In Cairo, some turn to sexual assault to intimidate women marching to claim their rights.
In Texas, in case this entire story isn't shocking enough, two things stand out: people blame the victim's mother, and worry about the perpetrators' future rather than the victim's.
Russia's brain drain goes on.
Alberto Granada, Che Guevara's co-motorcyclist, has passed away.
Just say no to genetically engineered salmon.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Tuesday evening ramble
I feel a little better--the guy who came all the way down here in the pouring-down rain on Sunday found another place to live. For those of you not in the area, it rained insanely hard on Sunday. It was ridiculous. It made for some of the scariest road conditions I'd encountered in a while--particularly because it's not like the motorists on 95 can be bothered to turn their lights on or drive carefully--and also some pretty ill-timed walking. The stylist did wonders with my hair, but it was all for naught after a few minutes outside (even in a hooded jacket). But I digress.
I talked to my parents on Sunday evening (hence the 'bitch' conversation). I kept hoping my parents would provide some sort of guidance about the water heater, their being electric engineers and all, but no. I think I've told you before that my dad is simultaneously very smart and very slow on the uptake. Perfect example:
A.: So, did you look at any of the stuff I sent you?
Dad: Yeah--I definitely think you should replace your water heater.
A.: I am definitely replacing my water heater. Do you think it's worth it to get the condensing model?
Mom: The what? What's the difference?
A.: I'm asking you. You're the engineers.
Dad: That's the kind of heater, like we talked about. Like the ones in Russia. Yeah, get one of those.
A.: [Sigh] The type of heater is tankless. I am definitely getting a tankless heater. Within the category of tankless heaters, there is an uber-efficient category called condensing heaters. They're also said to be safer. I sent you a brochure on them.
Dad: Yeah, I looked at it, but there wasn't a lot of engineering explained.
A.: The guy kind of explained it to me. There are two things, and the exhaust from one heats the other, so it's more efficient.
Mom: Two things? What things?
A.: Whatever heats the water. Those things.
Mom: ??
A.: You're the engineers!!
Mom: I don't know.
A.: Never mind. I think I'm going to get a condensing model.
***
I'm also thinking very seriously about solar. I figured out how many watts I use in a year, and it's not that much. I guess the question is, do I cover the entire roof with panels, because it's there, flat and unobstructed, at a higher up-front cost? It's difficult to figure out what that cost might be--I've read everything from $8,000 (manageable with all the credits, rebates, etc.) to $30,000 (f* that). From what I understand, the City of Alexandria actually lets you deduct materials and installation from your property taxes if you install solar, which is pretty f*ing amazing.
***
I have a new identity, and I love it: I am a fruit fly.
Jason "learndeded it" from "1 girl, 5 gays" on Logo channel. Apparenlty, it's not pejorative like 'hag'--doesn't have that connotation of lacking confidence and seeking it from gays--but it's more "a lady who will defend the gays..." Do you hear that? That makes me a lady.
I talked to my parents on Sunday evening (hence the 'bitch' conversation). I kept hoping my parents would provide some sort of guidance about the water heater, their being electric engineers and all, but no. I think I've told you before that my dad is simultaneously very smart and very slow on the uptake. Perfect example:
A.: So, did you look at any of the stuff I sent you?
Dad: Yeah--I definitely think you should replace your water heater.
A.: I am definitely replacing my water heater. Do you think it's worth it to get the condensing model?
Mom: The what? What's the difference?
A.: I'm asking you. You're the engineers.
Dad: That's the kind of heater, like we talked about. Like the ones in Russia. Yeah, get one of those.
A.: [Sigh] The type of heater is tankless. I am definitely getting a tankless heater. Within the category of tankless heaters, there is an uber-efficient category called condensing heaters. They're also said to be safer. I sent you a brochure on them.
Dad: Yeah, I looked at it, but there wasn't a lot of engineering explained.
A.: The guy kind of explained it to me. There are two things, and the exhaust from one heats the other, so it's more efficient.
Mom: Two things? What things?
A.: Whatever heats the water. Those things.
Mom: ??
A.: You're the engineers!!
Mom: I don't know.
A.: Never mind. I think I'm going to get a condensing model.
***
I'm also thinking very seriously about solar. I figured out how many watts I use in a year, and it's not that much. I guess the question is, do I cover the entire roof with panels, because it's there, flat and unobstructed, at a higher up-front cost? It's difficult to figure out what that cost might be--I've read everything from $8,000 (manageable with all the credits, rebates, etc.) to $30,000 (f* that). From what I understand, the City of Alexandria actually lets you deduct materials and installation from your property taxes if you install solar, which is pretty f*ing amazing.
***
I have a new identity, and I love it: I am a fruit fly.
Jason "learndeded it" from "1 girl, 5 gays" on Logo channel. Apparenlty, it's not pejorative like 'hag'--doesn't have that connotation of lacking confidence and seeking it from gays--but it's more "a lady who will defend the gays..." Do you hear that? That makes me a lady.
Tuesday evening roundup
The Japanese-American community comes out against witch hunts and Richard Cohen also makes a passionate plea against them.
Could anyone explain why it takes Starbucks over six-dozen ingredients to make an omelet wrap? Also--and I say this as someone who doesn't eat eggs--if you're going to eat eggs, just eat the whole f*ing egg.
Jon Stewart on the instant banana
Could anyone explain why it takes Starbucks over six-dozen ingredients to make an omelet wrap? Also--and I say this as someone who doesn't eat eggs--if you're going to eat eggs, just eat the whole f*ing egg.
Jon Stewart on the instant banana
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Intro - Pantry of Shame | ||||
| ||||
Tuesday morning roundup
Okay, two paragraphs into this, I'm horrified by "American intervention in Libya." If anything, we should be talking multilateral intervention. Which I see they get to in the middle of the first page (although Arab League? Really?). As for Senator Kerry, all his analogies are wrong: Libya is not Iraq (91'), the Balkans, or Rwanda. Anne Applebaum pretty much covers it.
Meanwhile, migrants stuck in the middle are in danger from both sides.
A Mexican documentary makes a difference and raises awareness of a broken justice system, which then tries to shut down the film. Which history tells us only serves to promote the film.
This is disappointing.
A new hate-monger unleashes her bull$hit across the country.
Meanwhile, migrants stuck in the middle are in danger from both sides.
A Mexican documentary makes a difference and raises awareness of a broken justice system, which then tries to shut down the film. Which history tells us only serves to promote the film.
This is disappointing.
A new hate-monger unleashes her bull$hit across the country.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Phone call
Mom, unbeknownst to herself, contributed a key data point to my exploration of how some of her antics are painful and others, just annoying. She flat-out called me a bitch.
Very matter-of-factly, too. And the Russian word, 'styerva,' is much ruder.
It didn't bother me that much.
She asked about the roommate search. I told her where I stood. I told her I was taking precautions so as not to repeat the last roommate debacle.
Mom: That poor guy. He was so friendly. And you're just a bitch.
A.: If having boundaries and making a point to enforce them is 'being a bitch,' I whole-heartedly embrace that label.
Mom: Well, to tell you the truth, that kind of thing would have bothered me, too.
A.: It would have bothered a saint (not that I am one).
We let it go at that.
Very matter-of-factly, too. And the Russian word, 'styerva,' is much ruder.
It didn't bother me that much.
She asked about the roommate search. I told her where I stood. I told her I was taking precautions so as not to repeat the last roommate debacle.
Mom: That poor guy. He was so friendly. And you're just a bitch.
A.: If having boundaries and making a point to enforce them is 'being a bitch,' I whole-heartedly embrace that label.
Mom: Well, to tell you the truth, that kind of thing would have bothered me, too.
A.: It would have bothered a saint (not that I am one).
We let it go at that.
Monday evening roundup
Pork has a new catchphrase. It will surprise you and perhaps confound you.
What's wrong with philanthropy-oriented reality TV.
What scares me is how literate I am in the DC's arcane subway ad terminology.
What's wrong with philanthropy-oriented reality TV.
What scares me is how literate I am in the DC's arcane subway ad terminology.
Monday morning roundup
Japan braces itself for rising food prices.
Fareed Zakaria's lesson from the Middle East, which is not at all about the Middle East. And he's not the only columnist concerned about budgeting at the expense of America's children.
The connections this writer is making between fashion and fascism are a huge stretch--seereming Jon Stewart's piece about how silly it is to invoke Hitler comparisons based on non-genocidal characteristics. The history of fashion during the occupation is interesting; everything else is 'huh'?
Fareed Zakaria's lesson from the Middle East, which is not at all about the Middle East. And he's not the only columnist concerned about budgeting at the expense of America's children.
The connections this writer is making between fashion and fascism are a huge stretch--seereming Jon Stewart's piece about how silly it is to invoke Hitler comparisons based on non-genocidal characteristics. The history of fashion during the occupation is interesting; everything else is 'huh'?
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sunday evening ramble
I hardly expected any responses to my roommate ad, based on the terms (i.e., must be out of the house a lot), but that's what some people are looking for. The demand is actually kind of heart-breaking, especially among the contingent who doesn't actually have a job that takes them out of town a lot, but insist that they're quiet. That's another thing I don't want: a roommate who doesn't feel comfortable, feels like they have to be invisible (I prefer the kind that are invisible by nature).
But here's the other thing: the more the idea of a roommate becomes more concrete, the more I realize I don't want a roommate. Ugh--what have I done? Then again, it would be nice to have solar panels.
Contrast this sea of people looking for an inexpensive place to crash with the sign I saw up in the salon for trial-size Aveda products: "Thank your yoga teacher, your dog walker, your barista." As eye-rolling as that is, I realize it's not out of touch with Alexandria. Alexandria's crazy that way--highest poverty rate in NOVA, I think, and also high yoga/dog/coffee shop identity.
But here's the other thing: the more the idea of a roommate becomes more concrete, the more I realize I don't want a roommate. Ugh--what have I done? Then again, it would be nice to have solar panels.
Contrast this sea of people looking for an inexpensive place to crash with the sign I saw up in the salon for trial-size Aveda products: "Thank your yoga teacher, your dog walker, your barista." As eye-rolling as that is, I realize it's not out of touch with Alexandria. Alexandria's crazy that way--highest poverty rate in NOVA, I think, and also high yoga/dog/coffee shop identity.
Sunday morning roundup
Karim Sadjadpour on many amateur analysts are misreading the Middle East.
Egyptian women insist on building on their recent gains. Also, what the Post's photographer went through to cover the revolution.
As for Afghan women, well... baby steps.
David Remnick on future of Haaretz.
Psychiatrists, increasingly, are medicators, not therapists.
George Will on Mike Huckabee and the Mau Maus.
How to fight hate speech without censorship.
In addition to the usual ideological and trade-association divides, San Francisco's battle over the future of shark fin soup exposes a generational shift. Which is sort-of an ideological divide in and of itself: younger generations are more conscious about the effects of their food choices on eco-systems, and more willing to adjust those food choices accordingly. Older generations are more willing to dismiss them as hippies.
And not too far north of there, a young farmer's grandfather tells him that his generation has to fix what Earl Butz messed up.
What a fascinating life.
A new book about a woman who loved food and one on your brain.
Egyptian women insist on building on their recent gains. Also, what the Post's photographer went through to cover the revolution.
As for Afghan women, well... baby steps.
David Remnick on future of Haaretz.
Psychiatrists, increasingly, are medicators, not therapists.
George Will on Mike Huckabee and the Mau Maus.
How to fight hate speech without censorship.
In addition to the usual ideological and trade-association divides, San Francisco's battle over the future of shark fin soup exposes a generational shift. Which is sort-of an ideological divide in and of itself: younger generations are more conscious about the effects of their food choices on eco-systems, and more willing to adjust those food choices accordingly. Older generations are more willing to dismiss them as hippies.
And not too far north of there, a young farmer's grandfather tells him that his generation has to fix what Earl Butz messed up.
What a fascinating life.
A new book about a woman who loved food and one on your brain.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
When it rains it really f*ing pours
My mother was really sweet when I told her about the vortex of endless home repairs that I've found myself in. She offered me money (I said 'no, thank you'). I mean, it would be one thing if I didn't actually have the money to pay for the home repairs; it's more that paying for the home repairs really puts a damper on my hobbies.
It was like this about two years ago, when I marveled at the highest credit card bill I'd ever managed to run up. I'd bought the house a few months before, and in addition to the astronomical hardware store bills, I'd just paid for a new washer and dryer and the associated plumbing, and a bunch of other work around the house. And the trip to Galapagos.
And that last one is not the only reason I'm not all 'woe-is-me' (or woe-is-I, apologies to Patricia T. O'Conner) about this. I knew what I was getting into when I bought the house, and it's all manageable--just annoying. I just paid for my trip and for a fence, and I'm about to pay for a tankless water heater. And then for some other work.
So, in lieu of cutting down on travel and theater, and of taking money from my parents, I'm *considering* taking in another renter.
I know what you're thinking: you said you'd never take in another roommate! Did I? I must have qualified it to say that you never know.
I'm just putting out feelers. I'm going to be a lot more careful this time (although I thought I was careful last time)--I'm actually advertising specifically for an airline employee or someone else who doesn't really live here, i.e. isn't going to be bringing friends to the house or otherwise partying. If nobody responds to that, so be it, but people put out those kinds of ads all the time, and there are people who respond to them, because there are people who need a place to crash a few times a week.
And I'll be fine if no one does respond (to be honest, part of me is hoping for it). When I mentioned this to mom, she asked whether I was considering a roommate because of the money. I asked her what she meant. She said--wait for it--"as opposed to companionship." Definitely money, definitely not companionship. She offered me money again (I told her that that was very sweet but that I was okay).
Do you know what it really is? Once you start getting things done around the house, you start to say, 'f* it, I want this and this done, too.' Now, I need to be realistic and remind myself that it's going to take a lot of roommate rent checks before I'll be able to put solar panels on the roof... but it would take a lot longer without those checks. It's just something to throw out there, in case there is someone out there looking for the room and the roommate situation I have to offer. If not, I'm more than happy to have the house to myself.
It was like this about two years ago, when I marveled at the highest credit card bill I'd ever managed to run up. I'd bought the house a few months before, and in addition to the astronomical hardware store bills, I'd just paid for a new washer and dryer and the associated plumbing, and a bunch of other work around the house. And the trip to Galapagos.
And that last one is not the only reason I'm not all 'woe-is-me' (or woe-is-I, apologies to Patricia T. O'Conner) about this. I knew what I was getting into when I bought the house, and it's all manageable--just annoying. I just paid for my trip and for a fence, and I'm about to pay for a tankless water heater. And then for some other work.
So, in lieu of cutting down on travel and theater, and of taking money from my parents, I'm *considering* taking in another renter.
I know what you're thinking: you said you'd never take in another roommate! Did I? I must have qualified it to say that you never know.
I'm just putting out feelers. I'm going to be a lot more careful this time (although I thought I was careful last time)--I'm actually advertising specifically for an airline employee or someone else who doesn't really live here, i.e. isn't going to be bringing friends to the house or otherwise partying. If nobody responds to that, so be it, but people put out those kinds of ads all the time, and there are people who respond to them, because there are people who need a place to crash a few times a week.
And I'll be fine if no one does respond (to be honest, part of me is hoping for it). When I mentioned this to mom, she asked whether I was considering a roommate because of the money. I asked her what she meant. She said--wait for it--"as opposed to companionship." Definitely money, definitely not companionship. She offered me money again (I told her that that was very sweet but that I was okay).
Do you know what it really is? Once you start getting things done around the house, you start to say, 'f* it, I want this and this done, too.' Now, I need to be realistic and remind myself that it's going to take a lot of roommate rent checks before I'll be able to put solar panels on the roof... but it would take a lot longer without those checks. It's just something to throw out there, in case there is someone out there looking for the room and the roommate situation I have to offer. If not, I'm more than happy to have the house to myself.
Saturday morning roundup
Losing your Middle Eastern markets for arms? "There's always Latin America."
Italy has a lot to lose from chaos in Libya, but it did that to itself.
David Ignatius on how the Administration is working this.
Rural India is an emerging market for market research.
I started thinking of 'glass houses'-type clichesfor this one but decided not to bother.
It's official: test scores are not good indicators of learning.
Murphy Brown redux.
Gail Collins on political crimes against writing; Robert Lane Greene on how Sarah Palin uses language more effectively than we think.
I kind-of appreciate culinary purism, especially at quality establishments (although who doesn't love a toasted bagel). You're only going to ruin a very good burger (of whatever sort) with ketchup, and I appreciate April Bloom's unique place for rocquefort--I'm looking into ways of simulating it without dairy. In a way, I can even appreciate refusing to serve vegetarian food--if you accept that that's going to turn away a large number of customers and their friends, that's your call as a restaurateur.
But if you're not going to allow substitutions or special requests, your food better be amazing. For example, if you don't allow dressing on the side, (1) that dressing better be perfect; and (2) that dressing better not be drowning the salad to the point it's inedible (I'm talking to you, Founding Farmers, although you're not alone). [Founding Farmers does, in theory, allow dressing on the side; it's just that in practice they didn't honor my request for it, which irks me as much.]
Italy has a lot to lose from chaos in Libya, but it did that to itself.
David Ignatius on how the Administration is working this.
Rural India is an emerging market for market research.
I started thinking of 'glass houses'-type clichesfor this one but decided not to bother.
It's official: test scores are not good indicators of learning.
Murphy Brown redux.
Gail Collins on political crimes against writing; Robert Lane Greene on how Sarah Palin uses language more effectively than we think.
I kind-of appreciate culinary purism, especially at quality establishments (although who doesn't love a toasted bagel). You're only going to ruin a very good burger (of whatever sort) with ketchup, and I appreciate April Bloom's unique place for rocquefort--I'm looking into ways of simulating it without dairy. In a way, I can even appreciate refusing to serve vegetarian food--if you accept that that's going to turn away a large number of customers and their friends, that's your call as a restaurateur.
But if you're not going to allow substitutions or special requests, your food better be amazing. For example, if you don't allow dressing on the side, (1) that dressing better be perfect; and (2) that dressing better not be drowning the salad to the point it's inedible (I'm talking to you, Founding Farmers, although you're not alone). [Founding Farmers does, in theory, allow dressing on the side; it's just that in practice they didn't honor my request for it, which irks me as much.]
Friday, March 4, 2011
Widdershins
I wasn't sure to expect from Widdershins, to which I'd bought a ticket because I still feel a connection to many things Welsh. The play was excellent. You may think I say that all the time, but there's often 'good' and 'very good;' this one was excellent.
Actually, the acting was uneven, which I've experienced at some of the smaller, less formal venues (particularly Undercroft). The story, though, is what really made it, and enough of the acting was excellent and enough was good enough to really channel the story. I can't tell you a thing without giving it away, but if you're in the area, I highly recommend it. It's also very inexpensive, and, if you're in Old Town, walking distance (if you're in Old Town, also go see "His Eye Was on the Sparrow"). I will qualify my fascination with the story--the plot, I should say--by saying that there was something slightly sloppy and not quite right in the end. At first, I didn't believe it--not in a supernatural way, but in a human way, i.e., I wasn't comfortable with the sides being taken--but after thinking on it more, it hit me just how realistic it was. But I also felt that the performance would have done well to explore why it came down the way it did. I have my own interpretation, and I'd find the face-value one controversial.
I'll tell you what was lacking for sure: the behavior of the audience (and the alertness of the ushers). The Little Theater actually prints in its program a list of what not to do: unwrap candy, talk, etc. Because it's not obvious to some people. But people did it anyway. One person even blew his or her nose loudly, in the middle of the play! As for the usher, your job is not to read me my seat number from my ticket; I can do that myself. It's to hand me a program (which he did not do until I asked for it) and direct me to the best way to my seat, i.e. that which entails stepping over the fewest number of people (only after I'd stepped over eight did I see how few seats there were to the other side of mine).
The play was a little bit creepy in more than one way, which made the walk home through Old Town a little bit creepy. Some of the eeriness came from the sense of deja-vu from the night I got hit by a car--also a Friday, a relatively nice night. I crossed the streets very carefully (and flipped off any driver who didn't yield when it was my right of way). Actually, I need to stop doing that, if only because if I continue at this rate, I'm bound to flip someone off in front of a coworker. Crossing Cameron Street was especially odd, but there was something funny about the creepiness: it subsided as I left the older part of Old Town, even though Washington Street wasn't any less empty or quiet there. It wasn't a general creepiness I'd felt; it was the kind that's with you after you've just heard or seen a ghost story.
Actually, the acting was uneven, which I've experienced at some of the smaller, less formal venues (particularly Undercroft). The story, though, is what really made it, and enough of the acting was excellent and enough was good enough to really channel the story. I can't tell you a thing without giving it away, but if you're in the area, I highly recommend it. It's also very inexpensive, and, if you're in Old Town, walking distance (if you're in Old Town, also go see "His Eye Was on the Sparrow"). I will qualify my fascination with the story--the plot, I should say--by saying that there was something slightly sloppy and not quite right in the end. At first, I didn't believe it--not in a supernatural way, but in a human way, i.e., I wasn't comfortable with the sides being taken--but after thinking on it more, it hit me just how realistic it was. But I also felt that the performance would have done well to explore why it came down the way it did. I have my own interpretation, and I'd find the face-value one controversial.
I'll tell you what was lacking for sure: the behavior of the audience (and the alertness of the ushers). The Little Theater actually prints in its program a list of what not to do: unwrap candy, talk, etc. Because it's not obvious to some people. But people did it anyway. One person even blew his or her nose loudly, in the middle of the play! As for the usher, your job is not to read me my seat number from my ticket; I can do that myself. It's to hand me a program (which he did not do until I asked for it) and direct me to the best way to my seat, i.e. that which entails stepping over the fewest number of people (only after I'd stepped over eight did I see how few seats there were to the other side of mine).
The play was a little bit creepy in more than one way, which made the walk home through Old Town a little bit creepy. Some of the eeriness came from the sense of deja-vu from the night I got hit by a car--also a Friday, a relatively nice night. I crossed the streets very carefully (and flipped off any driver who didn't yield when it was my right of way). Actually, I need to stop doing that, if only because if I continue at this rate, I'm bound to flip someone off in front of a coworker. Crossing Cameron Street was especially odd, but there was something funny about the creepiness: it subsided as I left the older part of Old Town, even though Washington Street wasn't any less empty or quiet there. It wasn't a general creepiness I'd felt; it was the kind that's with you after you've just heard or seen a ghost story.
Friday evening roundup
A no-fly zone is not something to be taken lightly.
While some look to Turkey for a democratic model for the Middle East, Turkey is backpedaling on its own democracy.
I don't think all the non-fashion fashion world offenses here are equally egregious, hypocritical, or tasteless, but I love the name of the article.
While we're on article names, I don't think having kids is foolish, but I think a lot of this has to do with why some parents are so sanctimonious.
I have to run in a second, but allow me a quick food-related ramble. A few years ago, I came upon the term 'poor people food,' which I'd never heard of previously, even though I certainly consumed a lot of it in ignorance of its socio-economic associations. I always thought, and still think, that food is food (corollary: crap is not food). I've devoted space on this blog to the message that you can eat well for as little as it costs to eat poorly, if not less. Conversely, I think the concept of 'poor people food' is silly.
Jamie Oliver was rightly excoriated for serving beans on toast at one of his London restaurants, but not because beans on toast can't be amazing: it's because (1) Heinz paid him to do it and he neglected to disclose that; and (2) you don't go to a posh restaurant to have a celebrity chef make beans on toast. If you fell for it, sponsorship or not, well, I don't know what to say.
Anyway, I'm running out the door and I needed to make a quick dinner to get me through the evening. So I toasted a couple of slices of (whole, sprouted grain) bread and defrosted half a cup or so of pinto beans and topped the toast with them, and topped the beans with some (store-bought) salsa--what can I say--Costco has yummy, organic, no-sugar-added salsa, but you can make some yourself if you're hard-core or have more time. Anyway, it was really, really good. And yet so simple, and inexpensive. All I'm saying is, my 'poor people food' is better than some of the stuff I've had in pretentious restaurants.
While some look to Turkey for a democratic model for the Middle East, Turkey is backpedaling on its own democracy.
I don't think all the non-fashion fashion world offenses here are equally egregious, hypocritical, or tasteless, but I love the name of the article.
While we're on article names, I don't think having kids is foolish, but I think a lot of this has to do with why some parents are so sanctimonious.
I have to run in a second, but allow me a quick food-related ramble. A few years ago, I came upon the term 'poor people food,' which I'd never heard of previously, even though I certainly consumed a lot of it in ignorance of its socio-economic associations. I always thought, and still think, that food is food (corollary: crap is not food). I've devoted space on this blog to the message that you can eat well for as little as it costs to eat poorly, if not less. Conversely, I think the concept of 'poor people food' is silly.
Jamie Oliver was rightly excoriated for serving beans on toast at one of his London restaurants, but not because beans on toast can't be amazing: it's because (1) Heinz paid him to do it and he neglected to disclose that; and (2) you don't go to a posh restaurant to have a celebrity chef make beans on toast. If you fell for it, sponsorship or not, well, I don't know what to say.
Anyway, I'm running out the door and I needed to make a quick dinner to get me through the evening. So I toasted a couple of slices of (whole, sprouted grain) bread and defrosted half a cup or so of pinto beans and topped the toast with them, and topped the beans with some (store-bought) salsa--what can I say--Costco has yummy, organic, no-sugar-added salsa, but you can make some yourself if you're hard-core or have more time. Anyway, it was really, really good. And yet so simple, and inexpensive. All I'm saying is, my 'poor people food' is better than some of the stuff I've had in pretentious restaurants.
Friday morning roundup
Among the side effects of the chaos in Libya: a newly accessible supply of small (and not so small) arms.
No matter where you come down on the 'right' thing to do, this is just a really sad story. And a poster case for end-of-life care discussions (oh, I'm sorry, "death panels").
Dave Brooks finds fundamental attribution era in Huntington's Clash.
Yes, for most mothers, working is really about being able to move into a mansion. Especially those mothers whose kids would be eligible for Head Start.
Why is the media circus around Charlie Sheen condoning his history of violence against women?
Senator Warner acknowledges the contributions of federal workers.
Oooh, I totally want a sakura tree. And a sakura-flavored snack would be really nice right now. Maybe sakura ice cream can be our next goal now that we've conquered green tea and azuki.
Speaking of oooh, I never would have thought of coconut oil-roasted sweet potatoes, but they look and sound amazing (although I'd skip the sugar--I don't know why anyone in their right mind, health conscious or not, would add sugar to sweet potatoes). I'd even make that pound cake (replace the eggs with ground flax, the milk with soy/almond/coconut) if I could figure out a way to replace or reduce the sugar and at least some of the refined flour and still make it work. Also: vegetable soup recipes from Mark Bittman. If you want to make one of the creamy soups vegan, replace the dairy with coconut milk (just beware that the flavor will be prominent), soy or almond milk, and/or granulated or instant oatmeal.
Crap, is it almost 8am? How am I not at work??
No matter where you come down on the 'right' thing to do, this is just a really sad story. And a poster case for end-of-life care discussions (oh, I'm sorry, "death panels").
Dave Brooks finds fundamental attribution era in Huntington's Clash.
Yes, for most mothers, working is really about being able to move into a mansion. Especially those mothers whose kids would be eligible for Head Start.
Why is the media circus around Charlie Sheen condoning his history of violence against women?
Senator Warner acknowledges the contributions of federal workers.
Oooh, I totally want a sakura tree. And a sakura-flavored snack would be really nice right now. Maybe sakura ice cream can be our next goal now that we've conquered green tea and azuki.
Speaking of oooh, I never would have thought of coconut oil-roasted sweet potatoes, but they look and sound amazing (although I'd skip the sugar--I don't know why anyone in their right mind, health conscious or not, would add sugar to sweet potatoes). I'd even make that pound cake (replace the eggs with ground flax, the milk with soy/almond/coconut) if I could figure out a way to replace or reduce the sugar and at least some of the refined flour and still make it work. Also: vegetable soup recipes from Mark Bittman. If you want to make one of the creamy soups vegan, replace the dairy with coconut milk (just beware that the flavor will be prominent), soy or almond milk, and/or granulated or instant oatmeal.
Crap, is it almost 8am? How am I not at work??
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Thursday evening roundup
For such an indignant bunch, people have no f*ing idea how the government spends money.
Why you really needn't worry about soy, unless you eat a ton of meat.
Check out the Onion.
Why you really needn't worry about soy, unless you eat a ton of meat.
Check out the Onion.
Thursday morning roundup
Really? The State Department's housing allowance for families passing through DC is $5,400 for a two-bedroom? No wonder they're out of money for actual priorities. On another issue from that article: if your 13-year old's friends are asking people whether they "speak Egyptian," it's time to switch schools.
Speaking of interesting spending priorities, Milbank reports on funding what the military actually needs. He also comments on his Palin-free month.
Teachers are feeling the pain of the national verbal assault. Gail Collins offers another angle for looking at teachers' pay and childcare benefits.
Jennifer Rubin uses federal employees' comparatively inferior benefits against state employees (by way of Gov. Walker's words):
Even when I was a kid with an insatiable sweet tooth--which is when I spent a lot of time in Maine--I thought whoopie pies were nasty. If I were Maine and Pennsylvania, I'd be fighting to disown rather than claim them.
Speaking of interesting spending priorities, Milbank reports on funding what the military actually needs. He also comments on his Palin-free month.
Teachers are feeling the pain of the national verbal assault. Gail Collins offers another angle for looking at teachers' pay and childcare benefits.
Jennifer Rubin uses federal employees' comparatively inferior benefits against state employees (by way of Gov. Walker's words):
...most federal employees do not have collective bargaining for wages and benefits while our plan allows it for base pay. And I'm sure the President knows that the average federal worker pays twice as much for health insurance as what we are asking for in Wisconsin.I wonder whether she'll remember that when another round of fed bashing comes around. Scrolling through her posts, I had to move fast to not throw up in my mouth. Her writing is so sickeningly partisan and full of cheap shots, but that's how the Post likes its conservatives.
Even when I was a kid with an insatiable sweet tooth--which is when I spent a lot of time in Maine--I thought whoopie pies were nasty. If I were Maine and Pennsylvania, I'd be fighting to disown rather than claim them.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
In which this good Jewish girl uses a bug analogy in a mom story
My mom issues are flaring.
I made the mistake of calling mom last night just before bed--never a good idea--and she got me more riled up than I've been in a while. I’m trying to understand why. Why over this? Why not over her other, more persistent antics, or those actually directed at me? When I think about it, I see just how much mom doesn't upset me when she harps on my weight, personality, or décor. I mean, she doesn't exactly create a pleasant environment, but there's a fine line between annoying and upsetting. Consider the difference between an insect buzzing around your head and one delivering a painful sting.
Mom’s harping on my weight has always been annoying but doesn't hurt, maybe because I have sufficient confidence in myself to not value myself based on my body shape. To the extent that I find myself thinking about it, it’s more ‘I would love to fit into that dress and it’s too bad I don’t, but whatever” not “I hate myself because I can’t fit into that dress.” When mom brings up my weight and won't let go, it’s buzz, not sting.
It’s also buzz-not-sting when mom tells me I’m cold, harsh, shrewish, selfish, socially overbearing, financially irresponsible, lacking in initiative, incompetent, or too much of a busybody to get along with coworkers. I have enough confidence in who I am, not to mention enough evidence in my defense, to understand that mom’s perception of me is more a reflection on her than on me. In some cases, she's projecting things she sees in herself; in others, they stem from narrow mindset about how things manifest themselves. For example, I'm introverted, so I don't feel like talking to people when I'm tired. For her, that's a sign that I'm cold. And in some cases, the accusations or judgments seem to come out of nowhere. As I read over that not exhaustive list of faults, all of which mom has assigned to me, all I can do is laugh.
So if none of that bothers me, why am I feeling the sting now? Could it be that I'm "comfortable" or at least unfazed by verbal assaults on my own character (and shape), but I'm more sensitive to her attacks on others? I’ve had knee-jerk reactions in the past when she’s gone after people dear to me (Nina), and now it’s Alexa, whom she barely knows. [I’m not comfortable sharing the details of the situation on this blog].
Could it be that I’ve developed a mechanism for managing mom’s statements, and in the process lulled myself into false complacency, fooled myself into believing that I’ve learned to manage mom in general? Is it, by extension, that I’ve learned to manage the symptoms of the less kind part of mom’s personality, but the underlying elements still irk the hell out of me?
In this case, it's her willingness to demonize someone (a 23-year-old girl) based on partial, second-hand knowledge of a situation, further filtered by her selective listening. And it's also the sheer inconsistency of her logic: just that, in and of itself, often makes it impossible to reason with her, so the only thing to do is ask her to let it go (but she won’t). She does that on political issues, too--you can't talk to her, because she doesn't fight fair, but she won't stop talking about it, so you're stuck fuming. Even my dad, who more often than not agrees with her on substance, tries to tell her that she's not getting through to anyone else with her tactics. So that's part of it: she can't make me listen to Glenn Beck, so she channels Glenn Beck for me, and brings Glenn Beck logic into an interpersonal situation. I don't need to explain further about why that's annoying.
So what do I do with mom? She's not going to change, and I can only change or at least manage how I interact with her. Which I've learned to do when it's something frivolous like weight or something ridiculous like shrewishness. My strategy with politics, thus far, has been avoidance whenever possible and rolled eyes otherwise. And now, this new category of thing. I guess the only thing to do is take a deep breath and let it go.
I made the mistake of calling mom last night just before bed--never a good idea--and she got me more riled up than I've been in a while. I’m trying to understand why. Why over this? Why not over her other, more persistent antics, or those actually directed at me? When I think about it, I see just how much mom doesn't upset me when she harps on my weight, personality, or décor. I mean, she doesn't exactly create a pleasant environment, but there's a fine line between annoying and upsetting. Consider the difference between an insect buzzing around your head and one delivering a painful sting.
Mom’s harping on my weight has always been annoying but doesn't hurt, maybe because I have sufficient confidence in myself to not value myself based on my body shape. To the extent that I find myself thinking about it, it’s more ‘I would love to fit into that dress and it’s too bad I don’t, but whatever” not “I hate myself because I can’t fit into that dress.” When mom brings up my weight and won't let go, it’s buzz, not sting.
It’s also buzz-not-sting when mom tells me I’m cold, harsh, shrewish, selfish, socially overbearing, financially irresponsible, lacking in initiative, incompetent, or too much of a busybody to get along with coworkers. I have enough confidence in who I am, not to mention enough evidence in my defense, to understand that mom’s perception of me is more a reflection on her than on me. In some cases, she's projecting things she sees in herself; in others, they stem from narrow mindset about how things manifest themselves. For example, I'm introverted, so I don't feel like talking to people when I'm tired. For her, that's a sign that I'm cold. And in some cases, the accusations or judgments seem to come out of nowhere. As I read over that not exhaustive list of faults, all of which mom has assigned to me, all I can do is laugh.
So if none of that bothers me, why am I feeling the sting now? Could it be that I'm "comfortable" or at least unfazed by verbal assaults on my own character (and shape), but I'm more sensitive to her attacks on others? I’ve had knee-jerk reactions in the past when she’s gone after people dear to me (Nina), and now it’s Alexa, whom she barely knows. [I’m not comfortable sharing the details of the situation on this blog].
Could it be that I’ve developed a mechanism for managing mom’s statements, and in the process lulled myself into false complacency, fooled myself into believing that I’ve learned to manage mom in general? Is it, by extension, that I’ve learned to manage the symptoms of the less kind part of mom’s personality, but the underlying elements still irk the hell out of me?
In this case, it's her willingness to demonize someone (a 23-year-old girl) based on partial, second-hand knowledge of a situation, further filtered by her selective listening. And it's also the sheer inconsistency of her logic: just that, in and of itself, often makes it impossible to reason with her, so the only thing to do is ask her to let it go (but she won’t). She does that on political issues, too--you can't talk to her, because she doesn't fight fair, but she won't stop talking about it, so you're stuck fuming. Even my dad, who more often than not agrees with her on substance, tries to tell her that she's not getting through to anyone else with her tactics. So that's part of it: she can't make me listen to Glenn Beck, so she channels Glenn Beck for me, and brings Glenn Beck logic into an interpersonal situation. I don't need to explain further about why that's annoying.
So what do I do with mom? She's not going to change, and I can only change or at least manage how I interact with her. Which I've learned to do when it's something frivolous like weight or something ridiculous like shrewishness. My strategy with politics, thus far, has been avoidance whenever possible and rolled eyes otherwise. And now, this new category of thing. I guess the only thing to do is take a deep breath and let it go.
Wednesday morning roundup and response to comment
Hey guys, I'm scrambling because I woke up late/didn't sleep well because I made the mistake of calling mom before going to bed, and got riled up by a conversation to personal on someone else's behalf to relay here. So this is going to be quick.
On corn, is sweet corn as prone to being genetically modified as feed corn? I need to look into that. And I reiterate: if you're concerned about corn and soy, and you eat factory-farmed meat, please be aware that you're probably consuming more of both through your meat than directly.
On that note, please see Mark Bittman's column on getting agricultural subsidies right.
Coke is acquiring Honest Tea.
Western lobbyists are thinking twice about working for murderous regimes.
How corporate tax cuts can hurt states.
Police forces turn to volunteers to help with the workload. It's kind-of working in Britain.
How inherently subjective are performance reviews?
If fashion isn't fluff, fashion bears responsibility. I wonder with Galliano's fall from Grace whether Kate Moss will still have him design her wedding dress.
Sakura Matsuri will now charge a fee. But a style note: even I know that 'matsuri' means festival, so could we stop saying "Sakura Matsuri festival"? I've actually never gone, lately because I haven't been in town for it. Didn't miss much last year, since we were hitting peak sakura everywhere in Japan.
Mmmm, Persian food.
On corn, is sweet corn as prone to being genetically modified as feed corn? I need to look into that. And I reiterate: if you're concerned about corn and soy, and you eat factory-farmed meat, please be aware that you're probably consuming more of both through your meat than directly.
On that note, please see Mark Bittman's column on getting agricultural subsidies right.
Coke is acquiring Honest Tea.
Western lobbyists are thinking twice about working for murderous regimes.
How corporate tax cuts can hurt states.
Police forces turn to volunteers to help with the workload. It's kind-of working in Britain.
How inherently subjective are performance reviews?
If fashion isn't fluff, fashion bears responsibility. I wonder with Galliano's fall from Grace whether Kate Moss will still have him design her wedding dress.
Sakura Matsuri will now charge a fee. But a style note: even I know that 'matsuri' means festival, so could we stop saying "Sakura Matsuri festival"? I've actually never gone, lately because I haven't been in town for it. Didn't miss much last year, since we were hitting peak sakura everywhere in Japan.
Mmmm, Persian food.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Tuesday evening roundup
How to cede power gracefully.
Assange blames the Jews (including Jews by association).
I am taking deep breaths as I type because Jennifer LaRue Huget's guide to whole grains makes my head want to explode.
First of all, she encourages people to consume refined grains as half their grain consumption because, I $hit you not, "Whole grains are not enriched, so if you replaced all your refined grains with whole ones, you'd need to get those nutrients elsewhere, perhaps through dietary supplements."
Are you F*ING KIDDING ME?? Get your f*ing nutrients from real food, including whole grains. The idea of encouraging refined grains because they're enriched--this coming from a nutrition writer--is absurd to the point where I think she should resign.
Less offensive but equally ignorant: soba is not actually whole grain; it's usually made with over 70% refined wheat and only 30% buckwheat. It is difficult and expensive to find 100% buckwheat soba.
She didn't pull this bull$hit from the guidelines themselves, which say nothing of the sort:
More food news: factory farm findings to gross you out.
Why the hating on cyclists when we're great for the economy in the long run.
Assange blames the Jews (including Jews by association).
I am taking deep breaths as I type because Jennifer LaRue Huget's guide to whole grains makes my head want to explode.
First of all, she encourages people to consume refined grains as half their grain consumption because, I $hit you not, "Whole grains are not enriched, so if you replaced all your refined grains with whole ones, you'd need to get those nutrients elsewhere, perhaps through dietary supplements."
Are you F*ING KIDDING ME?? Get your f*ing nutrients from real food, including whole grains. The idea of encouraging refined grains because they're enriched--this coming from a nutrition writer--is absurd to the point where I think she should resign.
Less offensive but equally ignorant: soba is not actually whole grain; it's usually made with over 70% refined wheat and only 30% buckwheat. It is difficult and expensive to find 100% buckwheat soba.
She didn't pull this bull$hit from the guidelines themselves, which say nothing of the sort:
At least half of recommended total grain intake should be whole grains. (See Chapter 5 for specific information and recommendations.) Less than 5 percent of Americans consume the minimum recom-mended amount of whole grains, which for many is about 3 ounce-equivalents per day. On average, Americans eat less than 1 ounce-equivalent of whole grains per day.That's fair enough; JLRH's interpretation is most definitely not.
Americans should aim to replace many refined-grain foods with whole-grain foods that are in their nutrient-dense forms to keep total calorie intake within limits. When refined grains are eaten, they should be enriched. Individuals may choose to consume more than half of their grains as whole grains. To ensure nutrient adequacy, individuals who consume all of their grains as whole grains should include some that have been fortified with folic acid, such as some ready-to-eat whole-grain cereals.
More food news: factory farm findings to gross you out.
Why the hating on cyclists when we're great for the economy in the long run.
Tuesday morning roundup
Egyptian police struggle to overcome an institutional legacy and reputation for brutality.
The mess at Wisconsin's Capitol building is stressing out the state's unionized custodial staff even as they appreciate the benefits of organizing.
I'm literally not sure how I feel about this parody description of the Civility Institute. Maybe I don't think it's funny because I'm too tired to be amused, or maybe I don't think it's funny because, on a fundamental level, I disagree with the message. Yeah, scratch the 'it's too early/I'm too tired' argument, because I was able to fully appreciatethese confessions of a newly-discovered communist.
The mess at Wisconsin's Capitol building is stressing out the state's unionized custodial staff even as they appreciate the benefits of organizing.
I'm literally not sure how I feel about this parody description of the Civility Institute. Maybe I don't think it's funny because I'm too tired to be amused, or maybe I don't think it's funny because, on a fundamental level, I disagree with the message. Yeah, scratch the 'it's too early/I'm too tired' argument, because I was able to fully appreciatethese confessions of a newly-discovered communist.
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