.