Hospital Mix: Short Version

Here is the mix I listened to at the hospital. Not the long version I listened to at night to try and drown out the noise, but the one with the songs that had some meaning. All of the links are to youtube, some of the songs are better just listened to, as they are the song with someones silly video attached. However the video of Tegan and Sara doing an acoustic Dark Come Soon is fantabulous. Oh, and Bearfoot is too small a band to have all their stuff available, if you can find that song though, it will make you miss your family, specifically your Mom.
Fix You--Cold Play
Of Angels and Angles--The Decemberists
Back Home--Bearfoot Bluegrass
On Your Porch--The Format
California Stars--Billy Bragg and Wilco
Killing the Blues--Alison Krauss and Robert Plant
Dream Big--Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband
We're All in This Thing Together--Old Crow Medicine Show
Flume--Bon Iver
Dark Come Soon--Tegan and Sara
In Your Eyes--Peter Gabriel
Breathe Me (Four Tet Remix)--Sia

Budget Cooking

My favorite food blog has a post on Budget Cooking. Very useful in the UK where food is crazy expensive. I have definitely been eating more carbs and less meat. I admit to have spent a fair amount of money on spices and things, BUT it is an upfront expense that pays huge dividends. Once a spice is bought it can stretch the flavor of less interesting things into a whole meal. For example, adding oregano and tomato paste to rice makes a huge difference in flavor. Or the oyster sauce and soy which makes broccoli with a meat a cohesive meal. Oh, and if you are on a tight budget try having a crohnic disease that limits your appetite every once in a while. It works wonders for the wallet.
Any suggestions for cheap but delicious meals?

Cal gate getting dolled up

About time the school took better care of this icon. I loved passing under Sather Gate while I was at Cal, even if it meant dodging extended hands holding flyers. The best was during homecoming when I had class at Dwinelle that ended after dark and the gate was all decked out in blue and gold lights. It'll be nice to see it all beautified.

Worth it or not, kitchen edition

So says the LA Times. I will argue against the mortar and pestle (too much effort for something a food processor can do) , for a toaster oven (melted cheese on an english muffin, anyone?) against the vanilla bean (extract does the job fine unless you are a serious pastry chef) and add a good bread knife to his other two knife suggestions. Yes to the microplane, dutch oven, and roasting pan. I would add a good cast iron pan to the list, a baking sheet lined with a silpat, a can opener (uh, duh), and tongs, a heat proof spatula, and a peppernill also come to mind as well as a chinese spider to extract things out of water or broth. I'm sure I could come up with lots more things one shouldn't buy or should. But this is a start.

New Kids new album, hell must be on ice

This is a day I never thought I'd see.

George Bailey, say it ain't so?

An interesting look back the present American economic situation through the lens of It's A Wonderful Life.

Scottish VanillaTablet

The latest things I've been doing is eating this glorious Scottish confection. It is hardish at first, then, once it enters your mouth it becomes soft and melty and buttery and lovely. I bought some two weeks ago after being introduced by Jonathan and forgot about it until today. Now half of it is gone and I am sure I have had more calories in the last hour than the rest of the day. Go ahead, make it and let me know how it you like it.

They don't make 'em like they used to

I just rewatched Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I have a copy in a box, which I assume is now deep underneath my parents house, but I hadn't watched it in a few years. So when I learned of Paul Newman's death, I went about downloading it. I can say without any doubt it is still one of the best movies ever made. And what can I say about Paul Newman. He was gorgeous, but he never went the route of the pretty boy actor. He never took easy roles. His characters were smart, rebelious, cocky, but always with a tinge of self-awareness. I look forward to rewatching Cat on a Hot Tin Roof sometime soon, and maybe The Sting, or Cool Hand Luke, because they really, really, don't make 'em like they used to.

Album news: Dear Science

As I amazed as I was, TV On The Radio has indeed, released an album that is easy to listen to yet retains the interest that makes this band so intriguing. I didn't think it was possible. So if you tried this band before and weren't thrilled, OR if like me, you loved "Staring at the Sun" and were underwhelmed with the rest, despite the critical acclaim, try this album out.

Chrome, highly recommended

Yesterday morning I walked 10 minutes in the rain to class. It was the first time I tested my Chrome bag in the rain. It was perfect. Soaked on the outside, absolutely dry on the inside. I love this bag. I mean, it looks schnazzy with it's seat belt design, it is an SF company, and it is crazy comfortable even when full. Oh, and it has a cool swing to the front dealio which took me a week to master, but now I have down pat. When I get back to the states I kinda want to buy another one. What? Is that excessive Okay, well maybe I'll just stick with one then.