Top Chef #1

Into The Fire - America’s Top Chef Opens A Restaurant (and Lives to Tell About It)

NASA's Images Of Hurricane Dean

Pictures from the ISS and Space Shuttle Endeavour

Mexico's National Oil Company Says Only Seven Year Supply Left

Via The Oil Drum - Mexican Company Predicts End of Oil

What To Feed A Selective Toddler

Sweet potato is a great vegetable for little ones as it is an "...excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), a very good source of vitamin C and manganese, and a good source of copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron." (www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64)

I use sweet potatoes as a base that can then be used in a variety of ways. Here's how:

2 peeled and cubed (1 inch cubes) sweet potatoes (I also scrub mine first)
1/3 to 1/2 cup red lentils (for protein and minerals)
a little water to cover

options:
chopped carrots
peeled and chopped apple
orange and/or carrot juice to use with the water

Simmer for about 30 minutes until soft; checking to make sure there's always enough liquid.

Pour everything into a blender and puree it. Spread into ice tray cubes, cover with waxed paper or plastic wrap and freeze. Store in a zip-top bag in the freezer.

How I use the sweet potato cubes (after thawing):
-mixed with plain whole yogurt and rice or oatmeal cereal when around 12 months old
-mixed with cottage cheese
-mixed with applesauce(with cinnamon) and yogurt
-make sweet potato ice cream by just softening a cube and mixing it with about a tablespoon of organic vanilla ice cream
-pancakes are made by adding a sweet potato cube to any old pancake batter that you make - I use one cube per 3/4 - 1 cup dry mix from a box and store the extra batter in a glass container in the refrigerator. And I usually spread cream cheese, preserves, or maple syrup on the pancakes while they're hot.

Round And Round

IHT - The rise of the modern roundabout

They may be great for traffic flow but they're terrible for pedestrians.

Your Favorite

Two reports from Neko's recent show at the 9:30 Club

DCist - Neko Case @ 9:30 Club

Rants and Ramblings - star witness

Two things about Neko - 1.) everyone loves Neko Case and 2.) Yes, that is really her voice.

Those Big Shots At The Bluth Company Said They Were Not Optimisitc It Could Be Done

Eddie Wrenn isn't taking ''wasn't optimistic it could be done'' for an answer.

'Arrested Development' fan uprising

A Christmas special in 2009? It would be a festivus miracle...

When Asthma Is Not Asthma

Treatment of Viral Infection-Induced Asthma in Young Children

Kim Stanley Robinson Interview

Wired interviews Kim Stanley Robinson - Sci-Fi Author Kim Stanley Robinson Discusses Our Planet's Future

Jim Gray Update

From Wired - Inside the High Tech Hunt for a Missing Silicon Valley Legend

Although when I first read about this case I wondered if it was the result of a methane hydrate bubble? (Could methane bubbles sink ships? The Farallones Islands are in a tectonically active area.

Minnesotans Versus The White House

While reading about the Minnesota bridge collapse at the Sydney Morning Herald -Questions raised over bridge safety - there was quite a discrepency between the reaction of the victims versus the reaction of the Bush White House.

"Several individuals at the scene, (who were) not recovered, people that were pinned, people that were crushed, that told emergency workers to say hello, to say goodbye," Mr Dolan said.

Truly, these folks are all above average. Meanwhile, from an administration that is below average:

Earlier, White House spokesman Tony Snow said that a 2005 federal report found "structural deficiencies" in the bridge, and said it had been Minnesota state's responsibility for repairing them.

Ok, we get it. You don't want anything to do with this and instead of being classy you distance yourself from the tragedy. This is the lesson the White House got from Hurricane Katrina.

Another Packing List Plus Travel Strategies

 

 

Sent to you by Andy via Google Reader:

 

 

How to Travel the World with 10 Pounds or Less (Plus: How to Negotiate Convertibles and Luxury Treehouses)

via The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss by Tim Ferriss on Jul 11, 2007

The incredible Sony VAIO VGN-TXN27N laptop. This beauty is less than 1" thick and weighs 2.8 lbs. If I add a few ounces of weight with the extended battery (on the right) and trick it out, I can get 15 hours of battery life.

The name of the game in world travel is being "fashionably light."

Hauling a five-piece Samsonite set around the planet is hell on earth. I watched a friend do this up and down dozens of subway and hotel staircases in Europe for three weeks, and--while I laughed a lot, especially when he resorted to just dragging or throwing his bags down stairs--I'd like to save you the breakdown. Trip enjoyment is inversely proportionate to the amount of crap (re: distractions) you bring with you.

Practice in 30-plus countries has taught me that packing minimalism can be an art.

I returned from Costa Rica last Wednesday, and have since landed in Maui, where I'll stay for one week. What did I pack and why? Check out the video... (more...)

 

 

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