Cleveland Rocks! Go visit a museum!

I'm traveling again today (after the great summer vacation in Maine last week) - heading for the Society of American Archivists meeting in Cleveland, Ohio.  I will meet up with my archival friends, speak on a panel and take in some minor league ball (the Indians are out of town this week).

None of the museums on this list are in Cleveland (but the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is - and I'll be going there) - but one should visit these, I've been to several already and will work on the rest in the coming years!

1. The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - I've been here (at another conference).  The largest museum dedicated to a single artist in the United States, the Andy Warhol museum features works from throughout the career of the king of pop art. The museum is located in the North Side of Pittsburgh, which was Warhol’s hometown.
2. Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, California - I missed out on the SAA meeting in San Francisco and have yet to visit the city by the bay.  San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum features one of the largest and most comprehensive collection of art and handicrafts from throughout the Asian continent.
3. The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii - I've not been to Hawaii and don't have a whole lot of interest, unfortunately.  While Honolulu’s Bishop museum features several different exhibits ranging from Earth science to art, what really makes this museum unique is its collection of items of importance from the Hawaiian people and their culture, which is unparalleled, and visiting the Bishop Museum means you are in Hawaii, which is pretty excellent.
4. Chasing Rainbows Museum, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - I've not been to Tennessee either, but might be able to be convinced.  Yes, that’s right, there is a museum that’s all about Dolly Parton, and, yes, you have to visit this all Dolly Parton museum that’s a featured attraction in Dollywood, the all Dolly Parton theme park located in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains.
5. Clinton Presidential Center, Little Rock, Arkansas - Hey, it's a National Archives location! If you are in the mood for some 90s nostalgia, there’s really no better place on this planet today than Little Rock, the home of Bill Clinton’s presidential library and museum, which does a pretty nice job of breaking down the state of the world during the Clinton presidency.
6. Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York - I really meant to stop here on the way home from Rochester last year.  This could be done as a day trip or an overnight.  Located in the small Upstate New York town of Corning, which is also the home of the Corning Glass Works that founded this museum in the 1950s, the Corning Museum of Glass is part hands on science museum and part art/history museum focusing on the development of glass as a material and it’s many uses.
7. Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, Staten Island, New York - Wait, there's something other that landfill on Staten Island? Tucked in a suburban neighborhood on New York’s remote Staten Island is one of the world’s best collection of Tibetan and Himalayan art and artifacts. It’s a pretty interesting and quiet oasis in the middle of one of the world’s biggest cities.
8. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Cooperstown, New York - CHECK! While certainly an important stop for any fan of America’s Pastime, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum presents a succinct telling of American history through the lens of one of this nation’s most popular sports. It seems like today there is a hall of fame for just about everything, but Cooperstown is no doubt the best of the bunch.
9. National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, Tennessee - Two museums from Tennessee on the same list?  Housed in the former Lorraine Motel in Memphis, infamous as the place where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in April, 1968, the National Civil Rights Museum takes a poignant look at America’s Civil Rights Movement from the 1600s through today.
10. National Cryptologic Museum, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland - I keep meaning to go, but I can never find it, plus I think it's password protected.  If you can believe it, the National Cryptologic Museum is a pet project of controversial National Security Agency (NSA). The museum is perfect if you are a fan of looking at the actual objects that inspired your favorite Bond gadgets, this museum is perfect for you. It’s perhaps best to turn off your phone before you enter though… just in case. 
11. New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, Massachusetts - Growing up on Long Island, I often would visit the Whaling Museum in Cold Spring Harbor.  That's not to say that I'm not prepared to branch out.  Before we discovered fossil fuels were capable of helping us generate energy while destroying the environment, people actually loaded up on sailing vessels and went out to harpoon whales to process their blubber as oil. The New Bedford Whaling Museum, located in what was once one of the biggest whaling ports in the world, looks at the history and culture of the whale fishing era, whale biology as well as the fight to help save these incredible creatures. 
12. Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport, Maine - We hit this one up just last week! With all the summers I spent in Maine, I had never been there.  Located in the small coastal Maine village of Kennebunkport, the Seashore Trolley Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of mass transit vehicles from street cars dating to the 1800s to busses and subway trains just decommissioned from their respective cities. Be sure to take a ride on one of their functioning cars for a bit of transit nostalgia.
13. Totem Heritage Center, Ketchikan, Alaska - I've not been to the Last Frontier State, yet. Tucked at the end of the scenic Alaskan Peninsula, Ketchikan hosts the worlds largest single collection of authentic totem poles in the Totem Heritage Center along with the Totem Bight State Historic Park and other nearby facilities.

Air Travel in the Archival Profession

I've been to a fair number of conference since joining the archives profession.  On occasion I have flown to these meetings.  There is often the discussion that if the "archives charter" went down the DC archives profession would be devastated.

There was one conference that Mrs. BA and I were returning from (it was New Orleans the week before Katrina hit that city), we had a very young LBA with us.  We got to board first and as our colleagues filed onto the plane, we were afraid that LBA might not hold it together for the flight.  But he is a very good flier.

Here's a list of "54 Thoughts You Have When Flying With A Colleague." It appears to involve drinking to get through the experience.

1. Great, another business trip.
2. I can’t be a wreck when I travel. Must keep it together. 
3. Although, chances are, Colleague X is also a wreck when traveling. 
4. Maybe this will bring us closer together? 
5. Hmm. Should probably avoid being a mess all together — very unprofessional. 
6. Yes. I will be totally professional. I will have my fancy carry-on and my hair will look perfect.
7. Will be like Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air.
8. Should I ask Colleague X to go to the airport together? Is that weird?
9. It’s not like we carpool to work together…why would we ride together for this? 
10. What should I definitely NOT talk about?
11. What mistakes have I made at work recently? Definitely don’t reference those.
12. Should I suggest we get a drink before the flight?
13. Everyone needs alcohol before a flight.
14. Even at 11 a.m., right?
15. Just one drink. Do not get too drunk.
16. I mean, but drinking is OK, right? We have happy hour after work all the time. This is no different? 
17. Except it is. Because you are traveling with your work colleague.
18. We are representing our company.
19. This is actually kind of fun. We’re having an alcoholic beverage, discussin’ THE BIZ like COOL BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS. 
20. Do I admit my fear of flying? 
21. No, no. You want to seem very impressive.
22. Just one more drink, maybe.
23. OK. Boarding time. Do I ask if we’re sitting together?
24. Is it weird to sit together? 
25. No, you are technically traveling together, so you should sit next to each other. 
26. Oh shoot, we’re in different aisles. Do I ask if we ask someone to switch? 
27. This is awkward. If it were a friend or S.O., of course we’d be sitting next to each other on a plane.
28. OK. Now we’re sitting next to each other. 
29. These seats are…close.
30. Do I look straight ahead while talking? Or turn to look at my Colleague? WHICH IS MORE PROFESSIONAL? I AM TRYING TO BE A MODEL EMPLOYEE.
31. Time for takeoff. Just be calm. Don’t talk now. Now is not a talking time. Do not make that bad joke about the CEO’s wardrobe.
32. It’s not a funny joke. 
33. Except we’re both not talking now and I don’t like this airplane because it is very bumpy.
34. Ugh, of course you just made that joke about the CEO’s wardrobe. Dumb.
35. The beverage cart is coming through.
36. I could sure use another drink. But should I…?
37. FUCK IT. Yes, I would like a vodka tonic. ::Avoids all eye contact with Colleague:: 
38. Act natural. You are not being judged. 
39. Now I’m just going to pretend to go over those notes for the meeting. VERY SERIOUS NOTES. 
40. Maybe I should try and sleep? 
41. No. What if you snore. 
42. Do not sleep.
43. Oh god, TURBULENCE! 
44. Do not freak out. You cannot look like a little baby when you are hoping for a promotion.
45. You must show calm under pressure.
46. This is all a test. 
47. And I have failed. I will never get promoted again. 
48. OK, stop it. We are all just human. 
49. It is OK to be a wreck while traveling, right?
50. Just smile and talk about how excited you are to meet VERY IMPORTANT CLIENT. 
51. Ignore the bumps. 
52. This isn’t so bad, right? 
53. And it’s only a few days. 
54. You can make it.

It's A Beautiful Night for Baseball!

Tonight is the annual outing where I invite 200 of my closest archival friends to a baseball game during the Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archivists.  With the SAA Annual Meeting here in Washington, DC this year, that means the Washington Nationals.  Tonight, the Nats will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (which was the team that we saw the first time I organized this outing, lo these many years ago).

Here's a post that came out on BuzzFeed back at the beginning of the baseball season on why "Baseball is the Best Sport for Anxious Fans." (click the link to see the associated pictures with the text below)

We all know the horror of watching your closing pitcher blow a lead. But for the overall anxious among us, baseball provides invaluable respite.

1. There are 162 games in a season. Day One! So filled with hope! With so many games on the schedule, losses are easier to stomach than in other sports… 
2. Each game is roughly three hours long. So over the course of a season, you invest an unspeakable amount of time and nervous energy into baseball that might otherwise be pent up in anxiety.
3. Baseball stadiums are significantly less stressful than arenas for other sports. Your team is down by 5 runs? Shrug it off, go buy yourself a $25 hot dog. So get out there, the sun’s good for you. Just don’t forget sunblock.
4. The pace of the game is rarely stressful due to its slow pace. We all know those strikeout, fly out, ground out innings. Which gives you time to get to know your favorite players and their quirky personalities.
5. However, something exciting could happen at any moment, which helps keeps your focus on the game and not on external stressors. Honestly, whose day wouldn’t be made better by a Bartolo Colon home run? 
6. Following the game closely could actually stimulate your brain in a calming way.
7. Diving deep into the world of complicated statistics can be tranquilizing for the more obsessive of us. 
8. Nostalgia, considered a reprieve from emotional distress, goes hand in hand with baseball. Much has been written about the traditional and ritualistic nature of the game. Richard Skolnik says “Baseball memories are said to be memories of America’s youth, and to represent rich receptacles of traditions and values as meaningful as the greater socio-cultural context in which the game is played.”
9. Even after the stressful end of the season, you have a long offseason to recover.
10. Yet nothing puts a smile on your face like waking up and realizing pitchers and catchers are set to report that day.

International Left-Handers Day! Celebrate with me!

Today is known as International Left Handers Day (and yes it's also the day after Mrs. BA's birthday).  It's also the middle of "SAA Week" here in Washington DC, the Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archivists is underway.

The Brave Astronaut is left handed, and despite my urgings, thought I was going to get SoBA to be a lefty, but that doesn't look like it will come to pass.  But here's a list of 59 others that "if the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, then they (we) are in their right minds!"

1. Robert De Niro - "are you talking to me?"
2. Angelina Jolie
3. Prince William
4. Robert Redford
5. Sarah Jessica Parker
6. Barack Obama - the last several presidents have been left handed.
7. Keanu Reeves
8. Jerry Seinfeld
9. Nicole Kidman
10. Julia Roberts
11. Bill Clinton - see?
12. Lady Gaga
13. Seth Rogan
14. Mary-Kate Olsen
15. Owen Wilson
16. Bruce Willis
17. Lisa Kudrow
18. Morgan Freeman
19. Diane Keaton
20. Mark Wahlberg
21. Tom Cruise
22. Tim Allen
23. Matthew Broderick - so if both he and Sarah are lefties, what about their kids?
24. Justin Bieber
25. Oprah Winfrey
26. John Slattery
27. Ben Stiller
28. Emma Thompson
29. Paul McCartney
30. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
31. Jay Leno
32. Demi Moore - sigh.
33. Prince Charles - sure there's a father-one, see #3
34. Celine Dion
35. Bill Gates
36. Martina McBride
37. Drew Carey - there's a lot of funny on this list.  I'm pretty funny.
38. Matt Lauer
39. Whoopi Goldberg
40. Richard Simmons
41. Jon Stewart
42. Goldie Hawn
43. Ron Perlman - The Beast!
44. Pierce Brosnan
45. Teri Hatcher
46. Kevin Richardson
47. Dan Aykroyd
48. David Bowie 
49. Spike Lee
50. January Jones - so should Roger and Betty have a thing?
51. Eminem
52. Ashley Tisdale
53. Dennis Quaid
54. Ed O'Neill
55. A.J. McLean
56. Niall Horan
57. Greg Kinnear
58. David Letterman
59. Jim Carrey

Let's Go Zephyrs!

Tonight is the Brave Astronaut's last night in the Big Easy and the Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archivists. I am celebrating with an outing with a group of friends at the New Orleans Zephyrs game in nearby Metarie.  As most of you know - I have been organizing outings to baseball at the SAA Annual Meeting for the past several years, including a visit to the Zephyrs and New Orleans in 2005 (a week before Katrina struck the city).

For that past few baseball seasons, I have also been running a fantasy baseball team, named the Brave Astronauts of course.  I have finished in the middle of the pack most years - this year I have had better offense than I have had in years past, when my pitching has been strongest.  Some time ago, I saw this post about the "Ultimate Fictional Baseball Team."  It's like fantasy, fantasy baseball.

Thanks SAA for another great week in the Big Easy!  Back home again tomorrow!

California - #31, September 9, 1850

It is appropriate that we have reached California this week.  I am actually in the state, attending the SAA Annual Meeting in lovely San Diego.  I'm having a lovely time and (so far) the conference is informative.  And I had an amazing dinner last night with tableside Bananas Foster.

I have only been to the Golden State a few times but it is a great state.  Being in San Diego with its great weather, reminds me that I could live out here.  But it is also disconcerting to be three hours behind Mrs. BA and the boys back home.

The state of California has the lowest point in the nation, Death Valley, in the southeast, which is 282ft below sea level.  Mt. Whitney (14,491 ft) is the highest point in the contiguous 48 states.   Lassen Peak is one of two active U.S. volcanoes outside of Alaska and Hawaii; its last eruptions were recorded in 1917.

The State of California is the only state to have hosted both the Winter (Squaw Valley in 1960) and Summer Olympics (Los Angeles in 1932 and 1984).  California has nineteen major league sports franchises, more than any other state by far.  If California were its own country it would be the eighth largest economy in the world.

For being the most populous of all the states, it boasts only one native-born President, Richard Nixon.  His presidential library is located in San Clemente, where Nixon grew up.  Also found in California is the Illinois-born Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.  Gerald Ford also spent most of his post-presidential career in California.

The current Governor of California is Democrat Jerry Brown, a true character in American politics. The Senators for California are Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. The California Congressional delegation has 53 members, the largest of any state.  There are 34 Democrats and 19 Republicans.

• 1st District - Mike Thompson (D)
• 2nd District - Wally Herger (R)
• 3rd District - Dan Lungren (R)
• 4th District - Tom McClintock (R)
• 5th District - Doris Matsui (D)
• 6th District - Lynn Woolsey (D)
• 7th District - George Miller (D)
• 8th District - Nancy Pelosi (D) - also the current Minority Leader and former Speaker of the House
• 9th District - Barbara Lee (D)
• 10th District - John Garamendi (D)
• 11th District - Jerry McNerney (D)
• 12th District - Jackie Speier (D)
• 13th District - Pete Stark (D)
• 14th District - Anna Eshoo (D)
• 15th District - Mike Honda (D)
• 16th District - Zoe Lofgren (D)
• 17th District - Sam Farr (D)
• 18th District - Dennis Cardoza (D)
• 19th District - Jeff Denham (R)
• 20th District - Jim Costa (D)
• 21st District - Devin Nunes (R)
• 22nd District - Kevin McCarthy (R)
• 23rd District - Lois Capps (D)
• 24th District - Elton Gallegy (R)
• 25th District - Buck McKeon (R)
• 26th District - David Dreier (R)
• 27th District - Brad Sherman (D)
• 28th District - Howard Berman (D)
• 29th District - Adam Schiff (D)
• 30th District - Henry Waxman (D)
• 31st District - Xavier Becerra (D)
• 32nd District - Judy Chu (D)
• 33rd District - Karen Bass (D)
• 34th District - Lucille Roybal-Allard (D)
• 35th District - Maxine Waters (D)
• 36th District - Janice Hahn (D)
• 37th District - Laura Richardson (D)
• 38th District - Grace Napolitano (D)
• 39th District - Linda Sanchez (D) - she's Loretta's sister
• 40th District - Ed Royce (R)
• 41st District - Jerry Lewis (R), no not this guy
• 42nd District - Gary Miller (R)
• 43rd District - Joe Baca (D)
• 44th District - Ken Calvert (R)
• 45th District - Mary Bono Mack (R), she's the widow of Sonny Bono.
• 46th District - Dana Rohrabacher (R)
• 47th District - Loretta Sanchez (D) - she's Linda's sister
• 48th District - John Campbell (R)
• 49th District - Darrell Issa (R)
• 50th District - Brian Bilbray (R)
• 51st District - Bob Filner (D)
• 52nd District - Duncan Hunter (R)
• 53rd District - Susan Davis (D)

Facts

• State Capital - Sacramento
• Largest city - Los Angeles
  
• Date of Admission - September 9, 1850
• Area - 163,696 sq mi (3rd)
• Population (2011 est.) - 37,691,912 (1st) (it is also greater than all but 34 countries)
• State Motto - "Eureka"
• State Nickname - The Golden State
• State animal - grizzly bear
• State bird - valley quail
• State flower - golden poppy
• State tree - California redwood
• State University - The University of California
• State Archives - California State Archives
• The State Historical Society of California

Links

• ca.gov - the Official Website of the State of California
• The California Tourism site - Visit California
• Wikipedia 
• 50states.com entry for California
• InfoPlease entry for California 
• California State Guide from the Library of Congress

Prominent Californians- (here's a few lists to peruse, one and two)

• Marcus Allen, football player
• Nuclear Physicist Luis Walter Alvarez 
• Gertrude Atherton, author
• Playwright David Belasco 
• Shirley Temple Black 
• Inventor Robert Bower 
• Dave Brubeck 
• Horticulturist Luther Burbank
• Julia Child 
• Inventor Frederick G. Cottrell 
• Leonardo DiCaprio 
• Joe DiMaggio
• Air Force General James H. Doolittle
• Dancer Isadora Duncan 
• Born in Georgia, died in New York, but California centric John C. Frémont 
• Robert Frost 
• Jerry Garcia 
• Economist Henry George
• Father of the VCR, Charles P. Ginsburg 
• Astronomer George E. Hale
• William Randolph Hearst, publisher
• Actress Mariel Hemingway 
• Sidney Howard, playwright
• Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy
• Jack London 
• George Lucas 
• Inventor of the Laser Theodore Harold Maiman 
• Finder of gold at Sutter's Mill, James Marshall sparking the California Gold Rush
• Aimee Semple McPherson, evangelist
• Marilyn Monroe
• Naturalist John Muir
• Sculptor Isamu Noguchi 
• George S. Patton, Jr. 
• Robert Redford 
• Sally K. Ride 
• Author William Saroyan 
• Leland Stanford
• Lincoln Steffens, journalist
• John Steinbeck 
• Adlai Stevenson 
• Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren 
• The Williams Girls (Serena and Venus)

It Was a Dark and Stormy Kind of Night

I'm off tomorrow to the Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archivists in San Diego, CA.  I'm sure there will be drinking.  Here's two of my favorite recipes for what I might drink this week.

Dark and Stormy
(from Rachel Ray)
Ingredients

• Ice 
• 1/4 lime 
• 2 ounces dark rum (recommended: Goslings Black Seal Bermuda Black Rum) 
• 10 ounces of ginger beer (recommended: Milligan's Island Tropical Mango Ginger Beer) 
• Lime wedge, for garnish, optional

Directions 
Fill a 12-ounce glass with ice. Squeeze the lime wedge over the ice in the glass. Drop the wedge into the glass. Pour the rum into the glass. Add the ginger beer. Stir lightly and garnish with another lime wedge, if desired.

* Restaurant Recipe This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. Food Network Kitchens have not tested this recipe in the proportions indicated and therefore cannot make representation as to the results.

Philadelphia Fish House Punch
This was the featured cocktail at Jose Andres's America Eats Tavern and was also present at the exhibition opening for "What's Cooking Uncle Sam."  I may have been overserved on that evening.  From the Washington Post Food Section.

The recipe can be scaled up as needed to fill a punch bowl.
1 serving

Ingredients:

• Ice
• 1 ounce Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaica rum 
• 1/2 ounce peach brandy 
• 1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur (not the liquid from maraschino cherries) 
• 1/2 ounce brewed, cooled green tea 
• 1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice 
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup (see NOTE) 
• Lemon wheel, for garnish 
• Mint sprig, for garnish

Directions: Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add the rum, peach brandy, maraschino liqueur, green tea, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake vigorously, then strain into a punch cup filled with ice (if desired).

Garnish with the lemon wheel and sprig of mint.

NOTE: To make simple syrup, combine 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a slow rolling boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer to a heatproof container and let cool to room temperature. Cool completely before using or storing in a glass jar in the refrigerator, where it will keep for up to 4 weeks.

Mr. Nelson and his Art

Today marks the day that Nelson Rockefeller "died of a heart attack at his desk in New York City" in 1979. I'm not explaining the quotes. As most of you know, my first job in archives was working on Nelson's papers at the Rockefeller Archive Center and one of the first series I processed were the papers that documented his extensive Art Collection. In that collection of nearly 100 cubic feet were papers about all of the works of art Nelson collected, bought, sold, gave away, and donated to museums. It is an impressive collection of materials. You can read a description of them at the Archive Center's website here. You can also see the finding aid I created by searching the collections database here.

One of Nelson's prized works was Jackson Pollock's No. 12, which was significantly damaged in a fire in the Governor's Mansion. Nelson later donated it to the State of New York. I noted with great interest when I saw (as I do from most of the things I find on) kottke this story about Pollock's paintings. The kottke story links to a Smithsonian Magazine article about Pollock hiding his name in one of his many mural works.

In 1998, I gave a paper at the Society of American Archivists Annual Meeting on Nelson's Art Collection. I recently came across the paper when I was doing some electronic file records management. I also talked about one of Henry Moore's Knife Edge sculptures in that paper, which Nelson owned and had installed on the family estate. Another is part of the National Gallery's permanent collection and is being restored.

So you still wondering about the quotes? Well he was in his office. He was near a desk. And he did die, so he's not saying what he may have been doing right before that.

Lets Go Nats!

Where am I tonight? I am attending one of the last Nationals games of the 2010 season. It hasn't been the best season this year, but like the Cubs, "we'll get 'em next year." There's always next year . . . and the year after that . . . and the year after that . . . Tonight, the Brave Astronaut will be on the field as part of a recognition ceremony for all of the group leaders who brought groups to a game this year. As you may recall, I arranged for about 150 of my closest archival friends out to a game in August as part of the SAA Annual Meeting.

The 2011 schedules have been announced and it looks like Brave Astronaut tours will be taking in the Cubbies in Chicago when SAA meets there next August. As the regular baseball season leads into October and the playoffs, I will likely make my focus on those lovable American League dominators, my friends, your World Series Champion New York Yankees.

Can they repeat? Sure. Will they? Maybe.

And of course, hockey starts this month - so I've got that going for me.

Update: After being down by three runs for most of the game - the Nats exploded in the 8th inning for 8 runs and won the game 8-4.

Be Cool - Ice Cream and Popsicles

I recently remarked to Mrs. BA how I missed the popsicles of my youth. My mother had Tupperware popsicle molds, to which one added syrup and water and soon you had yourself a great frozen treat.

Today marks the beginning of the Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archivists, so it sure to be hotter than H E double hockey sticks, as it usually is during the week of the conference. Popsicles, ice cream and other cool items are sure to be in demand.

The Washington Post food section on August 4, profiled the popsicle (including a recipe on how to make a grown-up Bomb Pop) as well as offering some really easy homemade ice cream recipes (without using an ice cream machine!). Stay Cool and Enjoy.

Todd Thrasher’s Bomb Pops
The Washington Post, August 4, 2010

Ingredients:
For the raspberry layer

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed mint leaves (from 10 stems)
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 1 1/4 ounces vodka
  

For the lemonade layer

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 3 large lemons)
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups cold water
• 1 1/4 ounces non-smoky silver tequila, such as Patron or Don Julio
  

For the blueberry layer

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon dried culinary lavender (or 2 tablespoons fresh lavender)
• 1 cup fresh blueberries, stemmed
• 1 1/4 ounces rum
  

Directions:
For the raspberry layer: Combine the water and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat. Add the mint and steep for 4 minutes. Strain.

Combine the raspberries, mint mixture and vodka in a blender. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer, discarding any solids, into a liquid measuring cup to yield 1 1/2 cups.

For the lemonade layer: Combine the water and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat. Add the rosemary and steep for 4 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer, discarding any solids.

Add the lemon juice and sugar water to a pitcher. Add the cold water to taste, then refrigerate for 30 to 40 minutes. If it's too sweet, add lemon juice to taste. Add tequila to 1 1/2 cups of the lemonade.

For the blueberry layer: Combine the water and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat. Add the lavender and steep for 4 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer to yield 1/2 cup.

When you're ready to fill the popsicles (don't do it ahead of time), puree the blueberries and syrup in a blender and pass through a fine-mesh strainer. Return the mixture to the blender, add the rum and puree a second time. Pass through a fine-mesh strainer to yield 1 1/2 cups.

To assemble: Pour the blueberry mixture about a third of the way into the mold. Add the stick and make sure it stands straight. Put the cover on the mold and freeze for 3 hours. Repeat with the lemonade, then with the raspberry.

To serve, dip the bottom of the mold briefly into lukewarm water so the popsicle releases easily.

Makes 6 to 8 popsicles

Recipe Source: From Todd Thrasher of Restaurant Eve and PX Lounge in Alexandria.

Ice Cream with Honey and Thyme
The Washington Post, August 4, 2010

Summary: Gastronomer columnist Andreas Viestad likes to make ice cream using a combination of cream and milk, and quite a few egg yolks. This no-machine ice cream also can be made with fewer egg yolks, more milk and less cream - a good idea if you count calories, but the texture will be a bit grainy.

Most commercial ice cream contains a lot of air; this has very little, so servings can be small.

MAKE AHEAD: You can process more than one bag of ice cream at the same time, as long as the larger bag of ice and salt can accommodate it.

Makes about 1 quart (8 servings)

Ingredients:
For the ice cream

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups regular or 2 percent milk
• 2 to 3 sprigs thyme
• 4 to 6 tablespoons honey
• 8 large egg yolks, at room temperature
  

For processing

• 3 quarts crushed ice
• 3 cups salt
• Water, as needed
  

Directions:
For the ice cream: Combine the cream, milk and thyme to taste in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the honey to taste; stir until it has dissolved. Cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes close to a full boil and has picked up quite a lot of thyme flavor. (You'll know by the fragrance; our taste receptors pick up more sweetness and flavor when subjected to a hot substance, so the mixture should be quite but not unpleasantly sweet, with a distinct thyme flavor.) Discard the thyme.

Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks in a mixing bowl. First, whisk in a third of the beaten yolks into the almost-boiling cream mixture to help prevent curdling; once that is well incorporated, whisk in the remaining yolks. Keep whisking; the heat should be enough to thicken the mixture to the consistency of pancake batter. (If you prefer a thicker texture, transfer the mixture to a bowl placed over, but not touching, the water, of a saucepan containing a few inches of barely bubbling water over medium heat.)

Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to a 2-gallon resealable plastic food storage bag, press out all of the air, seal and refrigerate.

For processing: Combine the crushed ice and salt in a larger plastic bag. Add water a few tablespoons at a time as needed; this will speed up the melting of the ice, which in turn will help freeze the ice cream.

Nestle the bag containing the ice cream mixture inside the larger bag so it is surrounded by the ice. At this point, it's best to wear gloves or use a towel to protect your hands. Close the ice bag and shake or massage for 10 to 14 minutes, until the ice cream has firmed up to the desired consistency.

Remove the bag of ice cream. Give it a quick rinse to remove most of the saltwater on the surface, open and serve.

Recipe Source: From Gastronomer columnist Andreas Viestad.

It's Almost Here - Everything!

Next week at this time, I will be in the middle of the Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archivists (SAA), which is being held this year here in Washington DC. As is often the case when SAA meets here in DC, this will be a joint meeting with the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA) and the Council of State Archivists (CoSA).

There will be lots to do and I have a pretty full schedule of sessions and events that I will be attending. As most of you know, I usually bring a group of attendees to a local baseball game and this year is no exception. With SAA's help, I have 175 people attending a Washington Nationals game on Saturday evening (want to come? let me know, I might have an extra ticket). It is the highest attended event in the history of my planning and executing these events. I hope that all will have a good time.

Following next week's festivities, LBA will enter his final week of daycare, before starting Kindergarten at the end of the month. I am not sure about how I feel about this, although I think it is safe to say that Mrs. BA is a little unsure about it. I just can't believe that he is all of a sudden old enough to be in Kindergarten. We shall see how that all plays out.

Before that, we will hopefully get away for a few days of relaxation. If that plan falls through, we might initiate the "staycation," lounging at the pool and taking some day trips out of the DC area. Stay tuned.

At work, I am working hard to make headway in my various work responsibilities as I will be working in another division for most of the fiscal first quarter. It is sure to be exciting and challenging and I am looking forward to the experience.

I still haven't forgotten about you all, my faithful readers. I know the recipes get a little boring, but rest assured I have a number of things sitting in my Google Reader feed that I am hoping to get out to all of you soon. Stay with me and enjoy the ride. It hopes to be an exciting fall.

Over the Rainbow and Under the Influence

While the BA family prepares to jet home from the SAA Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, I note two worthy anniversaries today.

• It was 70 years ago today that the MGM musical The Wizard of Oz premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

• Forty years ago, in 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair opened in upstate New York.

Begin reminiscing . . .

In the Midst of SAA 2009

So how are things at the gates of hell, also known as Austin, Texas in August? Fine, it is surely doing well for me as I am sure to have sweated off some pounds walking about the streets of Austin.

To recap:

We arrived here on Wednesday afternoon. We had two slight hiccups on Tuesday night. As most of you know, we we booked on a flight out of BWI at 9:30 on Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, I planned to take SoBA to his nana's, while the rest of the BA clan headed for the Lone Star State. On Tuesday morning, after a call from Mrs. BA, I learned that SoBA was in need of another ER visit after falling at daycare. He fell into a table and had bitten his lip pretty badly. So off I went to meet Mrs. BA and SoBA at the hospital. It turned out not to be so bad and I headed for my MIL's place on the Eastern Shore. We had a nice afternoon and evening and after a bath, put him in his jammies and he settled down to watch a show with Nana. I kissed him good bye and told him I loved him and that I would see him in a few days. I choked back the tears that were welling and slipped out.

The other hiccup occurred when Mrs. BA realized she had left her walled at the pool on Tuesday night. She realized this at 10:30 on Tuesday night and the pool was now closed. Normally the pool opens at 11:00 an hour and a half after our flight was scheduled to leave. We soon determined that adult lap swimming started at 6:30 each morning and there would be someone at the pool to give her a chance to find her wallet. After one trip, where she was unsuccessful, we loaded the car and prepared to head for the airport and decided to give it one more look. I had the lifeguard open the locked area where the computer is kept and lo and behold, there was the wallet. Crisis averted, we headed for the airport.

We had an uneventful flight(s) to Austin, with a layover in Dallas (due to the passage of the Wright Amendment, wherein most flights in and out of Texas have to go through Dallas-Fort Worth, resulting in a short hop from Dallas to Austin (only 40 minutes in the air). We arrived at the conference hotel in plenty of time to make ready for my outing to Round Rock Baseball. We had a good crowd and watch for a post about the game soon.

Thursday was a day of sessions, you can read a recap of the session I attended here. Saturday morning I will close out the conference with another session. Mrs. BA is also on the schedule for a session presentation tomorrow. For lunch on Thursday, I had a great lunch with J in PA and ArchivesNext at Carmelo's, across the street from the hotel. Bananas Foster made tableside made the lunch extra special. On Thursday evening, Mr. and Mrs. BA, along with Mr. and Mrs. OSG arranged for babysitting services and headed out to a great restaurant, Fonda San Miguel, in North Austin, to celebrate Mrs BA's and Mr. OSG's birthday.

On Friday, Mrs. BA headed for the sessions and I accompanied LBA and Mrs. OSG and Little OSG to the Austin Children's Museum. We met up with Mr. OSG and Mrs. BA for lunch at the Iron Works for BBQ. It is most appropriately referred to as a "joint," or perhaps "a hole in the wall." But boy is the food good. I spent Friday afternoon, losing another election - I was one of five people vying for one spot on a steering committee for a section to which I belong. From there, I went and conducted an Oral History interview with one of the legends in the profession. It was a great interview. Then I went to the Presidential Address plenary portion of the conference and then a mini-tweetup in the hotel bar, possibly the founding meeting of the Beer Roundtable.

For dinner, the OSG family and the BA clan headed around the corner from the hotel to try out another local eatery, this time Moonshine. It is possible that we all came very close (again) to having to put our heads down on the table. From there we attempted to catch the bats coming out of the Congress Street Bridge, but missed the majority of them leaving for the evening's feeding. Perhaps tomorrow night. It is now too late to be doing anything more than heading to bed.

With Saturday tomorrow - and our last full day in Austin, there are more sessions to attend and some sights to see. The state capitol and the LBJ museum are topping the list. Another update to come soon.

SAA Austin - Thursday

Right now we are live from Session 203 - How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Electronic Records Preservation. The speakers are being introduced by the chair of the session, Nancy Kunde, and I will comment on their talks as we go along. Roger Christman of the Library of Virginia is up first. The title of his paper is "It takes a leap of faith: The Library of Virginia, the Governor's Office and Electronic Records." As many of you know, I now work with electronic records in my daily work.

Roger is talking about the relationship between the Library and the Governor's Office, discussing the problems that existed in the relationship between the state's chief executive and the Library. The Library even went so far as to sue Governor James Gilmore, to make sure all of his records were transferred, including electronic records.

Note: As I am sitting in the back so I can plug in my laptop to get power, I am also doing my best to try and kill or injure archivists as the wire for my laptop runs from the back row to the wall. Be cautious coming into Salon F and turning right.

Christman continued, discussing the "archival emergency" the Library of VA faced, when the governor was not sure what to do about the records and there was no legislation in place to protect the records. The Library was proactive and got legislation passed to get the records on schedule and ensure they would not be lost.

UPDATE #1
Second up is Patricia Michaels from the Kansas State Historical Society to discuss, "The Long and Winding Road toward Electronic Records Preservation in Kansas." Unlike Roger, she is using PowerPoint. She is talking from her PowerPoint notes (I assume) and has also provided copies of her PowerPoint presentation. I don't quite understand the point of providing copies of your talk, unless you don't want people paying attention to what you are saying.

KSHS, started their electronic records program in the mid-90s through an NHPRC grant, and conducted extensive surveys of Kansas state agencies to evaluate existing electronic records policies and practices to develop their own guidelines. Out of those initiatives, they hired an electronic records archivist, a position that continues to this day.

UPDATE #2
Final speaker, Joanne Kaczmarek from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She is discussing the efforts of UIUC's efforts to preserve their electronic records. They went right to the top, enlisting many of the heavy hitters of the electronic records world (including many from my employer, which has had an electronic records program for nearly 40 years).

She may have coined the new term - "joining the archival slipstream." Speakers have all wrapped up and I am going to slip out and see what presents itself next. I'm thinking lunch.

Got a Good Name in You?

The majority of the Brave Astronaut clan (SoBA will spend some time with his Nana) will be heading to Austin, Texas for the 2009 Society of American Archivists Annual Meeting tomorrow. Next year the conference will return to Washington, DC but not to the Washington Hilton. For those lovers of nostalgia, there is an opportunity to put your mark on the hotel that hosted us for so many years. The Capital Cafe, the hotel bar and restaurant is being renamed as part of a multi-million dollar renovation. If you would like to submit a name for the bar, or vote for one of the leading candidates, click here.

The Austin meeting is chock full of things to do and many good sessions to attend. There's also baseball, bats, ice cream, and a pool on the roof of the hotel. Updates may be posted, but don't hold me to it.

Off to Austin for Food, Fun, and Archives

This is the week for the Society of American Archivists Annual Meeting. This year, we are traveling to lovely [sweltering] Austin, Texas for our conference. We will fly out on Wednesday, which is also Mrs. BA's birthday, and attend the Round Rock Express baseball game that evening. LBA is traveling with us this year, though SoBA is getting a few days with Nana instead of traveling to the great [hot] state of Texas. Going by the program, it looks to be a good meeting, but we will certain to be looking for a good meal out to celebrate Mrs. BA's special day. I know, really, who wouldn't want hot dogs and beer for their birthday meal?

Some time ago, I spotted a list of the best burgers as determined by Travel and Leisure magazine from The Food Section). On the list was a burger from Ranch 616 in Austin. T&L promotes two burgers from here:

"The Chili and Fritos burger is quite the Tex-Mex mix: it’s an eight-ounce beef patty stuffed with crunchy corn chips, homemade chile con carne, pico de gallo, and tomatillo crema. But it’s the Framed Burger that takes the prize. It’s filled daily with different fixings—Maytag blue, cremini mushrooms, jalapeno peppers."

I showed the menu to Mrs. BA and this place could be in the running for the big birthday dinner. That is if we don't go for ribs. Texas-style ribs. Big ones. The New York Times Magazine had an article and recipe for how to best prepare BBQ ribs. I had trouble transcribing the recipe for today's recipe as I had drooled on the page. And don't forget the cole slaw.

Salt and Pepper Beef Ribs

• 2 racks beef ribs, 5 to 7 pounds total (see note)
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons freshly cracked black pepper
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• Red-pepper flakes, to taste
• 2 cups hickory chips, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes
• Barbecue sauce (optional)
  

On one-half of a grill fitted with a cover, build a small charcoal fire, about the size of a loaf of commercial sandwich bread, making sure all the charcoal becomes engulfed in flame.

Place the ribs meat-side down on a baking sheet or cutting board and remove the papery membrane from the back of the rack by inserting a small knife beneath it and levering it up to give you enough to gain purchase with a dish towel. Peel off the membrane and discard.

Mix the salt, pepper, brown sugar, paprika and, if you choose, red-pepper flakes in a bowl, breaking up the brown sugar with a fork. Using your hands, cover the meat entirely in this rub.

When the flames begin to die down, leaving flickering coals, place the rib racks meat-side up on the half of the grill without the burning charcoal. Do not let the flames touch the meat at any time. Add a handful of the hickory chips to the fire. Cover the grill, vent slightly and cook, adding a handful of hickory chips every 30 minutes and a bit more fuel as necessary, until the meat is crusty, soft to the touch and well browned, about two and a half hours.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Set the ribs on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 5 hours.

Cut into individual portions. Serve with extra napkins and, if you choose, barbecue sauce. Serves 4.

Note: Order ribs ahead of time from a butcher. Ask for 2 back-rib racks trimmed from the prime rib, keeping as much meat on the ribs as possible, each rack approximately 6 ribs wide.

The Houses of Baseball

In one week's time, I will be shepherding the ninth outing of SAA Baseball at the SAA Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas. Want to go? I can still get you on the bus. Let me know.

So the other day on Facebook, I took one of the Living Social "Top 5" lists for "Baseball Stadiums I have been in . . . and saw a game." As the list confined me to only 5, I was interested in how many stadiums I have been to. So if you'll indulge me.

Major League Baseball:

1. Nationals Park, and also RFK Stadium. I have been to every opening day of the Washington Nationals so far.
2. Yankee Stadium - the most recently demolished one, I don't think I can go to the new one.
3. Shea Stadium - again, the original, you know that "purple stadium"
   
4. Oriole Park at Camden Yards
   
5. Chase Field - home of the Arizona Diamondbacks (watched the game from a luxury box)
6. Citizens Bank Park - home of the Philadelphia Phillies / also saw a game at Veterans Memorial Stadium
   
7. Wrigley Field - 2007 SAA Meeting
8. Dodger Stadium - 2003 SAA Meeting
   
9. Coors Field - 2000 SAA Meeting
10. Three Rivers Stadium - 1999 SAA Meeting (the first JAL Tours outing)
11. Fenway Park - home of the Boston Red Sox, but not for a game, it was the closing reception site for the 2004 SAA Annual Meeting

Minor League Parks:

1. Baysox Stadium (home of the Bowie Bay Sox), Bowie, Maryland
2. Zephyr Field (home of the New Orleans Zephyrs), 2005 SAA Meeting
3. Dutchess Stadium (home of the Hudson Valley Renegades), Fishkill, New York
   
4. Appalachian Power Park (home of the West Virginia Power), Charleston, West Virginia
   

Other Stadiums:

1. Rickwood Field - Birmingham, Alabama, 2002 SAA Meeting
2. Scottsdale Stadium - Scottsdale, Arizona, spring training park of the San Francisco Giants
3. Legends Field - Tampa, Florida, spring training home of the New York Yankees (though not for a game, I just went there to get the "aura"

Certainly not a big list. By my count (at this website), there are more than 175 stadiums, parks, and fields for baseball teams around the country. (If you're wondering, that's 30 major league parks, 30 AAA parks, 30 double A parks, 60 single A parks, and 26 spring training fields, along with countless others with unaffiliated teams). Maybe if I drop everything and started touring I could get to all of them - but not likely.

Two down, one to go

As previously reported here, I lost an election for a position I really wanted. Not to be outdone, I was also a candidate for a position in my national professional organization. On Friday, I learned that I lost that election too. I don't know what that means for me - but it may very well make it hard for me to travel to the Annual Meeting this year in Austin, Texas. Mrs. BA is already going as she has a speaking role at the conference, but I might be home with the boys for that week, instead of incurring the additional costs of all of us traveling to Texas.

This leaves me with one remaining election, that of Town Council Member where I live. That election is next Monday. I am in the only contested election in the Town, running against an incumbent, who is seeking his third full term (he was appointed to the remainder of his predecessor's term, when she was elected Mayor).

I have no sense of how this election will turn out, but I have been meeting many of the residents and have greatly enjoyed getting to know them and hearing their issues and questions. I have started yet another blog, specific to issues within the Ward I am seeking to represent. Regardless of what happens next Monday, I will stay involved in the town and work to make my community the best that it can be.

My thanks to those of you out there who voted for me.

One Down, Three to Go

I found out that I lost an election today. As many of you know, I was a candidate for Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC), the professional organization of which I have been a member since becoming an archivist nearly fifteen years ago. I am certainly disappointed in the outcome, it was an election I had really hoped to win. My opponent was a formidable candidate and she will do a great job. I will hope for the opportunity to run for the job again in two years. I really believe in the organization and look forward to the chance at helping the group continue to move forward. In a very conciliatory note from the Chair-elect, she has offered me an opportunity to serve the organization that I really do love. I hope to have some opportunity to help.

I am also a candidate for Nominating Committee for the Society of American Archivists, my national professional organization. That voting will commence next week. If chosen to be a member of the Nominating Committee, I will have a voice in selecting the next leaders of the Society. There is a lot going on in our profession right now and it is essential for us to have strong leadership to guide our profession in the right directions. So look for my name on your SAA ballot, if you are a member. I would appreciate your support. Here at my employer, I am coming to the end of my first term as the Treasurer of the staff professional association. I have agreed to run for a second term. So we will see how that one turns out.

Finally, I have made a decision to run for town council in my hometown. It is an idea that I have thought about for several months, after discussions with several of my neighbors and community members. The incumbent has decided to run for another term, but I have some ideas that I feel would benefit my town and would like the opportunity to make a difference for my community. So if you live in Cheverly, in my Ward, I'll be coming around to see you. I will look forward to hearing your ideas. That election will take place in early May.