Billie Joe Armstrong / Fresh Air

Going through the back-log of Fresh Air shows for the past month or so. I really enjoyed the interview with Billie Joe from Green Day. Intelligent, funny.

Portugal vs. Spain

A very interesting match geographically. I think Spain are punks, but the main guy for Portugal is not entirely an angel. Spain would seem to be the best divers in the tournament: that red card was pathetic.

Campground in Tsumeb, Namibia. Bleak.

the Environmental Cost of Growing Pot

I thought this story on Sunday was wonderful. It has annoyed me for a while how weed is considered natural and whatnot, considering all of the side costs of growing it. Hydroponics especially seem ridiculous, using water + a boatload of chemicals to mimic soil seems pretty lame.

Chile vs. Brasil

Should be some goals in this one! Chile with the classic all white jerseys. Jeez, Brasil is good; Chile is playing scared. That was a beautiful goal. x2.

I don't see how Brasil doesn't win it all. Not really going out on a limb much, obviously. I like their team this year, no annoying players like in the recent past....

3rd Brasil goal gorgeous as well. The announcers were talking about a razor blade/firecracker story, googled it, it's pretty awesome. Chile clearly has a long-term fear of Brasil. #1 footbal dive ever:

1: Roberto Rojas
Brazil v Chile, World Cup qualifier, 3 September 1989

Overrun and intimidated, Chile needed a way out. The plan: force an abandonment and a replay in a neutral venue. The execution: on 69 minutes, goalkeeper Rojas threw himself into the smoke of a firecracker, which had landed nearby, pulled a razor blade from his glove and stabbed himself in the head. The result: lots of blood, a mass brawl, a walkout, an abandonment - but, after video evidence, no replay. Instead, Brazil were awarded the game, Chile were out of one World Cup and excluded from the next, Rojas was banned for life and the woman who threw the firecracker was signed up by Playboy Brazil. In May 2001, Fifa lifted the ban. 'At 43, I'm unlikely to play again,' said Rojas, now coach at São Paulo, 'but at least this pardon will cleanse my soul.'

Lions, Kruger, July 1987

Holland vs. Slovakia

Unfortunately ESPN radio played a sportstalk show instead of the game. So only did the highlights thing. Holland looks ok, we shall see. I hope Chile wins today, but Brasil probably will, in which case I'll be rooting for the Dutch...
A few of the '12 Apostles' -- the name given to the peaks running down the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula.

Mexico vs. Argentina

1st goal another travesty. 2nd was unfortunate. Think I might just go back to the garden if it's 2-nil at halftime. Didn't. Glad I watched, the goal for Mexico was sweet. Small moral victory.... Maybe Argentina & Germany will beat eachother up so bad the winner will lose the following game. Karma and all.

me, J-Bay, May 1989

England vs. Germany

A travesty.

Oh my. I just watched the highlights during halftime of the 2nd game. Beyond travesty. This comment from Klose doesn't help any: We were aggressive from the first minute and it was a deserved victory.

Dung beetles, Addo Elephant National Park, May 1989

USA vs. Ghana

Listened on the radio. Meh. I don't know if the ESPN video recap was biased (probably) but it looked like we actually played pretty well, had lots of opportunities. Oh well. This was going to be a tough game to win, so I'm not too terribly surprised. Happy Uruguay won; games tomorrow should be amazing.

Dung Beetle, Kruger National park, December 1988

Chile vs. Spain

Awesome game with huge implications. Chile missed a gift around 11'. Oh man, kind of a BS goal for Spain. Chile only needs a tie, they have been attacking a ton, with Spain scoring on a counter attack maybe poor strategy?? Chile miss at 33'. Ouch.

2nd Spain goal was nice. Chile is in trouble. Plus a player got a 2nd yellow, so 10 men. But man o man was that a BS card, blatant dive. I have no respect for Spain.

Chile's goal was off of a deflection. We'll take it. Hmmm, Sanchez was subbed at 65', doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Switzerland/Honduras is still nil-nil. Boring 2nd half (both teams know they will advance) people in the stands are complaining.

This is a funny post, game went from important to a yawner. c'est la vie.

Spotted Hyena with carcass, Kruger National Park, December 1988

Sour Skons (Oatmeal Buttermilk Scones)

These have been a great food discovery. I recently procured a ton of buttermilk from the co-op, made some buttermilk sherbet as per usual, and have made these scones 3 times now. And I still have 4 quarts to deal with. Luckily the use-by-date for buttermilk is conservative... The recipe I have been using is from the New Complete Book of Breads by Bernard Clayton, a massive 750 page tome, and the recipe originates from the Orkney Islands. Basically you soak oatmeal in an equal volume of buttermilk for a couple of days, lightly sweeten, caraway seeds, leaven with baking soda, thicken with flour, bake. Simple, healthy, nutritious, thrifty, good. It's like morning oatmeal, 'cept it's ready to eat.
the official recipe (p.565):
1c oatmeal
1c buttermilk
1t sugar, b. soda
1/2 t salt, caraway seeds
1 1/4 c unbleached white flour

soak oatmeal in buttermilk for 2-3 days. mix all. makes a thick dough. makes a 8" round, 3/4" thick. Score it. 425 30min.

my version:
1Q buttermilk
4c rolled oats
1T or so honey
1/2 T b. soda
salt
1/2 T caraway
whole wheat flour to thicken, 3-4 c

I've been adding the seeds to the oats when soaking. You don't do 4x the baking soda. It seems like the dough gets thick enough before 5c of flour is added (and I don't like to measure, anyway). 425 30.

Update:
I tried a batch with the full amount of buttermilk, but probably only 2c of oats (the amount left in the container) soaked for awhile, and then added extra flour to thicken. MUCH less interesting. Coincidentally, David Lebowitz has a post today on the substitution front.

Variations:
Oatmeal Beer Scones
Oatmeal Banana Yogurt Scones
Oatmeal + whey from making ricotta makes for a pretty uninteresting scone.

Dogtooth / OnionAV

This movie looks awesome.

Denmark vs. Japan

From the text feed when you are in gamecast mode:

Jakob Poulsen comes on and Jorgensen comes off. We now have three Poulsen's on the pitch. I'm guessing that surname is like Smith in England.

nice

From the announcer, after a (pathetic) swing and a miss by Denmark close to the 6 yard box: He could play all night tonight and still not make contact.

Denmark hits the post, then a blatant dive to 'earn' a penalty kick. Which was saved, but he hit in the rebound. Denmark needs to somehow score 2 more goals to advance. Not likely. Japan scores again, they are pretty good. The striker Honda especially.

We rented the Toyota 4x4 with safari seats in Maun to drive up to Moremi; at the entrance gate to Moremi National Park, Botswana, July 1988

French Team / NPR

A little boring, but decent enough -- it's good to hear soccer coverage on NPR.

Karoo Desert, somewhere, sometime

Slovakia vs. Italy

Only watched the highlights. Impressive goals. The only time I have rooted for Italy was the 1994 finals, cause I don't like Brasil much, so no big loss.

Karoo Desert somewhere, sometime

Ghana vs. Germany

When I was playing soccer on Long Island one of my dad's grad students, Eric, was from Ghana, and he was a great soccer player. I hope they win.

Both teams could have scored, Ghana multiple times, by the 25th minute. Good game. Germany's goal was nice. Their reward is they get England, Ghana gets America -- that's going to be interesting, both teams have had a ton of chances, not that many goals.

Me and my brother, ~1 min exposure, Punda Maria campground (I think), Kruger National Park, December 1988

p.s. check out the Land Rover safari-ish rig (it's no Unimog) pictured here at Punda Maria. Sweet.

USA vs. Algeria

This was murder. Was listening to it on the radio while gardening (ESPN radio, 710 AM). We had another legitimate goal called back. Eek. Sounded like we were attacking the whole 2nd half, finally got a garbage-y goal in the 92nd minute. So happy. Watching the Ghana/Germany game live, then will watch the US game...

Oh man. On the attack the whole 2nd half. Algeria was playing for a tie, playing not that they would advance, but that they would stop the US from doing so. In the words of the announcer, 20 seconds before the goal: dreadfully negative, really, from the Algerians. Quite a celebration.

Looking south from Noordhoek towards Kommetjie (the town we lived in).

Argentina vs. Greece

The Greek keeper has played amazing in the first half. 49' - Samaras so close. Good game, especially since I'm judging it on the play, I don't really care about either team.

Argentina is like one of those Chrysler PT Cruisers, sleek and stylish up front and ragged around the back -- something like that.

Argentina finally got a goal, well deserved. Switched to the South Korea / Nigeria game after that as if Nigeria won they would advance. Exciting. Didn't win.

Fisherman in mokoro (handmade wooden canoe), Okavango River Delta, Botswana, July 1988

Chile vs. Switzerland

Watching the replay of this game from this morning. Chile was great in the first game, Switzerland a little lucky. There's a flurry of shots at the 10 minute mark. Impressive. At 11 plus Chile could have scored. Good attacking soccer. Really bogus red card at minute 30. Nil-nil at halftime. That Sanchez dude is good (comment on his 1st half, too bad his goal was called back at the beginning of the 2nd). The Chilean goal was gorgeous. But dang it, Spain might beat Chile in the 3rd game, and then there will be 3 teams with 6 points, and Chile might lose out cause they haven't scored enough goals. We shall see.

A Herero couple near the town of Tsumeb, on the east side of Etosha National Park, October 1987.

World Cup / Prairie Home Companion

This week's prairie home was great; I listened to it twice. Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder were crazy. Some dead, some dylan. And in the ketchup bit there were some funny bits about the world cup:

TR: I didn’t know you cared for soccer, Barb.

SS: Well I don’t. But I’m just excited that everybody else is excited, you know? And I just think it’s fair. After all these years, Europe has never won a World Series or a Super Bowl. Neither has Asia or Africa. So I think we should watch other countries win, even if it is intensely boring.

TR: I can’t stand soccer.

SS: Look, Jim---- the fans ---- they’re all excited and blowing on their little vuvuzelas.

TR: What a horrible sound.

TR: It’s like goats being castrated.

SS: The players don’t seem to mind it-----

TR: They hate it. They just don’t say anything.

SS: That seems odd, doesn’t it?

TR: Not when you’ve been married for 45 years.

England vs. Algeria

Thus far (58th minute) it hasn't been that good of a game. Algeria isn't as much of a pushover as I expected, so a little more worried when the US plays them. England should score at some point... Wow. 0-0. Algeria is going to play the US tough. England looked terrible.

Zebras and kudu, Etosha National Park, Namibia, October 1987.

"Semi-homemade" Lasagne

Be afraid, be very afraid.

Fideos

I finally made fideos with proper noodles -- thus far I've just used broken up organic spaghetti. But this time you can see 'fideos' on the package. Epic. Made them with whey, red sauce, and chard; not mexican at all. The pic of the final product is horrific, but I'm including it cause I'm an honest chap.

USA vs. Slovenia

I 'listened to' this game in a pretty funny way. I couldn't find it live, but instead listened to the Scott and BR show on the mighty 1090. They were watching it a bar in SD, talking sports in general, but talked about the game alot, too. I have been down on our team, they didn't deserve to tie England, and they were down 2-0 at halftime. But that 2nd half was just awesome. And it was really cool hearing the enthusiasm from the bar. When I came in the highlights were great -- our goals were pretty darn high quality, and the 3rd goal should have counted! Made me proud.

Fresh off the plane from the States we went to Kruger first thing, July 1987.

France vs. Mexico

Ohhhhhhhh. This is going to be awesome. Mexico hit the post in the 2nd minute, but the guy was offsides. But still, aggressive.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco is in! I love that guy.

Mexico 1-0. They deserved the goal based on the run of play, but the dude was offsides.

2-0, Blanco penalty kick.

Vic Falls, July 1988. The Zambezi going down like France...

World Cup, 16 June

The time change isn't helping much. Completely missed the first 2 games. Uruguay looks good in the 3rd game. Happened to be wearing a shirt with a swiss flag on it today, and Switzerland beat Spain! Watched the replay, Switzerland did get a bit lucky -- Spain was attacking the whole game; they pass too much, needed more shots, need a stud attacker. Swiss goal was good but a bit awkward. Both teams hit the post in the last 10 minutes.
Chile won, a pretty exciting game -- like the Switzerland game except the aggressor won this time. #10 Valdivia is a stud. #7 Sanchez, too. Neither of them scored in this game, but methinks they will. Chile should have won 3-0, 'twas only 1-0.
Mexico vs. France tomorrow. Dream.

Baboon with baby, Kruger National Park, December 1988

High Class Yogurt and Applesauce

My favorite snack as a kid was yogurt and applesauce. Been making my own yogurt for a while now, and started canning my own applesauce, too. Last night I had goat yogurt that I'd gotten 1/2 off at the co-op with apple/pear butter from last summer. Luscious.

Underworld and sequels

I like vampire movies. I like Kate Beckinsale (look for a discourse on 'the Last Days of Disco' soon). I found Underworld pretty charming. It's about the war between vampires and werewolves. The commentary track aids the enjoyment quite a bit, as the movie was clearly a true labor of love. The guys who made it wrote it. Many of the visual effects were 'in camera,' including a cool bit where a guy runs down a speeding car from behind and jumps on it! -- he was running on a motorized carpet, which the car wheels straddled, which sped him up. Pretty clever. Last night I started watching the sequel. Nightmare. The first one must have made money cause everything is CGI in the second. I hate CGI. There is also some token nudity/romance in an attempt to appeal to a larger audience. C'est la vie.

Potatoes, Chard, Smoked Albacore

Really tasty dinner last night. The albacore was from the co-op. It was a little dry, I'm used to smoked salmon, but it was still quite good. The potatoes were from the garden, french fingerling potatoes. Lately I've been cooking/using chard stems as an onion replacement for body in dishes. That's the way I visualize them anyway, seems to be working -- cause normally I'm not a huge fan of chard. But free/homegrown food is free/homegrown food.... I cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, cutting along the wider axis (the potato cross sections were oval rather than circular) to maximize cut surface area. Artichoke oil/garlic then the chard stems. Then move that aside and the potatoes cut side down, on the bottom of the pan. Don't touch them for 10 min. Then I flipped them, threw the chard leaves on top, and covered the pan for 5 minutes or so. DELICIOUS. Potatoes were super sweet in that new potato way, contrasted well with the smoked albacore tuna.

pretty

tasty

potatoes getting some love from the artichoke oil

smoked albacore tuna

they got a little color. new potatoes cook fast.

the plate

Tapioca/Cocoa Pudding

Just messing around. The pic is terrible, I know. Flavor is alright, maybe a little more milk would have been preferable. Fun comfort food with the big pearls....

Big Pearl Tapioca/Cocoa Pudding:
1c big pearl tapioca
4c milk
salt
~1/3 c honey
~1/3 c sweetened hot cocoa mix

Soak tapioca in milk overnight. Add a little salt.
Cook ~30 min.
Added honey till it was almost sweet enough, then hot cocoa mix till it was sweet enough.

Loquat Sorbet

I made it about 3 weeks ago, wasn't too impressed, but it's warmer outside now, and I am quite liking it with plain yogurt. Basically I took some of the liquid from the initial stages of making loquat jelly, sugar, a couple of bananas, the usual. Loquats get a cool cherry aroma when you cook them, it's there a little in the sorbet.

Loquat Sorbet:
4c loquat liquid
8 oz sugar
2 bananas

Stickblend everything together, I didn't use powdered sugar, just dissolved regular sugar by blending it. Then the usual freeze/stickblend/freeze technique.

New Nutritional Guidelines

This is all pretty much 'no sh*t Sherlock' stuff (eat more veggies, less salt, less saturated fat), but I'll post the link none-the-less.

England vs. USA

meh. Not sure why ESPN streamed video of games yesterday, but ABC is only showing it on tv. So I'm listening to the radio feed. The announcers are great, they are long-time soccer guys, but I'd have liked to have seen it. The brit goal sounded good. The american goal was a fluke.

Huge tusker and sweet Toyota, Kruger National Park, December 1988

New Books III

must... stop... buying... stuff... must... finish... dissertation...

How to Cook Everything - Bittman
the Complete International Sandwich Book - Uvezian
the Nasty Bits - Bourdain

+ a bunch of Ed Abbey + Grizzly Years by Doug Peacock

Ben Jaffe / Bob Edwards Weekend

Forgot to put up a link to this, from last weekend. Talking music in New Orleans.

K'naan

Clare got me into him, and then his song Wavin' Flag was chosen as the official anthem for the 2010 World Cup. Cool.

France vs. Uruguay

France doesn't quite deserve to be there this year, what with Thierry Henry's 'hand of god' goal to qualify. But I still love them. And the game is in Capetown. Kickoff is now.

the quotes begin: France look the class act on paper, but will they be on grass?

France should have scored at 6:30. Halftime. Uruguay is playing for a tie.

Uruguay should have scored at 72:30.

Nill-nill. Pretty good game. Zidane is missed....

Maribou Storks, Kruger National Park, December 1988. This is one of the best images my dad has taken, and he's a good photographer. I have a NWC art print that reminds me of this image. I'll take a pic of it.

Loquat Jelly 2010

nearly empty jar, batch #1

Ok, I've made 2 batches now, seems like the technique I'm using is working. I'm basically doing plum jelly -- unpeeled, unpitted fruit simmered in water to get out the flavor and the pectin. Then ~1/2 the volume of liquid in sugar, boiled up. Batch #1 set up for sure and was tasty, I've eaten some of it already. Batch #2 we shall see. Loquats, when cooked, make the kitchen smell like cherries! Very cool. A pictorial recipe:

Bucket of loquats
I stemmed them and washed them well, but otherwise they went in to a pot as-is. I cooked about 6Q of loquats/water to cover at a time.

Simmered them for a couple of hours, then pressed them in a colander with a potato masher to extract the juice. The 6Q of fruit/water yielded about 3Q of fairly thin juice, which I boiled down to ~1Q of happy red juice. Thus added ~1/2 Q (16 oz) sugar. Also I read in one of my preserving books that acid helps the pectin to set the liquid, so added 1.5 t of citric acid, too. Cooked batch #1 to 228 degrees F. As an experiment I used less sugar in batch #2, it only cooked to ~220 F. (Sugar raises the boiling point of liquid).

Canned by putting hot jelly in hot jars, lids had been simmering in water for ~10 minutes. Screwed down the bands, let cool, they popped. This method is not recommended in modern preserving books for lawyer reasons, but seems to work for me for jam/jelly.

Batch #2.
purty glass

Batch #1:
1Q fairly reduced loquat liquid
16 oz sugar
1.5 t citric acid

Batch #2:
~3Q fairly reduced loquat liquid
32 oz sugar
3t citric acid

Artichoke Oil Fried Rice

Last couple of nights I've had a variation on fried rice. I've used a combo of leftover oil from simmering artichokes in olive oil and dairy fat -- the cream top from Straus Milk 2 nights, and regular butter 1 night. To that 1 clove smashed/sliced garlic and a couple of dried chilies. Then chard or kale stems, salt. Let that go for a while. Chard or kale leaves, cover. Cooked rice, cover. The stems go soft and silky this way. Really really good.

Tim Russert / Harvard Graduation Speech / NPR

solid gold. highest recommendation.

Avocado Blossom Honey

This stuff is dark and rich. I'm addicted to it. I gallon lasts me 6 months, I put a dollop on my oatmeal every morning.