08 May 2009 1154H

The beginning of spring

Was last week. In PA, it seemed to be summer already, people gathered three deep at the custard stand. So much greenery and so intense a green it startles the eye. Dandelions are in full bloom this week. Welcome, welcome, Spring. Goodbye Winter.

Permanent link to The beginning of spring

Filed under Seasonal Notes

Respond »

05 Mar 2009 1256H

The first good day of the year

Typically I like to write about the Last Good Day of the Year, per the haunting Cousteau song. But there is no way to mark what surely is the first good day of the year, a beautiful if gusty day in the mid 60s. Like any typical Midwesterner knows, it can’t last.

Permanent link to The first good day of the year

Filed under Seasonal Notes, What I'm Listening To

Respond »

02 Mar 2009 2317H

Lent, Weak (sic) One

Seems rather silly to mark the milestone but we’ve nearly made it an entire week without meat and animal products. Of course, within US practice, we are taking a rather extreme view, as one can see here, meat is not allowed, but eggs, milk and condiments made of animal fat are allowed. In contrast we have struck these from our diet for Lent.

I know, I know. As a Catholic, I realize that the spirit of the season is sacrifice and reflection, but it seems we’ve mostly been reflecting upon labels. Are we playing games with foods that by rights should not be allowable, such as soy protein that is formed and flavored like meat? Soy cheeses? Even faux sour cream. Likewise, Friday I had sushi, quite a bit of it actually, and Saturday I had fish fry. It seems to me the consumption not of the item but the ability to consume what would ordinarily be perceived as a great indulgence would go against the spirit of the season. One really should live as if they were doing without during the Lenten season. Yet for a meat-centric culture such as the one we live in, it has already been quite an interesting exercise to give up meat for Lent. 33 days from Wednesday, we’ll see how we do.

Permanent link to Lent, Weak (sic) One

Filed under Food, Seasonal Notes, The Story of Us

Respond »

25 Feb 2009 1212H

Lots to catch up on

Hard to believe a whole month has gone by but here we are. A lot has transpired:

German language acquisition proceeding apace. Some problems with pronouns and cases, as predicted due to declensions.

Went to Germany for business. Of course I have pix of food.

E. and I. are fasting for Lent! No meat and no dairy/animal products. But what about Friday fish fry? The batter or coating has egg in it? Hmmm.

Also work is very interesting, but that belongs on the other blog.

Permanent link to Lots to catch up on

Filed under Food, Seasonal Notes, The Story of Us, Travel

Respond »

06 Feb 2009 0723H

Shooting in San Gabriel

Two dead, five injured, some critically at this hour, after gunmen opened fire at the Coffee House in that predominantly Asian American city near Los Angeles. Out of curiosity, looked up the Coffee House where the shooting occurred. Might it have been gang related?

Permanent link to Shooting in San Gabriel

Filed under Asian & Asian American Stuff

Respond »

04 Feb 2009 2354H

Hung kuen is like. . .

whatever you want it to be. Perhaps that is true of all martial arts; perhaps that is the art in martial arts. I had thought that the essential character of hung kuen is hard, short, crushing, steamrolling. But people don’t have to be big and beefy to play hung kuen. It helps only with the crushing parts. They can interpret the movements in another way. Or any way they want, really:

The Tao is called the Great Mother:
empty yet inexhaustible,
it gives birth to infinite worlds.

It is always present within you.
You can use it any way you want.

Permanent link to Hung kuen is like. . .

Filed under Martial Arts

Respond »

31 Jan 2009 1010H

From the State Department advisory on travel to Germany

In addition, hooligans, most often young intoxicated “skinheads” have been known to harass or even attack people whom they believe to be foreigners or members of rival groups. On occasion, American have reported that they were assaulted for racial reasons or because they appeared “foreign.” All Americans are cautioned to avoid the area around protests and demonstrations and to check local media for updates on the situation.

Permanent link to From the State Department advisory on travel to Germany

Filed under Travel

Respond »

29 Jan 2009 1119H

Some words from our CEO

“History teaches us that crises weaken the weak and strengthen the strong.”

Permanent link to Some words from our CEO

Filed under Uncategorized

Respond »

26 Jan 2009 1540H

Hagen’s, Fish Keg, Lawrence Fisheries

Hagen’s. I like to be able to taste my fish, instead of hardcasing it in cornmeal so thick the end result is a bit more like cornbread fritters of fish, instead of fish fry. Cost is a bit better too and I think the product is fresher. If in the neighborhood of Fish Keg, I would recommend a trip several blocks down to Bismillah, where a fantastic chicken boti, whole wheat naan, and also a fish fry can be had, but if you’re going to go to Bismillah you might as well eat as the locals do.

While we’re on the subject, Lawrence Fisheries, adjacent to the Chinatown neighborhood, on each visit has proven to be the worst: on one visit, the fish was encased in a coating that essentially steams the fish on the inside; one breaks the coating open and removes the fish inside. Absolutely atrocious. Go a few blocks to Chinatown and get yourself a decent Chinese meal instead.

Permanent link to Hagen’s, Fish Keg, Lawrence Fisheries

Filed under Food, Griping

Respond »

21 Jan 2009 2033H

On my iPod

My wife has twigged me onto the “Cat Who” series, and I assiduously have been following the audiobooks on my daily journey to and from work after a massive purchase from iTunes. The mellifluous tones of George Guidall have proven to be a calming influence. And while they are ostensibly cat stories, I strongly suspect the protagonist, Jim Qwilleran, to be a closeted gay man. Not that anything’s wrong with that. But wouldn’t it be more interesting if there was Cat Who slash fiction?

In addition, I have been following German and Japanese language lessons thanks to Deutsche Welle and NHK. DW’s course, the unfortunately named “Deutsch: Warum Nicht?” has been rather compelling. I hope I’ll be able to make use of these languages soon. The NHK one, Japan My Love, is unintentionally hilarious, as it involves a gaijin studying aikido in Japan, who meets a girl, and the dialogues seem to be going in a certain direction…

Permanent link to On my iPod

Filed under Uncategorized

Respond »

« Older entries