YouTube, for the win…

And the “Mail” button is pretty genius too…

from Gizmodo

Exhibit A: Carnivores Have Superior Sense of Humor

from passive-aggressive notes

Has anyone seen my raincoat..?

I am sooo going to see this awesomely ridiculous (or ridiculously awesome?) movie…

Why, People Who Work in My Office?

I’m taking antibiotics in an attempt to quell the flesh-eating bacteria that has invaded the soft tissue surrounding the incision on my elbow.  And, in an attempt to ward off any unpleasantness said antibiotics may wreak upon my bowels (sorry for the over-share), I’m trying to eat yogurt once or twice a day.

So after lunch today, I head to the office kitchen to retrieve my yogurt – and I find this:

Someone has spilled milk all over the fridge, including an ivory shower for my sad little yogurt.  And then this person just went on his or her merry way, leaving it for someone else to discover.  Of course, it’s just a little spilled milk- it’s not like it will rot and stink up the whole fridge or soak other people’s lunches…

I always wonder about what these people are like at home – do they actually live in squalor, wallowing in their own filth, the floors knee-deep in empty fast food containers, dirty underwear and half-eaten bags of Funyuns?  Or are they sort of normal when at home and inconsiderate slobs when at the office?  It’s a puzzlement.

Could I just squeeze by you? I need to climb up onto my soapbox…

A friend on Facebook recently updated her status to indicate she was flirting with vegetarianism.  And she got lots of responses, mostly reasonable (along the lines of “I did it and feel great – and lost 10 lbs!”) and some a little snarky (“Guess we won’t be having you over for dinner’) – but all pretty light…  Save for this:

alot (sic) happens to the meat before it hits the stores/restaurants…that whole process grosses me out…i think if you meet your meat and know your farmer it’s another story but 99.99% of what people eat has been tortured and slimmed by a disgusting industrial system…not to mention the chemicals used to fatten them up…

it’s easy to eat salads and veggies out and most people don’t feel bad if you don’t make a big deal out of it…I find more and more people are saying no to meat.

Now, I have no issues with choosing vegetarianism or veganism – they probably are healthier (well, to be honest, I have some doubts about veganism – seems a bit extreme and just a tad culty…  And, with a few notable exceptions, the vegans I’ve met don’t seem to be paragons of healthfulness… But I digress…).   I am not, however, a fan of proselytizing (except my own of course, since I’m right – duh).  But, you know, whatever – it’s Facebook, who cares, right?

At any rate, I had just recently happened to read a quote from Anthony Bourdain, who described vegetarianism as “like going to the Louvre and only looking at the color blue.” Amusant, non? So I added this to the Facebook conversation.  To which the proselytizer responded:

veggies have way more colors than meat The Louvre is over-rated, too. Been there numerous times.

Really?  That’s your comeback?  The Louvre is over-rated?  And the coup de grâce – “been there numerous times.” You know because she’s such a very sophisticated jet-setter (though she missed a golden opportunity to further show off her sophistication – she should’ve written “colours”) – so much so that she finds the Louvre just a big bore…

And, really, who could argue with that?  Vermeer? Played out…  Da Vinci? Dilettante…  Rembrandt?  Derivative…  Michelangelo? Yawn…  And don’t get me started on those tiresome Etruscans.  Yes, the Louvre is just one hack artist after another…  Plus, after you’ve been there a couple of times, you’ve really seen absolutely everything there is to possibly see, what with it being so provincial and the collection so tiny.

But what chaps my hide even more is the sanctimonious, holier-than-thou-because-I-don’t-eat-meat perspective.  Yes, factory farming of animals is not good – I do what I can to purchase meat from retailers who support more humane methods of raising animals for food; and I have the good fortune to be able to afford this choice.  But I don’t hear any concerns from vegetarian-a-rella about working conditions or wages for the farm workers picking all that kale and zucchini she’s piously eating.  And what about dairy cows?  They don’t exactly lead the life of Reilly – but I’m guessing she doesn’t eschew cheese or lattes…

Clearly, this whole little tempest got under my skin.  I guess the point I’m trying to make is, cut it out with the preaching.  None of us are perfect – and we all choose to do different things in an attempt to better ourselves and the world we live in.  Sanctimony doesn’t help on either count…

The future is here…

The transition to digital TV has finally happened.  In an effort to be servicey, here’s a handy chart from Gizmodo for anyone (*cough*Mom*cough-cough*) who ran into any difficulties with their over-the-air channels.

from Gizmodo

Hey, who are those four guys riding horses..? And is that brimstone I smell?

All things considered, the imagery in this commercial could’ve been much worse.  Though I suppose my own nightmarish visions of operating this device are far more horrifying than anything they could actually show…

And does this really enhance the experience?  I’d think the introduction of special tools into this process would only complicate matters.

from The Awl

Day starting off nicely – seriously.

Bumped into a friend on my way to work this morning and stopped to catch up a bit.  I knew she’d just moved, so I inquired as to where her new place is – and it’s on Beaver Street!  Now it’s pretty hard to beat simply living on Beaver St. (not only because of the name, but it’s actually quite a charming little tree-lined street).  But she is not simply living at any old place on Beaver – she’s at 8 Beaver!  And she’s a lesbian! Talk about kismet…

Not to mention that fact that anytime we ever walk down that street, I always say when we pass # 8, “Gee, I hope some lesbian lives there…”  And now I know that one does!

Maybe someday my own dream will come true and I’ll move to 4 Uranus.  Oh, Uranus Street…  We’d pass it all the time as kids, with my mom behind the wheel of her ‘72 Ford Torino and without fail we’d all start screaming, “Drive up Uranus! Drive up Uranus!”  Good times…

Anyhoo, then I got to work.  And what do I find in the kitchen, as I go in to toast my 7-grain-and-flax-seed bread?  Two giant cartons of Krispy Kreme donuts.

So, yes, this day is looking pretty darn good so far.  Now if only Sprint would call me and tell me that my new Palm Pre is finally in stock and ready for pickup…

Happy Birthday, Darlin’…

According to Dlisted, it was Gina Gershon’s birthday yesterday – and, honestly, how could I not post this picture of her in the role of a lifetime?

“Do you like brown rice and vegetables?”

from Dlisted

Stupid fat mute swans…

Keep on paddling, lard-ass...

Had to post this – it was the funniest thing I read all day…

Maryland to Slaughter Fat Mute Swans

Why, Annoying Hippie-Wannabe on House Hunters?

Whenever there’s nothing to watch on TV, it seems like there’s always an episode of “House Hunters” showing – which is great, since I’m always up for shouting at the TV – you know, things like, “Ugh, look at that place” or “Good taste costs no more”… (Though I also love the new show “Bang for Your Buck” – especially since the gay couples always win.)

At any rate, the house hunters are occasionally looking at cool city houses or lofts  – but more often than not, it’s a couple (or even a single person) trying to choose which hideous and inappropriately large McMansion they should buy – they usually choose the one with the three-car garage and the best interior paint colors (God, that drives me insane – they’re always going on and on about how they don’t like the colors…  Because, as we all know, that is something that is completely impossible to change… )

Or else it’s some newlyweds buying their first place in the ‘burbs of Cincinnati and spending $125K on a charming three bedroom with hardwood floors, original molding and a fireplace.  Chris and I always have a good laugh/cry over this, since $125K in SF is maybe a down-payment – and only if you’re lucky and willing to live in an “up and coming neighborhood” (i.e. the ghetto).

Last night, I was watching and it was some young couple buying their first place up in Davis/Sacramento.  And they really wanted a “green” house with all the eco-friendly extras.  And what drove me absolutely insane was that they seemed to have no idea of what actually constitutes an ecologically friendly house – they seemed to think that as long as there were a couple of solar panels on the roof and low VOC paint on the walls, then all was well.

Now, don’t get me wrong – I think any steps one can take to live a greener life are a good thing.  But the husband in particular kept going on and on about how “green” everything had to be – but never once commenting on the fact that a 2500 square foot house is going to have double the carbon footprint of a 1200 square foot place – regardless of how many “green” features are built in…  It drives me insane when I read about somebody constructing a “green” 6000 square foot residence.  Sorry!  If it’s that big, it ain’t green – I don’t care how much water is being reclaimed or how many recycled glass counter tops there are.  But I digress…

So this annoying couple finally settles on the place in Sacramento – meaning they’d both be commuting by car to their jobs in Davis; they nixed the house in Davis, which was in biking distance of work, preferring the larger place in Sacramento.  All of which would’ve been fine, if they hadn’t been going on and on and on about how important the environment is…

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: do what you can, large and small, to minimize your impact on the environment…  But don’t be sanctimonious.  It’s not cute.

“Tongue ‘n Cheeks”

from Gawker

She’s drunk, right?

I mean, there’s no other explanation, is there?  And referring to this as even “semi-homemade” is really beyond the pale…  While I’m not always a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain’s, here’re a couple of his quotes regarding this particular abomination:

The most terrifying thing I’ve seen is her making a Kwanzaa cake. Watch that clip and tell me your eyeballs don’t burst into flames. It’s a war crime on television. You’ll scream.

and

After watching the video, there will be nothing left in your head except a smoldering stump. You’ll projectile vomit with rage.

Of course, I’m also wondering about the monstrous Christmas-themed cake in the foreground.  Looks like the more of the same – sans the luscious canned pie filling…  Oh, the humanity.

Quote of the Day

From Richard Lawson on Gawker:

All Diane von Furstenberg wanted when she built an enormous glass igloo on top of a building in the most populous city in the United States was a little privacy.  Is that so much to ask?

Be sure to click through to the post on Gawker – the comments are priceless…

from Gawker

Which came first – the chicken or the horror chicken?

For some reason, the Sweet Sue company has chosen to offer for sale a product called “Canned Whole Chicken.”  And, regrettably, that is exactly what it is: a whole chicken inside of a can.

Things start off innocently enough:

It actually looks quite tasty – just add some stuffing and – voila! – you’ve got home-style goodness.

Of course the reality is somewhat different than the rather – how shall I say this? – optimistic image on the can’s exterior.

Before clicking through to see the contents of the can, please keep in mind that once seen, it cannot be unseen.  You’ve been warned…

Worst Airport Ever

Note to self: do not schedule any layovers at the Prague airport…

Flour + Water: Simple and Satisfying

Don’t know how, but I somehow managed to get a 7:15 dinner reservation at Flour + Water on Saturday night.  Apparently, the stars were simply aligned in my favor, as my attempt to reserve again via Open Table revealed that there is nothing available for the next couple of weeks – nothing! Not even at 5:00 or 10:30…

Fava Beans with Grapefruit and Avocado

Started off with a fava bean, grapefruit and avocado salad.  Beans were a lovely texture and the most beautiful shade of green.  I did think the salad was just a tad undersalted – and we had to ask for salt (kind of an annoyance – I mean I get the whole “the chef knows how to season, thus we don’t put salt and pepper on the table”…  but I think it’s a bit arrogant).  Adding just a bit of salt took the dish from good to excellent.

Next up was some pasta: mezzelune with zucchini and Meyer lemon.  Delicate half-moon pasta stuffed with ricotta in a fresh and vibrant citrus with some sliced zucchini.  Chris and I both commented (as we did for the salad) that it was completely simple, completely fresh and completely delicious.

Pizza Margherita with Bufala Mozzarella

Finished up dinner with a pizza margherita with bufala mozzarella.  The crust tasted marvelous – though it was soggy in the center.  But again, the flavors of the pizza were straightforward and delightful – the sauce tasted as if the tomatoes had just recently been on the vine.

Desserts did not disappoint.  I had chocolate budino – dark, dense, bittersweet (and with skin – the best part of pudding, as far as I’m concerned) topped with a dollop of coffee-flavored whipped cream and a sprinkling of sea salt.  And it was exactly as delicious as it sounds…  Chris had a crumbly-yet-moist olive oil cake with ice cream and quite enjoyed it.

Very good wine list, accompanied by some fine recommendations of both reds and whites by the glass.

Chocolate Budino with Coffee Cream and Sea Salt

The meal really did remind of Italy.  The food was far from fancy, yet every ingredient sang – a clear tribute to their quality and the freshness.  It never ceases to amaze me how four or five ingredients of impeccable quality can join together to create such a delicious meal. And the service was pleasantly leisurely – we shared each dish and they were brought out one by one, giving us a chance to really savor them and enjoy our wine and each other’s company.

And an especially pleasant item missing from the bill: the SF health surcharge.  This is a pet peeve of mine, as it is so often included on the bills of very successful restaurants – and, while not enough to make me boycott entirely, it can be the death knell when it’s a toss-up between someplace that charges it and someplace that appropriately prices items on their menu to cover all of the costs of doing business…  And I made a point of telling the Flour + Water’s owner that I both noticed and appreciated his choice.

The only bad part of the meal?  That it appears unlikely we’ll be able to return soon, thanks to its popularity – though I’m sure this is not a bad problem to have if one is a restaurant owner…

Mezzelune with Zucchini and Meyer Lemon

Olive Oil Cake with Honey-Thyme Ice Cream

Why, Annoying Man Who Works in My Building?

So, I am schlepping up to my office after an uneventful-but-still-annoying MUNI ride; my arm remains in a sling, so my jacket is zipped over it, making it feel as though I’m in a demi-straightjacket; and it’s starting to rain.  In other words, it’s a really great morning and I don’t feel at all crabby…

I make my usual bacon purchase at the cafeteria in our building – and as I’m headed to the elevator, the jackass behind me (the same one who’d held up the line for the cashier with his incessant chit-chatting about nothing with anyone having the misfortune to be in his vicinity) was whistling.  That’s right – whistling.

Now, whistling, as we all know, is unacceptable in and of itself.  But not only was he whistling – he was whistling “Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It’s Off To Work We Go.”

Unfortunately, the music from “There Will Be Blood” is not especially whistle-able – so I was unable to respond appropriately…

Domestic Terrorism

What can I really say about this?  It’s horrifying…  and, sadly enough, effective – the ongoing campaign of terror by anti-choice extremists is working.  Abortion remains legal – yet few doctors are willing to risk being murdered to provide medically necessary care to women.

One thing you can do to help: donate to Medical Students for Choice.  They are working to ensure doctors are trained to provide women with comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion.

from The Awl

Emergency! Emergency!

So, while I was being transported by ambulance to SF General, the paramedic looking after  me made some calls for me (Chris, my dad, my office).  Oddly, though, my dad’s line was busy – this despite his having call waiting.  Turns out, he keeps the phone off the hook until he gets up in the morning to ensure he is not disturbed…  you know, like every normal person does…

At any rate, the next day, he sent out the following email to my sisters and me:

If our phone is off the hook and you get a busy signal, call the fax number which is:

(415) 668-XXXX

This is only for dire emergencies.
The phone is off the hook form 10:45pm until I get out of the shower, which can be as late as 11:00am.

Dad

Oh, and the emphasis on “dire” was included in the email…

And thus began the following correspondence…

So we are supposed to fax you if there is an emergency?  Annie

———

A fax machine is no longer connected to that line.  Dad

———

Then how will you get the emergency fax?  Annie

———

I think Dad’s e-mail has caused some confusion.  Let me try to assist.  Here are some examples of emergencies:

• One of dad’s cats is missing and dad is home to look for them.
• One of us needs a pint of dad’s blood for a transfusion and we happen to be in a hospital close to where dad and Linda are eating dinner.
• Dad’s computer is not working.
• The power goes out in the house and all of us are home and just sit in the dark doing nothing.
• Linda injures herself to the extent she is unable to cook.
• None of us are answering our home or cell phones while Dad is trying to get a hold of us.
• Dad is home alone and is lonely.
• Someone is blocking Dad and Linda’s driveway.

Here are examples of non-emergencies:

• One of us is dead.
• One of us is about to die and cannot be reached before death.
• One of us needs a blood transfusion with a universally available blood type.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Love,  Krissy

Of course, we all had a good laugh over the explanation of what constitututes an emergency…  while also acknowledging that, from Dad’s point of view, it’s all completely accurate.