What do you consider to be the most important things you can do in a muffin recipe to make it have a good crumb? It's not supposed to be too cakey, but the ones I've been making so far are denser than I like them. Randomly, the last ones I had from the place near work were the *best* I've had from there. I really want to know who their baker is.

Anyway, on my next go, I'm going to try baking soda as well as powder for leavening and hoping that opens it up a bit. Anything else?

Cute vid splicing many movies to make a trailer for Gotham High: [link]

When someone writes an ad that says "Why is it that complex pieces of technology come with equally complex instructions?"

Creepily, that ad came on exactly as I was reading that sentence.

Why can we dream of fighting a war against sentient robots we created so much more easily than we can dream of two black people and someone in a wheelchair on the team?

I only thought of this general thing recently, but really: why is realism ever a consideration? What on tv/film is actually realistic? Nothing, is what.

To paraphrase Dana, AUGH RUGBY.

I only thought of this general thing recently, but really: why is realism ever a consideration? What on tv/film is actually realistic? Nothing, is what.

This is why I have little to no patience for antiquated gender bullshit.

We just spent $800 on furniture at Ikea...

I only thought of this general thing recently, but really: why is realism ever a consideration? What on tv/film is actually realistic? Nothing, is what.

Well, I require some aspect (probably a set of aspects that must exceed some threshold number, really) to have plausible enough realism that I care what happens. That people really would behave like that, or talk like that, or those streets really intersect, or that's actually how physics works, something. But how much realism and in what aspects can vary a whole lot just for me, and I imagine other people have entirely different demands. So it isn't really a hittable target.

Ooh, Consuela, for your parents' new digs?

I'd probably go with silken tofu.

Speaking of which, Trader Joe's has silken tofu now, the shelf-stable kind like Mori-Nu (but with some Trader Joe's name). I'm thrilled because I need it to make a corn casserole dish for Thanksgiving.

That people really would behave like that, or talk like that, or those streets really intersect, or that's actually how physics works, something. But how much realism and in what aspects can vary a whole lot just for me, and I imagine other people have entirely different demands.

Sure -- because I know I've enjoyed stuff where none of those things were true, but probably not all at once.

Right - there needs to be something I can recognize, I think, but if there's nothing new, then why would I bother? So I like a mix.

Eta: although for me the "realism" doesn't have to reflect actual reality so much as be believable. So, for demographics, since most people overestimate minority populations, probably minorities should be over-represented in casting to increase plausibility.

Anne, you have a plan (why did I type dress? I guess that's my plans for today leaking out my fingers), and that's the important thing. Make sure everyone knows you have a plan--in a job that finally makes me feel like I am empowered and have a level of autonomy (although my boss wishes I did less¹). Take it from fuckup or possible fuckup to managed risk.

That's what I'm planning. I actually fired off an email to him today (went into work to check on something that was supposed to happen while I was out yesterday) and gave a brief précis of what I needed to go over with him (problem, solution). I sandwiched it in between two pieces of good news on the project. I do feel somewhat better.

Beverly, I've got a heavy workout scheduled for tomorrow morning, but I'm going to find something to do today. I do think that will help.