Blog about things I find interesting, or incredibly stupid.
Mostly its to make fun of other people, post links I find funny and lower the amount of crap I post elsewhere - email me, feel free to comment and please click an ad from time to time!
Most men will spend their lives dreaming about going on a date with Mila Kunis – but for one U.S. Marine, that fantasy may very well turn into a reality. Sgt. Scott Moore, of the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines in Musa Qala, Afghanistan, last week set up a YouTube page and posted a video asking the “Friends With Benefits” star to accompany him to the Marine Corps Ball on November 18th in Greenville, North Carolina. “Hi Mila, I just want to take a moment out of my day to invite you to the Marine Corps. Ball with yours truly,” the uniformed sergeant said from his digs in Afghanistan. “So take a second to think about it and get back to me. All right, bye now.”
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“I’ll do it,” [Mila] confirmed [in an interview].
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This girl rules. The fact that she's short and brunette (its possible I have a type, wifey seems OK with this crush) and not a trainwreck hollywood diva only makes her cooler. Plus she was one of the leads in one of the funniest movies ever made which never hurts.
Some site news.
My posting might be a bit more sporadic for the next few weeks. We're in the process of moving and are living in a hotel currently (with unbelievably slow internet, I'm half expecting to hear EEEEEEEE-ARRRRRRR each time i try to load a page). Related question, is it weird if I decide to BYO-internet-connection at a hotel providing it? haha
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Anyway, it was also my birthday last weekend, so I celebrated myself by going up to Lime Rock Park and watched an ALMS Grand Prix race, camped, called the police on a campsite invader (more on that later) and decided I need a race car (well, I've needed one for a while, now I'm going to figure out a way to make that happen).
...as I blog about people that (likely) think blogs actually matter.
For there can't be more money out than money in, its simple math. Cutting services blindly is never a good idea, but when something is obviously redundant, unneeded or legacy for the sake of legacy programs are the first on the chopping block in times of economic strife. How many other jobs can make the salaries they get by doing what is basically unskilled labor, without the use of grandfathered unions?
In come the Bloombergville(ists? ers?). A friend sent me these pics of protesters across from city hall.
I'll just quote the article (sourced below) that was posted after they finally packed up and left.
After three weeks of camping out near City Hall, the few lingering “Bloombergville” protesters headed home Wednesday night, convinced they made a difference. At one point, more than 100 protestors attempted to defeat Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s $66 billion budget, which was approved by a near-unanimous vote by the city council last week and cut funding for schools and libraries and will lead to 1,000 city employee layoffs. Although the budget passed, organizer Teresa Stern said the protests were successful. “Our primary purpose was to press the city council on the budget vote and to raise public awareness, and we accomplished that,” Stern said.
Really? just raise awareness? Not actually get them to change their plan to your agenda? You only wanted them to know your agenda existed? If that's the case then yes, you were successful. To quote my friend who sent me the pics "I guess they're going back to blogging about their complaints".
Its unfortunate that they feel ripped off, but lets be realistic.
Not sure if its true or not, but regardless its funny.
Short version: Wildlife photographer sets up camera on tripod, leaves it alone, Macque monkey steals it... profit!
Is it true? I have no idea. But you've got to admit, that's a funny picture.
Wifey and I are in the middle of moving... So for the time being our dog is staying at the in-laws house. So of course I'm spending free time watching dogs do funny things on the internet.
We are moving soon and I am trying to clean out the fridge of all the food we've bought and haven't eaten. We had a tube of cinnamon buns that I wanted to make into something other than cinnamon buns. I wasn't successful finding a recipe online so I kinda made one up using a monkey bread recipe. First I set the over to 350 degrees and Pam-ed a bundt pan. I opened the cinnamon buns and made about 8 cuts around the buns like wheel spokes. I put them in the bundt pan. Then I melted 1 stick of butter in the microwave and mixed in about 1/2 to 3/4 c. of brown sugar. I also added some cardamom and nutmeg. I drizzled the butter mixture over the bun pieces and put the pan in the oven. I cooked them for about 14 minutes, let it cool for about 5 minutes and then turned it out onto a plate. I added the packet of frosting that came with the cinnamon buns tho it wasn't necessary.
Then I had to pull Danny away from the plate before he got sick.
It's not the prettiest dessert ever created, but it was very tasty!
In DC you don't give distances in length, you have to factor in the time of day, whether or not there is a road race in town and then give it in duration. A planned city shouldn't be like that...(or should it?).
The traffic in DC is worse overall than any place I have ever been. Yes I've driven LA, Yes this is worse. People are baffled as to why somebody would be behind them flashing their brights in the left lane when they're 20mph under the speed limit. There are no speed limits, except for in the range of speed cameras. Lastly, using indicators are optional*.
Automotive Columnist, Dan Neil shares some of his thoughts about driving in DC, I just wish he didn't pull any punches. Where are the curse words?
I rarely actually write down/type out recipes I like to make, I'm more of an in-my-head type of guy. But a friend asked me to send him how to make a dish he's a big fan of. He was going to his 'rents for July 4th weekend and wanted something differerent than hot dogs and burgers.
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I like a BIG hangar/skirt steak best, but London Broil/flank can be substituted as well. Ironically more expensive steaks (filet, sirloin, strip) usually don't turn out better in this type of recipe. Skirt steak is perfect for due to the acidity of the marinade and the slicing method, you'd be surprised how incredibly tender it is if marinated/cooked/sliced correctly. For each ~1.5-2lbs of beef, marinate (preferably overnight, but even a full day or more is best) in the fridge in a freezer bag:
All ingredient quantities are approximate (I don't really measure...ever), if you don't have one of them don't worry it'll still turn out fine.
·1/2-2/3 of a bottle of Peter Luger's sauce (Kind of the point of this recipe, however some red wine vinegar, tomato paste with a little bit of horseradish and pepper can probably be close enough)
·1/8 of a cup or so of worchester sauce (or soy sauce)
·2 tablespoons of chopped garlic
·chopped scallions or onion powder
·3 or 4 bay leaves
·splash or 2 of some red wine (doesn't matter what kind, or even if a bit vinegary)
·teaspoon of black pepper
·a few teaspoons of lemon juice
Seal it up in a freezer bag after shaking vigorously careful to remove as much air as possible, then put in fridge for at least 4 hours.
To cook:
Grill directly over flame (coal or gas are both fine) on very high heat, you want the edges to sear, but the middle to stay rare.
Brushing a bit of olive oil on this can guarantee that (be careful how much!)
Probably only 5-7 minutes total (depending on how hot) on the grill
once satisfied with how much its cooked, remove from heat, wrap in foil for ~5 minutes.
Then slice perpendicular to the grain with a very sharp carving knife into 1/4-1/2" thick slices.
Serve with a beer!
Here's a good video about the slicing (go to 2:06). (I like my marinade better, but his cooking method is spot on)
at 3:24 in the video though, I do slightly disagree with the angle he says to slice. I like the 45 degrees if you're fork and knifing it. In a fajita though it doesn't matter.
End result below
Photo courtesy of my friend's July 4th weekend in upstate NY
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Some optional steps...
This one is shredded Mozz, Gruyere and Parmesan
·Purposely cook twice as much in order to have leftovers for one of the most amazing sandwiches you’ll ever have*
My Sandwich recipe (Skirt steak and Kale cheesesteak):
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·Leftover sliced steak (see recipe above)
·Fresh Mozzarella
·Another cheese to be shredded (Gruyere, Parmesan, Fontina, Asiago, any combo of them)
·Sauteed Kale (see recipe and pic below)
·Chopped garlic
·butter
This one is missing the kale, on a rosemary ciabatta roll
·Olive oil
·Salt and Pepper
·Amaroso Rolls (or close, or a baguette if you aren't close enough to Philadelphia)
·some onion slices, sauteed in a pan (olive oil and salt, then reuse the pan for the kale)
·Powdered thyme or sage (something savory)
Brush some olive oil, chopped garlic, salt, pepper and thyme/sage into the rolls.
Add reheated steak (microwave for 30 seconds is fine, you just don't want it cold-cold)
add a layer of freshly cooked Kale
add a layer of the onions you cooked first
Add a layer of fresh Mozz slices (thin)
add whatever cheese you have left
put in (toaster) oven under a layer of foil at 300 degrees for ~10-15 min (however crispy you want the bread).
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Sauteed Kale:
A bunch of chopped/rinsed Kale (regular, tricolor, whatever)
Put in a deep frying pan with a little bit of water and olive oil on the bottom
add some salt, garlic (powder or chopped) and drizzle some olive oil over it
put on high for a few minutes and cover to start it steaming
lower heat and toss around for another 2 or 3 min
stop cooking when its as bright green as this ----------->
