(no subject)

With the help of Alton Brown, on the Web and on videotape, I just made my first two batches of homemade mayonnaise. It seems to have turned out OK, in that it seems pretty homogeneous, the oil doesn't look like it's pooled together or anything. Tastes a little different than I'm used to; maybe I'm too used to the artificial stuff. Or maybe I'm just not used to tasting straight mayo out of context.

Of course, I don't quite know what to do with it just yet, as I didn't stock up on tuna, and it's a little late for tater tots just yet.

This would be easier with an egg yolk separator. Then I can use the yolks for homemade mayo and egg whites for angel food cake.

I have both episodes on tape. Maybe even back-to-back; I haven't checked.

Saudis are exporting Ugly Americans

Fark.com linked to this story, with the caption "Local Arab media blames local Arab media for 8-0 loss against Germany", but one particular detail holds interest to me:

It is strange to see that our Saudi youth who are among the most widely traveled people on earth have failed miserably to learn from the people and places they have visited. This is why our youth lack both the experience and knowledge that qualify them to compete with others. Thousands of our young people have been to Manila, Paris or London and have returned knowing nothing of the Filipinos, the French or the British. All they do when traveling abroad is limit themselves to a few hotels plus one or two locations for a stay that may last as long as a month or two. Many have visited other countries more than ten times without learning a single word of the local language. Not only that, most of those visiting those countries never even try to acquire any idea or understanding of the people or their culture.

In other words, the "sheltered ethnocentric tourist" is not a strictly American export, as I once believed. But then I'm led to wonder, is there any country that generates tourists that do learn about the culture and history of a place when they travel somewhere?

(no subject)

It's the Simpsons episode with the helper monkey. And they've showed the Dunkin Donuts commercial with the monkey, and the CHimPs ad for Diet Dr. Pepper where those monkeys pull over Erik Estrada.

(no subject)

I get the munchies when I'm bored.