A Stroll through the Neighborhood
Category: Kitchen Sink...
Posted Sunday, December 18, 2005 at 03:50 PM [GMT-6]

It's been a while since we sneaked around and peaked through the neighbors' windows to see what they're up to, and now that I've fulfilled my community service hours since the last time, let's try it again, shall we?

  • Over at Lintefiniel Musing, Jen has taken a brief breather from her wedding preparations (12 days and counting!) to post a recipe for "Texas Chili." I hope she didn't pay some shady peddler too much for this recipe however, because it calls for beans in the chili, and as we all know, that's strictly prohibited by the official CASI rules. I've already left a strongly-worded refutation, so there's no need to embarrass her further. Besides, she's busy watching the Cowboys/Redskins game.

  • This hasn't gotten much media attention in our neck o'the woods, but Bryan over at Arguing with Signposts reports that a hundred thousand folks are still without power in South Carolina following last week's ice storm. Bryan and his family are among them, but they were able to leave early for a planned Christmas trip and are safe and warm with family outside the area.

  • At this point in our history when most of us are dealing with the problems that come with having too much of just about everything, it's nice to be able to step back and contemplate nothing. You can thank Charles over at Dustbury for pointing to nothing, by the way.

  • Mis_Nomer (not her real name [duh]...but I know what it is, and you {probably} don't!) is training to climb the tallest mountain in Malaysia, Mt. Kinabalu, and is somewhat concerned about the possibility of altitude sickness. At 13,434', the mountain wouldn't make it into the top 50 in Colorado, but for a sea-level Singaporean, it's still a good challenge.

  • Bill from Out of the Bloo riffs on a Bible passage that I highlighted just two days earlier. He doesn't mention it as an influence, but he'd also recently seen The Chronicles of Narnia. While you're there, be sure to browse through his periodic posts on the significance of Christmas. Good stuff.

  • And speaking of movies, Jim over at Serotoninrain is anxiously awaiting next year's release of The New World, as he's a fan of the work of director Terrence Malick, who prizes quality over quantity, judging by his small-but-impressive body of work. Jim's tastes in movies run to the cerebral, so if you count yourself in that category also, pay attention to what he says.

  • Patti over at White Pebble cuts through the low s/n ratio of the discussion over privacy rights in America, and poses the fundamental question that we really ought to concern ourselves with.

  • And last, but certainly not least, allow me to introduce to you Brian Hong, a student blogging via The Wonder Years, emanating from USC (that's on the left coast, in case you need directions). Brian shares his reaction to a brush with fame, at least on a local level. Ah, to be in college again. [OK, not really...but the memories are good!]
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Comments

Whatever, dude.

Redskins 28 - Cowboys 0 at the half. Hail!

Try the "chili" before you knock it. It's good stuff.

Posted by: jen at December 18, 2005 04:55 PM

Far be it from me to argue with a 'Skins fan when her team is on a roll. I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid. ;-)

Someday I'll post our dirty little chili secret.

Posted by: Eric at December 18, 2005 05:20 PM

"It's been a while since we sneaked around and peaked through the neighbors' windows to see what they're up to..."

You should get out more, Eric.

"Just walking the dog" is GREAT cover for peeking through the neighbors' windows at night, especially in the summer when people are more likely to leave their shades open. You're lucky. It's warm all year round south of the Mason-Dixon Line. I usually have to call it a season around early September.

On top of that, night vision gear is getting cheaper while it gets better. Surplus goggles like the kind Ted Levine wore in "The Silence Of The Lambs" won't set you back more than a C-Note these days. Then you can really see what people are up to, even when they believe a turning the lights out is enough.

Oh.

You meant that metaphorically. Nevermind. ;-)

Let's just consider it a hypothetical take on Patti's daring assertion, "Do you have the courage to say what you think and believe, regardless of who is watching?"

I wonder if she realizes a nosy neighbor can buy a full surveillance set-up complete with a night vision camcorder attachment, infrared illuminator for total darkness, and an ultra sensitive parabolic microphone for under $400.

Heck, they even have fully functional kiddie "spy gear" versions, these days.

I don't have Patti's courage, especially in politics. I don't want to join the Salman Rushdie Vacation Club. At last count the bounty for his head was up at $3 million.

I'm kinda excited about "The New World" myself. Historical fiction films are always amazing when done well.

Posted by: Mr. Freen at December 18, 2005 10:03 PM

Hey Eric,

Thanks for the post. That's a cool thing you're doing...hope your holidays are crazy exciting!

Brian J. Hong

Posted by: Brian J. Hong at December 19, 2005 02:41 AM

Mr. Freen, you're a scary guy, sometimes. ;-)

Brian, no problem, and same to you...although "crazy exciting" may or may not be on the agenda. However, I do think there will be shooting of guns, so perhaps that qualifies.

Posted by: Eric at December 19, 2005 06:30 AM

Eric, re: "I do think there will be shooting of guns ..."

Depending upon the circumstances, be sure to call NewsWest 9 first, then 911 ....

Wellllllll ... alright, go ahead and call 911, and then NewsWest 9 ... but nobody else!

:-)

Posted by: Jeff at December 19, 2005 06:58 AM

An extended stroll from here to White Pebble to e-Claire got me to make some fresh homemade truffles!

I was going to buy some for the stockings, but it's much more fun to make than buy. And they're easy!

Ah, the rewards of aimless wandering through the Internet...

Posted by: Brian at December 20, 2005 09:17 PM

Brian, you never struck me as a truffle-making kind of guy, but after seeing that recipe, I think that even a kitchen-challenged oaf like me could handle that. And I do like me some o'them truffles...

Posted by: Eric at December 20, 2005 09:25 PM
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