Trick or Treat

My husband and I are slightly obsessed with candy. A few weeks ago, we noticed a specific candy on Candy Blog that was difficult to find in retail stores. This is a frequent occurance on this blog, that I refer to as the "curse of the candy blogger". My husband wrote to the company and asked if they sold their candy at a nearby retail location. They gave us the name of a store and asked for our address.

About a week later, a large package arrived at our door from the candy company. It was filled with about a pound of the candy we wanted to sample, and a whole bunch of other treats they make.

It was the best day ever.

Colbert for President

Finally, a real candidate in the upcoming election has been announced. Stephen Colbert is running for president in South Carolina as a "favorite son". I think I'll vote for him as a write-in candidate in the Maryland primary.

Some may say that this makes a mockery of our political system. But hasn't our current administration been doing just that for the past million years. (I know they haven't really been in power this long, it just seems that way to me)

Digital Snobbery (in response to Meg's comment)

Are people really going to sue Radiohead because the bitrate on their release (that they could have gotten for free) isn't high enough for their digital snobbery? Can a person in possession of normal speakers really tell the difference? The album seems fine to me. I cannot tell that it isn't the highest quality I've ever heard. Because, frankly, I cannot tell the difference.

Maybe it's because I'm 1/2 deaf, or maybe it's because I just don't care. People who are whining about this are on my nerves. (pitchfork, I'm lookin' at you)

I know some people are going to come back at this and say "well, they should have mentioned the bitrate up front". Maybe. What's funny is that when the last album hit the Internet before it was even finished, no one complained about the quality. It would've been the same if this album leaked. I think the whole "name your own price" was to prevent that from happening again.

Here's a solution. Next year, just buy the cd when it gets released in stores.

I am done talking about this now.

Update: In Rainbows

I downloaded the new Radiohead album this morning. I know there is chatter about it being released as a zip file and that said zip file does not have cd quality sound, but personally, I can't tell the difference. (This may be due to the fact that I can't really hear out of my right ear).

There is something about listening to a Radiohead album for the first time that is different than listening to other bands. Their music makes the world look more beautiful. I know that's sappy, but it's true. There's nothing like driving in your car, listening to a Radiohead album.

So far, I'm five songs in. If you ordered it, you'll know what I'm talking about soon.

Scarf is Finished!

Only about a billion more things to go.

Holiday Knitting

I finally picked out my holiday knitting projects. I think I'm being a bit ambitious, but I should have plenty of free time to finish. On the docket:

1 scarf
2 shawls
3 hats
1 pair of armwarmers

11 weeks to finish. I am almost finished the scarf, and the hats should be simple. I'm a little worried about the shawls though.

I won't be able to post pictures, since they're presents, but look for many project pictures in January!

My Favorite Popcorn

Popcorn is one of my favorite foods. I could eat massive amounts of it most days. I am not a fan of microwave popcorn, just to be clear. Since it's fall and fall=football, I have been making this almost every Sunday at halftime during the first game.

Kate's Favorite Popcorn (introduced to her by her first awesome roommate, Kel)

1-2 Tbs. olive oil or vegetable oil
1/3 and a little more popcorn kernels
butter or olive oil for topping
Nutritional Yeast (at least a 1/4 cup)

Heat 1-2 Tbs. of oil in a stock pot over high heat (or medium heat if you are lucky enough to have a gas stove). Throw in 3 kernels. When they have popped, throw in the rest of the kernels. Place a lid on the stock pot and hold so that steam can escape (be careful and wear oven mitts). Shake the pot so the kernels are evenly coated with oil. Allow the popcorn to pop, shaking occasionally so the kernels don't burn.

When finished popping, pour melted butter or olive oil over popcorn. Season with salt and nutritional yeast.

I know nutritional yeast sounds strange, but trust me, it will quickly become your most favorite popcorn too. I have also started to mix the butter with just a little bit of vegetable oil so that it coats better.

Rachel Ray

If I cooked the stuff she makes on her show, I'd be divorced. Does she even know how to cook anything other than onions, peppers, and spices sauteed in extra virgin olive oil, then poured over some sort of pan seared meat that has finished baking in the oven? It seems like every recipe she makes is some sort of variation on this theme.

Last night, I saw her take pork chops right out of the package and put them in a pan for searing. She didn't even rinse them off first! Gross. I have also heard tales of her using beans straight out of the can. She also does not wash her hands in this episode...ever.

I have heard that her recipes cannot be made in 30 minutes. I wouldn't know because I would never made this slop for dinner. I actually saw her crumbling up cornbread and then stirring it into a pan with other ingredients. Was this supposed to be a side dish? It was ugly.

I do not have enough time to discuss her overall personality and her crazy voice. I will say that I can only tolerate to see her show in mute while someone else is watching it on their little tv at the gym.

Watching her show at the gym is probably good motivation for eating a really nice salad for dinner.

I have heard that she does not know how to bake. How can someone with about 4 or 5 shows about food not know how to bake? She says it's because she doesn't know how to measure.

My friend said that on her 40 dollar a day show, she would eat dinner and not tip the servers, to keep with her 40 dollar a day budget. Isn't she totally loaded? Why is she teaching people that it's okay to not tip, or to hardly tip (in my world, that would be less than 25%)?

In conclusion, Rachel Ray cannot cook, she is teaching people it's okay to feed your family slop every night for dinner, she does not tip. If this is how pissed off I get after seeing her show on mute while someone else is watching it at the gym, I would not like to see my reaction if someone made me actually watch any of her shows for real.

Fall Music Suprise!

If you go to
this site you should easily be able to find your way to the checkout for a digital download of Radiohead's newest album. This was all a surprise because they were apparently not releasing this album until next year, and you can name your own price for the download. They are releasing it themselves for now, without a record company.

Having read a little commentary on the "name your own price" idea, I'm surprised that so many people actually paid money for it. Yes, I have ordered my copy, and I chose to get it for free. I still like having cd's and records to hold in my hands, so I thought I'd get the cd later.

Is no one else in this boat with me? Am I the only one who was excited to get something for free for once?

I have probably given radiohead about 300-400 dollars of my money in the form of concerts, posters, and other albums bought. So, I'm not feeling particularly guilty about this one.