And in other news:

Desler said Microsoft would cover Mike’s costs of changing to a new Web site and redirecting traffic from the old site. Microsoft also had agreed to help the teen get Microsoft certification training and other gifts, including an Xbox game console, he said, and has invited Mike to a technology festival in March at the corporation’s headquarters in suburban Redmond.

I sure hope those “other gifts” includes the sizeable CASH that the domain name is apparently worth to MS! What do you think? I think the kid needed a better lawyer.

And a big round of applause to the fine folks at Blogger for a) responding to my email after b) tweaking around with my blog and c) making the whole thing work again. You’re the best, guys. And it’s good to know that fame and glory and life with Google hasn’t changed the Blogger I knew back when. And while I’m at it – I still wear my Blogger tshirt proudly!

I thought this radio “article” about the similarities between how the brains of very creative/genius people and those with some mental illnesses work very interesting. There was much discussion about “latent inhibition” a process which allows us to filter all the stimuli that we’re all surrounded with every day. Having a low level of latent inhibition is a common pattern in both very creative and intelligent people and also people with schizophrenia.

I thought it was very interesting especially the description of when a person is “in the zone” or “in the flow moment” — they are extremely focused WHILE being very aware of everything around them and able to take it all in and allow it to feed their creative process. This ability of being focused while keeping everything at your fingertips is a sort of sweet spot for the creative person. You can focus on one thing while keeping awareness of the whole picture.

January haiku

fingers curled in palm
empty glove flaps above them
winter morning drive

Thanks Knowspam, for making email fun again – $20 got me 10,000 less emails since mid-August! What’s in your mailbox?

(Due to little Blogger glitch this was late in posting – originally 1/22/04)

Plan to improve the entire world

Give everyone on Earth some stirred custard on a regular basis.

Yup, that’s all it would take. A bowl of stirred custard, say once a week, with the possibility of seconds and the occasional poached meringue as a bonus, and you have a world full of happy happy people.

I detect a note of skepticism on the other side of the monitor but I would suggest that you just try a bowlful yourself and see if you don’t agree. Oh, you need a good recipe? That we can help you with right here. From my family cooking album – Floating Islands:

• 4 eggs or 3 eggs and 2 yolks
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 tsp flour (I would consider this optional myself – there’s no way you need the flour)
• 2 1/2 cup scalded milk
• dash salt
• 2 tsp vanilla
• Combine eggs, sugar and flour together until well mixed. Add milk gradually (note – it must NOT be hot – you’ll scramble the eggs) Cook in double boiler over hot but not boiling water, stirring constantly until custard coats a spoon. Serve warm.

For the islands:

• 2 egg whites (use the ones from the custard)
• 4 TB sugar
• dash salt
• Beat egg whites until soft peak stage. Add the sugar very gradually beating after each addition. Add salt Beat until stiff.
• Form the islands by dropping a large spoonful of egg white into large frying pan with scalded milk in it. Poach for several minutes until dry and firm. Place on top of bowl of custard.

Enjoy! PS It’s ok to double this recipe. Seconds for everybody!