MosSteph

Epson-Projection by Shane Acker

2009-07-18T22:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a virally distributed clip re: 9 by Shane Acker.

9

2009-07-18T19:12:00.001-07:00

So . . . usually I do NOT blog about movies. I leave that up to Jong. This movie, however, is going to be worth covering from all sides. This short film by Shane Acker spawned a full length feature film due out 9-9-09. The basic plot being humans are gone extinct in a war against evil machines and tiny sack punks are all that remain of life. Not only are they cute in a grotesque Scarecrow type of way which I love, but for small creatures, they have big personality. If only that Bai Ling could show the range of emotion of these burlap creatures. There's vengeance! There's genuine affection! There's self-sacrifice! All without saying a word in this original short.

As I was watching the Transformers 2 film, I realized that my favorite part of the Transformers 2 experience was watching the trailer for 9. Tim Burton (Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, and the upcoming Alice in Wonderland) produces, Timur Bekmambetov directs this film based on the digital artistry of Acker. Finally the music is by Danny Elfman (Nightmare Before Christmas, and numerous Oingo Boingo diddies)

The original is a fantastic post apocalyptic, dark and haunting film. You die a little inside to see 5 in the clutches of that robot.

Original:

And the trailer for the feature length:

Jordan Says

2009-04-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

Jordan Says I . . ..

should update more often. Update complete.

Asobi Seksu

2009-03-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

Last night I saw Asobi Seksu at the Troubador.

Admittedly, I’ve only heard their tracks on KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic, the late Indie 103’s ethereal dream pop show, and recently on MPR (Montana public radio) song of the day which you can download as a podcast.

To my great surprise, Asobi Seksu is a lot more poppy and percussion driven than I had anticipated. This gives a lot more dance-ability and life to the music while played live. However, LA crowds are too cool to dance. It was also very crowded to our credit, so dancing may have been a slight impossibility.

As a technical matter, I kinda felt that the sound was miscalibrated and the drums were too heavy and the vocals were too quiet. My friends were complaining about not being able to hear.

I say, it’s not the vocals substance that are important with shoegaze.

Noone is really focusing on Lush’s Rupert the Bear’s lyrical content. It’s really

the nostalgic and contemplative feeling that you get

while listening to shoegaze that you come to know and love- and that you come to the rock show for. To add to the ethereal dreamy pop-ness, some of the songs are in Japanese, a language which lends itself to be romantic and avant garde.

There are a number of good tracks on the new album entitled Hush. Some of my favorites include “New Years” a song evoking an important Japanese holiday where you eat special osechi foods and celebrate new beginnings. My language proficiency is not that great, but what I picked up was a nostalgic feeling that fills one’s heart with memories of childhood or being small- and thinking of them and listening for your memories now.

I also enjoyed Me& Mary, the single released from the new album entitled "Hush."

Having just thrown a shin nen kai, or new years celebration, man I have some good memories.

http://www.myspace.com/asobiseksu (Check out the CSS remix of "Thursday") My favorite!

New Years

“chisai toki no koto omoi dashite goran sono me o sotto ake natsukashii futari ga mieteta candy says chisai omoide mo wasurenai de ite kureta kokoro no oku kara tsukuri dashita kino no memory setsunai to sakende temo anata wa kiete iku dakedo, kakete iku itsumade mo omoide no ato o”

Am I Wearing Too Much Blue?

2009-01-01T17:19:00.000-08:00

While watching an episode of Top Chef: New York, I noted one of Padma Lakshmi's outfits as being stylish. She was wearing blue pants and a loose fitting blue top of a different shade of blue. When up for debate, she was either wearing too much blue or very casual but stylish. Here is proof of the latter. Lucky Magazine.

Lucky says that a multi-tonal outfit can be incredibly chic when using different tones of the same color, a neutral belt, and/or a shoe of a completely different color family. There you have it. Confirmation from the experts. It's a talent to translate runway looks to something approachable. Thanks to BravoTV.com and LuckyMag.com for providing photos.

Loosers Unite!

2009-01-01T17:11:00.000-08:00

Today I discovered a website called "they banned me.com" which is a self proclaimed home for those who have been banned from every other corner of the internet and share a hatred for web forum moderators and administrators who delete their offensive comments.

But isn't it by definition a website of their own with very loose moderation and administration? Anyway I felt that a number of the stories they had on the site were funny and offensive. This includes this graphic approach to sexism. I love these fake inspirational posters Thankyou to theybanned me for providing it.

one half of the smashing pumpkins

2008-12-28T22:27:00.000-08:00

I also saw one half of my favorite band since the 8th grade, the Smashing Pumpkins. Now I hear you saying already "gee steph grow up already." But my reply is, "I've just always been very sophisticated. Not every 13 year old is attracted to 9 minute 70's style rock."

Having very restrictive parents, I was never really able to fulfill my middle school fantasy of seeing Mr.Corgan live with his original line up. I saw Zwan once, but it wasn't the same. In fact, the lights kind of cancelled out half my memories of that show. I think I had some type of seizure. But I digress, in 2008 I got to see Mr. Corgan and Mr. Chamberlain live.

I really enjoyed the cracks Billy C made at us for being old. I really did feel old. I stood for the majority of the concert, I was angry at the woman who was obviously on crystal who would periodically elbow my concert friend, and I was a little bit peeved at the couple who was making out in front of us.

I loved the opening where Billy came out wearing a big theatrical headpiece and a foofy dress. At first I thought it was part of the set, but no it was our personal, our ultimate, our court appointed heavy metal machine- Billy Corgan.

A Set List:

tarantula,
glow,
i am one,
mayonaise,
eye
the end is the begining is the end (watchmen trailer style, not batman and robbin)
a 10 min version of heavy metal machines
today
rosemart
stand inside your love
tonight tonight

and we only come out at night

Once upon a time:

We are all slaves to rock and roll.

New Year New You

2008-12-28T22:01:00.000-08:00

You might have heard of the massive recession going on. This undoubtedly cuts into one's funds for the occasional spa excursion. I don't often go to the spa. But it's not out of the question to have the experience even in this economic climate. See the below "recipes" for masks etc that I plagiarized.

Coffee Body Scrub
What you need:
2 cups of coarsely ground coffee
½ cup raw sugar or sea salt
2 to 3 tablespoons of massage oil
Mix all of the ingredients together. Take a hot shower to moisten your skin and to open your pores. While in the shower, use wide circular motions to rub the coffee body scrub on your skin, making sure you use strong, even pressure. Shower off, pat your skin dry and apply a thin layer of your favorite body lotion.

Avocado Carrot Cream Mask: This mask helps rebuild skin collagen, improve tone and texture and fade age spots, thanks to vitamin E (found in avocados), the beta-carotene and antioxidants of carrots and the high calcium and protein of the cream.
What you need:
1 avocado, mashed
1 carrot, cooked and mashed
½ cup of heavy cream
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons of honey
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Spread the mask gently over your face and neck and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.

Strawberry Hand and Foot Exfoliant: Get softer, smoother hands and feet, thanks to natural fruit acids that aid exfoliation.
What you need:
8 to 10 strawberries
2 tablespoons of apricot oil (or olive oil)
1 teaspoon of coarse salt (kosher salt or sea salt)
Mix together all the ingredients into a paste, massage into hands and feet, rinse off and pat dry.

Fruit Salad Body Mask: It sounds like a healthy smoothie for your skin – and it is! The pineapple contains bromelain, a protein-digestive enzyme, which helps rid skin of dead cells and dirt and acts as a mild astringent. Grapes are rich in procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs) that provide protection against harmful UV rays, and bananas are loaded with vitamins, calcium and nutrients that keep your skin smooth and soft. Kiwi is high in vitamin C, and honeydew is soothing and hydrating.
What you need:
2 slices of pineapple (rind removed)
½ medium honeydew melon (rind removed)
1 dozen green grapes
1 medium banana (peeled)
1 medium kiwi fruit (peeled)
Puree all the ingredients in a food processor (the mixture will be slightly lumpy). Refrigerate for one hour. Smooth onto your body and face, leaving it on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Find these and more great recipes at www.spaindex.com

Also check out BellaSugar's DIY section.

the hold steady

2008-12-10T21:55:00.000-08:00

This month I went to the Hold Steady show with a friend from law school. I felt very angelino while going to a show on a weeknight and running around in/from the torrential downpour that occurred at the end of the show. Those of you who are familiar with the phenomenon, those in California can't drive or deal with the rain. It's one of the reasons why no one walks in L.A. it's the rain (or fear of the rain.)

I'd been very curious about the Hold Steady for some time now and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. RRS now stands for "Rebel Rock Steph" as friend from law school says. The Hold Steady is a band which gives you a healthy dose of rock rock rock. Our energetic front man, Craig Finn is like an ultra excited Elvis Costello.

I often do a little research before going to the show and this guy catches a little flack for being a little chubby. "Who really cares?" is my immediate reply. We've been loving that bald Billy Corgan and also chubby Frank Black for years. Get over it fourteen year olds.

One of my favorite songs, and a crowd favorite as well was called "Chips Ahoy"

911

2008-09-17T23:03:00.000-07:00

In light of the recent Metrolink tragedy in Chatsworth California- I feel that an issue must be brought to light in the Bloggosphere. This issue is the hearing impaired, incompetent 911 operator.

Tonight on the Channel 4 11 o'clock news, they played a series of 911 calls from the trainwreck. In all instances, the 911 operator treated the call like a prank or had conversations that went something like this:

Caller: "It was a train versus train accident."
Operator: "Train?"
Caller: "Yes it was a train. The train hit another train. Oh my God people are bleeding and dying here"

or

Caller: "We are on a train in Northridge."
Operator: "Train?"
Caller: "Yes, a train in Northridge."
Operator: "Train?"

Does this seem insane to you? Are they hearing impaired? Are they really insensitive?

I once made a 911 call about a fire I saw by the side of the freeway next to some homes. The operator asked me 3 times which freeway I was traveling on and then didn't believe the direction that I was driving. 911 operator is an important job. I feel like there should be some minimum competency test. I mean there is one for document reviewers. . .

Anarchy PE

2008-07-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

This month I travelled to Peru and survived the perilous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It wasn't all that perilous, but it was a tough hike. After returning to the ancient Inca capital of Cusco, we observed the Inti Raymi festival where I learned that Peruvians love to flout authority. Observe, hundreds of Peruvians charge through police barricades down a steep hill (old Inca terraces) to see a cultural performance. It was an expensive ticket. Someone likened this move to watching concerts from a "Cheapskate Hill" near Cal.

Saqsaywaman Crowd from Noway Jose on Vimeo.

Pics include:

DJ AM

2008-06-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

The past 30 days has been huge. i saw a 15 song Cure encore. i also saw dj am. now i thought it was all hype but he was an absolute genius on the tables at the live105 bfd this weekend. I mean who mixes oasis like this? amazing!

This clip was from the actual show.

This clip is not at the bfd but it exhibits significant skills

The best thing on TV: American Idol/Ben Stiller/Jack Black/Robert Downey Jr. Singing and Dancing

2008-05-22T18:46:00.001-07:00

aesop rock

2008-04-08T15:16:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty awesome video. they stopped playing it on indie 103.1 and i was sad.

tokidoki iSkin Vibes

2008-04-07T15:45:00.001-07:00

ooooh yeah. tokidoki now sucks because they rejected me. but i still like their products. i feel so torn!

akiko clothing

2008-04-07T15:11:00.001-07:00

so surprisingly enough I attended a sample sale. i was trying to go to the brewery art walk and was distracted by a sign saying some dresses were x % off. the dresses (and tops) were by akiko clothing, which is apparently expensive. i got my dresses for about 70% off the normal price. the inner cheap and chinese-ness emerged and I bought two (not depicted here.)

Interestingly enough, the majority of the pieces were made of a nice soft jersey material. it seems like all my clothes are made of soft jersey material so these dresses fit right in.

Glamorous Cat Wigs

2008-02-10T17:55:00.001-08:00

Brought to you by www.gizmodo.com

This is a "Glamorous Cat Wig." Unlike the stereotype of unmarried women throughout the LA area, I do not own a cat. But if I had one I would definitely buy it a glamorous cat wig. I wonder what would stop the cat from chewing on the cat wig? The cat wig here reminds me of Gwen Stefani during the "Return of Saturn" era. HA! It'll have your cat wishing for a "Simple Kind of Life." (via halianka)

Further, what if your cat has an embarrassing comb over? Or what if your cat has cat pattern baldness? The cat wig is a viable option for those folically challenged.

Filigree Heart Locket Watch

2008-02-10T17:49:00.001-08:00

Check out this product available at Urban Outfitters. This is girly enough to satisfy the February doldrums and a bit edgy surprisingly enough. Victoria Beckham would buy it if she only had $10.00 USD.

digital perms

2008-01-26T20:45:00.000-08:00

to perm or not to perm . . . that is the question on this woman's mind. I mentioned to my friend that I had to cut out of his party early because i had to make the crucial decision about whether to perm my hair the next morning, and if so- which type of perm to get? It's a big decision. When he heard I was getting a perm he immediately was thinking "tight poodle perm" Those make me puke. The Japanese Digital Perm is now the only perm for me!

There are several Japanese perms on the market currently: the straight perm, the natural wave, and the digital perm. I will discuss each in turn.

The straight perm will do something like a j-lo effect (circa 2001) it makes it super straight without a straight iron. A couple of my friends have had this done and they have liked it.

The natural wave is a crunchy perm. It gives a big curl which is curlier wet than it is dry and requires product to retain its shape My thanks to "fashiontabulous" from whom i stole this picture. Your curls are defined and each one is very distinct. Each lock seems to curl independently giving a reasonable amount of volume even when your hair is "light" or thinned out by the cut that you get.

The digital perm is my new favorite. It's more expensive (of course) but it's so complicated and so perfect that it's worth it. There are a lot of steps to the perm, you get conditioned, you can get normal perm solution on your banges, the rest of your head is curled with very heavy curlers with a metal rod inside. The rod is plugged in to a cord, the cord is then plugged in to a perming contraption, the contraption needs its own power strip to avoid blowing a fuse. The curlers then heat up. I mean really hot! My salon uses a neoprene skin guard under each curler to avoid getting a steam burn (or electrocution) They were very careful to repeatedly tell me if I got hot I should tell them. This was scary! They then brought me a Coke with ice. The heat causes the perm solution to evaporate. Your stylist leaves it on for abut 20 min and then undoes the curls. You then look like Shirley Temple until they relax it. What you're left with is big loose curls that are visible just by using a hair dryer and twisting your hair in the right way. It's just like if you had spent an extra 30 min curling it with a barrel curler or a curling iron. A good example of the results is this picture. Not that everyone will look like Yu Yamada when you're done with the perm, but we can all hope.

London is the Home of the Brash Outrageous and Free

2008-01-07T13:03:00.001-08:00

Bacon Chocolate and M.I.A.

2007-12-11T21:17:00.000-08:00

This is the best thing I heard this week:

I've yet to eat this but i know it'll be good:

Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Bacon chocolate chip cookies-
(this is for a FULL batch)

3/4 cup butter(It has been suggested that using 1 full cup of butter works best due to cookie dough dryness)
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon hazelnut (or almond) extract *Edit- It has been suggested that the almond flavouring may be overpowering to the flavour of the cookie, feel free to add this ingredient to taste*
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg (It has been suggested that using 2 eggs works best due to cookie dough dryness)
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups bacon bits (if preferred, you can separate the dough into two parts and only make half of the dough into bacon cookies, in which case you'll only want to use 1 cup bacon bits)

*An important note- Be sure to use real bacon bits, not Bacos *See large print at the bottom of this post*

Also, you can make your own bacon bits, just make sure you pat down the bacon chunks with paper towels to remove as much extra bacon grease as possible. *Edit* one of my readers made their own bacon bits and found out that apparently it takes about 2lbs of bacon to make 2 cups of bacon bits, just for future reference.

Directions-

preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit

Beat together the butter, sugars, flavouring and eggs until creamy. In another bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and stir together. Dough will be slightly soft. If you want a cakier cookie, add another half cup of flour. Add in chocolate chips and bacon bits. Stir until well integrated. Place dough on a sheet of waxed paper and refrigerate at least an hour. Remove dough from fridge, pinch off 1 1/2 inch pieces of dough and roll into balls. Set dough balls about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten dough balls slightly with your fingers in the center.

Bake cookies for about 10 minutes, or until the dough starts to turn golden brown. Allow cookies to cool on a cooling rack while you ready the glaze.

Maple cinnamon glaze-

2 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon maple extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon *edit- it has been suggested that 1 teaspoon may be a bit much, so go ahead and add to taste*
enough water to make a thick glaze (I used about 3 tablespoons)

Mix all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. If lumpy, use a whisk.

Spread a small amount of the glaze on the top of each cookie and top with a small piece of crisp cooked bacon.

Recipe Stolen from Here

Rage Against the Machine at Vegoose 2007

2007-11-22T01:17:00.000-08:00

Hello Reader(s)

It may be a little late but . . . Halloween weekend I attended the Vegoose 2007 festival in Las Vegas Nevada. This was by far the longest I've ever traveled to go see a show. (that is if you don't count DJ Mitsu in Japan, but I was living there, and traveled approx six miles) The highlight of the show was Rage Against the Machine. I was delighted to be able to yell the lyrics to "Bomb Track" but appalled to hear DeLaRocha edit Guerrilla Radio. I want to be able to scream disparaging things about Americana in front of Suburban America! But alas, it was not meant to be. Seeing Morello play guitar solos really made my day. I feel like I can die a happy girl. For a man whose favorite songs include labor union songs never meant to be played . . . that man sure can play! It's great to be able to openly and notoriously enjoy Rage. I was hiding tapes of their music in high school. You were kinda a hippie if you liked them in college. Now they're considered "classic." But when did they get so cool?

Other notables: Muse and the Public Enemy v. Cypress Hill DJ Battle.
Notable for a different reason: The Shins. someone on stage kept on making this crazy dinosaur noise like a raptor zeroing in on its prey. Also Flava Flaaaaaaaave!

why do you want to be an attorney?

2007-11-20T09:52:00.000-08:00

Hey readers, I would check out the whole article, but this clip gives the flavor of it. It is regarding the Hooters waitress who got kicked off a Southwest flight for her miniskirt. She did a photo shoot for Playboy. Was paid under 6 figures for the shoot. Also she aspires to be an attorney. Why?

'Ebbert worked at a Hooters in San Diego but said wants to become an attorney, and doesn’t think posing nude should get in the way of her professional aspirations.

“This was beautiful and classy. I don’t see why it would affect a professional position,” she said. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”'

second best thing i found this week

2007-11-18T22:36:00.000-08:00

ha matt says "arigato japan" hahaha

this album helped me survive law school. arguably (and ironically) it's all about suicide.

the best thing i found this week

2007-11-18T22:34:00.000-08:00

kentucky strip search hoax 20/20

2007-10-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

Not directly about food or music, but this was otherwise entertaining. This eightee year old girl worked in a McDonalds in Kentucky, came to work, was accused of stealing money from the till and then ended up naked, beaten, and performing a sex act on a forty year old man at the direction of a "ghost cop" on the phone. This girl won 6.1 million dollars and now wants to go to law school. I hope she learns a lot about criminal procedure. This is what happens when people don't ask questions.

the Rentals

2007-10-02T11:10:00.000-07:00

I saw the Rentals on September 21, 2007. I was really into them like in September of 1995; so it was a kinda retro feel. I liked the songs about not having a brain and wishing to learn a foreign language. D said he liked all the songs where there was some "whoo ooh" going on. Isn't that like 75% of the songs? But I would concur that approximately 75% of the songs were catchy danceable awesome songs. Especially enjoyable were: "Life Without a Brain", the "Barcelona" song and nostalgic favorites "Friends of P" and "Waiting." Here's just a little sampling of the current rentals material:

What I really love about the Rentals is Matt Sharp. Not only was it his birthday, and the last day of the tour, and the day of the "all night dance party." But he's a great front man. I felt more enthusiastic about the Rentals as he was signalling for us to cheer etc. Super energetic.

Hello Banana?!

2007-10-01T13:04:00.001-07:00

Hello readers:

Today I came across this picture on the internet. If you notice, it's a single banana wrapped in a plastic bag. This banana I assume is sold in Japan. Therefore it is ridiculously expensive (137 yen or $1.37 for one single banana!!!!) Children think it's more delicious because it's endorsed by Hello Kitty. Look carefully readers, the Hello Kitty not only endorses it, but introduces you to "Banana kun" awwww he has a name!!!!

Chocolate Deities: Religion you can Sink Your Teeth Into

2007-09-27T16:08:00.001-07:00

I remember being sent to chibi no gakko when I was little. Chibi no gakko is Japanese School for little kids, like a summer class where they teach you that Japanese cultural stuff. There I sweltered away in Fresno CA learning colors in a foreign language and learning dances to songs I didn't understand, with a bunch of kids who were all Japanese and really proud of it.

During this trying experience where temperataures were high and my language ability was nil, I learned about the shinto gods like this jolly fellow. You may recognize him as "that buddha guy who they put on teeshirts and have in front of Chinese restaurants" but nooo, chibi no gakko students know him as, "Hotei" the god of happiness. That's why he's fat.

Check out this chocolate Hotei. Deeelicious

The Cupcake Craze That's Sweeping the Nation!

2007-09-21T17:53:00.001-07:00

See here fans of the large onerous overweight cake! Tiny cupcakes are the craze that's sweeping the nation. Starting with a fabled NYC bakery people have rediscovered the joy of the tiny palm sized cake. (Rumor by Dom Mah) Recently I ate at the West LA Dainties Cupcakes. (www.daintiescupcakes.com) I entered fully prepared to purchase cupcakes. I had heard so much about them during the KCRW pledge drive that I just had to have the "stupid chocolate." Which was a decadent chocolate cupcake filled with chocolate creme and dipped in this chocolate ganache. This was an awesome cupcake. the baker gave them to me and said only "Today is a good day" and smiled. I felt so blessed to be the recipient of the cupcakes that I gave them away. I only got to eat 1/4 of it because my mom and friend ate the rest. One went to my boyfriend who said it was "okay."

See more of the The Complete Cupcake Bakery List. list by merlfish at ThisNext.

Just Brothers

2007-09-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

What was your favorite track from Radiohead’s “The Bends?” Or were you so stuck on “Pablo Honey” and its #1 single “Creep” to enjoy the experimentation? Or are you a “OK Computer” loving whoo rider?

My favorite song from “The Bends” is “Just.” I fell in love with the video for this song because it was so depressing. Its vicious guitar riffs and self-loathing lyrics made for a particularly compelling combination. Our protagonist exits his car and lays in the road. His depression is so infectious that he starts a pandemic of people who give up on life and resign to lie in the road with him. It looks like something from The Stand. It’s great. It also happens to be Radiohead tracks and drummer Phil Selway's favourite song on "The Bends",

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better . . .this song came along on www.krcw.com’s Morning Becomes Eclectic. Not only is Mark Ronson the mastermind behind that toe tapping “Valerie” song with Amy Winehouse singing lead, he organized this cover (as depicted above.) This cover includes a dynamite combination of snappy horns (ala your high school jazz band) and dusty drum breaks.

Also check out the awesome graph art.
For his cover Mark Ronson not only enlisted the help of the formidable Daptones horn section (The Dap Kings) but Alex Greenwald, the lead singer of Phantom Planet (best known for "California", the theme to "The OC"). "Just" belongs to the cover canon of Quantic Soul Orchestra's "Get a Move On", Alice Russell's "Seven Nation Army" and the Daptone's own "What (Have You Done For Me Lately". The man behind "Just" is one of the most sought after DJs in the world and, as one half of AllIDo Records, Ronson is currently working with Chicago rapper Rhymefest, Australian soul singer Daniel Merryweather and fabulous pop goddess Christina Aguilera.

Wild Hibiscus

2007-09-15T22:19:00.001-07:00

Has anyone actually tried this? The thought of adding things to champagne is always sexy. Strawberries, caviar, yes . . . but i've yet to find a petal in my bubbly. I have to admit I am intrigued with hibiscus or rose even.

#1 Single : "Fat B*tch" - the horror story of a summer associate's musical legacy

2007-09-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

(lovingly borrowed from above the law )

X-Summers: The Bruised Booze Cruiser
Labor Day has come and gone. But even though summer is unofficially over, we still have a few summer associate stories for you.

We heard lots of rumors about the Chicago summer who, as described by one source, "got decked by a girl" after a firm-sponsored, Fourth of July boat cruise. According to one version of the story, he showed up to work the next day black and blue.

After poking around, we've assembled what we believe to be a fairly reliable account of the incident. The black-and-blue part isn't true, but the general outlines of the story are accurate:

1. Superhero name: The Bruised Booze Cruiser
2. Special power(s): Improvised musical composition; ability to piss off women, partners, and other important people.
3. Summered: Kirkland & Ellis, Chicago, summer 2007
4. Claim to fame: From our tipster:

After the Fourth of July boat cruise, one of the summers tied one too many on. At the after-party, while passing a drink to a friend, he stuck it right across the face of a girl standing nearby.
Understandably annoyed, the girl said something sort of snarky. He responded by a signing an improvised song to her, which went something like, "Fat bitch, fat bitch, you are such a fat bitch."

After he went on for about a minute, she decided she had had enough of his ditty. She emptied her drink over his head -- then socked him in the jaw.

Awesome.

5. What happened to him: In terms of his medical condition, he did NOT show up black and blue the next day, as rumored:

First, the cruise was on the 3rd, and we had the 4th off. Second, when he showed up on the 5th, he looked pretty much fine -- except for a hint of wounded pride.
As for his professional fate, we hear that he got a "cold offer" (which is when the firm extends you an offer, so you can tell prospective employers when you re-interview that you did get an offer, but makes clear that you shouldn't take it).

Apparently the coldness of the offer wasn't due to the after-party altercation. The after-party wasn't a firm-sponsored gathering, and it wasn't attended by partners. But this summer committed other errors:

He managed to piss off a partner at a golf outing as well. The partner had gone on a long vacation with his wife, and [the SA] starts blabbing about how “that must have sucked” and “I would die being with my wife along for that long.” The partner politely says something to the effect of “no, actually I really like my wife we get along great.”
Not getting the hint, [the SA] keeps blabbing about how awful that must have been. Word is the partner was so peeved he complained to recruiting.

Update: A somewhat different version of this story appears here.

Alberto Frias' Transport - Illuminated sleeping pod!

2007-09-10T15:29:00.001-07:00

Check out this space pod. That looks really spacey. I so want to sleep there. Does the UV keep you awake at night?

Top Chef: If you can't stand the heat . . .

2007-08-25T20:56:00.001-07:00

There always has to be a cute one. Women love cute guys. Women love cute guys who can cook even more. This is why this formula has to be repeated season after season: top chef has x# of contestants, one of which is a the token "hot guy", and some female eye candy for the boyfriends who get stuck watching the show because their girlfriends are all watching the token hot guy.

Token Hot Guy Season 1: Season one token hot guy was, Harold Dieterle. He also happened to be the early favorite and ultimate winner. How awesome is it that he has his own myspace page? And also his own restaurant called Perilla? Download the Perilla menu in PDF format and tell me that the Summer Truffle Ravioli doesn't sound really good.

Token Hot Guy Season 2: The title of "Season 2 Token Hot Guy" goes to Sam "the hot diabetic" Talbot. In his submission video he's talking about making love in duck fat. Little girls at the kids camp called him "the hot diabetic." Currently Sam, is working as a Consulting Executive Chef in New York City. He has been spending time traveling to food and wine shows and doing cooking demos. A diabetic himself, Talbot works with the Junior Diabetes Foundation and helps out with the “Chefs for a Cure” event.

Notable Mention: Carlos Fernandez: currently hosting "Miami Spice" and blog "SabrosSazon" Although mostly overlooked because he was Elia's little brother throughout the competition, I thought that he deserved the nod because of his obvious star power.

Token Hot Guy Season 3: Obviously, token hot guy season 3 was Tre. In the sea of homogeneous white boys who I easily confuse, there's Tre. You see him working out, you see him being nice to other contestants, you see him winning a trip to Italy, you see him cooking fabulous stuff, and then you see him working out some more. Note his exit interview, he's so nice!

the Dark Knight

2007-08-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

So who isn't obsessed with Batman? Everything about him is interesting from his dark beginnings, to his mysterious connections with the supernatural Raz Al Gul and peculiar fixation with the super-sane joker ?(See Arkham Asylum)

I'm not alone in asserting that the new Batman movie is going to be fantastic. But who knows why? I sure didn't . . . until now. Was it the cryptic trailer? Was it the very short ComiCon 2007 treasure hunt? There are really very few clues as to the veracity of the rumors that the new Batman movie will "kick ass." (Did anyone see photos of GutPunch Paul? He's fearsome!)

But then along came this collection of plot-revealing photos. From the collection of photos below I assume:
1) Joker is captured by someone (arguably Gotham PD) and interrogated by Batman. Raises significant 6th amendment issues, as you see Joker cowering on the ground below Batman. Way to taint evidence Batman!
2) There is some sort of hostage situation with multiple Batmen.
3) Gadgets Gadgets Gadgets! We see the beginning of a bat computer? This makes me think: "is there an Oracle in our future?" *note tenuous oracle-joker connection which only jong probably understands.

For all photos: try BuzzSugar

kangaroos!

2007-07-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

Penal Code Sec. 653o, which bars importation into California of any commercial product made of kangaroo, is not preempted by the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 and related regulations, which currently do not prohibit importation of kangaroo products.
Viva! International Voice for Animals v. Adidas Promotional Retail Operations, Inc. - filed July 23, 2007
Cite as 2007 SOS 4513
Full text http://www.metnews.com/sos.cgi?0707%2FS140064

dancing transformers

2007-07-28T19:13:00.001-07:00

I was searching for a mini cooper transformer video on Youtube and happened upon this hilarious video!

Tokidoki - The Moofia Series 1

2007-06-30T21:10:00.001-07:00

tokidoki is so unbelievably cute! thanks to paul for the tokidoki dunny and pins.

I Still Remember - the song that should've been on singstar

2007-06-30T20:16:00.001-07:00

So Yesterday I was playing the PS2 Singstar Rocks! ( http://www.us.playstation.com/SingStarRocks/ ) They have the unbelievably hard Bloc Party song "Banquet" as a song option. I had very little idea about what the song was about before we tried it out on the singstar. I still have no idea what the song is about. There's references to biting, and turning into the light, and smoking guns. Is it about vampires?

More accessible is the song "I Still Remember" a bittersweet reminiscence of what could've been. awwww

Mossteph's Top 10 Things Learned While Playing Singstar
1) You must hold the microphone upsidedown like you're 50 Cent (it makes for a higher score.)
2) Google what a "moskva" is. it may help you understand what "Winds of Change" is about.
3) I went on a date with someone who kinda looks like Robert Smith
4) Lynyrd Skynyrd v. Niel Young (had an early version of the lyrical rivalry?!)
5) That Good Charlotte guy is currently dating Nicole Richie.
6) (more like a question) I wonder if Slipknot cares that Good Charlotte guy is wearing one of their teeshirts. How do they feel about being associated? I think they're sad.
7) "Dusty" is a great androgynous name. Boys AND girls can both be Dusty. But then it's some type of self fulfilling prophecy to have dirty kids.
8) That band "Naked Eyes" does the 80s version of Burt Bacharach classic "Always Something There to Remind Me." (see previous Burt Bacharach post)
9)(Psycho)analysis of the Gwen Stefani video for Cool - a) Gwen as a brunette is hot b) her outfit in the opening scene does not match and is pretty ugly as a whole - I dissent in part - I think it's okay from the waist up c) how are you happy hanging out with your ex boyfriend and his beautiful new girlfriend AND having flashbacks of your happy times together? This does not make sense.
10) Continuing #9 . . . why doesn't she feel like her ex boyfriend should just die? this is a feeling that I'm used to. all this friendliness is confusing.

Stephanie's Apricot Crumbles

2007-06-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

2 sticks unsalted butter, cold, cut into pieces
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup apricot jam or preserves
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

Heat oven to 375° F. Coat an 8-inch square baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter.

In a food processor, combine the flour, granulated and light brown sugars, baking powder, and salt. Pulse to combine. Add the remaining butter and pulse until crumbly. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and pulse until the mixture just comes together but is still crumbly. Transfer 1/2 cup of the dough to a small bowl or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Use your fingertips to press the remaining dough evenly into the baking dish, pushing the dough up about 1/4 inch around the edge.

Combine the jam and ginger in a small bowl. Spread the mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble the remaining refrigerated dough over the top. Bake until golden, about 35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before cutting.

Tip: If you're time-pressed, just stick the pan in the freezer for 5 minutes instead of waiting for the bars to cool on the counter.

Yield: Makes 9 servings

CALORIES 408 (46% from fat); FAT 21g (sat 13g); SUGAR 23g; PROTEIN 3g; CHOLESTEROL 77mg; SODIUM 111mg; FIBER 1g; CARBOHYDRATE 52g

Real Simple, JUNE 2006

J Bar Variation

Add apple pie filling instead of apricot and ginger. Apple pie filing is more moist. This recipe will require 4 additional minutes of baking time and Cinnamon if not included in your pie filling.

Personality Test

2007-06-08T12:46:00.001-07:00

So I took this personality test. I'm some sort of bisexual anarchist. I have very low consideration for authority and scored high in traditionally feminine and masculine traits. I'm thinking this test isn't very accurate.

My personalDNA Report

Mozzer

2007-06-06T18:32:00.001-07:00

Dear hero imprisoned
With all the new crimes that you are perfecting
Oh, I cant help quoting you
Because everything that you said rings true
And now in my cell
(well, I followed you)
And heres a list of who I slew

Reggie kray - do you know my name ?
Oh, dont say you dont
Please say you do, (oh) I am :

The last of the famous
International playboys
The last of the famous
International playboys
And in my cell
(well, I loved you)
And every man with a job to do
Ronnie kray - do you know my face ?
Oh, dont say you dont
Please say you do, (oh) I am :

The last of the famous
International playboys
The last of the famous
International playboys

In our lifetime those who kill
The newsworld hands them stardom
And these are the ways
On which I was raised
These are the ways
On which I was raised

I never wanted to kill
I am not naturally evil
Such things I do
Just to make myself
More attractive to you
Have I failed ?

Oh...

Oh, the last of the famous
International playboys
The last of the famous

burt!

2007-06-06T17:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I saw Burt Bacharach in concert. Honestly, I knew only like 5 songs as Burt Bacharach songs. At the end of the show I came to the realization that I knew all the songs just didn't know they were Burt Bacharach songs!

Cousin said something like "When else are we going to see 12 people assembled for the express purpose of performing "That's What Friends are For"?" I was thinking "never ever!"

Did you know he wrote the "always something there to remind me" song fromthe 80s? I didn't know that!

Jellies that you can't eat.

2007-05-21T15:23:00.001-07:00

Also notable are the stupid comments by people on you tube like "i hear that if you touch jellyfish they die" or "you're crazy to go in that lake" He probably wasn't even in the lake just panning his camera around. I didn't see any regulator bubbles. did you?

Check Out Adam and Joe Go To Tokyo - normally un funny and ofensive but this one is good

2007-05-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

IP and Tea . . .

2007-05-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

FROM THE MAY ABA JOURNAL

Mixing IP with Mmmmmm
By Martha NeilThere’s a multipage nondisclosure agreement that visitors must sign before they’re allowed in the kitchen at Moto restaurant in Chicago. And some of the food prepared by executive chef Homaro Cantu is served with a copyright notice.
From left: Lawyer Charles Valauskas and his chef-client Homaro Cantu snack on photos printed on edible paper--one of Cantu's many culinary-related inventions.
PHOTOGRAPH BY CALLIE LIPKIN
Cantu is part culinary pioneer, part prolific inventor—which makes him an intellectual property attorney’s dream client. What worries Cantu most, he says, isn’t chefs or individual diners trying to re-create his signature preparation and presentation. It’s corporations capitalizing on his gastronomic inventions and restaurant management methods without authorization. Hence Cantu’s close relationship with his lawyer, Charles C. Valauskas. The two frequently talk and meet for meals to make sure no opportunity is missed to patent, copyright, trademark or otherwise protect Cantu’s creations from would-be business buccaneers.“He’s got a large intellectual property portfolio, and we talk on a very, very regular basis,” says Valauskas, a principal in the three-lawyer IP boutique Valauskas & Pine in Chicago. “It’s listening to what the new inventions are; it’s strategizing what’s the best way to protect the new techniques.”It would be standard practice, for instance, for an IP attorney to file a patent application once a client has completed a new invention. But because Valauskas and Cantu are in such regular contact, Valauskas can follow Cantu’s ideas as they develop. “We stay on top of that,” Valauskas says, “and we continue to file as he continues to refine his invention.”Those inventions include the whimsical—a spiral-handled fork designed to hold a sprig of basil that adds an aromatic element to each bite of food taken from the business end of the utensil—as well as high-tech business management tools. One of those tools involves a camera set unobtrusively into an upper wall of Moto. The camera is linked to a computer, allowing staff to track important aspects of the restaurant’s operation. The system can warn when usage rates threaten to deplete supplies, notify the kitchen when a diner leaves for the restroom so the chefs can adjust the spacing of their preparations, and anticipate orders from regular customers. And it’s all linked to Cantu’s cell phone so he can be in the loop even when he’s not in the building.Then there’s Cantu’s celebrated edible paper—a soybean and cornstarch concoction that can be imprinted with virtually any image and any flavor. The chef prints his menu on it (along with a copyright notice), and when diners are finished ordering, they can eat it.In addition to the copyright, Valauskas has filed a patent application on the process Cantu uses to create the paper. Both believe the paper holds the potential for myriad commercial uses such as magazine advertising inserts.Valauskas began representing Cantu about four years ago, after the chef realized he needed to find an IP attorney and asked another lawyer he knew for a recommendation. At that point, Cantu was seeking to patent a tiny, see-through polymer oven that allowed food to be cooked at the table without any visible power source. The two met, and Cantu showed off his oven. “I saw the prototype, and it floored me,” Valauskas recounts. “I just got excited at the possibilities.”©2007 ABA Journal

looking for a job?

2007-04-03T14:48:00.000-07:00

Marcel definitely qualifies as having "crazy hair." Would he be a good candidate for "office jester?" read below.

Office Jester
Posted Mar 30
The Motley Fool, Alexandria, VA

Office JesterThe Motley Fool seeks an outgoing, multi-talented Fool to be our full-time Office Jester. That's right; we work hard and have fun too. We couldn’t be the Motley Fool without our own Jester, after all. The ideal individual will embrace our core value of Joyful Optimism, bringing humor, entertainment, and amusement to all employees and visitors of Fool Global HQ. This is not a new position but it offers great flexibility in execution.

Primary Responsibilities/Objectives:

* Roam office entertaining employees

* Plan and execute parties and happy hours

* Participate in all company meetings and gatherings as an interstitial speaker

* Identify struggling or overworked Fools or Teams and brighten their day

* Function as office DJ, managing/programming the office sound system. Manage musical requests efficiently, while keeping the office bumping.

* Order pizza for Pizza Day

* Repair damaged jester caps

* Construct complex balloon animals

* Care and feeding of the office monkey, Dr. Zaius

* Ride in Foolmobile as body double decoy for Gardner brothers

* Piggyback carry the winner of The Motley Fool Stock Picking Contest in St. Patrick’s Day

Parade Core Competencies:

* Current on all reality TV

* Pop Culture expert, able to postulate about Season 3 of Lost*

Always at the ready with a quip or comeback.

* Equally comfortable in a jester cap and bear suit

* MS Excel

* Proven game room skills as a formidable adversary in Halo, Ms. Pacman and Bubble Hockey; ability to convincingly let management win on occasion.*

Juggle chainsaws, bowling balls, and one item of your choosing

* Have >50 answers to knock-knock jokes, at least half of which must be funny

* Must have authored at least one viral video of moderate fame.

* Can tap a keg on the first try

* Extra napkins and utensils at the ready for Fools eating at their desks

* Can chug beer, shotgun beer, guzzle beer, snort beer, play beer pong, flip cup, 3 man, do beer bongs, beer cheers, keg stands, and bluegills with the best of them

Preferred Qualities:

* Friends would tell you that you are “seriously funny!” but they are laughing so hard they can’t breathe

* Tall or short but we prefer that you not be of average height, as it’s not as funny

* Crazy hair

* Annoying and easily recognizable laugh

* Friends with at least one B list celebrity. (No reality contestants)

* Experience in three of the following: Stand up, Street mime, rally racing, horticulture, pottery, rapping, paragliding, cattle ranching, roller skiing, ballet, actual break dancing/popping, ice fishing, chess

* Blood type AB (or equivalent)

* Ability to type 90 words a minute, replacing all vowels with various forms of smileys

Education:

* Clown college, Improv school, School of the Americas, Brown, or equivalent experience

APPLY ONLY at jobs.Fool.com

Meiji - Kinoko No Yama (Chocolate Coated Mushroom Shaped Cookies) 3.13 Oz

2007-03-30T14:11:00.001-07:00

This is the best snack ever. i love it. people in my office love it. it's internationally famous. (via maki)

Wallpapers

2007-03-30T13:45:00.001-07:00

Dear Readers,

This week I was totally inspired by my friend's dedication to art. As a matter of fact I am quite jealous of her talent. But back to her dedication, she's having her entire back tattooed with her family name, a chinese goddess and a demon. She also says she was born on the day of "conflicted karma" and dualism affects her life. I thought it was a beautiful idea for body art. We also discussed how eerily accurate Chinese astrology and fortunes can be.

The statue and the colorscheme of this wallpaper remind me of her. (via charlesyesuwan)

Anonymous Lawyer

2007-03-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

May 1, 2006
Return to Index
Anonymous Law Firm named top firm in Bosnia
Bosnia's celebrated legal journal, "Bosnia Legal News and Sausage Report," released its annual law firm rankings on May 1, 2006, and once again, for the third consecutive year, Anonymous Law Firm landed first on the list. Despite the lack of a Bosnian office, associates working out of the London office began representing Bosnian clients in their local jurisdiction in March of 1999. We quickly developed a reputation as a sensitive, responsive, and quick-reaction law firm, able to deal with the complex needs of sheep farmers and goat manufacturers in the hills of Bosnia. The Firm is proud of its involvement with the Bosnian community and takes part in Bosnia's annual "Kill Your Third-Born Son" festival.

The above is an excerpt taken from www.AnonymousLawFirm.com. Hilarious site re: big law firm life. I wouldn't know anything about big law firm life, but I know some archetypical characters persist in firms of all sizes, even those with 13 members.

I think this person looks like my twin!

2007-03-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

asahi the dog

2007-02-27T17:19:00.001-08:00

shoot to kill

2007-02-24T14:16:00.000-08:00

So some people were scared of me when they heard of my propensity to strike my friends or random guys at clubs. Invariably these tales ended up with someone falling over, and me saying "I'm not that sorry."

Now check this out . . . This past week I was invited to a shooting range. This was awesome. Vivian and Portia (both small asian women about my size) like shooting guns. Especially this big rifle. This is a close relative of the gun the military uses in Iraq.

I shot 40 rounds. 38 hit the target. I'm not sure where 2 went. 37 or so were in the black area that I was aiming for.

I think most surprising was the way the shooting range smells. Like burning latex gloves. Or an intense copymachine.* special thanks to Mikey for lending me materials and showing me how to shoot.

SUSHI PUPS - DOGGIE TOY SET

2007-02-24T13:50:00.001-08:00

Check out the dog o-nigiri. Silly hakujin readership . . . I didn't mean that it was made out of dog meat, but, these are sushi toys made for dogs. I like that uni looking one. If i had permanent access to dogs, I would purchase these toys and let them chew on them. LOVE IT! (via kayzee)

Does Your Dog Like Phish?

2007-02-24T13:35:00.001-08:00

Does your dog spin at Grateful Dead concerts?

Does your dog go through periods where he giggles at everything and then eats or takes a nap?

Does your dog not like to brush his hair?

Does your dog avoid culturally oppressive norms like "marriage" or "monogamy"?

Does your dog play the guitar?

Does your dog know the way to San Jose?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, he may need the above "Hippie Dog Costume" (via kayzee)

Wee Ninja

2007-02-21T19:22:00.001-08:00

wee ninja speaks for himself.

Ravinstyle: Kara Janx Silk Kimono Dress

2007-02-21T18:09:00.001-08:00

Kara Janx, of Project Runway fame, designed this dress. None of her other crap from the show looked this good. I guess it's true that the act of observation changes that which is observed. She's doing much better now that she's not designing for her competitors or moms or whatever. I love this dress. Even though it's accentuated with pink, and I abhor most pink things, I would wear this dress everywhere.

valentine's day

2007-02-14T22:20:00.000-08:00

should be renamed "singles awareness day" because people in relationships try to forget and people who are single are forced to remember.

Branch Knit Octopus

2007-02-12T18:10:00.001-08:00

Check out this octopus. Do octopi even get cold? I can imagine happy babies chewing blissfully on each of its tentacles.

Belted Shirtdress

2007-02-09T16:08:00.001-08:00

I am forever looking for a shirtdress that doesn't make me look like a boy. I think that this will do the trick though. It looks like a crisp linen-ey fabric but curves to fit your body well. I love the idea of a dress to avoid picking out "work separates." It's just easier to plan your outfit!

tokidoki Wall Decals

2007-02-09T15:58:00.001-08:00

Tokidoki is the best!

I love the skull-esque heart and crossbone pattern. If i had a hip cafe or a little boutique, I'd use em all over!

Downey Cops

2007-02-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

not only has my dad been pulled over because he "looked mexican," but downey cops have a long history of harassing people of color. read below:

Accusations of Racial Misconduct
In recent years, controversy has sprung up with the 2002 shooting of unarmed 26 year old Gonzalo Martinez by Downey police officers during a traffic stop. Gonzalo was being stopped due to suspicion of drunk driving. After finally surrenduring to police only after a chase, police claim that he made a questionable movement with his left hand which caused them to open fire. A local resident caught the action on camera and the tape of the shooting was released in the US as well as Argentina and other Latin American countries, showing the man being shot over 30 times by officers using semi automatic weapons. This case is still being investigated.

Justin Timberlake

2007-01-17T10:34:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Justin Timberlake with Pink and Timbaland. I'm sure I wasn't the oldest person there, however the screaming throngs of 13 year old girls were quite overwhelming.

Notably, I saw one a-hole try to evict a thirteen year old girl from her seat while her mom was away. When I have kids I'm going to teach them to yell "pedofile! why are you even talking to me?!" when some adult tries something like that.

Further, the stage show was awesome. I was just thinking of the amazing feats of engineering that went into making his futuristic four pronged stage complete with four tiny bars and bartenders.

Almost stealing the show was Pink's ribbon-ey acrobatic act and Timbaland's musical homage to his own career.

Cop Watch

2007-01-11T11:03:00.000-08:00

-Individual Rights-

California Highway Patrol officer who shot driver of car being pursued by authorities was not entitled to qualified immunity in wrongful death action where officer had been assigned to sit in his patrol car parked on the road and never obtained permission to enter the pursuit; failed to communicate with any of the other units engaged in the chase, barging ahead of them, and twice using force without authorization by ramming his patrol car against the driver’s vehicle; and ultimately shot the driver without warning and without the need to defend himself or the other officers.

Adams v. Speers - filed January 10, 2007 Cite as No. 0515159

Full text

http://www.metnews.com/sos.cgi?0107%2F0515159

nostalgic for aplysia

2006-12-19T20:50:00.000-08:00

Today I feel very nostalgic for my days as a Marine Biologist. I checked up on my old TA Kimo Morris, and read about all his exciting stuff. I also stole some graphics. see above.

a haiku on the eating habits of coworkers

2006-10-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

white people will not
eat tofu or seaweed but
fungus-miso's fine

Joe Escalante!

2006-10-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

Today I learned that my hero Joe Escalante was honored by “Tu Ciudad” magazine as one of the top 25 Latinos to watch in LA. (Nevermind that Escalante is from OC.) My top 10 reasons why Joe Escalante is awesome:

1) Joe went to UCLA and was heckled by stupid frat boys on Gayley for having blue hair.

2) Joe played guitar in a punk band called “The Vandals” whose videos I used to cherish like they were gold because you could only really see them on this video show called “Are Oh Vee” at 2 am on public access. They wrote like hundreds of songs on subjects such as: disproportionately large heads, being nice to your grandparents, Christmas, and having a date.

3) Joe currently plays in a Morrissey/Smiths tribute band called “Sweet and Tender Hooligans” which I’ve yet to see because they have shows every 6 months or so. But they’re free so that makes them more awesome.

4) Joe Escalante went to law school (which does not make him awesome) and passed the bar! He then became an entertainment lawyer and worked in house at CBS.

5) Joe Escalante was offered the chance to play the Warped Tour while working at CBS as in house counsel.

6) Joe Escalante was called “The Beaner” by his camp counselors at summer camp and then survived summer camp despite the subsequent hardship.

7) Joe Escalante currently has a show on Indie 103.1 called “Barely Legal” which he gives out free IP, entertainment, and other legal advice.

8) Escalante has another morning show on Indie 103.1 where he sits through the musings of the insufferable Liz Warner. Wednesdays are now “Wino Wednesdays” where he drinks wine on air and tells us about it as we all drive to work. He replaced Dickie Barrett of the Mighty Mighty Bostones.

9) Joe is one of the founders of punk rock label Kung Fu Records. Kung Fu sponsors bands such as Ozma, English-style punk classic makers Stiff Little Fingers, and MxPx. Ozma I’ve seen live and they’re really fun. They sound like Pinkerton style Weezer with keyboards.

10) Oh and Joe Escalante and "Ask a Mexican" columnist Gustavo Arellano agree that if you’re half Mexican and half Irish and you go to prison, you could join a Mexican gang and be known as “that crazy red head” or join the Aryan Nation and be known as a ‘dirty white boy” decisions decisions! But easily made if you’ve seen “Blood in Blood Out”.

my first pleading. look what I did!

2006-09-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

I had like 4 hours to find out what this objection was and do one. I think I did a good job!:

COMES NOW Plaintiff and submits this Objection to Defendant’s Requests for Judicial Notice, filed in support of Defendant’s Motion to Strike Portions of first Amended Complaint. Plaintiffs object to Defendant’s Request for Judicial Notice on several evidentiary grounds.
Defendant seeks judicial notice to clarify unambiguous language in the code. Judicial notice is not allowed where the plain language of the statute is clear on its face. People v. Brock (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 1320, 1327. “If the language of the statute is not ambiguous, the plain meaning controls and resort to extrinsic sources to determine the Legislature's intent is unnecessary.” Id. The language of Cal. Lab. Code §226.7 regarding compensation for missed meal periods is clear and, as such, any judicial notice of legislative history is improper.
Assuming, arguendo, that judicial notice is appropriate in this matter, Defendant’s Exhibits 7,9,10, and 11to its Request For Judicial Notice are irrelevant to legislative intent. It would follow that materials relevant to the intent of the legislature while drafting legislation in the year 2000, were produced by that legislature prior to that time. However, Exhibits 7,9,10, and 11 either offer no date or were generated subsequent to the 2000 amendments to § 226.7. Moreover, courts have consistently denied judicial notice of press releases where they do not reflect a reliable indication that the Legislature was aware and agreed with the objective defined in the press release. See People v. Garcia (2002) 28 Cal.4th 1166, 1176.
Additionally, as explained in Plaintiffs Opposition To Motion to Strike Portions of First Amended Complaint, Defendant relies upon unpublished authority, and asks this Court to take improper judicial notice of same in Exhibits 9 and 11, in direct violation in Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 977.
Finally, Defendant seeks judicial notice of documents generated and gathered by the Legislative Intent Service. However where Legislative Intent Service produces documents which are irrelevant or inappropriate, judicial notice must be denied. See Kobzoff v. Los Angeles County Harbor/UCLA Medical Center (1998) 19 Cal.4th 851; Quelimane Co. v. Stewart Title Guaranty Co. (1998) 19 Cal.4th 26. Dated: September 29, 2006

Weddings

2006-09-14T12:59:00.000-07:00

Weddings are horribly time consuming events. They involve planning, planning and more planning. Here are some pictures from a wedding I recently was a part of.

It was a beautiful ceremony with greata food! I had a filet with potato. I also had the fanciest salad ever. I think it was some type of caesar b/c of the ample amounts of parm. At one of the pre wedding nail salon events we also saw Debbi Mazar of Entourage!

Thailand

2006-09-08T17:36:00.000-07:00

What an awesome picture of Thailand! I totally wish I was there right now. I guess everyone wonders where I have gone. Readership of 5 I have been working. I sift through documents. I call people on the phone and listen to their sad stories. I cite check like a madwoman! So far my coworkers are all great. Attorneys are friendly (such an oxymoron) and the administrative/paralegal staff are really nice! Some of us are from the same geographical area so we talk about our local Target etc. :)

Hapa Football Player Frankie Nelson

2006-06-06T12:21:00.000-07:00

Check out my friend Frankie. Sacramento native Frankie Nelson has been trained from near birth to be a football star. While playing high school football he earned the nickname "tow truck" because of all the bodies that had to be caried off the field because of him. After high school he played football at the University of California at Los Angeles where he travelled the country and received personalized luggage to cary his gear. After determining that football was a "means to an ends" and a scary encounter which injured his knee, he switched his focus to his major in Physiological Science and minor in Public Policy, coaching girls football, raising turtles, and working at the popular X-cape Arcade. He thinks that people who worked at the X-cape Arcade are awesome. After returning to Sacramento he has rejected a lucrative contract to play for the Stockton Arena Football team to play in the semi professional league team, the North Valley Lions. He has enjoyed six wins this season and has entered the playoffs! Currently Frankie is involved in team sales, eating at Joe's Crab Shack, and baking cookies.

Likes: splenda, matching shoes and shirts
Dislikes: large bodies of water

Coming out of the closet

2006-06-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

Queer-el?The May 23 issue of “The Advocate” explores the appeal of Superman to gays. The cover reads “How Gay is Superman? From the Man of Steel to the X-men, summer movies flaunt a bold queer spirit” I think that this article just points out what fan-girls have known for years: superheroes are hot.

For a minute lets explore some double entendre laden Superman lines and images:

* “Come to me, son of Jor-El. Kneel before Zod”
* Topps trading cards showing Superman coming out of closets
* Superman is characterized as an alienated outsider who masquerades in secret wearing leather boots and spandex.
* Even “Clark Kent’s” work wear and eye wear are so metrosexual.
*Look at that perfect little forelock on his head. That must be done with some super strong product. Can’t each stand suspend a 50 ton weight?
* Check out is eyebrows. Not even alien eyebrows are that prefect.

So you ask “Isn’t Superman’s love interest Lois Lane?” . . . of course it is. She’s the street wise tough as nails reporter he’s always admired but never seems to have a fully exceptional relationship with because someone always gets in the way. It’s not the same person every time, it could be Lobo, it could be bondage enthusiasts from his homeworld, but most likely it is Lex Luthor. Lex is one of the many important people in Superman’s life because he’s always trying to destroy him with kryptonite, compete in business with Superman’s friend Bruce, or seduce Lois etc etc. All this aggression is definitely a ploy to alienate him from all his friends and move in as Superman’s number one. Lex and Superman have some unaddressed sexual tension, but I blame that on the comic book industry.

Comic book fans if you’re so obsessed with how gay superman is, you’d be interested to know of other instances of homosexuality in comic mythology.

In the comic book world only recently have there been openly gay characters. In the Marvel universe, precognitive mutant Destiny and shapeshifting Mystique were to be life partners. However that proved to be too risqué for the comic book community of the 1970s and they were toned down to be “just friends.” However that leaves us with the question who are the openly gay superheroes? And don’t say Batman and Robin that’s just too obvious. Notable are Colossus and Northstar. Colossus is an old character, the Russian farm boy separated from his family to join Charles Xavier’s quest to create harmony between humans and mutants. He has always been characterized as sensitive. For example he was hardest hit when his sister Illyana dies of the legacy virus, and nursed the comatose Magneto in his satellite base when all his other Accolytes had fled. Perhaps letting Colossus come out of the closet was a way for the Marvel writers to modernize his character. However, his date to the homecoming dance Northstar seems like he has always been openly gay. After a long hiatus from superherodom, Northstar was running his own company in Canada. When asked to return to the academy as a professor, he returns with, “What would you like me to teach Charles? Boys Phys.Ed? Even you cannot be that progressive.” Charles Xavier: “Actually I was thinking Economics.”

The mutant population is one that meets alienation, hate crimes, and even mob lynching in the marvel universe. This aspect of their lives echoes that of closeted teens or anyone who doesn’t fit in. For example a mutant Angelo was killed in the same style as Matthew Sheppard. Also in the X-men movies Mrs. Drake asks her son “Have you tried not being a mutant?” before his little brother turns him in to the authorities. Just as a large percentage of teens who come out to their parents are subsequently thrown out, there are bands of homeless mutants for example the Morlocks or Gene Nation.However the most frightening parallel between the Marvel mutant universe and our own life is the impact of the Legacy Virus. The Legacy Virus attacks only mutants and results in the loss of control one’s mutant ability resulting in death. The human response to discovering this virus was that “Legacy cures Mutants” which was the same intolerant response to the straight population hearing about the AIDS virus which ravaged the gay community in the 80s, making boys towns into ghost towns. (just substitute Legacy for AIDS and Mutants for a slur.) In fact the parallels are intentional and downright scary but meant to hold a mirror to our own society and promote acceptance.

Asparabacon!

2006-06-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,My apologies for the long absence. In my sabbatical I have been experimenting with “asparabacon.” The Japanese love to abbreviate and squish two words together. “Asparabacon” = Asparagus + Bacon. For those of you who know, a common food in an izikaya (Japanese diner where you order many plates of tiny food) is roasted asparagus wrapped in bacon. Usually it comes on little skewers and I believe it is roasted on a grill. It’s delicious! Stateside, I don’t have a grill or little skewers. For this recipe I placed three spears of asparagus together and wrapped each bundle in bacon. (Not the fake turkey bacon that I usually buy.) Then, I roasted the asparagus bundles in the oven at 400 for 20 min. I can tell you that It was delicious. However next time I will choose a less fatty meat. Maybe AsparaPancetta should be in the works?

spring hash

2006-06-03T18:28:00.000-07:00

One thing that worked out perfectly was Real Simple Magazine’s Spring Hash with Eggs sunny-side up. This recipe was surprisingly simple to do. The key is to use a well seasoned (therefore non stick) cast iron frying pan and to cook a lot of the water out of the zucchinis.

2 russet potatoes, peeled and grated
1 medium zucchini, unpeeled and grated
3 ½ tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
4 large eggs, cooked sunny-side up.

In a large strainer placed in the sink or over a shallow dish, combine the potatoes and zucchini. With your hands, squeeze to remove any excess water. Add 3 tablespoons of the dill and toss. Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add the potato-and-zucchini mixture, pressing it with the back of a spatula. Season with salt and pepper. Cook without stirring for 20 minutes. Flip the hash over in sections. Cook for a few more minutes until crispy on both sides. Transfer to individual plates along with the eggs. Sprinkle both the hash and eggs with the remaining dill.

Angels and Airwaves: Much Ado About Nothing

2006-04-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

On April 14, I went to see the Angels andAirwaves show in Ventura CA. There has been significant fanfare and buzz about this band. Former Blink 182 frontman Tom DeLonge has formed a new band called Angels and Airwaves which isn't to be confused with former side project Box Car Racer. I think there was one word that capitulated the entire performance, and that was "hubris." I think it was apparent from the style of the music, tirades about the past year, instrumentation, and DeLonge's interpretive dancing, that Blink 182 broke up because of disagreements and ego. Subsequently, A&A was formed in the image that DeLonge had for Blink, but Blink wouldn't go. (Although significantly forshadowed in the group's latest release "Blink 182's" darker and more emotive sound) TRL is only attractive for so long, then you have to launch your own reality tv show right Barker? Maybe it was actually learning how to play the guitar. I guess their story could have been a page out of The Pretenders' book ie. learn to play and become a great band together, instead of Sting's ie. thePolice only hold me back and I can become a tantric icon on my own. DeLonge (in between dances) told us over and over again that even if someone told us thatwe couldn't do something, we should try anyway because their band was a testament to what could happen with positive thinking. (however isn't every band a testament to what can happen with positive thinking? )

The music was okay. I liked all the war themes. I remember thinking, "Wow, it's like U2's "Joshua Tree" vomited all over Blink182 songs." and "The Streets do have a name . .. they're called Angels and Airwaves." Sometimes the songs recycle old U2 and Blink 182 finger plucking sequences. The complexity of the songs has increased due to A&A being a 4 piece band (not 3) and plain maturity. Comparisons have been made to Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, but I don't see them. I think Dashboard Confessional or TRL favorite Hawthorne Heights is more appropriate. Some things are decidedly different, such as long gone are the ATTICUS clothes and DC shoes, and DeLonge had only one joke about sleeping with moms. Overlooking the dancing and the speech about following your dreams, congratulations to DeLonge for following his heart in music even if it cost him his two best friends. Congrats to A&A because they sold out a show with only one real single on the rock charts and without an album out so no one could sing along to their songs. Congrats to DeLonge because long gone are the days when BAd REligion opens for you, or members of Homegrown run onstage wearing only a moshing rabbit thong to salute you. And here comes mature professional success (maybe.)

As a highlight the Pink Spiders, opened for the band and although they sound garage-y like Jet, did a great Elvis Costello cover which had me super excited. "What is so funny about peace love and understanding?"

for more info on A&A

chicken cacciatore

2006-04-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

I always wondered what this dish was and why it was so popular among kids at the Olive Garden. This recipe was great with boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of a whole chicken with skin. Save on fat here and eat ice cream later!

Chicken Cacciatore
from REal Simple Magazine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 3 1/2- to 4-pound chicken, cut into pieces (i used 4 of those really big chicken breasts from Kirkland)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 carrot, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1 28-ounce can plum tomatoes
1/3 cup dry red wine
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper. Rinse the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels. Working in batches, lightly coat the chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat. Add some of the chicken to the pan, being careful not to crowd the pieces. Cook the chicken until browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate; set aside. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Add the onion to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add the carrot, celery, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Crush the tomatoes in the can with a large spoon and stir them into the vegetables. Add the wine and the remaining salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken, reduce heat, and cover. Simmer for 45 minutes, turning the pieces occasionally. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Stir in the parsley and serve on individual plates.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

Stats:
NUTRITION PER SERVINGCALORIES 803(63% from fat); FAT 56g (sat 14g); PROTEIN 54g; CHOLESTEROL 207mg; SODIUM 943mg; FIBER 3g; CARBOHYDRATE 19g

more bentos

2006-04-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

obento

2006-04-11T19:47:00.000-07:00

"obento" is the Japanese word for sack lunch. little kids cary their tiny lunches in decorative tupperware boxes. as if the concept of "obento" wsn't cute enough . . .check these out!

Alkaline Trio in San Diego! My life is complete.

2006-04-08T21:41:00.000-07:00

Saturday April 1, 2006 I saw my favorite band the Alkaline Trio. They had the lamest band called the Griffin opening for them. Basic stage dynamics Griffin boys you should introduce your band and not make us guess. However they did deal with the stage security brutality incident well and did an impromptu additional verse saying “Please security guards stop beating up our fans” as people rushed the stage to do seizure-esque dances and run around to be the back of the room.

As for the Trio they played an emotional 2 hours of the morose punk rock that I love. They played the entire “Goddamnit” album, which I thought was awesome. It’s the theme of my first year of lawschool which made me feel like there was someone more miserable than I out there. They have a really poignant tribute to clinical depression on the album which I love (Trouble Breathing.) I really liked how they didn’t play all the Crimson songs in a shameless attempt to plug the new album. I think that they know that their rabid fans are the real reason for their success and we all have the album and know what it sounds like. I would have liked “If you had a bad time,” the Cure cover of “Exploding Boy” or “Mr. Chainsaw” (I loooooooove Mr Chainsaw) But as to the lack of Cure covers, the Crimson album arrangements are reminiscent of the Cure in some places. I’m not the only one to catch the Cure and Joy Division parallels really! Speaking of tributes, at one time Matt says "This one's for Johnny Cash!" and I was expecting like a Folsom Prison Cover or something, but no it was "Burn."

"I used to long for broken bones I used to long for a casket to call my own I never had a problem facing fear But I'm done, over and out my dear and
Oh, mercy me, God bless catastrophe'Cause there's no way in hell We'll ever live through this"

Jennifer Government

2006-04-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

Recently I read a novel by Max Barry called “Jennifer Government.” I borrowed this book from my good friend Paul C. At first he explained to me that it was about a world where people took the last name of the company they worked for because consumerism was so important. He also explained that it began with the release of a special Nike shoe which was worth thousands of dollars and people would camp outside stores and kill for. Likewise, Paul is a sneakerhead (or recovering addict) and would totally camp outside various stores for a pair of Tiffany Dunks. My interest was peaked.

Max Barry pens this novel with great wit and insight to attack modern day consumerism by creating a horrible universe where corporations rule that isn’t so far off from the system today.

Barry portrays corporate greed and power throughout the book. In this universe corporate culture takes over your life, your name, and in some cases even decides who lives or dies. The absolute power of those in the “Alliance” of the greatest companies does corrupt absolutely as we follow the path of the two John Nikes as they slime their way through the upper echelons of society. Max Barry’s scathing attack on consumerism, small government, and the “American” way fittingly proceeds to include the National Rifle Association as a militant evil assassinating association. It is no coincidence that Barry uses the NRA as a competing “army for hire” as a symbol of our Constitutional right to bear arms however twisted to be the platform for our crazy conservative gunslinging politicians.

Aside from being a comical romp through this “make believe” world, Barry wants you to think about the parallels to today’s society. Interestingly enough a future where the police are useless and one could get away with murder by paying the correct people is not that far fetched. There are police corruption scandals every day. A product today may have so much buzz that people do camp out and pay thousands for shoes. People camped out for days for the PS2 when it came out. Remember Star Wars Episode I before we were all asking what a metichlorion was? Doesn’t the Hermes Birkin have a 6 month waiting list? In Paris not even a woman with more money than God like Oprah can buy one of those! I’ve always been wary of companies teaming up to form “alliances” like how you can buy a McDonalds hamburger and eat it with Ronald inside a Walmart store. You can buy a book at Barnes and Noble and drink a Starbucks at the same place. The Hilton family of hotels is like all the hotels. The Star Alliance includes over 15 different airlines. If you’re blacklisted from one, you probably will not be able to fly any of them.

In conclusion Max Barry is awesome because he wrote Jennifer Government. However didn’t he sell the rights to a movie company? Whatever, I’d add it to my Netflix queue. You really can’t be too anti consumerism or you end up in an old abandoned house talking to yourself trying to erase the credit record.

Check out Max and his disdain for “Rub a Dub Dub”

copwatch

2006-04-08T20:32:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

From the immigraiton blog...
"On March 31, a Dos Palos Unified School District bus (in the central valley of California), en route to school was stopped by immigration officers. Agents conducted a raid, took 7 children off the bus and placed them in ICE vans. It is assumed the children were taken to the Fresno immigration office. For more information, contact JoAnn Juarez: jjuarez@mcoe.org"

I plagerized this from Evo's friend:
http://www.xanga.com/m8im8i

Can you believe this? Cops kidnap kids in Fresno. Where’s the Fresno County Copwatch at?

Yellow Fever Video

2006-04-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/w/Yellow-Fever?v=dUto_zdvb90&search=wong%20fu

Everyone needs to see this video because it's hilarious. Thank you to Mercedes Valle for sending it to me and congratulations Wong Fu Productions for such a successful short. I myself am mesmerized by butt hair.

Delicious Bass!

2006-03-23T09:40:00.000-08:00

Check out this Delicious Bass! From ESPN Outdoors: Too much pressure, controversy Say it ain't so, Mac. A day and a half after boating the heaviest largemouth bass known to mankind, Mac Weakley and his two lifelong fishing buddies decided to drop the pursuit of angling's most important world record. "We want to let the 22¼-pound George Perry record stand, and we'll break it another time," said Weakley, 32, of Carlsbad, Calif., whose name has circled the fishing world since he boated a 25.1-pound largemouth bass early Monday on nearby tiny Dixon Lake in San Diego County. If officially recognized, Weakley's bass would have shattered Perry's legendary standard. Worry not, bass anglers, your cherished record is safe.

I caught you a delicious bass

2006-03-22T03:44:00.000-08:00

Fisherman Mac Weakley caught a ginormous 25.1 lb bass in Dixon Lake near Carlsbad California. This bass is phenomenal for several reasons:
1) It was caught by his fishing buddy in 2003 when it weighed a mere 21.7 lbs. How do you know it’s the same fish? Because of the tell tale dark fish birthmark on its underbelly visible in the photo.
2) Prior to this challenger, the official largest bass ever caught was 22 ¼ lbs in 1934. So there’s been decades of constant angling and the record has never been broken!
3) This fish was caught on 15 lb test line. I mean I saw a fat catfish snap a pole in half in Kansas, I can’t imagine what happened to this guy’s pole with a 25 lb fish!
4) It was caught on accident. An issue with the IGFA (International Game Fish Association) has arisen as to whether this fish was “foul hooked” and therefore not qualify to break the standing record. Details of this exciting catch follow:

As for the catch itself, Dickerson explained that it was raining and dark early Monday when the anglers came across the bedding bass in 12 feet of water. A male — often much smaller than a female in the world of spawning bass — also was on the bed, and it made several stabs at the jig. The fishermen couldn't tell whether the male or female was hitting the jig when Weakley set the hook at about 6:40 a.m.

The fish surged to deeper water, and Winn, who said he was manning the boat, motored toward a nearby dock — where, Weakley explained, three people, including the dock attendant for the city-owned facility in Escondido, Calif., witnessed the action. There Winn fumbled on his initial attempt at netting the fish.

Yep, Winn swung and missed, which is surprising to anyone who saw him skillfully gaff saltwater fish on the fly when he was a second captain on a charter boat out of Santa Barbara, Calif., in an earlier career.

"My heart was in my throat," said Winn, 32, of Carlsbad, who now also works in the casino industry. "I was wondering which I would get next, a black eye or a bloody nose."

In the confusion and excitement that can at times underscore this level of fishing, Winn had picked up a net that wasn't his and was unfamiliar to him.

"I just grabbed for whatever was closest. I have never, ever missed a fish with my net," Winn explained. " But I got the fish halfway in and it freaked out and kicked out of this other net."

By this time it was quite apparent that it was the female at line's end, and one extremely large and displeased specimen. It again finned to deeper water, and the pursuers followed in their electric-powered rental boat (all that is permitted for use at this 80-foot-deep reservoir).

More evidence of big bass at Dixon Lake: Mike Long registered the largest largemouth in two decades when he boated this bubba in late April 2001.But a few moments later and five minutes after it was hooked, the big mother was in Winn's net. To the anglers' great dismay, the fish had been hooked in its side. Soon after that sad discovery — and determining that its own weight might hurt the fish in the handling process — the bassers decided to release it.

Thank you espn outdoors.

Many of you are wondering “fishing is cruel why endorse it? Or “it’s just a big fish.” But this is the kind of story that sparks interest in the outdoors. Activities such as rock climbing, fishing, hunting, hiking, diving, rafting etc expose people to what their environment is like. When people associate good times with clean environment they start to care and if they don’t work to protect it, they sure don’t vote to destroy it. When environmentalists do their job too well and close off parts of the wilderness to others, biodiversity is preserved, but preserves are always threatened by man because no one is allowed to enjoy the land therefore it has no value to the local voter, who makes the decisions about their fates. For example before Heal the Bay and other marine organizations started exposing the public to Southern California’s wetlands, they were just waterfront property sites that needed to be landfilled. Now we have protected estuary and wetland areas for naturalist activities and the tide of public approval is against development of these areas. Likewise, sportfishing associations organize and work to remove offshore oil pilings and work with environmentalists to make offshore preserves. Environmentalists take heart and suspend your disbelief. Sportfishermen care about water quality because it affects their catch. Sushi consumers care about bioaccumulation of toxins because it affects their meals. Beachgoers care about urban runoff because it affects their picnics. However it is up to us to make them see how their interests are connected to the environment and affect them personally; but the interest can start with an enormous bass.

Watchuwant Natalie?!

2006-03-20T01:49:00.000-08:00

Natalie Portman was on SNL the other week and did this rap video and it's hilarious! She never said she was a role model.

my headshot

2006-03-19T21:05:00.000-08:00

Asahi

2006-03-19T20:41:00.000-08:00

I am Asahi and I live an active lifestyle. Don't bother me if you're not here to play games like "fetch" and "sock." I'm also into communication with the other dogs of the neighborhood. I love to bark at big scary dogs. I am a party peik so watch out Paris and Linsday there's a new party girl in town. Also like Paris, I love Carls Jr Hamburgers with Bacon. I do not like rolling over, shake, or speak (on command.)

Chauncey

2006-03-17T01:57:00.000-08:00

My name is Chauncey. I am four years old and my interests include: long walks in the park, public urination, and fine dining. I am looking for a younger woman that can enjoys adventurous road trips and will keep me safe from other dogs.

Special Chili

2006-03-14T08:06:00.000-08:00

Beef and Black Bean Chili

(recipe from Rachael Ray’s 30 Min Meals. 9/10 Americans agree that this is a good chili!)

2 lbs ground beef 90% lean. The recipe calls for sirloin yet I use normal beef and it comes out just fine.
1 tbsp EVOO
Salt n’ Peppa ( . . . uh pushit . . . )
1.5 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (if reading from Mexico “Salsa Ingles!”)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4-6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper
1 jalapeno pepper seeded and chopped ( if you’re a JA and you hate spicy food, can substitute those little Ortega chilies you buy in a can)
3 tbsp dark chili powder (again if you’re a JA and you hate spicy food, omit 1 tbsp, if you’re a JA’s hakujin boyfriend, adding the chili powder on top works well)
1 tbsp cumin
1 c beef stock
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce or puree
2 (15 oz) cans of black beans, drained (super fibrous!)
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

1) in large deep skillet or pot, brown ground beef in olive oil over high heat.
2) Season meat with salt and pepper, and then add Worcestershire sauce.
3) Reduce heat to medium high when the meat is browned and crumbled, and then add onion, garlic, red peppers, jalapeno.
4) Season veggies and meat with chili powder and cumin.
5) Cook veggies and meat together 5 min.
6) Stir in broth and scrape up pan drippings.
7) Stir in diced and pureed tomatoes and black beans.
8) When the mixture comes to a bubble, reduce heat to simmer and stir in cilantro.

2006-03-12T18:19:00.000-08:00

The same day I took a picture of this guy. I entitled this one "lonely hakujin" because I imagine he's waiting for his Japanese Girlfriend or hostess or whoever :)

2006-03-12T18:17:00.000-08:00

This was a very fast couple in Shibuya. If you're familiar with the area, this is right in front of the Shibuya train station. It's the busiest place in Shibuya because everyone meets at this famous dog statue which is just to the right of the picture.

2006-03-12T18:16:00.000-08:00

This couple was really fast! I have a feeling the guy in the gray sweatshirt and his girlfriend with the blue sweatshirt are foreign. Just a foreigner vibe I get. Maybe it's the non-permed/orange hair.

2006-03-12T18:02:00.000-08:00

Mos Def from okayplayer.com

Chapelle's Show

2006-03-12T17:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I saw “Dave Chapelle’s Block Party.” Unfortunately this is not 2 hours of Dave Chapelle being funny. But instead I was pleasantly surprised to see a marching band rendition of Jesus Walks by Kanye West, The Roots, my namesake the handsome and incomparable Mos Def, Common, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and a reunion of the Fugees. It was like Woodstock and they got it all on film!

Did you know English is Wyclef’s like third language and he advocates public libraries? I didn’t.

Did you know Lauryn Hill’s baby was really cute and big now? I didn’t.

Did you know Kanye West has the same taste in blazers as a college English professor? I didn’t . . . but I could’ve guessed because his parents are professors or something.

I was totally surprised by the energy of the performances and Dave Chapelle is always hilarious; but I thought the way they spliced in the commentary and didn’t really introduce anyone (with the exception of the members of the Roots) didn’t do a good job of telling the story. I totally would have put more footage of the kids from the Brooklyn Police Athletic League in. ** Over all great job on the movie Mr. Black Bush!

** Just a note that their PAL was the best looking PAL I’ve ever seen. The kids in Oak Park in Sacramento didn’t have all those nice floormats, lighting, proper chairs and tables.

http://www.chappellesblockparty.com/home.html

2006-03-12T17:22:00.000-08:00

Today I wish I was here.

2006-03-12T17:10:00.000-08:00

A taste of Nice without leaving your kitchen. Famous for its film, this mediteranean locale has inspired award winning flavors.

Salade Nicoise Sandwich

2006-03-12T17:05:00.000-08:00

Salad Niçoise Sandwich

1 lb green beans, trimmed
1 tsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp plus 2 tsp EVOO
2 6 oz cans tuna, drained
1 c grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
½ c kalamata (or other) olives
¼ red onion thinly sliced
¼ tsp black pepper
Salt
1 baguette

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook until bright green and tender, 2-5 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain again and return to bowl. Meanwhile add vinegar and 2 tbsp of the oil and salt. Drizzle this mixture over the beans and toss. In a separate bowl, combine the tuna, tomatoes, olives, onion, pepper, and remaining oil. Halve the baguette lengthwise, and then cut it crosswise into 4 portions. Toast the baguette if desired. Spoon some of the tuna mixture into the bottom of each baguette portion. Sandwich the top half and press gently but firmly. Serve with green beans.

I ate this sandwich with a cup of tomato and roasted red pepper soup from Trader Joes and it was yum-o! My mom is an expert on French food, and really enjoyed the authenticity of this dish.

Balsamic Poached Chicken

2006-03-12T16:46:00.000-08:00

Balsamic Poached Chicken

1 lb new potatoes halved or quartered
3 tbs EVOO
1 tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 lb asparagus, trimmed
1 14.5 oz can low-sodium chicken broth
1 c balsamic vinegar
1 ½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place the potatoes in a roasting pan. Drizzle with the oil. Season with 1/3 teaspoon of the salt and pepper, and toss. Roast for 30 min, shaking the pan once. Add the asparagus to the pan with the potatoes, season with the remaining salt, and toss. Roast until the asparagus is tender, 12 to 15 min. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, bring the broth and vinegar to a boil. Add the chicken and if necessary ½ c water. (Really the liquid doesn’t have to cover the chicken because the steam created by the boiling liquid will cook the tops of the chicken. ) Simmer for 1 min. Cover, remove from heat, and set aside until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Return the liquid to medium – high heat and simmer until reduced to about 1/3 cup 10-20 min. Multitasking is key because the poaching and reducing takes so long. Thickly slice the chicken. Divide the ingredients among individual plates. Drizzle with the balsamic mixture.

Real Simple Magazine April 2006

2006-03-12T16:37:00.000-08:00

Balsamic Poached Chicken ~ real simple magazine april 2006