Prof. Sam Lawler
Prof. Sam LawlerI got locked out of my work email because I forgot to reset my password before it expired, and apparently there's no way to reset it now without someone in university IT doing it for me.
Trying to enjoy the freedom of being locked out of my email rather than being stressed about it...
Prof. Sam LawlerEverybody go read "Termination Shock" by Neal Stephenson, because apparently that whole scenario is actually about to start happening: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/11/21/stardust-geoengineering-janos-pasztor-regulations-00646414
Prof. Sam LawlerAcademics, looks like there's an open letter against solar geoengineering that you can sign on to here: https://www.solargeoeng.org/
Prof. Sam LawlerEverybody go read "Termination Shock" by Neal Stephenson, because apparently that whole scenario is actually about to start happening: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/11/21/stardust-geoengineering-janos-pasztor-regulations-00646414
Prof. Sam LawlerHooray for baking soda! (I also have a fire extinguisher, but I figured I'd try that only if the much-easier-to-clean-up baking soda didn't work)
And while all this was happening, my partner was trying to find one of our dogs who ran off (she came back a little later in the evening). And that was only a small portion of the drama for the day!
Prof. Sam LawlerYou know who doesn't get stressed about things catching on fire or writing documents or tractor problems or compost piles? Goats. Because goats are doing it right.
Prof. Sam LawlerI immediately unplugged it, but the indicator light wouldn't turn off. I realized that was because it was lit by FIRE.
I (somewhat) calmly asked my kid to open the door, got hot pads, and carefully carried the whole fryer out onto the porch, as more and more plasticky smoke poured out.
I ran back inside and grabbed a box of baking soda, and dumped a large clump of it onto the fryer as flames licked through the melting plastic.
There were multiple very upset cats watching at this point.
Prof. Sam LawlerHooray for baking soda! (I also have a fire extinguisher, but I figured I'd try that only if the much-easier-to-clean-up baking soda didn't work)
And while all this was happening, my partner was trying to find one of our dogs who ran off (she came back a little later in the evening). And that was only a small portion of the drama for the day!
Prof. Sam LawlerI wanted to try making a fried tofu recipe, but I've never deep fried anything before. A friend gave me an old plug-in fryer that has been sitting on top of my fridge for a couple of years, so I thought I'd try it.
It beautifully fried 3 batches of tofu. But while batch 4 was frying, I heard a soft "pop" and realized I could see orange flickering through the plastic outer casing of the fryer.
Prof. Sam LawlerI immediately unplugged it, but the indicator light wouldn't turn off. I realized that was because it was lit by FIRE.
I (somewhat) calmly asked my kid to open the door, got hot pads, and carefully carried the whole fryer out onto the porch, as more and more plasticky smoke poured out.
I ran back inside and grabbed a box of baking soda, and dumped a large clump of it onto the fryer as flames licked through the melting plastic.
There were multiple very upset cats watching at this point.
Prof. Sam LawlerToday was one of those everything-that-can-possibly-go-wrong-will-go-wrong kind of days. But keeping calm and persevering seems to be the way to get through it (I keep telling myself).
The highlight of the day was a lovely dinner, but to get there I had to calmly power through a pretty significant adrenaline burst...
Prof. Sam LawlerI wanted to try making a fried tofu recipe, but I've never deep fried anything before. A friend gave me an old plug-in fryer that has been sitting on top of my fridge for a couple of years, so I thought I'd try it.
It beautifully fried 3 batches of tofu. But while batch 4 was frying, I heard a soft "pop" and realized I could see orange flickering through the plastic outer casing of the fryer.
Prof. Sam LawlerToday was one of those everything-that-can-possibly-go-wrong-will-go-wrong kind of days. But keeping calm and persevering seems to be the way to get through it (I keep telling myself).
The highlight of the day was a lovely dinner, but to get there I had to calmly power through a pretty significant adrenaline burst...
Prof. Sam LawlerGood morning.
Last night I dreamed that a volcano opened up on my farm, and I had to go apologetically tell my neighbours about it (because somehow it was my fault).
I definitely went through a phase as a kid (which I'm sure was hilarious/incredibly annoying to my parents) of being completely terrified of volcanoes popping up, so that's a funny deep kid-fear dredge-up. I 100% blame that Reading Rainbow episode about KΔ«lauea and ParΓcutin https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0683398/
Prof. Sam LawlerFirst willow weaving of the season! I need to do a lot more of this.
Prof. Sam LawlerAnd another that I'm probably not going to finish tonight, but got a good start on. Not quite sure what this one will be yet.
(I totally forgot that weaving willows make my cats completely bounce off the walls. Willow sticks are the best cat toys, it turns out)