Archive for March, 2007

2007.03.13

A. Sabella’s

Despite the perception of some, I’m not really a foodie. To me eating is one of those things that I usually approach like a chore: I have to do it but I’d rather not. It’s not that I dislike food, but it cuts into my time when I’d often rather be doing anything else.

That being said, when I’m given good food or when I’m out on the company dime (wink wink) I am glad to try really fine dining. That was the case last night when a group of us entertained some very important Japanese guests last night at A. Sabella’s.

I’d never heard of Sabella’s and was surprised at how established and crowded it was, even on a Monday night. Their seafood was amazing (try the crab and the chowder) and their wine list, while not as extensive as many other places, had nothing but excellent wines. We had Kistler 2004 (chardonnay), Williams Selyem 1997 (pinot noir), and Bacio Divino 1995 (a blend of 66%Cab/22%Sangiovese/2%Petit Sirah). I should note that we had several bottles of each. They were really amazing.

The staff was particularly impressive and friendly, answering questions and helping with ideas and suggestions. Sabella’s is not the kind of place I would go on my own (far too pricy for my inclinations) but it was really quite good. If you come across a wad of money or have the company credit card (and a legitimate reason to use it) and want a very good seafood dining experience, A. Sabella’s is the best I’ve had so far.

2007.03.11

Ikedas Pies and Burgers

I’ve previously talked about Joanie’s Cafe and Grill as an excellent place to stop for food if you’re coming home along 50 from South Tahoe. Now it’s time to talk about the place to stop if you’re coming back along 80 from North Tahoe or Reno: Ikedas California Country Market.

I was introduced to Ikedas by the Polecat many years ago after one of our trips to Tahoe. They have a grocery and a burger place and we stopped for burgers. After snowboarding all day those were some of the best burgers I’d had in a very long time and stopping there yesterday was no exception! I even indulged and picked up a vanilla malt. No disappointment there!

But Ikedas is also well known for their pies, made from fruits grown in their own orchards. It doesn’t get much more homemade than that. I picked up an apple pie that is going to probably end up being dinner tonight.

If you’re planning on stopping by Ikedas after hitting the slopes in Tahoe or the casinos in Reno be sure to arrive before or after the rush of fellow travellers around 6:30PM as Ikedas is a very popular stop. Even with the rush, though, the service is fast and the burgers are always worth the wait.

2007.03.08

Subtle Racism

I’m getting really irritated with Geico’s “Caveman” commercials. Maybe because everytime I see it I think, If you substitute the caveman for a black man then you have racism. I know that’s probably not what the creator’s intended, and possibly if they’d only done one single commercial it would have stayed “funny” and unique, but that’s what I get out of it.

And now, as I learned on Population Statistic, it’s getting a TV show pilot made. Let me guess, it will star a whiny caveman, an angry caveman, a “ghetto” caveman and a caveman who tries way so hard to fit into the world around him that it’s painful to watch. Now do the substitution I did in the first paragraph and tell me there isn’t a subtle racism involved.

2007.03.07

Battlestar Galactica Video Contest

Do you think you could tell a Battlestar Galactica story better than SciFi Channel? Here’s your chance.

Be a part of Battlestar Galactica!

We’re giving you sound and visual effects and music clips that you can use to create and share your own four-minute Battlestar videos.

Create your own mock commercials, short scenes or even mini-episodes — funny or dramatic. Choose from more than 30 visual effects, 20-plus audio effects and cuts from the show’s soundtrack, specially selected to help give your videos the Battlestar look and sound. Use them to make your video, add the required promo clip at the end, and send it to us!

Battlestar Galactica executive producer David Eick will choose one video to broadcast in full on SCI FI Channel during an upcoming Battlestar episode.

The video can only be four minutes long but that should be plenty.

Is anyone interested in making a video with me?!?

2007.03.06

Things That Make No Sense

One of the things I love about science is the fact that, no matter how much we’ve learned, we still know there is a lot we know nothing about. Up in Tahoe at the hotel Jerome pointed out a link titled 13 things that do not make sense (in science). The following is my sad (and possibly incorrect) interpretation of my favorites from the article.

1: The placebo effect. Why the fsck do people sometimes get better when you tell them they’re taking medicine and it’s just water?
2: The horizon problem. The edges of our universe are 28 billion light years apart yet it is only 14 billion years old. If nothing can travel faster than the speed of light this should be impossible. Or not?
3: Ultra-energetic cosmic rays. Over great distances rays of particles travelling great distances lose their energy. It’s kind of like getting old; you’ve got all this energy as a horny teen but if you make it to 93 years old you’re not likely to have marathon sex sessions. And yet we’ve found some particle rays that are a potent now as the day they “came” from other galaxies. How is this possible?
4: Dark matter. We still don’t know if it exists. If it doesn’t exist then where is most of the matter and mass in the universe is hiding itself? Certainly not in the junk drawer in my desk, no matter how much crap I can stuff in there. I won’t even go into dark energy because we know even less about that!
5: Tetraneutrons. We can create particles that shouldn’t, according to our current understanding, exist. We are creating things we don’t understand… This sounds like the premise of a B-grade science fiction movie. Excellent!
6: The Kuiper cliff. All the evidence points out that there should be a sizable planet out there beyond Pluto but we can’t find it. Kind of like the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Or dark matter. I call conspiracy!

Obviously there is much more at the link, and even more out there left to discover. The universe is an amazing place and anyone who tells you they know everything about it is a liar. I love science.

2007.03.04

Wipeouts Are Memorable

I’m sure you’re tired of me going on about my trips to Tahoe. With any luck I’ll be heading up at least one more time and then you won’t have to suffer through it anymore. :)

This was the weekend of toe edge. At least for Redge and Jerome. I hassled them to practice. Memorable moments include Redge swimming down the slope. Jerome’s fabulous wipeout where even the ski patrol was wondering if he was OK. My wipeout where I started somersaulting backwards down a black diamond. Stopping at Joanie’s Cafe & Grill again. Redge landing on his butt over and over again. Five foot air and wipeout into the powder. Redge’s spectacular dismount from the lift. Jerome and his friends, the trees. Me sliding on my butt for over 20 feet on the flat. “Frack!”

Ah yes, good times. Funny how the most memorable parts of any trip to Tahoe are usually the wipeouts and bad decisions.

The picture is me at Sierra at Tahoe sending a picture to someone at work who was quite jealous of our trip. :)

Jerome as two entries (one and two) about our trip with a few more pictures!

2007.03.04

Not Allowed on Battlestar Galactica

It’s not really a secret that I’ve got my geek on for Battlestar Galactica. The show is amazing regardless of the post-New Caprica love crapfest between Apollo, Starbuck and their spouses.

Quite a while ago on OOKEE.com I posted a list of 213 Things Skippy Is Not Allowed To Do detailing all the things SPC Schwarz was not allowed to do in the military. Well, someone went and parodied this list in relation to BSG.

3. Not allowed to spell Colonel Tigh’s name “T-G-H” and claim “the Cylons took the I,” as it is cruel and not remotely funny.
* Okay, so it’s hilarious. It’s still cruel.

17. “I’ve heard every possible joke about Lieutenant Gaeta’s name” is not a challenge.

35. Not allowed to use nuggets as currency.

36. Not allowed, under any circumstances, to ask President Roslin who died and put her in charge.

42. Not allowed to hand slices of bread to Lt. Agathon and ask her to “do me a quick favor.”

62. Our Vipers cannot be assembled into a giant battle robot.

68. Not allowed to stalk Captain Thrace.
* Not allowed to stalk Major Adama.
* Allowed, however, to stalk Captain Agathon, as he is unlikely to notice me doing it.
* And by “me,” we actually mean “you,” Lt. Edmonson. You think you’re being subtle? Gods.

75. I am not allowed to sell calendars that indicate Captain Thrace’s “Time of the Month.”

95. After destroying a Cylon Basestar it is not appropriate to yell that “All your base are belong to us.”

198. It is not appropriate when Capt. Agathon is worried over his wife or child’s health to lighten the mood by asking him if she’s still under warranty.
* Or if it covers parts and labor.
* Or if it requires him to return her to the manufacturer.
* Or if Doc Cottle is going to void it by opening her up.
* Or if he needs a second estimate.

282. Not allowed to tell Tom Zarek that he looks like an old Apollo.

Some of the rest are equally hilarious though there are many that get old and a disproportionate number get sexual; it’s the interweb.

2007.03.02

I’m Loving Tahoe!

Tres AmigosI’m up in Tahoe again. I drove up this morning with Jerome and Redge and we hit Sierra at Tahoe for half a day. We had an awesome time!

We bothered to get helmets. After something like seven years I’ve never worn one going down the slopes. I come from that school of thought that says, I didn’t need a helmet when I was a kid, I don’t need one now. But we all picked up this helmet which, for you discerning SciFi fans, will recognize as the helmet the Colonial Marines wear in Battlestar Galactica. Yep, we’re all geeks. :)

Sierra at Tahoe… Meh. Not my favorite place in the world and I would pick other resorts first. But the fun wasn’t in the place so much as watching Redge swim down the hill face first, or Jerome tumbling down the hill. No idea where we’re going tomorrow but it’s gonna be good.

2007.03.01

The Tahoe Ski Bus

I’m heading up to Tahoe again tomorrow. I’ll be driving but I know not all of you reading this have cars. Get on the bus! The Tahoe Ski Bus!

For about $100 you get a ride up, hot chocolate, a full day pass to whatever resort they’re visiting that day, and a ride home. Not a bad deal at all. The only bad thing that could be said is that it leave early, like 4AM. Still, you’re not driving; take a nap! Thanks to Mits for the link!

See you when I get back!