An international style sensation

We may just have to create a new “Style” category here in the Bubble, thanks to Paul and Randy. Today’s theme: Fashion That Protects You From Danger!

This from Paul this morning . . . Inspired by Chernobyl, a Ukrainian-American scientist has created Emergency Bra, which transforms in to a gas mask.

For the more well endowed, simply pull the mask tighter. Ladies, you'll always have a spare for a friend!

Which reminded me of something I heard on a “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!” episode a while back . . . Japanese clothes and accessories that hide you from bad guys. Only the culture that spawned transformers and Yu-Gi-Oh! could have come up with these. Do yourself a favor and look at the slide show on this one in the New York Times >

"Instead of pepper spray, the Japanese are devising a variety of novel solutions."

Pocketbook that converts into a fake manhole cover to hide your valuables.

Kids' backpack that transforms into a fire extinguisher box. Note to self: remember to wear red pants with this one.

This vegetable broth is so good . . .

I posted this before, but you may not have realized just how good my veggie stock is. Throw in a potato, a shallot, more peppercorns or garlic — but stick to this basic idea, strain it well,  and you’ll have a very savory broth. I made a big pot last weekend — enough to cook lentils, two soups and a pot of beans or two.

It’s January cold out there!

This is just wrong. I may have to spend tomorrow in a hot bathtub.

The true meaning of Christmas

All praise my brother, who took these great photos — and drove the Concert Camper after staying out late in a smoky bar. We bused in a good baker’s dozen from the ‘burbs. One of my favorite things about the evening was Gaby grinning ear-to-ear, receiving the spirit of Christmas. He is my only rival for president of the El Vez fan club.

For once, I don’t have much to say that can’t be shown in pictures and videos. Santa was sportin’ a few new suits. There were also new songs, which I didn’t expect, and he used the Los Straitjackets arrangements of a several others. I loved seeing Los Straitjackets for the first time, and how El Vez played the whole thing as two very different bands trying to learn to play together.

ooh, El Vez, they are scary!

my new bff

surf santa lounge lizard

He had on silver glitter Converse.

view from the bar

join ‘em

my new hero

El Rey loves Amelia.

El Vez’s newest fan.

I luv him.

I’ll let those who were there weigh in with comments. But first, a few videos:

More videos from Butler . . .

Little Drummer Boy/Come on Come on >

Santa and Candy Canes >

ElVettes intro >

The Jaguars: groovy

This new local band opened for El Vez last night. I can’t wait to see them again. They’re weaving some tight tunes from that old organ, a lead guitar and a drum set. I loved that everybody heard something different –Dick Dale, Los Straitjackets, the B52s, Booker T, the Sadies — and they did have a lot of easter egg riffs hidden in there. But they’re all original.

Find them on MySpace or Facebook, and go see them if you have the chance.

It’s the most wonderful day of the year (tomorrow!)

Not because Dec. 1 kicks off the month of Christmas. And not even just because it’s James Harvey’s birthday (though we will be celebrating that). The reason for the season for me, I must admit, is El Vez’s annual Christmas show. And that means the season begins tomorrow.

Brown Christmas! Merry MexMas! And of course, Feliz Navidad.

El Rey honors the ATL by starting his tour here at the Earl in East Atlanta Tuesday, Dec. 1.  For only $15, you too can be a part of the celebration.

Those of you who have experienced this before know that you don’t want to miss it, even if it means staying out late on a school night.  Those who have not yet had the pleasure of an El Vez show: trust me on this one. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

There will be costume changes. There will be brilliant arrangements of all your favorites. Most especially, there will be The Lovely ElVettes.

If we are all very good little boys and girls, we might get to see Charlie Brown’s Christmas.

As if it could possibly get any better, El will be touring with Los Straitjackets as his band. Mexican wrestling masks, outerspace surf punk and an El Vez Christmas?! I may swoon.

A small crowd of us already have tickets in our possession. You can get yours — do it now!don’t delay! — online here >

Seriously, folks. He does this once a year at most. And who knows when he’ll decide to call it quits. Don’t miss your chance.

Selected feeding habits of the suburban youth

The littles get in on the WaHo game. And this is getting expensive.

 

Warren plays with his food. He comes by it honestly.

Studying math requires pizza, somehow. Even if it's 3 times a week.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving from Ken Brown

Cranberries I have known and loved

cook 'til they pop

The past few years, I’ve had fun experimenting with cranberry recipes. This year, after chatting with a colleague yesterday about the beautiful berries, I decided to post all the cranberry recipes I can think of, just in time for your gathering tomorrow. I even took the camera to the kitchen for once. I could’ve picked a better day for it, seeing that the two new things I tried are flops.

Last year, I made this cranberry-maple butter (PDF) for the first time. It is really delicious, very easy, and makes plenty to give some away. The winner of this entire bunch of recipes, I think.

cook ’til they pop

blend ‘em up (love the Magic Bullet)

add this stuff

simmer, reduce

We could’ve done without that sugar

should’ve known this wasn’t going to work out

Gets a nice dark color

Terri’s famous cranberry orange relish.

simple enough, right?

the dreaded gelatin

that nasty Karo made the egg whites really pretty and shiny

hmm. I’m not optimistic.

My first experiment for this year came from my attempt to watch the Food Network, which has yet to thrill me. This sounded tasty but really isn’t. A good basic idea, and very easy, but way too sweet, with sweetened dried cranberries, sweetened cranberry juice and a cup of white sugar. Cranberries for those who don’t like cranberries.  Maybe it will better in the morning.

the dreaded gelatin

While my sweet potatoes were in the oven, I decided to whip up this Cranberry Chiffon Pie, which looks pretty easy, right? Except for the “g” word. This is not the first time I’ve messed up something that involves gelatin. Does someone want to explain it to me? My egg whites were beautiful, but the gelatin mixture just wouldn’t be folded into. Not to mention that doubling the recipe made way too much for two pies, and it doesn’t taste all that great — I think by now I can taste gelatin. All in all, a waste of six beautiful eggs.

More fun with cranberries:

Mama Stanberg’s Cranberry Relish. This is the NPR one with the onion and horsehradish. I’ve made it two or three times. It makes enough for Thanksgiving and Christmas and freezes great. Some people love it; some won’t even try it.  It is an absolutely beautiful Pepto-Bismal pink.

Terri's famous cranberry-orange relish

Terri’s famous Cranberry Orange Relish (PDF). This is good stuff, and good for you, too. Inspired by this, a few years back I tried to use the same basic ingredients but cut them up bigger so you could see how pretty the apples and cranberries were. I can’t find where I wrote it down, but it was beautiful with the Grannys and berries. I think I used some sherry and lots of lemon and orange squeezes for the dressing. Didn’t taste as good as Terri’s, though.

Here’s another recipe, this one from my next-door neighbor, that combines apples and cranberries (of the canned variety) in sort of a crisp or crumble. Easy as can be, and people seem to like it.

A little trauma last night

All that money and angst cutting down trees to keep the squirrels out of the attic and the damn things have kicked it up a notch anyway. Tom’s been hearing a squirrel above his room for the past week or so. I found the spot it’s getting in on the side of the house so we can fix it. Meanwhile, last night I kept hearing something in the springs of the drop-down door to the attic. When I pulled the cord to scare it off or shut it up, out tumbles a a baby squirrel thrashing around with its neck in a rat trap.

I think I might have actually screamed.

Dan says he didn’t do it, so the bug guy must’ve put a trap up there a few years ago when we had a squirrel in the attic.  It was horrible — poor little squirrel! I had to get the thing downstairs and out onto the porch, then get it out of the trap without it biting me. I think it was OK, because it scampered across the porch when I went to pick it up (with leather gloves) so I could put it out in the woods.  It hung on to the side of the porch for a while — I put some water and a shelled pecan out there for it, but eventually it took off. I hope it’s OK. But I  hope it doesn’t find its way inside again.

It’s not even time for baby squirrels, is it? If we have a nest of babies up there, I don’t know what I’ll do. I don’t see how one that small could have gotten into the attic. And this one was on the whole other side of the house from the one Tom has been hearing the past week or so. I’m imagining a big ol’ squirrel party up there, piles of acorns and hickory nuts and nests of insulation. I’ll feel invaded — violated, I tell you!

You know what finally got rid of the one I had a few years ago?  I turned on the light in the attic as bright as it would go and put a radio up there playing Neal Boortz. I’m not kidding. You’d leave too, wouldn’t you?