Juggling Brothers-in-Law

Lasseter girls like similar qualities in men: curly hair and juggling, both seen here.

Home again

and decorating for Christmas!

ND vs. USC

It's a sad scene.

Lasseters at the table

We don't have the attention span to visit. Note the computer,
phone,and camera at the table. And I'm blogging. Ned deserted long ago.

Check out Ned's plate. He didn't go back for seconds.

Happy Thanksgiving

From the Lasseters and Outlaws

Cooking the turkey

We begin with a good wash, plus the plucking of feathers that
Butterball missed.

At the kitchen table with Fr. Marvelous

Bayesian BBQ, by Tom Freeland

The reponse to our challenge has been a good one. And, while some folks have written in with some rather implausible explanations of Bayesian Networks, we were a little concerned when our friend, Tom Freeland, wrote in with an example problem that actually makes us think that he understands BNs. At least he made it interesting for me, with the food connection! His thoughts follow. And, for more thoughts by Tom, check out his blog here.

While Baysian networks may be inadequate to resolve the question “what is good barbecue,” this approach may bring some focus to what seems to many an intractable problem. Prior approaches have tended to propose answers in terms of relatively simplistic dichotomies—inside or outside meat? Sliced or chopped? whole hog or shoulder? Vinegar or ketchup?—with complicating arguments for geographic dominance. The literature is also plagued with nuisance variables, early examples being arguments about barbecue made from meat other than pork, or with a sauce that is actually based on yellow mustard, and more recent examples arising from the marketing of gas ovens that do not use wood or charcoal as suitable for cooking barbecue.

The approach proposed by this paper would call, first, for an identification of the appropriate pairings from the literature, along with the elimination of nuisance variables, and then the creation of appropriate interrelationships in a directed graph.

A secondary problem in framing the question is that some pairs that seem entirely independent (whole hog/shoulder and vinegar/catsup) seem to spontaneously arise in tandem. Examples include the barbecue traditions of Memphis, Tennessee (shoulder/ketchup), Lexington, Tennessee (whole hog/vinegar), Goldsboro/Ayden, North Carolina (whole hog/vinegar) and Greensboro/Lexington, North Carolina (shoulder/ketchup). Even here, geography is a complicating factor, with the existence of “blended” barbecue (shoulder served with vinegar sauce in Chapel Hill, North Carolina) on the border between traditions that follow the more usual combinations.

--Tom Freeland

Thanksgiving begins

Today on National Street: grocery list and menu compiled; stocks begin for dressings and gravy.

Ned is celebrating...

because now we can blog from our iPhone! Amy, you must get one. (The weekend's a little slow -- can you tell from all the blog traffic?)

Two Cousins, born on the same day

Today, Ned's cousin Jeff--and wife, April--welcomed a little girl, Harper Mitchell. And Mary Beth's cousin, Laura--and husband, Jim--welcomed a little girl, Tessa. Congrats to both! We only have one photo at present, stolen from Jeff & April's blog. Hope they don't mind us sharing!

Christmas is coming, Santa --

And, in the spirit of the holidays, Ned and I want stuff. Mainly, this.

Bayesian Networks, by Melanie (Mama)

And here's the response from Melanie/Mama:
Almost 50 years ago the pioneers of Walt Disney World Resort envisioned a complex system of underground tunnels that would link all the different "kingdoms" yet to be developed. Because the land in central Florida is sodden, these tunnels needed to prevent humidity from damaging the sensitive electronic equipment that would connect these worlds. Hence the Bayesian Networks were created. Headquartered under the Seven Seas Lagoon, the tunnels were constructed of materials that were initially created by NASA for use in the space program. Yes, the same materials that protect astronauts in space from extreme temperatures also work deep within the earth. Bayesian Network technology has also been implemented in other places as well: the underground bunkers of Washington, D.C. and the often-denied storage facilities of Area 51 among them.

Bayesian Networks, by Daniel

And here's my brother Daniel's response:
The Bayesian Networks are a series of adult-oriented cable television networks that feature the acting works of the stars of the hit series Baywatch. Among the channels are The Hoff, devoted to the awesomeness that is David Hasselhoff, and The Boob Tube, which is a reality channel about the daily activities of Pamela Anderson’s breasts (this channel scores very high in the teenage boy and perverted old men demographics). On the Fit Channel, it shows a continuous loop of the famed Baywatch “running” opening credits.

Another really happy moment

brought to us by my friend Ari, of Zingerman's. He never comes to Oxford without slipping me some candy bars. I don't want to play favorites with my SFA friends, but Ari's hard to beat! Order some of your own online here.

It was time for a new haircut.

This is the first photo where it strikes me that I look my age. I'm not so sure how I feel about that. Actually, I don't think I feel too good about it.

Ned in action

Don't ask him about it, but Ned's been plugging away at the diss for days now. I'm so proud!

Update: Operation Gravy Boat

After months of whining about needing a gravy boat to go with my china, and then finally getting one during our anniversary trip to Florida in August, a few weeks ago Ned pointed out that I'd never actually fixed him a meal with gravy. We've had gravy, don't get me wrong -- but usually it's in the bowl with the stew or the fried cube steak...it's never been in its own boat. So the other night I made real, serious, in-its-own-container, gravy. And then I put it in the Fiesta gravy boat, and forgot all about using the china one, which is how the conversation got started in the first place. Ugh.

Mmmm...pie

A week or so ago, Delta Diners/Vicksburg Chapter hit the road to Greenwood, Mississippi. Sadly, we found the Crystal Grill subpar. I think they were closing just as we arrived and, realizing the confusion over our reservations, stayed open late for us. Alas, the food was miserable, but the pie -- the pie can't be beat. Check out that meringue!