I Reveal My Winning Formula

`
Rule #1:

Always enter when a blogger says:
''we're having a contest. A simple one.''

Hey, worked for me. The proof?...

Earlier today this cookbook arrived in my mailbox, courtesy of 'Minx', the chief cook and bottle washer at .com

But I would be remiss if I didn't also reveal what a great blog she runs. MinxEats is full of food, facts, fluff and fun. Not to mention foto funnies such as...

Roasting Sandra Lee w/her own recipe:




plus

Riotous Recaps of 'Top Chef':

That's right, kids, it's the always-exciting semi-kinky Tag Team Cook-off! Two teams, each with a total of 40 minutes, 10 per chef, must create a cohesive dish. While one chef cooks, his teammates must stand silently on the side, biting their lips and shaking their heads. And the ones who haven't yet had their turns get to wear blindfolds...

not to mention

Reliable Reviews:

I made a little deal - I'll talk about the cookbook if I can cook from it - that way, I can judge the book on its own merits and not on the reputation of its author.

and

pertinent prose:

I kept a diary during the family trip to London and Paris. Rather than marvel over the castles and museums, instead I kept track of our meals, particularly the scones, full English breakfasts, croissants, and copious sweets we enjoyed.
I was ten.

to go with her original recipes such as
Clams Casino Bruschetta:



See? .com
is a foodies paradise.

(Thanks again, Minx!)

===================
_{*my ThemeThursday's 'Reveal'}
===================

Every Blog Has Its Price

But try putting a value on it...



Ran into a website where the owner declared that the lowest price he might accept for his domain (milk.com) was $1,000,000 US.
... But he'd prefer $10 mil, thanks.

Hm

So I plugged his domain name into a web-value site.
And SEOheap says his milk.com is worth $15,746

That sounds more reasonable....

(btw, YouTube.com's value: $57,701,815 !)

So of course I had to value this blog and my
NancTWoP.blogspot.com is worth: $2,528 !

Ha. Not bad for a hobby.

Until I plugged in the name of my pal G1's blog.

And now I feel cheap and shoddy...
because they said that her blog
Girl1nterrupted is worth $301,638 !

*Hey, G1, love your blog but I demand a recount! ;-)



All this seems a bit fishy to you?...

Go try yours: Get your site value

And report back here, if you dare. ;-)

---

A Bit Spotty

Will be working a lot
of overtime until 4/15.

So my posts are going to be

(as Cruella DeVille might say)

A bit spotty.

---

But at least I'm better off than this guy:




Just how far did it 'scoot', anyway?... ;-)

Bottle Buds

Keeping with this musical week.

Plus they fit with TT's 'Bottle' theme.


- The amateurs:


The credits are longer than the tune.

And for that we're all grateful...

---

- The perky pals:

---

- The 'pros':


Notice how many folks put $$ in their hat.

Plus its a job requirement to drink
- must get their instruments in tune!

I think I'm in the wrong line of work.

---

Jealousy is Booby Eyed

Alas - no prize owl will be winging its way to me.
'sniff'

At least not from Erin's latest contest since it appears that I came in a close 2nd... or 3rd:

Whiner = Moi
'Wiener',.. I mean 'Winner' = Vic

---

Hmph. So what if Vic won it fair & square with great writing and a fun video?... I want the boobie owl, dang it!

So, since I couldn't snag it honestly, I'm resorting to subterfuge. I'm heading off to Vic's house to owl-nap. But I could use some help.

Shh! Don't tell anyone. Just click the image above to follow the secret map to Vic's house... When she's not looking one of us will grab poor ol' Humphrey out of her front window and run.

We'll all meet-up back here after.
I'll share him, honest.

---

Mirror, Mirror, on the desk

Now my computer will get no rest.
Sounds great - just wave your umbrella at the MIR:ROR disc and 'voila' it tells you if you really need it that day. Your kid waves his keys at it as he walks in the door, and you get an email that he's home safe.




But then you get to this part...

'Your friends can send messages to any of your objects'

...'What??'...

So my BFF can IM to my Mr. Coffee: 'Decaf Only!'?
And my SO can text the DVR to tivo 'Jersey Shore'?!


Hm. 'Brave New World', my @ss. I think I'll live without any input from know-it-all appliances that are busy chatting up my pals, thanks. ;-)

---

---

More 'sounds like Geek to me' readings:

link: MIR:RORs are made by Violet.net
wikipedia explains RFID/ Radio Freq ID tags
link: Turn RFID readers into toys

---

link to more Theme Thurs posts: 'Mirror'

Theme Thursday

Its early, but are you in the mood for Thursday yet? Not me, I have a meeting that I'm not going to enjoy...

So here are a few places to give us all a bit of Thursday to look forward to: new topics you can write or do an artistic bit about to match.

One theme this week: 'Mirror' .
*I'm going to try it - we'll see everyone's Feb 11th.

Another theme for T-day: Pink & Black.

twitter: a portfolio themethursday tweet.

unique: Theme Thursday 4 gadgets?

And: video/CGI 'theme days'

This 'Ghost Eye' has an interesting effect.
Is it a real eye 'CGI'-ed onto a spiral?...

---

Now we've got something to look forward to.

Besides the weekend, of course. ;-)

---

Count to 300

...and you'll number all my posts so far.

---

So, for fun, lets peek at these other '300's.
;-)

*nice syncronization - lol at the :19 mark.

Beware of Lego-s with 5 o'clock shadows.

The movie '300' was a dynamic flick,
but it did take itself a tad too seriously.

I'll try not to make that mistake.

Bringing Sexy Back

I was tagged in Miss C's challenge:

'What makes you feel sexy?'

Can't argue with her choice of sleeping in the buff.

But additionally, music puts me in the mood.


So for fun, here's a 'bad' vs 'good' comparison...

First, The Baaad:

*houstonpress*s 'Rocks Off' list.

They insist their ten (below) were chosen by a woman for a sexy night in. Ha, sorry guys, no fem would pick these unless she's a goth:

1) Street Hassle, Lou Reed's dying hooker? Seriously?
2) Libertango, : an accordian version?!... o so not hot.
3) Summertime, Joplin: her voice in this? - not sexy.
4) Superstar, SY's cover of an old 70's song -drags-.
5) Empty House, Air's 'Virgin Suicides' track drags too.
6) Sea Song, Doves: dull for a party of two.
7) The Operation, Charlotte G: a dissection song? Ew.
8) Inertia Creeps, Massive Ak: Repetitious & 'slowly'
9) Closer, 9 Inch Nails: FU like an animal? Charming.
10) Gabriel's Mercy Street 'perfect for drifting off' ??
- Nice tune, but lyrics of suicidal Anne? - Um 'No'.

On the whole, their songs are quite depressing.
My guess? A dateless old geezer picked'm.

comments from their own page:

played some of these with my wife ...
She gave me a 'wtf r u listening to?' look.

tried it and she went cold with the Lou Reed.
She up and left with the Janis Joplin...

When... hotel porn music just won't do

Holy balls, what a terrible list

If my man started playing this crap,
I'd have my clothes on by the end of song 1)

---

Now here's my more upbeat list:

'The Good',

or 'Some Songs I'd Pick Instead'.

1) Of Peter Gabriel's music I'd pick In Your Eyes*
'* 'boom box' song from movie 'Say Anything'

- - Hm. - I'll just go with more movie songs...

2) remake: 'Anyway You Want It'
movie - Charlie's Angels Full Throttle ;-)

3) 'Take Me Away ' yes, from 'Freaky Friday'*
*included because it makes me laugh, and after that other list I needed a bit more humor.

4) 'Sky and Sand' from movie 'Berlin Calling'

5) 'Haan Tu Hai'(You Are The One) in 'Jannat'

6) 'Seasons of Love' from 'Rent'

7) 'Check On It' Beyoncé/Pink Panther movie fun

8) 'How Did You Know' from movie 'All My Life'

9)Hot Chocolate's You Sexy Thing in 'Full Monty'

10) oldies: 'NeverEnding Story' by Limahl
Included because I like the flow of his song.

plus this, because I like the video:Billy Idol's Cradle Of Love in 'Ford Fairlane'

(Was Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face' in a movie?...)

So, anyway, that's my version of
Bringing Sexy Back... w/ snappy songs.

Oogie Oogie Oo

... I'm so excited!

Got invited to a block blog party. Of course the note appeared when I was living it up at a fair in the next state over, so now I'm going to be way late to the party. Better hurry then, eh?

*pic leads to Mr. C's invite.

Oops, just re-reading his page, and I realize that in order to have the complete party experience I will have to put out. OMG - what have I gotten myself into? Wait, oh okay - he just wants each of us to offer up our own adjunct party plan, plus a few personal tidbits:

What books are on your favorite shelf?
What DVD's are on your favorite shelf?
What are your TWO favorite cookbooks,
...plus 3 recipes for your special guests.
And What will we be drinking.

Oh, I can do that.

---

First thing you'll see is my welcome mat that's been waiting for you on the front porch for a few months now...

Now, as far as favorite shelves go... My favorite shelf of books? is always the one filled with the new ones I'm about to read. Nothing quite like the fun of opening an unfamiliar book. So here are the next ones on my stack: (*click* to enlarge any pic)
Favorite shelf of dvds? Again, its always the ones I haven't seen yet that are the most attractive to me, so here's the stack next to the DVD player. (warning: some chosen by my housemate - guess which ones.)
Two favorite cookbooks:

I'll serve up a main course of:

Then salad (top) and dessert.

Now on to the drinks...
*there's also leftover beer and mixers in the cooler from the weekend, but if you want soda its down in the laundry zone - so bring your flashlight.

Since all your vehicles will be clogging up my road, I think its only fair that I also invite the neighbors. I'll just go put my climbing boots on and knock on a few doors.
*knew Mr.C would appreciate this pic


Finally, (silly me I almost forgot!)

...in lieu of party games, every guest
must learn the required party dance:

*Lucky for most, its only 15 seconds long...

*no idea who they are, but they are enthusiastic, yes?


Having fun? Because if y'all want to stay longer I'll run and borrow some Caribbean-style tiki torches from the Lion-ess,... or maybe that jazzy "tudor revival" globe chandelier from Mr.C?

Nah, lets just wait for the moon to come out.

Brevity Is The...

... Soul Of Wit .* _{*I hope. Shakespeare's claim, yes?}
At any rate, the/an explanation is below.
so, without further ado, here's my tacky tale:

---

‘Astronomy’

Had to tell someone, so I went to my best pal. He runs a micro-lending bank in a vacant lot, under the shade of a toothpick tree. His business was slow that day, so I talked while we drank. We got through a fifth of Jack Daniels before he spoke.

‘You’ll get your revenge; we’re going to Torquemada!’

‘We’re going to see the leader of The Tube Police!?’

‘No, no, ‘Torquemada’, the pepper capital of Spain.’

‘Huh? – I don’t get it – I’m as lost as a bear in a 12-step program.’

Ignoring my confusion he continued: ”Those college ’sports’ from the astrolab that glued Uranus open while they poured in Ugandan coffee? We’ll return the favor...

We’re getting the hottest peppers T-town sells, and stuffing them into their wormholes so far that they’ll glow like radioactive isotopes. They’ll be singing a ‘Neptune’ when we get done. Heck, they’ll be blowing bubbles out their kazoos that’ll kill a tarantula at five paces. Lets go.”

Two days later, a new Big Bang took place. Success.

(the end, as it were)

---

Yesterday 'The Daily Wit' posted my story.(link)

Its the first one I've entered as part of their series of random topics. And (I know you guessed) the italicised words were the 15 required items.

I took some care trying to make it as readable, yet as compact as possible, so I was quite pleased when the webmaster there used a quote from Mark Twain to praise my effort... Woo! (insert smiley face here) Hope you enjoyed it.

Primate Goes Postal

Small silver-suited SpaceApe, speedily sent!

This little guy has traveled so far, to space and back (plus 400 miles on a mail truck), that I figured it was time he got a break. So I let him relax on the coast of Maine. But he still looks stiff! Must be E's fault; she put that too-tight shiny suit on him before she stuffed'm in that envelope for the trip to my place.*

*So tell the ASPCA&PP(& plastic pets) that the guilty party can be found here: Erin's earnestly evocative exchange empire
j/k Thanks to Erin for the jolly junk mailout. ;-)

- *The film that killed my space monkey's oscar chances...{30 sec}

---

---

July update:

Digit of Doom

Walk-in (patient? client?) declares: "Oh yes, he's dead now. I put the finger of death on him and killed him"... Ack!

But it started off so innocently:

"I'd like my hearing tested".

"Are you experiencing any difficulty hearing?"

"Well I'm not sure ... how much do you charge?"

"Oh, don't worry about that, all our hearing tests are free"

"Three?"

"Free"

"Three what?"

"No, FREE. We don't charge for them"

"I'm Brazilian" ...

Can't remember when I've enjoyed someone's work-post so much. Therefore, as a public service, I must link to it so more can see the rest here at GI's A World So Small.

Food Blog Lust

Image is from Seattle's 'Food Lust' coming up June 6th! *click* to see!
The food blog list below I first saw via the 'BaltimoreSnacker', thanks John!

Figured since I'm so slow plodding thru all these, I'd better keep the list just in case the TimesOnline takes down the link. Its from their Top 50 Food Blogs page. Well worth checking out!

"This list comprises 50 of our favourite food blogs..."
And they weren't kidding - what a list!

1. Orangette The ultimate food lovers' blog. "I cooked for almost 12 hours straight after discovering this blog" She loved the cabbage gratin.

2. Cannelle et Vanille 'stunning' via Spanish pastry chef Aran Goyoaga.

3. The Wednesday Chef NY-based Luisa Weiss trawls thru NY and LA Times recipes and humorous anecdotes - charming.

4. Delicious Days easy to navigate, has German author’s own recipes, and adapted ones plus offers tips for food bloggers.

5. David Lebovitz by ex-pastry chef/author in France - has FAQ page on Paris culinary secrets.

6. Chez Pim daily doses of her recipes, reviews and authoritative food comments.

7. Matt Bites pro photos, it really shows – charming and humorous, has a recent Martha Stewart link to boot.

8. Serious Eats Practically everything you need to know about food, focus is on American.

9. 101 Cookbooks 5-year blog of buying and reading cookbooks, w/ i-Phone-able recipes, plus index of recipes by ingredient, by category.

10. Smitten Kitchen excellence in this recipe blog, w/ Facebook links, Flickr photos, and Twitter following – slick.

11. Chubby Hubby Aun Koh (& wife) - all you need to know about Asian food, street food, and recipes.

12. Chocolate & Zucchini multi-lingual, Paris-based recipes, French food idioms, w/book 'Edible Adventures in Paris'.

13. Rambling Spoon travelling food journalist recently in Thailand, Paris, and Edinburgh.

14. Pioneer Woman Cooks real-life, frontier-living w/passion for the hearth to match, Pioneer Woman has garnered a huge following. Impressive.

15. Dorie Greenspan NY cookbook author, passions are pastry and Paris, authority on all things baked.

16. Artisan Sweets
A sweet-toothed beautifully-photographed blog, w/useful video demos.

17. Eating Asia colourful - street markets from all over Asia - inspiring.

18. Nordljus bilingual food journal, Eng/Japanese, delectable images, sharing recipes and her musings on an English culinary life.

19. The Kitchn Part of popular interiors blog Apartment Therapy, this satisfies all manner of kitchen cravings; kitchen tours, recipes and answers to Q's like 'How to clean a toaster' & " Diff btwn non-stick and cast iron?"

20. Becks & Posh Celebrity pun name aside, its really about nosh-ing, by English ex-pat in California, eating regional and seasonal w/ 'English humour'.

21. Simply Recipes - superb range of personal recipes

22. Sticky Rice - exotic street-food docu-drama in Hanoi

23. Souvlaki for the Soul - summery Byzantine bites from Sydney

24. Bitten: New York Times - news, views and recipes from the Big Apple's kitchens

25. Baking Bites - homemade cookies, muffins and much more

26. La Tartine Gourmande - gorgeous photos, scrummy food

27. Gluten Free Girl - wheat-free wonders and tips for celiacs

28. Steamy Kitchen - modern Asian cuisine by media savvy blogger

29. What's for Lunch Honey - global menu from Germany

30. Cream Puffs in Venice - Italian influenced mainly sweet-toothed posts

31. Egg Beater - insightful look at the life of a London-based chef

32. Homesick Texan - a NYorker recreates the much-missed cuisine of her Southern childhood

33. The Traveler's Lunchbox -great writing served up with recipes

34. Joy the Baker - home-baked goodies from an LA-based twentysomething

35. Cook and Eat - striking photography and a smooth to move-about layout

36. Lucullian Delights - appetising Italian recipes from a Tuscan-based Swede

37. Café Fernando - Turkish delights from Istanbul

38. The Food Section - read all about food news

39. Use Real Butter - tales from an Asian foodie’s life in the Colorado Rockies

40. Tea and Cookies - charming stories accompany yummy recipes

41. Amateur Gourmet - funny writing with a useful "how to" section

42. Wild Yeast - all about bread

43. Tartelette - stunning photography and styling define this popular dessert blog

44. NYC Nosh - reviews of favourite old-school restaurants in New York

45. Not Eating Out in NY - rare pursuit of home-cooking in the city

46. Cooksister - South African via London-based expat

47. Artichoke: Best of British Food - well written seasonal posts and events

48. Grab Your Fork - Sydney reviews and recipes including a useful restaurant finder

49. A Slice of Cherry Pie - home cooking from the Home Counties

50. The Bitten Word - charming duo tackle recipes from a stack of food mags.

Plus, the TO Writer, Lynne Robinson, has her own design blog at www.teaforjoy.blogspot.com which features tea shop reviews and a tea of the week.

*When does she find the time?!?

Scribblers R Us

* I Got An Award! *

Always nice to hear that somebody enjoys a 'byte' of my blog. I suppose that's what the Scholastic Scribblers had in mind when they started up their award program. So to pass along the love, I'm also nominating these bloggers (in accord with the SS rules) to add to their award list, because I like to read their stuff too. :-D

So check out Kathy's 'MinxEats', for great recaps,
and John's 'BaltimoreSnacker for live-blogging TC,
and Maggie's 'DogHillKitchen' for thoughful cookery,
and Susan's 'StickyGooeyCreamyChewy' for detailed delights,
plus Kat & sj's, the 'Funny Gals' , well, because they're fun.

Lastly, I've got to remember to say:
Dear Sherri, of 'The Claw', Thanks for the nomination!

Blogger's Lament

Every once in a while my blog annoys me.

So I go here to fix the code:
Blogger 'How Do I'
Tips For Website
Blogger main Help topics
Or, when in doubt, Google it: Link: Google

Blog help via video on YouTube:

p.s. easy search for blogspot blogs:
http://nameofblog.blogspot.com/search?q=itemyourelookingfor