A couple of quick notes

Running out the door to ask some questions at AAA before work...

On Monday, I went to a seminar and tasting on Greek wine. Very enlightening. I think anyone who's been in the market for an interesting white knows about moschofilero (moss-koh-FEEL-air-oh) and maybe assyrtiko (ah-SEER-tee-koh), but there's a lot more there, and from the leading-edge producers, it's really good. The whites are crisp and refreshing, and the reds develop ripe fruit while maintaining great acidity and minerality, which, I guess, is what you get when you grow grapes in poor limestone soils, in a hot climate, at high elevations, on islands with a huge diurnal shift (the daily temperature difference between the daytime high and the nighttime low). Say it with me, kids. Agiorgitiko (ah-yor-YEE-tee-koh) [also known as St. George].

Last night, Brandy and I went to a little promo party for Hendrick's gin. You might remember Hendrick's from my Stocking the Home Bar, Part 2 post a (long) while back. In any case, it was an unusual event (magicians and ventriloquists and newsboys, oh my), to say the least, but they had a shoe shine booth there. Now, I don't do it often, but I do quite enjoy getting my shoes shined. Your shoes come out all shiny (duh), and it's good for the leather. Also, there's something about all the buffing and brushing and polishing that makes me feel... I don't know, pampered. I think this might be the feeling women get when they receive a pedicure. If I didn't have this thing about people poking at my body with sharp metal implements, I'd probably like those, too.

Another blast from the past: do you remember the video of the Sun that I linked to a while back? Well, the first STEREO images from that project have now been released, and they are fucking SWEET. Take a look at this page. More specifically, watch the videos. [Note: you will need 3-D glasses for this.]

Sweeeeeet.

 

Strawberry Daiquiris and the Orange and Maroon Effect

As I gather my thoughts for a post about the tragedy at Virginia Tech, I thought this was too good to pass up.

Strawberry daiquiris - the extra-healthy cocktail?

You know where else you find polyphenols and anthocyanins?

That's right. Red wine.

Drink your wine, kids.

P.S. - Until I do post that Virginia Tech entry, I'm joining in the "Orange and Maroon Effect" Day. (lovely graphic from the brilliant sports mind of danshanoff.com)

 

A Post About Racism and Religion

... and it's not even mine. A post by Sex Mahoney for President.

Once you get past the -- what's the word I'm looking for... colorful -- examples, you'll discover a very subtle and pointed dissection of the issue. Some of his other posts might be a tad more graphic, but I found this one to be spot on, with some very nice turns-of-phrase.

A small sample for you:

The anti-defamation crowd will get up in arms when I show the foul side of an Irishman, but those anti Irish racists will think it's hilarious, so there's obviously humor in racist situations; conversely, the biggest, meanest, Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan would change their tune if Halle Berry showed up at their double-wide trailer looking for sex, so obviously, racist beliefs are situational, just like any other irrational behavior.

Amen, brother.

 

Just when I thought I was done...

... blogging for the night, I ran into this at Geekologie.

The title really says it all.

Don't swim in the Congo River

Prepare to have nightmares...

 

Ahhhh...

I'm sure you were all wondering when I was going to write a post about baseball season starting up again. And maybe even about what's been going on in my life recently. Well, between Brandy going out of town, my cousin visiting for the weekend, laundry, and finally getting over my cold, I wasn't really feeling all that motivated to blog.

Until tonight.

I got home from work, flipped on the A's / Mariners game and beheld the objet d'art that is Rich Harden's pitching.

Just beautiful. Smooth, easy motion that produces stunning velocity (usually in the mid-90s). Then, using the same delivery, he tosses in an 85-mph changeup. He makes opposing batters look silly.

You can't really get a feel for what I'm saying until you see him pitch, so, thanks to the wonderful folks at The Hardball Times (from a great article breaking down Harden's mechanics), here's a look at his pitching motion.

And for a more humorous take, a funny little desktop from the A's Web site:

Man-crush? Not really. Although I did get my picture taken with him at the Oakland A's FanFest last year.          :)

Anyway, I'm really happy that it's baseball season again. The Tigers look like they can make another run at the title (and actually win it this time) and the A's and Giants look like they'll be fun to watch, at the very least.

---

In other news, the Gateway Grizzlies have topped last year's culinary masterpiece (a bacon cheeseburger served on a Krispy Kreme donut "bun"). This year's special heart-attack-in-a-paper-boat: deep-fried White Castle sliders. Onion-steamed, tiny-burger goodness - battered, deep-fried, and served two per order with an optional side of cheese sauce.

Mmmmm... deep-fried burgers.

 

Another Alarm Clock

Geekologie must have a thing for alarm clocks because I just found this gem there.

 

It's called the Sn?zNL?z™, and the premise is simple. You hit the snooze button; the alarm clock takes money out of your bank account and donates it to an organization you hate. Every time.

So if you really don't want to get out of bed and you hit your snooze button four times, you've just made four separate donations to the organization you most despise.

I'd buy one of these for Brandy and myself, but I'm pretty sure I don't like being destitute, and I'm really sure the Vatican doesn't need any more money.