(no subject)

[gwydion]

* To make clear, I am siding with the EU on the issue of cheese names. I was expecting something like this targeted at wines for decades, honestly. My father used to have a whole rant about American growers stealing names for wines that donate the area where they are grown and a loooooong tradition.

I hadn't thought about it in regards to cheese until the BBC started talking about it, but I'm actually on the EU's side on this one. My parents had friends who owned and operated a family import cheese shop. I can definitely taste the difference between European originals and US knock offs. (I love my Purple Haze cheese and often check the shops months in a row for a round as it's local and artisan, so supplies vary, but II know damned well that's not chevre despite "chevre" being written on the label.) Mostly I linked that article as it was close to hand.

To me, this is akin to copyright infringement and we've been getting away with it for years.

* "Recent estimates of low climate sensitivity were flawed:" http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/03/recent-estimates-of-low-climate-sensitivity-were-flawed/

* "Arctic Ice Is Still Melting:" http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/03/12/arctic_ice_february_2014_data_shows_we_re_headed_for_more_ice_loss.html

* "Archaeologists IT Sligo found bones of a Stone Age child and an adult in tiny cave Knocknarea Sligo:" http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/archaeologists-sligo-found-bones-stone-3193318

* "Tomb from 18th dynasty discovered in Luxor:" http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/95953/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Tomb-from-th-dynasty-discovered-in-Luxor.aspx

* "Were Ancient Greeks The Original Recyclers?:" http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-society/were-ancient-greeks-the-original-recyclers-/waste-sorting-greece-ceramic-plastic/c3s15014/#.UyLOroWwLdh

* "New discoveries at the Gallic necropolis of Esvres-sur-Indre:" http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/03/2014/new-discoveries-at-the-gallic-necropolis-of-esvres-sur-indre

* "Ancient Egyptian Soldier's Letter Home Deciphered:" http://www.livescience.com/43900-ancient-egyptian-soldier-letter-deciphered.html

* "Cities of dreams and death:" http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/03/2014/cities-of-dreams-and-death

* "Principled bigotry is still, you know, bigotry:" http://crookedtimber.org/2014/03/05/principled-bigotry-is-still-you-know-bigotry/

* Last night I sorted through the boxes, moving them into appropriate locations and finished shelving everything in this load going on shelves. It is amazing how many books I am turning out to be able to fit into my bedroom. Also, i think i figured out where to put my office supplies which has been a worry. I'll try it out later.

Today, I managed to do today's allotment of bureaucracy, got a chest x-ray, picked up prescriptions, xeroxed key documents, emptied my comics box, dealt with some bank stuff, and bought food safe fish caulk and magnetic adhesive. The last two cost 30 cents thanks to a ridiculously good coupon in my "moving in" packet. I love Ace, I really do. I tried the caulk out on the rim of the 30 gallon, where the leak is. I discovered the magnetic tape is not adhesive as advertized, so I got out the glue. Fingers crossed for that working out as a solution for the cabinets. I also oiled the perilous bathtub in the hopes that will solve the issue with the right hand door. I am not sanguine however. I've got the boxes for tomorrow's sort stacked in my room. Hopefully Sunday, I'll have help taking heavy things up to the upstairs storage unit. Right now, we can't use the front door for the stacks.

I am exhausted, but this are closer to less chaotic.

* My crocus explosion can be seen here: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/79612842158/the-massive-crocus-explosion-with-bonus-sage-and

* "Crush the Best-Dressed List: Our Style Guide to a Century of Dazzling Party Dresses:" http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/a-century-of-dazzling-party-dresses/

Oh man, so many thoughts. All the appropriation early in the century makes me wince.

The thing the women of my family mostly said about fashion had to do with how much they hated the expectation that they fit the shapes of their bodies to a silhouette that had nothing to do with the natural shape of their bodies. The women of my mother's family were generally tallish, square shouldered, and busty. My poor Grandmother, who was above average busty even for my family had WORDS about having to bind very tightly as she entered puberty in the 20's until the boyish silhouette went out. The female consensus of the family (Gran, Grammy, my Mother, and the posthumously reported opinions of her older sister was that the 40's style was best and could have been designed with them in mind, so comfortable and for once their shape was considered ideal instead of something to be minimized, as in the '80's. Grammy and Mom considered the 50's curvy look the next most natural for the family silhouette after the 40's/'80's big shoulder styles. My Gran (Born 1889), who was a tom boy, was just happy to never have to wear a corset again when they went out, and refused to bind in the 20's or give in to the fad for bras. Of course the Aunts (My Mother's father's sisters who were super butch) switched to men's clothing in the late 20's when they were old enough and never looked back.

* Come make my ex suffer for a good cause. ;) Seriously, he's a good guy and it's a good cause. "Click here to support Pushups to Benefit HERO Housing by Jason Brick:" http://www.gofundme.com/7gjymg

Comments

[greenwick.livejournal.com]

The only real defense I've heard from the US cheese companies is "But we'll lose a lot of money!" I think people will adjust if the names do change, and I could see cheese companies adopting names like "cheddared cheese," since cheddaring refers to a process. If I remember right, the distinctive flavors also have to do with ingredients, air quality, and other factors unique to where the cheese originally come from. I don't like the idea Feta should be included, since that's not from a particular place in Greece.

One argument for the cheese name changes I think isn't going over well is, "How would you feel if other countries marketed Wisconsin Cheese?" Maybe it's just me, but I doubt most US people would care. I also think most US customers know the cheese they are getting isn't imported unless it specifically states that its origin is European.

I think eventually we'll get with the program, and I hope the whole thing gets dealt with quickly.

[gwyd.livejournal.com]

Fair enough on feta.

BTW, I do think that claiming all US cheese is terrible is both wrong and tactically a bad idea, in case that wasn't clear.

[greenwick.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I figured. It's cool. I can see why they want to protect their cheese names, and I also think the effort put into defending the cheese names would be better served coming up with new names. It seems to me that US cheese companies could benefit from the whole 'buy local' thing, and while some people will probably be confused, I think an ad campaign explaining the changes would minimalize the confusion.