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Tuesday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07:15:44 PM EST
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It's Rolling Stones week for the final 12 on American Idol tonight.

A new Idol stage will be revealed and America’s Top 12 – Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, Lacey Brown, Lee Dewyze, Andrew Garcia, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, Michael Lynche, Siobhan Magnus, Paige Miles, Katie Stevens, and Tim Urban – will perform songs by The Rolling Stones.

It's 65 degrees here. The TL kid and I are firing up the barbecue to grill some steaks while we watch AI. The sun was so bright today it was 75 degrees inside when I got home -- I had to turn the air conditioning on to cool it down.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Tuesday Night Open Thread | 46 comments (46 topical)

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    When the halogen bulb pack says '2000 hours' ... (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by Ellie on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07:58:31 PM EST
    ... is that the time it will take to put the effin' thing in?

    Good for Michele Obama asking (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by observed on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 08:14:51 PM EST
    food manufacturers to offer healthier products.
    What people really to do is stop eating so many prepared foods though.
    I think she ought to get that British Chef with the reality show---Jamey something?
    The key is (none / 0) (#14)
    by jbindc on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:24:19 AM EST
    Shop around the outside perimeter of the grocery store - that's where the fresh stuff is - produce, bakery, butcher shop, deli.  Most of the processed food is in the aisles.

    Parent
    Yes, that's part of it. But affording (none / 0) (#15)
    by observed on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:32:24 AM EST
    fresh food is difficult for some people.
    A box of Kraft mac and cheese might be $1 or so, and that's almost a meal, costing much less than a meal made from fresh food.

    Parent
    Don't I know it! (none / 0) (#17)
    by jbindc on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:35:36 AM EST
    Trying to eat better and lose weight - I shop for one and I can spend $70 and get two bags of groceries!  Mostly produce, some milk, and maybe a half pound of lunchmeat (oh, and Virginia has a sales tax on food, BTW).

    It's very hard to shop and eat healthy.

    Parent

    shopping and cooking for two (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by Jen M on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:37:36 AM EST
    is hard enough. for one? seems hardly worth the effort.

    Parent
    Cooking for one... (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 08:46:12 AM EST
    ...is truly a PITA.  Especially when you're like me and hate left-overs and don't have any room to store them anyway.

    Parent
    those of us who live alone (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09:19:46 AM EST
    have to have a different outlook.
    I cook for myself all the time.  I am my own favorite cook.  I enjoy cooking for larger parties but I never dont enjoy my own cooking.


    Parent
    Yeah... (none / 0) (#37)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09:26:11 AM EST
    ...I enjoy cooking when I'm doing it for others.  Just not for myself.  

    Parent
    You can always eat beans and rice (none / 0) (#24)
    by observed on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:49:09 AM EST
    .. yum!
    Actually I know a lot of recipes for lentils,  which I like to eat---but I can't eat legumes every day. Yuck.
    Tonight I think I'll make apricot and red lentil soup.

    Parent
    Part of the problem (none / 0) (#32)
    by jbindc on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09:16:25 AM EST
    is I've never liked vegetables.  I can eat them raw, but I still have the palate of a 5 year old - I don't like a lot of cooked vegetables (or a lot of fruit).  I try new stuff, and have learned to like a couple of things, but it's hard to eat healthy when you'd rather have a cheeseburger!

    (I also don't particularly like to cook either, but I'm forcing myself to try new things)

    Parent

    For cooked vegetables.... (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by vml68 on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09:26:03 AM EST
    try to keep it simple. Maybe, a few minutes under the broiler and then drizzle some olive oil and sprinkle sea salt on it or grated parmesan cheese, etc
    Or lightly sautee veg with olive oil and garlic. This way it still has some crunch to it and is closer to the raw veg taste/feel.

    Parent
    Jb, I think you need to pick up (none / 0) (#27)
    by vml68 on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 08:44:34 AM EST
    some grocery shopping/eating tips from these folks.
    Hipsters on food stamps.


    Parent
    Hmmm..... (none / 0) (#35)
    by jbindc on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09:21:38 AM EST
    I don't know - I get their point that they are proving they can live on healthy food while on food stamps, but it does seem a bit savory that some are buying Perrier and shopping at Whole Foods with them.

    But thanks for letting me see that article. :)

    Parent

    Better they buy Perrier (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by nycstray on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 10:24:03 AM EST
    than soda, right?

    Parent
    And people don't know how to cook (none / 0) (#16)
    by observed on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:33:22 AM EST
    That's what the British chef teaches---simple, tasty, from scratch recipes.

    Parent
    Thats what I read (none / 0) (#18)
    by Jen M on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:35:52 AM EST
    on a website for diabetics.

    For me the problem isn't expense so much as it is inability/unwillingness to cook.

    Parent

    Try this site (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by observed on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:47:41 AM EST
    Jamie Oliver.
    He specializes in teaching beginners how to cook  from scratch.

    Parent
    I agree (none / 0) (#31)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 08:59:09 AM EST
    I cant think of a more worthwhile thing for her to be spending her time on.

    Parent
    Obama supported PO in public, cut deal to kill it (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by lambert on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 09:40:48 PM EST
    with for-profit hospitals in private. Quelle surprise.

    Below freezing here tonight, but (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 11:21:17 PM EST
    I'm cheering, as are my neighbors.  Why?  Because the maple sap will run again tomorrow!

    I've tapped a couple of my sugar maples this year in hopes of making a small supply of my very own syrup, and it's been fascinating to see how it goes.  Ideal weather for sap flow is below freezing at night, 20 or 30 degrees warmer during the day, but we've had a long stretch of low to mid-40s daytime and only mid- to high-30s overnight, and I've only been collecting about a half a pint of sap, if that, per tree per day in those conditions.

    The one time since I put the taps in we had below freezing nighttime, the stuff just poured out of the taps the next day and I got a couple gallons from each one.

    Supposed to be a warm stretch ahead, and it could bring an early and truly disastrous end to the sugaring season hereabouts.  Once the trees' buds start opening up, it's all over for the year, and they may well do that with a week of relatively warm weather.

    Get your VT maple syrup now if you want any because there's a good chance there's going to be so little of it from this season, the price will just go through the roof.

    Honestly, if you have any to spare (none / 0) (#10)
    by shoephone on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 11:24:20 PM EST
    I'd love a jar! Not sure what I could send you in return, but I'll think on it.

    Parent
    Well, maybe next year... (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 12:05:16 AM EST
    It takes 10 gallons of sap to end up with a pint of syrup, so at this rate, that's the most I can hope for, and I have plans for it...

    But next year has to be better!

    I'm just tickled as heck at the thought that I can make my own maple syrup out of my own trees!

    Parent

    10 gallons for a pint? Wow. (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by shoephone on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 12:50:54 AM EST
    Okay, good luck with your "crop" this time!

    Parent
    good luck! (none / 0) (#43)
    by CST on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 11:23:48 AM EST
    there's nothing like the real stuff.

    Do you do all your boiling at home?

    Parent

    This is your brain on cell phones: (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by DFLer on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:39:57 AM EST
    Pop

    Something tells me this experiment (none / 0) (#22)
    by observed on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:45:49 AM EST
    is not replicable.

    Parent
    mythbusters? (none / 0) (#26)
    by Jen M on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 08:41:22 AM EST
    I want to set up an attempt at our next convention. Could be fun.

    Parent
    Well it was replicated several times by different (none / 0) (#42)
    by DFLer on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 11:20:20 AM EST
    people and phones on the vid. Cell phone do put out radiation. I think it created a little microwave oven.

    Parent
    Wow. I understand the principle. (none / 0) (#45)
    by observed on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 12:52:56 PM EST
    I just figured this was a joke.

    Parent
    Looks real to me, though I didn't swope it. (none / 0) (#46)
    by DFLer on Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 10:20:11 AM EST


    Parent
    I mean SNOPE it (none / 0) (#47)
    by DFLer on Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 02:28:32 PM EST


    Parent
    idol (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Jlvngstn on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 08:55:00 AM EST
    This is the first year in maybe five that i did not watch.  I turned it on last night and heard 5 of the performers and thought it was simply awful.  It is such a contrast from how i have felt every year about this time (i usually think 3-4 are awesome) that I wonder if watching all year and liking the contestants does something to the way i "hear" them.

    Has anyone else watched sporadically and found the singing to be desired?

    I stopped watching AI awhile back... (none / 0) (#33)
    by vml68 on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09:18:54 AM EST
    then last year someone posted a clip on TL of Adam Lambert singing "Mad World", so I started watching it after that.
    Last week, Jeralyn posted a clip of Crystal Bowersox so I will probably watch it as long as she is on. Yesterday, I caught the last half of the show and liked three of the six performances I saw.

    Parent
    thanks (none / 0) (#40)
    by Jlvngstn on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 10:23:37 AM EST
    I will have to listen to the old clip.  Last year I loved Lambert and each year have enjoyed the top two but have never purchased any idols recordings.  I guess i like them in the context of the show but not enough to buy.....I will watch the Bowersox clip and let you know what i think....

    Parent
    Most of the guys are really lame this season (none / 0) (#44)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 12:47:23 PM EST
    and most of the girls are really good. A few to this exceptions in each group.

    DVR the program, then you can FFWD past all the commercials...and any time Ryan Lamecrest has the mic.

    Parent

    Yup, approaching AC territory here too (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07:30:33 PM EST
    The rain is gone for now, thankfully.

    Spring has definitely sprung in (none / 0) (#2)
    by athyrio on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07:55:03 PM EST
    Montana...Was 69 degrees today in the Bull Mountains...Yeaaaaaaaaaa teammmmmmmmm

    Parent
    Sounds nice! (none / 0) (#21)
    by observed on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:42:25 AM EST
    I think I would like Montana.. never visited though.

    Parent
    its been almost AC territory (none / 0) (#30)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 08:58:27 AM EST
    for a few day here and expected to continue.  

    but it may snow next weekend

    |-(

    Parent

    Bipolar Weather? (none / 0) (#38)
    by Jen M on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09:29:23 AM EST


    Parent
    Sixties today and tomorrow... (none / 0) (#39)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09:34:47 AM EST
    ...and a couple of inches of snow (so they say) on Friday for us.  Typical Springtime in Colorado.

    I'm still waiting for the Spring blizzard so I get a snowday...

    Parent

    Michael Lohan had a heart attack. (none / 0) (#4)
    by observed on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 08:08:14 PM EST
    Just read that on TMZ.

    THE EARLY DAZE, part 8 (none / 0) (#7)
    by Dadler on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 10:10:15 PM EST
    The memoir blog is a new post heavier.  Peace, y'all.

    Perfect baseball weather in Phoenix (none / 0) (#8)
    by oculus on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 10:51:56 PM EST
    Padres lost to Angels 4 to 3 but rookie right fielder Cunningham made two spectacular catches. Tomorrowwe see Padres v Kansas City Royals in Surprise (!).  

    Have FUN!!! (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 08:33:03 AM EST
    Both my kids were just there for some Mariners games. The house I built in AZ was/is exactly 2 miles down Bullard from the Rangers/Royals stadium in Surprise....fun place to live during Spring training :)  

    Parent
    Tuesday Night Open Thread | 46 comments (46 topical)

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