Fake Eggs in China

This is old news, but I found a cool blog post that explains how the fake eggs were made and has photos.

Hearsay

Dear Bread,
Out-of-court statements are of suspect trustworthiness and probative value because the

declarant was not under oath at the time the statement was made, and the declarant's

perception, demeanor and veracity are not subject to cross-examination in front of a jury that

can judge the credibility and weight to be given to the statement.

How is the oven?

Ocean, beach, pool, hot tub

Not 2 bad for the 2nd night stay in Phuket......................
And this was the best they could do!

EW

Hearsay

Just wanted everyone to know I aced my Hearsay exam today. Average score: 33% My score: 100%. Sometimes it's hard to be humble (not that I try). For those of you wondering what in the hell hearsay is and why I'm writing about it (Kevin), I wish I were you.

Finally, A Bonds Article Worth Reading

To all the Bonds' haters out there, of which there are many, I think this article sums up my feelings to a tee. Let it be known I am no fan of Bonds, at least not the Bonds of the home run. And I still remember cheering Sid Bream around third and being stoked that Bonds' throw was, um, a little off. But the pervasive nature of drugs within baseball culture was known by everyone, from the owners on down. And yes, Mr. President, this means you and your Texas Rangers.

The greatest Astro ever, Jeff Bagwell, went from being a doubles hitter in the BoSox minor league system and expendable for a tired old reliever to being one of the most feared bats in the N.L. When the league belatedly instituted its drug policy, he and many other titans of the sport remarkably went on diets and shed 30 pounds (see BigMac, Pudge, Giambi). Now that steroids are out and HGH is in, we see Tori Hunter cranking out 35 homers in a contract year. Gee, you reckon he'll be back to his standard 25 next year?

Barry Bonds has enough bad about him that we can boo him independently of steroids. But that swing, that was and is a thing of beauty. You take Ken Griffey circa 1996, I'll take Bonds. And yes, I think Junior is as guilty as Barry.

great plains and alaska tribes photo exhibit

There's a photo exhibit on the North American Indian at the Science Museum on Bo Guan Rd. The photos were bankrolled by JP Morgan and were taken by Edward S. Curtis early in the 20th century to 'document traditional native life before it went extinct' (or finally got wiped out by the white man, whichever came first). Though they're beautiful pics (gallery) be aware of the context of times he was living in,
"Curtis documented some aspects of the customs and lifestyles of American Indians of the trans-Mississippi West. The publication of Curtis's work, highly romanticized and most craftily staged, exerted a major influence on the image of Indians in popular culture. Curtis is reported to have retouched some of the photographs in order to remove modern objects, adding to the popular illusion of Native Americans as a primitive people."

and for further reading on the a plight of the American Indian in the late 19th and early 20th centuries read David R.M. Beck's (University of Montana) excellent essay, The Myth of the Vanishing Race

Cuba - U.S. final Sunday 16:30.

DWayne showing the game?

Deano coming back from the North?

WC Semis

US vs Netherlands

Japan v. Cuba

Netherlands hit a solo homer in the top of the 9th to tie Taiwan 2-2 and ended up winning in it the 11th 6-3. The US beat Korea 3-1. Cuba body slammed Mexico 6-0 and Japan shut down a hot Aussie team 3-0.

I don't work on Monday and am going to have a rib eye steak.What about you?

Well, that was nice. Two weeks of very limited Internet time. No blogs, no email. Only a few peeks at sports and a 30 Rock download. Now to check out what's been happening. Back in a little while.

Wow, lot's of baseball. Haven't been but D-Wayne got me a shirt. On with the post.

Let's start with meat, specifically, beef. The wife and I visited Costco last Sunday. I intended to go to the grand opening on Friday but mistook the huge, unmoving line outside for the line to enter the store. Turns out it was just the line for the 10 free eggs and motored away. According to initial reports in the Chinese language media, the Taichung Costco set records with the most memberships - around 50,000 as of Saturday - and the most single day memberships sold - 22,000.

Well, we bought. Shrimp, 2 kilograms of maple bacon and 3 lbs. of steak. I'm sure we bought other things, but I grabbed my steaks and just roamed the beef section while my wife finished up her list. The beef is good. Good cuts, well trimmed and clearly labeled. They offer U.S. prime and select beef. Prime of course is the best with the most marbling which affects flavor, tenderness and juiciness. Select is next, with slightly less marbling but still more than adequate for the average guy's needs. We bought Select Rib Eye Steaks cut about 1 1/2 inches thick, maybe a tad more. This is an important consideration when broiling a steak. Anything under an inch will probably be cooked to well done before you can pull it off the grill - assuming you are using a very high heat, as you should. Cooking the steak at lower roasting temperatures will not give your steak a seal that locks in the juices. The lower heat will also take longer to cook. Remember this rule of thumb with beef: Tender cuts need to be cooked quickly over high heat. Tougher cuts need lower heat to allow them to become tender and the flavor to fully develop. Therefore, if you're using chicken temperatures for a rib steak, you're gonna be doing a lot of chewing. So if you don't have the proper tools, don't even attempt this:

There is a good amount of food - maple ham, sausages, beef bakes... - produced by a Taiwanese company, K & K Foods (碁富食品股份有限公司) that, if I'm translating this correctly - 本公司為美商在台分公司 - states that they are a Taiwanese branch of / for an American company. Their website is still under construction, but this page says they have been supplying companies such as McDonald's and Burger King since 1987. I have tried their maple ham and found it very good. Nice and thick, not too lean. So, don't be put off by the brand. Give it a try and let me know how their other products rate.

world cup update

The preliminary rounds are over. The remaining games will be played in Taipei starting tomorrow.

Quarter final matchups have the US vs. Korea (who finished with the same record as Canada but advanced because they allowed less runs. That or because they beat the Leafs in head to head action). That winner will play the winner of the Taiwan - Netherlands game at noon. The winner of Australia vs. Japan will play the winner of Cuba vs. either Panama or Mexico, depending on which site you read. The IBAF site reads Mexico. Wiki says Panama. Panama beat Mexico 3-2 in the 11/9 game and allowed 28 runs to Mexico's 32.

UPDATE: There seems to be some question as to the eligibility of 5 Panamanian players because they weren't insured for the tourney. So they forfeited 2 games, dropping them out of 4th place, making it a Mexico-Cuba matchup. Explanation here.

I'm Back from China

I'm actually starting to like Dongguan/Shenzhen. They have spaghetti bian dangs and you can get romaine lettuce at some restaurants. I even managed to find imported German hefeweizen tall boys at about NT$ 40 per can!

This trip I did not have the vegetable withdrawl symptoms I used to have after an extended China trip, where I'd end up in the Champions restaurant in HK airport lusting after vegetable soups and salads. Unfortunately, that means we will probably be doing business in outer Mongolia next, because I have a theorem that states:

The competitiveness of FOB costs for products is in direct inverse proportion to the availability of romaine lettuce.

I had a great time with some ex-customers who wanted me to maybe help them with QC inspections...I got to visit their factory with them and yell at people who were not my own suppliers. It was refreshing and it combined well with a hangover I might add. The latent anger you feel from the hangover gives your directives a harsher, no-nonsense edge.

sunday night baseball

Japan v. Panama. Sandy's write up on Honeybees. Pics of everybody. Dwayne and Trey, AJ and Sian were there too. And Hoagie from Changhua. Ivo had fun with Trey. I got a foul ball while holding Burl. Pics of my Expos hat! Didn't drop the baby or ball. Boo-yah! When I showed it to Ivo he promptly hurled it 3 rows down. Thanks to DWayne for retrieving it. Caution when giving rare balls to 2 year olds. Good beer. Sparse crowd. No horns. No whistles. Thank Zeus! Japan won 6-2. Panama got 5 hit til the 8th or 9th when they finally scored.

And to Karl. I was relating this story to a 7th grade girls' class yesterday and when I told them that Panamanian players were good at digging, because of, you know, the canal ???? Blank stares all around. I showed them where it was on the map and explained how ships could pass through between the 2 oceans by way of the canal and didn't they say to me,

"Oh! Teacher! The shui3 gou1!"

baseball I've seen

I made it to 2 world cup baseball games over the weekend at the new intercontinental stadium off Cheng De Rd. The stadium appears to be fully operational, complete with merchandise vendors, corn dogs and Taiwan Beer for sale. There's even what seems to be a makeshift McD's on the outside ground floor just before the ticket booths. It also has a fine ramp for strollers or wheelchairs. No problem taking in your own beverages either, of course. Lots of parking so long as Taiwan's not playing. All around a fine ball park. I'm ruined for the old one on Shuang Shr. Which, I heard, was built by the Japanese during the occupation. Possibly the 20s or 30s. Anyone know to confirm this?Anyway, I love that this ballpark is in Taichung.

Saturday: Japan vs. US. Met up with old Chang Hua friends Tom, Paul and Johnson who I found outside sitting and giggling around a pile of empty Heinekens. Light crowd. We sat on the US side. US scored 3 in the first. Japan got one back in the 5th(?). The US tacked on 2 more in the last of the eighth to seal it, 5-1. Japan actually loaded the bases in the ninth sending the potential tying run to the plate before he was retired. Both teams hit the ball well, good defense and pitching on both sides.
Fun, light hearted crowd. There was a young American girl who waved a full size starless US flag with a peace symbol on the blue every time the US recorded even an out. If you saw her on TV, I was the guy a couple rows back and off to the left wearing the Expos tricolor. Tom said he found the peace symbol offensive and when I suggested that a tank would be a more appropriate, Tom just started giggling again and said "Fuckin' right." I eventually went to the men's room and ran into Les Arthur and John Kuhel. John plays weekly in Tainan in a league and was actually wearing his Factory Cats uniform, hoping to track down US hitting coach Reggie Smith after the game to get a few pointers.

I had been in touch with Dean-o prior to the game and found him sitting with that crew completely absorbed by the game, beer in one hand and what looked like a potato wrapped in tin foil in the other. He was on the aisle so I sat down on the step next to him and said, "Hey Dean! How you doing?"
He looked over at me with a big grin and with his opposite hand just kinda pawed my shoulder a few times and said, "Ryan! I found you!" It was around this time that we heard that the beer vendors had sold out. I thought of my last two Kirins under my seat and decided to head back before the wolves sniffed them out. Dean-o insisted I take a sandwich back with me. He handed me the potato shaped thing he had been holding and said, "Take it!" When I got back to my seat Tom asked what it was and when I told him it was a potato, did he want it, he snatched it out of my hand and tore it open informing me that it was not potato, but a sandwich! He asked where I got it so I recounted my story and told him about Dean. Did he know Dean? No, Tom doesn't know Dean. Just then, Tom gestured two sections down to a guy wearing a blue hat approaching the US dugout from the stands, hands cupped over his mouth and shouting something onto the field. Tom says, "Hey, that guy's really into it." I looked around and exclaimed, "That's Dean! That's the guy! You're eating Dean's sandwich!" Tom just leaned back, chewing, and said, "Good sandwich. What's he yelling about? This is fun!"

Dean was probably yelling "The legs feed the wolf!" repeatedly. Though I could be wrong.

We hit Joe's Bar after the game and didn't stay too late. Paul and Tom had to drag Johnson out of there, he was having a blast. Joe's is a lot like his Chang Hua bar, wooden interior, drinking games, TV on Cinemax and bar snacks. No rock n roll though, Joe seems to be liking the House music.

___________________________________________________________________________________

I'll write about Sunday's game tomorrow. It was a family affair.

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John, did you hit COSTCO on opening day? Get your eggs? I saw some madness on the news Friday night with reaching, pushing, grabbing for these eggs. They must be good freakin' eggs! Looked like a refugee camp save for all the people looked pretty well fed.

Tom said he drove in from Changhua, drove around the block, and drove straight home.

Shocking Result

Texas only defeated the pink ladies by sixteen this year. Maybe next year J-Ho.

world cup baseball

I hope to hit the Japan-USA World Cup Baseball game tomorrow night up at the new stadium at 6 pm. My family may or may not join me, we're not sure yet.
Tickets shouldn't be a problem judging by the abysmal attendance I've seen on TV this week. Taiwan eviscerated South Africa last night in front maybe 200 people. There were maybe 50 in the stands for US-Mexico game the night before. I expect Taiwan's afternoon games will sell out (apathy be damned!), Saturday vs. Spain and Sunday vs. Mexico, if everyone isn't at COSTCO all weekend. Sunday night at the new stadium has Japan vs. Panama, which should also be a nice quiet game. Leave a comment if I should look for you or gimme a buzz.

Angie's Fleeing The Authorities!

Our good friend Angie (aka Gangy Angie, aka The Sudbury Strumpet), boozehound extraordinaire, is taking off next Friday, so we will get her hammered one more time. Well, until Sunday anyway. Soon to be known as The Big Bash, it goes on Saturday, the 3rd. That's tomorrow. Kicks off around 7, last chance to get her to take her top off.

The TONKA II issue vol I

Built 4 boyhood........

In news (well, news to me) of the shitty, Canadian coastal cities are continuing to flush raw sewage into ocean. Victoria in particular, despite the coming Olympics in 2010, is reportedly proud of this decision. Article here.

The people behind POOP are hoping to get some changes done. Go POOP! I wonder if there's a Halifax branch.
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Also, still think global warming is a myth? Read this...

Is Global Warming a Hoax?

Food Time

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs hosted a party for 60 foreigners to choose their favorite Taiwanese dishes and snacks. First the results.

Top 5 snacks
1. Oyster omelet 蚵仔煎
2. Pearl milk tea 珍珠奶茶
3. Crispy salted chicken 鹽酥雞
3. Steamed pork dumplings 小籠湯包
5. Taiwanese meatballs 肉圓
6. Braised pork on rice 滷肉飯
Other LESS favorite choices
Stinky tofu 臭豆腐, Thin oyster noodle 蚵仔麵線, Chicken on rice 雞肉飯, and Shrimp rolls 蝦捲

Top 15 dishes
1. Scrambled egg with dried radish 菜脯蛋
2. Sauteed chicken cubes with dried chili 宮保雞丁
2. Sauteed spring onion beef 蔥爆牛肉
4. Deep-fried mushrooms 酥炸香菇
5. Mud crab with rice cake 紅蟳米糕
6. Steamed grouper 清蒸活石斑
6. Stir-fried Chinese cabbage 炒高麗菜
8. Three-cup chicken 三杯雞
8. Bitter melon with salted egg 鹹蛋苦瓜
10. Roast mullet roe 烤烏魚子
11. Sour and spicy pig intestines 五更腸旺
11. Buddha jumps over the wall 佛跳牆
11. Rice wine chicken 燒酒雞
14. Hakka stir-fry 客家小炒
15. Sesame oil chicken 麻油雞

Looking at the list I realized that there were several dishes that not only have I never tried, I've never heard of. So, I will set out in search of these dishes, eat and document as many as I can stomach and see if the 60 Taipei foreigners have a clue. After all, they are in Taipei.

If you look at the first #2 you will see sauteed chicken cubes with dried chili. That is more commonly known as Kung Pao Chicken ( or Gong Bao, as I use). This is a dish that I have had many times and is quite easy to make. I would like to give you a little variation that a buddy and I came up with several years ago and served it successfully at another friend's restaurant: Gong Bau Popcorn - 宮保爆米花.

Ingredients: oil, dried chiles and popcorn

Method:

• Choose a pot, dutch oven, stock pot or any thing big enough to yield a big batch of popcorn. It needs to be thick so the popcorn won't burn.
• Use oil with a high smoking point such as corn oil. Olive oil won't do. Heat to medium-high and add the dried chiles.
• Stir as they cook. Remove after they turn dark but not completely black. The oil is absorbing the chile oil and heat which will flavor the popcorn. You don't want to add a burnt flavor to it. You can add the chiles back later, but if you leave them in with the popcorn they will char and create a fumes and smoke that will knock you down.
• With the chiles removed, turn up the heat to high and let pot and oil raise their temperatures.
• When the oil starts to lightly smoke, add 1 or 2 kernels, cover and close. Wait for them to pop.
• After the 2 kernels have popped, add popcorn to cover the bottom. A little extra is okay but you don't want 2 or 3 layers of kernels.
• When popping begins, you can shake the pot a little to prevent any burning. You know best about the range you cook on. I use a gas range and find it great for this.
• When the popping slows down to single pops, remove from heat.
• Stir, add the chiles if desired and salt.
• Enjoy.

Football

For most of you who know me, you probably feel that I've been a little bit quiet on the site. Frenchie hasn't been posting images of a great team. There hasn't been any derogatory remarks made towards the Cowboys or even the Giants or any defense made of a team currently only at 3-4. Even though this team is going to roll over the Cowboys this weekend in Dallas, no comments have been posted to this effect. But ladies and gentlemen, I have to tell you that I wake up every Sunday, surfing the channels to watch the play of the best NFL team I have ever witnessed play. My point is, no team in the NFC will stand up to this team making it inevitable that the Pats will win the Superbowl this year. There is not point bolstering about my Eagles. Perhaps my team will end the streak for New England on the 25th of November, on their way to a 10-4 finish but it won't matter. New England is going to clean up this year and when they meet the Eagles in the Superbowl for the second time, it's gonna be messy. The Pats are awesome and I hope everyone gets a chance to watch the Indy vs. New England game this weekend because like they did with Dallas, New England is going to dominate.

My next point is the "Mississippi Miracle" which is the best touchdown play of all time. For those of you who haven't seen it yet, have a look I think there are more latteral passes than i can count. This has been on the highlight reel every night on the sports news and it's so sweeeeeeeeet!



Finally I'll make a couple predictions and I hope to hear what you think about the greatest team ever.
NE 38 INDY 14
Philly 24 Dallas 10 YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!

BTW does anybody want to go in and buy the town of Albert on Ebay with me? It's in Texas (John's?) and for a town I'd say the price is right.

P.S. Could someone post that photo of D-wayne and John in dresses for old times sake?