The currently free (ad-sponsored) Charlie Rose interviews on Google Video aren’t all about politics. He has interviews with Peter Jackson and cast members from The Lord of the Rings, the cast of The Matrix Reloaded, and of course I had to go look for one with David Bowie.
Defective Yeti doesn’t realize that only transparent bins are approved for toddler storage.
Although the Food Network’s official Feasting on Asphalt website is satisfyingly comprehensive about route and restaurant details, there’s more good stuff on Alton Brown’s own website including a details on his motorcycle gear and a list of articles and appearances. Also, Good Eats fans should not miss the recent “Behind the Scenes” episode which finally answers the question of why they had to move from that real house kitchen to an almost identical one built in a studio (you noticed, right?).
We interrupt the posting drought to announce that Cody’s Books on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, CA closed its doors forever on Monday. The store celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sunday. Two smaller Cody’s remain open on Fourth St in Berkeley and Stockton St in San Francisco. Suddenly I want to visit Moe’s Books again.
Where’ve you been?
Shipping software and raising a toddler == not much time for writing.
Actor/director Kenneth Branagh is bringing opera, specifically Mozart’s The Magic Flute, to the movie screen. He’s set high standards for acting ability and audible words. The singers, new and established opera performers, took rigorous acting lessons. The libretto was translated into English. And to bring the story even closer into our purview the plot has been reset in World War I. In 1975 Ingmar Bergman’s filmed Swedish version was shown on Swedish television.
Powell’s City of Books in Portland, Oregon is one of the most wonderful places in the world. In the Seattle Times profile of Emily Powell, heir to the family store, you find such historical tidbits such as the fact that the building was formerly a car dealership, a customer’s remains are inside a statue near an entryway, and the workers are unionized. Emily is an only child and owner Michael Powell didn’t have a “Plan B” if she had decided not to go into the family business. Luckily we will be spared that scenario, for this generation anyway.
Although I enjoy using Play-Doh I hate how it smells and how the odor lingers on my hands afterwards. So I can’t believe that they’ve actually bottled the scent for a Play-Doh 50th birthday perfume. Yuk.
The Louisville Slugger factory is churning out hundreds of special orders for pink baseball bats and shipping them to major league players who will be participating in a Mother’s Day event to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Many players have asked that their bats be branded with the names of wives, mothers, and other female relatives. Pink will also make an appearance on wristbands, the bases, home plate, lineup cards, and of course pink ribbons will grace player’s uniforms. Most of these items will then be auctioned off.
The Seattle Times has published the recipe for the Rhubarb Brown Butter Almond Cake served at the Gates’ dinner for Chinese President Hu. I see an interesting twist in this recipe. The true Chinese almond is actually an apricot kernel, related, of course, to the almond we’re accustomed to here, and there are two main varieties: northern (bitter) and southern (sweet). Chef David Jue brushed his almond cake, which I assume was made with American almond flour, with melted apricot jam.