I’ve been reading this blog for the past couple of months. It’s particularly interesting for Montréal residents as it presents some of the quirkier happenings in the city. But what I find most interesting about the blog is their comparaison of Montréal buildings of yesterday with their contemporary conterparts.
Feel free to stop by once in a while here.
Desperate times requires desperate measures. Left home alone for a week, I was forced to cook for myself. But fear not, I watch the Food Network religiously whenever I can. So I kinda know how to cook but don’t really get to cook often ’cause mammy usually does it…lol
First thing I made: tiramisu!
First layer done!
Almost done!
Some chocolate powder, now its done…
Next up: Chili! the pot of chili I made…
The chili meal!
Close up of tomato, basil and mozzarella fan…
Making French toast with belgium bread the next day for breakfast…
Granola yogurt with blueberries and peaches… I’ve been on a plain yogurt with granola craze for the past month! lol
Shepperd’s pie (pre-made by mammy), with tomato salad and mango crumble for dessert…
And lastly, veal parmesean with homemade tomato sauce (made by moi!) and smores for dessert!
Now that all of you reached the end of the post, time to get something to eat! lol
If I am not reading The Economist, I usually get my news fix by tuning into CNN. In the last few weeks, I’ve staying up extra late to prepare for my finals. In the few breaks I allowed myself to take, I usually flip on the t.v. and did some channel surfing. One night, a program on le Réseau de l’information (RDI) caught my attention. For those reading this that are not from Canada, RDI is a Canadian French language cable television news channel operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). The CBC is a crown corporation and is the country’s national public radio and television broadcaster.
The program in question was called À l’heure de la Chine. It is currently running until August 22 and offers insight on the issues that China has faced leading up to the Olympics. It also offers a glimpse at the social-economical issues that will arise due to China’s rocketing growth.
Besides the fact that the program is shot in HD, I like the fact that their reporters present the issues that China faces without providing any opinions. The journalist simply reports and the viewer is left to make up his/her opinion.
Another interesting aspect of the program is that many of the contributing reporters were stationed in the Chinese news bureau of CBC in the 1980’s. On every broadcast, the reporters revisit a subject that they reported on in the 1980’s and gives us an updated account of the matter. A common theme on the updates: China has changed LOTS…
I highly recommend À l’heure de la Chine. You can view the episodes here.
Be warned, the episodes are in French.
I’ve documented on several occasions my love for Japanese sushi and for ramen noodles. These two food experiences represent some of the best simple yet delicious foods from Japan. Although the best sushi and ramen I’ve ever tasted was in Japan, if I ever have a craving for them in MTL, I can alway get by with lesser offerings over here.
However, there is another dish I fell in love with on my first visit to Japan: Tonkatsu! Its basically a deep friend pork cutlet with Usutā sōsu (Japanese Worcestershire sauce) as a side sauce. It’s usually served with cabbage and grated daikon so that you don’t feel too guilty that you are eating something fried.
Unlike sushi and ramen, there is no way for me in MTL to fulfill my tonkatsu longing. The first time I had tonkatsu was at a place called Maisen.
Its located in famed Harajuku near Omotesando. From what I gathered from my research before going, its one of the best places to eat tonkatsu in Tokyo. On my visit to Osaka a few months later, I noticed that there were different grades of pork that could be ordered, some going as high as $50 for a cutlet. I’ve had some good tonkatsu in Osaka for around $11 with all the trimmings included. This place I went to was in the Namba district.
What was fun about this place is that their Usutā sōsu was served with sesame seeds that you pulverized yourself.
I guess I don’t really have a point to make in my post. I really got no great stories to tell about tonkatsu except that its a great dish… Maybe all that I am trying to communicate to you is this: I AM CRAVING THE STUFF! LOL
ESPN sportswriter Jim Caple offers good insight on the significance of the Beijing Olympics. Good article but Rob Gifford’s comments towards the end of the article on how China has progressed on certain issues are particularly interesting. The passage reads like this:
Rob Gifford’s entertaining and educational journey across the country’s main highway, “China Road,” paints a picture of the nation that is both disturbing (pollution, corruption, ethnic crackdowns and governmentally forced abortions) and exhilarating. China is never simple (“if you’re not confused,” he writes, “then you haven’t been paying attention”), but a message that comes through often in his book is that for its faults, the nation continually offers more options and freedom to its citizens than one or two generations before.
“For me,” Gifford writes of a bus conversation with a man in his 50s, “the mere possibility of government intrusion in my life is unacceptable. For him, the fact those possibilities have receded, even if they are still there in the background, means modern China is Paradise. ‘Compared to what?’ is always the question you have to ask in China. This man has probably seen and suffered things, and participated in events few Westerners have ever had to bear. Now he can choose what he does. And that, to him, is progress.”
You can read the full article here.
Parental Advisory is Advised:
Bert and Ernie be repping M.O.P...
When you merge Sesame Street with The Goodfellas, this is what you get…
A few months ago, I spoke about my excitement for the Watchmen movie. A new trailer came out a few days ago and reeked of awesomeness! Fanboys rejoice!
You can watch the new trailer here.
Myron Rolle is a starting Safety for Florida State University. He is projected to be a first round pick in 2009. This year, he faces a tough decision: a potential NFL career or enrollment into med school. You see, Rolle has been juggling the grind of Division 1 college football workouts and games with pre-med courses. He will finish his undergraduate degree in two and a half years.
His performance in the field slipped in 2007 as Rolle spent six studying in London, missing the beginning of summer workouts with his teammates. In individual meetings after last season, his Defensive Coordinator, Mickey Andrews, urged Rolle to treat football preparation with the same intensity he does his schoolwork.
“I asked him, how much time did you spend watching tape of Florida the week we played them compared to how much time you take to prepare for a chemistry exam?” said Andrews. “He didn’t prepare [for the games] like he was trying to get an A. The message hit home. I saw a much more focused guy in the spring.”
This year, Rolle is eligible for the Rhodes Scholarship. It is the most prestigious honor an American undergraduate can receive. The 106 year old award gives recipients a full scholarship to one of Oxford’s postgraduate programs for up to two years. Notable alumni include former president Bill Clinton. The application process is intense and another football vs. academics clash is ahead.
“Were Rolle to be named a finalist, another potential clash of football versus academics awaits him. Candidates are required to appear before their region’s selection committee (which in Rolle’s case would take place in Birmingham, Ala.) on Nov. 22 — the day of Florida State’s game at Maryland. A spokesperson for the American Association of Rhodes Scholars said candidates are usually not allowed to interview on an alternate date. The winners are announced that weekend.”
Rolle’s conflicting emotions are apparent…
“I would hope we could come to a solution,” said Rolle. “I definitely couldn’t miss that game. I wouldn’t do that to my teammates.”
“It’s definitely going to be tough,” said Rolle. “I don’t know what I want to do, but I know I want to win [the Rhodes].”
A young man is put into a difficult situation. But no matter Rolle’s choice, a bright future awaits him…
Hip Hop has been a big part of my life. During my adolescent years, it helped me get through my ups and downs. Everyday, during my bus ride to school, I would pop in a new batch of rhymes into my Walkman and lose myself in the lyrics. Hip Hop spoke to me. Even though the subject matter dealt with things far removed with my everyday life, the songs that spoke to me the most dealt with one common theme: struggle. Sure, I did like my share of party songs, but songs dealing with hard times always drew my attention.
Today, I barely listen to any Hip Hop. I even canceled my BET subscription. I feel that the music has a general negative vibe. For example, someone is always mad at someone else or let’s get money by any means even though it means destroying our community and our kids. I’ve shied away from Hip Hop partly because I’ve become a more positive person. Nevertheless, I still keep an eye on all the latest happenings. Maybe just by habit or maybe out of hope. Hope to find a Hip Hop voice that will speak to me again.
Two Hip Hop musical acts that I really enjoyed during my adolescent years recently came out with new albums. Nas and The Roots have, for the most part, produced music that dealt with subject matter that I could relate to. Even though my growing distance from Hip Hop, I will probably purchase both their albums as I have purchased every one of their albums since the beginning of their careers. Will their music still be relevant to me? I don’t know. But their past work still occupy my frequently played playlist. Hopefully, their voice will speak to me like Hip Hop once did.
Here is Nas’ latest single “Hero”. A solid song in my opinion…
