Saturday, March 31, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Friday, March 30, 2007

sm coffee (12 fl.oz.)
hash brown
2 hot dogs (mustard/raw onion)
bottle of orange/mango juice (17.5 fl.oz.)
2-3 cups of coffee
slice of cheese pizza
spring shrimp roll
beef (egg)roll
2 pints of lager
2 med cups of fountain coke
bacon/lettuce/tomato sandwich
sm bag of potato chips (net wt. 1 oz.)
pint of lager
lg coffee
3 pints of lager
sm bag of cashews (net wt. 1 oz.)
can of coke (12 fl.oz.)
3 pints of lager
2 packs of cigarettes (Marlboro 72's)

random acts of kindness

1) rang doorbell of home twice. no answer (perhaps because of my appearance or because nobody was there). removed keys from front door lock and slid them through the mail slot.

2) after happy hour at Khyber, helped blind man cross the street (Market/2nd).

note: not concerned about burning "karma points" by talking about these deeds since the actions were not done for some kind of "karma payoff".

another topic: If not collector scum, you really only need 7-9 GBV/Robert Pollard discs...

Propeller
Bee Thousand
Alien Lanes
Under The Bushes, Under The Stars
Sunfish Holy Breakfast
Tonics And Twisted Chasers
Not In My Airforce
Waved Out
Speak Kindly Of Your Volunteer Fire Department

Friday, March 30, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Thursday, March 29, 2007

sm coffee (12 fl.oz.)
lg coffee (24 fl.oz.)
bottle of orange/mango juice (17.5 fl.oz.)
kaiser roll with butter
2 sm cups of coffee
2 pints of lager
can of coke (12 fl.oz.)
3 pints of lager
2 pints of lager (different location)
2 pints of lager* (diff. location)
pack of cigarettes

things to do today:

purchase new discman done-Riteaid ($12.99 sale price)
go to Penn Athletic Department and pick up Spring Baseball schedule
*go to (pub name deleted) and pick up ATM card plus pay last night's bar tab (uh, long story)
apply for "reliable warehouse employee" job (uh, next week)

lastly, again, thank you for reading this blog. last week (best week so far) was only 3 shy of 200 unique hits

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

hot dog (mustard/raw onion)
lg coffee
sausage/egg/cheese sandwich on long roll
3 sm cups of water
2 pints of lager
lg coffee with shot of espresso
double cheeseburger (McDonalds)
pint of lager
glass of fountain coke
1/2 pint of lager
2 pints of lager
glass of fountain coke (maybe...if not, should have)
2 bottles of lager
slightly more than a pack of cigarettes

was walking around in South Philly a couple of days ago and quite a few homes had cardboard Easter Rabbits/eggs in the windows, some homes even flying "Rabbit" flags. asked a barkeep at an Irish pub if it is standard practice in that part of town. She answered that she wasn't real familiar with South Philly but that alot of Catholics live in the area. anyway, thought it sort of interesting.

Cascarones* (easter eggs that kids love vs hard boiled/colored eggs)

carefully break a dozen eggs (keep carton for egg storage until Easter hunt) trying to salvage at least 3/4 of the shell (I don't know, make a large omelette or something)

wash/clean interior of shell. let dry.

paint eggs, let dry, then fill with confetti and top/glue colored tissue, "cone-head shaped" over opening. hide eggs in yard. let kids break the confetti eggs on each other's heads. fun.

*Cascarone

\Cas`ca*ron"\, n. [Sp. cascar['o]n.] Lit., an eggshell; hence, an eggshell filled with confetti to be thrown during balls, carnivals, etc. [Western U. S.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

can of orange soda (12 fl.oz.)
lg coffee
sausage/egg/cheese sandwich on long roll
3 cups of coffee
2 sm cups of water
2 pints of lager
glass of fountain coke
2 pints of lager
glass of fountain coke
bottle of lager
can of coke (12 fl.oz.)
sm cup of Irish Potato soup
4 packs of "saltine" crackers (2 per pack)
2 pints of lager
pbr/shot of whiskey special
"chicken ham"/cheese sandwich
apple berry "chewy" granola bar
bottle of water (16.9 fl.oz.)
slightly more than a pack of cigarettes

post/entry of a personal nature:

happy belated birthday (March 27th) to my younger sister who I believe just turned 40. Has it really been over two years since we last spoke?

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Monday, March 26, 2007

"chicken bologna"/cheese sandwich
5 sugar cookies
sm bag of sour cream/onion potato chips (net wt. 1 oz.)
lg coffee
2 pints of lager
can of coke (12 fl.oz.)
double espresso
2 pints of lager
2 bottles of lager
3 pints of lager (royal)
5 sugar cookies
oatmeal/marsh mallow (filling) cookie
banana
pack of cigarettes

Open Letter:

re: 3-24-07 comic strip

Dear Mallard Fillmore (Bruce Tinsley) & "Mr. Egghead Scientist,"

Perhaps "global cooling" and "global warming" are the flipside of the same coin. It is better to err on the side of caution than to err with the side of deceit, i.e., just because a smoker does not develop cancer doesn't mean that cigarettes are healthy.

Sincerely,

Sam (last name deleted)
autoacne(at)yahoo.com

Monday, March 26, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Sunday, March 25, 2007

lg coffee
1 hash brown
lg coffee
16 oz. can of beer (brown bagged)
pint of lager
sm complimentary basket of warm peanuts in shells
2 spring rolls
2 pints of lager
glass of fountain coke
pint of lager
mug of lager
3 "chicken bologna"/cheese sandwiches
2 pints of lager
2 "chicken bologna"/cheese sandwiches
can of grape soda (12 fl.oz.)
pack and half of cigarettes

more art links:

Ben Peterson lg scale drawings with wit and a dark underside, riffing on architecture. very talented draftsman with a good sense of color

the contrarian by Anne Fabbri (editorial article) (click to 2nd page)

nice "zen drawings" from Sunday's paper

Kingdom of Magical Extinctions (an exhibition)

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Saturday, March 24, 2007

2 sm coffees
3/4 hot dog (2 dogs on bun/plain)
16 oz. can of beer (brown bagged plus one)
double espresso
2 pints of lager (royal size)
bottle of lager
glass of fountain coke
2 pints of lager
med cup of sprite (McDonalds)
double cheesburger (McDonalds)
1 1/2 sm french fries (McDonalds)
pack of cigarettes

this morning (Sun., March 25th) finally made, what for me was, a perfect cup of coffee (Wawa's) to help relieve the beer fog.

med empty cup:

first put two packs of sugar, then french vanilla creamer (couple of tablespoons), adding enough liquid to more than cover the sugar, then filled the cup about half way with mocha from the prefab/industrial coffee machine gizmo. filled the rest of the cup with freshly brewed black coffee. hm hm good.

also, saw two very good art shows yesterday (Sat.)

the first, a collaborative effort from some artists based in Denmark whose art dealt with multiples, text, and sculpture.

the second, influential designer Dan Friedman (1945-1995) who termed his pieces "radical modernist"

other topic: National History Day (March 28-29)

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Friday, March 23, 2007

2 lg coffees
toasted bagel with cream cheese
sm cup of ice tea
ham sandwich (mustard/mayo)
can of root beer (12 fl.oz.)
plain hot dog (sausage)
2 "flauta" type snacks (spicy ground beef/bean)
3/4 pack of cigarettes

March Madness (rock'n'roll version)

Friday, March 23, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Thursday, March 22, 2007

2 sm cups of water
lg serving of tuna casserole
lg piece of french bread
sm bowl of sliced peaches
3 sm blueberry muffins
2 sm cups of water
bottle of pepsi wild cherry (1.05 liters)
1/3 med pizza (pepperoni/ham/pepperoncini)
1/3 med pizza (boneless buffalo chicken wing/blue cheese)
5 pork ribs
med coffee
1/2 pack of cigarettes

couple of weekends ago, was passing the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts slightly after dark when I noticed a car parked with the passenger side door left open. sort of strange. looked across the street into a well-lit alley and saw two guys rummaging through, then discarding what they had just pulled from some bags. after scoping this out for a while I loudly whistled and yelled "hey Assholes, you gonna clean up after making a mess!?! Next time you rob somebody at least close the car door! Brings less attention!" That's when we started giving each other the middle finger salute for a few minutes. When they started walking towards me, I decided to not stick around and took off. Wonder whether the art student(?) recovered any of his/her stuff?

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

sm cup of water
noodles with meatballs/tomato sauce
piece of bread
2 sm bowls of sliced fruit (peaches/pears)
slice of angel cake
2 iced coffees (12 fl.oz.)
cup of Rita's Italian Ice (mango)
med cup of hot chocolate
2 cheese sandwiches
med cup of hearty vegetable soup
1/2 pack of cigarettes

recipe:

Beer Eggs (George Hummel suggests putting that "half-full bottle of flat beer that you passed out-er, fell asleep in front of" to good use.) Serves one.

1/2 bottle of beer
1 tablespoon of ketchup
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 eggs
hot sauce to taste

1) Combine the beer, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce in a large skillet. Bring to a boil

2) Crack eggs into boiling mixture and poach to desired doneness

3) Remove eggs and continue simmering the sauce for about three minutes until thickened and reduced. Pour sauce over eggs and serve.

Homemade beer need not taste like skunk ass

note: recipe/msg board link taken from an article by Mara Zepeda in Philadelphia Weekly (3/21-3/27/07)

interesting Led Zepplin miscellany posted by Peat Moss on the Silver Jews Bulletin Board

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

3 cups of coffee
2 pop tarts
bag of granola (net wt. 10 oz.)
sm cup of hot tea
2 hot dogs (sausage with mustard/ketchup)
bag of corn chips (net wt. 1 1/4 oz.)
bottle of water (16.9 fl.oz.)
1/2 pack of cigarettes

websites visited daily:

Dust Congress (art/politics/literature)

Silver Jews Bulletin Board (music board)

Doonesbury (comic strip)

Zits (comic strip)

CNN (news)

Ice Hockey Hair (music, musings, and more)

Philebrity (culture/politics/nightlife/gossip)

Pitchfork (music blog)

Webster's Daily (found poetry)

Self Ignition (photography)

Fitted Sweats (blog)

Large Hearted Boy (music/literature)

Stereogum (music blog)

Idolator (music blog)

honorable mention:

Meta Filter (esoterica/ephemera)


Today In History (March 21st)

1678 - The London Gazette offers a reward to anyone who can reveal the author of "An Account of the Growth of Popery" published anonymously by Andrew Marvell in 1677

1843 - Robert Southey, a historian and poet laureate for 30 years, dies at Greta Hall, Keswick

history info via Book Corner


physical site to visit today (Wed. March 21) Dunkin' Donuts - *free* 16 oz. 12 oz. cup of iced coffee all day

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Monday, March 19, 2007

lg coffee
sm cup of water
med serving of spaghetti (tomato/meat sauce)
piece of french bread
sm sweet/fruit bread
loaf of italian bread (net wt. 16 oz.)
1/2-3/4 pack of cigarettes


lately, high schools in Philadelphia have been on the front page of the newspapers due to violence. yesterday's Daily News front page article was about the Youth Study Center ("juvie hall") and the potential for further violence. not to downplay the urgency of the article's angle but also couldn't help but think the written piece was another subtle salvo from the politicos/media who are *pro* Barnes Foundation move to Philly. Youth Study Center is the site where they intend to house the Barnes' art collection. Slowly but surely, it seems, the machinations are trying to spin the populace to their point of view, which is, GRAVE ROBBING IS OK AND LEGAL!

Personally I have a different ethical view regarding this very soulless act. Time to start looking for an attorney and camera person.

other news: tonight around 8 pm (eastern time) is the vernal equinox and the "official" beginning of Spring.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Sunday, March 18, 2007

bottle of water (16.9 fl.oz.)
carrot cake (weight watchers - 6 points)
2 "plastic barrels" of kool-aid
cheese sandwich
chicken/cheese sandwich
3 packs of "oreo" type cookies (6 cookies per pack)
peanut butter/jelly sandwich
Ritz Snack Mix (100 calorie pack)
6 oreos
1/4 pack of cigarettes

Saturday, March 17, 2007

sm coffee
1 hot dog (plain/2 dogs on bun)
24 oz. can of beer (brown-bagged/$1.50)
lg coffee
24 oz. can of beer (brown-bagged/$1.50)
16 oz. can of beer (brown-bagged)
1/2 pack of cigarettes


Blues #6 (or fiancee)

The guy walking by with the short blue hair
looked like Quincy Jones. Although he was
a lank icon of sorts and a potion for the
hall of famer's diet.
"Why blue?" my lady asked. "It's a tribute
to piss and grass, and I like the mix,"
he yelled back.

I became the human interlude until
the gaggle interrupted. The guy with
the blue hair turned into a pictograph
and my lady and I walked into the restaurant.
I asked her what looked good on the menu.
She said, "anything blue."

The waiter asked how she was doing.
She said, "blue." He said, "well, let's
change that ms. and make your dining
experience delightful." She said, "no,
you don't understand, I'm in live with blue,
that's what I like, that's what I want.

The owner came out and lit the candle
at our corner table and suggested we try
dessert first. The other people dining
began to sing "happy birthday" to me
even though it wasn't my birthday.

Nathaniel Brennan (2007)

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Friday, March 16, 2007

lg coffee
med coffee
sm bag of cheez-it crackers (net wt. 1 oz.)
1 eggroll
lg serving of casserole (noodles, ground beef, bell pepper, sm amount of tomato sauce)
sm side of sliced peaches
2 pieces of french bread
2 sm cups of water
lg coffee
3 bottles of lager
3/4 peanut butter/jelly sandwich
pint of ale
sm coffee
8 cheese crackers with peanut butter
3/4 pack of cigarettes

Howling Hex was cancelled last night due to the weather (lots of snow). The manager of Johnny Brenda's was kind enough though to comp me a pint plus give a tour of the upstairs space (where the bands play). *Incredible*. Very small/intimate space with a raised stage plus a balcony. looking forward to seeing The Black Lips there next week, if they're not already sold out.

another music related entry: Silver Jews Bulletin Board (The Movie) by Karl

Friday, March 16, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Thursday, March 15, 2007

1 1/2 med. coffees
lite orange/mango fruit 'n sauce (net wt. 4 oz.)
2 sm cups of water
lg serving of rice/chicken/veg casserole plus
sm side of fruit medley
2 pieces of french bread
slice of lemon pound cake
4 sm cups of water
chicken salad on onion/cheese bread with lettuce/tomato
turkey sandwich with mayo/cranberry/lettuce/tomato
sm bag of potato chips (net wt. 1 oz.)
2 pickles
2 bottles of lager
1/2 pack of cigarettes

recipe:

Spaghetti With Caviar and Champagne Sauce

(Joel Assouline, owner of Caviar Assouline, uses vegetarian caviar in his recipes. Serves four)

1/4 cup clear vegetable stock or broth
1 glass (about 3/4 cup) champagne
1 sprig thyme
shallet, finely chopped
pinch of ground nutmeg
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
3/5-ounce jar vegetarian caviar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound spagetti

1) Bring the stock, champagne, thyme, shallot, and nutmeg to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and reduce the liquid by three-quarters
2) Remove from heat and strain. Whisk in the cream, butter, vinegar and add salt and pepper to taste.
3) Cook pasta until al dente, drain and toss with olive oil.
4) Stir the caviar into the warm cream sauce, pour over pasta and serve immediately.

published in Philadelphia Weekly (11/29-12/5/06)

other topic: NY Times reviews latest show of Philip Taaffe (a great painter)

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

med coffee
1 hotdog with mustard
bottle of water (16.9 fl.oz.)
bag of cheddar cheese popcorn (net wt. 1/2 oz.)
peanut butter/jelly sandwich
chocolate cupcake with creme filling
apple
tootsie roll
1/2 pack of cigarettes

was talking to some "kids" yesterday (Wed. night) ranging in age from college freshman to high-schoolers. found out they were from Austin. When I mentioned they were missing SXSW all four either rolled their eyes or shrugged their shoulders and said almost in unison, "uh, yeah..." Now that I think of it, when I lived in Austin, never went to SXSW. Wristbands were too expensive, the clubs/bars too crowded. always took a break from seeing/hearing live bands during that week, which was a drag, though I did go to some of the day/label events which were enjoyable/good times.

related topic: going to see Howling Hex tomorrow night. hopefully alot of Philly people *did* go to Austin for SXSW.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

2 lg coffees
1 cup of coffee
1 sm cup of water
can of orange soda (12 fl.oz.)
med. cup of iced-tea
1 hotdog (mustard/ketchup) on slice of white bread
hard salami/cheese sandwich
sm granola (chewy) bar
can of Dr. Pepper (12 fl.oz.)
1/2 pack of cigarettes

last night, slightly after midnight, saw about 50 bicyclists cruising down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, some making the green lights, others running the red causing a few cars to blare their horns. Don't know how often they make the trek (bi-weekly? monthly?) from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the Philly Soft Pretzel Factory for munchies but they seemed to be having fun hootin' and hollerin' along the way.

offtopic: Real Life Is Not Fugazi (who they're talking about)

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Monday, March 12, 2007

1 plain hotdog
two donuts (chocolate/glazed) with green sprinkles
two plain hotdogs
bottle of water (1pt,.9fl.oz.)
2 slices of pepperoni pizza
two sm bags of dried fruit, nuts
ham/cheese sandwich
2 Tastykake cream filled koffee kake cupcakes (total nt.wt. 2 1/8 oz.)
bottle of water (16.9 fl.oz.)
1/2-3/4 pack of cigarettes

Old Man Winter Will Not Fool Me

Yesterday was a beautiful day, upper 50's. Was able to get away with wearing only a light jacket plus scarf/gloves/knit hat. Today, morning is sort of chilly. Decided to wear a heavier coat plus scarf/gloves/knit hat. As of 9:30 am was still sort of cold.

Why suffer? Prefer to be warm if there is a nip in the air plus not in the mood to get sick which I don't believe is an ol' wives tale. Underdress/lack of layers... you get sick. Also coffee is nice and warm this morn. A good taste.

more info:

What is the common cold?

The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract - the nose, nasal passages and the throat. There are more than 200 viruses that can cause colds. The primary family of viruses that cause common colds in adults are the rhinoviruses. There are more than one hundred kinds of rhinoviruses. These are also called "nose viruses", based on a Greek word "rhino" meaning nose.

What are the symptoms of common cold?

Symptoms usually show up about two days after a person becomes infected. Early signs of a cold are a sore, scratchy throat, sneezing, and a runny nose. Other symptoms that may occur later include headache, stuffy nose, watering eyes, hacking cough, chills, and general malaise (ill-feeling) lasting from 2 to 7 days. Some cases may last for two weeks. The common cold may be accompanied by:

* laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx or "voice box");
* tracheitis (inflammation of the membrane lining the trachea or "wind pipe") or
* bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchial membranes).

(Another OSH Answers document explains more about parts of the respiratory tract.)

These inflammations may make one more susceptible to more serious complications such as

* sinusitis (inflammation of sinus membranes) and
* pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs).

Although no fatalities have been reported among otherwise healthy workers the disability is important because it affects work performance and industrial absenteeism.

Can someone be infected with a cold virus and not show symptoms?

Yes, it is even possible to be exposed to cold viruses and not become infected. When people are infected, they can be asymptomatic (i.e., showing no symptoms); this is called a sub-clinical infection since the infection is not causing a disease. Most people with colds show mild symptoms but severe colds can send one to bed with all the nasty symptoms of headache, fever, aches and pains all over, stuffy nose and coughing.

How widespread is the common cold?

Common cold infections are so widespread that there can be very few people who escape the infection each year. It has been estimated that adults suffer 2 to 5 colds per year.

In the U. S. there are nearly 61 million cases of common cold annually resulting in approximately 58 million bed-days.

How are common cold viruses transmitted?

Colds are really not very contagious, compared to other infectious diseases. Close personal and prolonged contact is necessary for the cold viruses to spread. The viruses must get into the nose where they can infect the nasal membranes. The virus must attach to nasal cells after which the viruses can multiply. Inhaling contaminated droplets produced when someone else coughs or sneezes may be one way to catch a cold.

Cold viruses can remain infective even if they are outside the body for a few hours. You can catch a cold if you handle something that is contaminated with a cold virus and then stick your contaminated finger up your nose or rub your eyes. The cold viruses can reach the nose when you rub your eyes because the virus can be passed down the tear ducts that go from the eyes into the nasal cavities.

Do chills or exposure to cold temperatures cause colds?

In a word - no. Some people may sneeze if their skin is cooled. More people catch colds when the weather temperature is cold than when it is warm outside because they tend to be inside more often and longer. People tend to blame cool temperatures for getting a cold rather than being in closer, prolonged contact with people who have a cold.

Some people associate exposure to the cool air from air conditioners as a cause of colds. Again, it is not the temperature that is the culprit. Air conditioners remove moisture from the air which, in turn, can dry the mucous on the nasal membrane. Without a sufficient mucous layer covering these membranes, the nose becomes more susceptible to viruses that cause the common cold.

When are people with a common cold most infective?

People are most infective or more likely to be able to pass on a cold around two days after they were infected. This is when the first signs of a cold (sneezing, runny nose and cough) appear. People can cough or sneeze out in droplets of mucus containing the cold virus. People can also spread the cold virus on their fingers when they contaminate them with nasal secretions (for example, someone blows their nose and then shakes hands with someone else, who rubs his or her eyes with the contaminated fingers).

Can you tell the difference between a cold and the "flu"?

You cannot really tell the difference between a cold and the flu (from the word "influenza") from the symptoms alone. Flu symptoms usually occur very quickly after one is infected but the onset of cold symptoms can be up to a couple of days or so. Symptoms like headaches, fever and muscle aches and pains are usually associated with influenza but someone with a severe common cold can also have these symptoms.

How can we control the spread of common colds?

You cannot cure a cold but you can help protect yourself from getting a cold by following good personal hygiene practices. Good hygiene practices include:

* washing hands properly and frequently
* covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing
* wiping noses using disposable tissues in a way that secretions are contained by the tissue without contaminating the hands
* avoiding rubbing the eyes with dirty hands
* avoiding nail biting (especially important for infections that are transmitted orally)

A healthy diet and getting sufficient sleep are also important in helping to prevent colds. Our immune system is also affected by stress. Studies have shown that people are more susceptible to getting colds after times of psychological stress.

Document last updated on April 12, 1999

Copyright ©1997-2006 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety

Monday, March 12, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Sunday, March 11, 2007

2 sm cartons of chocolate milk (1/2 pint each)
4 biscuits
2 sm cartons of chocolate milk (1/2 pint each)
1 Trail Mix Bar - Fruit & Nut (nt.wt. 1.2 oz)
2 sm cartons of chocolate milk (1/2 pint each)
3 slices of peperoni pizza
1 hot dog (spicey)
2 sm cartons of chocolate milk (1/2 pint each)
bottle of water (16 fl.oz.)
1/4 pack of cigarettes


The Truest Line

First it started out at the deli, with the owner's
fake fingernails. She was always pressing her pink press-ons
down on the scale while weighing the meats, cheeses,
and fish, if it was in season. "I've been doing this for years,"
she boasted to those who had past the six month stretch
of employment. She tried to explain to the counter workers
how to do this subtly for the sake of the establishment.
She always said that the extra thirty cents adds up.
"Just press down on the scale lightly while your weighing
the goods," she would say.
I was new to this job, two weeks in, and she seemed crooked.
Not cross-eyed, just crooked, and the cashier told me this.

She insisted I take my lunch break with her one afternoon.
I accepted and just sat there eating while she
went on and on about something. But then she started
whispering to me, I felt important or competent as an employee.
She started talking about food and it's endless beauty. I knew she
would, and I liked that. I put my spoon down and leaned back
I was totally prepared to listen to whatever my boss was
about to say. And she said, " eight years ago at the local
salomon ski, benefit for hunger race, I nailed it baby!
I had a back pack full of strawberry doughnuts, not powdered,
they had real sugar on them. I stuck each one on the pole
that I was passing, it was like playing horseshoes on skis.
I miss those days." I said "that's great," and went back to work.

Nathaniel Brennan (2007)

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Saturday, March 10, 2007

lg coffee
turkey/cheese sandwich
sm bag of pretzels (nt.wt. 1 1/2 oz.)
2 hot dogs (2 dogs per bun)
can of grape soda (12 fl.oz.)
2 sm coffees
1 jelly-filled donut
sm bag of cheddar-cheese popcorn (nt.wt.1/2oz)
ham/cheese sandwich
sm "plastic barrel" of red kool-aid
2 sm cartons of chocolate milk (1/2 pint each)
ham/cheese sandwich
turkey/cheese sandwich
2 sm cartons of chocolate milk (1/2 pint each)
3/4 pack of cigarettes

The St. Patrick's parade in Philadelphia began around 11ish am or so. wonder if it started that late cause participants/viewers were hung-over from all day/all night drinking on Saturday? Saw an advert for an Irish pub in one of the alt-weeklies this past weekend offering free t-shirts for the first 50 customers who showed up during the "pub crawl" festivities. Bar opened at 10 am. Think I would be continually broke if restaraunts/bars opened that early on a daily basis instead of at 11:30 am. well, not really. at that hour (10 am) enjoy drinking coffee.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Friday, March 9, 2007

8-9 cups of coffee
4-5 sm cups of water
2 sm cups of hot chocolate
2 servings of pasta noodles with meat sauce plus
mashed potatoes
3 slices of multi-grain bread
4 "oreo" type of cookies
lg coffee
hot dog on slice of white bread with ketchup
can of pepsi (12 fl.oz.)
hot dog (spicey) with mustard
3/4 pack of cigarettes

was looking at a pack of cigarettes and noticed, for the first time, a new warning... please don't litter. the "icon" being a cigarette next to an ashtray. When I'm walking down the street and I'm done with a cigarette sometime I just toss the butt, other times I don't. When sitting in the park I generally either make sure the cigarette is totally out and throw it in trash can or put it between the plastic wrap and cigarette pack to throw out later. A couple of weeks ago, was at a bar I hang out at. They usually have a table outside with an ashtray for smokers. You can either smoke and not drink outside or eat/drink (when warmer) but not smoke. strange city regulations. anyway, the barkeep was outside sweeping up cigarette butts since the snow had recently melted, revealing literally "hundreds of butts" next to the sewage/drainage which partially becomes our drinking water after being cleansed/filtered. still though. Barkeep told me that camel cigarettes are the only brand that are bio-degradable because they use cotton in the filter. thought American Spirit cigarettes would also be bio-degradable since they always hype their brand as natural. just wonder thats all.

other topic: if you're into looking at "old" string instruments, ie, violins, they have four or five of them in a case near the Goverment Publications Department at the Philadelphia Public Library. They range in age from 1759 to 1930.

Friday, March 9, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Thursday, March 8, 2007

5-6 cups of coffee
kaiser roll with butter
pretzel with mustard
2 sm cups of water
2 pretzel sticks
lg coffee
bagel with cream cheese
2.5 servings of pasta noodles with tomato sauce plus
parmesan cheese
bottle of water (16 fl.oz.)
pack of cigarettes

one if by land, two if by sea*

The longest journey starts with a single step - Lao Tse

If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it - Jonathan Winters

*file under hard knocks/comedy/life

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

med coffee
toasted bagel with cream cheese plus
sm amount of strawberry jam
3 sm cups of water
5-6 cups of coffee
lg M&M cookie
3/4 pack of cigarettes

March Madness Recipe (Taste Test from free local-daily)

Frickles (Fried Pickles)

Ingredients:

1 large jar of pickles (Vlasic Hamburger Dill Chips or Hamburger Ovals)
1 cup unbleached flour
1 cup yellow corn meal
1 tablespoon favorite barbecue rub
3 tablespoons yellow prepared mustard
1 cup of beer

1) Preheat 4-6 inches of oil in a deep casserole dish or Dutch oven to 325 degrees.
2) In a wide, flat bowl, combine the flour and cornmeal and season with BBQ rub. In another wide, flat bowl, make a slurry of the mustard and beer.
3) Dip the pickle slices, several at a time, in the mustard-beer mixture and then in the flour and cornmeal mixture. When coated, place the pickles on a dish until all of them have been dipped and coated.
4) With a slotted spoon or a frying basket, slip the pickles into the casserole dish or Dutch oven, 5 or 6 at a time, until the batter is browned on both sides, about 30-45 seconds, turn with a slotted spoon. Pickles will float to top when done.
5) Remove browned pickles to a plate covered with a paper towel, and drain briefly.
6) Serve Warm as an appetizer with a bowl of room-temperature honey mustard or mustard-based barbecue sauce to dip the pickles into, and add a tall bottle of an icy cold beer.

courtesy Rick Browne, Barbecue America, and Vlasic Pickles


related technological/March Madness article -


Refrigerator Will Toss You Can of Beer

by estes thompson / associated press writer

MAR 8, 2007 7:50 AM EST

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- When John Cornwell graduated from Duke University last year, he landed a job as software engineer in Atlanta but soon found himself longing for his college lifestyle. So the engineering graduate built himself a reminder of life on campus: a refrigerator that can toss a can of beer to his couch with the click of a remote control.

"I conceived it right after I got out," said Cornwell, a May 2006 graduate from Huntington, N.Y. "I missed the college scene. It embodies the college spirit that I didn't want to let go of."

It took the 22-year-old Cornwell about 150 hours and $400 in parts to modify a mini-fridge common to many college dorm rooms into the beer-tossing contraption, which can launch 10 cans of beer from its magazine before needing a reload.

With a click of the remote, fashioned from a car's keyless entry device, a small elevator inside the refrigerator lifts a beer can through a hole and loads it into the fridge's catapult arm. A second click fires the device, tossing the beer up to 20 feet -- "far enough to get to the couch," he said.

Is there a foam explosion when the can is opened? Not if the recipient uses "soft hands" to cradle the can when caught, Cornwell said.

In developing his beer catapult, Cornwell said he dented a few walls and came close to accidentally throwing a can through his television. He's since fine-tuned the machine to land a beer where he usually sits at home, on what he called "a right-angle couch system."

For now, the machine throws only cans, although Cornwell has thought about making a version that can throw a bottle. The most beer he has run through the machine was at a party, when he launched a couple of 24-can cases.

"I did launch a lot watching the Super Bowl," he said. "My friends are the reason I built it. I told them about the idea and hyped it so much and I had to go through with it."

A video featuring the device is a hit on the Internet, where more than 600,000 people have watched it at metacafe.com, earning Cornwell more than $3,000 from the Web site.

Cornwell said he has talked to a brewing company about the machine, but right now only one exists. Asked if he might start building some for sale, he said: "I'm keeping that option open, depending on interest."

When Cornwell was a student at Duke -- an elite, private university in Durham -- he participated in the engineering school's robotic basketball contests, said mechanical engineering Professor Bob Kielb. He said students tried to build a robot that could retrieve a pingpong ball and toss it into a small hoop.

"He always did well in it," Kielb said. "He came up with completely unique ideas."

------

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

sm coffee
bagel with cream cheese
6-7 cups of coffee
3 sm cups of water
2 bottles of lager
egg/ham on glazed roll (Chinatown bakery)
sm bottle of apple juice (10 fl.oz.)
pack of cigarettes

note: last night went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Dan Flavin sculpture installation was only partially visible from the outside. could see only two- three sculptures though, and even those pieces were slightly obscured by the grey/black gauze/drapes. Don't know whether the Museum of Art is on some kind of schedule re: these pieces or whether I was just lucky to see them that night. Also, was a full moon the night they were visible so it may be some kind of lunar calender thing. then again, maybe not.

more miscellany:


Hello Allan Smithee,

Your chat transcript with a librarian at FREE LIBR OF
PHILADELPHIA (PA)


Date: 18:27 2007/03/05
Question ID: (number deleted)

Chat Transcript: I am at a terminal at the Philadelphia
Public Library.

Question: Why is the library using Internet Explorer vs
Firefox, a much better, and free, internet browser?

[Librarian 18:27:27]: Librarian 'FreeLibPhiladelphia
Andrea' has joined the session.
[Librarian 18:28:38]: Hello my name is Andrea. I'm at
the Free Library of Philadelphia. I'll be helping you
today.
[Librarian 18:29:08]: I am sorry I can not answer that
? for you. Our information technology department makes
those decisions
[Librarian 18:30:21]: You can provide comments on the
free library's home page
[Allan Smithee 18:30:26]: Could you give me an e-mail
address for one of the computer technicians? Then I
could suggest firefox.
[Librarian 18:30:31]: Is there anything else I can help
you with?
[Allan Smithee 18:30:51]: No ma'am.
[Librarian 18:30:54]: here is the web link for comments
[Librarian 18:30:55]:
(link deleted)
[Allan Smithee 18:31:09]: Thank you.
[Librarian 18:31:17]: Thank you for using Ask Here PA. It
has been a pleasure assisting you and I hope you will use
Ask Here PA again.
[Allan Smithee 18:32:12]: Patron ended chat session.

To review your previous transcripts or questions, logon to:
(address deleted)



*editor's note*: general FYI (and also a thankyou
if you read this blog)...

two hits away from reaching 1,000 unique hits
perhaps later today or tomorrow

Site Name: Automotive Acne — Total Hits: 998


Statistics as of March 7, 2007 at 1:39 pm CST
Account ID: (deleted) — Site:Automotive Acne

Your counter was created on January 25, 2007 at 12:20 pm CST with a starting count of 0. You currently have your counter set to increment on Unique Hits Only.
Total Hits: 998
Hits Today (so far): 21
Hits Since Start: 998
Average Daily Hits Since Start: 24.31


Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Monday, March 5, 2007

lg coffee
6-7 cups of coffee
5 biscuits
16 oz can of beer (brown bagged)
peanut butter/jelly sandwich
sm bag of Chips Deluxe cookies - Mini Rainbow (nt. wt. 1.4 oz)
sm bag of cheez-it crackers (1.25 oz)
single apple
pack of cigarettes

today (tues.) at the computer lab, chap brought new coffee filters. we were able to re-use two filters since thurs. after the first reuse was easier to not empty grinds but just add fresh coffee on top. note: checked for mold, appeared safe.

another bird mention: think they're orioles (slighty smaller than pigeons, brown with orange breast) whom I see scouting out around the pigeons and those other birds I've yet to identify. They don't seem to eat the food refuse (perhaps some white bread). yesterday saw one running/hopping and snag a worm. guess they're only natural/organic eaters.

Monday, March 5, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Sunday, March 4, 2007

3 donuts
extra-lg coffee (24 fl.oz.)
lg coffee (16 fl.oz.)
2 biscuits
bottle of water (16.9 fl.oz.)
3 pints of lager
3 biscuits
2 lagers
2 lagers (diff. location)
2 biscuits
pack and half of cigarettes

yesterday, about 1-2 hours before it got dark, was walking near park/baseball field when looked in the sky (arm/hand slightly extended blocking out sun) and saw a flock swirling overhead like buzzards then moving up/down according to air currents. New birds I've noticed in the last week or two, probably migratory. not sure if this is the correct bird, tried googleing, but this type is the closest to what I saw.



sort of related: when living at my sister's/her husband's home in Austin a couple of years ago (was painting their house) would cross the street and walk around the park. They lived near Austin Airport Blvd. At dusk, huge herds of crows/grackles would descend and feed. amazing sight. uh... just sayin'.

offtopic: last night was also hanging out at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I like the view of the downtown buildings at night and also enjoy looking at the Large Glass at night. Noticed, on the third floor, visible from outside, is a new installation of Dan Flavin sculpture along a row of about 10 windows. very strong piece.

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Saturday, March 3, 2007

sm coffee
orange/carrot juice (16 fl.oz.)
2 pints of lager
glass of fountain coke
bacon cheese burger (lettuce/tomato/onion/sm amount of mustard) plus fries
single espresso
sm bag of peanuts (2.5 oz)
16 oz. can of beer (brown bagged)
3 bottles of lager
pint of lager
16 oz. can of beer (brown bagged)
2 biscuits
pack and half of cigarettes

Did You Know?

In the early days, it cost a penny for a cup of coffee in a coffeehouse. Because coffeehouses were places of discussion of the times, they were called "penny universities".

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Friday, March 2, 2007

sm coffee
orange/mango juice (17.5 fl.oz.)
kaiser roll with butter
2 cups of coffee
2 pints of lager
glass of fountain coke
cheese hoagie (mayo/lettuce/onion) plus
potato chips/pickle/tabasco
pint of lager
can of coke
3 pints of lager (plus two)
4 "saltine" crackers
2 pints of lager
bottle of lager (to go)
pint of lager
pack and half of cigarettes

ashes to ashes dust to dust

idea/notes for protest art action (video piece)
working title: guided by a voice

needed on site:
camera person/sm camera
attorney (legal representation)
thin "surgical" type gloves

film attempted (successful?) theft of a Duchamp painting via "Barnes channelling"*, ie, founder Barnes' anger from the grave... sort of a "Thomas Crown Affair" in the open/reverse

postscript: will be real yet not real. repeat if necessary.

*footnote: A/B/MD

visit Sunday (pay what you want) to scout location/details

FYI: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/counties/philadelphia_county/philadelphia/16816401.htm

Friday, March 2, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Thursday, March 1, 2007

sm coffee
2 sm cups of water
1/2 of a tangerine
2 pints of lager
glass of fountain coke
2 pints of lager
slice of pizza (cheese)
2 pints of lager
2 sm cups of water
shot of whiskey (sipping amount)
can of coke
2 pints of lager
cup of creamy chicken soup
2 slices of tomato
4 "saltine" crackers
sm coffee
sm "slim jim"
bagel with cream cheese
pack and half of cigarettes

read or appear "dumb"

last night we finally had another one of our James Joyce Book Club meets. I say "finally" because both meetings during the month of February were canceled. uh, the moderator (book store employee) forgot to include the Joyce club on the "official" flyer, hence library security wouldn't allow us to use the store after-hours cause there was no mention.

also in attendance last night, a young journalism intern from one of the alt-weeklies gathering info for a potential article. if it appears in print will link it. guesstimate re: publication - not next week but perhaps the following.

we're still on Dubliners for those keeping score.

offtopic link: though no longer Feb., jewelry for your honey

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Food Stuff Consumption And Miscellany

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007

sm coffee
hash brown
bottle of orange/mango juice (17.5 fl.oz.)
cup of coffee
pint of lager
glass of fountain coke
hot roast pork on kaiser roll sandwich (mayo/horseradish) plus
pickle/peppers
sm bag of potato chips
2 pints of lager
mug of lager
single plum
2 pints of lager
glass of fountain coke
pint of lager
glass of fountain coke
sm bag of pretzels
2 pints of lager
mug of lager
glass of fountain coke
2 pints of lager
4 "saltine" crackers
single plum
slightly more than a pack of cigarettes

find/discovery of the week

last night was handling/examining a (found) slim volume containing 12 "plates" of zen drawings/paintings. book also contains slightly more than 10 pages of end-note text in German.
paper stock is very heavy and the binding is low on glue with a high "thread" count. beautiful piece of work. the one thing that struck me though was that it was published in 1958, which is 5 years before I was born. did the arithmetic... the book is almost 50 yrs old.