Pocky, squid, and 50 pound bags of rice
There were a respectable number of non-Asians at 99 Ranch today (I actually call it “Ranch 99”). This west coast supermarket chain carries Asian foodstuffs of all sorts. The SF Chronicle’s Rob Morse goes there to marvel at its vast variety, calling it “the supermarket of the new California millennium.” I don’t go there very often because they bag their produce into family-sized (or perhaps vegetarian sized) portions, but I visit to stock up on Asian pantry staples like soy sauce and rice. The atmosphere can be overwhelming and the Asian culture’s tinier personal space comfort zone is apparent as you battle your way through busy areas. But I can see the attraction for non-Asians to come experience 99 Ranch, not just for the availability of interesting ingredients. It’s a fascinating place with live fish, exotic fruits and greens, strange snack foods, and foreign smells. It’s Chinatown without the touristy facade. Anyone want to split a bag of gai lan?

Samsung has a teaser page up for their official Matrix phone (that’s Matrix as in that little movie sequel or two being released this year).

From stationwagon.com, here’s The History of the Station Wagon. Ever wondered where the name came from? “They were vehicles that were used as wagons (to carry passengers and cargo) from (railroad) stations.” I’ve owned two and I’ve only owned two cars. My parents always had wagons or hatchbacks, so it just felt like the right shape to get. Plus, I can comfortably transport an entire string quartet with instruments and non-folding stands. If you’re yearning for wood siding, the FAQ describes the best techniques for replacing fake woodtrim. (via a NY Times article about a man who paid a private detective $250 to find his dream car: a 1971 Dodge Monaco station wagon. When he says “I knew I needed professional help,” detective was not the profession that first came to my mind.)

Good yummy meat. Not for the vegetarians out there, these Bay Area gourmet butcher shops sell the top of the line in aged beef and specialty cuts. I highly recommend Schaub’s “Fred’s steak” to local red-meat-eater readers for your next cookout. It’s a sight to see (black on the outside), and I can’t begin to describe the mouth-watering flavor. Make sure you let it rest after cooking to retain the yummy juices.

Atari dies…again.
The final vestiges of Atari Games were bought by Midway Games from Time-Warner Interactive in 1996. Their arcade games group was gone by 2001 but there were still developers working on console games in Milpitas, CA under the name “Midway West.” This group continued using the domain “agames.com” for email, short for “Atari Games.” Now, what was left of Atari is going the way of the dodo. Midway is closing down Midway West. The Atari name is still held by Infograms, so that can live on, but the last gasp of a developer group is finally being wiped. (Note: Despite what this Atari history page says at the very bottom, Midway West did survive beyond the 2001 arcade group shutdown.)

On the calendar for this weekend, The 36th California International Antiquarian Book Fair. I think we’ll leave the credit/debit cards and checkbook at home.

The Mercury News takes its turn with hearth cooking expert William Rubel (I posted an SF Chronicle piece about him a month ago). Their profile takes a Valentine’s Day spin with a romantic fondue by the fire. Also mentioned are upscale s’mores with gingersnaps, Valrhona chocolate, and hand-cut marshmallows from Whole Foods. Just like our colonial forefathers used to make.

“Enterprise”‘s Linda Park (Ensign Sato) grew up in the Bay Area and attended Notre Dame High School in San Jose.

U.S. fans of Rowan Atkinson‘s Mr. Bean series may not know that there was an animated series which aired in the U.K. last year. Better send in those PBS pledges.

AT&T; Broadband is finally combining their cable tv and cable modem services into one account, which means one bill. It’s about time. Of course this facilitates their plan to offer discounted billing for those who subscribe to both, but I still hail the convenience.