A Creative Approach After My Own Heart

I have taught basic and advanced English composition at the college level. Whenever I led an advanced English comp group, I always included graphic novel snippets, comic strips, even bumper stickers in the curriculum, since they are powerful and effective ways to get one's message across. In fact, I usually included a final project that instructed students to use pictures of any sort (photographs, drawings, etc) to construct an effective argument that would be easily identified and understood by fellow classmates. Of course, that always led to fun finals presentations, but I digress ...

Go here to see/read the brief in its entirety

Well, an attorney has finally swiped a page from my (I'm certain well-worn) play book and used it in a court of law. Bob Kohn, a music licensing law expert, filed an amicus curiae brief (that is, a friend of the court brief, not on behalf of either side in the dispute) in the form of a comic strip. He did so in response to the judge's order to limit his presentation to the court to five pages. Kohn then enlisted the drawing skills of one of his daughter's friends and created a pictoral argument that otherwise conformed to all of the court's requirements - in five pages (excluding the legal introductory and conclusory necessities).

Whether or not one is a music law expert, wouldn't you rather read this presentation than five pages filled only with dry legal rhetoric?

Since Kohn wasn't directly representing any party in the dispute (so the winning/losing issue is moot, although Kohn might take exception to that characterization), my only question: was the daughter's friend fairly compensated?

VK Crochet: 4th Installment

So, although we've just celebrated the traditional final weekend of summer here in North America, I thought it appropriate to celebrate one, last summer fling with a look at the most popular design (in terms of projects) from the special crochet edition of Vogue Knitting:

Design:  #18 Lacy Top

It is no surprise that this Doris Chan top, complete with signature exploding lace and top-down construction, has the most projects started from the magazine in the Ravelry database - 47, 23 of which are completed. The three I chose to highlight cover a range of sizes and wearing options.



The interpretations:

Photo used with Amy's kind permission.

Amy (Amerz on Ravelry) loves purple and blue - you don't say? Wearing this top over a dress is a popular approach to this design. Amy is a Doris Chan devotee (she co-moderates the Doris Chan Ravelry group), so it's no surprise to me that she has a finished project from this design, or that it fits really well. Of some note: technically, the neck edging isn't quite finished in this photo, but the average viewer won't spot that. 

Thanks so much for the use of your photo, Kristen.

Kristen (KristenJ on Ravelry) has one of the most elegant interpretations of this design (which is in line with her overall craft approach and personal design aesthetic). Kristen is one of many polycraftuals hanging out on Ravelry - she states she's been knitting and crocheting for over 30 years. I love her color choices in this outfit, as well as the simple yet effective pearl-like accessory. Amy does note to be mindful of the potentially not-so-strategically placed negative space in the front of this top. Noted, Kristen!

And a sincere thanks to Cyndi for allowing me use of her photo.

And the final interpretation, from Cyndi (cyndim on Ravelry) is probably my favorite. Great yarn choice (Cascade Ultra Pima - I love cotton, what can I say?), great color, and a perfect, casual summery approach. Can you believe this only took three skeins? Or that Cyndi has four, count 'em 4, grandchildren? You just keep rockin' that lace top, Cyndi.

I hope you are as impressed as I am with all of the finished projects thus far from the VK Crochet special edition. These designs are yielding great fashion bang from real-life, everyday women.

Now don't forget to check in with the blog of our very own super, real-life, everyday woman - Andrea, the WonderWhyGal.

Oh ... and have a great weekend!

Baking Ugly

I am a big fan of Christopher Kimball and America's Test Kitchen. While I have had, at various times in the past, subscriptions to several of the other big cooking magazines, it is America's Test Kitchen that I consistently keep going back to, so much so that a good while ago I signed up to be a recipe tester for them.

It must have been at least 18 months between the time I signed up to be a tester and receipt of my first recipe. It was so long, in fact, that I figured I wasn't ever getting a recipe to test. I shrugged it off, and so was all the more amazed when my first recipe found its way to my inbox.

I've received about 6 recipes in the last three months, but due to various other commitments, have not been able to make the recipe and respond to the requisite survey within the required amount of time. I was determined to make the deadline when I received a recent recipe for Berry Trifle. For some reason, I have been fascinated by trifle; I've never made it, it contains dessert elements I like (cake, fresh berries, custard) and it's from America's Test Kitchen. Definitely, on its face, a recipe for success.

I made this yesterday, and I must say it was ultimately a success, but not without some hiccups. Initially, I have no trifle dish (and the squared shape of the traditional trifle dish is rather important when composing the trifle), so what you see below is my next best effort - a rounded mixing bowl. At least it's glass.

Secondly, the recipe called for a rather large baking sheet on which to bake the cake portion of the trifle. All of my baking sheets were off by 3 inches in both directions; I wound up making a smaller cake. Fortunately, since my glass mixing bowl was slightly smaller than the required trifle dish, this turned out just fine.

And then there was the time element. This dish serves a whole troop of people and takes at least 3 hours of continued effort to complete. No breaks, no down time while things are baking. Then, at minimum, another six hours to set up in the refrigerator (a full 24 hours is probably better). I must admit, this was kind of a drawback - I suppose if I was a professional baker, the time commitment would be no problem. Unless it's holiday time (and then long baking sessions are a joy since I bake, cook and otherwise make most of my gifts), I guess I just wasn't into sinking three hours into one dessert on this particular occasion.

Nevertheless, it tastes great, even if it's not the most attractive dessert. I actually decided to show everyone the finished trifle because I think it's important for everyday bakers and cooks to see how things turn out in real life. While the berries garnish on top saves it, I've definitely put together better presentations.

Chalk it up to a baking learning experience. This recipe should be published in a future America's Test Kitchen magazine.