Retro Camera iThingy App vs. iThingy itself

In the best of worlds, any good experiment ought to have a “control”. I shall abide. As a correction to the “Playing with Retro Camera iThingy App at Slurping Turtle” post, I include the “control” – same circumstances photographed with iThingy 4G camera.

©MAK

Playing with Retro Camera iThingy App at Slurping Turtle

Top: The Bärbl, Little Orange Box, Xolaroid 2000; Bottom: pinhOle camera, FudgeCan, Hipsteroku ©MAK

Nowadays, a “table turd” at a restaurant is alright. Not hip anymore, just common place. The cameras on these “table turds” are getting better and better, giving us a chance to flood the ether with a photographic documentation of life’s minutiae and proof of existence. So to task I went. I do exist. To keep it fun, at least for me, and to add a smattering of quasi-experiment like feel, I put every camera on the Retro Camera iThingy App to work by documenting the same thing. It is a strange notion this app – a concoction of hipster ethos à la early 2000s and nostalgia applied to improved iThingy optics. Go figure. But me like. And what better way than photographing the offerings at Chicago’s Slurping Turtle! The appetizer, and those that followed hit the spot, and the Tonkotu noodle soup of egg noodles, silky (and they don’t lie) pork broth, braised pork shoulder pieces (that balanced sweetness against the porky taste) and mustard greens, that I topped the appetizers with, all made me very happy. Just what I want from food. As for the retro photos – pick your favorite; and if truly obsessed – get the real thing. Both thumbs up.

Accidentally down the memory lane - circa 2003?

Absolutely irrelevant for the themes of this blog, but ... hey, didn't promise consistency J

Having a major envy moment – agh!

It has been brought to my attention that Nespresso has released coffee machine, capsule and cups sets to commemorate this Year of the Dragon. It also seems that the sets were released only to Asian and Australian markets; I am in neither of those. To say that I am having a major envy moment is to absolutely underestimate where I really am at in my head space! Gimme internet and my credit card! NOW!

http://www.nespresso-shanghaitang.com/en/

PS: After more research - the participating boutiques are only in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Kuwait, New Zealand, Singapore, and maybe also United Arab Emirates.

A self-contained cocktail



Photo©MAK

No need for mixology tools. Hell, no need for a drinking vessel. Just take the cup off, unscrew the top and pour into the cup. Then toss. No need to wash anything. Maybe the environment will hate you; you could re-use the cup. Yet, if glassware is not available, this one takes care of you. VnC Cocktails, a New Zealand outfit, offers a reasonable plethora of pre-mixed cocktails that come in 700ml and 200ml bottles. The latter comes with the aforementioned cup. I am usually not in favor of fully pre-mixed drinks, but their margarita wasn’t too shabby at all, just with less kick than a real thing, i.e. one mixed by a skilled mixologist or the kick-to-the-head one I would have made. Likewise with this mojito. The packaging is a very good concept (minus the not-so-eco-friendly factor) and the contents a pleasant surprise when it comes to quality. Truth be told, I would still prefer the potentially wrist-injuring offerings from a bar guru, but come picnic or BYOB time this one does beautifully. Cheers!

Happy Year of the Dragon!

Has Hello Kitty morphed? It's all good.

Covered well

Official visuals for Karen O, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross' cover of

Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song,"

from David Fincher's "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."

A Screwdriver Twist

Photo©MAK

Ah, the wonders of winter!

A cold or an inflamed throat ain’t one of them. 

Time to look for warmer climates. 

Till then, let’s dream. 

And what better way than a twist on a perennial classic – the screwdriver! Just substitute the vodka with rum for the topical isle feel! How about a dash of another flavor? How about that? Coconut anyone? Sure! See, the wonderful marketing people at Pernod Ricard thought about this, too. The result is the Malibu Winter Edition. Aha, that’s right my dears, coconut flakes floating in the rum - it’s a snowball with a tropical feel! 

Shake, shake, shake and pour. 

Kind of clever, if you take my 2¢. 

Since I need vitamin C… 

Aaaaa tasty!

A quick reminder

… just in case you forgot or didn’t know – these are just some of your patient workhorses that sustain: Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations this time at the U.S./Mexico border.

See at least 2:35 of the first one and all of the second

*H* Kitty

The mirth of it! Teehee.

Naked Hello Kitty! Hello Titty!

*H* —Ecchi in Japanese means “lewd”, “sexy”, “lascivious”, etc.

Thanks <3yen and EVIL PONGI