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I AM SINISTAR
Posted 15 years agoI found a new notification ringtone.
http://www.sinistar.com/iamsinistar.wav
http://www.sinistar.com/iamsinistar.wav
Cap'n's Recipes: Nordic Sushi
Posted 15 years agoI found this recipe in a book on fine Scandinavian cuisine. It was delicious, and a definite keeper. Unfortunately, I used up all the pickled herring, and it was all eaten within minutes, so I'll need to wait until I do it again to take pictures. Here's the recipe though, in case you want to try it for yourself:
Pickled Herring Sushi-style
3/4 pound fingerling or Yukon Gold potatoes
1 tablespoon mustard oil or olive oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon wasabi powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 whole pickled herring fillets or one 12-ounce jar (or two 6-ounce jars) pickled herring (home-style or in wine sauce,not in sour cream),drained
Purple Mustard (optional--as a garnish)
At Aquavit, we use a sushi mat to prepare these, but the potato mixture can also be simply shaped into logs on a cutting board, as described here.
1. Put the potatoes in a medium saucepan, add salted water to cover by 1 inch, and bring to a boil. Cook for 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain and let stand until cool enough to handle.
2. Peel the potatoes, put them in a medium bowl, and mash well with a fork. Add the mustard oil, Dijon mustard, rice vinegar, wasabi, and salt, and mix well.
3. Divide the potato mixture into quarters. On a board or other work surface, roll each portion under your palms into a log about 1 inch in diameter and 9 inches long.
4. If using whole herring fillets, slice them on the diagonal into 1/2-inch-wide strips. If necessary, cut any larger pieces of jarred herring in half, or trim them to fit the potatoes. Cut the mashed potato logs into 1-1/2-inch lengths. Stand them on end and top each one with a piece of herring. Serve at room temperature, or refrigerate and serve chilled.
5. Just before serving, garnish each piece of “sushi” with a dollop of purple mustard.
serves 6 to 8 as an appetizer, 8 to 10 as part of a buffet
Pickled Herring Sushi-style
3/4 pound fingerling or Yukon Gold potatoes
1 tablespoon mustard oil or olive oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon wasabi powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 whole pickled herring fillets or one 12-ounce jar (or two 6-ounce jars) pickled herring (home-style or in wine sauce,not in sour cream),drained
Purple Mustard (optional--as a garnish)
At Aquavit, we use a sushi mat to prepare these, but the potato mixture can also be simply shaped into logs on a cutting board, as described here.
1. Put the potatoes in a medium saucepan, add salted water to cover by 1 inch, and bring to a boil. Cook for 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain and let stand until cool enough to handle.
2. Peel the potatoes, put them in a medium bowl, and mash well with a fork. Add the mustard oil, Dijon mustard, rice vinegar, wasabi, and salt, and mix well.
3. Divide the potato mixture into quarters. On a board or other work surface, roll each portion under your palms into a log about 1 inch in diameter and 9 inches long.
4. If using whole herring fillets, slice them on the diagonal into 1/2-inch-wide strips. If necessary, cut any larger pieces of jarred herring in half, or trim them to fit the potatoes. Cut the mashed potato logs into 1-1/2-inch lengths. Stand them on end and top each one with a piece of herring. Serve at room temperature, or refrigerate and serve chilled.
5. Just before serving, garnish each piece of “sushi” with a dollop of purple mustard.
serves 6 to 8 as an appetizer, 8 to 10 as part of a buffet
A Brief Word on Password Security
Posted 15 years agoHow to stay secure online:
Use a tiered password system.
You don't want to have to remember a unique, high-security password for every website you visit. While doing so is good practice, most people don't want the hassle, so it's important to recognize where you can compromise on your password security, and where you can't.
Lower-Tier websites may include things like livejournal, blogs, FA, various social networking sites. If a website does not contain personally identifiable information or financial information of any kind, then keeping it secure is less of a priority. It's ok to recycle a password on these sites, but keep in mind: passwords should STILL be at least 8 characters, be resistant to a dictionary attack, and include numbers or symbols. This will buy you time should a password database be compromised, and allow you to change your passwords and reclaim any affected accounts.
Mid-Tier websites are anything that contains personally identifiable information or limited financial information. If you have a registered/paid account on any website, or use it to conduct RL business, you should use at least a mid-tier password. Mid-tier passwords should be strong (10+ characters), resistant to dictionary attack, and include numbers or symbols. They should only be recycled on websites where an identical set of information is at risk. For example, if you have two websites that have overlapping data sets at risk (say, both have your full name and email, and one has a phone number, and the other has an address), then the passwords should be different. But if one site is basically just a clone of the other on a different medium, you're not risking much by using the same password.
Top-Tier websites include anything with sensitive data such as exploitable financial information, confidential information, or that may contain information pertaining to the access of other accounts. Your email is one of them, because it could be used to gain access to other accounts that have been registered with it, even if it, itself, does not contain sensitive information. All marketplace accounts like ebay, amazon, paypal, etc... are likewise in this category. All top-tier passwords should be very strong (16+ characters, including both numbers and symbols where possible) and should be unique for every site. These passwords should be changed occasionally, preferably every 3-6 months.
Tips on password management:
If any top-tier sites offer two-factor authentication via security tokens, use them! This is standard for most banks in Europe, though in the US adoption rates are lower. If you're using a security token for your WoW account, it's a clear indication that you need to get back to spending more time in real life.
Keep your backup plans up to date. Ensure email addresses on your various sites are up to date in case a reset is necessary, and hang on to any correspondence or account information you receive, in case you need it later to prove your identity and reclaim an account.
Record your passwords, using an encrypted database on a device requiring physical access such as your desktop PC or a thumb drive, protected with its own top-tier password. Built-in browser password managers that offer a master password and encryption are also safe on desktop computers, but are not recommended on laptops or other mobile PCs. This is also important because if a low or mid tier password gets compromised, you can quickly reference your centralized password list to find out which other accounts are affected and change the password on all of them.
Don't use security questions on mid/top tier sites! if a website requires it, enter another unique password of the appropriate tier, unrelated to the question as the answer to the question, and save that password as a backup. Security questions are a weak link, especially when they're drop-down menu questions that someone other than yourself could potentially know. "What is my mother's maiden name?" is not a secure question! Your mother knows it. Anyone else in your family knows it, and other people can research it. Put ZaRNw0yk7 or something as the answer instead and remember/store what you put.
Any ditchable accounts, temporary accounts, or other accounts that you don't intend to hang on to or remember for a long period of time, such as emails for spam use, forum accounts for forums you never visit, etc... should all have unique passwords, regardless of tier. This is so that if you forget about them, a password breach on one of those sites won't come back to bite you in the ass. For these sites, it is also a good idea to falsify personal information wherever applicable. Your name will be John Smith and you will live at 1234 fake drive, genericville.
Use random passwords for mid/top tier accounts, especially if you're keeping them in your browser. You won't need to remember them, and if you do forget and don't have your usual browser available or your encrypted physical password storage database with you, you can perform a password reset, and use it as an excuse to update/change your password. On mid and low-tier sites, the random password generated by a password reset action may be adequate and entropic enough to keep as your password, rather than changing it again. As a bonus, your browser, and your top-tier protected email, should then have copies of the newly generated password already stored when they send it to you, and you can just look it up later.
Use unique passwords on any websites with a poor history of security, previous leaks, or in general questionable security practices. If the password handling does not seem secure or professional to you, for example, passing a password through a third party at registration, not using https, etc... you should never recycle that password. Good password security is defined as end-to-end encryption to prevent interception, a good one-way hashing algorithm to prevent decoding if the database is leaked, and complete lack of human involvement. If a website is capable of telling you what your password is after you've put it in, it's not secure!
Some good tools for you:
1) Random Password Generator: https://secure.pctools.com/guides/p.....;generate=true
2) Password Strength Checker: http://www.passwordmeter.com/
If you have a top-tier site as I've defined above that is not rated "very strong" by this, you should re-think your password!
Use a tiered password system.
You don't want to have to remember a unique, high-security password for every website you visit. While doing so is good practice, most people don't want the hassle, so it's important to recognize where you can compromise on your password security, and where you can't.
Lower-Tier websites may include things like livejournal, blogs, FA, various social networking sites. If a website does not contain personally identifiable information or financial information of any kind, then keeping it secure is less of a priority. It's ok to recycle a password on these sites, but keep in mind: passwords should STILL be at least 8 characters, be resistant to a dictionary attack, and include numbers or symbols. This will buy you time should a password database be compromised, and allow you to change your passwords and reclaim any affected accounts.
Mid-Tier websites are anything that contains personally identifiable information or limited financial information. If you have a registered/paid account on any website, or use it to conduct RL business, you should use at least a mid-tier password. Mid-tier passwords should be strong (10+ characters), resistant to dictionary attack, and include numbers or symbols. They should only be recycled on websites where an identical set of information is at risk. For example, if you have two websites that have overlapping data sets at risk (say, both have your full name and email, and one has a phone number, and the other has an address), then the passwords should be different. But if one site is basically just a clone of the other on a different medium, you're not risking much by using the same password.
Top-Tier websites include anything with sensitive data such as exploitable financial information, confidential information, or that may contain information pertaining to the access of other accounts. Your email is one of them, because it could be used to gain access to other accounts that have been registered with it, even if it, itself, does not contain sensitive information. All marketplace accounts like ebay, amazon, paypal, etc... are likewise in this category. All top-tier passwords should be very strong (16+ characters, including both numbers and symbols where possible) and should be unique for every site. These passwords should be changed occasionally, preferably every 3-6 months.
Tips on password management:
If any top-tier sites offer two-factor authentication via security tokens, use them! This is standard for most banks in Europe, though in the US adoption rates are lower. If you're using a security token for your WoW account, it's a clear indication that you need to get back to spending more time in real life.
Keep your backup plans up to date. Ensure email addresses on your various sites are up to date in case a reset is necessary, and hang on to any correspondence or account information you receive, in case you need it later to prove your identity and reclaim an account.
Record your passwords, using an encrypted database on a device requiring physical access such as your desktop PC or a thumb drive, protected with its own top-tier password. Built-in browser password managers that offer a master password and encryption are also safe on desktop computers, but are not recommended on laptops or other mobile PCs. This is also important because if a low or mid tier password gets compromised, you can quickly reference your centralized password list to find out which other accounts are affected and change the password on all of them.
Don't use security questions on mid/top tier sites! if a website requires it, enter another unique password of the appropriate tier, unrelated to the question as the answer to the question, and save that password as a backup. Security questions are a weak link, especially when they're drop-down menu questions that someone other than yourself could potentially know. "What is my mother's maiden name?" is not a secure question! Your mother knows it. Anyone else in your family knows it, and other people can research it. Put ZaRNw0yk7 or something as the answer instead and remember/store what you put.
Any ditchable accounts, temporary accounts, or other accounts that you don't intend to hang on to or remember for a long period of time, such as emails for spam use, forum accounts for forums you never visit, etc... should all have unique passwords, regardless of tier. This is so that if you forget about them, a password breach on one of those sites won't come back to bite you in the ass. For these sites, it is also a good idea to falsify personal information wherever applicable. Your name will be John Smith and you will live at 1234 fake drive, genericville.
Use random passwords for mid/top tier accounts, especially if you're keeping them in your browser. You won't need to remember them, and if you do forget and don't have your usual browser available or your encrypted physical password storage database with you, you can perform a password reset, and use it as an excuse to update/change your password. On mid and low-tier sites, the random password generated by a password reset action may be adequate and entropic enough to keep as your password, rather than changing it again. As a bonus, your browser, and your top-tier protected email, should then have copies of the newly generated password already stored when they send it to you, and you can just look it up later.
Use unique passwords on any websites with a poor history of security, previous leaks, or in general questionable security practices. If the password handling does not seem secure or professional to you, for example, passing a password through a third party at registration, not using https, etc... you should never recycle that password. Good password security is defined as end-to-end encryption to prevent interception, a good one-way hashing algorithm to prevent decoding if the database is leaked, and complete lack of human involvement. If a website is capable of telling you what your password is after you've put it in, it's not secure!
Some good tools for you:
1) Random Password Generator: https://secure.pctools.com/guides/p.....;generate=true
2) Password Strength Checker: http://www.passwordmeter.com/
If you have a top-tier site as I've defined above that is not rated "very strong" by this, you should re-think your password!
F-List passwords leaked, change your passwords!
Posted 15 years agoanyone using f-list, be sure to change your passwords there and any other site you use with same/similar pass
http://typewith.me/ep/pad/view/ro.b.....RoXRw3f/latest
http://typewith.me/ep/pad/view/ro.b.....RoXRw3f/latest
Tax Returns!
Posted 15 years agoWhat are you going to do with yours?
Last year, I paid dental bills, and the year before that, I bought food and clothes. This year, I'm thinking rent.
I'd always wanted to spend it on toys (yes, those kinds of toys..) or a new vehicle, but as before, there's always next year...
Finally got issues worked out with unemployment, got about 15 weeks left of coverage, and my benefit is actually going up a smidgen, so barring finding a job before then, I should be able to save up enough to cover expenses and keep on the search another month or two, which should give me time to find food/housing assistance should I really need it (I'm hoping not).
Last year, I paid dental bills, and the year before that, I bought food and clothes. This year, I'm thinking rent.
I'd always wanted to spend it on toys (yes, those kinds of toys..) or a new vehicle, but as before, there's always next year...
Finally got issues worked out with unemployment, got about 15 weeks left of coverage, and my benefit is actually going up a smidgen, so barring finding a job before then, I should be able to save up enough to cover expenses and keep on the search another month or two, which should give me time to find food/housing assistance should I really need it (I'm hoping not).
Apologies..
Posted 15 years agoI have been really stressed out, depressed, feeling kinda ill, and not myself lately... I apologize to anyone I've been short with lately, and for all the bitching and complaining in my journal.
a few epic pictures.
Posted 15 years agoThe Markov bot strikes again.
Posted 15 years agoRuadri Art CD
Posted 15 years agoDuke Nukem Forever Release Date Announced.
Posted 15 years agohttp://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/.....ease-date.aspx
Happy everything, now leave me alone until next year.
Happy everything, now leave me alone until next year.
Star Trek and the Y-Axis
Posted 15 years agohttp://www.cleverthingstosay.com/20.....nd-the-y-axis/
I lol'd pretty damn hard.
also: http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3861/svchcopy.png
I lol'd pretty damn hard.
also: http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3861/svchcopy.png
Last Reminder, Sushi meetup TODAY at 1 or 2 PM
Posted 15 years agoI have not gotten phone numbers yet, so I can't coordinate to take anyone with us. If you want to come, note me with a way I can contact you!
FC2011 Sushi Meet: Sunday lunch at Sunnyvale Hanamaru
Posted 15 years agoWe'll probably be aiming for 1-2 PM on Sunday, so you can mark it down as tntatively scheduled for that time. SEND ME A TEXT MESSAGE SO I HAVE YOUR NUMBER AND CAN COORDINATE TIME/TRANSIT if you're coming. PM me if you need my number.
RSVP in this journal too, if you can.
We can dive one o to people in our car, so additional transport will be needed. If you have a car and can drive people, let me know.
Hanamaru is a small sushi boat shop in Sunnyvale about 15-20 minutes from the con. It is WELL WORTH the drive. Prices generally run from $7 to $13 a roll (8 piece specialty rolls), and 2-3 rolls can make a meal. There are also less expensive classic rolls and a number of other menu items to choose from. Nothing on the menu is NOT amazing.
RSVP in this journal too, if you can.
We can dive one o to people in our car, so additional transport will be needed. If you have a car and can drive people, let me know.
Hanamaru is a small sushi boat shop in Sunnyvale about 15-20 minutes from the con. It is WELL WORTH the drive. Prices generally run from $7 to $13 a roll (8 piece specialty rolls), and 2-3 rolls can make a meal. There are also less expensive classic rolls and a number of other menu items to choose from. Nothing on the menu is NOT amazing.
FC 2011 Sushi meet, journal II
Posted 15 years agoso far loks like maybe Haya, JT and Teh for the sushi meet, as well as Solei, probably some other house members here. Anyone with interest in it, please let me know what dates/times you'll be here and suggest any times you may think will work best. Will do one more journal after this for RSVP and counting rides.
Will be going to Hanamaru sushi in sunnyvale, near the con, probably on Saturday, though date is still flexible/unknown.
Will be going to Hanamaru sushi in sunnyvale, near the con, probably on Saturday, though date is still flexible/unknown.
I think switchblde is a pretty cool guy
Posted 15 years agoeh plays PC games and doesn't afraid of anything
http://www2.razerzone.com/switchblade
Pretty neat concept, although I'm not sure I agree on the idea of a tiny clamshell keyboard and touchscreen as being a replacement for KB and mouse... using both at once just doesn't seem very natural. Perhaps it wold have been better to have something like a miniature trackball that could fold out from the underside of the deice.
http://www2.razerzone.com/switchblade
Pretty neat concept, although I'm not sure I agree on the idea of a tiny clamshell keyboard and touchscreen as being a replacement for KB and mouse... using both at once just doesn't seem very natural. Perhaps it wold have been better to have something like a miniature trackball that could fold out from the underside of the deice.
>:C
Posted 15 years agoSo the new republican congress and house finally stepped in yesterday. By the end of the first day they had already begun the process of repealing the health care reform bill, and made plans to scale back all of the major government spending cuts initiated by Obama and the democratic congress, aiming for zero-sum progress in Washington.
I for one am getting really, REALLY tired of this bullshit, AND of all the republicans and their supporters still pointing fingers at Obama and blaming him for failure to deliver on change.
Now, until at least 2013, Obama can still veto the repeal bill, but it's pretty clear already that the republicans plan to use anything they can like this to tie up washington in the meantime and prevent ANYTHING good from happening until then, to ensure that we can't have nice things.
I've known this shit would happen all along, but that doesn't make me any less pissed off to see it happening now. :[
I for one am getting really, REALLY tired of this bullshit, AND of all the republicans and their supporters still pointing fingers at Obama and blaming him for failure to deliver on change.
Now, until at least 2013, Obama can still veto the repeal bill, but it's pretty clear already that the republicans plan to use anything they can like this to tie up washington in the meantime and prevent ANYTHING good from happening until then, to ensure that we can't have nice things.
I've known this shit would happen all along, but that doesn't make me any less pissed off to see it happening now. :[
WOOT! Samsung BT Headset GET!
Posted 15 years agohttp://www.woot.com/
$5 after MIR for today's deal. Got me one. :3
$5 after MIR for today's deal. Got me one. :3
FC 2011, Sushi meetup?
Posted 15 years agoSo I'm planning on being at FC this year. Last time I went, ended up going out to sushi with a bunch of friends during the con, and want to try and attempt something like that again this year.
Unfortunately, most of the people who were with me the first time around couldn't make it this year, but I figure with a little planning ahead, we could still pull something off.
I really want to meet new people this year, and hopefully it may be slightly less hectic, not being my first con....
So, who all will be at FC this year, and who wants to invade Hanamaru for some epic sushi?
Unfortunately, most of the people who were with me the first time around couldn't make it this year, but I figure with a little planning ahead, we could still pull something off.
I really want to meet new people this year, and hopefully it may be slightly less hectic, not being my first con....
So, who all will be at FC this year, and who wants to invade Hanamaru for some epic sushi?
Looking for a Story, help me find it!
Posted 15 years agoI read a kinky short story once, possibly here, or on Y* or something, I don't remember. I'm fairly certain that it was furry characters, though I suppose I could have forgotten. I don't remember the title or where to find it, so perhaps if I describe it, someone who watches me may also know the one I am speaking of.
It goes something like this...
female character gets sexy-looking gift from significant other, is either instructed to try it on, or decides to on her own, I don't remember. Looked innocent enough, but once fully on it activates, ensnaring her, and trapping her until her SO gets home to free her. It was short and reasonably well-written, nothing too extreme. I don't remember details accurately, but I think it may have been something along the lines of some simple "decorative" cuffs/bands/collar and a matching corset, or something, and are drawn together in some fashion to bind her once activated.
Has anyone else read something like this and know where I could find it?
EDIT:
I found it, only I didn't. I found an RTF file way back in a collection of 2007 story downloads, with no indication of the source or author... characters are named Faith and Bayonet, filename is "Faith's Capture" but I don;t know if that is indicative of the title proper. I can't find jack shit in google, FA, or Y*/sofurry.
It goes something like this...
female character gets sexy-looking gift from significant other, is either instructed to try it on, or decides to on her own, I don't remember. Looked innocent enough, but once fully on it activates, ensnaring her, and trapping her until her SO gets home to free her. It was short and reasonably well-written, nothing too extreme. I don't remember details accurately, but I think it may have been something along the lines of some simple "decorative" cuffs/bands/collar and a matching corset, or something, and are drawn together in some fashion to bind her once activated.
Has anyone else read something like this and know where I could find it?
EDIT:
I found it, only I didn't. I found an RTF file way back in a collection of 2007 story downloads, with no indication of the source or author... characters are named Faith and Bayonet, filename is "Faith's Capture" but I don;t know if that is indicative of the title proper. I can't find jack shit in google, FA, or Y*/sofurry.
Final Day of Steam Sale, Second-Chance Deals, STALKER
Posted 15 years agoFinal round of Encore deals is in, includes the STALKER bundle, hitman bundle, Amnesia, Killing Floor and GTA IV.
Just ignore dead space, it was a terrible game on PC.
NFS:HS is on sale again too, but the deal isn't that great
Just ignore dead space, it was a terrible game on PC.
NFS:HS is on sale again too, but the deal isn't that great
moar TSA bullshit
Posted 15 years agoneed a badge for FC...
Posted 15 years agoI don't have a current badge of my character... need something nice, simple, cheap... UGH, i know it's cheap of me, but I don't want to spend a lot of money on this.
Suggestions?
Suggestions?
Last Chance on $5 STALKER Bundle EDIT: back up!
Posted 15 years agoIf you don't have STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl, you really should get this bundle... includes Call of Pripyat.
Less than 2 hours remaining on this deal.
SHOC was the best game, IMO, though CoP is pretty as fuck in DX11.
And don't forget to pick up the latest STALKER: Rebalanced mod for it, for the ultimate hardcore survival experience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXqCJxgTZyU (read the description here, it's funny... Master difficulty is not for the faint of heart, or the low on ammo. lol.)
I was going to give a link to the game download here, but the steam store just went down! Guess servers couldn't handle last minute rush... keep an eye out and grab it when it comes back up!
It's back up! go grab it! http://store.steampowered.com/sub/5011/
Less than 2 hours remaining on this deal.
SHOC was the best game, IMO, though CoP is pretty as fuck in DX11.
And don't forget to pick up the latest STALKER: Rebalanced mod for it, for the ultimate hardcore survival experience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXqCJxgTZyU (read the description here, it's funny... Master difficulty is not for the faint of heart, or the low on ammo. lol.)
It's back up! go grab it! http://store.steampowered.com/sub/5011/
Happy Nude 'Yeer!
Posted 15 years ago*depantses 
nyghtwulf * :3
nyghtwulf * :3Steam Deals on STALKER, C&C, Supreme Commander, more
Posted 15 years agoSTALKER bundle including SHOC and Call of Pripyat (but not Clear Sky, Sorry!) is $5. THIS IS AN EPIC DEAL. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE OR BOTH OF THESE, GET IT!
all Command and Conquer 3/4 games are 75% off
Supreme Commander 2 $3.75
The Hitman and Jedi Knight collection are also both 75% off, at $8 and $5 respectively.
all Command and Conquer 3/4 games are 75% off
Supreme Commander 2 $3.75
The Hitman and Jedi Knight collection are also both 75% off, at $8 and $5 respectively.
