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31 March 2009

Tuesday Adventures

Obento-ya
Maguro Nigiri (Tuna Sushi)
Yakiniku Classic Bento:
- steamed white rice
- spring greens with house dressing
- Japanese creamy potato salad
- sauteed beef slices with miso-garlic sauce
Miso soup
Hot green tea

I was looking forward to trying this place. I have been to several sushi-focused Japanese restaurants in the Twin Cities
Obento-ya, however, is focused on bento.

According to Wikipedia,
Bentō (弁当 or べんとう) is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine.
Shōkadō bentō (松花堂弁当) is a traditional black-lacquered Japanese bento box.

I started with hot tea and a pair of nigiri. Since I was seated at the sushi bar, I was able to watch the sushi chef prepare my nigiri. She sliced the tuna and hand-formed the rice into an oblong ball; then she added a smear of wasabi before pressing the fish and rice together.

When I had finished my sushi, the waitress brought my bento box, along with a bowl of miso soup. The sushi chef continued to work quickly and efficiently, filling additional orders from the dining room part of the restaurant. When I was nearly finished, she asked me if I had ever been to Japan. I replied that I had, about a year ago. She smiled broadly and then told me what had tipped her off: "Americans don't hold the bottom of the bowl!"
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(Thanks to Pay a bluish oak for the picture!)

27 March 2009

Linkage, Volume 60

Object Graveyards
The Afterlife of Everyday Things

Spiderman
rescues autistic boy from ledge

Dreams
of kindness, of making a difference, and of NBA contracts

More New Math
Brunch = Breakfast + Lunch + Cantaloupe

23 March 2009

Linkage, Volume 59

AnnualCreditReport.com
FTC's response to the "free" sites that aren't really free after all

Double Modal
Y'all might could oughta read this

22 March 2009

Impossible!

Acts 2:22-24 (New International Version)

Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

20 March 2009

Linkage, Volume 58

SyFy
SciFi Channel is expanding from aliens to other forms of adventure

All Right, not alright
The 32 Most Commonly Misused Words and Phrases

Carmen Sandiego
this one cracked me up

18 March 2009

I Think I Overwatered

I started seeds for this year's vegetable garden. About two weeks ago, I carefully organized and counted out my seeds and planted them in little peat pots. I labeled each one and placed them carefully in a little indoor greenhouse.

I should note that I tried this last year, twice. The first time, I forgot to water them. The second time, when I transfered the seedlings outside, they got sunburned and withered up right away.

So in an effort to not repeat last year's mistakes, I put the greenhouse right in sunny window and gave the plants plenty of water. I watered them every two days. Then on Sunday, I noticed that the peat pots right in the middle were covered in mold and the whole greenhouse smelled like a mildewy basement. I stopped watering and opened the top of the greenhouse so that the plants could get some fresh air. I will give them more water when the tops look dried out, just like the instructions say. So far, they're all still quite wet.

I hope they recover.

13 March 2009

Linkage, Volume 57

War Message
found inside President Lincoln's watch

Air Force One
news photographer shares his stories

Con Artists
10 Greatest Imposters in History

Pluto a Planet Again
in the state of Illinois, for one day, on the anniversary of its discovery

11 March 2009

Linkage, Volume 56

Confusing Words
we have such a bewildering language

Circuit City
employees have a little fun with the discount sign

Retarded
visions of breakfast in the future past

Two-part article from Reader's Digest online:
13 Things Your Pizza Guy Won't Tell You
and
17 More Things Your Pizza Delivery Guy Won't Tell You
(from Slice)

06 March 2009

Linkage, Volume 55

Seeq Pod
playable web search. search for songs (or videos, slideshows, flash...) and create your personalized playlist, like this

Library Specialization
15 unique library collections

Venice from Above
aerial photography of Venice, Italy

Decision Strategies
pamphlet, "How to Make a Decision"

05 March 2009

Linkage, Volume 54

Sliding House
the whole timber-clad exterior slides open like a giant sunroof

Idiot Tax
Cincinnati judge fines man $2500 'idiot tax' along with probation and community service

Dump Truck
raised dump truck hits overhead highway sign

Dead Technology
twelve 'dead technology' advertisements

Dalek
a Dalek from Doctor Who was found submerged in a pond