Day 2 and my starter is looking really good!

After 24 hrs of sitting the 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of Signature Select pre-sifted All-Purpose enriched and bleached flour looked like a blob of wet flour. I added another 1/2 cup of each, mixed it up and set it back on the counter.

24 hours later the blob had fluffed up quite a bit and doubled in size. I had not expected to see this much activity fast -- but I have baked a lot in this kitchen over the last 6 or 7 months or maybe the air here is packed with good yeasts.

I added another 1/2 cup of warm water and a 1/2 cup of flour. Tomorrow I will probably use 1 cup of the starter for something non-risky like pretzels and continue to feed the mother.

Previously:

Day One Sourdough Starter Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/18/baking-through-the-pandemic-s.html

Tax-dodging rock star Bono wrote a new ballad about the novel coronavirus.

View this post on Instagram

for ANYONE who this St. Patrick’s day is in a tight spot and still singing. For the doctors, nurses, carers on the front line, it's you we’re singing to. Bono

A post shared by U2 Official (@u2) on Mar 17, 2020 at 2:28pm PDT

The lyrics to the song, in part:

Yes, I don’t know you, no, I didn’t think I didn’t care/ You live so very far away, just across the square/ You can’t touch, but you can sing across rooftops/ Sing on the phone, sing and promise me you won’t stop/ Sing your love be known.

P.S.:

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/18/in-lieu-of-paying-taxes-bono.html

Astrobrights sells 89gm tactical paper by the ream [Amazon] for those of us with a pressing need for large amounts of stealthy milspec cellulose-lignin sheeting in standard workplace dimensions.

P.S. The Uniball Signo Broad is the best white pen. MORE: Actually tactical paper. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/18/tactical-paper.html

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/18/video-fox-news-hosts-cast-cor.html

Qanon grifters see a new opportunity in the coronavirus scare: anyone self-isolating or quarantined can be described as under "house arrest" for all the usual Qanon fantasy crimes. Oprah Winfrey, among the many thusly targeted, blasted the conspiracy theories with oxygen by publicly denying them on Twitter.

Oprah Winfrey has been forced to deny rumours that she has been arrested for sex trafficking after fake news reports emerged online.

The presenter’s name has been trending on Twitter since the seemingly baseless rumours began, and now Winfrey has reassured fans she is just “sanitising and self distancing with the rest of the world” amid the coronavirus pandemic.

She wrote on Twitter: “Just got a phone call that my name is trending. And being trolled for some awful FAKE thing. It’s NOT TRUE.

“Haven’t been raided, or arrested. Just sanitising and self distancing with the rest of the world. Stay safe everybody.”

Accordingly, the imaginary sex crimes of Oprah Winfrey rise high among the trending topics this morning.

Tracked down the source of the Oprah sex trafficking arrest hoax, and it's just this weirdo talking in a parking lot for ten minutes. Now it's the top trending topic. pic.twitter.com/TMW4pXcgxq

 Respectable Lawyer (@RespectableLaw) March 18, 2020

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/18/self-isolating-oprah-winfrey-g.html

It only took 10 years, but with the long-awaited adoption of Qi charging standards by Apple back in 2017 for the iPhone X, the era of wireless charging has now truly taken over. With wireless charging options available in everything from smartphones and smartwatches to tablets and earbuds, we’re now seeing charging pads showing up everywhere.

Apple even promised its own wireless charging pad dubbed the AirPower before quietly killing the project last year when it “could not achieve [their] high standards.” But that doesn’t mean other companies weren’t already rushing to satisfy that power demand with their own versions of a killer charging pad.

Now that you’ve probably already built up a small treasure trove of Qi-enabled tech, the AirZeus 3-in-1 Fast Wireless Charging Pad stands as an heir apparent to the AirPower legacy and should probably get your attention.

Just like its Greek god of thunder namesake, the AirZeus hurls power like lightning, simultaneously charging a Qi-compatible phone, smartwatch, and earbuds at blistering speeds.

Simply place your Qi-enabled devices on the AirZeus and let the power flow. The unit is tailored to deliver up to 7.5 watts of power to your iPhone, the maximum safe charging rate for the device. Under those conditions, you can fully charge your completed dead phone in under two hours.

The AirZeus is even powerful enough to deliver a charge through phone and watch cases made from materials like leather or glass. In fact, if your case is less than 2 millimeters thick, you’ll have no problem getting uninterrupted power to your device. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/18/apples-airpower-may-be-dead.html

TechDirt has shared this heartwarming little tale in the face of a global pandemic. A hospital in Bescia needed a special valve for a ventilator which costs US$1,000. Even at that jaw-dropping price, the manufacturer was still unable to supply the critical part (due to global demand). So, the hospital tracked down someone with 3D printing experience and asked him to try and 3D print the part. Then things got shitty.

...the original manufacturer ... refused to share the relevant 3D file with Fracassi to help him print the valve. It even went so far as to threaten him for patent infringement if he tried to do so on his own. Since lives were at stake, he went ahead anyway, creating the 3D file from scratch. According to the Metro article, he produced an initial batch of ten, and then 100 more, all for free. Fracassi admits that his 3D-printed versions might not be very durable or re-usable. But when it's possible to make replacements so cheaply -- each 3D-printed part costs just one euro, or roughly a dollar -- that isn't a problem. At least it wouldn't be, except for that threat of legal action, which is also why Fracassi doesn't dare share his 3D file with other hospitals, despite their desperate need for these valves.

As one commenter points out, there may be legit reasons why 3D printing a part may not be safe, not tested, and there may be a reason why the part was so expensive to begin with. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/18/italian-hospital-needed-an-11.html

Sl'ainte! I took this EarthCam screengrab of Irish pubs in Dublin just before 11 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day! What's wrong with this picture?

See more empty streets from around the world over at Reddit. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/18/webcam-proof-irish-pubs-in-du.html

Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Illinois) dislikes abortion, Barack Obama, the affordable care act and marriage equality, and likes religious discrimination, domestic surveillance and denying federal benefits to gay couples.

If you're wondering why he even has a "D" in his title, here's a clue: he inherited his seat in congress from his own father, courtesy of the state Democratic party.

But he's not going to represent the deep blue district any more, because a progressive opponent took it from him in Illinois' primary election.

The eight-term Illinois Democrat fell to businesswoman Marie Newman, who led 48 to 44 percent when The Associated Press called the race, a resounding victory for the party’s progressive wing, which has struggled so far this year to capitalize on its 2018 success.

"I am bursting with pride and gratitude for the amazing coalition that helped bring about much needed change in our district," Newman wrote in a late-night tweet. She canceled her election-night party as the number of coronavirus cases surged.

Lipinski was a poster child for the Democratic party as a cult of self-serving political insiders. Getting rid of him is a defeat for the machinery, yet a close-run thing all the same. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/18/one-of-the-last-conservative-d.html

Tom the Dancing Bug, IN WHICH various animal-themed Super-Fun-Pak Comix are offered for your enjoyment

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/18/super-fun-pak-comix-feat-sec.html

Governor urges state residents to “Stay home for Nevada”

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/17/las-vegas-shuts-down-casinos.html

The Florida, Illinois, and Arizona Democratic primaries were held Tuesday, and Joe Biden swept to victory in all three.

The Democratic presidential primary has been thrown into a surreal new world hit by the coronavirus pandemic. At the time of this blog post on Tuesday night, Biden is projected to have won Arizona, the last of the three states to report in.

And with that 3-way win, there is building pressure on Bernie Sanders to abandon his campaign.

From AP:

Using a livestream to address supporters from his home state of Delaware, Biden seemed ready to move past the primary. He paid tribute to the Vermont senator for advancing key issues like affordable health care and combating climate change.

“Sen. Sanders and his supporters have brought a remarkable passion and tenacity to all of these issues. Together they have shifted the fundamental conversation in this country,” Biden said. “So let me say, especially to the young voters who have been inspired by Sen. Sanders, I hear you. I know what’s at stake. I know what we have to do.”

With the exception of North Dakota and the Northern Mariana Islands, Sanders hasn’t scored a victory since Super Tuesday on March 3. He made no immediate move on Tuesday to contact Biden, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for the candidates. During remarks early in the night, Sanders said little about the future of the race and instead focused on the coronavirus outbreak.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/17/biden-projected-to-win-arizona.html

Right now, 27 percent of Americans would need to beg, borrow or steal if they were faced with an unexpected debt over $400. That’s a frightening number — and even more frightening still if you’re among that 27 percent.

With so many facing such precarious financial times, it’s never been more important to have a complete understanding of your money. And we don’t just mean knowing what’s in your wallet right now. You need to have complete command over your cashflow, knowing exactly what is coming into your accounts, what’s going out, and, more importantly, why it’s going out.

Wallet is a personal budgeting app that can crystalize your view of your money, helping you bring all of your transactions into one place so you can create a financial plan that actually works for your life.

With Wallet, users take a birds-eye view of their account picture. Once synced, all your bank account information and other financial statements feed directly into Wallet and automatically update in the app in real-time. Wallet can help you set up a budget taking all of your monthly expenses into account, so you’ll always know what you have and what you don’t.

But Wallet isn’t just an expense tracker. Wallet actually helps you spot trends in your spending so you can identify necessary purchases as well as those that probably shouldn’t continue. Shopping lists focus your money on needed expenditures like food, transportation or regular bills while helping you cut out impulse buying that detracts from your long term goals. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/17/get-a-better-view-of-your-mone.html

Donald Trump has won the Republican presidential primary in Illinois, and in so doing, secured exactly enough delegates to win the GOP nomination for 2020.

AP was first to report the news on Tuesday night, around 8:30pm Eastern time.

BREAKING: With his projected win in Illinois, President Trump will reach the delegate threshold and is now the presumptive Republican nominee, ABC News projects. https://t.co/gLsMga9Z8Z pic.twitter.com/og3eUhN0Ap

 ABC News (@ABC) March 18, 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump wins Republican presidential primary in Illinois, securing enough delegates to win GOP nomination.

 Jill Colvin (@colvinj) March 18, 2020

President Trump has clinched the Republican nomination.https://t.co/E3KhCZjESV pic.twitter.com/YNT7WliBd0

 CBS News (@CBSNews) March 18, 2020

BREAKING: Donald Trump has now earned enough delegates to secure the 2020 Republican presidential nomination. https://t.co/05vDysPcTC

 NPR (@NPR) March 18, 2020

President Trump has crossed the delegate threshold Tuesday night to be the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee in 2020, @NBCNews projects. https://t.co/1jmecoUdJv

 MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 18, 2020

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/17/with-illinois-primary-win-tru.html

Kitchen appliances wear out. When they do, it usually means it's time to toss it and buy a new one. But in recent years, it's become easier to buy replacement parts, thanks to eBay and Amazon. This trend has kept my Bialetti Moka Express stovetop coffee maker alive and well.

My Moka is one of my favorite possessions. I use it a couple of times a day. I have the 6-cup Moka, which I bought in December 2014. (I use it to make one-regular sized cup of coffee, not six espresso sized cups.) I've made over 2,000 cups of coffee with it. I get excited every time I use it.

The handle melted off a few years ago when my daughter left the burner on. A replacement handle kit is available, but I opted to make one from a bamboo cutting board. You can buy 3 replacement rubber seals and an aluminum filter.

It's harder to find a replacement safety valve. I have one, scavenged from another Moka, if I need it. But they rarely wear out. When I find it acting up, it's because it's dirty and needs cleaning. Here's a good troubleshooting guide.

If you want a coffee maker that outlives you, it's hard to beat this one.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/17/the-moka-express-coffee-maker.html

BREAKING: AP calls Illinois for Joe Biden, his second win this evening in the 2020 Illinois Democratic primary.

Biden had 65% of the vote in Illinois tonight when The Associated Press called the state’s Democratic presidential primary with a small percentage of precincts reporting.

Bernie Sanders had 27% support.

The state of Illinois has 155 pledged delegates at stake. It is the sixth-biggest prize in the Democratic nomination contest.

Earlier tonight, Biden won Florida.

More at AP.

Joe Biden has won the Illinois primary, stretching his delegate advantage in the 2020 race.

More live results https://t.co/rY9D4wOVi2 pic.twitter.com/LrRfCpnqCm

 POLITICO (@politico) March 18, 2020

BREAKING: Joe Biden is projected to win the Illinois primary, according to the AP. https://t.co/Hb9z7AU9BG pic.twitter.com/R3xQ4bxkCA

 NPR (@NPR) March 18, 2020

Breaking News: Joe Biden won Illinois, building up his delegate lead over Bernie Sanders with his 2nd victory tonight. Follow more live results and analysis. https://t.co/p6CP0AanxQ

 The New York Times (@nytimes) March 18, 2020

BREAKING: Joe Biden has won the Illinois primary, according to a projection from the AP. #IllinoisPrimary https://t.co/4gEcqwWLAn pic.twitter.com/snXuOSfbnF

 HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) March 18, 2020

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/17/joe-biden-wins-illinois-democr.html

Breaking News: Democratic presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden is projected to have won Florida, one of 3 states holding presidential primaries today.

It's a Biden blowout, too.

At this time, Biden is projected to win big in Florida against his Democratic opponent, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders -- 61 percent to 23 percent, with 3/4 of precincts reporting at the time of this blog post.

Observations from political reporters and others, as the news broke around 8pm Eastern on Tuesday night.

BIDEN BLOWOUT: @JoeBiden is the winner of the Florida primary, the CNN Decision Desk projects, pummeling @BernieSanders in a state with 219 delegates on the line.

 Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) March 18, 2020

Joe Biden wins Florida, @NBCNews projects.

 Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) March 18, 2020

BREAKING: Joe Biden has won Florida, and decisively, as he continues to grow a delegate lead that gets him closer to winning the Democratic presidential nomination.

 Matt Viser (@mviser) March 18, 2020

BREAKING: Joe Biden is projected to win the Florida primary, according to the AP. https://t.co/TfB1Q5NwOZ pic.twitter.com/DkKIxSdktC

 NPR (@NPR) March 18, 2020

FL Dem primary phone poll

WhiteBiden 66%Sanders 23%

BlackBiden 75%Sanders 18%

In the '16 FL Dem exit poll (different from tonight's poll, but just for reference), Sanders lost black voters 81-18% and whites 53-43%.

 Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) March 18, 2020

Biden wins Florida, @AP projects: https://t.co/IvcVsnM5uV

 Ken Thomas (@KThomasDC) March 18, 2020

.@JoeBiden projected to win big in FLORIDA 61 percent to 23 percent with 3/4 of precincts reporting.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/17/joe-biden-wins-florida.html

• Taoiseach addresses Ireland on St Patrick's Day to warn of coming hardship • Today: 354 cases confirmed in Ireland • Predicted: 15,000 Covid-19 cases in Ireland within 2 weeks

On what he called “A St. Patrick’s Day like no other,” Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar warned the nation that the expanding “crisis will last months and cause enormous economic damage.”

From Ireland's RT'E News:

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the coronavirus emergency is likely to go on well beyond 29 March and could go on for months into the summer. In a special Ministerial Briefing broadcast, he said that "this is the calm before the storm and the surge will come".

His address comes after 69 new cases were confirmed in the Republic, bringing the overall number to 292.

A further ten cases have been confirmed in Northern Ireland, bringing the total there to 62. Overall there are 354 cases on the island of Ireland.

Mr Varadkar said it is believed that there could be 15,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in this country by the end of the month.

Here are the Irish leader's remarks in full, and video.

L'a Fh'eile P'adraig shona daoibh!

This is a Saint Patrick’s Day like no other.

A day that none of us will ever forget.

Today’s children will tell their own children and grandchildren about the national holiday in 2020 that had no parades or parties, but instead saw everyone staying at home to protect each other.

In years to come, let them say of us, when things were at their worst, we were at our best.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/17/coronavirus-in-ireland-leo-va.html

Animorphs was a YA sci-fi series that took the mid-90s Scholastic book fair circuit by storm. Written by K.A. Applegate, the books focus on a group of kids who gain the ability to transform into any animal they touch — but only for two hours, or else they're stuck that way. Naturally, they meet and befriend an alien named Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill (or "Ax" for short) who also has this same ability, and recruits them to join his guerilla resistance efforts to stop an invasion by a race of slug-like alien parasites who can crawl into peoples' ears and take over their brains.

Wikipedia informs me that there were 54 books in total in this series, although the latter half was ghostwritten, as tends to happen with these sorts of  things. They all sported the same uncanny-valley-bad-90s-CGI-cover art of someone morphing into an animal. I remember being pretty obsessed with the series as a kid, and their quarterly-or-so release schedule was a great way to satisfy my voracity for reading. I don't know how well they actually hold up, but even The Paris Review recently sang their nostalgic praises. And, well, kids fighting against an evil fascist empire that's essentially invisible other than the fact that it hijacks the brains of parents and authority figures is, erm, still a pretty relevant concept. I also hear they dealt pretty well with trauma and complicated moral questions, which I vaguely recall as well. I definitely remember the body horror and food horror and surprising amount of death and violence for a kids' book. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/17/the-entire-animorphs-book-seri.html

Instead of watching your stocks go up and down right now like a terrifying roller coaster, let's see what some Certified Financial Planners have to say about investment planning for a plumber-turned-jumping-pan-dimensional-warrior.

Public Domain Image via Pexels Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/17/its-a-me-marios-retiremen.html