Because you asked

My recipe for pumpkin pie:

To prepare.
Go to the grocery. This step is unavoidable.
Find pumpkin in the can. Not that premixed stuff, just plain can of pumpkin.
Using the list of ingredients invariably printed on the label of the can of pumpkin, continue to wander the aisles until you find everything. Note: be clear on the difference between condensed and evaporated milk. Not the same thing, apparently.
Try to remember if there are spices left over from last year - they keep, right? Adjust shopping list accordingly. Do not use something called "pumpkin pie spice." You may as well just buy a ready made pie. (Which isn't a terrible thing. Most of the ready made pies are not bad at all.) You are already making something dead simple, leave a little room for variation.
An ingredient not always on the can of pumpkin: pie shells. These are in the frozen foods section. On the bottom toward the back. Wherever the less sexy frozen foods are. I believe that it is theoretically possible to make a pumpkin pie without the crust.
To bake.
Once home, follow the instructions on the can of pumpkin slavishly except use more spice than indicated. Nutmeg ("Need more nutmeg, Peggy Hill") and ginger in particular. Beware of ground cloves, very strong stuff.
Use big eggs. There is always pie filling left over so cook it in a custard cup or two. Don't eat it from the bowl, there's raw egg in there!
Wrap the crimped part of the crust in tinfoil if you think people will eat the crust. They won't, they never do.
Like tofu, there is a continuum of pumpkin pie firmness. Avoid the soft tofu effect. But don't bake too long or there will be a leathery skin on top. It's done when a knife slipped into the center of the pie comes out clean.
To serve.
Whipped cream is often used as a topping to balance out the fat and sugar with more sugar and fat. This strikes me as excessive but it is traditional. Eschew pumpkin pie cheesecake. There is a reason that first cousins shouldn't marry. Do not serve pumpkin pie with egg nog as nature herself will violently rebel. This is the holiday desert version of Egon Spengler's exhortation, "Don't Cross the Streams."

Neighbor's Trees

 
These are, I think, Japanese Maples. 

Chaotic Cranium Coffee

 
The crew at Cranium was a bit overwhelmed. I saw no progress on the remodel. Unhappy-making, that is.
 

Funnier Than Googling 'Failure'

Daily Kos
Waashington Post
To Google 'failure'

Keras Kan Klimb!

What a versatile beast!

Pic taken by phone in the dark. 

New Webcam Server Software

Logisphere is software from Switzerland. It's built with Logitech's Orbit (aka "Sphere") camera in mind. It will be linked from here soon enough.

Webcams Are Back Up

There is just as little to see as always but they are back up. The current hardware is a pair of USB webcams from Intel, CS630. Very dependable. Very handy. No Apple support. Blue and white. Untetherable. Higher quality than the usual webcam.

The disappointing Logitech Orbit is in a drawer. Mac supported, though.

The impressive yet disused iSight is also in a drawer. There is an ancient eyeball cam somewhere around as well as a couple of X10 2gH radio cams and the very very wee so-called security cam with the horrific quality. But it's wee!

Handspring eyemodule used recently but only as an historic oddity.

Also laid off four years ago.

It's been just over four years since I posted these pictures of a melee between the then-new Toa, backed up by the the then-Tohunga, and the Throwbots with an assist from the Roboriders. I have stitched the grainy dark pictures together and this is the result:

Matoran Crone

She wears the copper mask of victory - but victory over what?

Santa Yoda

Santa yoda
Originally uploaded by kyle_beatty.

Lovely Rose or Evil Eye?

Barista at Cranium was going for rose but did not convince himself.

picture.jpg
Originally uploaded by kyle_beatty.

Usagi?

The MOC from the earlier post had a protodermis incident (Bioniclese for parts bin) and came out rather the better for it.

Usagi?
Originally uploaded by kyle_beatty.

More pictures here.

Mask of Destiny forum.

Alien Hunter Samurai Robot Thingie

With the exception of the Toa Maiden, I avoid creating Bionicle characters because they never quite seem to fit into the universe smoothly enough. I found myself with a lot of spare parts (thanks Voporak!) and eventually this stout fellow emerged while I was watching Alfred Hitchcock's Blackmail. It comes across as equal parts Predator, samurai and linebacker. 


More pics

She's no Toa! Look at her - more like a stray Rahi. 

She had a Vahi! 

The Toa Maiden cowers while Voporak and the Shadowed One confer. 

Mata Nui! I won a contest!

maskofdestiny.com proposed a contest and I won one of the prizes: a DVD of Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows.

The winning entry:

Matoran's eye view:

Danger of Crushing and Electrocution

Picture(1.jpg
Originally uploaded by kyle_beatty.

Midnight Bionicle in the House of Hong

Picture(1.jpg
Originally uploaded by kyle_beatty.

Toa Iruini watches while I work. 

Voporak and the maiden

I have no explanation about what is pictured here.

Voporak leftover parts

Voporak leftover parts. Lots.

Voporak is coming

Mata Targhetta reports that the Voporak ("3-in-1") is on its way. The Toa Maiden must be made ready!

Toa Iruini & Sidorak at Costco

@ Cosrco
Originally uploaded by kyle_beatty.

Inept Diagram from Microsoft

Of all the things I have to complain about from Microsoft, I choose this relatively harmless instance of poor workmanship:



Jeez! You can't cross arrows on something called 'cross'!

Bill Maher's New Rules

Bill Maher agitates for recall of Bush.

"... and so the feudal system gives way to the more proletarian ..."

Toys Discourse
Originally uploaded by kyle_beatty.

Makuta Hides as Public Art in Pacific NW

Originally uploaded by kyle_beatty.

Gilligan!

Bob Denver died today.