maddow v. buchanan

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via huffington post, rachel maddow argues with pat buchanan about racism and affirmative action. though rachel tells him that he's dating himself, she pretty much sits back and lets him look the silly old uncle we're ashamed to invite to our bbq's. enjoy.

larb tofu

swanya thai cuisine recently opened up around the corner from me. i've only gotten delivery, but looks really cute from the outside.

anyway, the reason i bring it up is that swanya has opened my eyes to a wonderful thai dish, larb tofu.

i'm not a huge order-off-the-veggie menu kind of person, but in order to get delivery, i needed to push my order over $15. i'm not sure what compelled me to order this, but now it's a favorite.

larb tofu is seasoned with a very fresh chili-lime dressing, and the tofu soaks it all up perfectly. it's also served with carrots, basil, cabbage, red onion, and chili. but hard-core vegetarians, don't let the asians fool you - the good flavor comes from fish sauce, so it's not entirely veggie. no wonder i like it.

the next time you're doing thai, try this. if you find another good place for it (or if you prepare it at home and have a recipe to share), please post in the comments section.

horrible, cute irony.

in china, a mother red panda rejected its two cubs. a dog was brought in as a surrogate, and immediately took to the cubs. problem was, she then rejected her own pup. oh boy. maybe the red panda mother will come around and nurse the dog.

jesus dress-up

paper dolls and jesus: two things that are sort of intrinsically funny. put them together, and... well... this happens.

NYT banners

i remarked on my facebook* today how dismayed i was by a scientology.org banner on the new york times's website. but that damned gawker beat me to it.

it also brings up this shingles ad which is prominently displayed today, and that is just completely nasty. whatever happened to escapism during hard times? sheesh.

i will say in my defense, however: i am on west coast time. check mate.

* also, note: i'm not sure what compelled me to link to my facebook. maybe because i have a vanity URL now. but i don't want to be your friend. i mean, really. yes, even you.

malcolm gladwell and the moral hazard myth

as debate over national health care rolls on in congress, i am reminded of one of the most poignant and memorable articles i have ever read. it was published in a 2005 issue of the new yorker but is still [ if not more ] relevant today.

i thought about bullet-pointing the striking parts of the article for those who don't wish to read it, but i truly feel it would be doing gladwell [ and the uninsured ] a huge disservice. if you don't believe in "socialized medicine" and don't think we need reform, you need to take a look. and even if you do, some of the facets you learn in this article are too critical to pass up.

** if you're curious as to what prompted this entry, it was the drudge report's cover story labeled "TAX THEM!" with this picture:

my parents joined facebook.

no. no. thankfully not MY parents. but some people's parents. you know who they are. but just in case you don't, look here and be afraid.