http://whyismarko.com/2011/27-worst-nativity-sets-the-annual-growing-list/

i plugged in headphones on my macbook, and now it's on permanent mute.  has anyone fixed this problem?  slogging through the forums hasn't helped.  i want someone who has successfully unmuted to give me a solution.  thanks.

Strickland's

• Average price*: $ 5

Edit: I didn't mean to imply that I wouldn't find good food in Akron.  I just find it funny that people who review on TripAdvisor think an ice cream parlor is the best restaurant.  I also didn't know ice cream could be considered a cuisine.

http://www.americanwaymag.com/mensa-quiz-06-15-2011

( Answers... )

Nos. 2 and 8 do not account for the average Scrabble player.  I guess Mensa only expects answers from the general population.

My friends Pat and Tom and I finally made it to Alinea, one of two Chicago three-star Michelin restaurants.  The chef, Grant Achatz, is one of the leaders in molecular gastronomy and was voted No. 6 chef in the world.  He overcame throat cancer to continue with his creations.  Alinea’s symbol is the pilcrow#, better known as the paragraph mark.

 

( Here are pictures with descriptions of our feast. )

Is there a Collins Tournament after Nationals?  If so, can someone post the link?

This recipe appeared in last week's The New York Times Magazine.  I've always loved a good flourless chocolate cake; so at 1 tablespoon, this recipe is almost flourless.  The first time, I made this, I used Nestle's Semisweet Chocolate Morsels, but only later did I realize it was 1.5 pounds instead of 1 pound.  The consistency was very thick, and it wasn't great for folding in egg whites.  The second time was much better when I used Baker's Semi-sweet Baking Chocolate Squares.  I don't have a double boiler, but I improvised by boiling water in a big pasta pot, and then I put the chocolate in a small sauce pan on top of the hot water.  After mixing in all the ingredients, I poured the mixture into the springfoam pan and then folded in the egg whites because it gave me more room to work.  The second mixture was smoother, and the egg whites folded in perfectly.  I only had an 8.5-inch springform pan, not an 8-inch springform pan, but the result was a very decadent chocolate cake that crumbled and melted in my mouth.  Yum!

1 pound semisweet chocolate
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
4 eggs, separated
Sweetened whipped cream

1.  Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Line the base of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper.

2.  Melt the chocolate gently in the top of a double boiler over hot, not boiling, water.  This is a critical step in the preparation and should be done very slowly (or it can be done more speedily in the microwave).

3.  Remove the melted chocolate from the heat and stir in the butter, flour, and sugar.  Beat the yolks lightly and whisk into the chocolate mixture gradually.

4.  Beat the egg whites until they hold a definite shape but are not dry and fold into the chocolate mixture.  Overbeating or underbeating will ruin the cake.  The beaten egg whites should be folded smoothly, quickly, and easily into the chocolate mixture.  Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.  Turn off the heat; open the oven door, leaving it ajar, and allow the cake to cool completely in the oven.

5.  The cake is best served a little warm.  Decorate with whipped cream.  Run a long, thin knife under hot water and then slice the cake into small slivers.  It is rich.  Serves 10.

Maybe this can be my new Scrabble scoresheet.  Write on it, save, and then reuse for the next game.  No more printing scoresheets.

http://www.noteslate.com/

http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/2011/01/lukshon_sang_yoon_opening.php

i played in the competitive division and went 5-2 +20, good enough for 2nd and $75, net $25 after entry fee.  i also got a trophy, a heart pin, and a photo frame.  the two games i lost were unwinnable; so not too shabby.  i was able to squeak out a win against peter because he made a fatal error.

http://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=7950#0

i wanted to go to gomen for lunch to have ramen on this rainy day, but it was closed.  i ended up at sushi house and had edamame, salmon sashimi, udon, and gyoza for under $20.  then i met joe's sister anna and her husband, frank, for dinner at park ave restaurant.  we all feasted on appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts.  anna had onion soup, salmon, whipped sweet potatoes, molten chocolate cake, and decaf coffee.  frank had spicy lobster mac and cheese; mixed grill of lamb chop, filet, and shrimp; brussels sprouts with pancetta, caramel cheesecake, and decaf coffee.  i had crispy vegetables, scallops, mushroom risotto, bread pudding, and hot chocolate. 

nice day overall.

i'm going to las vegas sometime in february to see the lion king and love and eat at some new restaurants.  i am slated for arcata in march and san diego in april.  i also signed up for the crossword tournament in los angeles in may.