I’m No Headless Airline Disaster January 31, 2007
Posted by KG in Blog, DC, Etc., Friends.1 comment so far
Though responsible for your current eponym, I have to say: unless you get with the cold hearted murderin’, Ms. Mathis, you are definitely behind the curve on being the cruelest Sommer.
Maybe I’m Just Overreacting January 28, 2007
Posted by KG in Food.add a comment
From Tom Sietsema’s review of Farrah Olivia in today’s Post:
Heat surfaces in the form of some berbere oil, an accent that enlivens the eating and trumpets the chef’s origins. (Ouattara was born in Ivory Coast; the base of the oil relies on the Ethiopian spice blend made with red pepper, fenugreek, cardamom and more.)
I’m astonished that these sentences — back to back! — got through an editor. A quick glance at a map shows that Cote d’Ivoire and Ethiopia are at the very least 3000 miles apart. Basic research confirms my gut instinct that Ivorian cuisine and Ethiopian cuisine don’t have much in common. But somehow using berbere is an homage to an Ivorian chef’s roots. I guess that doesn’t matter. It’s just Africa, after all..
Sigh. Its just a food review, not the A section. And odds are that the Chef himself probably doesn’t care — as has been pointed out to me, the restaurant itself claims to serve “African” cuisine. So I’ll let my exclamation of “Why is this considered to be okay?” fade into the background, while others argue seemingly endlessly about where specifically in Italy a certain shape of pasta came from.
Dear America, I Agree January 24, 2007
Posted by KG in top chef.2 comments
Sam was robbed. More strongly: A Sam/Elia final would have been much, much more interesting than the Ilan/Marcel snipefest we’ll probably see next week. Its a shame — and it seemed obvious that at the very least Padma was not happy with the decision. At least you’re $10K richer, Sam. Its too bad you didn’t get a shot at the big prize.
Don’t get me started on the underhanded late hit Ilan instigated. Really, what was the point? You realize you’re on TV right?
Its late and this blog entry stinks.
Edited to add: This isn’t saying I excuse Elia. She shouldn’t have let herself get egged on by Ilan and join him in complaining. Here again Sam showed his leadership chops by getting them both to shut up.
Also, given the lateness I forgot all about the specific accusations that were brought up. Sure we weren’t privy to all the video, but all season there was nothing suggesting Marcel cheated, ever, at least not in the Otto or Betty kind of way. He may have been a jerk, but being a jerk and cheating are very different things. And after that petty display, next week I’m certainly not cheering for Ilan.
Believe it or Not, There’s Nobody Home January 23, 2007
Posted by KG in Etc..1 comment so far
It’s remarkably difficult to leave a serious message for a return phone call on someone’s answering machine. Even common practice in regards to doing so varies: some colleagues go for the “just keep dialling and hope for a human” approach, while others are content to leave a message stating “Please call me back, it is very important.” I flip between the two, and usually just do both. Because there’s never a guarantee they’ll actually call back.
The problem I’m facing now: horrible voice mail messages. And not even fun ones! I’m trying to get in touch with two “young” folks and am having no luck. One message simply says “I’ll call you. BEEEP.” No name to confirm that its the right number. When the importance and urgency of your message is an issue, getting that prompt is a little disconcerting.
Even worse, her brother. Whose voice mail message is an unintelligible rap song recorded off a stereo. A song that he may or may not know the words to (he knows at least four, as far as I can tell). Unfortunately, the message itself is two minutes of the song, and sounds as if it was recorded in a moving vehicle. The sound quality means the lyrics are un-Googleable, so I can’t even mock the choice of song.
I’m an old curmudgeon. This is well established. The first thought to cross my mind when hearing these voice mail messages? “Darn kids, don’t they realize the incoming call could be important? Hrumph.” After that I got up to straighten my sweater vest, stretch my bum leg, and make myself a nice warm mug of hot water. With a lemon.
Also, Mammoth/Vacuum January 18, 2007
Posted by KG in DC.add a comment
I’m planning on going to see this exhibit Saturday afternoon. Anyone interested in joining me? Timing: around 1-2 PM. Ah, paleontology.
(yes, there was a full page ad for this in the Express today. Advertising works, especially when it features a shark-slash-table saw.)
Brains are Haute Cuisine January 15, 2007
Posted by KG in Etc..3 comments
Has anyone noticed the recent upsurge in our collective fascination with zombies? I started thinking about it when I read that The G. had just finished reading World War Z (obligatory link), which is possibly the best thing to result from the existence of Mel Brooks in some time. The comics have jumped on the bandwagon too. The excellent 28 Days Later seems to have started it all. And now I’m seeing the undead cross, haltingly, with that weird zombie stutter step, into mainstream culture. For example: a flesh eating Jack Bauer on last night’s 24 (he was just in China; the zombie plague in WWZ started in China: think about it).
Since I’m not a Buffy fan, I may have just missed the initial beginnings of the zombie craze. Still, this zombie thing has nowhere to go but up. For example, there’s a WWZ movie coming out, which will probably spark zombie mania. A slew of zombie-themed TV shows are probably right around the corner: “How I Re-Animated Your Mother,” “Grey’s Blackened, Rotting Anatomy,” “Deal or No Deal.” Zombies are going to be the next hot Halloween costume for the kids. About time too. I was getting tired of ninjas and pirates.
Gumby January 12, 2007
Posted by KG in Etc..2 comments
After three+ months off, I’ve returned to the gym. Partly out of desire for sanity, partly out of vanity. Since I started an exercise routine way back when, working out has been the one consistent way I’ve found to destress and refocus. It also helps when one is developing a “cubicle belly” and is a few weeks away from a trip to Seattle and being embarassed by it (you know who I’m going to see). This time, however, I’ve decided to change things up. Call it part of a wholesale “try something new” effort. Hence, yoga. Holy crap, I’m going to yoga.
And also holy crap, did that hurt. I seem to be about as flexible as the average brick. It’s pretty embarassing to be in a room with folks who can bend themselves into a pretzel and barely be able to touch your toes. But that has its advantages as well. This yoga thing is emasculating enough – yes, I said emasculating, and I know plenty of men do yoga but you know what I mean – that coming in with a little testosterone-laden attitude makes me feel better about leaving the free weights. So I’m seeing my total lack of skill as giving me a set goal to aspire towards. Not very attuned to the attendant philosophy of yoga, but so be it. The question is, do I aspire to amazing bendiness? Probably not realistic.
Oh, and as far as workouts go, I was very impressed. I’m giving it my second shot this weekend, so wish me luck.
Sneaks the Cat January 5, 2007
Posted by KG in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
Wow. There’s so much floating around my friends’ websites about Fairfax County libraries. Kriston, Tom, DCeiver, Ryan, and Ygglz, all with opinions about how the libraries are trying to become bookstore-like in their management of inventory.
There seem to be two big problems from this thinking. First, for every estimable classic the libraries have been tossing, I’m sure there have been plenty of Tekwars. In fact, I’d argue the pablum discarded outweighs classics by at least five to one. Libraries toss out crappy books all the time. The big difference? All of a sudden they’re using data tracking to do it. Its easier, it saves time, and it still gives the librarian discretion to keep that sentimental favorite on the shelf. Anyone who knows librarians knows what data geeks they can be. It seems to me this is just a natural evolution.
Second, we may be romanticizing libraries a bit. Well, at least we fellow book nerds. We’ve got this vision in our heads of a pre-teen, walking into a library with his/her mind a tabula rasa, and finding a book that changes his/her life. The potential for that vision to come true is seductive. Unfortunately, its also ridiculous — that is not what libraries, at least American public libraries, do.
I remember the hours spent at the Perry Hall library as a youth (trivia fact: dedictated by then-Baltimore County Commisioner Spiro Agnew!). At times, yes, I was checking out books that were canonical, or at least on their way to being canonized. But more often than not, I was checking out crappy science fiction, books about dinosaurs, and The Stand. The library didn’t instill any erudition; I never checked out anything that would embiggen me. What the library did do is jumpstart the habit of reading for enjoyment, make reading less of a task and more of a pleasure. And if a library can do that for a kid with Grisham or with William F’ing Faulkner, what difference does it make? I’m happy that an 11-year-old picked up a book in the first place. Reading the whole thing through without whining about a lack of pictures is good enough for me.
Realitis Personae January 4, 2007
Posted by KG in Etc., Food.1 comment so far
Yes, Spencer, I agree: Betty Fraser is a harpy. Or at least that’s how the skilled editors of Bravo made her seem throughout this season of Top Chef. She was a clear “casting” (in quotes because I’m still not sure of you can call putting someone on Reality TV casting them) decision, a contestant fans would love to hate, someone who’d make you throw a crab mallet at the television (remember her yelling, through the tears, “It’s an explanation!” during Incident Splenda? Shudder). But ultimately, they were setting her up for a fall. For all her experience at a “popular LA eatery”, it seemed she wasn’t a terribly good cook. Her “I do comfort food” spiel during the Thanksgiving episode made that clear. She managed to stay on through a mixture of sheer luck and her ongoing feud with the equally arrogant but more talented (and ridiculously coiffed) Marcel.
From the moment Marcel broke the usual stoicism of Ilan and Sam, Betty became expendable. With two far more talented chefs now taking on her bête noire, Betty had no dramatic purpose on the show. At least Michael provides occasional comic relief. Betty provided shrew-like whininess, a saccharine Rachel Ray faux perk, and a clueless nonchalance (”I thought it looked good!”) that bordered on complete aesthetic ignorance. Good riddance, thanks for playing, and no I don’t want a gift certificate to your restaurant.
On the personality side, the six remaining have an interesting dynamic. Sam’s out-of-character snapping at Marcel was redeemed, in my eyes, by his kindness to and support of Michael. And to my surprise, I’m actually starting to find Michael endearing — though why didn’t he switch out and pick “sloth” as his theme sin? Ilan, through the final, unnecessary jab at Marcel, made himself look like a bit of a jerk. Though to be honest, Bravo editors, you have me looking forward to the inevitable Ilan/Marcel throwdown in the next couple weeks.
In the end, I see Elia and Sam as the two most consistently talented contestants, with Cliff a close third. That does seem like a bland final triad personality-wise, but by the last few episodes, I want less bickering anyway. By that point, it really should become about the cooking. (But for now, Top Chef producers: Character conflict is good!)
Obligatory January 1st Post January 1, 2007
Posted by KG in Etc..2 comments
There are a bunch of things to blog about, but for now:
Spencer had the worst year of his life, and despite the wonders of this year, I can empathize. 2006 was gutwrenching. Some dreams destroyed, some simply deferred. Sudden losses and glaring failures. The inability, for the first time, to cope. The first time I was willing to look up and say I needed help, and that no human power could provide. Thank you, stroke of midnight. You gave me no absolution, just an arbitrary starting point where I could say “from here, forward, things will be better.” Sometimes that is all you need.
Here’s to 2007. I’m not worried about it being any worse than ‘06, because if that is possible, my name is Job.
