Al Dente

Perfect One-Pot, Six-Pan, 10-Wok, 25-Baking Sheet Dinner

Happy New Year!

I spent it at a bar in New Lebanon NY (pop. 2,305) where a friend was playing drums in the band. A surreal experience-- this was a dive trying to pull off a "sophisticated" prix fixe for $40. Couldn't order off the menu yet the pizza oven was cranking out pies. They had some stand-up comics from the big city come in and do some filthy (and I'm no prude) material in front of locals who did NOT expect to hear this shit. A family brought in a bewildered 90-year-old woman wearing a full-length fur for their big night on the town. People were leaving, arguments started, it was a cluster-fuck. I called the manager, who turned out to be the owner, and also turned out to be one of the comics, and told him he's crazy to keep up this prix fixe charade. To his credit, he let us order what turned out to be above average pizza. When the band was done we GTFO of there.

I went with Rivers. He produced 10 points. Rodgers had 24. That choice cost me the game.   

Aaron Rodgers or Philip Rivers?

38 minutes ago, Mark Slater said:

Mike, I checked the website for Foggy Bottom WFM, and no lobster special. I went to the store and it was still there. 2 5oz tails for $10.

I don't have a good answer for you other than to say the lobster promo may have been a last minute thing that hasn't appeared on any marketing collateral. Usually, what's on the paper flyer is what they show on the website. The tails might be something they're long on at the distribution center.

19 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

Have no fear - these people will develop other skills, and contribute to overall productivity in the process - there will be no further need for them to spend long hours driving trucks. They can become proficient in radiology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and other areas which will advance total GDP. 

 

Are you being serious? Just like unemployed coal miners? Because of automation, I think we're headed for mass unemployment like we've never seen. Our society and government are not at all prepared for it. Drastic changes to our economic system, like a universal wage, will need to be implemented.

I fear for my daughter's future.

This podcast from RadioLab brought up concerns about the algorithms used to program the cars. I hadn't even considered these life or death issues. Well worth a listen. 

Driverless Dilemma

I think autonomous vehicles are coming very soon. There's just too much profit to be made for implementing such automation. Truck drivers will be out of work within 10 years. And given our government's insane deregulation spree, I fear the worst for our safety.

On 12/13/2017 at 7:56 PM, Mark Slater said:

Prices seem to be dropping at the Foggy Bottom store. The fresh chicken was reduced to $5.99 a pound from $7.99 for cutlets and stuffed breasts. The seafood department was selling lobster tails at 2 for $9.99. These were healthy looking tails  4-6 ounces.

 

The Whole Foods website will give you the lowdown on specials. There have been a lot of great deals.

Mark-- you'll be interested to know the "Sommelier Best in Class Wines" (whatever that means) are 20% off.

Prosciutto di Parma is $18/lb this week. Rib Roasts are $12/lb. Get some tasty Satsumas for $1.79/lb. Rao's Marinara is $7 each!

This is for Foggy Bottom, but the sales apply to all stores in the Mid-Atlantic region.

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/sales-flyer/foggybottom

Amazon has some deeeeeeeeeeeeep pockets.

This is worth a listen:

"Why Is the Live-Event Ticket Market So Screwed Up?" by Stephen J. Dubner on freakonomics.com

3 minutes ago, DaveO said:

Maybe I'll have one at IHop per Sietsema's article.  

 

I haven't been to an IHOP since I was a kid, but this ad made me think I'm missing out on something:

I'm always amazed how people double (or triple or quadruple in this case) down on these kinds of comments. 

"Canseco Loses Analyst Job after Tweets about Sexual Assault He Says Were a Joke" by Pete Blackburn on cbssports.com

6 hours ago, DaveO said:

Oh my.  Hope you are in a ppr league or did you squeeze by with the punt return?

I tied my opponent, but because of my better record, I WON!

I remember being so let down when I saw the movie. I loved the book(s). 

More shameful behavior:

"Mario Batali Steps Aside from His Restaurants Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations" by Laurel Wamsley on npr.org

I need 19 points out of Jarvis Landry and the NE Defense tonight. This is the playoffs people! Send good vibes!

Jesus. Are these resale tickets? I'm assuming they are given the price tag. Stubhub, Vividseats and the like have services charges too, but nothing like that. Although, maybe the $$$ is baked into the price. 

I've never seen a service charge like that. Look elsewhere dude.

One of the first, if not THE first, was at Dumbarton Oaks Park. We were able to grill there and we boozed it up on the down low. 

I wasn't criticizing Dragnet for being square, man. The clips caught my attention for illustrating how far we've come since then, and how 62,979,879 Americans insist we go back.

Does this sound familiar?

The dangers of marijuana!

Interesting find. I'll have to check it out.

Did you notice that their pricing all ends with 88 instead of 99 cents? I wonder what that's all about. They're leaving 11 cents on the table!

On 11/28/2017 at 8:50 AM, NolaCaine said:

Red Robin has the best kids menu ever. 

 

Red Robin would have never been on my radar if it weren't for my hamburger-obsessed kid. For what it is, they do a good job (though the fries suck). However, my seven-year-old never orders off the kid's menu. She wants the full-size "grownup" burgers.

I'm convinced that the majority of Chinese restaurants are actually part of a secret national chain. How else can they get the Americanized food to taste exactly the same in each restaurant?

"Black Friday Gun Background Checks Reportedly Soar To Record High" by Amy Held on NPR.

Fucking ridiculous.

imdb is indeed comprehensive. My ex is on it for the one and only job she ever had in showbiz as "second assistant camera" for a movie filmed in Manhattan. That's about as obscure as it gets.

4 hours ago, DaveO said:

Injuries. Ugh they have similar impact in real and fantasy football. (Aaron Rodgers)

I dropped Rodgers when he was injured, but picked him up again last week since it sounds like he could be back in Week 15. Hopefully, he'll crank out the usual points should I make it to the playoffs.