a friend saz...."Afterwards went to (spurious Flash alert) Chez Es-Saada on First Street. The new executive chef is Paul Liebrandt, (ex- Atlas and Papillon). In brief: tasty anchovy-and-merguez app, but overpriced quail & lamb couscous ($25) and dry duck tagine, unadventurous wine list, spotty service -- disappointing overall from the dining POV tho' the basement was pretty full of lounging drinkers. What's the minimum time someone has to spend onsite to qualify as executive chef?"
livable places
The strange case of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.

Executive summary:
But the notion that Mohammed was captured on March 1, in part by ISI agents, and then turned over to the US where he might expose the ISI's role in terror acts from Operation Bojinka to 9/11 and more, is the most implausible possibility of them all.
Who's in charge of the President's meds tonite? I want some.
from the folks that brought you NOT JUVENTUDES, its!!!!!!!!!!!! : OTIS BRAWL WEBLOG
neutra house seeking filmaker (steve busy?)
any suggestions for eating out in the fort lauderdale/palm beach area? am going to visit the parents for a long weekend...

yahoo to the Kebab Cafe 25-12 Steinway Street Astoria...Liz and Wylie took us there last night and it is a find, BYOB, major food fest, chefs a blast....car service to from brooklyn cost almost as much as dinner....2*
a good (unusual) not excellente (the usuall) meal at felidia last night, i am going to say it was an off night for me and the restaurante.....1*
What, me worry?

Part of a N. Korean test fired missle found in Alaska?
there are some great photos from the feb anti-war rallies in a slide show here
I guess the CIA doesn't recruit many graphic arts type people. LOL.
so, you think you are logical?
The NY Post has a piece on how the war is straining friendships. The theme is deeper than the article, but it's always useful to get some insight into the young folks:
The war is the hottest political topic many Gen X-ers have ever encountered. "We were barely coming of age when the Cold War dissolved," said Beau Ruland, 33, a Jersey City paralegal. "I feel like this is becoming one of those things that we've never had to deal with before."
Just keep living, guys…
"Far from Heaven": I appreciated the meticulous art direction and Douglas Sirkisms. I understood the rather obvious points about the fifties, and oppression and so on.

But did they have to make Julianne Moore look like a clown in that wig. Yes, I know the hairstyles were like that but really.

The film is desperately overrated: "I see the eggshell, but I do not see the yolk. . ."
Hi everyone,

I am showing my art works from last few years. It will be a party. Please come and have some fun.

Samoa

((FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE))

Portraits by Samoa
Painting exhibition

Opening. Wednesday, March 5th. 6pm -8pm
@ CB's Gallery
313 Bowery, New York City.
Tel:212.677.0455
Closing. Friday, March 28th.

Samoa, former guitarist for The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black, sole Japanese country singer in the U.S., now exhibits his paintings for the first time. His unique, comical paintings offer political overtones that penetrate and challenge the corporate controlled world.

For more information: http://www.rainbowpig.com

In Saveur Magazine Jan/Feb issue is a 4pg spread on Tommaso's in Brooklyn doing an annual Italian (Venice) Carnival dinner(s) which I never knew they did.....went last night for a full old Nebbiolo cellar raid (1952, 1955, 1974, 1985) and the place was jumping, food best I have ever had....I will be coming every year!!
quick eating notes on australia trip:

- when you get fish and chips, the main fish is "flake" - it's shark. get it. it's fantastic.

- "butterfish" is steak-y, like swordfish, but much milder, and actually does taste like butter. get it. it's fantastic.

- get thai food anywhere. thailand ain't too far away. it's fantastic.

- so's the vietnamese although the thai's better.

- guess how the $4 red table wine is. you got it. no one seems to ever really need to spend $15+ since the cheap wine's so frickin good.

- the beef's grass-fed. it's fantastic.

- on the down note, i had some grilled kangaroo which was liver-ish and unspectacular. why bother. stick with the fish.
Can anybody give me a little political lesson? What's the deal with Jordan?

[I put the rest of this in the comments so it wasn't so long on this page...]
The directors of the new Alexandria Library, which christened a steel and glass structure with 250,000 books in October, have joined forces with an American artist and software engineers in an ambitious effort to make virtually all of the world's books available at a mouse click.
gametheory v 20 questions
radebaugh -- the future we were promised
I am on a Xynomavro kick, its my new favorite word.....finally made it to Milos last night for a fish orgy, we had some star power so we got the #1 table in the house, a free round cured fish and a plate of fresh urchin's, everone gets this clean flavorful soup to start.....we had crab, sardines wraped in graper leaves grilled, sepia, salad, beans, and some fish, the wines were replaced with samples so no wine bill, but i still paid $133 head with a health no wine tip...desset was awesome yougert with fruit and an amaro...at these prices (and i am not saying its not worth it) the crowd looked wealthy and older than us

i am starting the Xynomavro is a cousin of Nebbiolo club and i have a few members already, the most influencial wine critic told me one day at lunch that traditional made Nebbiolo and Grenache goes well with seafood, well the sardines and a 97 Xyno ROCKED!!
take two at Otto was delish, i let go of my negativity and dove in full on, all the veggie and fish starters were fantastic, the fried fish (fry of the day) was a dream, we asked for the pizza's crispy and they said "we do them one way, Mario's way" maybe its not the first time they have heard this from customers, but they came out crisper and we liked them better (they were still cold before the 2nd bite), whom whudda thought of a sunny side up egg on pizza would be good, it was.....and for dessert its just gelato but the specials were amazing, olive oil and salt gelato with blood orange slice's:>) and ricotta gelato with stewed figs and candied walnuts!!! YUM
CMJ scandal (from dmtree friend brian)

more from the ny post