A snapshot from the front yard ...
23 December 2008
18 December 2008
Font Abuse
Being very concerned with huge issues like potato chips and Mexican food ... I've been an active critic of font abuse over the years. Here's a good piece already done up about it. Read it before you commit font abuse.
HERE
12 December 2008
John Stewart vs. Mike Huckabee
Sometimes you're not inclined to take John Stewart seriously ... but watch him take Mike Huckabee apart. Zing! Wish we saw more of this side of Stewart.
Can I Get a Sparkle on Wheat?
Fri : 4:51am : np: Digable Planets - Dedicated
So ... I was running around running errands today .. and I was super late ... on my phone, while carrying stuff and so on ... but I had just one minute while I waited for someone and I popped into New York Subs downtown ... was totally on my phone for 5 minutes ... when the guy took my order I asked for a quarter sandwich ... which they'll do for you but it's like $3.50 vs. $5.00 ... (I mostly get it cuz I don't need a full half) and the guy was like, you want this or that ... tomatoes ... and I said ... no tomatoes ... wait, yes tomatoes, jeeze sorry got a lot on my mind. Dude just nods ... makes the sandwich ... hands it to me and says, made you a half cuz it seems like you're having a day. Total random dude I've never seen and I'm not a regular customer.
Totally small gesture ... but really nice. Don't want to start talking in cheesy aphorisms or folksy quotes or anything but that tiny gesture made kind of a difference in my trajectory for the day. This is perhaps not at all anything deep but it kinda made me think ... wow, we should really all try to do stuff like that more often. Especially these days ... I feel like it's just a really great opportunity to make connections ... for many reasons but it's really a time that is pregnant with possibility. From small things to huge ideas.
Overall ... I've been trying pretty hard to see the opportunities of this time on Earth ... what are the teaching moments ... what things are possible ... what things aren't we seeing or appreciating or moving on with the fire that we should be. I'm no swami, but I know that in my almost four decades on the planet I've not encountered a time like this ... and I feel like this time is powerful and full of promise. I'm thinking a lot about what is possible ... what we're meant to be doing right now ... what we're on the verge of ... or could be on the verge of. I think most people would agree ... from regular folks to the most inspired thinkers that this time is unique and powerful. I don't have the answer as to what we should be doing with this time but I know that there are probably a lot of good options ... and each of us should be thinking about what it means for them.
We see technology constantly evolving and creating new realities ... from the typewriter to the PC ... from the vinyl record to the iPod .. each one in some small way transforming the way things work. I feel that human thought and civilization can be on a similar trajectory. I know that in my life, I've experienced a ton of evolution in the way I think about and approach things and I look forward to more forward movement. But human civilization sometimes seems mired in something ... the past ... and is slow to change and is gripped by its own limitations. Tradition is seen as something positive without question. But I feel like this time on Earth is about progress. We saw it in the recent election ... both ways. On one hand was Obama, representing all that is new and possible and that was and is crushingly exciting and joyful ... and on the other hand you have Prop 8 ... where the evolution that needs to happen, wants to happen (will happen!) was denied by people stuck in the past. Finding their rules in some dusty Bronze Age book of fairy tales.
[There's something just crazy about getting your marching orders from some crusty book written thousands of years ago, but that's a whole 'nother story.]
For me ... this time is full of promise. Trying to get into that vibration. So much is possible.
.
So ... I was running around running errands today .. and I was super late ... on my phone, while carrying stuff and so on ... but I had just one minute while I waited for someone and I popped into New York Subs downtown ... was totally on my phone for 5 minutes ... when the guy took my order I asked for a quarter sandwich ... which they'll do for you but it's like $3.50 vs. $5.00 ... (I mostly get it cuz I don't need a full half) and the guy was like, you want this or that ... tomatoes ... and I said ... no tomatoes ... wait, yes tomatoes, jeeze sorry got a lot on my mind. Dude just nods ... makes the sandwich ... hands it to me and says, made you a half cuz it seems like you're having a day. Total random dude I've never seen and I'm not a regular customer.
Totally small gesture ... but really nice. Don't want to start talking in cheesy aphorisms or folksy quotes or anything but that tiny gesture made kind of a difference in my trajectory for the day. This is perhaps not at all anything deep but it kinda made me think ... wow, we should really all try to do stuff like that more often. Especially these days ... I feel like it's just a really great opportunity to make connections ... for many reasons but it's really a time that is pregnant with possibility. From small things to huge ideas.
Overall ... I've been trying pretty hard to see the opportunities of this time on Earth ... what are the teaching moments ... what things are possible ... what things aren't we seeing or appreciating or moving on with the fire that we should be. I'm no swami, but I know that in my almost four decades on the planet I've not encountered a time like this ... and I feel like this time is powerful and full of promise. I'm thinking a lot about what is possible ... what we're meant to be doing right now ... what we're on the verge of ... or could be on the verge of. I think most people would agree ... from regular folks to the most inspired thinkers that this time is unique and powerful. I don't have the answer as to what we should be doing with this time but I know that there are probably a lot of good options ... and each of us should be thinking about what it means for them.
We see technology constantly evolving and creating new realities ... from the typewriter to the PC ... from the vinyl record to the iPod .. each one in some small way transforming the way things work. I feel that human thought and civilization can be on a similar trajectory. I know that in my life, I've experienced a ton of evolution in the way I think about and approach things and I look forward to more forward movement. But human civilization sometimes seems mired in something ... the past ... and is slow to change and is gripped by its own limitations. Tradition is seen as something positive without question. But I feel like this time on Earth is about progress. We saw it in the recent election ... both ways. On one hand was Obama, representing all that is new and possible and that was and is crushingly exciting and joyful ... and on the other hand you have Prop 8 ... where the evolution that needs to happen, wants to happen (will happen!) was denied by people stuck in the past. Finding their rules in some dusty Bronze Age book of fairy tales.
[There's something just crazy about getting your marching orders from some crusty book written thousands of years ago, but that's a whole 'nother story.]
For me ... this time is full of promise. Trying to get into that vibration. So much is possible.
.
Lego Hip Hop
Thanks to Platurn for this ... classic hip hop album covers done up in Lego format. Choice!
09 December 2008
08 December 2008
Mexican Food in Bend
We keep it Real here at Le Smoosh. We're so in the realness it hurts. We have nothing but mundane mind-numbing everyday shit to talk about here ... you can't get any more salt-of-the-earth than that.
I was commenting to a friend the other day that I liked Baja Fresh ... and this friend is knowledgeable about Mexican food ... and she was surprised at my choice. She wanted to talk about the Taco Stand and Rico's Tacos and so on.
Look ... Baja Fresh is a chain, yes. And it's nice and clean and well lit, yes. But honestly, it's the third best Mexican food in town behind La Rosa, Hola', and perhaps El Burrito. Notably, it's managed and staffed by 100% real Mexicans. And most of the clientele seems to be brown as well.
Don't talk to me about Taco Stand, Super Burrito, T. Jalapenos or Rigobertos ... they're all super cheap nasty NASTY joints. Perhaps Taco Stand achieves first world status, but they're simply tortillas from a bag and beans from a can, nothing added. Listen ... carne asada means GRILLED MEAT. Not fried meat. Not fried chunks of super low budget meat. Anyplace that serves fried meat and calls it carne asada is just a total joke. Those places have zero pride. None. Their salsas are totally out of a can. Baja Fresh uses no cans, no freezers, no microwaves.
Don't talk to me about Longboard Louie's ... give me a break. No way. Teenagers making food is all that is. I'd rather eat at Parilla and that's saying something. That place has no concept of the details.
El Caporal and all the other family Mexican places in town besides La Rosa and perhaps Hola ... total shite. Edible, but they better be for the price. Totally overpriced considering that 90% of the menu consists of: choice of meat, choice of tortilla, fried or not fried, choice of sauce, and standard sides (rice beans guac, sc, etc). And none of it ever tastes *good* ... it's all just ... decent.
Rico's Tacos might be the real deal taco truck experience, but I guarantee u they cut every corner imaginable. Perhaps they make authentic decent taco truck food, but they're still using the cheapest possible ingredients.
Hola is #1 ... La Rosa is #2 ... and Baja Fresh is clearly #3 ... depending on whether or not u like El Burrito.
Here's what Baja Fresh does right: good salsa bar that includes a few salsas (including a fire roasted black poblano salsa) and peppers and fresh cilantro ... good meats that are GRILLED ... several kinds of tacos and burritos ... the perfect prep on tortillas (flat top with some oil, always perfectly warm and soft) ... decent salads and sides and chips and soups and it's CHEAP and their fountain machine actually works correctly.
Lets face it ... a lot of times it comes down to the salsa (that's where El Burrito falls short). La Rosa would be less of a restaurant if it weren't for their excellent chipotle salsa and always perfectly fresh chips. And meats. Baja Fresh's chicken is all white meat grilled nicely ... tender ... yummy. Their Baja fish taco is pretty decent. Even their tortilla soup isn't bad and you're in and out of there in 20 minutes for $5-7 with considerably better food than most of the other places in town.
Now ... I dislike corporate chains as much as the next guy ... but ... this joint is getting it right and you know, that's also important, isn't it? I mean, I'd rather have quality fresh grilled chicken rather than fried mystery cuts. Your aversion for corporate chains shouldn't result in you eating crap. It should be about the food, not just about being down with the little guy, right? I mean, long live the little guy but it's really whether he or she can make a decent taco.
This while I sit here eating a Totino's pizza. It's great being a Gemini! :)
I was commenting to a friend the other day that I liked Baja Fresh ... and this friend is knowledgeable about Mexican food ... and she was surprised at my choice. She wanted to talk about the Taco Stand and Rico's Tacos and so on.
Look ... Baja Fresh is a chain, yes. And it's nice and clean and well lit, yes. But honestly, it's the third best Mexican food in town behind La Rosa, Hola', and perhaps El Burrito. Notably, it's managed and staffed by 100% real Mexicans. And most of the clientele seems to be brown as well.
Don't talk to me about Taco Stand, Super Burrito, T. Jalapenos or Rigobertos ... they're all super cheap nasty NASTY joints. Perhaps Taco Stand achieves first world status, but they're simply tortillas from a bag and beans from a can, nothing added. Listen ... carne asada means GRILLED MEAT. Not fried meat. Not fried chunks of super low budget meat. Anyplace that serves fried meat and calls it carne asada is just a total joke. Those places have zero pride. None. Their salsas are totally out of a can. Baja Fresh uses no cans, no freezers, no microwaves.
Don't talk to me about Longboard Louie's ... give me a break. No way. Teenagers making food is all that is. I'd rather eat at Parilla and that's saying something. That place has no concept of the details.
El Caporal and all the other family Mexican places in town besides La Rosa and perhaps Hola ... total shite. Edible, but they better be for the price. Totally overpriced considering that 90% of the menu consists of: choice of meat, choice of tortilla, fried or not fried, choice of sauce, and standard sides (rice beans guac, sc, etc). And none of it ever tastes *good* ... it's all just ... decent.
Rico's Tacos might be the real deal taco truck experience, but I guarantee u they cut every corner imaginable. Perhaps they make authentic decent taco truck food, but they're still using the cheapest possible ingredients.
Hola is #1 ... La Rosa is #2 ... and Baja Fresh is clearly #3 ... depending on whether or not u like El Burrito.
Here's what Baja Fresh does right: good salsa bar that includes a few salsas (including a fire roasted black poblano salsa) and peppers and fresh cilantro ... good meats that are GRILLED ... several kinds of tacos and burritos ... the perfect prep on tortillas (flat top with some oil, always perfectly warm and soft) ... decent salads and sides and chips and soups and it's CHEAP and their fountain machine actually works correctly.
Lets face it ... a lot of times it comes down to the salsa (that's where El Burrito falls short). La Rosa would be less of a restaurant if it weren't for their excellent chipotle salsa and always perfectly fresh chips. And meats. Baja Fresh's chicken is all white meat grilled nicely ... tender ... yummy. Their Baja fish taco is pretty decent. Even their tortilla soup isn't bad and you're in and out of there in 20 minutes for $5-7 with considerably better food than most of the other places in town.
Now ... I dislike corporate chains as much as the next guy ... but ... this joint is getting it right and you know, that's also important, isn't it? I mean, I'd rather have quality fresh grilled chicken rather than fried mystery cuts. Your aversion for corporate chains shouldn't result in you eating crap. It should be about the food, not just about being down with the little guy, right? I mean, long live the little guy but it's really whether he or she can make a decent taco.
This while I sit here eating a Totino's pizza. It's great being a Gemini! :)
07 December 2008
Hate of the Day
I have so much hate to share. The Hate of the Day Award for today, though, has to go to: that awful BBQ flavor you find on potato chips.
You first had it on some wack Lay's chips or something ... and you've tried other brands ... even more upscale kettle cooked stuff ... and yet ... despite what the package says ... it's all the same noxious BBQ seasoning. They list individual ingredients on the package ... yet ... they all taste precisely the same. You KNOW there's just some packaged BBQ flavor powder out there made by Kraft or something.
Look ... the concept of "BBQ" is a worldwide phenomenon. Everyone has BBQ. Koreans have their kind of BBQ. Africans have BBQ. Caribbeans have BBQ. Everyone. And it's damn good ... so why do we think this awful BBQ flavored red powder is anything but an affront to civilization? I don't know, but I think whomever developed this stuff needs to get a backhand.
And the companies that use this shit need to stop. For the love of God ... there's dozens and dozens of ways to season BBQ ... and really ... the concept of smoke or wood smoke flavor is also kinda essential. But even if you just think about spices ... there's a ton of different ways to season stuff for the BBQ ... it doesn't all need to be tomato powder and molasses powder and whatever else is in that red shit. FUCK THAT. Make up some chips and toss them with a little cumin and salt and lime ... or some smoked paprika ... or something. Please God just don't use that stupid red powder. I think a potato chip that's seasoned with some BBQ style stuff sounds great ... except everyone seems to just buy the red crap and call it good. SO SAD.
Next up in Hate of the Day: CHINESE RESTAURANTS!!
.
04 December 2008
Album of the Day : Jazztronica - Live @ Pi-Rem
Laptop Theft
Second in a series of very riveting posts today ... not the most entertaining of subjects I realize ... but I had a friend who got her laptop stolen recently ... right out of her damn house. I got mine yanked out of my car. You never think it'll happen but it could. Or you could leave it on the roof of your car and drive away. Or smash it with a falling surfboard. It happens.
Lemme just tell u ... three things u should be doing ... easy and you'll kick yourself if you lose your laptop and u haven't done these things
1. write down the serial number, make and model and keep it someplace safe. this is one of the only hopes of getting it back (and you'll need for insurance and all that). if your shit gets stolen, you can't read off the serial number off the machine itself. tricky, eh?
2. put a login password on your machine so you have to type the password every time you log on or turn your machine on. this might seem annoying, but it means nobody can use your computer if they jack it ... they'll have to wipe the hard drive manually and none of your personal info will fall into wrong hands ... including banking info, address info, passwords, etc. for macs this is done in the preferences under security. for PCs ... well I think if you use a PC you should just let it get stolen
3. back up your shit. it's cheap and easy ... and you have no excuse. computers die spontaneously in addition to getting stoled up and crunched ... you'll lose everything ... get an external hard drive bigger than your internal hard drive. for macs, use the Time Capsule utility built in. it's elegant and very nice. for PCs, see #2 above
.
Stunning News: Fabric Softener
Breaking news, folks. I just read what is in fabric softener ... have ya ever wondered? Well ... it's lard ... lard and rendered horse fat and other animal fats ... and a host of chemicals like antimicrobials to keep the fats from globbing up and going rancid.
Spooky. Spray some melted horse on your clothes! Keeps 'em soft!
Riveting reporting going on here. Maybe I should look for a job or something? Come on though that is gross.
02 December 2008
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