These Olympics are for the immaculate of trouser, the frail of form and the fearful of sport. It celebrates panache rather than athleticism. In the Bounders discipline chaps approach a lady, behave like cads and the one who is slapped hardest around the face wins.I say!
What tools do you really need to cook well? Ask Mark Bittman and Michael Ruhlman.
Bittman: A No-Frills Kitchen Still Cooks
Pull quote: “With a bit of savvy, patience and a willingness to forgo steel-handle knives, copper pots and other extravagant items, $200 can equip a basic kitchen that will be adequate for just about any task, and $300 can equip one quite well.”Ruhlman: My Favorite Kitchen “Gadgets”
Pull quote: “I don’t have a single useless gadget any more. I even threw out those ridiculous corn cob shaped corn holders my mother puts in my Christmas stocking every year. I only have practical gadgets, so I took a picture of them. Were I forbidden to use any one of them, I would be cranky indeed. Were I to go stage in a kitchen, I’d feel pretty confident that if I had these items, I could get just about anything I needed done.”Word.
The LAT profiles Doris Payne, a jewel thief for 50 years. (She’s now in jail.) It’s nice to know that there are still people out there like Doris. Sometimes I wonder: Are there still art thieves? Cat burglars?
One of my favorite details in this story: When booked, Doris listed her occupation as “jewel thief.” Great picture of her too; click through.
Slate asks if modern life has killed the semicolon. Let the record state that I am a fan of this punctuation mark; there are certain functions it performs rather elegantly.
Semicolons can link independent clauses without the need for a coordinating conjunction (as above), and they can clarify complex series. They’re also useful for winky emoticons ;-)
From the NYT:
This summer, the Frugal Traveler is embarking on the Grand Tour, reimagining the classic European journey as a budget-minded, modern-day jaunt. Over 12 weeks and on less than 100 euros a day, Matt Gross will circle the continent in search of cool hotels, memorable meals and contemporary culture. New columns and videos will be posted every Thursday, with updates and frugal tips throughout the week.Good work if you can get it.
First track, “Life on Mars.” From the man himself:
This song was so easy. Being young was easy. A really beautiful day in the park, sitting on the steps of the bandstand. ‘Sailors bap-bap-bap-bap-baaa-bap.’ An anomic (not a ‘gnomic’) heroine. Middle-class ecstasy.Nice. Thanks, Gawker.