Worlds Largest Swimming Pool: A Theme Thursday Post

The swimming pool at the San Alfonso del Mar resort at Algarrobo, Chile is 19 acres and holds the Guiness World Record for World's largest swimming pool.

As Requested....

This is the garbage statue of which I spoke in the last post. Its official name was Big Bil-Bored. It was created in 1980 and I would like to say that I don't think I ever met anyone that said they liked it. The statue, is made up of old crap, like used toasters and fans, encased in cement. In the end--1993 being the end-- the craptacular statue was torn down not for being an eye sore and an embarrassment, but for being an environmental hazard. It seems the appliances were rusting and rust water was draining off into the community.

Click here for a color, interactive image that allows you to zoom in. Have fun! You'll find yourself saying things like "Is that a ...plunger??? "

You can see some of the other art objects that were in this shopping plaza, such as my personal favorite, the Pinto Pelt, here.

Music Monday: Son of Svengooli

I am bursting with pride for my hometown right now. Son of Svengooli, like the garbage statue, and the car kabob are all Berwyn originals, so imagine the luck when I happened to find this on YouTube.

For those not from the Chicagoland area, Son of Svengooli hosted a show on one of those channels that doesn't come in very well, which featured horror movies. A hometown hero, kids dressed up like him at Halloween.

Knowing that this is the sort of thing I watched growing up, will probably explain a lot for my friends.

Homemade Pozole/Posole

Pozole (or posole) is a Mexican stew made with pork chunks simmered till tender, with hominy and onion. Right before eating it is garnished with ingredients such as cabbage, lettuce, radishes, cilantro, and crispy tortillas. The radishes when added, briefly simmer in the liquid, just long enough to remove the bitterness but not so long as to cook them, so they are still crisp. Lime is also squirted it in, before eating, giving the stew a fresh and zesty flavor.



All the ingredients for my homemade pozole were purchased at the local carniceria (Mexican butcher shop/grocery). The grocer told me that pozole is usually eaten on special occasions rather than as an every day meal.



I don't have my own recipe for pozole but instead used a hybrid of several that I found on the net, on various recipe sites. Next time I think I need to add some heat in the form of chipotle in adobo. It could have used that little something extra.

Crypto Flambe

For this weeks Theme Thursday: Fire post, I have for you a puzzle. Below is a list of delicious delicacies that may be flambeed. The instructions for this puzzle are simple. Each letter has been substituted with another letter of the alphabet. Your task is to find the correct letters and decipher the list. Scroll down for hints. The answers to the puzzle are at the bottom.




1. pjqwweqn htfekqq

2. fzozozn idnxqw

3. fzgqc zkzngz

4. nzrzozge

5. pdb zt leo

6. ikzyeor hqkks fqzo

7. pwqvq ntaqxxq


Hint #1: Words number 4, 5, and 7 are foreign words.

Hint # 2: Words number 6 is a beverage.

Answers: 1. Cherries Jubilee 2. Bananas Foster 3. Baked Alaska 4. Saganaki (Saganaki is a flaming fried cheese, popular in Greek restaurants, especially in the Chicagoland area) 5. Coq Au Vin 6. Flaming Jelly Bean (a cocktail made with oozo or anisette, blackberry brandy, and run or JD. It is then set aflame and legend has it that you are supposed to stick a straw in it and drink it while it is still on fire. But that's probably not a good idea.) 7. Crepe Suzette

Scandal at Etsy: Seller Found to Outsource Modeling Services to Foreign Employees

In these hard economic times, many Americans are out of work and struggling to make ends meet. It is inconceivable then that local jobs would be outsourced to foreign citizens.

I discovered one particular incidence of this as I was browsing through the Turtlefat store run by store mistress Essiewb, and stumbled upon this:

Uh huh. You see the problem. Upon closer inspection you will see that that is a Hunny Pot in the photo. Yes folks, this is Winnie the Pooh, and Winnie the Pooh is a Brit. So basically, Essiewb chose to hire a British model rather than a good American model.

Such as:

or:

or even this character:








Actually I am not sure about this guy. His resume states that he lives in "the Pacific ocean." I need to get clarification from Sponge Bob expert Knitwithcats to make sure he is in fact a "real American."

This is not the only controversy I have discovered with this store. Recently, I was contacted by a representative of the Tortoises United with Turtles Union (Tutu for short) about the slanderous continuation of the myth that turtles are in fact fat. Said the representative, who prefers to remain anonymous "We are not fat! It's all shell!"

I haven't decided yet whether a full scale boycott of the Turtlefat store is in order. This offense is almost unforgivable, especially since she used a common trick of those who hire illegal aliens, to cover her tracks. She hid the offending model among actual American workers--her two children, and a roll of toilet paper. For now, I will settle for a good, harsh, scolding.

And Milosez, I am watching you too. Be warned.

Music Monday: Janice Joplin

To me, her tragic end aside, Janis Joplin is about female empowerment. Her strong voice combined with her insouciant attitude towards life, makes this great music to listen to when encouragement is needed in difficult situations. Listen to Janice before a job interview, for example, and you will go in with an attitude of ownership, but a sense of perspective if it doesn't go well. And this particular song, Summertime has one of the best introductory guitar riffs ever.

Shish Kabob, Marietta GA

Shish Kabob

962 Roswell Street, Marietta GA

770-499-7399

(photo from Creative Loafing. I was too mad at Betty to remember to take my own)

I'm about ready to throw my GPS (affectionately named Betty) out the window. She has failed me yet again, trumped by serendipity. As I was driving around Marrieta, searching for Middle Eastern restaurants using keywords such as "gyro" and "falafel" because Betty blatantly LIED to me by insisting that there were none in the area, I stumbled upon this restaurant.

Betty, Betty, Betty. What will I do with you? Is Iran not in the Middle East? Such a kidder you are. Always ready with suggestions such as "Wendy's" or "Shoney's" but you keep the restaurants with actual flavor hidden, all for yourself.

Shish Kabob featured an appetizing buffet of Persian cuisine such as absolutely delicious grilled chicken, yellow rice, chopped cucumber salad, roasted vegetables, and some delicious exotic tasting pudding that I couldn't quite figure out what was in it (something like coconut, mango flavor, and rose water maybe?). Plus, the restaurant had another one of Dineometer Deb's hallmarks of adventure dining: crappy exterior that belies the quality inside.

I can't give it a Dine-o-meter rating yet because I've only been there once, which is really just an excuse to go back.

For Sale:

One heavily used GPS named Betty.

Works but not very well.

Great sense of humor, likes to kid.

Several dents due to being slammed into the dashboard on multiple occasions.

Will let go for cheap. Very, very, cheap.

360ing the Earth (A Theme Thursday Post)

A video about a man who traveled around the world, using only human power. He kayaked to indonesia, skated and bicycled across North America, and used a paddle boat to cross the ocean.

And to think some of us get winded walking to the kitchen.

Music Monday

Chattanooga's own Bessie Smith.

Honduran Beer

Salva Vida beer was purchased in a small Honduran grocery store for my friend, Beer Expert Bob, so that he can continue on his quest to sample the world's beer. The flavor of this beer is light which is appealing to me because I do not like strong beer flavors.

Best enjoyed with plantain chips.






(Beer expert Bob prefers to remain anonymous)

Theme Thursday, Part 2. It's Magic!

I just happened to see this in my documents file while digging for spreadsheets to do my taxes. And, oh, the irony! It's egg related! so I had to post it even thought I did already post my theme Thursday quiz.

Ok, the truth is that this was just a procrastination ploy. Back to taxes : (

Theme Thursday: The Egg

International Egg Cuisine Quiz

No fair Googling before guessing! The answers are at the bottom.

1. This Belgian stew, which translates as "watery mess" has a base of egg yolk and cream thickened broth. A. Waterloo B. Waterzooi C. Waderfinnen D. Wateryam

2. Chinese 1000 year old eggs are typically preserved for: A. 1000 years B. 100 years C. A few weeks to a few months D. Never more than 3 days to 4 days.

3. The Asian egg snack balut is unusual because: A. It is made from snake eggs B. Filipino law prohibits this from being eaten on public transportation (due to the smell) C. It contains a nearly developed bird fetus D. It is made with termite eggs

4. Which of these is my favorite Greek soup that I can never eat in Greek restaurants because it contains egg yolks, to which I am allergic? (hint: only one of these is a Greek soup) A. lemon chicken B. koprova C. kolache D. zelna

5. Which of these is a popular Korean dish served with a raw or fried egg on top? A. kimchee B. bulgogi C. banchan D. bibimbap

6. The Egg McMuffin was invented in what year? A. 1958 B. 1969 C. 1972 D. 1978

7. Which of these is a German egg noodle? A. spaetzle B. gnocchi C. brochen D. schnitzel

8. A Bolivian dish topped with sliced hard boiled egg: A. lomo montado B. culo de suegra C. ceviche D. pique a lo macho

1. b 2. c 3. c 4. a 5.d 6.c 7. a 8. d

Disclaimer: Much of the information for this quiz was obtained from Wikipedia, or even less accurate websites.

Thanks for playing!

Peace Coffee

Music Monday

Chicago Cubs, 2009 World Series Champs*

It's that time again, opening day for Cubs. Or as we Cubs fans like to call it, the first day of OUR year. The fact that we have called it this for the last 100 years and been wrong every year, does not deter us.

I was going to insert a self-flagulation photo here as this best represents the Cub's fan mentality but it was too bloody. So, I opted for a picture of Venezuelan stud and the player upon whom much of the Cub's fate will depend, Carlos Zambrano.

So, cheers Cub's fan. Here's to OUR year!

*PLEASSEEEE win this year!!!!! Puleaazeeee!!! PLEAAASE! I am so sick of hearing on sports channels how the Cubs haven't won since bla bla bla bla bla bla that I think I will enjoy the end of hearing that more than the actual victory.

Burmese Cuisine

We end Burmese week at Dineometer with a video taken in a Burmese restaurant, in Mandalay Burma/Myanmar. A buffet restaurant, but without a sneeze shield and a giant bear in a red t-shirt smiling ominously, out in front.



Toe Win Restaurant, Burma (Myanmar)

Wordless Wednesday: Bagan Burma

Speaking of April Fools....

Tonight is the season 6 premier of Reno 911. Rumor has it that there is another movie in the works but that this might be the last season. They can't do that to me! With both Reno 911 and Hannah Montana facing the end of their runs, what am I supposed to watch???



And now back to Burma week at Dine-o-meter.