Snookums and I headed to the Good Food Show out at the Olympic Park. It was the first time either of us had been out there. It was really cool to see Stadium Australia and try to picture what it must’ve been like full of people during the Games. The Show itself was packed. We wandered through the aisles tasting olive oils and wines and chocolates and watching demonstrations of nifty kitchen gadgets. I had wanted to attend Ansley Harriott‘s cooking demonstration, but Rodd thinks he’s a wanker and couldn’t be trusted to behave himself. (We did see Ainsley doing a book signing, though. Man, the old women just love him.) We also took in a wine tasting and I got more than a little pissed sampling the fine Australian Shirazes. We left loaded down with two new cookbooks, a packet of olives, and several jars of dried tomatoes, capsicums, and jalepenos. A very good day.

I’ve been reading this story (and its associated MeFi comments) about a 15-year-old Alabama girl who went off to college and was abused by almost the entire football team. She ended up a drug addict as well. In the Metafilter discussion, I was surprised to see so many people arguing that 15-year-olds are incapable of living on their own and making the right choices. Snookums was 16 when he went to Uni, and he turned out fine. I have to wonder if the girl’s home schooling was more to blame than her age. It had to be a shock to go from virtual isolation to living in a big college town environment. (Although when asked about this, the Snook responded that if a group of large women had wanted to make his 16-year-old self their plaything, he would’ve been all about that. It’s just that he was a nerd and no one offered.) 🙂

I’m Korean. My family does not eat dogs. I don’t mind discussing the issue rationally, but I’m really getting tired of all the jokes. (They’ve been coming fast and furious thanks to the World Cup.) It’s time to set the record straight.

I’ve been doing a little research. An editorial from the Korea Herald points out that “Many Koreans, in fact, do not eat dog meat and are repulsed by the thought of doing so.” It also notes that dog meat supposedly promotes virility, so it “is expensive and is consumed almost exclusively by men.” In other words, this is not a widespread practice. Columnist Tom Purcell points out that “while we think it is terrible South Koreans eat dog, folks in India think it’s ten times more repulsive that we eat cow.” He also adds that the argument that dogs have personality and intelligence is irrelevent, because pigs are way smarter than dogs and we have no misgivings about roasting them on a spit. And the Asian Nation website has my favorite summation so far: “It’s true that some South Koreans eat dog meat just like it’s true that some African Americans eat watermelons and fried chicken. But [Jay] Leno wouldn’t dare make a joke about the latter but thinks it’s fine to offend Asian Americans.”

Anyway, that’s my rant for the day.

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear quiz whore,
Happy birthday to you!

Well, it’s still her birthday in Canada, anyway. 🙂

Hmmmph. *scowl* The Snook is getting ready to go see his Super-Special Spider-Man Preview for Really Cool People To Which I Am Not Invited. I’m just gonna sit here in my pajamas and watch Days and eat leftover tuna-noodle casserole. 🙁

I like ice cream a lot. Unfortunately I don’t seem to know anything about it. I scored a paltry 40% on this ice cream quiz. How well do you to? (Link courtesy of Kristen.)

This is the Ass-O-Tron. It made me giggle. It doesn’t work so well on this site, but Google looks pretty funny. (Link courtesy of Fredo.)

When I was getting on the train for my interview this morning, I noticed a peculiar piece of graffiti on the station wall. It said “NIGHT TIME CRIMINALS @ groups.yahoo.com”. So I looked it up when I got home. Check it out. It’s an actual group for the “urban artists” that display their “work” (i.e. graffiti) throughout Sydney. Personally, I’m of a mixed mind on the whole graffiti issue. I’ve seen some beautiful murals that I really do think qualify as art. But for every one of those, I’ve seen a hundred instances of brainless “tagging” that do nothing but make the community look shabby. What do you think?

Very little posting today, as I’m off to a job interview! Play nice, kids.

Update: That went really well! Fingers crossed…

The Snook’s friend Steve came over for dinner last night. I was surprised to see him, since he works nights at a job calling the States in the morning. I asked him if he was playing hooky. “Nope!” he happily exclaimed. “Memorial Day, baby!” Crap. I’d completely forgotten about it. No, we don’t have it here (obviously). And even if we did, it would mark the start of winter, not summer. Now all I can think about are summers on the lake with my family. Man, is this a depressing start to the day or what?