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How long since you last read Achewood?  Too long I bet.

Here’s Ray connecting with Whole Foods:

Read the Whole thing.

Today is the start of the Chinese New Year.  This year is the Year of the Rat.

Start the year off right by chewing on a rat’s succulent hindquarters.

The BBC reports: 

One rat seller, Sala Prompim, said that the hip and liver were the best cuts.

“It’s tastier than other meats – nothing can compete with rat,” he added.

Bon Appetit!

Salami Number 1:

That’s Salumi Mole Salami.  It’s spiced with the same ingredients found in Mexican mole sauce:  chocolate, cinnamon, ancho and chipotle peppers.  The hint of chocolate gives the sausage a lush mouth-feel and the mild peppers provide just the right amount of heat on the tongue.  The taste experience is intoxicating.  I’m talking mouthgasms…

Salami Number 2:

That’s one of the scrolls of paper used for Jack Kerouac’s manuscript of On The Road.  Kerouac didn’t want to interrupt his train of thought by having to slip a new sheet of paper in his typewriter every few minutes, so he inserted a roll of UPI teletype paper into the machine and started typing the tale of his wild road journey.  His friend John Clellon Holmes called it “a roll like a big piece of salami.”

On the Road was first published on September 5, 1957.  It was revolutionary.  No had written like this before.

“They danced down the streets like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I’ve been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones that never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’”

“We fumed and screamed in our mountain nook, mad drunken Americans in the mighty land. We were on the roof of America and all we could do was yell, I guess–across the night…”

“Isn’t it true that you start your life a sweet child, believing in everything under your father’s roof? Then comes the day of the Laodiceans, when you know you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, and with the visage of a gruesome, grieving ghost you go shuddering through nightmare life.”

More quotes here.

Better yet, read the book.

I drink a lot of coffee, so when I come across an article about it I usually read it.  Last week the Los Angeles Times ran a story about Indonesian coffee made from beans extracted from civet dung.

I’d heard about this supposedly delicious $600/pound kopi luwak coffee before with a flavor that “has a top note of rich, dark chocolate, with secondary notes that are musty and earthy” and a scent that has “the smell of moist earth after a rainfall, with hints of vanilla, that teases the palate for hours after the cup is empty.”

If I ever have the opportunity to try this rare coffee, I will.

I am also fond of imported cheeses, so this section of the same article really caught my attention.

[Canadian food scientist Massimo] Marcone is one of the world’s leading experts on foods that make most people go yuck! He recently wrote a book on the subject. One thing that really gets his glands salivating is casu frazigu cheese, which is packed with so many live maggots that it’s not only disgusting, the Italian government outlawed it.

“The rotten cheese has millions of live maggots in it, and it’s very highly prized all through Italy,” Marcone said. “It sells under the counter for about $100 a pound. As you’re carrying your bag with the cheese in it, you can actually hear the maggots hitting the side of the bag.

“People eat the cheese and maggots altogether. There’s nothing in there that can cause harm.”

From there I went to Wikipedia where I found the cheese is also known as casu marzu.

Derived from Pecorino Sardo, casu marzu goes beyond typical fermentation to a stage most would consider decomposition, brought about by the digestive action of the larvae of the cheese fly Piophila casei. These larvae are deliberately introduced to the cheese, promoting an advanced level of fermentation and breaking down of the cheese’s fats. The texture of the cheese becomes very soft, with some liquid (called lagrima, from the Sardinian for “tears”) seeping out. The larvae themselves appear as translucent white worms, about 8 mm (1/3 inch) long. When disturbed, the larvae can jump for distances up to 15 cm (6 inches), prompting recommendations of eye protection for those eating the cheese. Some people clear the larvae from the cheese before consuming; others do not.

I’ll be in Italy next month but, when I visit the cheese shops, I think I’ll pass if I’m offered some casu marzu.

For the Kids:

For the Adults:

Over time the tradition of thanksgiving feasts ebbed and flowed, but the slaughter of the Native Americans grew until 95% of all Native Americans were murdered, nearly 12 million innocent Native Americans.

The tradition of murder continues, the United States kills 300 million turkeys each year, 45 million are murdered to celebrate Thanksgiving alone.

What you can do:

It is no wonder that the United States and Americans in general are considered to be agressive and violent by much of the world. The United States is built upon the killing of innocent people and animals.

Fortunately you can make a difference. Say no to the killing and choose a vegetarian option. Think different, think Tofurky.

The following is a portion of the waiter’s rant about his customers and their Puttanesca:

‘Do you make Linguini Puttanesca?’

‘No Madam,’ I reply, ‘We don’t have it on the menu.’

‘Well,’ the lady harrumphs, ‘The chef made it for me the last time I was here.’

God – I hate when customers use that line.

‘Really?’ I say, hiding my chagrin. ‘Then he’ll able to make it for you this time.’

‘He made it with eggplant last time,’ the lady says excitedly. ‘Can he use eggplant again?’

‘Of course madam.’

‘And make sure he puts capers in it,’ the woman says. ‘He didn’t put capers in the last time.’

(Via waiterrant.net.)

daily life, culture, humor, food & drink

Technorati Tags: daily life, culture, humor, food & drink

Willie Nelson’s tour bus was pulled over today for a routine inspection which turned into a drug bust when the aroma of marijuana wafted out of the bus and into the officer’s olfactory glands.

Given the cover art on his recent album, I don’t think many are surprised by the news.

A search of the bus led to the discovery of 1 1/2 pounds of marijuana and 1/5 pound of magic mushrooms (enough for several spiritual experiences).

While the quantity doesn’t much surprise me, I am surprised that he received only a misdemeanor citation for the possession.

A little research led to a story in The Daily Advertiser:

The quantity of drugs, if found in possession of one person, is enough to warrant a charge of distribution, which is a felony. But Williams said all five people on the bus, including Nelson, claimed the drugs as their own, and so they were each charged with misdemeanors.

Additionally, according to this website as long the quantity is under 60 pounds, the penalties in Louisiana are $500 and/or 6 months in jail.

While it is not known if the marijuana was purchased in Louisiana or not, Louisiana dealers are required to pay a dealers tax and affix a stamp to their packages.

Not only can it loosen you up a little before you head home, it can also lead to greater wealth:

People who consume alcohol earn significantly more at their jobs than non-drinkers, according to a US study that highlighted “social capital” gained from drinking.

The study published in the Journal of Labor Research Thursday concluded that drinkers earn 10 to 14 percent more than teetotalers, and that men who drink socially bring home an additional seven percent in pay.

“Social drinking builds social capital,” said Edward Stringham, an economics professor at San Jose State University and co-author of the study with fellow researcher Bethany Peters.

…

The researchers found some differences in the economic effects of drinking among men and women. They concluded that men who drink earn 10 percent more than abstainers and women drinkers earn 14 percent more than non-drinkers. link.

So I’ve got to wonder now if that extremely small percentage of the population that is getting most of the benefits from our nation’s economic growth over the past dozen years or so are all hanging out at the same exclusive bars laughing their asses off at the rest of us.

Or drive around in a car for that matter – don’t throw stones.

Okay, so I was driving home from work the other day I stopped behind a car sporting this bumper sticker:

I read it and thought, “Ah… one of those health-conscious vegetarians. She’s entitled to her opinion, and she’s free to express it with a rather impudent bumper sticker.”

Then I noticed that she was smoking a cigarette.

I’ve got nothing against vegetarians or smokers, but it seems to me that if one is going to drive around in a car with a sticker condemning the eating habits of what I suspect is about 95% of the population, one ought to take a good look in the mirror, preferably while exhaling a lungful of cigarette smoke.

When news broke that Cheney shot someone in the face, I assumed that he must have been drunk, high, or both.

It turns out that in addition to the copious quantities of medication that he takes daily, he did have at least one beer before the hunt.

When old Dick was on Fox last week discussing the tragedy, he admitted having a beer with lunch. One thing that he didn’t mention was how the Secret Service sent away a deputy that came to interview him that evening. They scheduled an appointment for the next day. Did he need to sober up?

Think progress covers his advisors comments with “Meet the Press” here.