MattPie

Caption this photo and you have it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Train_wreck_at_Montparnasse_1895.jpg I love this shot, my ex actually bought me a framed copy that's in my house. It was on a poster in the Science and Engineering Library at UB (2nd floor near the elevators, I think) from an "Engineering Failure Analysis" conference years ago. Cracked me up every time I saw it.

Great book, I was thinking about re-reading it the other day. Current: Longitude, about solving the issues with determining your longitude (especially at sea) http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/longitude-dava-sobel/1001953617?ean=9780802715296&itm=2&usri=longitude Started but lapsed: War and Peace. Too many names for too many characters. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2600 Last finished: Three Musketeers (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1257) . I read Count of Monte Cristo (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1184) awhile back and liked it enough to try another Dumas novel. I got a Barnes and Noble Nook last year, so I pull free epubs off gutenberg.org to read on it. In the past I would have just bought copies, so eventually I'll save some money. I'll still buy real books for things I really enjoy. And I should really use the library more often.

I was really happy when I broke the 250lb barrier, but I was coming at it from the other direction.

Motorcycles. A smattering of the various niches, I'll ride distance, dirt roads, mini-motocross, track time, and just cruising around. I think it's a combination of two things: I'm a unitasker type, and motorcycles gift you a perfect excuse the put all of your focus on one activity. Plus, from a young age I've loved rollercoasters and flying. A motorcycle on the right road is a combination of both. Speed, hills, turns, and making the bike dance for me. Skiing. I don't get out as often as I used to, but I love doing it. You won't generally find me in the moguls but bombing down the outer trails, preferably those that resemble a winding back road. See roller coasters. There's some crossover between the visceral feel of motorcycles and skiing. It's the same sense of naked speed, the same G-force as you carve a turn. Beer and food. I'm not that big on cataloging and discussing tastes, but I love trying new beers and foods. I don't brew, although I've considered it. I do cook a fair bit at home, but it's tough to get motivated to cook for myself knowing that I'm going to have leftovers for days. I read a fair bit. I've been tending towards the classics lately. I finished the Three Musketeers awhile back. I started War and Peace, but I don't think I'm going to finish that. It's OK, but just so daunting with the number or characters that each seem to have several names. I started reading a book about the efforts to devise a system to measure longitude in the 16-17th century the other night. It's not too long so it may just be a break form W-n-P. Photography. My ex- and possibly future-girlfriend is a photographer, so I started doing more with it for the last two years. I would assist her with assignments. Some of them, like the bellows view camera, I enjoyed more than she did. That thing fascinates me. I don't have anything impressive to shoot with, I use her T1i or once in a great while my Dad's old Minolta 35mm.

I picked up a six the other day (at the Consumer Bev on Union near the 400) to try with pizza and wings (from Pasquale's in East Aurora)[0]. It's OK, but I was disappointed. I was hoping for something with a bit more hops, more like Sly Fox's Pikeland Pils or Victory's Prima Pils. I think I'm just not a fan of traditional pilsner styles. I still have a few in the fridge, I'll have to give it a second taste. [0] We expats get all excited when we can get the real deal. :)

Pulled pork sandwich and whipped sweet potatoes last night with a couple beers (Caldera Pale Ale and Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald). Sounds like a romantic meal to me.

I'm guessing Thornton isn't getting a leaving the bench hearing, eh?

+1 on that, I love the Burrito-Subway class of restaurants. There's a Qdoba that's more convenient to me, but I think I like Moe's better.

Hmm, that's the second mention of Mexican today, and it is Victory Brewing's taco night...

I kinda like it, picked it up when I was living down in Maryland. So I picked up the two kinds they had at my Wegmans, Primal brand's Teriyaki and Thai Peanut. Since I only have a sample set of one package each, results may vary. Tried the Teriyaki first. The texture similar to a thickly sliced piece of deli-ham. A little chew to it, but not like real jerky. The Thai Peanut was far better, spicy, and thicker cut (not sure if that's a variation by package or flavor), and more chew to it. Still not "chew on it for 5 minutes", but better. I'd have it again, but it's not 'the real thing'. Warning to all the "real men" out there: I believe it was stated that "real men" wouldn't be found in the same aisle as this product, so you better avoid the snack and energy bar areas in the hippie section of your local Wegmans and Tops. There's other seitan and tofu products around there too, you better avoid the whole area. Leave all the yummy food for the rest of us. :)

It was a breezy 30 here in Buffalo, with a little snow in the air. Back in your box, we don't want to hear it. Buffalo pizza and wings: F'N Fantastic.

I think originally is was the alcohol companies that pushed to have it banned. Why buy a Bud when you can grow some bud in your yard?

Vegan Jerky acquired, haven't tasted it yet. I'll not it's not made from tofu but seitan (pronounced "Miro" :)). I'll try it over the weekend while in Buffalo. I mentioned at I got it to a vegetarian friend who remarked, "awww, that's so sweet that you were thinking of me." Uh, yeah of course I was. ;) Thanks SabreSpace!

Oddly enough, this came up over the weekend. When done in a blind test, it turns out the bottle actually makes the difference. Mexican coke on cans rated lower than HFCS Coke in bottles. I'm not sure if the participants knew about the bottle, or if it's actually related to plastic and aluminum coloring the flavor. Word. I was skeptical since I had them at a friends house in PA and not Buffalo, but he was right that they are pretty good that way. Siggi's (I think, they have it at Wegmans) has a orange ginger flavor that's pretty good. It's also $2.50 per container though.

[snickers]

The sexualization of candy is never a laughing matter.

Spinach salad, and then a Wagner Valley Oatmeal Stout while riding the bicycle on a stand. Might have a spoon or two of ice cream.

Had a productive day at work, that's all I got for today. Oh wait, friends ordered a wild boar rib roast for the weekend. F'N... you know the rest.

Hmm, they apparently have it over at Whole Foods, I'll report back...

Man, WGR is trolling the board for Off-topic stuff now too?

I'd give it a shot. Baked, marinated Tofu is pretty good, I'd think that's not that far off from what we're talking about. I also make a pretty mean Chocolate Tofu Pie. you wouldn't know it has tofu in it, it ends up being like a less dense fudge. I suspect some here just revoked my man-card. But, as a self-respecting man myself, I couldn't care less for what someone else thinks is appropriate for me to eat. :)

True, true. I eat a salad daily consisting of 3oz by weight each of spinach, carrots, and broccoli. Fills a 2 quart bowl but doesn't fill me up for long. The trick I've found is to eat a small portion of something relatively healthy shortly afterwards, like a dozen triscuits or a spoonful of peanut butter. The PB does an amazing job of keeping the hunger away for a couple hours.

We had some pretty heavy rain last week so the salt is largely gone. This time of year, I stick to the main roads where I can anyways. Too much crap on the back roads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLP6QluMlrg

Oh, I'm talking abuot the lazy-bike, er, motorbike this time. :) I do live 30 miles from work in a pretty hilly area. I've entertained thoughts of riding the bicycle to work, but there's just no way it's feasible for me right now unless I'm prepared to get into much better shape *and* leave the house at 6am.