Letters of Thought: April 2010

Friday, April 30, 2010

Picture of the Week 101 - Catching up on New Orleans edition

I'm preparing the New Orleans travel posts now . . . two months after the trip! G-d willing next week they'll be up for your enjoyment . . . until then, feel free to discuss this picture here - taken in the French Quarter next to Jackson Square.

Andrew comments on my response to his attack on my P.E.T.A. post. Check it out here

A Good Shabbos to all!

Technorati Tags Picture of the Week, New Orleans, Travel, Photography, Comments, Blogging

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Weird Sign Wednesday XIV

Not to make light of a serious situation - the girl should have a complete recovery - but it took me a few second to figure out how in Hebrew one could have a capital vov - and why in any event it should be capital . . . And not lower case!

Technorati Tags: Weird Sign Wednesday, Humor, Spell Check

Sunday, April 25, 2010

More "Lover" Mail - P.E.T.A. Edition

No sooner than receiving and responding to East Coast Girl in my post Traif, Williamsburg and Trolls then I received more 'lover' mail from a new friend - Andrew . . . but on a post written a few years ago.
If you haven't read my classic post, People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans, please do - Andrew's blessings won't make sense. I've cleaned up his language for the children.

Now if only our pro-bacon commenter would have it out with out animal rights friend . . . now that would be fun!

Andrew said...: You f*cking ignorant insensitive pig-headed overreligious b|st|rd. Biologically speaking we are animals. Last time I checked we don't have our own kingdom called humana and amoebas are not animals they're protists. Animals have rights. In fact it is our duty to protect our eternally younger siblings. Besides there likely isn't a "cure" for cancer or aids. They might not have the full human soul but they can think and rationalise. Besides the fact is we can't prove that any divine being exists let alone ours. Use tangible evidence to support yourself don't just go in there spouting bible verses.
Mottel said...: Andrew: Thank you very much for your comment! You may not realize, but your zealous hate, ad hominem attacks, and intellectual sophistry have done more to prove my point then any blog post I could ever write. Thanks again, and feel better soon!


Technorati Tags: Vegetarians, Wackos, Animal Rights, PETA, Morality, Blogging, Comments, Judaism

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Traif, Williamsburg, and Trolls - a Redux

Yay! I've got mail!

It seems my little post on the new non-kosher joint down in Williamsburg, Traif, has brought out the tragically hip . . . and boy do they want blood!

My new friend East Coast Girl (who has a brand new profile created this month - with only one page view when I clicked through to it) has shared her two cents . . .

EastCoastJewishGirl

said...

Clearly you haven't a clue as to what the restaurant world is about, and you are equally as clueless as to Marcus's concept. Rather than whining like the disgrace you have made yourself out to be, just walk the other way. This is a very talented guy that is making his dreams come true by setting up shop in a cultural and artistic neighborhood filled with interesting patrons who aren't afraid to experience delicious food. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS GENIUS, FOOD AND PEOPLE, PEOPLE AND FOOD. I am Jewish, born and raised and have the utmost respect for my, OUR religion, so much that I wish uneducated idiots such as yourself could somehow just have a religion of your own. You make us all look like fools when you speak in your naive and bitter tongue. Please crawl back into your dark hole and do what you probably do best, keep to yourself. FYI, this restaurant will continue to thrive and if the controversy exists, as it does, it will only help. You are so yesterday my friend, and for lack of a better word, so pathetic at best!

My response:

Dear EastCoastJewishGirl,

Thank you very much! Do you come to this blog often, or were you merely trolling around google for blogs to complain about? If you come here often, you may know that I haven't had a good debate in the comments field in ages - so thanks!

That being said, I have two pieces of advice for you - you may not understand them as of yet, but when you're older, you'll know what I mean . . .

1. Attack the idea, not the person. You may disagree with me. You may be right. However, comments such as: "clearly you haven't a clue as to what the restaurant world is about, and you are equally as clueless as to Marcus's concept."
or "so much that I wish uneducated idiots such as yourself "
or "You make us all look like fools when you speak in your naive and bitter tongue. Please crawl back into your dark hole and do what you probably do best, keep to yourself."
and finally "You are so yesterday my friend, and for lack of a better word, so pathetic at best!"

are entirely uncalled for! (Oh my! In searching for examples of ad hominem attacks, it seems I've just about quoted your entire comment! Golly that!)
Instead of insulting me and attacking me with baseless and ignorant statements, why not show me why I am wrong - so that even a boor like me could understand your far more enlightened beliefs.

2. Make sure you've actually read the post before launching your attack. It is very clear from your comment that you never bothered reading my blog post. Perhaps you saw comments on other blogs that bothered you, perhaps you were just having a bad day, but you seem to have, at best, only skimmed my post.

So let me reiterate:
I get the humor of the name Treif. I'm very familiar with the often biting and ironic nature that Jewish humor can take on at times. I may not always like Roth or Heeb Magazine or what . . . but I respect the legitimacy of their styles. So i get the idea behind calling the place Treif.

I also don't have anything against Marcus - I would never call him a bad Jew - that's something he said about himself . . . and I disagree. Do I like the idea of reveling in non-kosher food? No. It is my hope that all Jews make steps towards observance. But it is not in my place to criticize those that are in a different place then me.

My one, and only, complaint is against Jason's remark that his non-kosher restaurant could help unite the Jewish community. It is a ridiculous concept.

You see - my qualms have nothing to do with religion - only false statements as to the nature of the place.

So thanks again, and I hope to hear from you soon!

Technorati Tags: Traif, Jason Marcus, Williamsburg, Blogging, Comments, Judaism

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Weird Sgn Wednesday VIII - PsD edition

This week has been very hectic . . .So Weird Sign Wednesday isn't going up until now.
Perhaps this one belongs in Photoshop Disasters.
Does anyone want to tell me what's wrong with this guy's face?

Technorati Tags: Weird Sign Wednesday, Humor, Photoshop Disasters

Monday, April 19, 2010

Why Jason Marcus's Traif is a Fail

Ok . . . Now this irks me. In the so called "war" between the Hipsters and Hassids I think both sides have serious issues with how to address what they want - they're both to some degree stubborn, intollerant of others, and just plain annoying.

But the hubris of Jason Marcus and his new restaurant, "Traif", is just plain wrong.
I'm not talking about Halacha - though I feel everyone should eat kosher, his pork is no less kosher the McDonald's.

Nor do I think he's actually doing it to get in on the 'war' - he's merely capitalizing on the easy press -

What bother's me is his attempt to sound so guileless:
That he tells the media that he hopes in some small way Traif will serve as
"A meeting ground, a place for dialog. A place to bring the Jewish community together."

Come now - how can yo believe a line of that chrep!?

Friday, April 16, 2010

Picture of the Week 100

Rabbi Gerlitzky - photo credit: Mushka Photography
Working on an article on R' Moshe Elye Gerlitzky a"h, I stumbled upon this video . . . It brought me back instantly to my years in Montreal Yeshivah. To see the exuberance of Rabbi Gerlitzky, the sweetness and joy in the day the Yeshivah was started in Montreal . . . Oy! It brings tears to my eyes to think that he is now gone.
We should taka merit to have Moshaich!

A good Shabbos!Technorati Tags: Rabbi Gerlitzky, Picture of the Week, Chabad, Moshiach, Montreal

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Weird Sign Wednesday XII

This week's Weird Sign Wednesday gets back to basics . . . A garden view basement that's also an apartment? And it's conveniently located on New York Ave? It has luxurious A/C! Wow let me in on this deal!

[I put up an old picture earlier - to see the post it was in originally click here]

Sunday, April 11, 2010

A New Age of Mottel Cooking: Sweet Mustard Chicken and Mottel's Quinua

I still make dinner every now and then - and I figured that my recipe the other day was bloggable:
So I give you:

Chicken:

Moscato d'asti: I used what was left from Shabbos the other week after it was too flat to drink.
Deli Mustard: Golden's Spicy Brown Mustard
Spicy Mustard: I used Hoboken Eddie's Hot Spicy Mustard (with Horseradish and Jalapeno) purchased at Benz's.
Honey: Mix the honey with the mustards in the Moscato.
Salt: rubbed on the chicken
Ground pepper: Only fresh ground pepper (thanks dad!) - also on the chicken.

Marinate 24 hrs, then grill (in my case on a George Foreman)

Quinua:

Quinoa: Though I'd eaten before, I fell in love with it in Peru. I'm looking for a way to use it, as a Lubavitcher, on Pesach.
Salt: Added to taste on the cooked quinoa
Pepper: Only a dash of it.
Cilantro: Minced. One of my new favorite herbs - add it to Olive dip for a great new taste too!
Mint: Minced together with the cilantro
Lemon: Freshly juiced - never the fake stuff.
Crushed Garlic: Not too much to over power, but enough to give some bite.
Tomatoes: Diced.
Olive oil: added over the quinoa and ingredients.

Enjoy!

Some food for thought while eating:

The breadth and number of varieties of muscat suggest that it is perhaps the oldest domesticated grape variety, and there are theories that most families within the Vitis vinifera grape family are descended from the Muscat family.
The Incas, who held the crop to be sacred, referred to quinoa as chisaya mama or mother of all grains, and it was the Inca emperor who would traditionally sow the first seeds of the season using 'golden implements'.In contemporary times, this crop has become highly appreciated for its nutritional value, as its protein content is very high (12%–18%), making it a healthy choice for vegetarians, vegans and athletes. Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete protein source. It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten-free and considered easy to digest. Because of all these characteristics, quinoa is being considered a possible crop in NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System for long-duration manned spaceflights.
Because of its antibacterial properties, mustard does not require refrigeration; it will not grow mold, mildew or harmful bacteria. Unrefrigerated mustard will lose pungency more quickly, and should be stored in a tightly sealed, sterilized container in a cool, dark place. Mustard can last indefinitely, though it may dry out, lose flavor, or brown from oxidation. Mixing in a small amount of wine or vinegar will often revitalize dried out mustard. Some types of prepared mustard stored for a long time may separate, causing mustard water, which can be corrected by stirring or shaking. If stored for a long time, unrefrigerated mustard can acquire a bitter taste.
Coriander is . . . is also known as Chinese parsley or, particularly in the Americas, cilantro. Coriander grows wild over a wide area of the Near East and southern Europe . . . Fifteen desiccated mericarps were found in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B level of the Nahal Hemel Cave in Israel, which may be the oldest archeological find of coriander. About half a litre of coriander mericarps were recovered from the tomb of Tutankhamun, and because this plant does not grow wild in Egypt, Zohary and Hopf interpret this find as proof that coriander was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians. The Bible mentions coriander in Exodus 16:31: "And the house of Israel began to call its name Manna: and it was round like coriander seed, and its taste was like that of flat cakes made with honey."
Garlic is grown globally, but China is by far the largest producer of garlic, with approximately 10.5 million tonnes (23 billion pounds) annually, accounting for over 77% of world output. . . There have been several reports of serious burns resulting from garlic being applied topically for various purposes, including naturopathic uses and acne treatment, so care must be taken to test a small area of skin using a very low concentration of garlic.
George Foreman (of the grill fame used in the recipe) has 11 children, and each of his five sons are named George: George Jr., George III, George IV, George V and George VI. His four older sons are distinguished from one another by the nicknames "Monk", "Big Wheel", "Red" "Little George.

Previo us Recipes

Technorati Tags: Food, Recipes, Life, Thoughts, Chicken, Quinua

Friday, April 09, 2010

Picture of the Week 99

"Women are Peoples" - monument in Ottawa, Canada

Good Shabbos everyone! Regular posting to resume after the weekend.

Technorati Tags: Ottawa, Canada, Travel, Photography, Picture of the Week, Women's Suffrage

Saturday, April 03, 2010

Picture of the Week - Chol Hamoed Edition

From my Chol Hamoed trip to Canadian capital Ottawa!
Have a great Yom Tov!

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Why ChaCha = Fail

When ChaCha's SMS search engine first came out - it was all the rage among 770 bochurim. With limited internet access, the ability to text in questions and get back answers revolutionized bull-shoves and debates . . .
When I was still in SXSW mode I wanted to look up what year the interactive festival started . . . So I figured I'd ChaCha it . . .
The bold is the exact wording of my texts, italics are those of ChaCha.

How many years has sxsw interactive been running?

Checkin out ur answer!
*Check out hot singles and Flirt privately. Create ur new identity and start flirting now! Text CHACHA to 44123!

SXSW has been running for 22 years. It is a popular music and video event. ChaCha!
*A hottie wants to chat with U! Txt CHACHA5 to 44123! -
When was the interactive festival of SXSW started (sxswi)? NOT the music festival
Checkin out ur answer!
*Check out hot singles and Flirt privately. Create ur new identity and start flirting now! Text CHACHA to 44123!
SXSW Music Festival for 2010 is scheduled for March 17-21. The interactive festival is March 12-16 and film is March 12-20.
*Doubt? Txt CHACHA4 to 73000 -
Why do you keep giving me the wrong answers to the question I ask?!?
Matching ur Q 2 an A!*We have a match for you! Want to hook up? Flirt now and find the perfect match! Text CHACHA2 to 44123

1/2 Sorry, we must have had a little glitch! There are no exact statistics, but Tennessee probably has the most churches per 2/2 capita.
*U need a personal psychic! Txt CHACHA5 to 73000 -

In which year was SXSW INTERACTIVE started?
Matching ur Q 2 an A!
*We have a match for you! Want to hook up? Flirt now and find the perfect match! Text CHACHA2 to 44123
The SXSW interactive portion will take place on March 12 - 21 and include a keynote interview with Twitter's CEO Evan Williams.
*Doubt? Txt CHACHA4 to 73000 -
Why do you keep giving me the wrong answers to the question I ask?!? I want to know in which YEAR was SXSW INTERACTIVE started?
Checkin out ur answer!
*Check out hot singles and Flirt privately. Create ur new identity and start flirting now! Text CHACHA to 44123!
SXSW first began in 1987 and is centered on the downtown Austin Convention Center. ChaCha!
*Doubt? Txt CHACHA4 to 73000
-
FAIL

Technorati Tags: SXSW, ChaCha, Search, SMS, Technology, Rants