Finally, after 15 months I have a computer...now i can start relaying my thoughts and pictures of food again.
YES!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
my hard drive has been jacked. along with my camera. so i feel part of my soul has been snached taking away all my music, pictures, and ability to create more of both.
but then again, fuck it. tie to move on. maybe all that technology is holding me back...thats bullshit too...damn, i need a better excuse for trying to not care.
but then again, fuck it. tie to move on. maybe all that technology is holding me back...thats bullshit too...damn, i need a better excuse for trying to not care.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Defencelink.mil : Your source for quality news
Okay, so on sunday CNN.com publishes an AP article on the whole water contamination issue. I'm sure it was everywhere, but since i'm cheap i didnt buy a Times or Post.
"Dozens of U.S. troops in Iraq fell sick at bases using "unmonitored and potentially unsafe" water supplied by the military and a contractor once owned by Vice President Dick Cheney's former company...A report obtained by The Associated Press said soldiers experienced skin abscesses, cellulitis, skin infections, diarrhea and other illnesses after using discolored, smelly water for personal hygiene and laundry at five U.S. military sites in Iraq.
The Defense Department's inspector general's report, which could be released as early as Monday, found water quality problems between March 2004 and February 2006 at three sites run by contractor KBR Inc., and between January 2004 and December 2006 at two military-operated locations."
Part 2
Logic would suggest the best place to find this report would be the Department of Defence site, defencelink.mil
and I didn't bother searching for the report since I found a better article on the fron page, published yesterday March 13, 2008:
Camp Liberty Water Facility Keeps Troops Hydrated
By Pfc. Samantha Schutz, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
"As the desert weather heats up, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers will need to keep drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration. The Camp Liberty Oasis International Waters water treatment facility has been working 24 hours a day since the summer of 2005 to provide a continuous flow of purified bottled water to the thirsty troops.
...'Our water is probably more processed than (brand-name bottled waters in the United States) because of the military’s standard,' [Bruce] Everson said
....After the bottles are filled and sealed, a laser inscribes the water’s date of production and the code for which water purification system produced it. The code on the bottle is a way for the company’s quality assurance department to track complaints, although most people have only good things to say about the product, Everson said.
“Nothing gets released until it meets all the standards,” he added. “Our water is quality; I have no worries about that.”
Part 3
Alright, pretty clear cut...and the Defense Dept suggest that there is no evidence that anyone fell ill to the contaminated water during a press conference on the 10th.
Mr. Morrell: "Everywhere you go they make it perfectly clear that you don't want to drink the water, so I'm a little surprised myself that this is an issue. As I understand it, the bottled water, which is what you're supposed to be drinking in Iraq, had no issues whatsoever in the testing that was done. Evidently, there was some issue with some of the other water that was, I guess, primarily meant for washing. ...
....And -- but still, based upon this IG report, which I think is over 14 months old or something by now, the period in question, that there's no evidence that any of the illnesses were related to the water."
Part 4
But wait! Our friends over at Halliburton Watch have been talking about this since september.
"...Former KBR employees and water quality specialists, Ben Carter and Ken May, told HalliburtonWatch that KBR knowingly exposes troops and civilians to contaminated water from Iraq's Euphrates River. One internal KBR email provided to HalliburtonWatch says that, for "possibly a year," the level of contamination at one camp was two times the normal level for untreated water.
"I discovered the water being delivered from the Euphrates for the military was not being treated properly and thousands were being exposed daily to numerous pathogenic organisms," Carter informed HalliburtonWatch. ...
...Carter and May agree that KBR supplies bottled water for drinking, but that it's "absolutely untrue" that it's used for food preparation. Moreover, they never observed any posted signs or notices informing personnel not to drink the tap water, a possible sign of corporate negligence. ...
...Carter resigned two weeks prior to Ken May, discovering what he said was "unsafe water and pressure to cover it up." "I tried to correct the problem, only to be blackballed by management and I eventually left this employment," Carter told HalliburtonWatch."
Part 1
Anyways....in brief (or read the whole thing here):"Dozens of U.S. troops in Iraq fell sick at bases using "unmonitored and potentially unsafe" water supplied by the military and a contractor once owned by Vice President Dick Cheney's former company...A report obtained by The Associated Press said soldiers experienced skin abscesses, cellulitis, skin infections, diarrhea and other illnesses after using discolored, smelly water for personal hygiene and laundry at five U.S. military sites in Iraq.
The Defense Department's inspector general's report, which could be released as early as Monday, found water quality problems between March 2004 and February 2006 at three sites run by contractor KBR Inc., and between January 2004 and December 2006 at two military-operated locations."
Part 2
Logic would suggest the best place to find this report would be the Department of Defence site, defencelink.mil
and I didn't bother searching for the report since I found a better article on the fron page, published yesterday March 13, 2008:
Camp Liberty Water Facility Keeps Troops Hydrated
By Pfc. Samantha Schutz, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
"As the desert weather heats up, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers will need to keep drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration. The Camp Liberty Oasis International Waters water treatment facility has been working 24 hours a day since the summer of 2005 to provide a continuous flow of purified bottled water to the thirsty troops.
...'Our water is probably more processed than (brand-name bottled waters in the United States) because of the military’s standard,' [Bruce] Everson said
....After the bottles are filled and sealed, a laser inscribes the water’s date of production and the code for which water purification system produced it. The code on the bottle is a way for the company’s quality assurance department to track complaints, although most people have only good things to say about the product, Everson said.
“Nothing gets released until it meets all the standards,” he added. “Our water is quality; I have no worries about that.”
Part 3
Alright, pretty clear cut...and the Defense Dept suggest that there is no evidence that anyone fell ill to the contaminated water during a press conference on the 10th.
Mr. Morrell: "Everywhere you go they make it perfectly clear that you don't want to drink the water, so I'm a little surprised myself that this is an issue. As I understand it, the bottled water, which is what you're supposed to be drinking in Iraq, had no issues whatsoever in the testing that was done. Evidently, there was some issue with some of the other water that was, I guess, primarily meant for washing. ...
....And -- but still, based upon this IG report, which I think is over 14 months old or something by now, the period in question, that there's no evidence that any of the illnesses were related to the water."
Part 4
But wait! Our friends over at Halliburton Watch have been talking about this since september.
"...Former KBR employees and water quality specialists, Ben Carter and Ken May, told HalliburtonWatch that KBR knowingly exposes troops and civilians to contaminated water from Iraq's Euphrates River. One internal KBR email provided to HalliburtonWatch says that, for "possibly a year," the level of contamination at one camp was two times the normal level for untreated water.
"I discovered the water being delivered from the Euphrates for the military was not being treated properly and thousands were being exposed daily to numerous pathogenic organisms," Carter informed HalliburtonWatch. ...
...Carter and May agree that KBR supplies bottled water for drinking, but that it's "absolutely untrue" that it's used for food preparation. Moreover, they never observed any posted signs or notices informing personnel not to drink the tap water, a possible sign of corporate negligence. ...
...Carter resigned two weeks prior to Ken May, discovering what he said was "unsafe water and pressure to cover it up." "I tried to correct the problem, only to be blackballed by management and I eventually left this employment," Carter told HalliburtonWatch."
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Mac N Cheese Pancakes
A couple months ago I saw the documentary 'I Like Killing Flies' about a restauranteur Kenny Shopsins and his then West Village establishment, Shopsins (now located in the Essex Street Market in the Lower East Side). \
Anyways, the menu is creative to say the least. Several hundred items packed onto one sheet of paper all made to order in a kitchen smaller than my cubicle.
Going there with my good friends Michelle and Jon, we decided to get breakfast but knew that we needed to try his infamous Mac N Cheese Pancakes.
Not wanting to look like a d-bag I shy'd away from taking a picture, but I can honestly say they were one of the most heavenly things I have ever tasted. So cheesy and gooey with great pasta, and what made it spectacular was the ever so light and fluffy pancake batter.
So luckily, my friend Erin gave me her leftover mac n cheese a week later and I knew what to do. I freaked out for 20 minutes and Ta-Dow!...Booya...my own mac n cheese pancakes. Just mix pancake batter and tons of the Mac and griddle it up. So easy and so delicious!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Atrotious Grammar
Adam is creepy.
And i want to add photos of my mac n cheese pancakes so i can get linked to blogs people actually read, but this library is kind of bumming out.
And i want to add photos of my mac n cheese pancakes so i can get linked to blogs people actually read, but this library is kind of bumming out.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
kickball!
So my soon to be housemate was telling me about adult kickball in DC. Then I have immediate flashback to senior week of college, when Balls To The Wall failed miserably 19-0 in their first tournament game.
But anyways, she is telling me about how in DC, there is not just one, but two (2) kickball divisions. WAKA, the nationally recognized kickball organization, and DC Kickball , the spinoff organization that apparently claims that WAKA does not give enough money for donations. And now I have found out the there is a new third kickball organization, NAKID which definitely wins for best name.
So which organization is the best?
That has yet to be determined.
But they all do happy hour once a week and heavily promote flip cup.
Awesome!
oh, and i think this local kickball rivalry would make a great documentary.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Cornelius: Coolest Band and Live Performance Ever
Its one thing to like their music. But shit, the show was crazy. 3 Japanese dudes and 1 chick, making crazy sounds with some of the awesomest avant-garde videos.
ahhh!!!!!
go see Cornelius live!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AeodCMHCFk
what the fuck, i cant put an embeded video on this blog anymore!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Dessert Fight
I've had some awesome deserts recently.
#1: White Chocolate Bread Pudding, topped with Vanilla Ice Cream and Caramel.
Verdict: The best decision to skip dinner ever. Actually I had fresh pulled noodles a few hours before in Chinatown (only after rolling into this place I realized I had seen this guy on youtube a week earlier thanks to stuart). Anyways, probably the best bread pudding I've ever had. The only time such pudding has compared was at some dive bar in Philly last year, but it was BananaBread Pudding. Oh MAN!!! I wish i had pictures.
Anyways, go to Busboys & Poets in the hip U street area of DC and read a book and eat the bread pudding. Be careful, you might be so relaxed you shit yourself with joy.
#2. Heading down to the lower east side of new york, i met up with some friends at Brown, a little wine bar and bistro. The cats we met up with were in the middle of dessert, and it was this Flan Cheesecake served with strawberries and blueberies. As two creamy, succulent desserts came together, I did'nt know what to htink. they blended so well, i did not know which was the base, the flan or the cheesecake. The serving was a perfect size to sip down that last cup of wine.
#1: White Chocolate Bread Pudding, topped with Vanilla Ice Cream and Caramel.
Verdict: The best decision to skip dinner ever. Actually I had fresh pulled noodles a few hours before in Chinatown (only after rolling into this place I realized I had seen this guy on youtube a week earlier thanks to stuart). Anyways, probably the best bread pudding I've ever had. The only time such pudding has compared was at some dive bar in Philly last year, but it was BananaBread Pudding. Oh MAN!!! I wish i had pictures.
Anyways, go to Busboys & Poets in the hip U street area of DC and read a book and eat the bread pudding. Be careful, you might be so relaxed you shit yourself with joy.
#2. Heading down to the lower east side of new york, i met up with some friends at Brown, a little wine bar and bistro. The cats we met up with were in the middle of dessert, and it was this Flan Cheesecake served with strawberries and blueberies. As two creamy, succulent desserts came together, I did'nt know what to htink. they blended so well, i did not know which was the base, the flan or the cheesecake. The serving was a perfect size to sip down that last cup of wine.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
From Pub Burger to Pub Duck Confit
Fathers Office in Santa Monica is home to great wine, greater beers, and probably the best burger known to mankind. I really don't think I can have a better one. But after having it a few times I needed to try something else off the gourmet pub menu.
The special that caught my eye was the Duck Confit Salad (12.50).
Holy shit did my body go into shock with each bite. Perfectly cooked duck confit with an amazing perfectly sized salad of mustard greens, tangerines, candied hazelnuts, and whatever mouth watering vinaigrette.
And if you want an amazing apetizer with your sweet amber ale...go for the Spanish Mushrooms (4.50). Only recently have I found an appreciation for mushrooms, but these will reign supreme for a long time. So tender, so perfect, so garlicky, so papricky!
If i could have this bar (without all the yuppie pricks and with the cool ron paul fans and food critics) near me at all times along with a taco truck, my life would be pretty swell.
The special that caught my eye was the Duck Confit Salad (12.50).
Holy shit did my body go into shock with each bite. Perfectly cooked duck confit with an amazing perfectly sized salad of mustard greens, tangerines, candied hazelnuts, and whatever mouth watering vinaigrette.
And if you want an amazing apetizer with your sweet amber ale...go for the Spanish Mushrooms (4.50). Only recently have I found an appreciation for mushrooms, but these will reign supreme for a long time. So tender, so perfect, so garlicky, so papricky!
If i could have this bar (without all the yuppie pricks and with the cool ron paul fans and food critics) near me at all times along with a taco truck, my life would be pretty swell.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
It's official: i depart on sunday.
Deciding to leave LA has been both easy and hard. Sometimes I cant stand it here, but at the same time, I want to experience everything this city has to offer.
This is a list of things I want to do again or for the first time in the 4 days and nights I have left. Most of these things, if not all, relate to dancing, drinking, and music.
Wed: Swing dancing in el segundo. I have chosen this over Money Mark, who rules, and its yet another chance that I've missed out on a great cheap show at the Troubadour, which I've always wanted to go to.
Thurs: Part of me wants to re-connect with Zanzibar for Afro Funke night. If that does not work out, there is always one last chance at Carbon or this sweet Mexican bar near my house which has amazing live music, and a LASER disco ball that might give you glaucoma.
Friday: Jon Brion...again? Its a great show, but I've seen it before. There is also another shot at Concrete Frequency at Disney Hall, but I doubt I will be able to make it in time for student rush tickets ($10). Or maybe some real latin vibes at La Cita in downtown.
Saturday: Another chance at Concrete Freq or Brion, but maybe something else will pop up. I think i need to go to the Dali exhibit one more time. Its just that overwhelming.
During these next few days, time needs to be made to go to these restaurants:
John O Groats and Maxwells for breakfast.
The Fathers Office for another burger.
La Cabana at 2am for fancy drunk mexican food.
El Gran Burrito at some ridiculous time of day.
This other Mexican spot by USC.
Friache in Culver City
Mozza, the new Mario Bitali Restaurant.
oh, this is overwhelming...im going to begin packing...
This is a list of things I want to do again or for the first time in the 4 days and nights I have left. Most of these things, if not all, relate to dancing, drinking, and music.
Wed: Swing dancing in el segundo. I have chosen this over Money Mark, who rules, and its yet another chance that I've missed out on a great cheap show at the Troubadour, which I've always wanted to go to.
Thurs: Part of me wants to re-connect with Zanzibar for Afro Funke night. If that does not work out, there is always one last chance at Carbon or this sweet Mexican bar near my house which has amazing live music, and a LASER disco ball that might give you glaucoma.
Friday: Jon Brion...again? Its a great show, but I've seen it before. There is also another shot at Concrete Frequency at Disney Hall, but I doubt I will be able to make it in time for student rush tickets ($10). Or maybe some real latin vibes at La Cita in downtown.
Saturday: Another chance at Concrete Freq or Brion, but maybe something else will pop up. I think i need to go to the Dali exhibit one more time. Its just that overwhelming.
During these next few days, time needs to be made to go to these restaurants:
John O Groats and Maxwells for breakfast.
The Fathers Office for another burger.
La Cabana at 2am for fancy drunk mexican food.
El Gran Burrito at some ridiculous time of day.
This other Mexican spot by USC.
Friache in Culver City
Mozza, the new Mario Bitali Restaurant.
oh, this is overwhelming...im going to begin packing...
Sunday, January 6, 2008
DC Housing
I've been contemplating moving to DC for the sake of an internship...
In doing so, I have begun preliminary craigslist searches for housing, just in case the people I know out there get sick of my mooching too quickly.
This is one response I've received:
In doing so, I have begun preliminary craigslist searches for housing, just in case the people I know out there get sick of my mooching too quickly.
This is one response I've received:
Hi, Avishai
It is available right now, but I do not know situation in middle of Jan. XM radio is little far from my place. I recommend one place where is about 6 miles away.
Are you an African American? If so, you could find the housing near XM radio.
If not, the place I give you may be the best.
Thanks for inquiring!
News agencies are keeping strong candidates out of the debates.
Shady practices are keeping Kucinich away from being a viable candidate. Last night's ABC/Facebook debate refused to let Kucinich participate and how he's going to the FCC.
I am no staunch supporter or anything, although I do agree with many of his views, but the fact is, every candidate should have an equal chance to voice their platform and ideas in an open debate forum. It should not be up to the biased media conglomerates do decide this.
...and it looks like it will happen again tonight, but this time with Ron Paul...disappointing...
I am no staunch supporter or anything, although I do agree with many of his views, but the fact is, every candidate should have an equal chance to voice their platform and ideas in an open debate forum. It should not be up to the biased media conglomerates do decide this.
...and it looks like it will happen again tonight, but this time with Ron Paul...disappointing...
Friday, January 4, 2008
At least we can begin counting down to her 18th birthday.
So yea, I'm a couple months late on this article "Hurricane Hannah," but she's still probably the biggest start in the states right now, and I am so fascinated why kids like her. Plus, I just found out Miley Cyrus is the daughter of the achey breaky heart, Billy Ray!!!
TIME makes a pretty legit argument for why parents are getting conned in to paying several hundred bucks for a kids concert, but it still does not excuse the fact that children over 8 years old are still watching Disney Channel. And it does not fit with the bullshit academic theory of KGOY (Kids Get Older Younger--thats right, they had to make this inane term an acronym), which sounds like some kind of off-shoot of NAMBLA.
With relation to media intelligence, kids are really getting older later. The advent of satellite TV in so many households and its access to such a variety of content, children now can continue watching children's programming 24 hours a day and not just from 6-8am. (Damn, I miss the line-up of Mr Wizard, TMNT, Inspector Gadget, and He-Man). Today, pre-teens have no concept of prime-time television content. No, they don't watch nightly newscasts, foodtv, or even the Office or 30 Rock; they watch High School Musical repeats. This is pathetic, and parents should be to blame, not commended.
What's even worse is that all kids want these days (and this is through an informal survey of the kids I work with on a daily basis) is an IPhone (even though they don't really know what it can do) and to listen to Soulja Boy (which besides its trite and mundane music and lyrics, was a hit four months ago). This is what Disney and children's programming is selling children, and while I think this is genius on the behalf of a falling empire, parents are treading down a slippery slope of mindless, education-less consumerism.
simply pathetic.
TIME makes a pretty legit argument for why parents are getting conned in to paying several hundred bucks for a kids concert, but it still does not excuse the fact that children over 8 years old are still watching Disney Channel. And it does not fit with the bullshit academic theory of KGOY (Kids Get Older Younger--thats right, they had to make this inane term an acronym), which sounds like some kind of off-shoot of NAMBLA.
With relation to media intelligence, kids are really getting older later. The advent of satellite TV in so many households and its access to such a variety of content, children now can continue watching children's programming 24 hours a day and not just from 6-8am. (Damn, I miss the line-up of Mr Wizard, TMNT, Inspector Gadget, and He-Man). Today, pre-teens have no concept of prime-time television content. No, they don't watch nightly newscasts, foodtv, or even the Office or 30 Rock; they watch High School Musical repeats. This is pathetic, and parents should be to blame, not commended.
What's even worse is that all kids want these days (and this is through an informal survey of the kids I work with on a daily basis) is an IPhone (even though they don't really know what it can do) and to listen to Soulja Boy (which besides its trite and mundane music and lyrics, was a hit four months ago). This is what Disney and children's programming is selling children, and while I think this is genius on the behalf of a falling empire, parents are treading down a slippery slope of mindless, education-less consumerism.
simply pathetic.
Zeitgeist-sheitgeist
initial thoughts after watching one, five, or ten minutes of this film include--
1. mmm, I love this piece of propoganda
2. who really cares about astrology
4. i cant wait to see what persuasive visual and narrative elements are left for the next hour and 45 minutes.
oh damn, this shit gets intense...and there is great pieces about WTC and the Federal Reserve. Nice...
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/
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