tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83266844994446815652024-03-19T00:21:57.964-04:00Occam's Samurai SwordLike Occam's Razor...but with more decapitationAdrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-18389113797124896482015-10-12T20:47:00.000-04:002015-10-12T20:47:44.995-04:00A few Philadelphia restaurant micro-reviewsI've hit up several very good to great restaurants in Philadelphia the last few months, so I figured I would post some quick thoughts.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.willbyob.com/">Will</a>: This French-inspired BYOB on Passyunk Avenue features a seasonal menu with really well prepared food. Nothing outrageous, just very, very good.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.townsendrestaurant.com/">Townsend</a>: Another French restaurant on Passyunk Avenue, but this one features an interesting wine list and a very wine-savvy staff. Great food, but my favorite part might have been the wine descriptions offered by our server.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://levirtu.com/">Le Virtu</a>: I've been meaning to visit this Passyunk Avenue Italian restaurant for some time now (this Passyunk Avenue sure has a lot of great places to eat). It did not disappoint. For places known for their pasta, like Le Virtu, I often go whatever pasta <i>con vongole</i> dish they offer. At Le Virtu, the <i>maccheroni alla chitarra con vongole</i> was outstanding. Chitarra is "guitar cut" pasta, basically like spaghetti but with a square cross-section. This dish had a little bit of heat and the pasta was perfectly cooked.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lo-spiedo.com/">Lo Spiedo</a>: One of Marc Vetri's newest ventures, this restaurant located in the old gatehouse of the Naval Yard specializes in grilled and spit-roasted meats. The menu is pretty funky -- it reads like Italian grilling meets Southern classics. I really enjoyed the polenta cornbread (with fatty meat drippings), the grilled chicken wings, and the pork ribs with rosemary.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://buenaondatacos.com/">Buena Onda</a>: Buena Onda is Jose Garces's taco joint and my new favorite local place to eat. They specialize in fish tacos -- my go-to so far are the grilled mahi mahi tacos. Big bonus: they have a soda fountain stocked with Boylan sodas.Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-6931037126723984892015-10-08T15:52:00.001-04:002015-10-08T15:56:07.716-04:00I'm back! And Federal funding of scienceTo be honest, I haven't really gone anywhere, but I haven't posted on this blog in ages. Now, after a 40 month hiatus, I decided I would like a public forum to talk about some things. Without further ado, something that is on my mind.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
Today I received an e-mail from <a href="http://www.faseb.org/">FASEB</a> (Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology) asking me to send e-mails to my senators and representative, <a href="http://www.faseb.org/Policy-and-Government-Affairs/News-Room/Article-Detail-View/tabid/1014/ArticleId/1213/Congress-Raise-the-Caps-Increase-Science-Funding.aspx">urging them to approve the FY2016 budget</a> that includes a $2 billion increase in National Institutes of Health funding and a $50 million increase for the National Science Foundation. So I did, and if you are a scientist or just a concerned citizen that wants to see science research supported in the US, please do so as well!<br />
<br />
Now, I admit a tiny part of me is doing this because, well, I am a researcher myself, and more funding benefits me directly, if only in a very small way. But mostly I care about education. See, when the Federal government gives a grant to a researcher at a university, a large fraction of that money goes to supporting graduate (and sometimes undergraduate) students. It pays tuition, offers a small stipend for doctoral students, and covers material costs for students of all levels to conduct research.<br />
<br />
Why is this important, and why do I feel the need to mention it? I can't count the number of times people have asked me why it is worth tax dollars to study zebrafish (which by the way are awesome <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebrafish#In_scientific_research">model organisms for a lot of biological processes relevant to humans</a>), or what is the point behind some of the (seemingly) more esoteric research conducted at universities. What I tell them, and what I want to say here, is that aside from all the potential practical applications that could eventually derive from research, a big part of research at a university involves training a technically literate workforce and scientifically aware citizens. I have had undergraduates, high school students, master's students, and doctoral students all work in my lab. Some labs have primary / secondary school teachers and just interested citizens doing research in the lab. In all cases, they <i>learn stuff</i>. And they take what they've learned and use it to contribute in myriad ways long after they've left the lab, and in a wide variety of settings -- not just research labs and academia (in fact, those are only a small minority). From my own experience as a student, I learned more doing research -- knowledge, skills, ways of thinking and solving problems -- than I ever learned in classrooms.<br />
<br />
So when the Federal government gives more money to the NIH and NSF, they're not just funding science -- they're helping prepare people for professional and public pursuits of all kinds.Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-19297073150704610272012-06-05T15:00:00.001-04:002012-06-05T15:01:18.016-04:002012 CSA: Week 5This week I graduated to a full CSA share. A friend and colleague of mine decided his family wanted in on the CSA, so we agreed to split a full share. The main benefit, aside from saving money, is that the full shares almost have more variety. After we divided our loot, I came out with the following:<br />
<ul>
<li>Fennel</li>
<li>Red chard</li>
<li>Garlic scapes</li>
<li>Green escarole</li>
<li>Broccoli</li>
<li>Dill</li>
<li>French breakfast radishes</li>
<li>Zucchini</li>
<li>Green kale</li>
<li>Strawberries</li>
</ul>
Since the red chard (not normally a favorite of mine) looked very nice this week, it gets the photo:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp_L5z-ccoG38889jfd6rOph6gYk6rvDxXppoPd5ASULsvKWIHhB1jtnnTRC_qKvEFpzhHPFSpm191WU_tj6kKlUaKUyj3mUBm4J8-OIima-9t90HbYtdfP2AkJrguWDt56bP645Xj78/s1600/RedChard-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp_L5z-ccoG38889jfd6rOph6gYk6rvDxXppoPd5ASULsvKWIHhB1jtnnTRC_qKvEFpzhHPFSpm191WU_tj6kKlUaKUyj3mUBm4J8-OIima-9t90HbYtdfP2AkJrguWDt56bP645Xj78/s320/RedChard-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-77467015356431410232012-05-31T15:30:00.002-04:002012-05-31T15:31:40.979-04:00One Page Dungeon Contest WinnersFor the second straight year, I helped judge (though I was terribly late) the One Page Dungeon Contest (aka 1PDC). For people that run RPGs, this contest is a gold mine of ready made adventures and campaign ideas. <br />
<br />
The contest has been run for several years now by my good friend, Alex Schroeder. Check out this year's winners here: <a href="http://www.emacswiki.org/alex/2012-05-31_One_Page_Dungeon_Contest_Winners_Announced">One Page Dungeon Contest Winners Announced</a>. There are many spectacular entries, and those that did not win are definitely worth a look too.Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-80749243438822059232012-05-29T16:23:00.000-04:002012-05-31T15:31:34.840-04:002012 CSA: Week 4This week heralds the start of fruit share deliveries. Like last year, it begins with strawberries and applesauce, but hopefully by mid-summer I will be reveling in delicious watermelons, like last year.<br />
<ul>
<li>Broccoli</li>
<li>Carrots</li>
<li><strike>Deer tongue lettuce</strike> given away</li>
<li><strike>Romain lettuce</strike> given away</li>
<li><strike>Kale</strike> swapped for garlic scapes</li>
<li>English shell peas</li>
<li>Strawberries</li>
<li>Applesauce</li>
</ul>
As I am prone to do, I already gave away the lettuce (I just find it to be a tremendously boring vegetable, and it almost always goes to waste in my refrigerator).<br />
<br />
This week, I give you a picture of the wonderfully twisty garlic scapes!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQEPv-JzsJSVXZAJXd_aRbx43wnqFj9YDcz7pN3sT3Bz_cfoOldo0mdqBVnXl6WJo-SfgbQZNLiTM46Nd6oDYMOxc_XOUnJHUqMVR508bmezonY8Ze7pBX-VBTVUyG5950sh41x5Rt9A/s1600/garlic+scapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQEPv-JzsJSVXZAJXd_aRbx43wnqFj9YDcz7pN3sT3Bz_cfoOldo0mdqBVnXl6WJo-SfgbQZNLiTM46Nd6oDYMOxc_XOUnJHUqMVR508bmezonY8Ze7pBX-VBTVUyG5950sh41x5Rt9A/s320/garlic+scapes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-75161141230685118982012-05-24T16:11:00.000-04:002012-05-31T15:31:34.838-04:002012 CSA: Week 3Week 3 of the CSA has arrived, and with it a nice selection of produce:<br />
<ul>
<li>Sparkler radishes</li>
<li>Red kale</li>
<li>Portabello mushroom caps</li>
<li>Scallions</li>
<li>Spinach</li>
<li>Strawberries</li>
</ul>
The strawberries, just like last year at this time, were included in my vegetable share (instead of my fruit share, which starts after Memorial Day). And like last year, they were beautiful, red, and pretty tasty.<br />
<br />
This week, though, I will stick with a photo of the sparkler radishes. Regardless of whether you like radishes, you have to admit they are pretty striking vegetables!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZ9WE5jTZSfU8ZLPlORqox_zVBRerIguv8ikQcvL1lpM9FM4M2HLYjBJzxPoZc6TUOBlj1Jhua55uqlJD_DBqHf0mZzpLNjybCwhUPaVXWEK5ThiFm2c2HH2E8xOUSPgTXBwQquRT0xw/s1600/sparkler-radish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZ9WE5jTZSfU8ZLPlORqox_zVBRerIguv8ikQcvL1lpM9FM4M2HLYjBJzxPoZc6TUOBlj1Jhua55uqlJD_DBqHf0mZzpLNjybCwhUPaVXWEK5ThiFm2c2HH2E8xOUSPgTXBwQquRT0xw/s320/sparkler-radish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-33307395936953184642012-05-16T14:15:00.001-04:002012-05-31T15:31:27.403-04:002012 CSA: Week 2Just like last year, the second week of my CSA happens two weeks after the first week -- go figure. Anyways, one of the benefits of my new CSA pick-up location (3400 Spruce St., at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania) is that the location is open until 7 pm, so I can even make it after class sometimes.<br />
<br />
This week's haul is heavy on the greens:<br />
<ul>
<li>Scallions</li>
<li>Green kale</li>
<li>Bok choy</li>
<li>Frisee </li>
<li>Turnip greens</li>
<li>Spinach</li>
<li>Puntarelle stretta (they called it Italian dandelion, but I am not sure about this)</li>
<li>Cremini mushrooms</li>
</ul>
This week's photo is of the puntarelle stretta:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGanCuTv7WKBpICKYEZ_NhstMkt3LDiiOrLx7-39K0Pp0V7An219mlfb0iEWLrKjVpNkeG-x-5VZLriv6azMY2jcsGOzTaFglNybbYX0ga-0ZApw-ebwbIXdGOc9Lcei_AHzKf1V4zmpU/s1600/puntarelle+stretta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGanCuTv7WKBpICKYEZ_NhstMkt3LDiiOrLx7-39K0Pp0V7An219mlfb0iEWLrKjVpNkeG-x-5VZLriv6azMY2jcsGOzTaFglNybbYX0ga-0ZApw-ebwbIXdGOc9Lcei_AHzKf1V4zmpU/s1600/puntarelle+stretta.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-45764694292460284592012-05-04T15:04:00.003-04:002012-05-31T15:31:15.833-04:002012 CSA: Week 1After a long period of silence, outside of my shout out for the Van Gogh exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, I am back, and once again, I am blogging about my CSA.<br />
<br />
At the last minute, I signed up for the <a href="http://www.lancasterfarmfresh.com/">Lancaster Farm Fresh</a> Cooperative CSA, the same organization that ran my CSA last year. I signed up for a half share of a vegetables and one fruit share, which will keep me going from now until the end of October.<br />
<br />
I signed up for two reasons: (1) I noticed my diet was steadily worsening through the winter and early spring, and I am certain that having all this fresh produce will improve that; and (2) I enjoyed the CSA last year and I am hoping to do even better with this year's program.<br />
<br />
In my first CSA shipment, I received:<br />
<ul>
<li>Dandelion greens</li>
<li>Bok choy </li>
<li>Green leaf lettuce</li>
<li>Scallions</li>
<li>Fennel leaves</li>
<li>French breakfast radishes</li>
<li>Sweet Hakurei turnips</li>
</ul>
I have already enjoyed a beef and scallion stir fry based loosely upon the classic <a href="http://www.foodbuzz.com/recipes/1183169-cumin-lamb-zi-ran-yang-rou"><i>zi ran yang rou</i></a>, a dish from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uyghur_people">Uyghur</a> people of Central and East Asia. I also made a surprisingly tasty salad from dandelion greens, lettuce, fennel leaves, and about half of the radishes (I say surprising because I generally find salads boring).<br />
<br />
To liven up my CSA blog posts a little bit, I am going to try and post nice photos (obtained from the web) of at least one item I receive each week. This week's obvious choice: French breakfast radishes!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLMhhEhen2xlYFnnBzcuMmw5qw6Gi-Jmzm2zvNEvXEOY_XSSsdiEfz0X29SCDiAaNmyGX3u-WTfpuSmGwUvS1u2ci48TUDMflZI1RyXrwiS1x_Tl2ajlZq_SLm_ppwIRZm4RB5DZUzKQ/s1600/french-radishes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLMhhEhen2xlYFnnBzcuMmw5qw6Gi-Jmzm2zvNEvXEOY_XSSsdiEfz0X29SCDiAaNmyGX3u-WTfpuSmGwUvS1u2ci48TUDMflZI1RyXrwiS1x_Tl2ajlZq_SLm_ppwIRZm4RB5DZUzKQ/s320/french-radishes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-55628740303062134712012-03-21T17:27:00.000-04:002012-03-21T17:27:36.223-04:00Van Gogh, and Getting Back on the HorseIt has been a long, long time since I last posted -- I wondered for awhile if I would ever post again. But I recently visited the <a href="http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/743.html">Van Gogh Up Close</a> exhibition at the wonderful Philadelphia Museum of Art, and I had to give a shout out for this show. <br />
<br />
The exhibition contains pieces from museums and private collections from all over the world, and highlights Van Gogh's work during the last four years of his life. In particular, the exhibition focuses on his intense, close-up studies of the natural world -- irises, wheat, grass, and of course some of those famous <i>tournesols</i>. What really stood out to me, more than anything else, was just how much paint Van Gogh applied to his canvases, and texture and three-dimensionality that creates when you view the paintings live.<br />
<br />
If you live in or near Philadelphia, I strongly urge you to go (and make sure to buy tickets ahead of time), it is well worth the money. Plus, your ticket includes admission into the rest of the museum, which is a standout in its own right.<br />
<br />
Before or after visiting the exhibition, I recommend having brunch, lunch, or dinner at the <a href="http://www.thebelgiancafe.com/">Belgian Cafe</a>, which is just a short walk from the Art Museum.Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-16483557162249337952011-12-15T18:26:00.000-05:002011-12-15T18:26:26.432-05:00Fall CSA: Week 6The fall extension to my CSA nears its end, but the bounty just seems to be getting better:<br />
<ul><li>Blue Hokkaido squash</li>
<li>Spinach</li>
<li>Gold beets</li>
<li><strike>Napa cabbage</strike> swapped for tatsoi</li>
<li>Lacinato kale</li>
<li>Bok choy</li>
<li>Turnips</li>
<li>Onions</li>
<li>Sweet potatoes</li>
</ul>I made kale chips this week using the previous batch of Lacinato kale, and they were surprisingly good, and nearly insubstantial (it was like handling ancient paper or something). I oversalted them a little bit, but I will definitely make them again. I am also looking forward to making something new with the Hokkaido squash -- maybe a soup?Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-18437173438925725452011-12-13T10:50:00.000-05:002011-12-13T10:50:44.424-05:00Playing Too Many Games is Bad for Your Health......and if that is the case, I am screwed.<br />
<br />
Anyways, I have played a bunch of computer games since returning to the US, building a new desktop, and registering with Steam, Valve's online game distribution system. Here are a few femto-reviews on games I really, really liked.<br />
<br />
<b>The Witcher 2:</b> <i>The Witcher 2 </i>is dark, grimy fantasy, with a badass protagonist, interesting Eastern European-inspired takes on fantasy monsters, and meaningful choices that come back and haunt you later in the game. The story is strong, the visuals are very good, and the overall feel is a nice departure from your bog-standard CRPGs. 5 out of 5.<br />
<br />
<b>Bastion:</b> An action game produced by an independent developer called Supergiant Games, I picked up <i>Bastion </i>on a whim. The gameplay is great (different weapons give you different abilities, but you can only carry 2 at a time), the narration actually follows what you are doing in-game, and the soundtrack is fantastic. The thing that stands out most is the style. 4 out of 5.<br />
<br />
<b>Elder Scrolls V - Skyrim: </b>I will preface this by the fact that I barely played <i>Morrowind</i>, and even though I bought <i>Oblivion</i>, I played it for a couple of hours and just stopped. What <i>Skyrim</i> has going for it is an incredibly rich world, both in terms of landscape (climbing to the top of mountains at night, when the sky is clear and the Northern Lights are out, is just ridiculous), NPCs, and quests. Now many of the quests become boring, but I did not find the open world approach in <i>Skyrim</i> as paralyzing as the previous games. There are still some hiccups in terms of bugs, and the leveling system can encourage some gimmicky min-maxing, but the world of Skyrim pushes all those small problems to the background. 4.5 out of 5.<br />
<br />
<b>Batman Arkham City:</b><b> </b><i>Arkham Asylum</i> was another game I bought on a whim on Steam, after hearing many rave reviews about the game. It was tremendous, and I have been looking forward to the sequel ever since. Basically, this game lets you be Batman. Like, in every way -- stealthily taking out criminals, crushing a dozen thugs in hand-to-hand combat, gliding from rooftop to rooftop, and extricating yourself from trouble using an array of gadgets (the game even calls them Gadgets). My only complaint about the game, compared to <i>Arkham Asylum</i>, is that the main plot is a bit more forced, and has perhaps a few too many twists. On the plus side, the side quests and the open nature of Arkham City itself makes this game more interesting to explore than its predecessor. 4.5 out of 5. Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-28564449896174928822011-12-08T14:00:00.000-05:002011-12-08T14:00:08.837-05:00Fall CSA: Weeks 3 - 5So yeah, I am a bit behind. I blame it on Thanksgiving (traveled to California and spent the holiday with my mom, brother, and sister-in-law) and grants and stuff. Ya know.<br />
<br />
Anyways, week 3 was Thanksgiving week, so I gave everything to my friends (with whom I am sharing the CSA share). For week 4, here was my haul:<br />
<ul><li>Pea tendrils</li>
<li>Red radishes</li>
<li>Chiogga beets</li>
<li>Carrots</li>
<li>Bok choy</li>
<li>Yellow onions</li>
</ul>Today, I picked up the veggies for week 5:<br />
<ul><li>Celeriac</li>
<li>Lacinato kale (I may finally try making these famous kale chips)</li>
<li>Spinach (looks really good)</li>
<li>Leek</li>
<li>Tatsoi and chickweed</li>
<li>Jerusalem artichokes</li>
<li>Rutabaga</li>
</ul>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-38629546950872447802011-11-17T14:40:00.000-05:002011-11-17T14:40:28.506-05:00Fall CSA: Week 2This week I did not pick up much produce, mainly because I will not have time to use it before leaving for Thanksgiving week. Instead, I let my friends keep most of the vegetables. What I did get, however, looks delicious:<br />
<ul><li>Sweet onions</li>
<li>Shallots (these stand out because I once read or heard Anthony Bourdain say that using shallots is what separates home cooks from professional chefs)</li>
<li>Tatsoi</li>
<li>Purple top turnips</li>
<li>French breakfast radishes</li>
</ul>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-32593674693895018792011-11-10T13:21:00.000-05:002011-11-10T13:21:50.235-05:00Fall CSA: Week 1The Empire Strikes Back!<br />
<br />
And you thought I was done posting about my CSA. Oh no. I just started my Fall season CSA, again with the same cooperative (<a href="http://www.lancasterfarmfresh.com/">Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative</a>), only this time I purchased a full share, splitting it with two other friends. My haul from this week? Pretty nice:<br />
<ul><li>Leek</li>
<li>Red radishes</li>
<li>Micro tatsoi</li>
<li>Tatsoi </li>
<li>Broccoli</li>
<li>Hokkaido squash</li>
<li>Carrots</li>
</ul>I am very excited to try the Hokkaido squash -- it looks like a mini green pumpkin. <br />
<ul></ul>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-25366332141910784262011-11-03T08:39:00.000-04:002011-11-03T08:39:03.570-04:00CSA: Week 25I have finally reached the end of my CSA journey. Well, not quite, as I signed up for a 7- or 8-week "fall extension," but I am not counting that.<br />
<br />
What did I think? Well, it was pretty neat not having to go shopping for produce each week. I prepared vegetables I would have otherwise not used, like radishes and beets, and were introduced to a few new ones, like tatsoi. The experience also reaffirmed that I find lettuce boring and I need to find a better way (or improve my technique) to cook eggplant.<br />
<br />
This was the haul for the last week:<br />
<ul><li>Red meat radishes</li>
<li>Yellow onions</li>
<li>Arugula</li>
<li>Leek</li>
<li>Cilantro </li>
<li><strike>Green cabbage</strike> swapped for French breakfast radishes</li>
<li><strike>Red leaf lettuce</strike> swapped for cilantro</li>
<li>Applesauce</li>
<li>Red raspberry jam</li>
</ul>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-17215426386968709782011-10-30T22:43:00.000-04:002011-10-30T22:43:06.649-04:00More Like Watching Paint Dry with DragonsThe fifth book in the acclaimed series <i><b>A Song of Ice and Fire</b>, A Dance with Dragons</i> hit the shelves in July, amid the buzz created by the HBO series <i>Game of Thrones</i>. The earlier books in the series were selling like never before, and after nearly six years of waiting since the last installment (<i>A Feast for Crows</i>), George R.R. Martin fans were clamoring for this volume.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, in this case, the wait was not worth it. Book 5 is slow, nearly devoid of action, and the few exciting moments basically end as cliffhangers. Pro tip: cliffhangers are good for weekly TV series, tolerable for season-ending episodes or movies with sequels coming within the year, but just awful for a book series where we cannot honestly expect the next volume to appear anytime soon.<br />
<br />
Of course I will read the next book, but I already have a sinking feeling that this series is going the way of the <i><b>Wheel of Time</b></i>, and that would be a very bad turn for what has otherwise been a classic fantasy series. <br />
<br />
Verdict: I would give this book a very mediocre 2 out of 5 boomsticks.*<br />
<br />
*It occurs to me that I have not introduced my new rating system. For reference, on a scale of 0 to 5 boomsticks, the restaurant Vetri would get a 5, and the film <i>Army of Darkness</i> would get a 7.Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-79755880819275166082011-10-29T09:52:00.000-04:002011-10-29T09:52:12.755-04:00Cthulhu for KidsJust found this <a href="http://drfaustusau.deviantart.com/art/The-Call-of-Cthulhu-Cover-260811086?q=gallery%3Adrfaustusau%2F30462549&qo=6">link</a> (via <a href="http://akraticwizardry.blogspot.com/2011/10/mr-lovecraft-meets-dr-seuss.html">Akratic Wizardry</a>):<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N86e1lkM2QdF4_eMK24Ls4HSEcePrv282npf4SHRogawcTVR59FQaOM5Pk9PGEK0ab6NIo5JVJq9fWtZS5NLxTOj0O47DmsQfql8UcaetK-IQ6ILcZLUOyVpKHBNLE1BR5gxBZtm7yI/s1600/the_call_of_cthulhu_cover_by_drfaustusau-d4ba34e.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N86e1lkM2QdF4_eMK24Ls4HSEcePrv282npf4SHRogawcTVR59FQaOM5Pk9PGEK0ab6NIo5JVJq9fWtZS5NLxTOj0O47DmsQfql8UcaetK-IQ6ILcZLUOyVpKHBNLE1BR5gxBZtm7yI/s320/the_call_of_cthulhu_cover_by_drfaustusau-d4ba34e.png" width="233" /></a></div><br />
The author / artist is up to page 23 of his Dr. Seuss-inspired tale of Cthulhu.Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-43557869914087902172011-10-24T17:20:00.000-04:002011-10-24T17:20:21.920-04:00Excitement at 600 N. BroadMonths ago, work started on the old automotive shop at 600 N. Broad St., just across from my apartment building. I saw liquor license notices in the windows, so I knew bars or restaurants were coming...but I did not know what they were going to be until now.<br />
<br />
Three different spaces are opening up in the old building. One is a catering/event space called Vie, which looks to be already good to go. I am pretty disappointed about this one -- the location is perfect for a coffee shop or patisserie, and instead we get a place for wedding receptions and charity dinners. Oh well. <br />
<br />
However, I am excited by the other two places: a New England-inspired seafood restaurant from Stephen Starr called Route 6, and a Marc Vetri gastropub called Alla Spina (formerly Birreria 600).<br />
<br />
These developments complement the 98 loft apartments built just off of Broad Street. Exciting times in my neck of the woods.Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-2602636736232196112011-10-24T17:09:00.000-04:002011-10-24T17:09:57.528-04:00CSA: Week 24Being away at the Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting (in rockin' Hartford) crushed two weeks of CSA shipments for me, but today I picked up my second-to-last delivery...before the 7-week-long fall extension.<br />
<ul><li>Radicchio</li>
<li>Red bell pepper</li>
<li>Leek</li>
<li>Mixed sweet peppers</li>
<li><strike>Broccoli</strike> swapped for habanero peppers</li>
<li><strike>Green butterhead lettuce</strike> given away</li>
<li>Mini bok choy </li>
<li>Mesclun mix</li>
<li>Jar of red raspberry jam</li>
<li>Empire apples</li>
<li>Heirloom cranberries</li>
</ul>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-13827894975929752622011-10-03T21:38:00.000-04:002011-10-03T21:38:34.029-04:00CSA: Week 21I have been doing a pretty poor job cooking with my CSA produce, but today the air was brisk and bracing, and I suddenly was inspired to get cooking again! Hopefully that inspiration yields tangible results this week, i.e., tasty dishes made with fresh, local ingredients :)<br />
<ul><li>Tomatoes</li>
<li>Micro radishes</li>
<li>Lacinato kale</li>
<li>Red radishes</li>
<li><strike>Eggplants</strike> swapped for red radishes</li>
<li><strike>Green cabbage</strike> swapped for red radishes</li>
<li><strike>Red butterhead lettuce</strike> given away</li>
<li>Hungarian hot wax peppers</li>
<li>Applesauce</li>
<li>Golden Supreme apples</li>
</ul>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-64635702694760312952011-09-30T10:04:00.000-04:002011-09-30T10:04:16.724-04:00CSA: Week 20A quick update on my CSA:<br />
<ul><li>Cajun peppers</li>
<li><strike>Italian eggplant</strike> swapped for more cajun peppers</li>
<li><strike>Red butterhead lettuce</strike> given away</li>
<li>Sweet candy onions</li>
<li>Collard greens</li>
<li>Beauregard sweet potatoes</li>
<li>Cremini mushrooms</li>
<li>White mushrooms</li>
<li>Acorn squash</li>
<li>Gala apples</li>
<li>Golden Supreme apples</li>
</ul>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-55292920993933061622011-09-21T09:52:00.000-04:002011-09-21T09:52:34.495-04:00CSA: Week 19I failed pretty badly at using my CSA produce last week. Fortunately, we are starting to get a lot of squash, which keeps, and I have really enjoyed these delicata squashes. <br />
<ul><li>Eggplant</li>
<li>White onions</li>
<li>Butternut squash</li>
<li>Delicata squash</li>
<li>Red potatoes</li>
<li>Kale</li>
<li>Green bell peppers</li>
<li><strike>Green leaf lettuce</strike> swapped for baby bok choy</li>
<li><strike>Green endive</strike> swapped for cajun peppers</li>
<li>Pears</li>
<li>Apples</li>
</ul>In a little over one month, I will be starting the so-called 'Fall Extension' of this CSA -- 7 or 8 weeks of produce, hopefully good stuff for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals :)Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-15320540649664398542011-09-12T15:57:00.000-04:002011-09-12T15:57:24.820-04:00CSA: Week 18, back on the horseI discovered, during this past week without a CSA delivery, that I have become wholly dependent on that weekly delivery of fresh vegetables and fruit. I do not shop for fresh produce much anymore; this became apparent when I found myself ordering out a lot this week because I lacked ingredients to make proper meals. Well, no longer!<br />
<br />
This week's shipment is pretty solid:<br />
<ul><li>Tatsoi</li>
<li>Bok choy</li>
<li>Delicata squash</li>
<li><strike>Italian eggplant</strike> swapped for more bok choy</li>
<li><strike>Romaine lettuce</strike> swapped for another delicata squash</li>
<li>Jalapeno peppers</li>
<li>Red beets</li>
<li>Flat-leaf parsley</li>
<li>Portabello caps</li>
<li>Peaches</li>
<li>Pears</li>
</ul>I have never had tatsoi, so I am excited to give that a try. As you can see, I also am tired of eggplant, I still do not like lettuce, and I really like the delicata squash.Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-34766440813403312112011-09-07T19:39:00.000-04:002011-09-07T19:39:48.252-04:00Violent, Visible DeathOne of the vices that I have reacquired since returning to the US are computer games. In part it is because I built a new desktop that can run current generation games relatively well, and in part because of the beautiful abomination that is <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/">Steam</a>. Regardless, I have been playing more computer games now than any time since graduate school, including exploration of some smaller indie titles. At some point I hope to post some micro-reviews of games I have played in the last year, but I thought I would mention my latest drug: <a href="http://www.spacemarine.com/">Space Marine</a>.<br />
<br />
Space Marine is a first/third-person shooter based on the highly successful Games Workshop property called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhammer_40,000">Warhammer 40,000</a>. Warhammer 40K is a table-top wargame (one that I have dabbled in twice, but I could not afford it, nor could I bring myself to do all the painting -- I like a well-painted army, but painting 5 guys is my idea of fun, not 50) that has moved into other media, including a number of successful computer games. To make a long story short, during development, the game developers said that one of their design principles was "Visible, Violent Death." Well, nothing sums that up better than nailing an Ork to the ground with a glowing power axe through his foot, then grabbing his upper and lower jaws and ripping them apart. Wow.<br />
<br />
If you are a fan of the Warhammer 40K intellectual property, this game is worth checking out. If only to ram a chainsword through an Ork. Yes, you read that correctly -- a chainsword. As in a sword that is also a chainsaw.Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326684499444681565.post-4026600534680389132011-09-02T09:53:00.000-04:002011-09-02T09:53:23.831-04:00CSA: Week 17I have been distracted by deadlines this week, so my CSA post is quite late. This week's bounty was substantial -- in fact, I gave away a half dozen ears of corn, and still had some to spare.<br />
<ul><li>Sweet corn</li>
<li>Delicata squash: I really liked this from last week. I read that it tastes like sweet potato, and this is a good description. I made a Thai yellow curry last week, I may try something similar with red or green curry this week.</li>
<li>Sweet onions</li>
<li>Green bell peppers</li>
<li>Bok choy: Strangely, the last time I had bok choy was one of the first deliveries of the season.</li>
<li>Mixed cherry tomatoes: These have already been combined with the cherry tomatoes from last week, some garlic, white wine, and basil to make a nice fresh tomato sauce.</li>
<li>Yukon gold potatoes</li>
<li>Peaches</li>
<li>Bartlett (I think) pears</li>
</ul>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310093293881368034noreply@blogger.com0