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Coca Cola in the Bottle please
2007-06-19 19:25:00
I rarely drink any soda. In fact, I haven't bought a soda can or imbibed any of the sweet fizzy stuff in years. And if I have it was few and far between. Caries, excess weight, diabetes and the lot were convincing factors to give up this love of my mine.But on a few days ago, while I was awaiting my meal at Krystal's Cafe on Roosevelt and 69th in Queens, I just couldn't envision enjoying the Pritong Manok and Adobong Baboy (I mistakenly ordered the pork) without the indulgence of iced Original Coca -Cola .The waiter brought me a bottle of Coke.I nearly fell of the seat in rapture.The food was very good, but I remembered the whole culinary experience as great just because the bottled Coke was there to keep my palate company.I don't want to endorse soda, it's just not healthy; but of the better known addictions, bottled Coke is lesser of these but oh so good!
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What Age and Aching Feet will tell You
2007-06-19 19:05:00
Last week Friday marked a farewell dinner for a friend who's heading back to Switzerland. Seven of us headed to Highline in the Meatpacking District. Where five (or was it six) appetizers where eagerly shared; some had bottles of beer, some several glasses of Black Label whiskey, some had a tall, lean glass of mojito and then some more (by reaching over and stealing a friend's drink). We regaled each other of anecdotes, jokes, and even talked a bit of personal and professional goals. A reminder still that you can know a person for so long and still not know everything about them. And it's a nice realization that one's friends can still amaze and inspire you.Three hours passed and off we went to Hotel Gansevoort's rooftop bar/lounge. The bouncer/guard/despot at the entrance refused a friend entry because he was wearing a T-shirt, and not the enforced "must look rich and willing to spend a kidney and a liver drab."Another friend laughingly reminded everyone that he had just gone ...
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Snapshots from me ol' cellphone
2007-06-19 18:46:00
It still amazes me, as I weave in and out of the main arteries and narrow veins of New York, that nestled in unknown, yet ubiquitous nooks are havens for tread-work New Yorkers and even choice tourists who stop and take stock of the true wonders of New York City.This was taken on a Friday, before heading out upstate to the Adirondacks for the white water rafting trip earlier this month. After visiting Mid-Manhattan library and a sale shopping spree at Ann Taylor I was compelled to rest.At this gem, an elephant with what looks like a monkey joyously twirling above it, command this alley between two business skyrises. In front of where I was sitting, across the street, a busy ritzy eatery served its late lunch clientèle.To enjoy New York City, its true verve and version, one might want to glance at the more renowned sights, but always always take time to get lost. Be AWOL from the tourist map, pay attention. It's often the places not heavily advertised that stays with you the longes...
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Good Reads
2007-06-13 18:26:00
Sodertalje, SwedenWhy the poverty, middle, and wealth classes do, think, and behave the way they do, think, and behave
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Random Gift
2007-06-13 18:07:00
It's not the size of the calculator that counts, but how you use it.
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Carvel: It's What Happy Tastes Like
2007-06-13 17:48:00
Two tubs of Carvel ice cream courtesy of parents, were brought home today. Coffee and Rocky Road bulged from each container.A teaspoonful of RR was thoroughly enjoyed. Although right now I'm convinced Turkey Hill's RR is more to my taste. Not as sugary but still richly laced with marshmallow, dotted with nuts, and embraced by dark, sweet chocolate.I haven't touched the coffee yet, my mom has dibs on it.
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Fifth Avenue Graffiti, a Pirate in Chinatown, & Central Park's Strawber
2007-03-30 04:14:00
We took some photos of the NY Public Library on Fifth Av at about 6 AM.In memory of John Lennon, the IMAGINE mosaic lies strewn with flowers and gifts.Forget which junction the pirate flag flew, but it was near the China town tourist booth. The apartment complex is right in front of a favorite Chinese bakery.*Beware of Chinatown vendors. Walking by the booths vendors half-whispered "Gucci, Prada, Movado."One vendor tried to sell a cellphone dangle to me for eight dollars then stating she'll give it to me for six instead; almost convincing me that what she was selling was real jade.T-shirts were sold for 6 for $10 but sometimes a 99 was tacked into the sign. There is a corner store that sold T-shirts 7 for $10.99.One man pushed my hands away while I tried to examine a mug. Apparently unless you buy you can't even touch. He also grabbed a bag from a woman and shooed her away, just because she looked the bag over.Another vendor tried wanted to sell "real" pashmina scarves for eight do...
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Cop Out
2007-03-29 17:39:00
New York cop and his trusty steed! The real stars of NBC's Today Show.Tuesday started at 3 in the morning. We bundled into the car and drove to Queens where we took the 7 train to Grand Central Station. We exited near Lexington Avenue, ambling along the still dark streets of Midtown East.I would have been freaked out by the abnormal near-stillness from the City That Never Sleeps, but there were enough hustle and bustle from delivery trucks, the openings of Starbucks, and the rush of early commuters to put my anxiety at rest.*Ever seen Shrek II? Remember the scene where the giant gingerbread man runs amok, and the denizens run out from a Starbucks only to run across the street into another? Well if Godzilla decides to visit NYC again, people'll have enough Starbucks joints to seek safe haven in. Within the same street, a mere half-block from each other, easily viewable by simple swivel of the head left to right, lie the ubiquitous haunting of Starbucks. It seems only in a place lik...

The bending fork
2007-03-27 05:17:00
This weekend was a blur of happy reunions pigging out on KFC chicken and Edy's ice cream, rowdy games of Uno, HappySlip and a MadTV James Blunt parody on YouTube, sad news of break-ups, Mario tennis, and a red Ferrari; encompassing Long Island, Queens, Bronx, and Manhattan.For now I shall post the unfocused photo that I took after a friend demonstrated a magic trick, which he called mentalism, bending, twisting, and molding a metal fork using just his mind. (Cough)He let my aunt hold the fork tightly in the palm of one hand, and then he took hold of the fork and gently twisted it back and forth. You can see the narrowed upper handle of the fork above my fingers. Each of the bent prongs he did on separate occasions.He did a couple more impressive illusions and tricks.I'm on the quest, despite my friend's fervent discouragement, to find the techniques behind his very able sleight of hand.*Tomorrow should be an interesting day in the city...
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Peanut butter and traffic jam
2007-03-27 04:27:00
I'll apologize now for the mumbo-jumbo you're about to read; my excuse is simply this: post jotted on Notepad last Thursday, on the drive back to NYC:Woke up at 7 AM. Went to Prantl's at 8 AM. It was empty of customers, the baguettes were only just taken out of the oven. I made off with a zucchini pound cake and a baguette.I looked around the neighborhood and I hardly recognize it. Everything seems alien, people were out jogging, walking their dog, waiting for the bus to go to school or work. I haven't been up earlier than 7 or out earlier than 8 am since January.The work week at this time of the day is lost and forgotten in me.(I should be so lucky if this comfortable trend continues.)I woke up inanely early for a completely practical reason: drive home to NYC.Endured a six-hour car trip from the confines of Pittsburgh to the boundaries of New York. Spring, per my wall calendar, started earlier this week, but snow still lingered in the landscape: dumped on the side of the roads...
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Critters Chewing, Deflated Bread, and Caution: Pheasants Crossing
2007-03-22 03:14:00
1.) A honey starter seemed like a good idea; but like all seemingly good ideas, this idea too suffered unseemly. Inspired by the pages of The Village Baker (by Joe Ortiz), we set out on the path of homemade bread: unique taste and texture, and impressive longevity.Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I give you a photo-post in today's blog:First, the honey starter was too tacky/sticky. Not to mention it smelled funky. Though it must be mentioned that this breadmaking disaster lies squarely on our shoulders and not at all with the recipe. With the added honey, the yeast culture is expected to be very active. We made mistakes along the way: forgot to refresh it many hours after it was due, accidentally poured hot water instead of warm water (it was quickly poured out, but who knows how much yeast culture it killed, the poor things), we added yeast into the mixture to help it rise faster, and it took me a good four hours before I realized it was time to bake the bread. Um, yeah,...
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Catching Up on Today's Headlines
2007-03-22 02:22:00
US Army targets ethnic and minority groups for recruitmentNurses leave for AustraliaDoctors leave for New ZealandJapan's Prime Minister denies existence of sex slaves during WWIIJapan angry at US for proposed bill: apology and compensation for sex slavesJapan to close comfort-women fundThe article is interesting enough, but scroll down and read the comments section for real hilarityPros and cons for touting a British accentSaying no to moving on up: Mumbai slum dwellers
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300 reps? This is madness! <> This...is...SPARTA!!
2007-03-21 03:01:00
1.) Apparently since the release of the record-breaking man-movie 300, online search engines saw a logarithmic rise in queries in search of the "300 workout."If memory serves me right, the cast worked under Mark Twight, a former professional mountain climber. King Leonidas took six-pack shape under a 4 month grueling tutelage. Even calling upon a Venezuelan body builder to further define his cut physique.The workout isn't for the weak or easily wearied, it's for the crazy. You got to be a little wacked in the lobes to take on King Xerxes' multitudes with a meager three hundred...albeit, strapping manly men!Men's Health wrote a probing article on 300's main actor Gerald Butler. Effectively revealing the actor with and without his kingly cape and steely sword.And for workout bums out there, yes, the article does discuss the strenuous work out regimen of 300. It also offers, for your reading and working out pleasure, an exclusive Men's Health workout program that produces the sam...
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Nothin' Like Ol' New York City
2007-03-20 12:30:00
My aunt arrived in JFK late at night last Sunday. She hails from Melbourne, Australia and suffered a 2-stop, 24-hr plane ride. My longest plane ride was probably around 14 hours, I was almost twelve at the time, cheerfully oblivious to the world and its cramped coach seating.I am awake today at an ungodly hour, a blaring 6:15AM per cellphone alarm. My parents are accompanying said dear Aunt to her first jaunt in NYC. And I was fighting off sleep, browsing for online deals on destinations and hotspots, 'til 3 AM this morning. Finding deals in New York is made possible simply by the sheer volume and variety available. There are seriously hundreds of restaurants, eateries, stands, delis, gourmet shops, thrift stores, sample stores; Little Italy, Little Korea, Little India, Chinatown...etc, etc, etc.I used Rob Grader's The Cheap Bastard's Guide to New York City as my launching point. It's kept me afloat in the sea of strings-attached crud that proliferates in any major tourist attra...
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A Summer in the Life of a Customer Service Rep
2007-03-19 19:31:00
Albeit a very sorry pun, the story nonetheless is amusing; simply because it's true. I interviewed a friend for today's post:What was your most memorable summer job? Over the summer, after my freshman year in college, I worked in a customer service office that contracted several subscription businesses; including the NY Yankees Magazine and Marvel Comics. What were your responsibilities as a Customer Service Rep?I answered what little snail mail we received. I also handled emails and phone calls for specific clients. The only client that didn't have a phone service was GameSpot.I handled subscription issues ranging from cancellations, payments, and magazines that were undelivered, damaged, or incorrect.Who were the most trying of your customers?Yankee magazine customers were the angriest customers I ever dealt with...yelling and screaming at the other end of the phone. Usually people would call in sounding confused or anxious or just annoyed, but the Yankee mag customers were dow...
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Digging To America by Anne Tyler
2007-03-19 04:29:00
I couldn't muster enough faith in the story to prod any longer than page 41. I found it difficult to relate to, sympathize with, or even respect the characters. They were intolerable, existing only to drive the plot. The book professes to extol the principles of cultural tolerance and individual sensitivity, but it fails in this as it attempts to bridge ethnic, gender, racial, economic, generational, and, especially, the individual divide. The characters are pigeonholed in stereotyped behavior, manner, and thought. A stilted performance of a highly advertised and acclaimed book.
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p. 19 of Joan Aiken's The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
2007-03-19 03:09:00
Haven't drawn in quite some time.I was taken by an illustration while reading The Wolves of Will oughby Chase . So as to practice, I rendered the drawing onto my sketchbook.The Wolves of Willoughby Chase is the first installment in Aiken 's The Wolves Chronicles. Twelve books follow the prequel.I wasn't as eager to plow through the middle as I was in the first few chapters. I thought the plot was rushed and not much was devoted to the development of characters, villains or protagonists. But the first few chapters captured the haunting of the wolves very well. These chapters drew me in, and I was sorry that the wolves were mere peripherals in the story; perhaps included only to serve as analogy to the the true antagonist in the story (a veritable wolf in sheep's clothing).But imagine: white snow, a dark night, the thick forest crowding in, and the shadowy stalk of wolves out on the hunt, their red eyes glinting red in the moonlight...isn't it great?!Aiken's command of language lea...
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Noontime News Read
2007-03-18 19:41:00
50% chance, testing positiveNY Time s profile: 25 yr old with Huntington's disease geneJoe Hill KingThe secret's out on Stephen King's oldest sonGold bullion exhibited in an open safe, unguarded and without sensorsIt was then stolen...R2D2 collects mail for the United States Postal ServiceMarch 28 commemoration of Star Wars first filmFrank Miller's record-breaking film 300Iranians response to the film' s depiction of Persians*when I saw the film I thought it was a creative adaptation of history, not a direct account, nor did I think that it meant to attack any ethnic or racial group...the Persians with their armies of armored elephants and rhinos were fantastic and uber-coolBBC News : The world of modern child slavery
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Decorating on a dime, and Squirrels
2007-03-17 22:49:00
Okay, so I've ripped off the title to a TLC show for today's post title. But I couldn't devise a clever enough title for the creative design bit.The bathroom in the apartment benefits from a very large window that lets in plenty of light, no matter the time of day. However, the bleach white walls scream for color. As a remedy to the lack of color, I went to Target looking for a bit of design inspiration. There I spied a calendar tucked away in the clearance shelf. Zen Flower Arrangements I think was the theme.Hopping to Ikea I then bought a glass frame to showcase the piece; although at that moment I had only a vague idea on how the finished product would look.Back at the apartment, I sat on the floor, jaw propped on bent knees, and gazed at the ripped up calendar. Scissors in hand and clear tape in the other, I cut and pasted away until I was satisfied with the my rendition of decorative art. At least one that would be pleasant in a bathroom. "To bathe and poop in peace" ought t...
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"We Care" mail received from the United States Postal Service
2007-03-17 00:18:00
Today, I received in the mail a crisp 10"x 12" envelope containing a catalog. The envelope was addressed from the United States Post al Service , the blue and white eagle stark against the white paper. Inside lay a catalog, it's first page nearly torn to shreds, but otherwise the catalog was intact.The back of the envelope read:Dear Valued Postal Customer: >I want to extend my sincere apology as your Postmaster for the enclosed document that was inadvertently damaged in handling by your Postal Service. >We are aware how important your mail is to you. With that in mind, we are forwarding it you in an expeditious fashion. >The United States Postal Service handles over 202 billion pieces of mail each year. Which each employee makes a concerted effort to process, without damage, each piece of mail, an occasional mishap does happen. >We are constantly working to improve our processing methods so that these incidents will be eliminated. You can helps us greatly in our efforts if you wi...
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A math prodigy, an NYPD cop, and compensated dating
2007-03-16 04:28:00
NYPD sustains skull fracture, but still holds suspect downI heart NY.Math Prodi gy continues to excelIn awe.Comp ensated Dating The blurring of morals.
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Confessions of an Amateur Baker
2007-03-15 22:14:00
Twenty-four year old Jake wasn’t interested in cooking, much less baking, until he met his girlfriend Crystal. An accomplished gastronome, Crys demanded culinary satisfacton along with the trappings of a relationship. A year after receiving his mother’s The Joy of Cooking and his grandmother’s handwritten Italian recipes, Jake finally felt ready to try his hand at baking. “I found Nana’s tadalli recipe among the kitchen stuff I inherited from her. This was a recipe I loved since I was a kid, and baking bread was the next step. I used to Google for recipes but I soon became discontented with the simplistic instructions and wanted more variation and expert advice from leading bakers. Like this!” He held up a book entitled Confession s of a French Baker, written by Peter Mayle and Gerard Auzet, fourth-generation baker and owner of the noted Provence boulangerie Chez Auzet. Using his grandmother’s well-cared-for kitchen utensils and an old, slightly defunct oven, Jake bega...
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Blighted Weather
2007-03-15 20:44:00
Right: Nice weather.Left: Weather , 6 days out of the week.
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Adding a Sitemap to Your Google Blogger Blogspot Blog
2007-03-15 20:15:00
That was a mouthful of a title.After an exasperating time searching Google /Blog ger forums in an attempt to get my Site map up and running, I stumbled on two sites today that solved my dilemma.I'm a newbie, so beware. Try the sites I've listed at the end of this post for real techie advice.For Blogs pot bloggers out there. Sign on to your Gmail or Google account. Click on the top link that says My Account. On the right hand list under My Services, click on the link that states Webmaster Tools.Make sure that you have verified your blog site as your own before adding a sitemap. Verifying is a process where you add a meta tag to your blog's template (you can get to your blogspot's template through Dashboard and then to the Template tab) or by adding/uploading an html file (I think this is the other way in which you can verify). To verify just simply go to Webmaster tools and follow the instructions on how to verify your site.In Webmaster tools, follow the tab or link Sitemaps. You sho...

Coffee, Dessert, and the Seven Pillars of Health
2007-03-14 21:59:00
Brunch today consisted of breads, hummus, and cheese. Followed by a slice of Prantl's lemon loaf with a large cup of honeyed milk coffee; which I enjoyed 45 minutes after brunch.Apparently, according to a stout patron making his morning rounds at Prantl's today, he followed this health tip from the "seven pillars of health."He shared a short speech after a plump lady behind the counter, who I surmise knew him as an old customer, complimented him on his figure. To which he then replied: "Thank you. I've lost 15 pounds since December. But I don't diet. Nope, this isn't a fad diet."He continued on to explain that one of the fundamental lifestyle changes that he undertook included "allowing my stomach's enzymes and natural processes to digest the food undisturbed by liquids." He also specified the amount of water and what kind of water one should drink depending on one's body weight and the water's quality.His shared wisdom amazed the group of patrons in queue. A lady, petite an...
More About: Health , Coffee , Dessert , Seven , Esse

A House Smiles
2007-03-14 01:23:00
Temperatures hovered around the 70s, in mid-March, above the snow belt; lacking reason, and absolutely blissful.Unable to stay inside as mere observers. We took work outside. Off we went. Bookbags heavy with books and laptops, in search of Borders. We had passed it in the car while we drove around aimlessly, searching out new routes and neighborhood finds (although in my mind, a neighborhood can encompass several zip codes).On our way to Borders, we walked through a back-alley and saw a house that smiled. It was a pleasing reminder that people still possess a sense of humor. In response we stood in the empty, pot-holed street and smiled back. Happy fools.Borders share a square block along with Seattle's Best Coffee and Wine & Spirits. Books and beverages, a marriage of commerce. Interestingly, ubiquitous Starbucks is just around the corner on Centre Avenue. The East Liberty Presbyterian Church pierces the light blue sky. The only architecturally pleasing site.We took a window sea...
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Heralds of Spring
2007-03-13 17:59:00
Tuesday starts off with Fifth Avenue congested with traffic. Yarr, thar be construction ahead!An active presence since last summer, starting around Fifth and S. Craig Street, the construction took a break during the winter season. The trucks, the crew, the traffic officer, and the debris all disappeared, leaving no noticeable trace. And now with the relatively mild winter and premature warm weather the construction continues where it left off.Soon it'll pass S. Negley and then very well block the driveway into the house.We'll have to device acrobatic car maneuverings, either way, it ought to be an interesting (albeit dusty and noisy) summer.Woke up this morning and looked outside the window, at the burgeoning congestion of machine and man, spied two uber-shiny, neon-splattered racer bikes mounted by similarly outfitted and helmeted drivers. At certain places, one waits for the groundhog, the robin, or the budding of bulbs, but here on Fifth at rush hour it is the emergence of moto...
More About: Spring , Ring , Hera

The Craftier Side
2007-03-13 02:32:00
After an exhaustive search online, I stumbled on Etsy.com.With unique creations offered by a multitude of artisans, I finally settled on a few choices. From there I narrowed down to one, keeping in mind the size and color of my LG Mint Chocolate.Ordered last Friday and received today, a mere three days (including the weekend). I was delighted and impressed when my request to have the item delivered early was kindly followed by the seller at no additional prodding or cost. Total price for the dangle/fob, including s+h, was less then $6. If I had bought it at a specialty store it might have cost twice to four times the amount, plus tax.The package included the dangle inside a handmade pouch surrounded by bubble wrap, a print-out card wishing the customer well, an Etsy magnet, and a simple handmade card and envelope (perhaps as a gift note for someone).I took a few zoomed-in photos to show the fob's quality and characteristics.The attachment cord weaved easily into my phone's built-i...
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Daylight Savings Time
2007-03-12 06:35:00
DST arrives three weeks earlier than usual.Although I felt no noticeable after effects as I lazed under the still-barren branches at the park yesterday. A quick google search online revealed:1.) DST was conceived by our very own Benjamin Franklin (for better or for worse) and proposed by a William Willet in 1905**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylig ht_saving_time2.) European contries in the EU apply DST on the last Sunday of March3.) Countries that observe DST have their own schedules as to when DST is put into effect, example: Australia occurs at the first Sunday in October4.) Tropical/equatorial countries, not benefiting from DST, keep yearlong, unchanged time5.) Certain electronic devices, like my Palm TX, need a special downloadable update to reflect the earlier DST6.) It is not certain whether DST actually saves energy (electricity consumption)
More About: Time , Daylight Savings , Light , Daylight , Saving

Restored Faith
2007-02-27 03:47:00
December 2006, strewn flowers on a snowy dayPart Deux of "Library Dues"The library's online catalog was MIA for two days, due to a scheduled tech maintenance, and my worry remained unabated. I put off calling the library, I convinced myself calling would only bring to truth a falsity.I returned the book. This I solemnly swear. Or my mind is playing tricks on my conscience. It's amusing, but only if one is removed; hovering above the hilarity, enjoying but not participating.I stand in queue, 30 minutes before closing time. I eye the volunteers manning the desk. Two women: middle-aged and wearing a striped purple sweater and the other with white hair, whose slightly hunched form comfortable under a fraying grey sweater."Can I help you over here?" The old lady garbed in grey asks."Hi, I've come to return a few books and also to check up on the status of a "claimed missing" book. I checked my account online today and it didn't show the book at all. Does that mean...""Yes, that means...
More About: Faith , Store , Stor , Rest , Restore