Tomorrow marks the start of National Poetry Writing Month, when folks gear up to write a poem a day for 30 days- 30/30. In preparation, I’ve stumbled upon and want to share an oldie and a goodie. By Richard Brautigan.
DECEMBER 30
At 1:03 in the morning a fart
smells like a marriage between
an avocado and a fish head.
I have to get out of bed
to write this down without
My glasses on.
Chances are you didn’t grow up in Portland. I didn’t either. That’s why the Dill Pickle Club’s dinner lecture series exploring and sharing Portland’s independent musical history is so fascinating. A must check-out for anyone in the current PDX music scene or lover of the evolutions of independent music culture.
Click to continue reading “Storytellers Share Portland’s Musical History”
I first saw my favorite ad on mute, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. Perhaps you know the one: America, from Levi’s Go Forth Campaign. Visual poetry plucking at your soul strings vs your pocketbook–not your typical digest of capitalism.
Over at Brains On Fire, they shared some historical context that further builds this campaign’s rich pallet:
Both Legos and the Matrix are extremely cool. So it’s no surprise that this video follows suit. Thanks to all those people who pursue their passions if for no other reason than to make the world a more enjoyable place.
You can even check it out side-by-side with the original.
As Rachel Maddow put it, this Irishman went “all Anglo Saxon” on the other guy’s arse. Apparently, we’re wearing off a bit.
Place beets in a large pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and simmer until beets are tender, about 30 minutes. Drain, then peel under cold running water. Set aside to cool. Trim the tops off the fennel and slice bulbs in half lengthwise. Remove core and slice bulbs lengthwise in 1/4-inch-thick strips. Return the large pot to the stove, add olive oil and butter/butter substitute. Once hot, add fennel, season well with salt and pepper, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Add vermouth, mustard and lemon juice and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, slice peeled beets into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Add beets to the pot and cook until warmed through, about another 5 minutes. Stir in herbs, taste, and adjust seasoning as desired.
Kale Crostini
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 375 F. Brush bread slices with 2 tbsp. olive oil; arrange bread on baking sheet. Bake until beginning to color, about 5 mins. Rub toasts with halved garlic.
Heat 4 tbsp. olive oil in heavy large pot over med. – high heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, stir 30 seconds. Add kale and broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 mins. Uncover and continue to simmer until the kale is tender and broth evaporated, stirring often, about 15 mins. Salt and pepper to taste. Top toasts with kale. Drizzle with remaining olive and oil and serve.
Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Simmer gently until cranberries are all popped. You can make this ahead of time and re-warn or serve chilled.
As I sit on a secluded beach on the North shore of Maui, I’m not quite ready to digest and share my experiences. So I’ve decided to share a few comments I received this morning, apparently found elsewhere (somewhere on a message board site) on the internet. May you find peace in knowing we share neuroses and deep thoughts.
I don’t understand the purpose of the line, “I don’t need to drink to have fun.” Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they’ve invented the lighter?The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email with the phrase “Regards” again.
Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn’t work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ’s. We just figured it out. Today’s kids are soft.
I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.
Lol has gone from meaning, “laugh out loud” to “I have nothing else to say”.
My brother’s Municipal League baseball team is named the Stepdads. Seeing as none of the guys on the team are actual stepdads, I inquired about the name. He explained, “Cuz we beat you, and you hate us.” Classy, bro.
What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?
While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it…thanks Mario Kart.
MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
Bad decisions make good stories.If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.
I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it’s on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.
Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles…
It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.
My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day “Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?” How the hell do I respond to that?
I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.
Just today I was asked to “explain this fixies hipster bike thing vs whatever is not fixies hipster” and I think I did a fine job. Then, as a cherry to top it off, I found this video that I just have to share. Enjoy!
oh yes. the fixies are rather simple: when the pedals move, the tires move in the same direction. and when the tires move, the pedals move. this means NO COASTING down hills. no coasting = “crazy.” they’re meant to be track bikes – for flat, circular races. no gears = less weight = faster. oh, and most fixies don’t have brakes. since you don’t need brakes in a race…
i’m pretty sure the hipsters adopted the fixies since it means you must be kewl to [1] know about track racing; [2] knowingly use a device against it’s intended purpose; [3] embrace danger and awkward brilliance (a friend of mine used to use the heal of his shoe as a brake); [4] want to work hard for “fun”. (have you noticed that hipsters are all about that old American Protestant ideal that you must appear to work hard to deserve any of life’s splendor? They give no kudos for folks who devise a way to work “smarter” rather than “harder”…)
And your dessert…
This recipe catches my attention after I spend a weekend bicycling from Seattle to Portland. For two days I crave water only to find canned and bottled substitutes more available, each with their own claim of being better than water while being comprised mostly of water. And I can’t decipher the ingredients lists because I opted for physics over chemistry in college. That’s not to say I think they are bad for me. I simply don’t know and don’t trust the food and non-alcoholic drink packagers by default.
As with the hydration, the majority of the fuel support teams and volunteers offer comes in sealed packages, from Cliff bars to Rice Krispy bars to granola snacks to electrolyte chews. Eating upwards of 5,000+ calories in one day is difficult, so I quickly decide to skip attempting to decipher what I’m eating and commit to further investigation after I make it home.
So I’m very excited to try this pre-ride or pre-run snack bar recipe. If it’s as tasty as it looks, I’ll be enjoying the extra cash from not having to buy snack bars at $2-$3 a pop as well as the energy. (Source: Active.com.)
Coconut-Almond Bars
How To: Combine two cups rolled oats, one cup unsweetened coconut, and ½ cup each: dates (or raisins), raw almonds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and cashews. Mix 1 ½ cups tahini (or natural peanut butter) with one cup honey and one teaspoon vanilla. Microwave for one minute. Combine wet and dry ingredients. On a greased baking sheet, spread mixture into a one-inch-high rectangle. Cut into 12 bars. Or, if time allows, bake at 350° F for 15 minutes.
How Come: This recipe for energy bars, adapted from The Bakery in New Paltz, New York, has powered runners, bikers, and climbers for nearly 30 years. The dates and honey provide quick carbs, while the nuts are high in healthy fats, which help sustain energy levels. “People doing the fat-free thing often find they’re hungry all the time,” says Cooke. The oats keep cholesterol in check, and research shows “the fiber in oats may offset the risk of upper-respiratory infections, which are common in runners,” says Dikos.
I snagged this recipe from Blackbird Wine Shop’s newsletter.
When it comes to BBQ, I look to Billy Stubbs Texas Pit Master. He is my own mentor when it comes to grillin’, smokin’, chillin’. Stubbs schooled me in the way of the sauce like the Black Obi Wan Kenobi. I went with it. On faith. It works.
Traditionally, Texas barbecue is served with a homemade barbecue sauce, usually served warm. Below is a simple recipe for a Texas style barbecue sauce. This type sauce is usually a table condiment as opposed to a sauce used to baste the meat while cooking.
Ingredients
- 16 oz can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup (4 oz) water
- 1/4 cup (2 oz) vinegar
- 2 tbs brown sugar
- 1/2 fresh onion – pureed or 2 tbs onion powder
- 2-4 fresh garlic pods or 1 tbs minced garlic-pureed, or 1 tbs garlic powder
- 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbs coarse black pepper
- 1 tbs Paprika
- 1 tsp Tobasco sauce
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp liquid smoke
- 1 tsp salt or cajun seasoning
Mix and Simmer:
- Puree the fresh onion and garlic, if using fresh.
- Add all ingredients to a thick walled pot.
- Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add water or simmer longer to achieve the desired thickness; I do not like it too thick.
- Makes a little over a pint , depending on how much you cook it down.
- Keep refrigerated. The sauce is acid enough to store for several weeks in the refrigerator.
Comments:
- The sauce is best served warm for either dipping or poured over the meat.
- The sauce is also good to mix with diced brisket to make chopped brisket sandwiches.
- It is best to make the sauce a day early, cool in the refrigerator, then re-warmed the next day. It seems like cooling and storing the sauce smoothes out the flavors.
For an sub-excellent “Mopping and Dipping Sauce” check these neanderthals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyHP1uzurxk