@purofilion  I agree on Barrowman; I never could shake the feeling that he was performing in a stage show in his head, a musical full of dashing about instead of action, that would lead him suddenly fling up his arms and start belting out show tunes.  Just — wrong; the wrong size, the wrong — wattage? — for the TV screen.  Something.  Of cou…[Read more]

@Mudlark  @Purofilion   I feel the same way about cooking for guests, and I barely cooked anything complicated for us two at home.  Now that I’m on my own, I’d still rather go out with friends to eat, although it’s tough sometimes because of the incredible noise levels in most new and/or “trendy” places that we’d like to go try out.  No one put…[Read more]

@purofilion  Thanks — I only wish that writing were less true, even if it would also be less beautiful.

Down here in the southwest, as in the South itself I think, you have to ask in restaurants that your tea *not* be sweetened if you don’t want to consume all that sugar.  The US population at large is constantly regressing toward k…[Read more]

@purofilion  Well, Islamic zealots are crazy, Christian zealots are crazy, ultra-Orthodox Jewish zealots are crazy, and I have no doubt whatever that there are Hindu zealots and even Buddhist zealots who just as damn crazy as the rest of them.

Maybe they all just need a good dose of home-made marzipan?  Not me, though.  My Viennese grandmother lo…[Read more]

@pedant  Interesting — thanks!

@Mudlark   Too true; in most of the US, sugar is added to EVERYTHING, to the detriment of most things.  I prefer flapjacks or (better yet!) crepes, but we can even muck up crepes — too much sugar, or nothing at all so it’s like eating lightly browned skin, because the cook doesn’t have the sense to add a touch of salt to the batter, to pick up t…[Read more]

Here in the SW US, “flapjacks” are pancakes, usually made with something other than plain white flour.   A local restaurant serves a modern version using mostly seed and nut flours, and whole pumpkin seeds for crunch (no oats, and the result is more delicate and airy than pancakes, which are usually leaden around here), and some ghastly syrup…[Read more]

@JimTheFish  A “senile” TARDIS?  So Doctor #1 should have stolen a newer model?  And Clara misdirected him to one that would descend into dementia before the Doctor himself ever would?  We need Perkins!  Fix those stacks, or whatever the heck they are!

@Craig  Oh, the spoiler thread will ignite tonight!  (Um.  Of course it *is* tonight, here and there)  Thanks for the link!

ichi

@bluesqueakpip   Oh, that’s lovely!  Featuring a perceptive American — how delightful!

@fowl  Barnable, I’ve seen bits of Eight Mile — more than I care for of a musical form that I don’t normally respond to much.  It’s the ASL beauty that caught my attention and dragged the music with me . . .

@George Bailey  Good!  So glad I’m hoping this clip goes viral in a big way.  It’s drama, dance, and visualized music all rolled into one spectacular treat — recognition of a new art form?  It just makes me smile and smile . . . !

Just — because?  Though not into rap, this got to me; enjoy (I hope)!

https://www.facebook.com/lostateminor/videos/10153309510468972/?fref=nf

I hope the link works!