Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Sites | Writers | Advertise | My Orble | Login
 

Earl Leonard

Ballarat, Victoria, AUSTRALIA


Joined August 3rd 2008

Number of Posts:
9

Number of Comments:
32

Karma:
9



Tags & Posts

Bookmark Tags



Popular Tags

Blogs

Earl Leonard's Blogs

522 Vote(s)
16 Comment(s)
7 Post(s)
74 Vote(s)
0 Comment(s)
2 Post(s)

I mentor these bloggers

Learn more about the Orble Mentoring Program.


I do not mentor any bloggers.

Recent Posts

Hey baby, what've you been cooking?

October 10th 2008 03:14
Good question. I've been very busy in the kitchen, actually...

I’ve steamed peas, beans, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, squash, broccoli, zucchini and cauliflower. I’ve stewed apple and pears, baked fish, boiled eggs yolk and fried minced lamb.

And I’ve mixed up batches of the above in various combinations, sometimes with rice or oat cereal or yogurt.

You guessed it.

I've been making baby food; lots and lots of baby food.

Jasper loves it (which makes sense, given how he's a baby and all).

Rach and I are quite lucky; one area we’ve definitely not had any problems in is getting the little fellow to eat, and eat well, without ever over indulging I don't think.

He particularly likes sweet potato (his Granddad is so proud), pears and cereal, and the fish/pumpkin/zucchini combination.

It’s so gratifying preparing food for such and enthusiastic diner. And he’s getting to the age (9 months) where we can start getting more adventurous with the meals we serve. Rachel’s bought a new organic cook book specifically for that purpose. Some of the recipes look great, but I can’t remember what it’s called! (I’m at work on my lunch break) I’ll let you know, though.

Conversely the little piglet (according to the Chinese calendar anyway, though he seams more like a monkey to me) can handle more raw food and feed himself a bit now as well.

He likes strawberries, celery, and even fennel. He does enjoy gnawing on his rusks (he has been teething a bit recently) but seams to prefer banging them on the table to eating them.

One other thing he does love is Avocado (one of his mum’s favourite foods) and I love it as well. It’s basically the baby food of the gods; very little fuss and not too much mess. Relatively.

I can’t praise it enough.

However, I’d love to learn as many tricks as I can, so if any parents/carers find themselves reading this post, please share with me your baby food favourites. Jasper will really appreciate it, believe you me.

So yeah, that’s the main reason I haven’t had much other food on the brain to blog about. But I wouldn’t have it any other way!
64
Vote
Comments (5)Comments (5) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Earl Leonard - Category: No Category
   


Why did the chicken cross the road? (LINK)

September 5th 2008 02:00
So that's a classic, and I remember the day when I actually got it, and realised why it was funny and not just obvious. I mean, `to get to the other side'?? Of course! Why else would a chicken (or anyone else for that matter) cross the road?

Well, to be fair, we all have reasons that qualify the `get to the other side' result.

One of my favourites (since I work as an Accounts Clerk in my day job I guess) is:

Why did the accountant cross the road?

Because he checked the records and they said he did it last year.

Lol

Hmm

No?

Ok.

Anyhow...

Here's a few I came up with a couple of nights ago (I think; maybe I've just remembered them. But I'm pretty sure they're my own).


Why did the Jazz Musician cross the road?

Because he felt like it


Why did the Artist cross the road?

Why do you think she did?


Why did the Old Punk cross the road?

Because Margaret Thatcher is a cow


Why did the Hammer cross the road?

It was time.


So, there you go. Anyone else have any good ones? Either way, keep crossing dem roads, you never know what interesting people, um, chickens you might meet.

Earl.
31
Vote
Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Earl Leonard - Category: No Category
   


A quote from my wife, Rachel

August 29th 2008 01:04
"It's kind of satisfying to feel this frustrated"

Rachel Skrobalak
28/08/2008

Nice one, isn't it?

Context:

Rachel, amongst other things, is a painter, photogramer, collagist etc but it's been a while since she's worked on any specific art project. (We had a baby, Jasper, in January!) Recently, however, she started working on illustrations for a story she's written. It's awesome, but things aren't quite coming together super-smoothly on one particular page.

I know what she means.

Rachel's delicious thoughts often inspire my own, (and vice-versa I hope!) so I thought this a fitting first post. I've been keeping a pocket note book, writing down interesting things people have said to me for years now, so I might go though the archives and find them to share with any readers that might happen by. I hope you'll enjoy them.

Earl Leonard
25
Vote
Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Earl Leonard - Category: No Category
   


Should I tell my friends? (LINK)

August 29th 2008 00:33
Some people know from a very young age. They may not have a word for it, but they know. It’s just the way they are.

Others, however, don’t make the realisation for a very long time. Nothing happened to change them. It wasn’t a decision they made. It just took a while for them to be self aware enough to overcome social expectations


[ Click here to read more ]
84
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (6)Comments (6) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Earl Leonard - Category: No Category
   


Sounds like love, but what's the sigh for?

August 16th 2008 06:08
Right, I'll have none of that `you can use water or skim-milk' malarkey thank you very much.

If you're gonna scramble eggs, it has to be a tablespoon of CREAM per egg, consarn it


[ Click here to read more ]
63
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (3)Comments (3) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Earl Leonard - Category: No Category
   


The End of an Era or The Death of a Dream? (LINK)

August 16th 2008 05:19
Oh man.

As you know, I started writing my thoughts about food a week ago. And, as you do, I rang up my mum to tell her about it


[ Click here to read more ]
56
Vote
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Earl Leonard - Category: No Category
   


Knock One Up

August 4th 2008 23:23
Does anyone else make soup out of the water they cooked their silverside in? That’s pretty standard right? Or is it just me (and my mum)?

I mean, you’ve boiled your meat (with hunks of onion, tablespoon of raw sugar, couple of bay leaves, maybe a clove or two and half a cup of malt vinegar) and eaten a meal of that with some good old fashioned mash potatoes, steamed cabbage and beans. You’ve plenty of corned beef left over for sandwiches as well. But why throw out the flavor with the beef water


[ Click here to read more ]
74
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (1)Comments (1) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Earl Leonard - Category: No Category
   


A Matter of Life and Death

August 3rd 2008 10:33
The kids were a nightmare last night, and you’re running late this morning; no time to prepare a `proper’ lunch. It’s such a frequent situation that the wallet’s feeling the pressure of eating out too often. What’s the answer?!

Two Minute Noodles


[ Click here to read more ]
70
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (1)Comments (1) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Earl Leonard - Category: No Category
   


Welcome Post

August 3rd 2008 08:18
Wouldn't it be nice if these weren't optional, but rather obligatory? I'd like there to be Welcome Posts in all towns and cities, something to lean on while you take a moment to catch your breath upon arrival to contemplate the journey completed and the journey just begun. So, please, lean on something and prepare yourself for a medium small regional city's worth of possibilities.

Earl


[ Click here to read more ]
48
Vote
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Earl Leonard - Category: No Category
   


  

Recent Comments

Comment by Earl Leonard
on Richard Dawkins on atheism

November 22nd 2008 07:46


Cook Focus
Earlsthoughts
Yeah sure if I was writing a paper I would have sourced some outside material, but this is an informal discussion! And anyway, why bother siting such a well established bit of information so easily verifiable (as Ruby says). If I said that water was wet would you need me to proove it? (I would have thought the scientific experts would be those with the greater evidence?) Ironically the thrust of my initial comment was in a way defending creationism; I was making an ulterior case for why the statistics may be as they are opposed to the suggestion that science convinces people against such beliefs. But I guess its true, as David surmised, I have a philosophy background and that's just the way I role. (I'll check myself, but you need to recheck your definition of objectivity).

Comment by Earl Leonard
on I'm An Atheist And I'm Proud

November 22nd 2008 07:38


Cook Focus
Earlsthoughts
Wynona, no worries then!

Morgan, yeah, exactly.

I think in part people get so used to `sound bite' points and summaries (coupled with a pop cultural belief that twists `everyone has an equal right to an opinion' into `all opinions are equal') that their willingness to anylise the nuances of an argument diminishes. On the other hand I am a wordy bastard so I can't blame people for switching off too much!

It didn't help that half the time I couldn't understand what they were trying to say either (slang, poor syntax and bad jokes)!

Damn even when someone agrees with me I can't talk straight... my wife must have the patience of a saint.

Jamoz, I thought the whole point was that god heard you no matter how loudly you spoke? (Its more a question of how he responds...). And some falls are felix culpa and everyone diserves a chance of redemption (heck, God would forgive Lucifer if he but asked, or at least that's my understanding).

Comment by Earl Leonard
on Hey baby, what've you been cooking?

November 22nd 2008 07:22


Cook Focus
Earlsthoughts
I was a big fan of green playdoe (didnt like the other colors) and legos myself.

Not only do they still make farex, they make it in a greater array of varities! Jasper likes egg yolk and milk mixed with the oat/date variety. And yes, Ive tried some and it's still yummy.

Comment by Earl Leonard
on Richard Dawkins on atheism

November 21st 2008 05:33


Cook Focus
Earlsthoughts
Sorry Damo, (if some of your ire is directed towards me) I totally misinterpreted your previous comment with my last reply. Now that I've reread all your comments for greater clarity... I can't follow your first comment too well, sorry... but after that yeah I see where Morgan took one phrase you used "objective science" and ran somewhere else with it (possibly due to prior experience of hers outside of this conversation?) and understand why you've taken offence.

However, I think it is a fairly empty- bordering on tautological- term; the scientific method is supposed to foster objectivity but it is darn near impossible to avoid some subjectivity when postulating hypothesis or formulating theories, after all `we're only human'. However, I do think that lateral thinking and leaps of logic (hunches etc), while not necessarily objective, have been very useful in terms of developing insights and suggesting pathways of explore. Also, economics, game theory, fuzzy logic and even chaos theory, to an extent, are areas where being completely objective is near to impossible, and subjective logic can be more readily and successfully applied.

The problem arises I think when one or another set of scienctist demand their conclusions be accepted as objective over contrary conclusions of another set; especially in relation to such and area as Intelligent Design vs. Natural Selection where clearly insufficient evidence exists to make such conclusions.

However it is the position of the majority of scientists that Natural Selection and other non-intelligent design based theories- hold more worth of exploration and value as applicable approaches to discovery. Whether that proves true will have to be seen. (The majority have been wrong before).

I do definitely agree that many of Dawkins methods are inexact and he was downright rude, to the point of behaving irrationally, at some points in his doco series, which does his (and his "followers") cause no good, regardless of whether one agrees with his basic premise or not. (I am as yet udnersided on the issue).

However in regards to being `...quick to tout their scientific qualifications': you asked, dude! It’s a bit disingenuous to draw issue with us answering.

Comment by Earl Leonard
on Richard Dawkins on atheism

November 21st 2008 01:44


Cook Focus
Earlsthoughts
Yeah, I can live with that.

Comment by Earl Leonard
on Richard Dawkins on atheism

November 20th 2008 23:16


Cook Focus
Earlsthoughts
Lady Henrietta Muddling,

Morgon's original comment was nice a simple, and you didn't get it... or you were just being contrary. I chose to give you credit and act as if the former (since misunderstanding is a better thing that being intentionally disagreeable). I admit I'm not very succinct, but I was merely trying to be precise and had no ulterior motive I assure you. Simplicity, for brevities sake, has value, but to risk over-simplicity for this reason alone is to risk the pursuit for truth, which I hold as a thing with far greater value.

If you got what Morgan was saying in the first place, you could have just told me, but you chose instead to be facetious, which is your own prerogative. Just like taking offence and ranting was mine I guess.

Morgan, I don't actually think Damo was having a shot at you, but at the Intelligent Design folks you were taking to task.

Cibbuano, that's a good example and a good point.

I think the ID folks throw around the term `objective' to try and seem less bias and argue that natural selection proponents are making subjective leaps of logic in their `god is not required' conclusions (which mayhap they are). But, I think I've already stated (quite extensively) why I think ID theory misses the point of scientific pursuit. Although, I don't subscribe to strict natural selection as an evolutionary theory either, and think something more sophisticated- controlled necessitated mutation- might occur.

Damn, I really do suck at concision, don’t I? Thanks for your patience folks.

Comment by Earl Leonard
on I'm An Atheist And I'm Proud

November 20th 2008 22:43


Cook Focus
Earlsthoughts
Ok, Wynona, sorry I was a bit tetchy because Id just had an argument on another blog! (Very bad form) So, I’m sorry for being over sensitive and rude, though I stand by Atheism not being the same thing as non-religious. Since many Buddhists, adherents of Shinto and- dare I say it- Scientologists consider themselves Atheist without any apparent contradiction. And I used the oxford too! (Mine must be a different edition, or we made different conclusions from the same source material, which of course happens all the time).

Ruby, like I said I don’t mean to say Atheism is a religion or indeed very much like a religion at all, but it is a philosophical position that requires an element of belief, (i.e. it has one thing in common with religion) and I prefer the subtly different position of agnosticism, that deems there is too little evidence one way or the other to form a definite opinion, so doesn't believe anything (but disbelieves plenty).

Its justifiable cynical fence sitting! Come on, give it a try!

Oops, now I'm acting like I'm in a religion...

Comment by Earl Leonard
on I'm An Atheist And I'm Proud

November 20th 2008 11:05


Cook Focus
Earlsthoughts
Wynona Lavota,

Yeah, they'd be a tool... or, y'know, someone with a more sophisticated understanding of language and the usage of words that some try hard smart-arse with a (emphasis on the little) Latin and Greek. (Emoticons don't excuse you from being rude).

If we're talking strict definitions Theism, is belief in deities (gods) and is not synonymous with `religion' since there are religions, such as Taoism and Buddhism, where gods are not required (although some followers of these faiths do believe in the existence of gods, the religions' basic tenants are not dependant upon their existence). Similarly many pagan religions don't hold that the gods created the universe as you surmise, but only that they govern it.

However in day-to-day usage Atheism is used to mean non-religious. I.e. the meaning of a word is not precisely the same as its compounds.

And anyway I wasn't arguing that Atheism was a religion I said that it (meaning as a position) seemed too finite. Eg Since Atheism requires a belief that there are no gods or, more generally speaking, that the religions of the world are incorrect it has something in common with religions that Agnosticism (my position) does not. Belief.

While I think their is sufficient evidence to dismiss most major religions so called reasons behind their belief systems I refute the idea that this automatically dismisses the possibility of deities or indeed an accurate religion, and prefer to remain noncommittal to a position until a more workable theory is presented.

As to your second paragraph... your being simplistic but I don't disagree with some of your basic premises.

E.

RubySoho, thanks for the thought provoking mini manifesto!

Comment by Earl Leonard
on Richard Dawkins on atheism

November 20th 2008 06:10


Cook Focus
Earlsthoughts
Note: religion, not ethics! Ethical standards are very important in regard to scientific procedure. Phew!