systemsoverloaded

Experiments in the revival of dead organisms

2010-04-05T11:40:00.000-04:00

Get Into This

2010-02-09T21:38:00.002-05:00

Check out the youtube link for a fullscreen view.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0YUtetA6fo&feature=player_embedded

2010-01-14T23:11:00.000-05:00

Gourmet Sunday

2009-11-16T18:45:00.003-05:00

Thrown together somewhat last minute, but still very delicious. A heads up: Don't go to Metro for your groceries on a Sunday because the shelves are always empty and the line ups are always long.

Hosts: Spark and Rob.
Guests: Joelle and Tami.
Starter: Joelle made some delicious Thai Cold Rolls.
Soup: Another fine Coconut soup from the Soup King.
Main: Vegetable stir fry with Peanut Satay sauce.
Drink: I had water. Tami had Cranberry Juice. Joelle and Spark had a bottle of some kind of wine.
Music: Give 'em Enough Rope, The Clash.

Gourmet Sundays

2009-11-14T12:59:00.008-05:00

Just because I don't blog it doesn't mean Gourmet Sunday doesn't happen. For instance:

Mexico.
Tortilla Soup.
Rice and Beans.
Fajita.

I imported an authentic Japanese sushi chef to help with this one. Thanks Maki.
Udon noodle soup.
Avocado, Sweet Potato, and Cucumber Roll.
Vegetable Tempura.
Inari.

Italy
Bread Soup.
Grilled Polenta with Mushroom Ragout.

Holy Crap!

2009-10-27T19:11:00.002-04:00

Remember when this was a shark blog? Check this out

Gourmet Sunday

2009-10-25T22:18:00.004-04:00

Tami and I were eating sushi last night and I told her that I wanted to take another stab at ravioli for Gourmet Sunday. It wasn't much more than thirty seconds later that Ledger called and said he'd be in town to partake in the festivities (regular readers will remember that he was a key ingredient in the success of the last ravioli dinner in August). However, given that I'd already made ravioli once already for Gourmet Sunday (and once for an unofficial Gourmet Friday), I knew I had to include an added bonus.

Hosts: Rob and Spark.
Guests: Joelle, Kathy, Keith, Ledger, and Tami.
Salad: Mixed greens with avocado and a balsamic vinaigrette.
Soup: Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato, and Pear.
Main: Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato, and Pear Ravioli with a Butter and Sage sauce.
Desert: Apple Crisp.
Wine: Peller Estates 2008 Baco Noir, Finca Flichman 2008 Malbec, and Masi 2006 Campofiorin.
Music: Smiths "the Queen is Dead," and Springsteen "Nebraska."

So, the added bonus was the soup, with complimentary ingredients. And by complementary I mean the exact same. It was delish. But again, I can't stress enough how much time ravioli takes. I wouldn't recommend doing it from scratch. Instead, go buy a sheet of fresh lasagna noodles.

Avoid: Bestbuyglasses.com, UPS, and Quiznos Subs

2009-10-21T18:05:00.002-04:00

We'll start with Quiznos:

They make a delicious sub, though they've always been over-priced. I like that they offer guacamole as a dressing, unlike any of the other sub chains. They have a new promotion where you can get large sized subs for $5. Being hungry, and a sucker for a good sandwich, I went in. Apparently you can only get specific subs for $5. Fine. But, the veggie sub isn't one of them. In other words, I can get a LARGE sub with all sorts of meat on it for less than a MEDIUM sub with no meat. WTF! When I inquired, the manager had no explanation for the ridiculous logic. "Okay", I said, "can I get a large meat sub without meat?" He said, yes, but I couldn't have guacamole because it only comes on veggie subs. huh? "I can't swap out a bunch of meat for some guacamole?" Apparently not.

I contacted the head office and spent 25 minutes inputting data onto their automated complaint system and was promised, by a machine, that a person would call me back. Never heard back. In solidarity with vegetarians, logic, and reason, I urge you to take Quiznos Subs off your possible lunch options.

Moving onto bestbuyglasses.com:

I was amazed at the competitive prices listed on their website. I ordered a pair of specs. They were $98 (US), plus $16.95 shipping. Fine. A week later I received one of those "attempt to delivery" notices from UPS stating I owed them $47 for brokerage fees. At no point in the online ordering procedure did it mention anything about additional fees.

When I called Best Buy Glasses they monkey who answered the phone politely stated to me that their website clearly states that residents of Canada may be charged additional duties and/or taxes. When I protested she instructed that if I had clicked on the icon saying FREE DELIVERY IN THE US I would have encountered their Canadian shipping information. Like I said, she was a monkey, and though primates share up to 98% of our genetic material, sometimes they can't comprehend simple concepts like national borders. I inquired why I would ever click on an icon about FREE DELIVERY IN THE US, if I live in Canada. Her response: "Because if I was ordering something online, I would want to know if their were any additional shipping fees." How does one even respond to that?

UPS:

Forty-seven dollars in brokerage fees for an item that costs $100? I asked how they calculate their fees, assuming it was a percentage of the value. Apparently they have a scale where a product between $100 and $200 pays the same brokerage. Again, doesn't make sense because clearly the duty at customs isn't the same for two unequally valued goods. After trying to understand their rationale, I left the conversation even more confused.

The next day they messed up the delivery and I had to call them again, and, of course, I got back into the brokerage fees issue. I guess, I won this particular customer service rep over because he called me 20 minutes later saying he's going to cut the brokerage fees to $20.

As happy as I am about that, it just proves the point that UPSs brokerage fees are unfair and arbitrary. There is no way they're eating a dime, even after reducing the fees by $27.

In conclusion F UPS. F Best Buy Glasses. And F Quiznos.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-10-21T17:56:00.003-04:00

Gourmet Sunday finally returned to Joelle's. If you recall an earlier old post you'll remember that what an amazing meal she put together in the spring. Being a regular at Gourmet Sunday, it's no surprise she can cook, but each time she's hosted, she's really taken it to the next level. Oh, and hey, you know those people who claim to be vegetarian, but eat fish, like you're supposed to believe fish grown from the ground? I can't stand that. Anyways, I might slowly be becoming one of them, as my fish consumption has advanced from "experimenting" to "not so regular but sometimes."

Host: Joelle.
Guests: Alex, Neil, Rob, and Spark.
Starter: Vegetable Soup and Mixed Greens Salad.
Main: Rice and Salmon.
Desert: Pumpkin Tarts.
Wine: Not sure, but white.

Joelle has an actual dining table to sit at. She's serious about being serious.

Beers of the World

2009-10-11T17:07:00.006-04:00

Last night we visited eleven countries and three continents, sampling the finest brews each has to offer. Rating each beer was difficult when considering there were four judges and no real criteria to base such judgment on. It seems as though Rennick was the only one with any sort of rationale, declaring "If I like it, I'll give it a 5." Comparisons are made even more complicated because the more samples you get through, the drunker you become.

After several hours of tasting, discussing, debating, and arguing, we came very near to throwing fists but managed to narrow down a top three:

3) Fischer Blonde - est. 1821, France.

2) Golden Pheasant Lager - Slovakia. Brewed according to an original recipe, using only natural ingredients: clearest water from our own wells, finest hops and malted barley.

1) Affligem Abbey Blonde - est. 1074, Belgium. A smooth-bodied, golden abbey beer with a light, hoppy character and a surprisingly clean finish. Secondary fermentation in the bottle. Contains barley malt.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-09-28T17:50:00.003-04:00

While Tami and I were moving boxes up and down stairs, Spark and Joelle got a sack full of peppers for $3 from a farmers market across from the St. Lawrence market. This is what happened:

Hosts: Rob and Spark.
Guests: Amy, Joelle, and Tami.
Soup: Butternut squash and Sweet Potato.
Salad: Garden with some kind of tangy dressing Tami whipped up.
Main: Stuffed Peppers.
Dessert: Apple Pie.
Wine: 2007 Promised Land Shiraz Cabernet.

Music: Sensefield and Smalltown.

We now have a new feature at the house: a bar-height "dining" table. It's too small to dine at, but last night during the prep portion of the evening we sure enjoyed sitting at it, leaning on it, and conversing around it. It was just like being at the pub.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-09-14T21:33:00.004-04:00

The Regulators finished another unsuccessful season with no wins. A club record! Despite the disappointment of baseball season, and more importantly summer coming to an end, it does open up for a more consistent Sunday evening program. We decided to mark the first dinner of the season, and what could very well be the one year anniversary of Gourmet Sunday, with one of our finest meals yet.

Hosts: Spark and Rob
Guests: Allie, Joelle, and Tami
Starter: Garlic Bread
Salad: Mixed Greens
Main: Eggplant Rollatini with a ricotta, spinach, and flame roasted red pepper filling, and a side of Breaded Zucchini sticks.
Wine: I don't know because I didn't drink any, but it was a red.
Dessert: Banana Loaf with Chocolate Chips and Almond Chunks.

Music: Falling Forward

Perhaps the most exciting part of last night's meal was not the meal at all, but Joelle's refound love for a 90s hardcore classic, Falling Forward's Hand Me Down. In all seriousness though, there were a handful people who had the opportunity to come last night and didn't. They missed out, big time.

Sorry, I couldn't find any Falling Forward, but this is pretty good, too.

For my balding friends.

2009-09-07T11:55:00.001-04:00

Gourmet Friday

2009-08-17T11:13:00.003-04:00

A few months ago we made a variety of ravioli from scratch. It took forever to make. I didn't think I would be up for the task again. I reconsidered, however, changed a few things and went ahead with it. Not making three types of ravioli for six people made things a lot easier. Oh, and if somebody tries to tell you a wine bottle works as well as a rolling pin, they're either lying or stupid. Get a rolling pin.

Host: Me
Guests: Amy and Ledger. Tami would have made it, but was interviewing SGs for potential roommates.
Starter: Garlic Bread
Salad: Check. I may have put too much Balsamic in the dressing, however.
Main: Roasted Butternut Squash and Pear Ravioli with a butter and Rosemary dressing, with grilled Aspargus on the side.
Wine: 2008 Woodbridge Sauvignon Blanc.

Music: Probably Leatherface, I forget.

Gourmet Sunday mainstays weren't in attendance, so I think this is a dish that will be made again. My confidence in fresh pasta-making has been rejuvenated.

New Boat.

2009-08-11T16:00:00.003-04:00

It's a few months old, but I've just come across this new Leatherface jam. Stoked for a new album, should it ever see the light of day.

And an old one

One more

Gourmet Wednesday

2009-07-22T22:58:00.002-04:00

With baseball being Sunday night, we've found it hard to keep up with Gourmet Sunday. We're still cooking, just not blogging about it as much. We've been talking about a Gourmet Sunday with Chris and Danielle for a while and they took advantage of a cool and rainy summer evening to invite us over for some delicious eats.

Hosts: Chris and Danielle.
Guests: Tami and Rob
Starter: Chris made the best guacamole I've ever tasted.
Main: Fresh Cut Sweet Potato fries; Stuffed Portobello Mushroom with Cream Cheese, Brie, and tomato; Grilled Eggplant; BBQ Tofu.
Desert: Fruit Salad.
Beverage: Chilled Toronto tap water.

Whenever somebody else does Gourmet Sunday (or Wednesday), I think they show us up. Hats off to Chris and Danielle for putting together an awesome mid-week feast. And just so you know, sweet potatoes are still the best food in the world.

Good Jam.

2009-07-11T17:24:00.003-04:00

I remember taping this when it aired on tv and watching it religiously for a month. Can anybody explain the X on Jeff Ament's hand?

FBI conversations with Saddam

2009-07-03T14:34:00.007-04:00

Between his capture in December 2003 and his eventual execution three years later, Saddam Hussein spent 18 months in US custody. During this time, FBI agents recorded both formal interviews and casual conversations with him. Transcripts of these engagements were recently released. I've, so far, only read the casual conversations and found them quite interesting. check them out here:

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB279/index.htm

Woah.

2009-06-30T19:28:00.001-04:00

I'd like to share with you the wet dream I had last night:

the 59 sound - bruce springsteen & gaslight anthem( glasto )
Uploaded by runawaydream. - See the latest featured music videos.

Springsteen joins the Gaslight Anthem on stage at Glastonbury.

Culture Shock.

2009-06-20T12:17:00.003-04:00

This pretty much sums up what's wrong with youth culture. Be sure to watch the entire thing as there's some next level shit in the last minute.

Rape Epidemic in South Africa.

2009-06-18T13:43:00.001-04:00

A South African study has revealed that 1/4 men have raped women and half of those have attacked more than once. Check it out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8107039.stm

Rock Shoes

2009-06-17T15:17:00.003-04:00

I've noticed in the past couple of years an increase in the number of fashion accessories being "designed" by pop-cultural "icons." I want to make public my complete and utter disdain for this practice. Just because somebody can write a song doesn't mean they have any business designing footwear. The above shoe, designed by Green Day drummer, is the latest example of this lamentable practice.

Gourmet... er... Monday!

2009-06-16T13:43:00.003-04:00

We've been dropping the ball on Gourmet Sunday lately and Sunday we went to T&T and bought some new soup spoons. This is the result:

Hosts: Spark and Rob.
Guest: Joelle.
Soup: Hot and Sour.
Main: Vegetable Stir Fry and Sweet and Sour Gluten on rice.
Wine: 2007 Reisling.
Dessert: Cookies.
Music: Trojan Ska box set.

Let me say right off the start that I had little to do with this meal. I threw some stuff into a pan and poured some sweet and sour sauce over it. Spark and Joelle were the real troopers. Spark did his hot and sour soup, which is delicious, but REALLY spicy. Joelle did a stir fry, which was all delicious. We ate too much and fell into food comas. The end.

Gourment Sunday

2009-06-14T22:16:00.006-04:00

There's nothing like celebrating another Regulators loss like a delicious meal on a Sunday evening.

Hosts: Spark and Rob.
Guest: the Rennick.
Salad: We didn't actually have salad, but Tami and I made this awesome one earlier in the week. It had marinated grilled tempeh, steamed asparagus, and a bunch of other stuff that goes in salads. Delicious.
Main: Veggie Chicken Curry with Tofu, Sweet Potato and Broccoli. Maybe we eat this meal too much, but you would too if you had just a little taste. Best curry this side of the Atlantic (until the Bo finally reopens... if it reopens).
Wine: That new shitty Fuzion white. Whatevs.

Music: Chuck Ragan.

We're always pushing the envelope at Gourmet Sunday, and this week, clearly, was no different. How was this week different? Two ways: I bought a sweet antique grain scale that has replaced our Ikea coffee table/dinner table, and the Rennick got a sweet haircut, thanks to Toronto's finest barber/stylist/life coach, Jon Roth. Oh, and just a heads up, Spark and I bought some planters and some herbs today. The results will be some next level shit. Guaranteed.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-05-31T23:15:00.004-04:00

It's been a few weeks since we had a proper Gourmet Sunday, and though tonight wasn't proper, I guess it's blog-worthy anyways.

Hosts: Spark and Rob.
Guest: Rennick and Tami.
Appetizer: Chips and Guacamole.
Main: "Chicken" Curry on Rice with Steamed Broccoli.
Wine: None (not before a big Regs game!)

Music: Ramones.
Post Dinner Entertainment: Student evaluations of me.

There will be no Gourmet Sunday for at least the next three weeks, as the Regulators are playing 5 o'clock games. Maybe we'll win one.

Gourment Sunday

2009-05-25T21:50:00.004-04:00

The mailbag has been full lately. Thousands of loyal readers have inquired about the lack of updates. Many have even hypothesized that, perhaps, Gourmet Sunday had come to an end. This is not the case. Again, this is NOT the case. The fact is, the Regulators are making a valiant effort at winning a game on Sunday evenings. Go Regs!

Gourmet Sunday

2009-05-03T20:33:00.003-04:00

Hosts: Spark and Rob.
Guests: Amy and Joelle.
Starter: Bruschetta.
Main: Fresh Garden Salad and 3 Mushroom Risotto.
Dessert: Tami's Chocolate and Banana Cake Birthday Cake.
Wine: 2007 Masi Soave.

Music: Oasis, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.
Boardgame: Balderdash.

It's been a month since the last Gourmet Sunday and we therefore thought it would be appropriate to ease our way back into it by keeping things light. Plus, it's summer and we gotta get our beach bodies in order.

Tramps Like Us...

2009-04-27T17:44:00.005-04:00

So Gourmet Sunday has been on the back burner as of late. It's football season for the hooligan and my cooking career has been put on hold to make time for my new career in art. As you may or may not know, I was to appear at the Disposable Art Show this past Saturday. Unfortunately a number of things prevented this from happening. Though I am delighted to report that the best boards showing sold. Well done to those artists, and to Joey for an awesome night.
I like to think a lot of people went home bummed (or didn't even bother to show) once it was announced my deck would not be on the wall. I've posted a picture above to appease all of my fans. It's truly a historical piece, given that it is the first painting I have ever done in my life. Bidding starts at $10,000. Bid quick and with confidence; it'll go quick.

Check out my art debut.

2009-04-22T22:37:00.002-04:00

Joey's been working overtime as of late. One of his artists fell through at the last minute and he came to me. Why? Well, he needed somebody who could throw something together, last minute, that would be of a certain standard and calibre; not unlike other artists who will be showing work that night. Come check it out. Donate some money. And take home an original piece of art- mine if you're lucky.

*This may not be exactly how I ended up being in Joey's art show.

Snakes On A Plane

2009-04-16T18:37:00.002-04:00

A Qantas flight en route to Melbourne from Alice Springs was grounded once employees noticed that four baby pythons had escaped from their hold during the flight. Amazing.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-04-06T17:03:00.003-04:00

One year ago a few dudes went to Italy and brought back a package of pasta. Last night they cooked up that pasta.

Hosts: Spark and Rob
Guests: Amy, Joelle, Rennick, Steph, Tami.
Salad: The kind with lettuce and stuff.
Soup: Tuscan bread soup.
Main: Year old Italian pasta with "veggie bolognese" sauce.
Wine: 2006 Peppoli Chianti Classico.
Music: Van Morrison.

As mentioned, exactly one year ago, Spark, Rennick, and I were riding our bikes around in the rain in Spain and Italy. A lot has changed in one year: Spark became a soccer hooligan, Rennick found a new interest in fixed-gear bicycles, and I had a kid. To commemorate the occasion we will be eating a lot of pasta and drinking too much wine every day for the next 16 days.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-03-23T20:00:00.002-04:00

It's still kind of cold out, but, indeed, spring has sprung. And spring is just a few months away from summer, and summer means barbecue season! I love barbecues and love cooking on the barbecue, but who doesn't, right? We decided to blow our load a little early and fill up the propane tank in honour of spring. It was also discussed that from here on out Gourmet Sunday must implement the barbecue each week, weather permitting.

Hosts: Rob and Spark
Guests: Amy, Joelle, Momma Clark, and Tami.
Starter: Spinach pie
Salad: Greek
Main: Kababs on grilled pita with tzatziki and roasted potatoes.
Wine: 2008 Storm Bay Cabernet Sauvignon.

Music: Bob Dylan "Street Legal."

Apart from being our first Greek theme (go Beta Kappa Delta!) we had the honour of hosting Mrs. Leslie Clark. We learned a lot about Spark; including why he hates cheese, but loves pizza and nachos. Actually we didn't learn anything of the sorts because it doesn't make sense. Regardless, as always, Les was a real hoot. The kebabs were great and we've really taken a liking to the new President's Choice fake "chicken breasts."

One bowl of Shark Fin Soup please.

2009-03-23T18:38:00.001-04:00

School sanctions steel cage match.

2009-03-20T12:45:00.002-04:00

South Cliff High School, in Dallas, Texas, is accused of holding principal and teacher sanctioned steel cage fights between students between 2003-2005. Though the now retired principal denies such incidents occurred, students, parents and school board administrators are suggesting that several fights took place inside of a steel mesh equipment locker. Mind you, this is in a state where some teachers are required to carry concealed hand guns in their classroom. Mixed messages?

Dangerous Minds.

2009-03-13T20:19:00.003-04:00

So I pretty much have the best job ever. This is why:

"Nick Nack Patty Wack
Still rolling cadi-lacks
I Role wit big Macks
So you call Abel
Burn down your house
Now you sleep in a stable
My flow is electric
So you can call me cable
Flows like the Ocean
So you can me sea sick
I am the god of Rap
So you can call me Jesus
So Fresh, Juss came out
the Fetus. I'm Hard
So you can call me stiff
penis."

This little gem was found in a desk after one of my classes. The words appear as they were written on the page in order to maintain it's artistic integrity. The artist is unknown, but I am sure you'll be hearing this rhyme on BET shortly.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-03-09T20:27:00.004-04:00

Gourmet Sunday is really catching on in 2009. Last night marked the second time in less than a month that Gourmet Sunday was hosted by somebody other than Spark and myself. Joelle is starting to make quite a name for herself amongst the ranks of Sunday regulars.

Host: Joelle
Guests: Alex, Brian, Rennick, Rob, Spark, Steph and Tami.
Appetizer: Baked vegetable Wontons with Mango sauce and Peanut sauce.
Salad: Field Green and Mango.
Main: Fish or Tofu en Papillote (lime/ginger) w/spinach and oyster mushrooms, and Black and Mahogany Rice.
Wine:wine: 2006 Jackson Triggs Gewurztraminer; 2006 Rosemblum Zinfandel.
Dessert:- Dufflet Butter Tarts.

Music: Cult Cargo Eccentric Soul compilation; Bo Diddley.

The food was incredible, no doubt, but what really brought the meal together was the addition of a dining room table! Who knew what an affect such might have on the overall dining experience? Apparently, Spark and I have to pick up our game, as coffee table and milk crates can't cut it for much longer. Again, thanks Joelle for hosting an wonderful meal.

Speaking of China...

2009-03-02T22:27:00.003-05:00

My new found love interest, Oasis, had planned to visit China on their Dig Out Your Soul tour. The shows were recently canceled because, apparently, Chinese authorities don't like that Noel played a Tibetan Freedom Festival concert 12 years ago.

Mind you I guess this dude didn't think Oasis was an appropriate act for V Fest in Toronto last summer.

Chinese Democracy... No Thank You

2009-03-02T20:25:00.005-05:00

So our neighbours think it's cool to blast music at all hours. Usually it's really bad, but on occasion we'll be treated to the sounds of Pearl Jam or something 90s grunge band. I'm not exactly sure how their music selection works, but it's as if they have a database of all (mostly bad) music available on-line and then have their itunes set to shuffle. I can't even give an example because the musical transitions defy logic.

Tonight is no different. They were just playing some sort of horrible nu rock band when I realized I recognized the song. It was none other than one of the fine gems found on the latest "Guns N Roses" disc. Yeah, those quotation marks are there on purpose. I love Appetite as much as the next guy. I love Lies, and a lot of the Illusions records, too. However, if their latest is representative of the sounds to come out of a future liberated Chinese democracy, then, I'm sorry I'm quite content with the current state of human rights violations and digitally manufactured Olympic opening ceremonies.

I will now spend the remainder of my evening banging on our shared walls in hopes that they will turn down their music, or at least put something decent on. Gorilla Biscuits anyone?

Or how about this little treat I was also lucky enough to witness in person:

Gourmet Sandwich Club

2009-03-02T18:30:00.003-05:00

What started out many years ago as a way for a broke ass Chris Slorach to find nutrients on the numerous occasions he found himself crashing on a couch at 148 turned into a legitimate weekly meeting that persists to this day. By weekly meetings I mean we have met a few times over the past several years. But the number of meetings is not important; a shared love for one of the finest foods ever is. And so "Sandwich Club" was born. We've had sandwiches at Gourmet Sunday before, but not like this. Last night each attending guest had to bring their own best sandwich to share with others. In total we had 5 sandwich varieties.

Hosts: Spark and Rob.
Guests: Amy, Joelle, Sarah (First Timer), Slorach, and Tami.
Starter: Sweet Potato Fries; Corn "Chowda" Soup.
Main: "Fauxtopia" Grilled Veggie Chicken Wrap, BLT made with Tempeh (AKA TLT), Grilled Portobello, Veggie, Dill, and Cream Cheese, Veggie Sloppy Joe, and Gigantic Pizza.
Refreshments: Clove Water.
Dessert: Amy's Chocolate Birthday Cake.

* So there are other things that play important parts at Gourmet Sunday and help make it the wonderful experience that it continues to be week in and week out:

Music: Buzzcocks "Singles Going Steady;" Leatherface "Dog Disco."
After Dinner Entertainment: Scattergories.

Tami didn't like the idea of a "sandwich sampling party" because she thinks sandwiches should be eaten as a whole. Fair enough, I understand the argument. However, I certainly enjoyed tasting what each sandwich artist came up with. It was shocking that such a contrast of sandwich-types was present, especially when one considers the likelihood of conflicting Pizza, BLT, or Grilled Veggie sandwiches. I definitely considered each. All of the sandwiches were unique, as well as uniquely delicious. Though my "Fauxtopia" Grilled Veggie Chicken Wraps weren't technically sandwiches, they, too, were enjoyed. Spark continued his tradition of preparing a soup and continues to win over the hearts and minds of those who taste these wonderful bowls. One last important note: If anybody is into the sweet potato fries served at Clinton's, it became quite obvious last night that they can be purchased in the frozen foods section at Fiesta Farms. That's not a dis on Clinton's because they'll serve them to you as a side for $1.50! Also, yeah, we accept that serving frozen foods is a blatant infringement of Gourmet Sunday rules. Whatever, we write the rules. Blyth, out.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-02-22T21:01:00.007-05:00

Last Sunday marked a turning point in Gourmet Sunday history. For the first time ever it was hosted by somebody other than Spark and me. Amy, Damien, and Emily did a fine job hosting an Italian-themed feast for 16. Yeah, SIXTEEN! Bananas. Tons of delicious food, including homemade bread, and even more wine was consumed. Thanks again dudes, you really stepped up to the plate and raised the bar.

Tonight was a unique Gourmet Sunday. Overall, it was quite understated, but agreed that it was also one of the best in terms of food. Not bad considering we didn't know what were doing until about 5pm (dinner was served at 7).

Hosts: Spark and Rob.
Guests: Amy and Katie.
Started: Hot and Sour Soup.
Main: Buddha's Delight (look it up).
Dessert: Butterpeacan and Brownie Sunday!
Wine: 2006 Inniskillin Chardonnay

As you know Spark has really become a soup guru. I haven't had a really good Hot and Sour Soup since Bo De Duyen closed... until tonight! The Buddha's Delight I whipped up also impressed guests. A vast array of vegetables and flavours, but not as greasy as some of the dishes you'd get at some Toronto's favourite Vegetarian/Chinese spots. Tons of leftovers, too. What made tonight stand out though was dessert. How fitting is it we had Sundays for dessert on Sunday? Answer: Fitting. Incredible.

What's longer than a bus and weighs more than a car?

2009-02-09T20:50:00.002-05:00

A giant snake, of course! A University of Toronto scientist recently discovered a 60 million year old fossilized reptile. Found in an open-pit mine in Northern Colombia the Titanoboa was roughly 40 feet long and weighed as much as 1.25 tonnes.

Jonathan Bloch, one of the scientists who worked on the project, commented, “Truly enormous snakes really spark people's imagination, but reality has exceeded the fantasies of Hollywood. The snake that tried to eat Jennifer Lopez in the movie Anaconda is not as big as the one we found.”

I'm sure you've seen Anaconda, it is a classic afterall, but you haven't, the snake that kills J-Lo and Ice Cube is pretty big. So far 28 specimens have been found. Apart from being pretty rad, the finding also gives a us a look into the future, as the size of cold-blooded species is likely to grow as the global climate warms.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-02-08T21:22:00.004-05:00

Holy shit! For one night only Thorburn Ave. has been renamed Brick Lane.

Hosts: Spark and Rob.
Guests: Joelle, The Rennick, and Tami.
Salad: Mixed Greens, Avocado and stuff, and Amazing Salad Dressing.
Soup: Spinach and Lentil.
Main: Brinjal Rice, Spicy Chickpea and Vegetable Casserole, and Sweet Vegetable Curry, with Naan Bread.
Wine: 2007 Red Knot Shiraz.
Desert: Banana Bread.

We've been talking about having an Indian night for a while. But we knew if we were going to do it, we had to do it right. Things were looking a little dodgy for a minute as my timing wasn't really thought out. Things were a little heated in the kitchen for a minute as Spark, Matt, and Tami were getting all up in my grill about poor planning. I taught them a valuable lesson, however, about cooking: To make things cook faster, just turn up the heat. BOOM!

*Some have commented the blog has been lacking shark content.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-02-02T22:17:00.003-05:00

You know what kind of sucks? Spending your entire Sunday night cooking. In recent weeks we've made a concerted effort to cut back the prep time of our meals, without sacrificing quality. Spark was feeling creative yesterday, and thank goodness for that.

Hosts: Spark and Rob
Guests: Amy, Bettie, and Matias (welcome back lil' buddy!).
Salad: Organic Greens and Garden Veggies with a Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Main: Breaded Eggplant cutlets with Steamed Broccoli and Basmati Rice (the rice was more complicated than this, but I have no idea how to describe it).
Wine: 2008 Fuzion.

So maybe "breaded" isn't a completely accurate description for the Eggplant cutlets. They were roasted and then dipped into an egg/crumbled soda cracker concoction, then flash fried in oil. The inspiration was veal, I think. Having never tasted veal, I have no basis for comparison. This was good though. Real good.

Freedom Haters Voted #1 Chili*

2009-02-02T22:04:00.006-05:00

Saturday was the Second Annual Left Feet Vegan Chili Cook Off. There were 18 chilis in total. But only one winner. Spark, Matt, and I reserved one night a week for the last four to perfect our recipe. There were a lot of arguments, a lot of messes, some full tummies, and even a few tears. All the hard work paid off, however. We may not have won the official contest (though we definitely should have), we did make an amazing chili. It was thick. It was roasted. It had Sweet Potato. It was hearty. And most importantly it was delicious. High five to everyone who cooked, came, tasted, and voted. $1600 was raised for the Out In The Cold organization. Well done to Steve at Left Feet and everyone else who help make the day a success.

* Voted #1 best chili amongst Freedom Hater Bicycle Club members.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-01-26T19:52:00.005-05:00

I think Spark and I have been feeling a little disillusioned with Gourmet Sunday as of late, even with the success of last week. It's tough work planning these meals, I tell you. Deciding on a theme. finding people willing to give up their Sunday evenings. Finding decent recipes. Grocery shopping. Cooking. And then, of course, cleaning. Motivation can be especially hard to come by knowing you have to wake up to Monday the following day. Regardless, we had (and will continue to have) enough PMA to whip up some delicious Mexican influenced treats.

Hosts: Take a guess.
Guests: Angela, Joelle, the Rennick.
Starter: Tortilla soup with avocado and soya pieces.
Main: Black Bean Burrito with sweet potato and veggie chicken.
Wine: 2007 Masi Modello Delle Venezie.
Other: Rennick's flask filled with Jack.

A quick run down would read something like this: Spark has taken on the role of master soup chef. He's good at it. I've made a few burritos in my. I'm good at it. Angela's guacamole never ceases to impress. Joelle brought over a bottle of green hot sauce picked up in Belize. She's good like that. Rennick is always on top of his game. Overall, a casual yet delicious dining experience. Peace.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-01-18T22:19:00.006-05:00

Tonight was an important night in the history of Gourmet Sunday. A night we've been waiting for for some time now. Spark and I have been validated by a real life chef who has done time at Susr and some other swank restaurant in New York City. It's true, we are that good!

Hosts: Spark and Rob
Guests: Amy, Olivia, Slorach
Starter: Bruschetta
Salad: Cesar
Main: Home made Spaghetti with vegetables and tomato sauce
Dessert: Olivia made some ridiculous Banana Cake with Caramel and Whiskey Sauce.
Wine: 2005 Penfolds Shiraz

I borrowed a pasta machine from my mom and finally broke it out tonight. It takes forever to get the right consistency and takes just as long for the pasta to be pressed. I know why she never uses it. I think I may have broken the motor, too. However, I managed to make enough thick spaghetti noodles (thick Udon noodle size) to fill us all up. Spark took care of the sauce: a hearty vegetable sauce. I was hoping for a little constructive criticism from the chef, but all she could say was how good it all was. Boom! We are now open to the public.

Gourmet Sunday

2009-01-05T20:33:00.004-05:00

Left Feet is the place to go in Toronto for all your ethical footwear needs. It's also the place to go once a year for some delicious chili. The annual chili competition falls on January 31st, which means Matt, Spark, and I have less than a month to come up with a winning recipe.

Hosts: Spark and me.
Guests: Amy and Tami
Starter: Vegetarian Quesadillas.
Main: Vegetarian Chili with a fresh Ciabbatta Roll on the side. (I wish I could disclose more information, but for obvious reasons the ingredients are temporarily classified)
Beverage: Corona.

The quesadillas were good, but I do need to work on my refried beans. If anybody has a good recipe, hit me up. The chili started out a little stewy, but once it thickened up, it was quite delicious. It's no secret that chili is often better the next day; Spark has just confirmed that this is in fact the case with our batch, too. The recipe will continue to evolve over the next few weeks, but to get a taste of this winter classic stop by Left Feet on the 31st.

* Photo is of my new grill. George has been retired.

Shark Fin Superstore.

2009-01-05T09:33:00.003-05:00

Well, the holidays are over and it's back to work for most; shark finners included, I'd expect. Over the holidays I got to do some pretty cool things, but one that stands out is visiting the Pacific Mall in Markham. If you've never been, imagine Chinatown in a box. On top of having some amazing deals on bootleg dvds, it has a store devoted entirely to the sales of shark fins and their by-products. Shark fins by the thousands! And they come in all sorts or different sizes and varieties. It's a real testament to the hard work of the fishermen around the globe who work rigorously to make our waters safer to swim in.

Jesus Vs. Jaws

2008-12-31T00:54:00.002-05:00

It was a big week for sharks down under. A snorkeler was presumably killed by a shark, 30 metres from shore, when a 24 year old man noticed that his father had been replaced by a shredded wetsuit and a pool of blood. The dorsal fin of a shark had been seen nearby. Several hours later, across the country in Sydney, a kayaker was bumped and knocked out of his boat and forced to share a hot minute in the water with a Great White. The encounter was captured on video (see below). Further beach closures around the country, including Bondi and Queensland, occurred when aerial surveillances detected shark activity.

Gourmet Sunday

2008-12-29T00:18:00.003-05:00

Christmas is a time for family and friends. In true Christmas spirit we invited all of our friends over for a night of delicious food and drink. Unfortunately, none of them came. Zing!

Hosts: Rob and Spark
Guests: N/A
Appetizer: Palenta with a Mushroom Ragout Sauce.
Main: Fettucini and Steamed Vegetables with an Alfredo Sauce.
Wine: Wakefield, 2005 Promised Land Shiraz Cabernet.

The meal was good. But, then again, of course it was good, the sauce was made with 35% cream and a ton of butter. I did a a second workout with kettle bells just to compensate for the first two mouthfuls.

Gourmet Sunday

2008-12-21T23:36:00.005-05:00

Dear Cancer Bats,

I would have loved to have come see your show, but it's Sunday, and, well, usually that means things are getting gourmet in the kitchen. P.S. Thanks for taking all our guests.

Hosts: Rob and Spark
Guests: Sarah and Tami
Starters: Thai Coconut Milk Soup; Vegetarian Springs Rolls.
Main: Steamed Greens and Marinated Grilled Tofu on a bed of Brown Rice, topped with a Tahini Sauce and Tamari.
Wine: Red (update coming soon... when I'm downstairs).
Oh Yeah: Green Tea with fresh Ginger.

Sean asked Aidan if they could eat healthier, by which he meant "Can you cook healthier food for me?" After work last week I went over for dinner and she prepared a delicious rice bowl with greens and tempeh. It served as a real inspiration for tonight's meal.

You may wonder what we talked about at dinner. We discussed: Serbian James Bond, fine chaps, feeling your phone vibrate when it actually isn't ("ghost buzz"), pets, microwaves and science projects, as well as other fascinating topics.

As well, Tami was sick when she arrived at Gourmet Sunday. She wasn't when she left. Magic? Nope, I doubt it.

Dodging Bullets.

2008-12-14T17:12:00.001-05:00

Real Life Fake Suicide.

2008-12-11T15:19:00.004-05:00

Sometime last week actor Daniel Hoevels was treated for a near fatal wound suffered on a Viennese stage. The audience for Mary Stuart, a play about Mary Queen of Scots, applauded what they thought was a brilliant on-stage suicide of Hoevels' character. Cheers quickly turned to gasps when the actor staggered off stage.

Apparently somebody switched a dull stage prop with a real knife. Hoevel didn't recognize the switch until blood was already spewing from his throat onto the stage floor. Police are investigating, and Hoevel returned to the stage for the following evening's performance.

Solo Mobile is the worst.

2008-12-09T11:54:00.003-05:00

Nobody wants to read my long-winded story about poor cell phone service: We all have it. I have edited this post to include only the most important information.

DO NOT GET MOBILE SERVICE WITH SOLO.

More Sharks.

2008-12-08T17:36:00.003-05:00

Moana Beach, Adelaide, has been cleared due to a Great White shark sighting 50 metres off shore. Early "reports" claimed the shark could be as large as 16 metres! Clearly absurd when one considers that the largest Great Whites are expected to reach about 9 metres. This is somewhat presumptuous, too, because the largest captured Great White on record was about 7 metres, though an accurate measurement couldn't be taken as the fisherman who caught it kept only the head and pectoral fins.

Oh yeah, a few weeks ago a friend send me pictures (see above) of a Great White that had washed up on shores near where her brother lives. It appeared at Mermaid Beach,the Gold Coast, November 11. Measuring 2.3 metres, it was dragging a buoy from the shark nets around shore when a life guard spotted it.

Gourmet Sunday

2008-12-07T21:16:00.003-05:00

After having a pretty busy weekend, including a double 30th birthday party for Matias and Rennick, we decided for one night only we'd change Gourmet Sunday's mandate of extravagance and eloquence to include austerity and pedestrianism.

Hosts: Spark and me.
Guests: N/A
Appetizer: bag of Chipotle seasoned tortilla chips.
Main: Vegetable fajitas with grilled Portobello Mushrooms, braised with Chipotle sauce.
Wine: 2007 Fuzion.

Well, the turnout was below average, and the food was below average, but the preparation and clean up times were record-setting: Success!

'Tis The Season.

2008-12-04T16:12:00.003-05:00

When Crocodiles Attack.

2008-12-01T20:11:00.003-05:00

It's 26 January, 1945 when the Royal Marines, supported by 4th, 26th, 36th and 71st Indian Brigades and the Royal Air Force, encircled and trapped 900 Japanese soldiers in a 16 square kilometres area of swampland on Ramree Island, Southern Burma. The British were attempting to take the area from the Japanese in hopes of creating numerous sea-supplied airbases.

The swamp is characterized by knee-deep mud; it supports a multitude of tropical diseases and is home to scorpions, mosquitoes, and thousands of 4 metre-long salt water crocodiles.

The events of Operation Sankey are murky but one account is that, unable to escape from the British barricade, hundreds of Japanese soldiers became sitting ducks for the crocs. British naturalist Bruce Wright described:

"That night [of the 19 February 1945] was the most horrible that any member of the M.L. [marine launch] crews ever experienced. The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of wounded men crushed in the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurred worrying sound of spinning crocodiles made a cacophony of hell that has rarely been duplicated on earth. At dawn the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left...Of about 1,000 Japanese soldiers that entered the swamps of Ramree, only about 20 were found alive."

Guiness has recorded the Ramree crocodile attack as the "Greatest Disaster Suffered From Animals."

Gourmet Sunday

2008-11-30T23:03:00.004-05:00

It's been a few weeks since the last installment of Gourmet Sunday, but some things are worth the wait (much like the blog about crocodiles which is still coming soon).

Hosts: Spark and Rob
Guests: Along with Amy, Rennick, and Steph, I am pleased to announce we popped the McCrackens' Gourmet Sunday Cherry.
Appetizer: Fresh Italian Artisan bread with Olive Oil and Balsamic.
Soup: A delicious Butternut Squash soup topped with a dash of Chili Sauce.
Salad: Organic Spring Greens and other stuff with a Zesty dressing.
Main: Freshly made Portobello and Roasted Garlic Ravioli in Tomato Sauce and Butternut Squash with a hint of White Wine Raviolo sauteed in Butter and Garlic.
Wine: Simply Crisp and Lively White (that's what it's called!); 2008 Fuzion Shiraz.

Oh, what's that, you don't have time to spend 3.5 hours preparing delicious ravioli from scratch? I say you're a liar by omission and just not dedicated to the cause... Tonight's Gourmet Sunday was definitely the most labour intensive thus far. Having never made fresh pasta, let alone stuffed pasta, there was a lot of trial and error. Thanks everybody for chipping in and helping to get it finished; there was a definite moment I thought we might not eat tonight, but, I'm happy to say we worked it out. Though I will probably never make it again, solely based on the commitment required, the Ravioli was definitely a delight.

"She's a real Beaut!"

2008-11-12T19:07:00.004-05:00

Remember how I was saying that sharks are really old? You know what else are really old? Crocodiles. At 200 million years, they’re only about half as old as sharks, but still 145 million years older than dinosaurs. Also, like sharks, it is believed that crocodiles have evolved little over the past several million years.

Crocs live between 70-100 years. Though there are several on record that have lived many years beyond this.

Oh yeah, and crocodiles kill way more people than sharks, which make them pretty cool. Next time I will write about a 1945 incident in Burma where it is believed several hundred Japanese soldiers were eaten by crocodiles whilst retreating from the Royal Navy.

*It's reported that crocodiles are responsible for 40 human deaths per year.

NYHC

2008-11-12T17:33:00.003-05:00

My buddy Spark's band, To The Lions, is playing with Agnostic Front on Sunday. I've never been a huge fan, but pretty much anything Walter Schreifels touches turns to gold. Agnostic Front's Society Suckers is no exception:

Gourmet Sunday

2008-11-09T22:08:00.003-05:00

Sometimes the change in seasons is rough and all you want is a little comfort...

Hosts: Spark and Rob
Guests: Amy, Matias, and Karen
Starter: Tuscan Hearty Chickpea Soup with Sundried Tomato, Basil, and Farfalle.
Main: Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with Red Pepper, Zucchini, Eggplant, Onion, Mushroom, Avocado, and Pesto, topped with Cheddar Cheese on an Italian artisan bread.
Wine: 2007 Masi Masianco Pinot Grigo & Verduzzo (white) and 2006 Catena Malbec (red).

I have a few true loves in life, and one of them is definitely sandwiches. Tonight was meant to be somewhat of a reunion for the Sandwich Club, but Slorach had other obligations. Having not really made a fantastic sandwich since moving back from England, I had sandwiches on my mind, and was determined to gobble one up. I was worried because I couldn't find Panini bread anywhere (who thought it would be so difficult to find in a city like Toronto?). Amy came through, however, with a nice Italian artisan. Spark's soup was delicious. It may very well make a regular appearance in my kitchen from here on out. Both went over well with the guests, and we can therefore deem tonight another successful Gourmet Sunday.

Vatican plans to become more efficient.

2008-11-03T21:54:00.002-05:00

According to a BBC article the Vatican has implemented a punch clock system to ensure that priests, cardinals, and archbishops use their time at work more efficiently. This move is likely to be followed by the introduction of performance-based pay. The places I could go with this...

Gourmet Sunday

2008-11-03T19:21:00.004-05:00

Hosts: Spark and Rob
Guests: Tanya, Justin, and Angelune and Amy made it for dessert.
Salad: rapini, carrot, and radiccio salad with aged sherry and honey vinaigrette.
Appetizer: Choice of garlic bread or Napoli-stlye Pizza, or both.
Main: Vegetarian Lasagna.
Dessert: Apple Pie.
Wine: 2004 Masi Costasera Amarone classico, 1997 Masi Campofiorin Ripasso.

Tanya and Justin were driving all the way from Niagara Falls, not to mention they were bringing with them a perfectly aged bottle of Red, so Spark and I had to pick up our game. Pizza's not really an appetizer, but we decided that since we had agreed on Italian, to compliment the wine, we'd take a shot at an authentic Napoli-style pie. It was off the hook and we had a tough time trying to leave room for the main. I haven't made a lasagna in a few years, except for my "Mexican Lasagna," so we more or less freestyled it. Justin said, having grown up on horrible frozen lasagna the idea of lasagna makes him sick (he told us this after the fact), but two bites in and he was singing the lasagna god's accolades. Mission accomplished, I guess.

As for the wine, it was definitely the best we've had at Gourmet Sunday and the empty bottle will sit on our mantle until it can be displaced by a finer bottle.

Remember.

2008-11-01T21:26:00.001-04:00

Remember when this blog was about sharks?

More Springsteen on America.

2008-10-30T19:37:00.000-04:00

The Return of Gourmet Sunday

2008-10-26T22:07:00.002-04:00

What with Thanksgiving and Sean and Aidan's wedding, amongst other things, Gourmet Sunday has been on the back burner for the past few weeks. In honour of its return tonight, we invited some new faces and attempted to win them over with tastes of Thailand. I think these are guests who will likely be returning for more delicious eats in the coming weeks.

Hosts: Spark and me
Guests: Angelune, Sean, and Aidan
Menu: Vegetarian Spring Rolls and Thai Red Curry.
Desert: Vanilla Ice Cream with shark candies.
Wine: 2007 Misterio Malbec, Georges Dubceuf Beaujolais.

Top o' the Pops

2008-10-23T16:38:00.003-04:00

This is a little gem I happened upon last winter while living in London. Originally recorded in 1986 by the Pogues with Cait O'Riordan on vocals, it was re-recorded as a duet with Shane Macgowan and Sinead O'Connor ten years later. Macgowan's and Sinead's voices juxtaposed is a perfection you couldn't ask a genie for.

Another good jam: I knew this song as a Frankie Stubbs acoustic original, but recently found out it is, in fact, a cover of a Nick Cave song. Though I like Stubb's version -dude is a genius- this ain't so bad either.

And while we're on the topic.

2008-10-16T11:39:00.003-04:00

"Hello Philly,

"I am glad to be here today for this voter registration drive and for Barack Obama, the next President of the United States.

"I've spent 35 years writing about America, its people, and the meaning of the American Promise. The Promise that was handed down to us, right here in this city from our founding fathers, with one instruction: Do your best to make these things real. Opportunity, equality, social and economic justice, a fair shake for all of our citizens, the American idea, as a positive influence, around the world for a more just and peaceful existence. These are the things that give our lives hope, shape, and meaning. They are the ties that bind us together and give us faith in our contract with one another.

"I've spent most of my creative life measuring the distance between that American promise and American reality. For many Americans, who are today losing their jobs, their homes, seeing their retirement funds disappear, who have no healthcare, or who have been abandoned in our inner cities. The distance between that promise and that reality has never been greater or more painful.

"I believe Senator Obama has taken the measure of that distance in his own life and in his work. I believe he understands, in his heart, the cost of that distance, in blood and suffering, in the lives of everyday Americans. I believe as president, he would work to restore that promise to so many of our fellow citizens who have justifiably lost faith in its meaning. After the disastrous administration of the past 8 years, we need someone to lead us in an American reclamation project. In my job, I travel the world, and occasionally play big stadiums, just like Senator Obama. I've continued to find, wherever I go, America remains a repository of people's hopes, possibilities, and desires, and that despite the terrible erosion to our standing around the world, accomplished by our recent administration, we remain, for many, a house of dreams. One thousand George Bushes and one thousand Dick Cheneys will never be able to tear that house down.

"They will, however, be leaving office, dropping the national tragedies of Katrina, Iraq, and our financial crisis in our laps. Our sacred house of dreams has been abused, looted, and left in a terrible state of disrepair. It needs care; it needs saving, it needs defending against those who would sell it down the river for power or a quick buck. It needs strong arms, hearts, and minds. It needs someone with Senator Obama's understanding, temperateness, deliberativeness, maturity, compassion, toughness, and faith, to help us rebuild our house once again. But most importantly, it needs us. You and me. To build that house with the generosity that is at the heart of the American spirit. A house that is truer and big enough to contain the hopes and dreams of all of our fellow citizens. That is where our future lies. We will rise or fall as a people by our ability to accomplish this task. Now I don't know about you, but I want that dream back, I want my America back, I want my country back.

"So now is the time to stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden, roll up our sleeves, and come on up for the rising."

*Taken from brucespringsteen.net

Hungry Heart.

2008-10-16T10:33:00.003-04:00

Did you know... that Hungry Heart was Bruce Springsteen's first big Billboard song, reaching #5 in late 1980, and later voted best single of the year in a Billboard readers' poll? Listening to it, I always wondered why his voice sounded so different from others on The River. The answer is simple; they sped up the vocal track.

What's more interesting is Springsteen met Joey Ramone at Asbury Park and was asked to write a song for the Ramones. That night he composed Hungry Heart. Following the success of songs written for Patti Smith (Because the Night) and the Pointer Sisters ( Fire, originally intended for Elvis), Bruce's manager, Jon Landau, advised him to keep the song.

Happy Thanksgiving.

2008-10-13T21:24:00.005-04:00

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I just wanted to take a minute and give thanks to all of the wonderful Toronto restaurants who continue to serve shark fin soup, despite all the press the liberal media has devoted to demonizing those who wish to serve this tasty treat. Keep up the good work!

Below is a sampling of just two popular destinations for those craving a little taste of JAWS. For your convenience I have included extracts from their on-line menus, as well as their addresses and telephone numbers. Be sure to book your New Years Eve parties early!

Dynasty Chinese Cuisine
131 Bloor St. W, 2nd Floor
416-963-3323

Braised Shark Fin Soup
Braised Shark Fin in a rich seafood vé poacehed with crabmeat $69.95

Lai Wah Heen
108 Chestnut St. 416-977-9899

鮑參翅肚類DRIED SEAFOOD

Abalone, sea cucumber, shark’s fin, conpoy and fish maw are some of the most exotic ingredients in Chinese cooking. Starting as dried products from the sea, they are featured in soups or braised in heavy meat stocks, always resulting in strong, aromatic flavors.

Premium-grade shark’s fin braised in a double strength stock. (Per person) $98.00

*Remember they'd eat you if given the chance.

Obama IS the Anti-Christ.

2008-10-08T16:57:00.003-04:00

This is all over the inter web.

According to The Book of Revelations the anti-Christ is:

The anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40s, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal.... the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything.

Now I don't believe in god or anything the bible says, but this is pretty convincing... especially because the bible preceded Islam by a few hundred years.

And the winner is...

2008-10-08T11:48:00.004-04:00

Biggest shark: Whale sharks grow to 12 metres in length and can weigh up to 13.6 tonnes (the same weight of drugs that were seized in Australia between 2004 and 2005). They inhabit Tropical and warm water and tend to live in open waters. This gargantuan of the sea was first identified in 1928 when a 4.6 meter specimen was harpooned in Table Bay, South Africa. The species is dated at 60 million years and can live up to 70 years.

Smallest shark: The Dwarf Lantern shark grows to 17 inches, though has measured up to 25 inches. They live off the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela at depths of 280 to 440m.

Fastest swimmer: The Blue shark lives in temperate and tropical waters. They move pretty slow most of the time, but when they want to they can reach up to 100 km/h. To give you an idea of how fast that is, it's about the same speed same as that douchebag in front of you on the QEW when you really need to get somewhere.

Longest migration: Blue sharks receive their second gold medal. Their annual migration patterns take them from New York to Brazil, at a distance between 2,000 and 3,000 kilometers.

Most abundant shark: There are a lot of Spiny Dogfish sharks. I don't know how many and neither does the internet. But, they do live between 25-100 years. I'm not sure what that means because that's a rather large gap. Basically, what I'm trying to say is I don't know anything about them, and I don't care to put in the time.

* The above picture is what came up when I googled "best shark picture."

Science vs Kanye.

2008-10-01T17:56:00.005-04:00

According to a BBC article, US scientists have traced one of the original strands of the HIV virus to Leopoldville, the capital of former Belgian Congo (today Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo). They estimate it was transferred from ape to human between 1884 and 1924 and was able to spread as the colonial city grew in population density. Interestingly, 19 out of 20 modern HIV infections can now be traced to this strand.

The thing I'm not sure about is why, instead of spending millions of dollars on research, they didn't just ask Kanye. I'm pretty sure that he already knew where the virus came from: white people started it to kill black people. No?

Gourmet Sunday

2008-09-28T23:58:00.004-04:00

Comfort is a Western phenomenon, I think. There's no culture in history that has been so complacent with what they have or who they are as us.* Sometimes it takes jumping out of that comfort zone to appreciate how amazing that lazy boy actually is. Every so often over the last few years I've made the ridiculous decision to pack up and leave everything that is incredible around me: friends, family, city, bed, two-ply, whatever. I've had some amazing experiences on these adventures: Whether it is being blockaded by elderly Japanese women while jogging through residential streets in Nagoya or trying to prevent a screaming former Third World child soldier who saw his twin sibling gunned down in battle from ruining my lesson on King Henry VIII's legacy, each is a reminder of all the small and amazing things I take for granted on a daily basis.

Gourmet Sunday is sort of the same thing. It's not about preparing an amazing meal to show off to your friends how many episodes of Hell's Kitchen you've watched. It's about stepping out of your comfort zone. It's about taking risks and trying things you've never done before. Tonight's meal was no different. It didn't result in the best meal we've prepared for Gourmet Sunday, but it involved cooking dishes we had never cooked, or even tasted, before.

Hosts: Spark and Rob
Guests: Lil' Freshie, Meghan, Amy
Menu: Fresh garden salad with avocado and and a zesty citrus dressing; Lentil and vegetable stew; Vegetarian Paella.
Wine: 2005 Solaz Shiraz Tempranillo; 2007 Rene Barbier Penedes (white); 2007 Marques de Riscal Rueda (white).

As stated, Spark and I stepped out of our comfort zones and attempted something completely different. It wasn't our best work, but it was still good. More importantly, however, is that the meal exemplified the true spirit of what Gourmet Sunday is all about: Reward isn't always in the result of a completed of a task, but, too, can be found in its process.

*Opinion not fact.

This Just In.

2008-09-25T23:24:00.002-04:00

Sharks are for wusses.

Thanks Angelune for knocking the shark off the pedestal I placed it on. What will I write about now?

Real Life JAWS.

2008-09-24T15:08:00.004-04:00

As the Great War raged on in Europe, citizens in the northeastern United States were treated to a particularly grueling summer in 1916. A lengthy heat wave and a polio epidemic resulted in a profitable period for those in the burial business. To escape the heat residents of Philadelphia and New York made daily trips to New Jersey resort towns, such as Long Branch, Ocean Grove, Atlantic City, and Asbury Park (what’s up Bruce?).

Between July 1-12, five swimmers encountered sharks; only one survived. The first attack happened just before dinner time as a young vacationer, 25, from Philadelphia was swimming with his dog. Charles Vansant was still conscious when he was pulled from the water by a lifeguard but the flesh on his left thigh had been ripped apart. He bled to death on the manager’s desk of the Engleside Hotel. Despite the attack, as well as reports by sea captains of large sharks swimming off the coast of New Jersey, beaches all along the Jersey Shore remained open. Over the next 11 days four other attacks occurred, including three in a creek near the town of Matawan.

The panic began after the second attack. Swimming areas were fenced in using high-strength steel mesh, shores were patrolled by gun boats, dynamite was detonated, and even $100 rewards were offered to anybody who captured and killed a shark. The panic spread all the way to the top, as President Wilson scheduled a meeting with his Cabinet to discuss the shark problem. In all, the events led to $250,000 lost tourism, and a 75% decline in bathing at some beaches.

It’s not known what type of shark was responsible for the attacks, or if there were several sharks. However, on July 14 a Harlem taxidermist and lion tamer (wtf?) caught a 7.5 foot great white shark. In it’s belly was 15 pounds of human remains. Following this capture, no more encounters were reported along the Jersey Shore during the summer of 1916. These events inspired Peter Benchley's 1974 novel, Jaws.

Gourmet Sunday

2008-09-21T23:01:00.005-04:00

Given that Spark, Matt, and Steph were all out of town for a wedding this weekend, it was unclear that Gourmet Sunday was going to happen at all. Through a little last minute planning and perseverance, however, we pulled together another successful and delicious meal. Due to time restraints I decided that something simple would be best.

Hosts: Rob & Spark
Guests: Katie, Matt, Steph
Menu: Spring Rolls (the only time frozen goods ever shall be utilized on Gourmet Sunday, as it goes against everything Gourmet Sunday is about); Vegetable Stir-Fry with marinated grilled tofu and Thai Peanut Satay sauce.
Wine: 2006 Yellow Tail Shiraz

Given that none of us had ever made a peanut sauce before it went over pretty well. The sauce had several layers to it, including a burst of lemon citrus followed by a kick of cayenne pepper. Big shout out to me for staging the rice using a perfect breast shaped mold. Mmmm, delicious.

Gourmet... Pizza Party!

2008-09-17T23:18:00.004-04:00

You know how 7 year olds love hot dogs or Kraft Dinner? That's like me, but with pizza. I've probably even lost friends to pizza over the years. I love all pizza, big time. Although it's only Wednesday, I think it's time for another installment of Gourmet Sunday, because let me tell you, I was getting loose in the kitchen tonight.

Host: Me
Guests: Spark
Menu: Pizza: Roasted garlic and basil pizza dough; Sauteed zuchini, sweet potato, and onion; Roasted red pepper; Mozzarella; Sprinkling of sesame seeds around the crust.
Drink: Bud

I don't want to toot my own horn, but toot toot. The pizza was delicious. Spark agrees and he watches a lot of cooking shows, so you should trust him.

2008-09-16T16:56:00.006-04:00

Just having a look around the ol' World Wide Web and found some notable news that I am sure hasn't been given too much coverage on CNN. At least, I haven't seen anything about it on the CBC.

We've been hearing all about W.'s swift and effective response to Hurricane Ike in the Lonestar state. Whether this is a response to lessons learned after Katrina, or because it's an election year, or, perhaps, because it's his hometown, is up for debate. However, I am pretty sure that when he stated "there will be a better tomorrow," he wasn't talking to the people of Cuba.

Within a span of two weeks Cuba was hit by both Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Combined they did more damage than any other natural disaster faced by the island in history. $5 billion dollars damage: 63,249 homes completely destroyed, with another 150,000 severely damaged; Crops destroyed, including 340,000 hectares of sugar cane (half the annual crop); not to even mention essential services such as electricity.

Interestingly, a $5 million donation from the U.S. to help hurricane victims was refused on account the Cuban government would not accept relief while still under the 1963 trade embargo. I get it, but I bet Marcos 'the rural farmer' could give a shit about a 49 year old revolution when he's just lost his entire yield to flooding.

What Should You Know...

2008-09-15T20:46:00.001-04:00

You should know that "What Should You Know" is the best thing on the internet.

http://www.5min.com/opensermo

Sharks Do It Better.

2008-09-15T17:24:00.002-04:00

Sharks like it rough. Scientists have observed bite marks on female sharks that were evidently inflicted during both courting and mating rituals. Some female species have even developed thicker skin to protect themselves in the bedroom. The thing is, though sharks enjoy such liberties of the flesh, they take years to reach sexual maturity (12 years for some species) and produce a small number of offspring.

As a result, they are particularly vulnerable to over-fishing. 11, 416 sharks are killed every hour: a pace that far exceeds any species ability to reproduce. Obviously shark populations around the world are in trouble, but of particular note is that of the Mediterranean. Due to contrasting and/or conflicting laws and over-fishing the International Union for Conservation of Nature recently published a report stating that 40 percent of shark and ray species in the Mediterranean were threatened with extinction.

We can’t expect humans to do anything to resolve this looming disaster, as we have never resolved anything. However, all is not doom and gloom. In 2001, a female hammerhead, who had not had contact with a male shark for over three years, gave birth to a pup. Following three years of intensive research, and after determining the shark born lacked any paternal DNA, it was confirmed that at least some species of sharks are capable of asexual reproduction. It is not known, however, how often this behaviour occurs in nature.

Now if only female humans could perform magic like that on the regular (Mary did it once, right?), males would be given their pink slips, and our species might have a fighting chance at surviving the century.

Gourmet Sunday

2008-09-14T22:34:00.005-04:00

Gourmet Sunday is a new weekly feature here at Systems Overloaded. It will cover, well, mostly good food and wine.

Hosts: Spark & Rob
Guests: Amy & Ben
Menu: Bruschetta; Angel Hair pasta with portebello, garlic and olive oil; Steamed Broccoli with a splash of lemon; Eggplant Parmesan.
Wine: Texts weren't received before the LCBO closed and therefore we were stuck with Sparkling Peach and Grape juice (which was quite delicious).

With Rennick out of town for the weekend, we took advantage of not having to prepare a vegan main. Big shout out to Spark who did the Eggplant Parmesan. It was fantastic and I can't wait for the leftovers. Oh, and coming soon is dinner at an actual kitchen table. Get stoked.

Me and My Buddy Sean.

2008-09-11T23:11:00.008-04:00

Sean hates my blog because it doesn't have pictures of all our friends (read: him). He says he's going to start his own blog. He probably won't. But if he does, it'll be absolutely outrageous and the best thing on the internet. Probably not much shark content though. Oh yeah, he's getting married soon.

Update: Hilarious.

The Greatest Shark Attack Of All Time

2008-09-11T13:45:00.009-04:00

The U.S.S. Indianapolis is notable for a few reasons. In the Second World War it transported key parts for the first atomic bomb- later dropped on Hiroshima August 6, 1945. The ship was attacked at 12:14 am July 30 by a Japanese submarine and became not only one of the last U.S. navy ships to be sunk during the war, but also the single worst loss of life at sea in the navy’s history. All pretty cool, right, but not really my focus here. My focus, rather, is on the 900 men who were left floating in the Philippine Sea for four days, without life rafts or food.

Twelve minutes after being hit by two Japanese torpedoes the surviving crew members of the Indy, who had been instructed to abandon ship, watched as the final visible parts of their ship succumbed to the ocean’s floor. They were alone… except for the SHARKS!

It wasn’t until late afternoon the following day the sharks arrived and the screams started. The disturbance caused by the torpedo hits and the sinking of the ship; the splashing around of 900 navy men fighting for food and life jackets; and the smell of blood and burnt flesh all must have forced the sharks’ sensory systems into overload. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks live in warm open water and are known to be aggressive and opportunistic and will often converge on one source of food. However, it is not the sharks’ bloodlust that leads to the eventual feeding frenzy, but its competitive and goal-oriented nature. The Whitetip would rather compete for and exploit a single source of food than seek an easier meal elsewhere.

Thus, for the next three days between 120 and 150 sharks competed over the remnants of the Indy’s crew. Usually arriving in the late afternoon the sharks targeted the already dead. Limb, torsos, and chunks of flesh were scattered, if not missing altogether. Fear and desparation set in as the sailors struggled to survive. On occasion the sharks encountered a living loan sailor, who may have been pushed from the group due to a bleeding wound that was believed to attract sharks.

Most of those who died succumbed to a combination of exposure, dehydration, and drowning. Although, it is estimated that between 60 and 80 sailors were killed by sharks, of the 1,196 original crew members of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, 321 were rescued and 317 ultimately survived.

Chlorophyll... More like borophyll

2008-09-09T15:15:00.004-04:00

Sharks hunt and eat other fish so why can’t we hunt and eat them? Apart from providing our children with summer beach holidays that are safe (read: free from shark attacks) and memorable, and our CEOs with fantastic photos from their eco-holidays to the Galapagos Islands to share with office workers over the inter-office email, those who hunt sharks are saving millions more fish who have the otherwise regrettable destiny of living below sharks on the food chain. It’s like the first line of troops in battle: Is it so wrong to knowingly sacrifice the few for the greater benefit of all?

If we weren’t killing sharks at the rate we currently are, there would be so many more beautiful fish in the sea that we could catch ourselves and put on delicious sandwiches, or display in dentist office fish tanks the world over. Not to mention, with so many more fish in the sea you wouldn’t have to worry about all that gross slimy seaweed waiting to entangle your feet and eventually drown you. Oh, and those yucky green particles floating around that make your swimming experience a little less enjoyable? That’s called phytoplankton and you can kiss it goodbye with more feeder fish in the sea to gobble it up.

One thing though: Seventy percent of earth’s oxygen comes from the oceans and is produced by plants, such as phytoplankton, when they convert carbon dioxide into actual breathable air through photosynthesis. Without sharks to keep the feeder fish population in check, it could grow out of control, putting at risk the ability of our oceans to provide us with the oxygen we need live.

*The above diagram should explain the process of photosynthesis for the visual learners.

"You wouldn't walk into a pride of lions..."

2008-09-08T00:35:00.005-04:00

Over 400 known species of sharks exist in our planet’s waters. Based on their size and disposition only about two-dozen of these species are considered to be potentially dangerous to humans. Despite the obvious threat sharks pose, they rarely attack humans, and almost never kill them. There are, on average, less than 100 reported shark attacks each year around the world; of which only 10 fatal.* The term ‘shark attack,’ however, is somewhat controversial, and often debated.

On one side, it's speculated that sharks do not purposefully attack humans. In cases when a human does encounter a shark, it is suggested the victim may have been mistaken for food (such as when surfers are thought to be mistaken for seals), or the shark may have been confused, like in shallow and murky waters. These encounters are usually explorative; because sharks do not have limbs to feel with, they rely on their mouths to explore potential feeding opportunities. Victims rarely die in these cases, and when they do, it’s more often from blood loss than it is from a fatal bite.

And of course, those on the other side of the debate suggest that sharks aren’t prejudice when it comes to what they eat and will rip lil’ Janie’s face off if given the opportunity. This is the opinion that often makes it into news reports that cover shark accidents and has created the culture of fear that surrounds them. Now I’m not about to contest this theory by jumping into a school of feeding great whites, but the realty is more people die trying to liberate stuck Snickers bars from vending machines than from shark attacks. What is the real threat then? My answer is chocolate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLZVB3zG15k

*By comparison there are about 100 million human-related shark fatalities annually.

"Would you like to donate just $2 to...?"

2008-09-05T10:20:00.006-04:00

Master blogger and all around good dude, Matt (Living for the City), recently blogged about the irony of Dominion's current charity campaign for Trees Ontario. You make a two dollar donation to save trees and in return you're asked to put your name on a beautiful paper cut-out of a tree to be hung on the wall to exhibit what a great caring environmentalist you are. The irony, of course, as Matt points out, is that you're supposed to be saving trees not wasting them on silly self-glorifying trophies of good citizenship.

The problem I've always had with these grocery store/walmart charity campaigns, however, isn't as practical. Rather, it's the idea of a charitable donation made through a giant multinational corporation. You know somewhere along the lines a finance officer and marketing director met in a boardroom (i.e. putting green) and said 'let's raise hundreds of thousands- maybe millions- of dollars from our customers and then make a huge charitable donation in our company's name and get a sweet tax break because of it.' I'm not sure if this is actually what happens, but it seems logical enough, and if it is the case I'd rather keep my two bucks.

Of course, I recognize that regardless of any benefits being reaped by the proxy donor, a large sum of money is being donated to a worthwhile cause. This may be true, but I question how much of each two dollar donation actually makes its way into the account of the recipient after the green fees for the duck heads in marketing and PR are paid for, the promotional devices are printed, and the executive's eco-adventure to Costa Rica is covered.

Re-moving. Seeking Roommate.

2008-09-03T17:02:00.000-04:00

I've pretty much come to terms that I may never be able to afford to buy a house in Toronto. At an average price of $400,000 (GTA, 2007), an unemployed teacher has no business even fantasizing about such an endeavour; huge bummer because it's definitely one of the greatest cities in the world.

It's come to my attention, via the BBC, however, that some housing markets around the world aren't as demoralizing as our own. In an attempt to rejuvenate this historic town Vittorio Sgarbi, former self-proclaimed anarchist and current mayor of Salemi, in South-Western Siciliy, has recently put 3,700 council-owned homes on the market for 1 Euro each. Salemi was hit by an earthquake in 1968 which damaged most of the town and caused many of its inhabitants to pack up in search of greener pastures.

Today, for the approximate cost of an international stamp ($1.60) you can be the proud new owner of your very own earthquake-damaged, uninhabitable, Old World casa. As if that's not enough, you might be able to get the inside scoop on Phil Collins' Battle of the Alamo memorabillia collection over a glass of vino with your new neighbour Peter Gabriel. See, dreams do come true.

Shark Attack. Sike!

2008-09-03T00:11:00.000-04:00

Hey, did you know sharks have existed on this planet for approximately 400 million years- long before dinosaurs? In this time they have survived 4 mass extinctions that wiped out nearly everything on the planet; and in just the past 50 years humans have managed to deplete the world's shark population by nearly 90 percent. Pretty amazing. At the current fishing rate, about 90 million sharks per year, my kids will be able to swim in our polluted oceans without the fear of being snagged by one of those dickheads. I'd just like to take a minute and thank the real heroes, who put themselves at risk by overtly turning their backs on international fishing laws in order to keep our waters shark free.