Mouse Farts in a Wind Tunnel

March 20, 2003

Optimus Prime is from Ohio. Who knew?

via metafilter.

posted by el goose on 3/20/2003 11:47:17 AM | link

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March 19, 2003

On this day in 1920, the United States Senate refused to ratify the League of Nation treaty.

Who knew the Bush Administration had such a finely tuned sense of history?

posted by el goose on 3/19/2003 12:10:24 PM | link

Yakisoba, mmmmmmm

Yesterday, I found the one Japanese grocery store in Dayton. It was great and reminded me of being in Manhattan. They had fresh soba (!) so today for lunch I made yakisoba with vegetables from the best local grocery store: little baby zucchini, broccolini, red bell pepper, mushroom and onion. The flavors mixed really nicely in the stir fry and some soy sauce was just the right touch.

I realize that I couldn't possibly be a restaurant reviewer. I can't describe good food well.

I tried the broccolini after seeing Rachael Ray cook with it, and it was great. I'm not a great fan of broccoli; I think it is far too overused for such a boring vegetable. The broccolini was much better -- small and tender, with the good taste of broccoli without having small ornamental shrubs in my food. I'm a convert.

Here's another dorky detail -- I used the red pepper as much for the color as the taste.

posted by el goose on 3/19/2003 03:12:27 PM | link

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March 18, 2003

posted by el goose on 3/18/2003 01:38:15 PM | link

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March 17, 2003

On this day in history:

In 1845, the rubber band was patented. Or if you speak Minnesota, the rubber binder.

posted by el goose on 3/17/2003 11:21:59 AM | link

A few rules of the Reading Snob.

1. One never reads a book, one re-reads it. Unless it has been in print for less than two years.

2. One doesn't read popular junk, one glances at it. And then only ironically.

3. You are allowed to have one or two quirky habits, like the novels of Alan Furst or George Pelecanos, who are always on the verge of being discovered but never quite make it.

4. If your quirky novelist breaks through and becomes popular, time to get a new one.

5. Always refer the former favorite quirky novelist with fondness; also refer to reading his or her work "back when it was interesting."

6. If one of the novels you would recommend (never "a book I love") should be made into a movie, it moves off the A-list. Particularly if any of the actors wear odd facial makeup or the score is by James Horner.

7. Don't bother reading Proust, just be able to refer authoritatively to the incident with the madeleines.

posted by el goose on 3/17/2003 09:25:23 PM | link

2003 James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards

Nominees: Internet Writing on Food, Nutrition, Travel, Restaurant and Beverage

Hungary on the Redneck Riviera, Steven Shaw. www.egullet.com

Cold Shower: How To Spit With The Wine Pros, Michael Steinberger. www.slate.msn.com

Lady Sings the Booze, Natalie MacLean. www.nataliemaclean.com.

All nominees in the extensive list of categories are available here.

posted by el goose on 3/17/2003 09:46:30 PM | link

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March 16, 2003

Get Fuzzy. My Mom's new favorite comic strip. But I bet she didn't get the joke in this one.

And this one is a classic in dog humor.

My Mom knows what's funny.

posted by el goose on 3/16/2003 02:04:40 PM | link

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