A fine torrent site for those who are too lazy to convert their existing video files to iPod format.
Wheeeee!
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Customers: huge earrings
A very nice Mexican lady with limited english needed to use the phone.
After she finally hammered her needs through my thick accent-impaired skull, I dialed a number for her and handed the phone over.
She was wearing immense Liberace-style costume jewlery earrings that were so frikkin' huge she had to take one off to use the phone.
You see something new every day at this place...
After she finally hammered her needs through my thick accent-impaired skull, I dialed a number for her and handed the phone over.
She was wearing immense Liberace-style costume jewlery earrings that were so frikkin' huge she had to take one off to use the phone.
You see something new every day at this place...
Friday, September 29, 2006
music: Bill Frisell
Playing here next wednesday.
His last show was totally mind-blowing.
This one should be equally fantastic in a whole different way- he's running with Jack De Johnette (probably my favorite jazz drummer aside from Bobby Previte...not that the man who played with Miles on Bitch's Brew needs my accolades)and Jerome Harris.
Should be crazy.
Frisell is the most obviously joyous musician I've ever seen- he's practually exploding with happiness onstage, and I spent a good part of his last show laughing with delight.
A full report will follow...
His last show was totally mind-blowing.
This one should be equally fantastic in a whole different way- he's running with Jack De Johnette (probably my favorite jazz drummer aside from Bobby Previte...not that the man who played with Miles on Bitch's Brew needs my accolades)and Jerome Harris.
Should be crazy.
Frisell is the most obviously joyous musician I've ever seen- he's practually exploding with happiness onstage, and I spent a good part of his last show laughing with delight.
A full report will follow...
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Geek Test
Clicky Clicky
It's been around for a while, but is still a good time.
I clock in at 40.8284 : Major Geek.
I crashed and burned on all the chess and calculator stuff. =(
It's been around for a while, but is still a good time.
I clock in at 40.8284 : Major Geek.
I crashed and burned on all the chess and calculator stuff. =(
Little Superstar
Bobo has been obsessed with this clip Ivan posted.
I am here to provide him with MORE FUEL for his unseemly, slightly creepy fascination with Little Superstar.
Little Superstar Kicks Ass
I am here to provide him with MORE FUEL for his unseemly, slightly creepy fascination with Little Superstar.
Little Superstar Kicks Ass
Monday, September 25, 2006
What Mann film next?
Sound off, dear readers.
I've already seen Manhunter & Collateral.
Ali & The Keep both suck, so they're not in the running.
Devritsko votes for Last of the Mohicans (which features the finest black powder battle scene ever filmed).
What do y'all say?
I'm leaning toward Thief, myself...it's been a while.
Here's how they're ranked on Rottentomatoes:
Thief, with a healthy 100%.
My teenage self agrees, but who knows how it would stand the test of time.
The Keep, at 14%
14% more than it deserves, frankly.
Manhunter, at 92%
A bit generous, given the clownish ending.
Last of the Mohicans, at 97%
No arguments from Devritsko, I wager.
Heat, 90%.
A little low, but not bad considering it doesn't even make a pretense of courting the female demographic. Also, the ending didn't live up to the rest of the film. Not Manhunter bad, but an anticlimax given the high level the rest of the film operated at.
The Insider, 96%.
I forget, was this before Pacino started screaming instead of acting?
Ali, 67%. Don't make movies about charismatic superstars who are still alive. Kthx.
Miami Vice, 47%. This is an odd one, not because I expected it to be any good, but because the panel of film critics at Film Comment really, really liked it.
Of course, they also really, really liked the shambolically unwatchable Cabin Fever, best described as a derivative, pretentious grad student Evil Dead, minus the evil and with a lead actor unfit to wash Bruce Campbell's jock.
Proof positive that they don't issue common sense & good taste along with the Professional Film Critic Secret Decoder Ring.
I've already seen Manhunter & Collateral.
Ali & The Keep both suck, so they're not in the running.
Devritsko votes for Last of the Mohicans (which features the finest black powder battle scene ever filmed).
What do y'all say?
I'm leaning toward Thief, myself...it's been a while.
Here's how they're ranked on Rottentomatoes:
Thief, with a healthy 100%.
My teenage self agrees, but who knows how it would stand the test of time.
The Keep, at 14%
14% more than it deserves, frankly.
Manhunter, at 92%
A bit generous, given the clownish ending.
Last of the Mohicans, at 97%
No arguments from Devritsko, I wager.
Heat, 90%.
A little low, but not bad considering it doesn't even make a pretense of courting the female demographic. Also, the ending didn't live up to the rest of the film. Not Manhunter bad, but an anticlimax given the high level the rest of the film operated at.
The Insider, 96%.
I forget, was this before Pacino started screaming instead of acting?
Ali, 67%. Don't make movies about charismatic superstars who are still alive. Kthx.
Miami Vice, 47%. This is an odd one, not because I expected it to be any good, but because the panel of film critics at Film Comment really, really liked it.
Of course, they also really, really liked the shambolically unwatchable Cabin Fever, best described as a derivative, pretentious grad student Evil Dead, minus the evil and with a lead actor unfit to wash Bruce Campbell's jock.
Proof positive that they don't issue common sense & good taste along with the Professional Film Critic Secret Decoder Ring.
Top 10 Bittorrent Sites Rated
clicky clicky.
I'm familiar with most of the list and find myself using Mininova, Isohunt and Pirate Bay most often.
I'ma check out BT Junkie though.
I'm familiar with most of the list and find myself using Mininova, Isohunt and Pirate Bay most often.
I'ma check out BT Junkie though.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
movies: Mann Mania continues
Checked out Manhunter, which I hadn't seen since its original theatrical release.
I remember liking it, I remembered Brian Cox being spectacular at Hannibal Leckter, and I remembered the ending being a ludicrous clusterfuck that inspired belly laughs...all memories which withstood the test of time.
A couple of things:
One, there's this thing that happens where you watch a movie years later and say "oh, THAT actor was in it!", because you didn't know who they were the first time you saw it. I got that with Joan Allen & Dennis Farina in this one.
Two, there are a lot of movies from the 80's and early 90's with these awful, cheesy synthesizer soundtracks. It sounded fine at the time, but now it's just ridiculous and it takes a stellar film to overcome the Curse of the Casio Keyboard.
The only people who consistently pulled off synthesized movie soundtracks that don't sound like they belong in a bad porno flick were Vangelis & Tangerine Dream. Mann was lucky enough to land the Dream for his first feature, Thief, but here he's working with some shmucks called 'Red 7' who sound like a thrift store version of T Dream.
On the plus side, several key scenes use real songs by real musicians...I was startled to hear a few Shriekback tunes in the mix, whose Oil & Gold is a classic of atmospheric synth rock.
I think I'll scare up a copy of Thief next, which mightily impressed me in my youth.
It was in heavy rotation during slumber parties at the Pelf's, back in those halcyon days when video stores made you buy memberships and our cinematic holy grail was the banned splatter revenge opus I Spit On Your Grave.
Ah, youth...
I remember liking it, I remembered Brian Cox being spectacular at Hannibal Leckter, and I remembered the ending being a ludicrous clusterfuck that inspired belly laughs...all memories which withstood the test of time.
A couple of things:
One, there's this thing that happens where you watch a movie years later and say "oh, THAT actor was in it!", because you didn't know who they were the first time you saw it. I got that with Joan Allen & Dennis Farina in this one.
Two, there are a lot of movies from the 80's and early 90's with these awful, cheesy synthesizer soundtracks. It sounded fine at the time, but now it's just ridiculous and it takes a stellar film to overcome the Curse of the Casio Keyboard.
The only people who consistently pulled off synthesized movie soundtracks that don't sound like they belong in a bad porno flick were Vangelis & Tangerine Dream. Mann was lucky enough to land the Dream for his first feature, Thief, but here he's working with some shmucks called 'Red 7' who sound like a thrift store version of T Dream.
On the plus side, several key scenes use real songs by real musicians...I was startled to hear a few Shriekback tunes in the mix, whose Oil & Gold is a classic of atmospheric synth rock.
I think I'll scare up a copy of Thief next, which mightily impressed me in my youth.
It was in heavy rotation during slumber parties at the Pelf's, back in those halcyon days when video stores made you buy memberships and our cinematic holy grail was the banned splatter revenge opus I Spit On Your Grave.
Ah, youth...
Movies
Collateral:
Half a great film. Everything up to the scene in the jazz club is fresh, involving, perfectly executed and captures the 'flavor' of LA's physical and philosophical existence like nothing else I've seen.
Then, unfortunately, the wheels come off and it turns into a disorganized stew of running, car chases, shooting and contrived plot developments.
Still, worth a rental. Just turn it off after the jazz club.
Ring 2 (Americanized flava):
Listless garbage. Badly cast, poorly written & lifelessly directed....which surprised me, since the director did the Japanese Ringu, its sequel and also the original Dark Water, which is IMHO one of the best suspense/horror movies of the last ten years.
I loved the first one directed by Gore Verbinski, I thought it was actually superior to the Japanese original...but this one stunk the joint out.
Red Eye:
Excellent no-nonsense thriller by Wes Craven, who is notoriously hit-or-miss. This time he was on his game, and after the putridity of Ring 2 Red Eye was a marvel of compact, efficient storytelling, energetic direction and quality acting.
Cillian Murphy's turn as the Scarecrow was the best thing about Batman Begins, and he does nothing to hurt his stature in this flick.
I've also been making my way through the first season of Lost, which has been pretty good for a high profile network show. I can't help thinking how much better it would be on HBO, but it does OK for itself given the limits of broadcast TV.
The writing is all over the place- it seems like writers are assigned to characters or something, because some of them are consistently interesting and well written, and some of them have backstories straight from some JC screenwriting class that overdosed on Syd Field.
I like the fat guy, the bald survivalist nut played by The Stepfather, the middle aged black gal and the Korean couple best. Sawyer's character is played out and the gal bank robber needs to A: dry her fucking hair once in a while (no really, check it out- it's wet 99% of the time) and B: take some acting lessons- her solution to every dramatic plot point is to squinch up her eyes and affect a look halfway between needing to take a really big shit and trying not to burst into tears because she woke up too late for the hotel's free Continental breakfast.
Hudson described the proper frame of mind to approach it with:
"pretend it's the 1930's and your watching a Buster Crabbe serial at the theater."
Spot on.
If you cut it some slack, it's a fun way to pass the time.
Half a great film. Everything up to the scene in the jazz club is fresh, involving, perfectly executed and captures the 'flavor' of LA's physical and philosophical existence like nothing else I've seen.
Then, unfortunately, the wheels come off and it turns into a disorganized stew of running, car chases, shooting and contrived plot developments.
Still, worth a rental. Just turn it off after the jazz club.
Ring 2 (Americanized flava):
Listless garbage. Badly cast, poorly written & lifelessly directed....which surprised me, since the director did the Japanese Ringu, its sequel and also the original Dark Water, which is IMHO one of the best suspense/horror movies of the last ten years.
I loved the first one directed by Gore Verbinski, I thought it was actually superior to the Japanese original...but this one stunk the joint out.
Red Eye:
Excellent no-nonsense thriller by Wes Craven, who is notoriously hit-or-miss. This time he was on his game, and after the putridity of Ring 2 Red Eye was a marvel of compact, efficient storytelling, energetic direction and quality acting.
Cillian Murphy's turn as the Scarecrow was the best thing about Batman Begins, and he does nothing to hurt his stature in this flick.
I've also been making my way through the first season of Lost, which has been pretty good for a high profile network show. I can't help thinking how much better it would be on HBO, but it does OK for itself given the limits of broadcast TV.
The writing is all over the place- it seems like writers are assigned to characters or something, because some of them are consistently interesting and well written, and some of them have backstories straight from some JC screenwriting class that overdosed on Syd Field.
I like the fat guy, the bald survivalist nut played by The Stepfather, the middle aged black gal and the Korean couple best. Sawyer's character is played out and the gal bank robber needs to A: dry her fucking hair once in a while (no really, check it out- it's wet 99% of the time) and B: take some acting lessons- her solution to every dramatic plot point is to squinch up her eyes and affect a look halfway between needing to take a really big shit and trying not to burst into tears because she woke up too late for the hotel's free Continental breakfast.
Hudson described the proper frame of mind to approach it with:
"pretend it's the 1930's and your watching a Buster Crabbe serial at the theater."
Spot on.
If you cut it some slack, it's a fun way to pass the time.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
why I love the internet, pt. 392
So a while back I run across one of those things you inevitably run across online when venturing beyond the well-scrubbed and brightly lit acreages of the corporate shopping zones- a video of a monkey getting it on then absentmindedly eating eating its own spunk.
(And I ain't kidding, so don't click unless you mean it.)
It's the kind of thing that's gross but kinda funny because it's gross, and it's an internet-specific experience- you're not going to see it on TV, you're not going to accidentally run across it a the video store.
So, however you feel about its content the video is a fairly generic online experience.
What makes it brilliant are the user comments from Metafilter prior to its deletion:
A group of strangers come together to elevate a fairly pedestrian video clip of a monkey eating its own spunk into art.
This, my friends, is the transformative power of the internet.
(And I ain't kidding, so don't click unless you mean it.)
It's the kind of thing that's gross but kinda funny because it's gross, and it's an internet-specific experience- you're not going to see it on TV, you're not going to accidentally run across it a the video store.
So, however you feel about its content the video is a fairly generic online experience.
What makes it brilliant are the user comments from Metafilter prior to its deletion:
Dude, did you seriously just post a 15 second clip of a monkey banging another monkey and then eating his own spooge?
posted by Justinian
Dude, did you seriously just watch it, knowing what it would be?
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas
someday everyone will have videophones and this will be my answering machine message.
posted by snofoam
August 19, 2006 1:42 PM EST ... the precise date and time when western civilization jumped the shark
posted by pyramid termite
I get it! It's a metaphor for the human condition!
posted by onkelchrispy
I can't stop myself from clicking on this link. I have a feeling that a strong wave of regret will soon wash over me.
posted by smackwich
Can --> should. What's not to understand?
Now if you'll excuse me, I just realized I have a moral imperative to go skull-fuck a hobo.
posted by gramschmidt
this is the defining post of my generation.
posted by Stynxno
A group of strangers come together to elevate a fairly pedestrian video clip of a monkey eating its own spunk into art.
This, my friends, is the transformative power of the internet.
Happy Birthday Devritsko!
I may be a bit off...but I've known Bobo for 25 years and couldn't tell you his birthday if you held a pistol to my head....so feel special.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
More Portable Stuff
portableapps.com
a host of stand-alone programs that can run themselves from a USB drive.
This is tempting me to pick up one of those little keychain USB thingies...
a host of stand-alone programs that can run themselves from a USB drive.
This is tempting me to pick up one of those little keychain USB thingies...
portable anonymous web surfing
In keeping with our sporadic commitment to online privacy the Baxblog is happy to relay a release announcement for Torpark.
Stick it to The Man, dear readers!
Hacktivismo, an international group of computer security experts and human rights workers, just released Torpark, an anonymous, fully portable Web browser based on Mozilla Firefox. Torpark comes pre-configured, requires no installation, can run off a USB memory stick, and leaves no tracks behind in the browser or computer.
Stick it to The Man, dear readers!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Saturday, September 16, 2006
5 strangest iPod cases
according to techEblog.
Mostly goofy fun, but I'm seriously considering this baby.
Such a macho case would make me default winner of any intercenine iPod battles with my pals.
Mostly goofy fun, but I'm seriously considering this baby.
Such a macho case would make me default winner of any intercenine iPod battles with my pals.
Southland Sojourn: day two part one
We started off with our traditional breakfast at Pat & Lorraine's, familiar to Tarantino fans as the scene of the famous opening monologue from Reservoir Dogs.
Most of the food and drink is fairly typical diner fare, but they have spectacular Machaca, served with scrambled eggs & 'home fries'.
(an aside: home fries are a shameful surrender by restaurant management to prep cooks who are too lazy to grate potatoes for real hash browns. But in this case, the machaca more than makes up for the corner-cutting.)
Any visit to LA involves a lot of driving around, and this was our day to rack up the miles. We sped hither and yon in Bobo's trusty Jetta, framing LA's vast cultural sprawl with a car windshield. Following last month's midwest swing it was strange to see a city that was vibrant, alive and fully populated...even the squalid bits had more meat on their bones than the midwest equivalent, adding their own flavor to the stock of the city.
Although even by west coast standards LA is almost tumourously alive, pulsing and squelching like Tetsuo's renegade flesh at the end of Akira. One minute you're think you're in Korea or Vietnam, drive three blocks and you're in some wretched American slum, drive a few more blocks and you're surrounded by exotic Italian sports car dealerships. It's more than a little disorienting.
Bobo is an excellent tour guide, capable of delivering a thumbnail history of whatever neighborhood you find yourself in. Our trip to his favorite Highland Park taco truck the previous night included a gratis lecture on the history of its resident Avenues street gang and several colorful anecdotes invovling shootouts at burger stands and gas stations.
We ran some errands and then went in search of lunch, which Bobo decided would be at a posh bakery cafe called Doughboys. Finding it was a chore, as Bobo couldn't remember what street it was on and his call for directions got us sent on a wild goose chase (what kind of waiter doesn't know the street their restaurant is on?) Bobo finally abandoned modern technological solutions and let the Force guide us. Tacking against the headwind of my ridicule, he got us to our destination only slightly behind schedule.
The food was worth the wait, although I had better service at a Wendy's in Kentucky. Our well-meaning, very energetic and heavily tattooed server kept hopelessly misreading our intentions- his response to our plea for a basic espresso drink was some kind of vanilla milkshake.
Bobo (nonplussed):
Uh...no. Do you have an iced latte?
Server (with the enthusiasm of a very small dog):
Sure! Should I make that a double?!?
Bobo (deadpan):
No thanks.
Our order of dual French Dips also triggered a merchandising land mine- "Would you like those white trash style, with bacon and grilled onions?!?"
Bobo blinked rapidly in horror, but recovered his equilibrium in time to mask my involuntary choking with a polite refusal.
Quick question for social historians:
When was bacon elected America's culinary panacea?
Once we fended off our server's aggressive upsaleing (irritating for the patron, mana for the owner) we enjoyed excellent iced lattes and OUTSTANDING French Dips, the best I've ever had. And you need to understand I spent a good portion of my youth in the company of the Pelf, sampling every French Dip we could find.
This one was ideal in every respect. They bake their own bread, so a perfect baguette is perhaps to be expected. But the meat was thinly sliced, pink and succulent, and the Jus was copious and carried the deep color and flavor of stock, not the thin, bitter taste of bouillon. Plus, there was more than enough of it. Even the horseradish sauce was spot on- not to hot, but not washed out and bland.
The food redeemed the experience, which is fine with me. I'll take spectacular food in a so-so setting over so-so food in a spectacular setting every time.
(to be continued)
Most of the food and drink is fairly typical diner fare, but they have spectacular Machaca, served with scrambled eggs & 'home fries'.
(an aside: home fries are a shameful surrender by restaurant management to prep cooks who are too lazy to grate potatoes for real hash browns. But in this case, the machaca more than makes up for the corner-cutting.)
Any visit to LA involves a lot of driving around, and this was our day to rack up the miles. We sped hither and yon in Bobo's trusty Jetta, framing LA's vast cultural sprawl with a car windshield. Following last month's midwest swing it was strange to see a city that was vibrant, alive and fully populated...even the squalid bits had more meat on their bones than the midwest equivalent, adding their own flavor to the stock of the city.
Although even by west coast standards LA is almost tumourously alive, pulsing and squelching like Tetsuo's renegade flesh at the end of Akira. One minute you're think you're in Korea or Vietnam, drive three blocks and you're in some wretched American slum, drive a few more blocks and you're surrounded by exotic Italian sports car dealerships. It's more than a little disorienting.
Bobo is an excellent tour guide, capable of delivering a thumbnail history of whatever neighborhood you find yourself in. Our trip to his favorite Highland Park taco truck the previous night included a gratis lecture on the history of its resident Avenues street gang and several colorful anecdotes invovling shootouts at burger stands and gas stations.
We ran some errands and then went in search of lunch, which Bobo decided would be at a posh bakery cafe called Doughboys. Finding it was a chore, as Bobo couldn't remember what street it was on and his call for directions got us sent on a wild goose chase (what kind of waiter doesn't know the street their restaurant is on?) Bobo finally abandoned modern technological solutions and let the Force guide us. Tacking against the headwind of my ridicule, he got us to our destination only slightly behind schedule.
The food was worth the wait, although I had better service at a Wendy's in Kentucky. Our well-meaning, very energetic and heavily tattooed server kept hopelessly misreading our intentions- his response to our plea for a basic espresso drink was some kind of vanilla milkshake.
Bobo (nonplussed):
Uh...no. Do you have an iced latte?
Server (with the enthusiasm of a very small dog):
Sure! Should I make that a double?!?
Bobo (deadpan):
No thanks.
Our order of dual French Dips also triggered a merchandising land mine- "Would you like those white trash style, with bacon and grilled onions?!?"
Bobo blinked rapidly in horror, but recovered his equilibrium in time to mask my involuntary choking with a polite refusal.
Quick question for social historians:
When was bacon elected America's culinary panacea?
Once we fended off our server's aggressive upsaleing (irritating for the patron, mana for the owner) we enjoyed excellent iced lattes and OUTSTANDING French Dips, the best I've ever had. And you need to understand I spent a good portion of my youth in the company of the Pelf, sampling every French Dip we could find.
This one was ideal in every respect. They bake their own bread, so a perfect baguette is perhaps to be expected. But the meat was thinly sliced, pink and succulent, and the Jus was copious and carried the deep color and flavor of stock, not the thin, bitter taste of bouillon. Plus, there was more than enough of it. Even the horseradish sauce was spot on- not to hot, but not washed out and bland.
The food redeemed the experience, which is fine with me. I'll take spectacular food in a so-so setting over so-so food in a spectacular setting every time.
(to be continued)
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Burning Man: A Responsible Opposing Viewpoint
clicky clicky.
Burning Man is not for non-conformists. You must wear a Burning Man outfit or risk constant abuse. I did not wear any silly costumes at Burning Man, or dress in drag, or hang my ass in the breeze, nor did my friends. Surviving the heat was plenty: we had no spare energy for playing dress up. For this breech in burner protocol, weirdoes in furry suits chided us that “jeans are not a costume.” These “furries” dress in full fur suits, like comic characters in the Ice Capades or that big rat at Chucky Cheese, and like to do drugs and have sex in their suits while in character. If there is anything worse than a pervert, it’s a self-righteous druggie pervert, dressed as a chipmunk, offering unsolicited fashion tips. If you want catty advice on how to dress from a crowd of Rocky Horror Picture Show rejects, Burning Man is for you.
Monday, September 11, 2006
good for Wiki
Contrary to the craven corporate cowardice of big-time internet outfits like Google, Microsoft and Yahoo, Wikipedia told China to piss up a rope when asked to censor it's entries to comply with China's authoritarian demands.
A bit of positive news in the sea of negativity.
Wales said censorship was ' antithetical to the philosophy of Wikipedia. We occupy a position in the culture that I wish Google would take up, which is that we stand for the freedom for information, and for us to compromise I think would send very much the wrong signal: that there's no one left on the planet who's willing to say "You know what? We're not going to give up."'
A bit of positive news in the sea of negativity.
Southland Sojourn: day one
I zipped down to Boboland for a few days last week- Anner was in Paris and Bobo had a spare few hours for hanging out.
Took the train because I hate driving long distances and like trains. I rode a lot of trains in my youth and I can't say I'm happy with the changes wrought by cell phones- every other seat had some Chatty Cathy spouting the usual monologue ("yeah...I'm on a train. Where are you?"). But as technology taketh away it also giveth- I was able to dam the tide of cellular triviality by plugging in to my iPod, replacing banal minutiae with quality modern music.
Bobo picked me up at Union Station, a gorgeous, old-timey terminal and we went in search of late night provender.
Bobo's first several choices were all closed so we tried Del Taco, which had the dual advantages of a drive-through window and no outposts in my hometown. Alas, hungry as I was I couldn't get past all of their combo meals being served with French fries.
WTF man. Who in the hell wants fries with their asada taco?
This crisis led Bobo to a startling realization:
"I've been thinking like a white man!"
Minutes later we pulled up to his favorite taco truck, where the dilapidated menu offered head, tongue and buche* as well as the more traditional beef, pork and chicken.
I went for a pair of Al Pastor tacos (heavily spiced shredded pork) and an asada burrito, all of which were excellent. While some purists argue that serving burritos is a black mark, I disagree. They're not traditional, but so long as they're not the gigantic rice-stuffed monstrosities you expect to find at chain margarita joints I think they have a place.
We cruised back over the hill to Casa Bobo, greeted the hounds, relaxed for a bit and then turned in for the night.
(to be continued)
*subsequent investigation led to the discovery that Buche is pig skin.
Took the train because I hate driving long distances and like trains. I rode a lot of trains in my youth and I can't say I'm happy with the changes wrought by cell phones- every other seat had some Chatty Cathy spouting the usual monologue ("yeah...I'm on a train. Where are you?"). But as technology taketh away it also giveth- I was able to dam the tide of cellular triviality by plugging in to my iPod, replacing banal minutiae with quality modern music.
Bobo picked me up at Union Station, a gorgeous, old-timey terminal and we went in search of late night provender.
Bobo's first several choices were all closed so we tried Del Taco, which had the dual advantages of a drive-through window and no outposts in my hometown. Alas, hungry as I was I couldn't get past all of their combo meals being served with French fries.
WTF man. Who in the hell wants fries with their asada taco?
This crisis led Bobo to a startling realization:
"I've been thinking like a white man!"
Minutes later we pulled up to his favorite taco truck, where the dilapidated menu offered head, tongue and buche* as well as the more traditional beef, pork and chicken.
I went for a pair of Al Pastor tacos (heavily spiced shredded pork) and an asada burrito, all of which were excellent. While some purists argue that serving burritos is a black mark, I disagree. They're not traditional, but so long as they're not the gigantic rice-stuffed monstrosities you expect to find at chain margarita joints I think they have a place.
We cruised back over the hill to Casa Bobo, greeted the hounds, relaxed for a bit and then turned in for the night.
(to be continued)
*subsequent investigation led to the discovery that Buche is pig skin.
Saturday, September 9, 2006
Amazon's pointless new service.
Oh shiny shiny!
Amazon is offering downloadable movies.
Of course, they're overpriced (14-17 dollars- more expensive than Best Buy) and they are crippled with idiotic restrictions.
I realize it's a hard reality for corporations to come to grips with, but at this point in the digital revolution consumers are used to doing whatever they want with their media. Proprietary formats and usage restrictions don't fly with a customer base that could if it so desired order a movie from netflix or pick one up from their local video store and make a copy that plays on anything and that they can do whatever they want with.
Contrast that with paying full retail for a gimped version with severe restrictions on use.
If they want people to pay full boat, they need to give them full use.
If they're not going to give them full use, they need to DRASTICALLY reduce the price to reflect the limited nature of their offering.
/edit
I dislike Barenaked Ladies in their entirity, but one of the members makes excellent points on the corporate mania for crippled content:
Amazon is offering downloadable movies.
Of course, they're overpriced (14-17 dollars- more expensive than Best Buy) and they are crippled with idiotic restrictions.
I realize it's a hard reality for corporations to come to grips with, but at this point in the digital revolution consumers are used to doing whatever they want with their media. Proprietary formats and usage restrictions don't fly with a customer base that could if it so desired order a movie from netflix or pick one up from their local video store and make a copy that plays on anything and that they can do whatever they want with.
Contrast that with paying full retail for a gimped version with severe restrictions on use.
If they want people to pay full boat, they need to give them full use.
If they're not going to give them full use, they need to DRASTICALLY reduce the price to reflect the limited nature of their offering.
/edit
I dislike Barenaked Ladies in their entirity, but one of the members makes excellent points on the corporate mania for crippled content:
Basically, they're saying you can have all this music for free, but you can only keep it on your computer and one other device. That kind of maniacal need for control is what will be the death of major labels. If they continue to stop people from listening to music in the way they want it, people will continue to make other choices. I think that labels need to stop the restrictive and manipulative use of DRM, and, frankly, we should legalize P2P, and have it properly licensed from the ISP level (sure, the ISPs will complain, but, let them complain).
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
DIY gourds!
A follow-up of sorts to my gourd art post a while ago.
vegiforms.
Turn your fast-growing veg into art!
vegiforms.
Turn your fast-growing veg into art!
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Saturday, September 2, 2006
Old timey cocktails
A random drink recipe from a facimile edition of the Savoy Cocktail Book:
POOP DECK COCKTAIL
1/2 Blackberry Brandy
1/4 Port Wine
1/4 Brandy
shake well and strain into cocktail glass
Shudder.
It doesn't specify, but I assume all measurements are in jiggers.
And here are "A Few Hints For the Young Mixer":
Here's the recipe for a Tom Collins, circa 1930:
Interesting- I'll have to check it out, although I'm generally no fan of soda water.
The version you'll get in most contemporary bars is gin, sweet & sour mix and tonic water. The version I've always made is gin, Collins mix (which you can still get at most grocery stores) and tonic.
POOP DECK COCKTAIL
1/2 Blackberry Brandy
1/4 Port Wine
1/4 Brandy
shake well and strain into cocktail glass
Shudder.
It doesn't specify, but I assume all measurements are in jiggers.
And here are "A Few Hints For the Young Mixer":
1: Ice is nearly always an absolute essential for any cocktail.
2: Never use the same ice twice.
3: Remember that ingridients mix better in a shaker rather larger than is necessary to contain them.
4: Shake the shaker as hard as you can: don't just rock it: you are trying to wake it up, not send it to sleep!
5: Drink your cocktail as soon as possible. Harry Craddock was once asked what was the best way to drink a cocktail: "Quickly" replied that great man, "while it's still laughing at you!"
Here's the recipe for a Tom Collins, circa 1930:
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
1/2 Tablespoonful Powdered Sugar
1 Glass Dry Gin
Shake well and strain into a large bar glass. Fill up the glass with plain soda water and imbibe while it is lively.
Interesting- I'll have to check it out, although I'm generally no fan of soda water.
The version you'll get in most contemporary bars is gin, sweet & sour mix and tonic water. The version I've always made is gin, Collins mix (which you can still get at most grocery stores) and tonic.
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