Slow day at DMTree, so I figured I could find something by typing nonsense words into Google. Just so you know, splidge is posting to everything2.

What are Glutamate and MSG? Glutamate is one of the most common amino acids found in nature. It is the main component of many proteins and peptides, and is present in most tissues. Glutamate is also produced in the body and plays an essential role in human metabolism. Virtually every food contains glutamate. It is a major component of most natural protein foods such as meat, fish, milk and some vegetables. MSG is the sodium salt of glutamate and is simply glutamate, water and sodium. In the early 1900s scientists isolated the ingredient-glutamate-in plants that is the essential taste component responsible for greatly enhancing flavor. In the early part of this century, MSG was extracted from seaweed and other plant sources. Today, MSG is produced in many countries around the world through a natural fermentation process of molasses from sugar cane or sugar beets, as well as starch and corn sugar. Flavor Enhancement Properties When present in its "free" form-not "bound" together with other amino acids in protein-glutamate has a flavor enhancing effect in foods. When MSG is added to foods, it provides a flavoring function similar to the naturally occurring free glutamate. MSG is used to enhance the natural flavors of meats, poultry, seafood, snacks, soups and stews. Multidimensional scaling experiments, which are used in sensory research, indicate that MSG falls outside the region occupied by the four classic tastes of sweet, sour, salty and bitter. This distinctive taste is known as "umami," a word coined by the Japanese to describe the taste imparted by glutamate.

I've recently discovered that my favorite (well, one of...) restaurant Prune has one table "downstairs" that can be reserved for a private party. I think we could squeeze 8 people. It's a small, alcove like experience, but supposedly it is very charming. I know they'd let us bring vino for a reasonable corkage. Anyone up for a dmtree holiday meal? (or after-holiday meal?) Maybe sometime between Jan 1 and Jan 12?

Reuters: Holiday revelers have tried many an odd cure for hangovers, but now doctors suggest one that really might work. Eating honey, according to the National Headache Foundation, could help you avoid hangover headaches altogether. ``Honey on a cracker or piece of toast, before or after drinking, may prevent a hangover,'' according to a statement from the headache experts. ``Honey--as opposed to some other sugar stores--has fructose, which competes for the metabolism of alcohol,'' Dr. Merle Diamond, associate director of the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago told Reuters Health. This competition prevents the rapid change in alcohol levels that causes the 'bang' headache in the morning, she said. ``Tomato juice, another good source of fructose, also helps to burn alcohol faster,'' according to the National Headache Foundation. ``But honey works best,'' she said. More information at www.headaches.org

The Florida sunshine law which implies that a post election independent audit would set the record straight was handily thwarted by the supreme court not establishing (read : intentionally avoiding) a standard for the recounting of unders and overs. They ran out the clock by avoiding this point and accepting the case to begin with. Then blew the whistle to boot. I hate sports metafores.

hey joe where you going with that gun in your hand

Any one know exactly where the space lab is in the night sky. I've noticed somthing bright and always exactly in the same place to the south. Is that it ? Have I found it !?

Now that its almost a done deal I'd like to say that I'm glad GWB will be the new president simply and irresponsibly for the fact that I'm hoping he will continue to entertain many of us as he has done in the past. Still, it saddens me that so many of the people I know here in Southern Louisiana and obviously a few forty million others across the country really voted for such an insubtantial hairball of a guy. Sometimes, the will of mass america scares me, although, I guess in a way its good to know where everyone's standing so we can bob and weave, when necessary. Jesus, Gjr as president. I was never able in good conscience to vote for Clinton but give me the chance to replace Gjr with Slick Willie and I would say, "I love Bill Clinton, and I want you to love him too, and tonite when you hit your knees I want you to ask God to love him." (Guess the movie that last line is from--Bill Clinton is not the name used in the movie--and win a no expenses paid trip to the grand opening of the New Orleans, Louisiana Taco Bell across the street from the parish prison at Broad and Tulane.

Carnegie Mellon University found that e-commerce systems do reduce the use of buildings, but they generally rely on a transportation system that is more energy and pollution intensive (not to mention they clog up the highways and cause air traffic delays and then we as a society complain about it when it's actually our purchases adding to the problem). The "Green Team" at Carnegie Mellon also took into account all those boxes and packing materials, which they say makes the environmental impact of e-commerce 2.5 times worse than conventional commerce.

"should supremes be for life? is that really the best idea?" - df

only dianna, the rest are expendable

listen Mr.South of Santa you must become a photographer

Last Thursdays NYT, Circuts Q and A column answered a request for a spell checker that would cover botanical names.

fans of the film "Heavy Metal parking lot" and the sequil "Neil Diamond Parking Lot" should be thrilled that Anthology Film Archinve is screening Jeff Coulics (sp?) new film "Harry Potter Parking Lot" on Thursday, check tomorrows VV for the time.

Can anyone remember (and post here) George Carlin's 7 forbidden words ? It could increase our hits !

We've had a few laughs around here lately due to the...er...curious search requests that generate hits on our pages (I say 'our' but I really mean 'Bill'.) Anyway, I didn't know (until yesterday) that there is a whole site dedicated to such disturbing search requests (not for the people offended by other peoples search for offensive material.)

i,m sure there are many books on cab drivers, but for an upcoming volume i have a few stories, i love talking to drivers and have had some great conversations inc some where the driver pulls over and we just talk for a while (yes meter off). One wacky ride about 3 years ago was when i got into a car parked @ 7th near 55th, the driver looked a little tired but as he nodded out at every light it was obvious he was stoned on herion, when each light changed i say "i think its time to go now" slow motion action began that was like a turtle in a comic book race, all was fun till he started to go the wrong way down streets in the west village--has anyone been in the one when the driver is a minister and the cab his ministry??--here's why i am leaving this long message because i met The Human Computer as a drove me home tonight and he can in fact tell you the day of the year you were born...

The really important sports news

20 years ago today.

Hey Mike, I found the wine glasses for everyone else to use on NYE.

is this the recalled one??

One of daves (df) post/links a couple of weeks ago put a name to those "small pieces of torn up used plastic baggies". Any one recall what that name was ?

"Open the pod bay doors Hal."
opens tomorrow (Thursday, 12/7, 5:30-7:30) at Feature gallery (530 W 25th St), and features eight artists, including Lisa Beck and David Shaw, who are familiar to some readers of this page. Feature has long been one of the more interesting local galleries. Proprietor Hudson has supported a wide range of artists and aesthetics, creating a community vibe, rather than a hierarchic stable. Eco-friendly techno-spiritual quasi-psychedelic minimalist revisionism, and that sort of thing, if you know what I mean. If not, you'll just have to check it out.

lucky i still have both arm's but my brain feels like those tests where they took a salamander's brains out blended them re-insirted than stiched up (yes they looked like they lived normal lives...)--any one want this experience go see "requiem for a dream"--great movie

rachael were U at the U2 show at urving plaza--i was at a live broadcast--sounded like an awesome show

hey jim (or anyone) werent you going to have a dental referral for me way back when......reaching critical mastication.

Top 10 Simpsons moments of all time. And don't miss this low quality (but fast loading) .wav audio file of the Mr. Burns classic "See My Vest."