Food vs. Human

01. blini stand menu

02. sign outside bar interestingly named "fidel"

inked in addition: "and [Viktor] Yushchenko"

Arrival, and laying the foundation

Leftover Peter Luger's for breakfast.

The Stuff: Are you eating it... or is it eating YOU???

First watch this (and watch for Paul Sorvino):

And then watch this:

Happy Thanksgiving!!

[Via CNN.com]

So the State Department has essentially created a new position called "Director of Digital Media" to hire a former producer of Bill O'Reilly to upload "viral" propaganda videos to YouTube. This one could be called "High Tea with Condi Rice, Karen Hughes, and Hall of Fame baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr.," whom the Bush Administration has tapped to salvage America's image abroad. A few words of caution: this video is a train wreck.

Some classic lines:

"Well, Mr. Ripken -- let's call a spade a spade." -- State Dept. Director of Digital Media Heath Kern (Who Is Heath Kern?)

"Sports is a universal language, kind of like the arts." -- Sec. of State Condi Rice

"Hmmmm... that's a TOUGH QUESTION!" -- Cal Ripken, Jr.

You just can't walk past Katz's Delicatessen today and not notice it being besieged by property development. Ladies and gentlemen, our lifeline to pastrami is in jeopardy.

More...

Today's Wall Street Journal has the kind of feature story I love. It (i) catches up with someone you loved but had forgotten about, (ii) gives a sampling of life in a foreign country, (iii) has great photos, and (iv) deals with a guy who wishes he lived in Beijing or Shanghai because they have "Friday's, Outback Steakhouse and all kinds of American restaurants."

The story [subscription only; fuck you WSJ] is about the immortal (literally!) God Shammgod. You may remember Shammgod from the 1997 NCAA Tournament, when he and white-as-white-can-be Austin Croshere led 10th-seeded Providence to the regional final.

After leaving Providence (yes, God went to a catholic school called Providence) following his sophomore season, Shammgod was drafted in the 2nd round by the Wizards, who then cut him after 20 games.

Shamm is currently one of thirty non-Chinese players in the Chinese Basketball Association. He plays in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, which the WSJ says is "one of the most polluted cities in the world."

More on God...