Jordy Blog

I really like Glenn Beck when it comes to the economy:

This uncontrolled spending (and it’s underlying debasement of the currency) may well destroy us.

Inflation, as a means of overthrowing the free market:

Lenin is said to have declared that the best way to destroy the Capitalist System was to debauch the currency. By a continuing process of inflation, governments can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens … Lenin was certainly right. There is no subtler, no surer means of over-turning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose. – John Maynard Keynes (via quoty)

Inflation, as a means of overthrowing our nation and our liberties:

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs. – Thomas Jefferson (via quoty)

Sadly the “change” mantra was nothing more than a seductive lie, because when it comes to the policies of spending and inflation, Comrades Obama and Bush (not mention McCain) are exactly the same.

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. :(

I got this email from Parents for Choice in Education last night.

Transparency in Education Forum, Jan. 14th

On Wednesday January 14th, the Sutherland Institute is hosting a forum called Transparency in Education, featuring John Fund of the Wall Street Journal.  The forum will include a sneak peak at Utah’s new transparency website.

We encourage you to attend the forum, both because of the importance of transparency and because John Fund is a great speaker (He’s spoken at PCE events in the past).

From our perspective, financial transparency in education is crucial to empowering citizens and increasing accountability, especially in an education system with limited choice. Increasing transparency is one of the main reasons we created the website www.UtahEducationFacts.com.

As we mentioned in our latest email bulletin, transparency will be a key issue in the 2009 legislative session.  Last year, the Legislature passed a law requiring government agencies at the state level to post financial data online for public scrutiny.  Senator Niederhauser of Sandy is sponsoring a bill for 2009 that will extend the transparency requirements to local government, including school districts and charter schools.

The event costs $25 per person and is on Wednesday, January 14th from 2 to 4 pm in downtown Salt Lake City.  To reserve a seat, call (801) 355-1272 or visit www.sutherlandinstitute.org.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
For more info about the event, see this flyer.

To learn more about financial transparency in education, go here.

Please consider becoming a member of Parents for Choice in Education if you haven’t yet. It’s free, and it’s a darn good way to stay abreast of movements in education reform (which I think we need now more than ever).

By the way, I’m putting events like this on a colaborative Utah Liberty Events Calendar. You should subscribe if you’re into that kind of stuff (and let me know if you’d like to contribute).

Gabe and I want to be sure that our start up company, Izeni, has a cash runway that’s long enough to ensure that we can have a proper lift off. To that end we’ve been doing some consulting and contract work (mostly low-hanging fruit) to slow our burn rate, and it’s worked fairly well because we’re in bootstrapping mode and our expenses are relativity low. So, although we’ve never really sought contract work, we do like it; and I thought I’d do a quick post officially soliciting it.

So without further ado, Izeni will be accepting all kinds of technical consulting and contract work. Our specialities are Python coding; website development (particularly using the Django framework); Linux systems administration (Apache, *SQL, Postfix, Mailman, IPtables, Samba, Bash, etc.); and VoIP-based telephony (Asterisk and Freeswitch).

We can also do general computer and network support, online marketing, and a myriad of other technical and business odds and ends.  :)

Izeni is based out of Utah, but we can also telecommute.

Please let me know if you have any contracting and consulting opportunities or know of any companies looking for web guys, programmers, or other technical contractors. Otherwise, feel free to repost this (pass the word along), or just keep us in mind.

Well, it’s new New Year’s Day, and it’s also time again for some more cyclical search pattern fun. So here’s today’s search term:

And what region wins per capita searches for “hangover”? Why none other than Ireland. Really.

Other fun New Year’s searches: “Weightloss“, “Auld Lang Syne“, and “Taxi“.

My brother Aaron posted on Facebook about us making homemade cheeseballs for our Christmas vacation. I thought it was well written and had good pictures, so I’m ripping it of here, slightly edited. This is basically a recipe for soft, fresh farmer’s cheese with flavors mixed in (thus making them cheeseballs).

You didn’t know it was possible, did you?! Well, its true: you can make homemade cheeseballs for any occasion!

My brother, Jordan, is a bonified cheeseball making fool (expert). During our stay at the family cabin this past weekend, he taught me the simple, yet time-consuming process of making the wonderful balls of cheesy delight!

[Jordy adds: It's really only time consuming if you make a whole bunch of flavors. One flavor is easy, and making them with a food processor would have been even easier.]

Step One: Heat whole milk to 175 degrees. Slowly stir in any acidic liquid to make the curd separate from the whey (we used 1/2 cup [white] vinegar [for each gallon of milk]. [Mix very lightly. Be careful not to over stir so you don't break up the curds. Once the vinegar is stirred in, remove the mixture from the heat.])

Step Two: Let mixture sit for about 15-20 mins, then remove the curd [with a slotted spoon] and place it in a cheesecloth [over a colander]. Allow the moisture to drain out of the cheese, [but leave some in or add it back in if you want a softer cheese]. Cool cheese in the refrigerator for 30 mins or longer.

Step Three: Make up whatever combination of spices/ingredients to mix in! We made five different flavors: sun-dried tomato and basil, jalapeño, hot mustard, shrimp cocktail, and dried red pepper. Simply grab a chunk of the cheese and roll it into a ball with the spices and mix-ins. Sample throughout, assuring that a sufficient amount of flavor has been added. You will need to add quite a bit of salt to bring out the cheese flavor. Enjoy!

This type of cheese can also be eaten by itself before the flavors are added. Just mix in a little salt to the strained cheese, mold in a small pudding dishes, and try it drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and freshly ground pepper.

I’ve also used it crumbled over lasagna, and tonight I melted it with a little milk to make a cheese sauce for fresh pasta. It can also be used for cheesecakes, stuffing for ravioli or stuffed shells –you name it. I’ve even tried it with reduced pineapple to make a delicious fruity cheese spread.

You can also make it with lower-fat milk as well but expect a different flavor and texture. Fat is a fairly good bonding agent, so if you cut it out you may way want to consider leaving in a little bit more of the whey or beating it a food processor to make it a little more sticky, depending on the texture you’re looking for.

This cheese lasts about 1 week if refrigerated properly.

(Expect more cheesemaking recipes as well as post about other homemade goods. Home cooking is a hobby of mine that will be nurtured further by a brand-new book I got myself for Christmas.) :)