Category: Thoughts

Krugman’s editorial awhile back noted that the Republican majority in the House is pretty much dedicated to eating the future. That is, they’re cutting everything that won’t hurt until later. So, they’re cutting nutrition for children, because children don’t vote, and malnourished adults won’t be a problem for another 15 years.

And they’re cutting youth sports and after-school activities. In response, we’re seeing a surge in boxing as parents try to find a cheap alternative to letting the kids hang out on the corner after school being recruited into criminal mischief. We’re likely to see more crime from the kids who can’t stick with the parentally-sponsored sports, and more brain damage from the kids who do, but neither one will hurt for five or twenty years. And a crime wave isn’t even a problem for Republicans, it just feeds into the narrative of undeserving criminal classes that need to be punished.

Riots in Lybia. Riots in Iraq. Mass sexual assault in Congo. VIDEO OF A SNEEZING HEDGEHOG.

Hey, I’ll take what beauty I can get in the world. If an adorable hedgehog with its adorable sneezes is the only thing standing between me and madness, well… so be it.

My current favorite blogger, the guy over at Gin and Tacos, has a wonderful description of how much he wants Haley Barbour to win the Republican nomination for president. Not because he supports the Republican party, of course, but because it would be entertaining:

Haley Barbour is like Central Casting’s version of a Republican presidential nominee: a fat, sweaty racist from Mississippi with a Boss Hog drawl. Short of exhuming and reanimating George Wallace to run on a ticket with Orval Faubus, Barbour is the best thing that can happen to this election. I need entertainment value to get through an 18 month election cycle; it won’t get much better than seeing Obama debate Foghorn Leghorn.

Well, that’s one way to look at it, I guess.

Rick Scott of Florida has rejected federal funding for high-speed rail. It’s a shame for Florida, but hey, if Rick Scott wants to send extra money to the Northeast rail corridor, where it benefits me, I have no objections.

Inspired by numerous people and readings, including Justin Can Cook, and by our very own copy of David Chang’s Momofuku cookbook, Bookdwarf and I made David Chang’s Bo Ssam, basically an enormous roast pork shoulder with a half-dozen or so condiments.

You’d think that a 7-pound pork shoulder would be too much for four people. And yes, we got some leftovers. But not that many. It was crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, surprisingly simple: Sugar, salt, huge hunk of pork. Bake slowly all day, baste regularly, serve with side dishes. Unbuckle belt and slump quietly for remainder of evening.

I may have posted this before, but it’s still amazing.
“I was raised like a veal in the Orthodox Jewish town of Monsey, New York, where it was forbidden to eat veal together with dairy….”

Recently, a men’s lifestyle blog called The Magnificent Bastard hosted a cocktail contest. Which I didn’t win. (The winners do look pretty amazing, so I’m not actually disappointed to be found wanting.)

Here’s my losing contribution:

Combine the juice of 1/2 grapefruit, 1 lime, and 1/2 lemon. Set aside.

Over Ice:
2oz. gin (Boodles, Greylock, Tanqueray, whatever)
1 oz. mixed citrus juice
1/2 oz. St. Germain
1 tsp Creme de Violette
Dash Bitter Truth Bittermens Grapefruit bitters

Instructions:
Shake, strain, serve up. Garnish with lemon twist.