Wuthering Heights

Author: Emily Bronte
Category: library

Wow. These are some mean and crazy people in here. Who behaves like that? Did people really act like such animals back in 19th century England? Heathcliff is the true original bastard, for sure.

I enjoyed this classic quite a bit. I don't know what's gotten me into all these old school novels but it's definitely been worth my time. The only thing I didn't have patience for were the rants by Joseph in his crazy dialect. I just couldn't take the time to try to translate that mess of letters and apostrophes into something coherent.

Mmmm...black beans

The Reach of a Chef

Author: Michael Ruhlman
Category: stacks

My boss is an entomologist whose hobby is being a foodie and cooking a killer paella. He's actually very good friends with the owner of the store Pink works for and teaches an occasional cooking class or two. I think we probably talk more about food and wine than we do about real work-related material. I'm reminded of this when I think of an email exchange we had:

Gena writes: Can you approve the attached purchase request, please? PS - Warner is wondering how to keep the bottom of the paella from burning and if it's supposed to be crispy or not. Thanks.

Boss replies: Important things first, the crust is called the "socratto"...

He enthusiastically lent me the above book maybe 2 years ago and I've finally just gotten around to reading it. He was right - it was great! The author starts by going back to the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) to see how things have changed since he's been there, which by itself is an interesting commentary on the attitude/role of the student in general these days. Then he moves to the meat of his book, how the image of the chef has changed and how "branding" plays a major role now in measuring success.

I loved it because I knew about several of the chefs he highlighted and enjoyed learning about those I hadn't heard of before. I loved knowing I had at eaten at some of the restaurants he mentions (okay, really only three) and picking up where I'd love to go for our next over-the-top meal ($500 sushi, anyone?). It would be completely entertaining for any foodie.

He talks about food television and how that has played a major role in the chef coming out of the kitchen, so to speak, and capturing the attention of millions of people at a time - something never imagined for a chef. If you're into food and restaurants (or maybe even marketing), then I'm sure you'll find this sufficiently entertaining.

Hot, Flat, & Crowded

Author: Thomas Friedman
Category: Christmas

I finished this book over a week ago but I guess I've been trying to collect my thoughts about it.

I started out my undergrad career focusing on a degree in Environmental Science (during a college interview, the wise dean at Florida Institute of Tech convinced me that there are only so many jobs at Sea World and that I should pass on marine biology as a major, thus landing me at Albright College instead). Because at the time I loved learning about science and didn't want to waste my time on religion (that hasn't changed) or history (that has changed) all my electives were science courses whether they related to my degree or not. In the end, I came home with two degrees: one in Environmental Science and one in Biology.

Most of my working career has revolved around straight biology and it's only been recently that I've recognized my passion probably lies elsewhere within science. The environment is important to me. The concept of social responsibility is important to me. People who take the environment for granted and don't do what they can to cut their consumption are like people who don't vaccinate their kids - they illustrate no concept of the greater good. Sure, it's hard work, but isn't almost everything worthwhile hard work? More on this at a later date...

There are lots of good points to this book. It was a little too long, though, and for a lot of it I felt like I was being reprimanded, that he was standing there shaking his finger at me. But maybe that's the point. I'm convinced that we need to cut our consumption of oil and that ethanol is not the answer, mostly because it takes up the space we should be using to grow better food for our country. That's a whole other topic that has been at the forefront of my mind lately. We eat so much processed shit in this country and high fructose corn syrup is in everything. It should be no secret why Americans are fat and why they're getting fatter and dying of preventable diseases. But I digress.

If nothing else, maybe Friedman's scare tactics will work on some people. His bit about the auto industry is great, how he emphasizes that we have so many smart and talented people in our midst - we just need to let them into the game. Let the innovators play!

Definitely recommended if you can get over reading his tag line in every other paragraph.

Pink's Road Race

Pink ran the infamous Peachtree Road Race this year, all for the tee. Check out his results. Nice job, dude.

It's unfortunate, however, that he hasn't really been able to walk the last two days, though.

[Edit: Road Race results page isn't working anymore. Hmm.]

Amphigorey

Author: Edward Gorey
Category: Christmas
When I was in grad school one of my roommates had a book called The Gashlycrumb Tinies. It was an alphabet of tots meeting intensely creative (and more often than not cruel) ends.

This started my fascination with Edward Gorey. I loved it so much I had to buy my own copy when I moved out. As one reviewer said, he appeals to, "anyone with a taste for morbid absurdity." I guess you learn something new about yourself everyday.

A lot of his books are hard to come by in their original form so several of them (if not all) are compiled into 4 anthologies: Amphigorey, Amphigorey Too, Amphigorey Also, and Amphigorey Again. Amphigorey contains 15 of his works, including the Gashlycrumb Tinies, but there is a lot of good stuff in there. Some of my other favorites from this book are The Bug Book, The Curious Sofa, and The Willowdale Handcar.

Google Edward Gorey and you'll likely see a good representation of his artwork and you'll instantly be able to recognize his work from that point on. It is utterly unique and fascinating, to say the least. Enjoy!