Vanilla Creme Soda

I was just craving a sweet soda but discovered we had only club soda and sparkling water so I improvised the following recipe:

1 - 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ tablespoon sugar
1 ½ tablespoon non-dairy creamer (cream would probably do just as well)
½ cup club soda

Mix extract, sugar and creamer with spoon until well blended. Add enough soda to dissolve the solids and stir until smooth. Add remaining soda and give a slight stir.

I enjoyed the vanilla creaminess. There was still a lot of creamer not dissolved but I didn't want it any less creamier. The obvious solution is to prepare a creamy syrup, but that would require advance preparation and I don't know how well non-dairy creamer suspends in solution (though I know you can do it with real cream). In bubble tea shops, they use hot liquid to dissolve the powders and then mix in ice and the remaining liquid, using a shaking machine to get a smooth consistency. However, I fear that would shake out most of the carbonation, resulting in a flat soda.

Solar Farming

My recent trips across the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau gave me ample time to ruminate about the economics of solar power generation. The vast expanses of arid, sunny land seem ideal for such use, and the several for-sale signs invited my curiosity. Many questions came to my mind. How much per acre does such land go for? What is the going wholesale rate of electricity? What is the cost per panel of commercially-available solar panels? What is the highest efficiency of current commercially-available solar panels? Would it be more economical to install them at a fixed angle or to have them track the sun? What is the weathering on solar panels like? Does one have to clean the dirt off regularly? How do they stand up to hail? How much would it cost to hire labor to install them in a remote place? How much would it cost to connect the panels and in what configuration? What kind of hookup to the power grid is necessary and how much does that cost? While I am not thinking of leaving behind my PhD program to pursue "solar farming", it is an interesting question. I would think if the economics favored solar power, the energy companies would already be picking up the land and installing their own arrays.

Google Tools Wishlist

There are several things I'd like to be able to do better on different Google tools. They are either features that don't yet exist or I don't yet know how to use them.

Google Calendar

• Synchronize with my pocket PC (Microsoft Oulook).
• Cut, copy and paste calendar items.
• Save places.

Google Reader

• Search entry titles.

This entry will no doubt expand as I continue to use and think about Google's tools.

First Post

This is my first post to a blog, ever. The closest thing I have done is edit wikis (OSU physics department TWiki, QMC Wiki, Wikipedia, etc.) The difference, I think, lies in the end product. On a wiki, the end product is a group presentation of some information. On a blog, it is an individual expression of thought. I hope that some usefulness will come out of this blog, if to no one else, at least, to me.