August cooking experiment: Chicken Vindaloo

This time we tried some Chicken Vindaloo recipe to knock out an Indian cuisine.  The recipe we used can be found here:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/chicken-vindaloo/detail.aspx

Though honestly, I was less than impressed.

This was really disappointing because I LOVE Chicken Vindaloo when we order it from our local restaurant.  Maybe we can find a better recipe (there are only 1000 out there) and try again.

Recap of the Big 12 as of yesterday.

A&M: We’re committed to the Big 12
Rest of Big 12: Cool.  Let’s sign a big TV deal.  Good thing we will all get more money now with Colorado and the Cornhustlers gone.
(one year later)
A&M: We’re leaving for the SEC
Rest of Big 12: Whatever, good riddance.
SEC: Yup, you’re in if nobody wants to sue you.
A&M: Hey Beebe, don’t sue us.  We’re leaving you.  And taking the dogs.
Beebe: The Big 12 won’t sue you
A&M: good enough for me, here we come
Rest of Big 12: Whatever, good riddance.
OU: Our conference is crap, we might leave
Rest of Big 12 (minus OU): OU – you think A&M is really worth that much?
OU: Not really, but we’re trying to get a piece of Texas’ TV money, since we’re ranked #1 and all
Baylor: That’s it.  If OU leaves, we’re losing our TV deal and stuck in the Mountain West playing on Boise State’s blue field.  What’s that, SEC?  We can stop all this by suing A&M?  Done.  Or at least we’ll threaten it.
ISU: We’ll sue too.  We’re not influenced by Baylor, but similarly have few options.
KU: Us too.
KSU:  Ditto.
TTU: On this train.  Maybe we can score some cash.
Missouri: We got lawyers, too!
OSU: Whatever, fine, we’ll sue you too, if OU leaves.  Unless they take us with them to the PAC 12.
Texas: OK, we couldn’t be first, but, sure, we want to sue too.  We just love making your lives difficult.
OU: (crickets)
A&M: Come on, you guys, you said we could leave!!! (wahhhh)  You said you wouldn’t sue!
Rest of Big 12:  No we didn’t.  That Bobo Beebe said that he wouldn’t sue you.  You heard what you wanted.
Beebe:  I am a bobo, this much is true.  And my last name is pretty funny.  Want to watch me backpedal?  I said the Big 12, Inc. wouldn’t sue you.  You should have known I don’t own the schools.  And by the way, if you re-read the letter, I just said that the SEC commish and I agreed it would be better if nobody sued.  Didn’t promise.  And my fingers were crossed too.
OU: Did BYU join the conference yet?  If not, we’re still probably considering potentially leaving.

July Cocktail of the month - French 75

Yes, July in September. It makes sense somewhere. And this, in honor
of Cheek and Mary's nuptial city. To make these at home:
Shake with ice:
1 shot (oz) lemon juice
2 shots cognac
1 tsp or so of sugar
Strain into champagne glass and top with approx 4 oz of dry champagne
(should be about half champagne and half lemon-cognac-water-from-ice
mixture)
Enjoy!

Oh, and I like to call these a Soixante Quinze instead of French 75.  You can figure it out.

Musings on Conference Realignment (2011 edition)

Bye bye, A&M.  At least that's what seems to be happening.  A&M, seeking as much attention as Texas got by looking at the PAC-12 expansion last year, is headed to the SEC.  They're getting the attention, but not the "Oh no, the Big 12 is going to die as a result" reaction that came last year (along with my predictions for the outcome, the first of which happened to be right - for a year - with the 10 teams).

Now, though, the Commish is saying we would take aggressive action to replace A&M, and some of the ADs seem even giddy to have A&M gone and get the chance to replace them.  So, if we did, who would get the invite?  ESPN has an interesting analysis, but my analysis is usually more ridiculous.  With random other candidates.  Some that make no sense.

That said, I still think the conference should aggressively pursue not 1, not 3, but 7 teams to replace A&M.  Not because A&M needs 7 teams to replace them, in fact, we could easily add any one of the following schools and end up just fine.  I just think the Big XII expansion to 16 teams allows for trademarking Big XVI before the Big Ten gets there.  That said, are there even 7 teams out there worthwhile?  Here are some thoughts on candidates (some of which have not been mentioned by others, just my pulling names out of a hat)

• BYU - this seems to be the favorite choice of ESPN analysts.  I think it's a likely move for them as they're already playing Texas this year, and it makes sense from a viewership for the conference, too.
• Air Force Academy - I still think this is a good fit and a worthy replacement for the missing Buffaloes from last year.
• TCU - Questions are out there about TCU's attendance being too small, but they have been successful as a BCS-busting team for a few years and we know they still are upset they weren't invited the first time the Big XII was formed.  Maybe they join up before they play a down in the Big East.  And since they're playing BYU this year, perhaps that's a preview of a conference game to come.
• Pitt - I'm not sure where this rumor surfaced either, but I read it in the Dallas Morning News yesterday.  But Baylor's Defensive Coordinator Phil Bennett came from there, so maybe there are "ties" between Big XII coaching staffs an administration with Pittsburgh.  Not sure what this adds other than a totally new market for Big XII athletics.
• Boise State - Obviously the problem here is "what do they offer outside of football and a blue field?" and that's a question, but perhaps if we're expanding beyond 12, all we need is football for the extra 4.  That's where the money's at.  Boise is ready to move to bigger, better conferences (which it thought it was getting by a move to the Mountain West before the MWC defections), and an AQ invite might be looked favorably upon.  I still think Baylor would be served well with a home field of gold.
• Arkansas** - OK, would they really want to come back to join the SWC buddies?  Maybe, maybe not.  The money's gonna be better in the SEC, but then again, A&M could fit into the SEC as an Arkansas replacement, leaving the SEC without the "who's the 14th team" dilemma and fitting the Big XII with a good replacement.  And Arkansas gets to stay regional.
• Clemson - on the non-regional front, Clemson might be a fit - they have a full complement of sports, and are a whole new geographic market.  And if there are any Clemson fans holding their breath to be the next SEC team, they should exhale.  There is already a South Carolina team and a pair of "Tigers" in the SEC.  They don't need a third.  Clemson could join Missouri in the Big XII and we could match the SEC in number of schools with a Tiger mascot as well.

Thoughts on other replacement candidates (realistic, previously mentioned, or otherwise):

• Houston - Other than reviving the SWC and some top 25 football votes, I'm not sure what Houston adds other than potential for Art Briles to confirm he made the right move to go to Baylor.
• SMU - Other than reviving the SWC, I have no clue why SMU would be considered, other than the fact that they are jumping up and down saying "Pick me, pick me"
• Notre Dame - would be interesting, I doubt they will give up their independence, though.  This may cause problems in getting BYU, too, if they continue to play "copy Notre Dame" as their university strategy.
• Louisville - Agree with David Ubben this could be a nice complement but not sure if they're being considered seriously.
• Florida State - So the SEC wants a foothold in Texas recruiting?  How about the Big XII get one in Florida recruiting?  The ACC is not a powerhouse, and then we would have potential for some Big XII/SEC in-state rivalry games.
• Georgia Tech - See Florida State.
• Arizona - Have Bob Stoops call up Mike and start the negotiations.  Raiding the PAC-12 while unlikely sure would be fun.
• Northwestern - Hey, having another private school might be fun.  Especially one in a Chicago television market and a full list of sports.  And maybe NU and KSU could get discounts on purple fabric (and TCU if they join as well).  Granted, would we want two sets of Tigers AND two Wildcats?  I dunno.  It's not really a fair trade for Nebraska, but it would also throw some spikes on the highway in front of Big Ten expansion plans.

OK OK, so likely scenario is that Big XII adds 1-3 teams, and most likely it won't be teams that truly solidify the conference's future before Texas decides to take a few of its friends West sometime in the future.

But I can hope.  And I can hope that Baylor is able to stay in the Big XII and not end up in Conference USA.  But if the replacement teams are Conference USA teams, have we accomplished much?

We'll discuss again in 2012 when this happens again.

---

**Note: I have since read an article indicating that Arkansas could stand to make at least $2 million a year MORE by taking A&M's revenue share. I thought the SEC model would give them more money, but perhaps I am wrong. If you have more details on this feel free to share in the comments.

What I did on my day off - I made the bed

No, literally, I made a bed.  Here's some info on building a King Size Bed based loosely on Ana White's Farmhouse Bed plans.

Purchase List
One 4'x8' sheet of 3/4" plywood (cabinet grade)
20 - 8' 1x4s
5 - 8' 1x3s
2 - 8' 4x4 untreated posts (I found some douglas fir posts, they did not have untreated pine)
5 - 8' 2x4s
2 - 8' 1x6s
2 - 8' 1x12s
4" screws
3" screws
2 1/2" screws
1 1/2" nails
2" nails
wood putty
stain or paint
polyurethane lacquer


Cut List
Headboard plywood cut 77" x 30"
Footboard plywood cut 77" x 15"
8 - 1x4s cut 77" (head/foot top/bottom trim)
6 - 1x3s cut 23" (headboard vertical trim)
6 - 1x3s cut 8" (footboard vertical trim)
2 - 4x4 posts cut 54" (headboard legs)
2 - 4x4 posts cut 21" (footboard legs)
2 - 2x4 cut 84" (headboard/footboard header - cut to fit)
2 - 1x6 cut 86" (headboard/footboard top - cut to fit plus one inch each side)
2 - 1x4 cut 39 1/4" (footboard inside brace - cut to fit)
2 - 2x4 84" (side rail braces)
1 - 2x4 cut 74" (footboard brace)
2 - 1x12 cut 80" (side rails)
4 - 1x4 cut 80" (side rail top/bottom trim)
4 - 1x3 cut 4.5" (side rail vertical trim)
2 - 1x3 cut 80" (side rail top)
8 - 1x4s cut 77" (support slats)

Steps

Attach trim to headboard and footboard panels.

Add upright trim pieces - measure to put the center piece in place.

Do the same trim on the reverse side.

Pre-drill holes in the 4x4s to countersink the screws.

Attach legs to headboard and footboard with 4" screws.

Add 2x4 header along length of headboard (no picture) using 3" screws.
Add 1x6 header - first, mark the width of the headboard (or footboard) on the bottom of the header to help center it when you nail it on with nail gun.

Attach header with nails.

I found that with this modification in design, I had to add additional 1x4 to the BACK/INSIDE of the footboard so I would have a place to attach the 2x4 frame.

Attach 2x4 frame to headboard/footboard. (no picture)
Build side rails and attach to frame. Used 1x4s for top trim and 1x3s for veritcal trim, then a 1x3 header to the whole thing.  Attache to the side cleats using 2" screws.  The slats will end up with 7" on each end and a spacing of about 6" each.

Then use wood putty to fill all of your gaps and nail holes and mistakes.

Finish the project using paint/stain/etc. I recommend using a coat of polyurethane over it (but realize it will be at least one level glossier than you think it will be.  So if you want semi-glossy, use satin, hahaha).

And then reassemble in your bedroom and put the mattress and box springs on it.

As you can see, our bed is now GIANT. So my next project will be to take some plywood and 2x4s and create a pair of "pseudo box springs" that is much shorter to take the place of our box springs and lower the mattress into the bed box a bit. Currently we're like 20 feet off the ground which is not a preferred sleeping height.