Me and E were watching the Blazers/Nuggests game tonight and saw said bastard above. April 3rd was our three year anniversay and two months prior my buddy scored tickets to the Lakers/Rockets game and invited me to go along. Turns out the night of the game fell on was the same night as me and E's anniversary. So what did I do? I manned-up and spent the day with my lady and took her out to dinner, that's what! So again, shame on you sir, in your Gred Oden jersey! How can you leave your woman at home to go watch an awesome regular season NBA game with playoff intensity? (This post is worth 500 brownie points)
What is up with Jim Hill's natural? I remember that same natural when I was in 5th grade. This brother hasn't changed hair styles once in twenty-some-odd years. No flat top, no fade, no S-curl, no jheri curl, no finger wave, no corn rows, no relaxer, no process, no gumby-fro, no fro-hawk, no dreadlocks, no nothing, just the same ol' natural. It must really work for him. More power to ya, bruh.
I hate Boston fans, but they get props for calling out the Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden tonight. I'm not sure what to make of them chanting MVP MVP for Kobe earlier this week. It's one thing to show a player love and applaud after a dominitating performance but MVP at MSG? I don't know what to attribute that to. Maybe the real fans are being priced out? Maybe the fans in attendance are not basketball fans and are just there to see a "show"? Whatever it is, they're gettin' soft son, and you would not see that happen in Beantown, no matter how bad their team is.
Editor's note: I'm not a Laker fan, per se, but I watch their games more than any other team. I was born and raised a Laker fan but got more into college bball during the Post-Magic Johnson era. That's when I got on JKidd's jock, and the rest is history. Since his dismantling at the hands of Chris Paul in the 2008 NBA Playoffs, he's pretty much not been the same player; he's in the twilight of his career and my fire that used to burn for him is flickering out. Right now I am pretty much in NBA limbo, and it's not a bad place to be. I watch all the teams and players and have no rooting interest really. Since the Lakers are always on, and they display a good brand of basketball (as opposed to their arena-mate) I tend to watch more of their games, and since I have no emotional attachment/investment in this team I think that I am a pretty objective critic; I'm not blinded by the purple and gold like my boys out here. So I would like to start a section in my blog called Laker Thoughts.
Lamar Odom has to be the worst finisher I have ever seen. I wonder if they keep a stat for blown AND1s. I bet he leads the league in that department. He can never finish. Pathetic.
Lamar is also the wost traffic-passer I have ever seen. He'll wait until the absolute worst time to dump off the ball to a teammate that isn't looking for it.
Editor's note: I know it's seems kinda odd to make a random post like this seeing as how I haven't blogged for quite sometime. I've lost all of my blogging momentum. I felt I should blog about the lack of me blogging but instead of blogging about that, I'll tell you. Facebook killed my blogging time. I had a captive audience I couldn't resist and I couldn't overcome the OCD of me updating my status with nonsensical shit. It was a quick fix. All the funny things I wanted to blog about were suddenly quenched with a quick quip to my peoples on Facebook. Yeah, I got a temporary high from it, but deep down it wasn't satisfying. So, my tens of readers, I am back! Now, to get reacquainted with the home keys. ASDF....
I love to cook. I love food. I love the Food Network. It's must-see-TV everyday for me. The men in my family have always cooked, so that part seems natural. My dad cooked because he HAD to. It was just him and I and we had to eat, so he did what great any father would do, cook for his son. I don't think he particularly enjoyed it, but he did what needed to be done. Somehow out of that, I grew to love cooking.
I remember being super excited when we got a blender and a food processor one year. I didn't know what the hell to do with them, but I was hyped and I really wanted them. Back then information wasn't as accessible as it is now (I mean, there were cooking shows on PBS, but they weren't that educational), so there was a lot of half-ass trial and error cooking going on. I'd try to make pancake batter in a blender; tried to make milk shakes in the food processor; I'd shred cheese that would end up going bad. I think the only thing I made well were sliced potato rounds. All I had to do was push the potato down the chute, then throw the slices in hot oil.
I then hit the mother load, we got the sandwich snack maker. I think it was called the super snacker. Whatever the hell it was called, I was in food-gadget heaven. I had seen it on the infomercials and couldn't wait to get my hands on one. I was making grilled cheese sandwiches, turkey and cheese sandwiches, garlic spaghetti pockets, tuna melts, hard ass brownies, you name it. This little vessel was the canvas I needed to tap into my budding culinary genius. Had I known then what I know now, I would have used non-stick spray before each use. That thing was a bitch to clean. And one time I left it out, and came home from school and god damn ants were crawling in it! And I killed the ants with bug spray and accidentally got it on the non-stick surface.. and I scrubbed it.. and was paranoid too cook with it for fear of residual bug spray... and I finally tried to cook with it once, and then the g'damn bread stuck... oh, man, that still pisses me off. And it's been 18 years. I eventually boxed back up, took it back down to The Broadway in Downey and pulled the ol' switcharoo. Man, that was a tangent.
So I love to cook, that's the point I am trying to make. I love it, and I am very passionate about it. I don't know why I don't blog about it more when I am scratching around for material.
Way back when I first moved out on my own, I was only equipped with the recipes my dad made. It was more than a solid enough foundation to get going. I made his salmon croquettes, pasta, potatoes, and other standard fare.
Once settled in, I would always end up on Food Network while channel surfing. One of the first shows I watched was Taste with David Rosengarten. From what I remember he talked about a lot of booze and did food sometimes. I remember the beer episode, and I really remember the tequila episode. He sampled each tequila he talked about and by minute 25 of the 30 minute show there was some mild slurring and stammering going on. That amused me to no end. So I was sold on him.
Then I watched Good Eats shortly after it aired and I was HOOKED. Mr. Wizard meets Chef Boyar-mf'in-dee! It was informative, educational, and it really lit a fire underneath me to cook.
Which brings us to now. With Alton Brown as my yoda, I've come pretty far in my culinary Jedi training. By no means am I a chef, but I know enough to buckle a few knees.
I was reading Fightin' Mad Mary's blog about a Contessa recipe she made. As I was commenting on her blog, I started going off on a tangent about Contessa. Then I thought, this is some shit I should be blogging about... and the fire was back, baybee!! Since everyone is doing lists nowadays, I give you my Food Network Fave Five:
My Lord and savior in the kitchen. No one person (outside of pops) has influenced my cooking as he has. I've sucked everything up like a sponge, sensei. From your science, to your gadgets, everything I do in the kitchen is rooted or derived from something you have taught me.
Yes, she's attractive, but that's not why I watch. It took me months to convince my girlfriend of that. Yes, she has a plunging neck line and yes her mammaries would heave to and fro as she whisked eggs, but aside from all that, she could cook like a mf'er. Her pasta dishes are cheap and easy to make. Win win. Her recipes are on our plates once or twice a week. She's the reason I bought a hand-grater and now put PARMEGINO RRREGIANO on everything. And I mean everything, veggies, chili, eggs, pizza, funnel cake, cereal, my toothbrush... everything!
Oh, Ina, you're so fancy in your big luxurious West Hampton home; going out to your garden for basil, thyme, and chives. The fancy wine and cheese store. The fancy table setting and centerpieces. For 30 minutes, I can be a middle-aged white woman frolicking through The Hamptons entertaining my fancy friends. And then there's Jeffrey, the man you love to cook for. Erika's my Jeffrey. Just come back in 30 minutes when dinner is ready, honey. Ina was on the fence for the Food Network Fave Five for a minute. I wasn't cooking any of her recipes, but she was so whimsical and delightful that I just couldn't turn away from this nice lady. Then I found her niche; she loves to entertain, as do I. She always has great recipes on appetizers and desserts. I've tried a bunch of the appetizers and they were all great. Especially her roasted shrimp cocktail. It was so g'damn good I made it four times in an 8 day span. As I commented on Mary's blog, I'm scared to know what the mercury levels in our blood are right now. Honey, I won't mention how you destroyed the shrimp George Costanza style:
The new guy (relative to my list) on the block. I know he's been around since the early days of The Food Network, but I absolutely have no memory of him. I used to see him in the Applebee's commercials hyping up his specials on there. That didn't help his cause. Erika and I ate at Applebee's in Cincinnati for the first time (none around here, thank god) and I was absolutey appalled by how bad it tasted. Eating good in the neighborhood, my ass! They should say "eating ass in the neighborhood". Sounds much better and much more accurate. Back to Tyler... I recently added "Chefography" to my DVR and one of the episodes was about the network itself. It really took me back to some old shows I would watch in the early days of the network. They showed clips of their early chefs; a much thinner Mario Battali, Bobby Flay (more on him later), and Tyler Florence. For some reason seeing those guys before they were successful trying to teach people how to cook was endearing. So I decided to give Tyler's show a chance, and WOW, great stuff! I've already saved a few of his recipes that I plan on cooking within the next week. Pretty good for only having watched a handful on episodes.
I've always known who he was, some dude with a grill. When I did see his show, I didn't really care for him. Then I would start to see more of him as I started to watch more Iron Chef America, and one thing stood out: he would get his ass kicked a lot. How could this fool possibly call himself an Iron Chef batting .500? Mario Bitali is the straight-up ass kicker on that show. He's Michael Jordan in an apron and Crocs. So Bobby wasn't winning any points there. Then after watching said Food Network documentary, I started to see him in a different light. He was a pretty likable guy and it was funny seeing him on the network in the early days. Congrats, Bobby, you gets the 5 spot. Now If I could only make one of your recipes...
I used to love The Essence of Emeril back in the day. I watched him before I ever saw Good Eats. Then he got a studio audience and a band and people would explode with applause and whooping everytime he added garlic. What?!
I'm not a RR-hater like a lot of people. I know she's a cook and not a chef. I DVR'd her show for about two months until I realized I didn't make anything she cooked and I was just watching her to see how many items she could carry at once while she was prepping to cook. It was like watching a human Jenga. Fascinating!
Ingrid was on my DVR list too. About the same time as RR. In that time I made HALF of one recipe. Her jalapeno avocado dip that we now eat with our taquitos instead of guacamole. I like her show more for the sultry South Beach soundtrack that underscored her cutaway scenes. I would immedietly jump up and start to salsa and cumbia for Erika who was amused at my lack of ritmo. Bad dancing and one half of one recipe. Sorry, mami, you gotta bounce.
Oh boy. She's bawdy and funny and loves to use a shitload of butter on everything. But is it too much for a cooking show? I don't know yet. Part of me wants to watch, but for all of the wrong reasons. I'd love play a drinking game with her show with "y'all" being the drink-word. I'm still on the fence with this one. Her Iron Chef America appearance doesn't help her cause. She was yapping the whole time and taunting the other team. It was funny, but a little over the top. Erika couldn't watch. Stay turned.
Not surprising at all that Sarah Palin's interview went over as well as a fart during Sunday mass. Even GOP observers have chimed in on how nauseated they were! Sometimes you just can't polish up a turd, no matter how hard you try. Here's some of my favorite excerpts from the article in New York Magazine.
The mood over Sarah Palin is changing. Her political naysayers used to delight in her floundering her way through interviews (okay, that one interview with Charlie Gibson). They enjoyed pointing out her lack of credentials. But her interview with Katie Couric over the past two nights has elicited a different response — like cringing. No longer is there joy in Palin's struggles. Watching her has become like watching one of those hopeless singers trying out for American Idol: First you laugh. Then you laugh some more. Maybe after that you laugh a little bit more. And as the talentless contestant soldiers on, despite the judges' derision, it hits you that this person, despite their best efforts, doesn't even realize that they don't have what it takes. And that makes you kind of sad.
Steve Benen tries to watch the interview from "the perspective of an earnest Republican observer, who cares about the country, and who takes policy issues seriously." The conclusion is that, regardless of how Palin got here, "reasonable people should agree that the Republican vice presidential nominee is way out of her depth, and has no business seeking national office."
Earnest Republican observer Ross Douthat can't link to video of the interview because it's "too painful," but seems to admit he was wrong in his earlier advocacy for Palin. Of course, it's always possible that it's all "just effing brilliant rope-a-dope for the Biden debate."
Another earnest Republican observer, Kathleen Parker, thinks that Palin has been revealed as someone "Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League." Because Palin is a woman, "we are reluctant to say what is painfully true." But it is true: "If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself."
Michael Crowley says the "real story" may be "percolating fear at McCain HQ that Palin's stock may be headed the way of Lehman Brothers." Why else did McCain do an interview with CBS on the same day as Palin unless to overshadow her?
Alex Koppelman and Mark Schone write that the interview "was memorable for how badly Palin performed." As her voice shook, Palin "was once again Miss South Carolina Teen USA."
Rod Dreher is "well and truly embarrassed" for Palin. She's "a good woman who might well be a great governor of Alaska," but this was a "train wreck."
Congrats, Mrs. Palin, you've become Sanjaya. This should end well.
Warning, this interview could result in a drop of your IQ points. Reader discretion is advised.
Katic Couric interviews Sarah Palin. Remember folks, these examples are all firsthand media accounts; there's no hearsay, propaganda, or venomous/anonymous YouTube clips. Ignorance is scary, incompetence is deadly.
(CBS) When CBS News anchor Katie Couric sat down for an exclusive interview with vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin Wednesday, she focused on the economy - but also addressed reports that the lobbying firm of Sen. John McCain's campaign manager received payments from the controversial mortgage giant Freddie Mac until last month. Couric asked for her reaction to that.
The second part of the exclusive interview, on foreign policy, will air on the CBS Evening News tonight. Here's a preview, where Palin talks about Afghanistan.
Sarah Palin: My understanding is that Rick Davis recused himself from the dealings of the firm. I don't know how long ago, a year or two ago that he's not benefiting from that. And you know, I was - I would hope that's not the case.
Katie Couric: But he still has a stake in the company so isn't that a conflict of interest?
Palin: Again, my understanding is that he recused himself from the dealings with Freddie and Fannie, any lobbying efforts on his part there. And I would hope that's the case because, as John McCain has been saying, and as I've on a much more local level been also rallying against is the undue influence of lobbyists in public policy decisions being made.
Next, Couric asked about the $700 billion government bailout of bad debt - and whether she supports it.
Palin: I'm all about the position that America is in and that we have to look at a $700 billion bailout. And as Sen. McCain has said unless this nearly trillion dollar bailout is what it may end up to be, unless there are amendments in Paulson's proposal, really I don't believe that Americans are going to support this and we will not support this. The interesting thing in the last couple of days that I have seen is that Americans are waiting to see what John McCain will do on this proposal. They're not waiting to see what Barack Obama is going to do. Is he going to do this and see what way the political wind's blowing? They're waiting to see if John McCain will be able to see these amendments implemented in Paulson's proposal.
Couric: Why do you say that? Why are they waiting for John McCain and not Barack Obama?
Palin: He's got the track record of the leadership qualities and the pragmatism that's needed at a crisis time like this.
Couric: But polls have shown that Sen. Obama has actually gotten a boost as a result of this latest crisis, with more people feeling that he can handle the situation better than John McCain.
Palin: I'm not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who's more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who's actually done it?
Couric: If this doesn't pass, do you think there's a risk of another Great Depression?
Palin: Unfortunately, that is the road that America may find itself on. Not necessarily this, as it's been proposed, has to pass or we're going to find ourselves in another Great Depression. But, there has got to be action - bipartisan effort - Congress not pointing fingers at one another but finding the solution to this, taking action, and being serious about the reforms on Wall Street that are needed.
Couric: Would you support a moratorium on foreclosures to help average Americans keep their homes?
Palin: That's something that John McCain and I have both been discussing - whether that ... is part of the solution or not. You know, it's going to be a multi-faceted solution that has to be found here.
Couric: So you haven't decided whether you'll support it or not?
Palin: I have not.
Couric: What are the pros and cons of it do you think?
Palin: Oh, well, some decisions that have been made poorly should not be rewarded, of course.
Couric: By consumers, you're saying?
Palin: Consumers - and those who were predator lenders also. That's, you know, that has to be considered also. But again, it's got to be a comprehensive, long-term solution found ... for this problem that America is facing today. As I say, we are getting into crisis mode here.
Couric: You've said, quote, "John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business." Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?
Palin: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie - that, that's paramount. That's more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.
Couric: But he's been in Congress for 26 years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.
Palin: He's also known as the maverick though, taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he's been talking about - the need to reform government.
Couric: But can you give me any other concrete examples? Because I know you've said Barack Obama is a lot of talk and no action. Can you give me any other examples in his 26 years of John McCain truly taking a stand on this?
Palin: I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.
Couric: I'm just going to ask you one more time - not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.
Palin: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.
This isn't getting old anytime soon. Palin is becoming an endless source of unintentional (and scary) comedy, so you know there's plenty more to come! The irony is that most of the stuff is unfiltered and straight from the horse's elephant's mouth. Need I put up the clip of her interview with Charles Gibson?
I used to always tease my boys Matt and Woo about their secret man-crush on Matt Damon because of their love for Goodwill Hunting Good Will Hunting (Thanks for the correction, Matt!), Rounders, and all things Matt Damon. But now, after watching this... it... it stirred something within me. Move over, guys, cause I feel a crush coming on. This was an incredible verbal roundhouse to the head.
Okay, not really, but it felt pretty good to be a dickhead.
Today I return from my lunch to find someone's gas-guzzling SUV in my executive parking spot, so I did what any hot-headed, vindictive American would do... I blocked their ass in. That's my BMW 7 Series below... cloaked as a '96 Accord.
The couple returned to their car but OOPS they can't get out. Better go find the renta-cop.
The renta-cop finds someone in my building to track me down to move my car, then she's off on her merry way.
But I was in no rush to move my car.
So I decided to arm wrestle Mike.
And shoot a little office hoop.
I went back to my desk to look at an email or three, then I decided I was done being a dick.
I wasn't an ass when I walked up to their car, I said "ahHA, you were the ones!". They were very apologetic so I didn't give them a hard time. They didn't see the sign that was posted because they backed in. I could have had them towed, but that would have been too quick, and I didn't want anyone to lose any of their hard-earned caysh uncessarily.. just their time, hehehe.
My girlfriend has been trying to get me to go to the beach the last two summers or so. According to her my people aren't fond of the beach and this is why I don't want to go. I'm not gonna subscribe to any broad generalizations but I will tell you that I really don't care for the beach all that much and when I do go I don't see many of us there. So there you have it.
After a lot of pressing by her I finally acquiesced; my one condition was we had to find a comfortable beach chair. Well, my friends, mission accomplished! I give you one of the baddest assedest beach chairs I've ever sat in, the Kelysus Convertible Canopy Chair:
I know, I know.. Bdub, where can I get one? How can I be down? Well, my friend, take your behind to your local neighborhood Targét and pick one up!
Here are some pics of it in action:
It's like a stroller for a grown ass man!! I loves it! Give me a good book and a cool breeze, and I'll sit anywhere for any period of time in that sumbitch! In fact, I think I'll go sit on the sidewalk in front of my apartment right now. Yes, I will look like a damn fool but I'll be one cold chillin'(taking you back to the 90s) fool!
Stop referring to the meat you're cooking as "him". The kitchen is no place for the personification of flesh. I realize it was once alive, thank you very much.
I love to cook. Currently I am "interviewing" other chefs on FoodNetwork to add to my DVR. Right now Alton Brown and Good Eats are number one. He is my lord and savior when it comes to the culinary arena. My cooking and kitchen are heavily influenced by him. Number two on the list is Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentiis. Not only is she easy on the eyes, but she can cook like nobody's business. She's taught me that presentation is key when serving food. I've made around ten of her recipes, and tomorrow I will debut her Polenta Crusted Shrimp. So Alton and Giada are locked in for good.
I thought I needed to mix it up a little, so I started watching other shows on FoodNetwork to see what would stick. Rachel Ray used to be on the list until I figured out I was just watching her for the unintentional comedy. I'm not gonna hate on her like other people do because she not "a real chef", it was just nothing she made moved or inspired me to get in the kitchen. I just liked to watch her balance all of her ingredients in her arms while she prepped to cook and when she laughed at her own jokes. So Rachel didn't stick.
Next was Ingrid Hoffman and Simply Delicioso. Her show was about cooking with a latin flair, but there were too many hard to find ingredients, and her dishes weren't all that appetizing. The only thing I took from her show was a jalapeno avocado dip that my girlfriend is crazy for. Other than that the soundtrack to her show was very good. It was some type of afro-cuban salsa or something, but not enough to keep her on the team. Adios, Ingrid.
Ina Garten and Barefoot Contessa is in my rotation now. I'm still on the fence about her. She makes okay dishes but for the most part they seem complicated. And her Hamptons foo-fooness gets on my nerves. "Let me go out to my garden here in East Hampton, and pick some herbs from my herb garden". So the jury is still out.
That brings us to Ms. Deen. Her dishes look really good and simple and she says y'all a awful lot. In fact I may add her to my DVR list just based on that fact alone. You could have a drinking game with your friends taking a sip everytime she says y'all. She's not in my rotation yet; I'm still in the process of doing a background check. Hopefully her referring to the veal as him won't count too much against her. Stay tuned, y'all!!
First and foremost this blog will be cathartic for me. I will use it as a medium to rant and rave about the crap that bothers me. Second it will be used to share narratives from my personal experience. Some funny, some utterly boring. So expect a fair share of drivel. And lastly, I just need a creative outlet of some sort, so VOILA, welcome to Bdub's Blog. Enjoy the show!
Bdub's Blog is specifically designed to be read by adults and therefore
may be unsuitable for children under 17. This blog contains one or more
of the following: graphic violence (V), explicit sexual activity (S), or
crude indecent language (L). Parental discretion is advised.
