My salad-dressing conditioner recipe

He folks. If you've ever been dissatisfied with the conditioner you find in the store, or be out of it, or had a burst of creativity, you may have experienced the same problem I have. You went to trusty old Google and looked up recipes for diy conditioner. This is what I found when I did that. I found plenty of recipes for deep-conditioning treatments that had to be left in the hair for hours, then washed out with shampoo, maybe followed by regular conditioner. I guess not too many people are that into making a replacement for their bottled conditioner from a recipe including ingredients easily obtained. In addition, many recipes for this sort of thing call for expensive, exotic ingredients.

So, I invented my own recipe. Here it is. It contains very few ingredients indeed, and they should be obtainable without any detective work, and without a trip to the more obscure parts of the health food store (or the market in Timbuktu). This conditioner is intended to be used as an ordinary part of your  hair-care routine. You don't have to keep it in your hair for three hours for it to do you some good. I will warn you, though, that it can leave your hair looking unusually shiny, like you've used gel. It may even look greasy. The greasy look can be reduced if you use ordinary conditioner afterwards, but don't feel you have to. This whole prejudice against greasy hair is a modern invention. Time was when people oiled their hair.

So, here's the recipe. Make a fresh batch for every wash, or keep the extra in the refrigerator. Take a generous spoonful of honey, and 1/4 of a teaspoon of a hair-friendly oil (I usually use olive) Add a cup or so of hot water. Use hot water so the ingredients will dissolve better.

In the shower, gather your hair and dip it into the conditioner, or pour it over your hair and catch the drips, then pour them over your hair again. You can get your hair wet first, or you can put it in the conditioner first thing. Don't put it on your scalp unless you have very short hair. I don't have a set time for leaving the hair in the conditioner, just keep it in as long as you would keep your ordinary conditioner in your hair before rinsing it out. Then, rinse out the conditioner and wash your hair.

Feel free to experiment with this recipe. You may find that using a different amount of oil or a different kind works best for you. You can add other ingredients if you like, such as essential oils, herbal infusions, aloe vera, etc. Do research and find out what your hair might like. If you come up with something really good, please do write about it in the comments section. 

Why be modest?

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up."
Romans 15:1,2

I've heard it a lot, and I bet you have too, that telling women to dress modestly is sexist, is a form of body-shaming, sexualizes women, or undermines male responsibility for lustful thoughts. I have wondered about this issue myself. I must admit that I have sometimes worn things that weren't really modest, and have wondered if it matters. I once read an article stating that Paul's injunction to dress modestly was actually a command against showing off one's wealth through sumptuous clothes. I must confess that such linguistic matters are somewhat beyond me. However, I think there are good reasons to be modest, reasons from the Bible.

Modesty is a concession we make to men's weakness, a way we express love. There is a lot of talk nowadays about preserving one's rights, about standing up for oneself, etc. There is little talk about conceding one's rights for the good of others, but the Bible upholds doing so. Giving to the poor is an example of such a concession. While it would be wrong for a person in need to steal from somebody, it is perfectly fine for that person to give to the person in need. The command not to steal respects people's right to property while the command to give enjoins giving up that right for the good of others.

Another example, one inspired by the passage quoted above, is that of avoiding presenting temptation to people with certain weaknesses. For instance, if you have an alcoholic friend and were planning to invite that friend to a get-together, it would be kindest for you not to serve alcohol, even if you did not offer any of it to your friend. Even though you might argue that your friend should have the gumption to not drink even when alcohol is available, even if you are confident he can, it is still kind to avoid presenting him with temptation. It is a way you can be considerate towards your friend's weakness.

Now, most men have a weakness. (Note that I said most men, not all men.) It is hard for them not to lust when they see a woman dressed in a way that would be described as "scanty" from the point of view of your culture. That standard, will, of course, differ in different contexts, but the standard exists. In our culture, there is a certain tolerance for a degree of immodesty, a degree seen as sexy, but not taboo. By avoiding dress that makes things hard for men, we women can show love. We can help our brothers in Christ do their duty. I admit, it is a sacrifice. Do men deserve it? No. Jesus also made a sacrifice for you, even though you do not deserve it. Modest dress is a way for us to imitate Jesus and sacrifice for the good of others.

Note that I do not discount the problems many women have with male immodesty. However, I think female immodesty is much more prevalent in formal situations. For men, in general, the more formal the occasion, the more a man will be wearing. For a woman, things are not so simple. Outside of business wear, the fancier the occasion, the more likely a woman will have bare shoulders, etc. Our society permits women greater variety in dress, and greater immodesty.

There is an important warning I must issue here. Whenever people concede their rights for the good of others, abuse is possible. How can we avoid it? I don't pretend to be an expert, but I will offer a few words to men on having a proper attitude. Men, don't demand modesty, request it. Listen to women and make sure what you are asking is practical. We women are used to wearing less than you do, and may find ourselves uncomfortable wearing a lot of clothes in the summer. Bras can be difficult to hide, and may act as though they want to be seen. Women who are "gifted" may find it hard to find tops high enough without looking like old maids. Besides everything, remember that our fashions do not cater to modesty, cater less to modesty than yours, so dressing modestly and fashionably can be harder for us than for you. Bear with us, and forgive our failings. Never use immodesty as an excuse for lust, rape, exploitation, catcalling, or humiliation. You are responsible for yourselves.

"Stained Glass" Jar Mug

The other day, I found a web page showing how to draw on glass with sharpies and seal it with nail polish. I had been wanting to make a mug with a coat of arms on it, and I contrived to make it out of a Ukrainian canning jar. I still haven't figured out how to do the handle, but I've done the painting. Here's how I did it. First, I designed a coat of arms to put on the mug. Then, I photographed the coat of arms I had made and sized the picture so the design would be the right size. Here is the mug with the pattern inside the glass, ready to be drawn upon.

I first traced the outline of the design in black sharpie. Then, after letting it dry for a time, I filled in the colors. Last, I went out and bought some gold nail polish. I used this to paint the lions and the crown. I think it has turned out pretty well. When everything has had time to dry, I will paint over it with clear nail polish. 

Life hack: Wear a strapless dress without the hassle.

Have you ever wanted to wear a casual strapless dress but not wanted to deal with the inconvenience of wearing a strapless bra (which is uncomfortable and does not stay up) or the embarrassment of going braless (and wondering if you can really pull it off) or wearing your strapless dress with a shirt underneath and wishing you could enjoy the true coolness of your summer dress instead of enduring the heat of wearing a double layer. I'm about to show you a valuable method to go braless without the inconvenience or immodesty.

The problem centers on what people think they see. If people think they're seeing your braw, they might as well be seeing it. Conversely, if people don't know they're seeing your bra, it does them no harm. Thus, you need a way to hide your bra in plain sight. The great thing is that you can improvise a bra from a scarf. Worn thus, it will not look like a bra but like a scarf, or even a necklace.

For this, you will need a strapless dress and a large scarf. I recommend a rectangular scarf. The scarf should look good with your dress because it will be visible. Wrap your scarf around your torso so that the middle goes around your back, and the ends are in front. Cross the ends over your bust, then tie them around your neck. The scarf will hold up your breasts like a bra, but won't look like one. This method can also work with spaghetti-strap and halter-top dresses and tops as well.

Why Christians eat pork, or A discussion of the misuse of Leviticus in discussions of homosexuality.

In the current debate over sexual mores, I have all too often seen people accusing Christians of hypocrisy for not keeping the Old Testament Laws. This accusation directly results from the use of a verse in Leviticus directly forbidding sexual relations between males. Now, I believe it is foolish for Christians to use this verse in public and political debates over human sexuality. Christians’ relationship to the Old Testament laws is a complicated topic, not one suited for the shallow, if-it-doesn’t-fit-on-a-sign-it’s-too-long atmosphere of the political debate environment. 

Despite the complexity of the topic, I will venture to explain the role of the Old Testament law for Christians. Please remember that the topic is not simple, so bear with me and have patience. Also, I understand that the view I will put forth here is strictly Reformed, not the same view as that held by certain other groups. However, my explanation should help clear the charge of hypocrisy. First, a general overview of Christian history.

The general narrative on which Christians base their faith divides history into the time before Christ and the time after Him. This first period is further divided by several vital events. Perhaps the most formative of these is the Fall, Adam and Eve’s eating the Forbidden Fruit. The Fall is credited with casing all (or most of) the problems people encounter. Because of the Fall, people could no longer live in harmony with God or with each other. God did not want to leave us to this predicament, and determined to rescue us, even though we had caused the difficulty. 

The Flood is another event of importance, although it merely serves to show how bad humanity can get. Some time after the Flood, God chose Abraham and his family to be a chosen nation, the nation of Israel. It was to this nation, after they were freed from slavery in Egypt, that God gave the law, of which Leviticus is a part. The law was pretty extensive, including laws and rules for most activities. Even the fabrics people could wear was regulated, as well as the food they could eat, and the way they would deal with such problems as mildew or sickness. 

Some time after the nation of Israel arrived in their land, they set up a king, but only after they had attempted to live without one and experienced anarchy and difficulty.  Already, though, they had begun compromising their religion by syncretism. Even under their kings, they would worship God along with the deities of the surrounding peoples, a practice which had been forbidden. Finally, as punishment, they were conquered and deported. 

Although some Israelites did manage to return to their land and rebuild their temple, the glory days of Israel were pretty much over. Except for some brief periods, Israel was the subject of one empire after another, finally coming under Rome. In such circumstances, the civil laws God laws God had given them could not be enforced as they had been when Israel had been free. The Romans were the law, and they did not always care about violations of Jewish mores. 

It was at this time that Jesus was born, lived, died, and came back to life. He did not establish a government or rid Israel of Roman authority. Instead, the story ends with both Jews and non-Jews, man of them Romans, following Jesus. The New Testament ends with a rather cryptic account of visions and dreams, many of them revealing the future. 

The crux (no pun intended) of the matter is the issue of fulfillment. Reformed Christians believe that the Old Testament laws were a representation of something which did not yet exist when the laws were given. The whole Old Testament speaks of what would one day come to pass with the coming of Jesus. Thus, new symbols have been given to the church, most of them looking backwards, not forwards, symbols replacing the old ones laid down. Israel pretty much always struggled to keep the law, never fully succeeding. Thus, they were shown the inability of humanity to keep God’s law and the need for atonement. 

The New Testament repeatedly teaches that the Christian no longer is bound by certain Old Testament laws. In Mark 7:14-19 Jesus sets aside the rigorous purity laws. In Acts 10:10-16, the apostle Peter has a vision in which God practically tells him to eat unclean food. After this vision, Peter goes to the house of a Gentile, something devout Jews at that time believed to be wrong. Further, the elders of the early church soon determine that Gentile believers need not keep the civil and ceremonial laws of the Old Testament (Act 15:1-35). Thus, many Christians eat pork, wear clothes of blended fabrics, and do not consider themselves unclean during menstruation. 

Why then, one may well ask, do Christians consider homosexual behavior to be wrong? Certain New Testament passages, such as Romans 1: 26-27 seem to indicate that homosexual behavior is not natural. For Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, I expect the Church’s long tradition of disapproval of homosexual behavior probably stands as a strong reason to still consider it wrong. Also, the sexual acts which the Old Testament laws forbid are mostly taboo among modern Christians. One notable exception is the prohibition against having sexual relations with a woman while she is on her period. However the New Testament passages should be understood or applied, it would be best not to use Old Testament passages to condemn homosexual behavior, as doing so has caused confusion for those unfamiliar with the more complicated points of Christian doctrine and has brought undeserved ridicule to the Church.

Ok folks, how about something completely different. This is the first of a genre-bender series I intend to feature on this blog. This first episode is essentially a consideration of what it would take to rewrite Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as a Western. Now, before you all start saying that it’s impossible because the book takes place in England, pretty far away from the American West (wild or otherwise), consider the fact that there are elements of a Western which are adaptable, even to England.

The book has some key elements and stock characters of a Western:

Horses/riding: Hippogriffs are not horses, but they’re pretty close. 

A train: The Hogwarts Express features in every book except the last.

The Saloon: The Three Broomsticks. This is the first book in which characters go to the local village of Hogsmead.

High Noon Showdown: Occurs after sunset, in an abandoned house, but it is a pretty intense fight even so.

Off Into the Sunset: Off into the full moon instead. 

Guns Shot out of Hands: Expelliarmous!

Dangerous coyote: Professor Lupin.

Rustling/Horse stealing: Harry and Hermione steal a hippogryph. 

The trapper/Frontiersman: Hagrid fits this in some ways. He lives in a hut near the woods. He has a big beard and is somewhat eccentric. 

The Outlaw: Obviously. In the movie, there are even wanted posters. 

The barmaid: Madam Rosmerta

The Sheriff: Minister Fudge

Overeager Hangman/Judge: Mcnair 

Doctoring the plot would yield additional elements which are not present in the book. In general, the isolation of the school and village could be given greater emphasis. Local wildlife, particularly that living in the forest, could be given greater emphasis. Of course, the costume department would need a complete overhaul. Wand holsters wouldn’t be a bad idea. 

Some more specific ideas:

Train battle: Have the dementors swarm the train in epic disorder and have Professor Lupin, the train conductor, the lunch cart woman, and any of the students who can band together to fight them off. 

Barroom Brawl: There is a pub, but never a brawl. Some possible triggers: Sirius Black appears on the scene to get a hold of Peter Pettigrew. Malfoy turns up and insults Ron and Hermione. Ron takes offense, punches Malfoy in the nose...

What do you think? Could it work? What other plot changes would be needed?

Special thanks to a few special tv tropes pages on the Wild West genre.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheWildWest
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WesternCharacters

10 Advantages of Capes

A cape is one of the simplest garments to wear against the cold. It is simply a piece of cloth gathered at the neck and extending down the body. Capes are as part of the wardrobes of fictional characters, from Harry Potter to Dracula. However, most of us are content to let them stay in the fictional realm instead of sporting one ourselves. We think they’ll be inconvenient or socially unacceptable. Buying a good, pre-made cape can be expensive, and making one can strike fear in those who don’t sew. Trust me, though, a good cape is worth the trouble, no matter what your walk of life. Here are ten reasons why you should consider adding a cape to your wardrobe. 

It Looks Awesome.

 You just have to admit it; capes look amazing. There’s something mysterious, dashing, and adventurous about a flowing cape. If you’re a fantasy buff, a cape can make you feel like you’re in your favorite fictional universe, and it can put you in the way of meeting other fans. People will compliment you on it, if only because it is an unusual thing to wear. A cape can make your outfit look more elegant. It can make you look scary, intimidating, or ready for anything. A cape can turn you into a princess, a warrior, a wizard, or an enchantress. Let’s face it; you just have to take someone in a cape seriously. If you want a flashy cape, velvet can be a good choice, although it isn’t very warm.

It Complements various styles.

Capes lend an interesting look to various styles of dress. With modern clothes, such as jeans and a t-shirt, a cape may give a superhero look. Capes complement Medieval or Renaissance clothes as well as Victorian clothes. Of course, capes also look great with anything fantasy inspired. Note that you don’t need period dress to evoke a time period, particularly if you’re wearing a cape. For a Victorian vibe, all you need is either a long flowing skirt and nice shirt or a nice shirt and pants, preferably worn with a vest. A cape also makes a great evening wrap. For a really versatile cloak, choose a neutral color like brown, black, or even white. Those into goth or steampunk will, of course, find capes useful to their wardrobes, but don’t think capes aren’t for you if your dress is thoroughly modern and mainstream.  Read on for more reasons to get a cape now.

It’s Useful for Costumes.

Capes can be useful if you are dressing up, either as part of the costume or as the costume. Some costumes require a cape. A Little Red Riding Hood costume necessitates a red cape, and could consist of little else. A cape is an asset, if not a necessity, for a classic vampire costume.. Want to be somebody from your favorite fantasy series? Chances are, a cape will be part of your costume. Can’t think what to be for the next costume party? Throw on a cape and a mask and you’re good to go. Even if you have a costume worked out, that cape may also need to come in as a last minute addition. What if it’s freezing or raining on Halloween? What if you’re going to parade in your costume in the cold? You may find a cape is just what the doctor ordered. Capes go with many types of costumes, although not all. For those costumes it does complement, a cape has one great advantage over an ordinary coat; it doesn’t hide or crush your costume. Since a cape will go with more than one style, the same cape can be used for more than one costume. The black cape you wore to be the Grim Reaper? It’ll look great on the Phantom of the Opera. 

It Covers you.

I know I just said that a cape won’t cover up your costume, but I need to add that it also can cover you pretty thoroughly. The choice is yours, really. It all depends on whether you let the cape hang open or wrap it around yourself tightly. Depending on the length of the cloak, it can cover you as much as a trench coat, and then some, especially if it is voluminous, and especially if it has a hood. If it is made of wool, it will be your best friend in the rain. Wool stays warm even when it is wet and does not get soaked as fast as cotton does. Your cape will even protect your bag or backpack from the elements, and although the wind may make it hard for you to hold it around yourself, the wind won’t try to turn it inside-out the way it would an umbrella. 

It’s Cozy.

When you’re not trick-or-treating or wandering in the rain, your cape is still a great companion. When you are cold, it’s a great thing to snuggle up in, even indoors. It can make a good bathrobe, in a pinch, although it is best for covering pajamas; don’t try wearing it with nothing underneath and expect to keep your reputation. You can wrap it around you like a blanket and snuggle with it. It’s just the thing to curl up in on a cold day. Of course, the snuggliness of your cloak will depend on the fabric it’s made of. Fleece can be a nice option, if you don’t wash it too often. Other blanket fabrics can be nice in this regard. 

It’s Versatile.

A cape is just a wearable blanket. You have an excellent excuse to take it with you wherever you go, so you can use it to take a nap, sit on in the grass, or lie on the beach. You can fold it up and sit on it if you need a pillow. It’s a great preparedness tool. It’s also great for travel, particularly as planes can be cold and you may want to nap. If you’re stranded in the wild, it may help you make yourself a shelter in the wilderness. As it’s something you wear, it’s something you’ll likely have with you if you’re not expecting trouble. You can share the warmth, too if you throw it sideways over yourself and someone else.

It has Flexible sizing.

Unlike more form-fitting garments, capes offer a forgiving fit. You can lose or gain a great deal of weight without worrying that your cape will stop fitting. Since capes can be worn at a variety of lengths, a child can wear one cape for many years without growing out of it. It can also be easily adjusted for length. You can hem it short for a young child and let it out as the child grows. People with greatly varying heights and builds can wear the same size cloak, making it possible to lend cloaks to friends. You can also easily make cloaks for others, as you do not need to know many measurements to make a cloak that will fit 

You can use it to hide things.

Don’t want everybody to see you bought doughnuts again? Pretend you’re cold and pull your cape more closely around yourself. Bought a present for your mother and want to sneak it inside the house without looking guilty? Keep your hand in your cloak. A cape is a smuggler’s friend. If you pull it around yourself, you can hide something in your hand and nobody will see it. It will hide your bag, unless the bag is too large. It will hide your outfit, if you don’t want people to see what you’re wearing. If your cloak has a hood, you can practically hide your identity if you wrap your cloak high, over your nose and mouth. This is a great way to scare people. 

It’s Easy to make.

Depending on the pattern you use, making a cape can be relatively easy. While complicated patterns exist, it is possible to make a cloak with only basic sewing and without a pattern. All you need to do is have a piece of cloth the length and width of the cape you want, plus a piece the width and twice the length of your hood. Fold the hood piece in half with right sides together and sew one of the sides perpendicular to the fold. Gather the top of the other piece of cloth and sew it to the hood. Do any necessary hemming. This pattern may not work with thicker fabrics. For your first cloak, it may be a good idea to use a fabric which does not need hemming, such as a knit. 

It never really goes out of style.

The classic cape has probably never really been in mainstream fashion. Thus, it will never really go out of fashion. Fashionable clothes are a scam. In all to short a time, they will fall out of favor and become last year, out of fashion. People will tell you to replace them, while you mumble that you still like them and point out that you have better uses for your money than replacing perfectly good clothes with garments which will be out of fashion before they’ve had time to even rip. And all for what? To avoid disapproval. It’s much better to drop out of the fashion mainstream and stay out.  Capes aren’t like modern fashions. They’re outside the fashion machine. They will never be dated the same way 80s fashions are. A cape will always be a bold, dashing fashion statement, and will always mark you out as unique. That’s why it pays to get a cape. It’ll ride you through many years of changing fads and crazes, always making you avant-guard and cool.