I know, I know, the first response to the announcement that all liquids were banned on airplanes should not have been my grumbling about how I couldn't bring the chocolate milk I had intended to pack with my lunch aboard the flight, but being scheduled to fly two days after the intial arrests by British intelligence agents, I had to take into consideration how the new rules would affect me. One of the things I most wanted to know was what they were going to smuggle aboard, and how they were going to blow up a plane with it. Surely, I mused, there must be some way to allow people some amount of liquids aboard a plane.
Sure enough, shortly after I returned from my trip, I started seeing blog posts that mentioned that the feasibility of the whole "blow up a plane with hair gel" plot was a bit thin. Given the TSA's new policy today, it seems pretty evident that the initial response was a bit overblown. Especially for someone flying on Southwest (which seriously does not keep planes in the air for more than 3 hours at a time, and does not stock much ice). For a detalied examination of the who, what, and how to make a bomb mid-flight, I'll hand things over to the UK's Register.
All in all, I've got to say that I'm glad cooler heads have
prevailed. Though it would've been nice if they'd done so before
I dropped an extra $20 on Aveda styling whip that I intended to keep at
my parents' house, so as to avoid checking my bag every time I go visit
them (it's not Oakland's procedure that bugs me, but Ontario's - that
Ontario, CA - they make you stand in two lines to check a bag, and both
move at the speed of frozen molasses).
Since I don't eat out very often, I usually make an effort to eat somewhere with a pretty good reputation when I do. Today I was down in Cole Valley getting manicure at Lavande (nice place, nicer price), and was looking for a place to eat. I ended up at Zazies, a french-style (if the fracophilic posters on the walls are any indication) bistro just around the corner from the nail salon. I'd noticed earlier, while on the never-ending quest for parking, that there was a substantial line in front of the location (which says something in an area of town with an eatery every 100 feet), so after the manicure, my dining partner and I decided to check it out.
The food was quite good (though I never did remember to ask them how they're dealing with all of the items on the menu that have spinach in them, considering the current status of spinach in the US) - I had an excellent cream of mushroom soup and a BLT that was made with chiabata, roasted tomatoes, spring greens and chevre. Just lovely. My big complaint would be that they serve their mimosas in juice glasses instead of champagne glasses, but given the fact that they do sidewalk service (where people bring dogs - destroyers of all things thin and glassy), that choice is both forgiveable and not surprising.
The restaurant was not Denny's cheap, but the food was good, and served
in a portion that you could actually finish without adjusting the
notches on your belt.
I'll admit that ever since I found out there was a long-standing polynesian-themed bar in San Francisco, I have felt I simply needed to visit. I speak, of course, of the Tonga Room at the Fairmont Hotel, up at the top of Nob Hill.
So - how is the Tonga Room? Well, at Happy Hour, I would say not bad, but more for the environment than the food. The drinks were pretty good, but the Fairmont's idea of Happy Hour pricing is what most places think of as a regular, if a bit expensive, price point. There was an all-you-can-eat buffet, but it required a one-drink minimum purchase, plus an additional charge atop that. However, the place is plastered with Tiki idols, it features a pool of water in the center of the room with a barge afloat in the middle, and lots of palm tree thatching. There is also an artificial rain shower (with thunder and lightening effects!) every fifteen minutes. Generally, it is kind of like the Tiki Room at Disneyland, but with more rum (kinda like if the Pirates of the Caribbean ran the place, instead of Dole).
The place is pretty darkly lit, but I did get a shot of the drinks, served as all kitschy drinks should be with a marachino cherry. My drinking companion commented that she was surprised that they were not served in Tiki mugs. Maybe there are drinks that are . . .
A "Tonga Itch" (front) and a "Blue Hawaii" (rear).
Though a common question (just ask my dad, who often has a hard time with the day of the week), probably not one you heard much today. With all the tv and newspaper and magazine articles about it, it's pretty hard to forget that today is the 5th anniversary of 9/11. So for those who want somber reflection, might I suggest visting Andrew Sullivan's blog (which even has the original footage of Mohammed from the "Super Friends" episode of South Park).
And for those of you who are already depressed enough already, might I suggest "StuffOnMyCat.com"
And let us all hope that tomorrow will be just another day (unless you follow Engadget - then you'll be waiting for the live-blog from his Steveness upon baited breath).
Yes, I know that you like to run background checks on employees these
days, including the things they say on their blogs, so I thought I'd
cut straight to the chase: I need a job. I don't talk about
employers behind their backs, I'm nice, hard-working, and I like to
cook in my spare time (if I have any - did I mention the hard-working
part?). So please, hire me!
I'm a sucker for these things . . . whether they are the result of an initial attempt at purposeful signage, or someone reappropriating (in potentially less than legal ways) a sign, funny signs are great. To this end, I present to you:
And:
One makes you wonder "why?" ("heh heh, he
said "groin," heh heh), and the other is just plain funny ("Don't feed
us beers"). Enjoy!
Well, not figs (again) here, but yet another fig article in a major newspaper (I'm looking at you San Francisco Chronicle). This time, it's the Los Angeles Times (funny how, now that I don't live in LA, I read the Times more often than when I did. I think it's the WiFi). Check it out here. They have lots of fig recipies that really want to try now. I'm already on a fig kick (roasted, stuffed with bleu cheese), but add proscuitto into the mix, and I'm totally sold.
