Peanut butter now comes in a squeeze tube. Tubed foods are joining upside-down plastic squeeze bottles as the new packaging trend in the U.S.

Malcolm Gladwell had a wonderful essay on ketchup in the New Yorker’s food issue. The most intriguing part of the article is not specifically about ketchup at all, but the research of Howard Moskowitz. Remember when extra-chunky spaghetti sauces started appearing in the supermarket? He’s the one behind it. The essence of his discoveries from taste-testing for Pepsi and Prego is that there is “plural perfection.” Not everyone likes the same thing. It seems obvious, but food manufacturers were originally catering to a mainstream taste that they tried to meld together from focus groups and other research methods. Instead, Moskowitz showed that segmentation could uncover new profits, hence the concoction of a new product for extra-chunky sauce lovers. Now there is “very nearly an optimal spaghetti sauce for every man, woman, and child in America.” It remains to be seen whether the “Moskowitz rule” applies to ketchup (and I don’t think purple and blue ketchup count).

As political placards sprout like so many dandelions around our neighborhood, I confess to wanting to do a little judicious weeding. It’s not politically motivated, but rather I am annoyed when someone has decided to post the exact same sign multiple times in the same small area in order to overwhelm their opponent’s sign placement. Thus I’ve been wondering what laws govern these campaign signs. This Seattle Times article answers some of my questions. It is illegal in Washington state to remove a lawfully placed political sign. But, at least in Bellevue, signs must be removed by seven days after an election, so I have a deadline to look forward to.

The landmark TWA terminal at JFK Airport, closed since 2001, reopened to the public as the venue for a modern art exhibit last week and then abruptly closed again after the opening night party got out of hand. The Port Authority revoked the exhibit’s permit after partygoers paid little respect to the building, leaving behind graffiti, vomit, cigarette butts and broken glass. The terminal building will eventually be incorporated into a new terminal being built for JetBlue.

Buried in a NY Times Magazine essay on the Mars’ company investment in chocolate-as-health-food research is this interesting tidbit: “Mars is a huge player in the vending business. Not only is it among the leading providers of electronic components in vending machines, but it is also the top company in vending-machine candy sales. (Mars is second only to Frito-Lay in overall snack-food sales at those machines.)” Who knew that all those M&Ms; packets sit on electronic components from the same parent company? A web search turns up MEI, “one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electronic bill acceptors, coin mechanisms and other electronic payment systems.” According to their About page, Mars engineers developed the first electronic coin mechanism in the 1960s. (Read The Emperors of Chocolate for the corporate view of those yummy treats.)

Architect Michael Graves has a new view on accessibility; sadly the design guru is now paralyzed from the waist down, the result of a spinal infection. Graves modified his “architectural statement” house for wheelchair access with an elegant elevator and large shower room featuring blue-glass tiles. His architecture and design firms are moving full speed ahead with new buildings and products. Graves is also keeping up a busy schedule, despite pain.

JBX…no it’s not the code for an obscure airport. It’s the name for the new “fast-casual” restaurants taking over certain Jack in the Box locations. Sitting somewhere between greasy fast food joints and full-service casual restaurants, JBX locations serve a fancier menu (chicken-avocado club sandwich) with a healthier image. Prices are higher than you’d spend for a burger and fries, but, hey, you get a choice of six dipping sauces. The decor is likened to that of Starbucks. Already open in San Diego, the company announced last month that it will be expanding JBX into Boise, Idaho and Dallas. Here are menu scans and photo links from a San Diego blog. Other fast food chains are propping up the higher end of their menus with Angus beef burgers at Hardee’s and fancy salads at Wendy’s.

Two diamonds, a 47 carat and 1 carat, were stolen out of a display case right from under everyone’s nose at a Paris antique show last week. No video cameras or alarms were in place, a fact that the thieves took great advantage of. European investigators are blaming a Balkan-based team called the Pink Panthers. The group sent in a rush of buyers to overwhelm the sales and security people. The missing diamonds will likely be cut up for sale.

I’m all too familiar with the shenanigans of amateur musicians in the orchestra pit and apparently the fun doesn’t stop in the pro leagues. The NY Times’ look at pit musicians who are hidden from view (necessitated by lack of space) reveals a fun loving atmosphere fed by the boredom of repetition. On public view in the theatre pit you may see musicians reading the paper or making reeds; at one Broadway show I remember watching the oboist leave and return multiple times as his notes were few and far between (we joked that his timing worked out such that he was simultaneously “moonlighting” at the musical across the street). In the hidden back rooms musicians are able to let loose with hijinks and more involved endeavors such as letter writing and mini-golf, though they deny making phone calls or accepting margaritas from the cast.

Thank you everyone for the congratulatory emails and links. We are doing well with our new little guy. I’ll try to get through the email stack soon and of course I can’t anticipate how frequent postings here will be but we shall see how it goes.