Plight of the Pumpernickel

Oh Facebook, you saucy minx.

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Social media and dating are a not so unlikely combination. Like peanut butter and bananas, it's a pairing quite palatable to some but inevitably off putting to others.

I've described to you all my own adventures in online dating; it's a wacky world of nuanced emoticons and angled, dramatically lit profile pictures. But online courtship is hardly limited dating websites. And that's a good thing, according to The Economist.

Posted yesterday on the site's Democracy in America blog was a response to David Brooks's woeful NYT op-ed which bemoaned the supposed death of traditional dating and the rise of sterile cyber-courtship.

The social networking juggernaut that is Facebook has, undoubtedly, changed the way in which we pursue the opposite sex. And admittedly, our tendency to indulge obsessive and stalker-ish behavior, a fact of which The Economist is acutely aware.

The Economist counters Brooks's assertion with the claim that the current state of online communications is "more reserved, socially ambiguous and generally Jane Austen-like" than it had been half a decade ago.

"...your internet-dating profile is now just your general online profile, and people can friend you without specifically connoting that they want to sleep with you. Mr Brooks laments: "Suitors now contact each other in an instantaneous, frictionless sphere separated from larger social institutions and commitments. People are thus thrown back on themselves. They are free agents in a competitive arena marked by ambiguous relationships." The ambiguity of these relationships seems to me more like potential romantic relationships in, say, a Henry James novel, not less. As for the "frictionless" issue, back when most people moved in small social circles and a few stable institutions, maintaining contact with a prospective partner was pretty frictionless. You lived in the same small town, you knew each others' families and places of work. As society became more mobile, complex and anonymous, maintaining such contact became hard; and so the initial step of the dating process became the quest by men to persuade women to give them their phone numbers. Facebook has dramatically reduced that friction by making people less anonymous. In that sense it makes society more like an old-fashioned small town, not less."

Here, here. I agree. Sorry Brooks, but I'm definitely more in The Economist's camp on this one. At least the latter makes feel better about my own vices.

Both are definitely worth a read. What are your thoughts?

__________________

Much thanks to the indubitably awesome Corbin Hiar of Hiar Learning for turning me on to these articles.

Teabaggers Storm the Capitol

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:22:00 +0000

Check out the insanity going down on the Hill right now. For those of you outside DC, opponents of health care reform have descended upon the Capitol to air their grievances.

They ain't too happy about it. Does anyone else realize the irony in these people calling themselves 'teabaggers?'

Also, get a load of the mess outside Nancy Pelosi's office. Nope, no hurricanes were involved.

You know how they're going to clean up this mess? Janitors paid with tax payer dollars! That's wasteful spending, damn it! Let's storm the Capitol! Hey, wait a second...

(via Wonkette)

Bacon wrapped matzah balls? Oh, delicious sacrilege.

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Top Chef, ever on the forefront of ingenuitive cuisine, has churned out it's share of chefs with a flair for the dramatic.

The latest newsmaker: Ilan Hall, Top Chef's season 2 winner. In a recent article for the LA Jewish Journal, Hall describes his most recent and perhaps most controversial culinary creation. It might just make your bubbe plotz.

At his LA restaurant, The Gorbals, Hall has been serving up bacon-wrapped matzah balls with horseradish mayonnaise.

That's right. Matzah balls. Bacon. Horseradish mayonnaise. There's so much wrong there, could it possibly be right?

For those of you familiar with this blog, I'm far from kosher. If my extollment of Bistrot du Coin's Moules Bretonnes doesn't prove that, I don't know what will. And yet, something about Hall's dish makes me squirm a bit. It just doesn't seem...natural.

What are your thoughts?

Revealed: the Real World DC House

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Like most young Washingtonians, I've passed by the Real World DC house numerous times longing to see its undoubtedly rad interior.

Imagine my delight when I discovered that the outgoing cast members (filming wrapped last month) gave The Washington Post's Anna Uhls and Dan Zak a tour of their Dupont Circle home.

It's just as crazy as I had imagined, with presidentially themed bedrooms, a jacuzzi, and yes, holes punched in the wall in what must have been a fit of rage. What's more entertaining than violence and destruction of property?

Featured is also my charity date auction buddy from Put Your Best Foot Forward.

Check it out below.

What did yesterday's elections mean? I dunno. Neither does Jon Stewart.

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:28:00 +0000

The comic geniuses over at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart said yesterday what we were all thinking.

Why is the media making such a hullabaloo over yesterday's races? Can such a hodgepodge of results be in any way indicative of future elections?

Probably not, but that won't stop cable news from trying to spin it that way.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Indecision 2009 - Reindecision 2008 And Beyond

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

A Star Wars a cappella tribute? Sure, why not.

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:35:00 +0000

PotP reader I-66 sent me this lovely link a few weeks back, and I'm finding it difficult to contain myself.

It's amazing what happens when you combine an abiding love for wookies, a good set of pipes and far, far too much spare time. The result: a 'Star Wars (John Williams Is The Man)' medley - a cappella tribute.

It's pretty tight, too. Shockingly, singer Corey Vidal, of Toronto, is straight, according to his Facebook profile. Who knew heterosexual men could have such nice hair? His interpretation of the watershed 'Luke, I am your father' moment at the 3:00 minute mark is especially wonderful.

Thank you, Corey, for proving yet again that all things are better done a cappella. Even Star Wars.

UPDATE: The voices on this video are actually Moosebutter, a comic a cappella group from Canada. They're awesome in their own right, though Vidal's, erm, visuals are pretty funny as well.

Restaurant Review: Bistrot du Coin

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:58:00 +0000

Unpretentious French cuisine, is there such a thing? Fear not, gastrophiles. You'll find no raised pinkies or snooty penguin suits at Bistrot du Coin, a low key French haunt in Dupont just above the Circle.

The food here, to put it plainly, is delicious. I've tried everything from steak frites to mussels to pâté to escargot, and I have yet to be disappointed.

It's a crowded, noisy joint with dim lighting, so claustrophobic, hard of hearing people with vision problems beware. Get ready to have people sitting on top of you, banging their chair into yours, and polite but no nonsense waitstaff. They have other people's orders to take, so decide what you want to eat and get on with it already.

On my last visit, I enjoyed a half portion of Moules Bretonnes, a dish comprised of a hearty serving of steamed mussels, lobster meat, shrimps, mushrooms, celery and diced tomatoes doused in lobster bisque. I can not give this dish higher praise. The mussels were sweet and plump, the lobster and shrimp succulent and the vegetables expertly sauteed. I chomped my way through the entire bread basket as I sopped up the creamy bisque which anchored the dish. Seafood, cream and butter, what's not to like?

As you can tell, portions are generous. What you see above is a half portion, which while not gratuitously large is incredibly rich and filling. It'll set you back $14.95, but for the quality of food you get, it's a steal. If your stomach is a bottomless pit, you can also order the full portion for $25.95.

I'm never one to shy away from something sweet, especially when that something can be described as belonging in a patisserie. Stereotypically speaking, the French may not be known for their manners, political leaders of tall stature or high standards of personal hygiene, but gosh darn it, they known pastries.

For dessert, I sunk my spoon into something called“La Tropezienne," a brioche filled with custard and drizzled with a light, fruity sauce. The outside of the pastry was covered with what I can only describe as sugary flavor crystals, coaxed from one of my favorite ingredients, orange blossom water. To state the obvious, this was moan-inducingly lovely. The brioche was substantial yet light and the custard delightfully fragrant.

The dish, while remaining quintessentially French, was an exotic fusion of world flavors thanks to the orange blossom water. The petals of orange blossom are destilled into a citrus-scented version of rosewater, a flavored syrup popular Middle Eastern cuisine, and it is heavenly. Even better, this dish only puts you back $6.45. C'est bon!

With food this good, it's understandable that word got out. Bistrot du Coin is hardly a hidden gem, and the throngs of patrons who crowd the restaurant's two floors are testament to this fact. Come prepared to wait for your table, especially if it's a weekend evening. There's very little space to stand while you wait, so bring a coat and get ready to loiter outside.

But if you have time to spare, an appreciation for some truly delicious French fare, and chuckled that my love for Bistrot du Coin is so lyrical it makes me rhyme, I suggest you drop in.

Bistrot du Coin
1738 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Tel: 202 234 6969

Baltimore: Beloved Sister City or Neglected Step-child?

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:28:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I ventured beyond the beltway to explore that other city not so very far away.

I'm referring, of course, to Baltimore. Charm City, Mob Town, B'more -- whatever you want to call it -- Baltimore is a mere 36 miles away from Washington and makes for the perfect weekend escape.

Being a lifelong Washingtonian, I had my fair share of negative preconceptions when it came to Baltimore. While I've always loved the harbor and the aquarium, the rest of the city left a bit to be desired. I thought the streets were dirty, I was perturbed by its pockets of crime, and for some reason, it always seemed to rain when I visited.

OK, so maybe that last reason isn't very well founded.

At any rate, I paid a visit to friend and Baltimore native, Jon Paley, who was adamant that my reservations about his fair city were hogwash.

His means of persuasion? Music and Jewish deli.

We first went to Ottobar, a hip and happening venue in the Charles Village area. The place attracts a wide range of musical acts, hosting an eclectic mix of punk, metal, indie bands that lure a diverse crowd.

Upstairs, we played pool and downed a few rounds of beer before heading down for a performance by Blitzen Trapper, an experimental folk rock band based in Portland, Oregon.

The venue is small and reminded me a bit of DC's 9:30 Club. The place was packed, but we managed to make our way to the front. We were so close that it felt as though we were sitting on top of the stage. Needless to say, the view was spectacular and the sound quality top notch.

Blitzen Trapper put on an amazing show, and afterward we even chatted with the drummer, Brian Adrian Koch, for about 20 minutes. He was incredibly warm and friendly, and very much appreciative of our obviously excellent taste in music.

The next day, we spent some time outside the city in Pikesville, a nearby suburb. Pikesville is known for its Jewish community (I actually bought my bat mitzvah dress there about 10 years ago), and where there are Jews, there is Jewish deli. And Chinese restaurants, but that's another story.

We patronized Lenny's Deli, though Jon assured me there were several other establishments of better repute. Notably, Edmart Delicatessen, Goldberg's New York Deli and Suburban House. Why so many? There are a lot of Jewish mouths to feed; Pikesville is considered the center of the Baltimore Jewish community and boasts roughly 100,000 members.

However, for the best deli, Jon stressed that I must go to Corned Beef Row, a stretch on the 1100 block of East Lombard Street in downtown Baltimore. The street is a historical landmark renowned for its many Jewish delis and has experienced a resurgence in the last ten years. Of these many restaurants, Attman's is most often noted as the corned beef haven of choice. I plan on stopping in during my next visit.

The final verdict? Baltimore is definitely worth a visit. The city has its own character and feel that set it apart from Washington. The two are most definitely not comparable; each brings something different to the table.

I'm not sure I'd choose to live in Baltimore over DC, but I certainly plan to return for more research. Who knows, maybe there's a Baltimorean in me yet.

The Loss of a Dear Friend

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:58:00 +0000

Lil became a part of my family about 5 years ago when she met and fell in love with my grandfather. Words can not express how much she enriched our lives and how greatly she will be missed.

I've never met someone so full of life, who so defied stereotypes about age, and who was so genuinely filled with love for those around her.

I miss and love you, Lil. I'm so thankful to have known you.

From The Washington Post:

LILLIAN JASCHIK WEISS

On Tuesday, October 27, 2009 of Rockville, MD. Wife of the late Manuel Jaschik; very much beloved and devoted mother of Natalie (Neil) Simon, Phyllis (Ken) Umansky, Karen (Alan) Asman and Pam (Bobby) Kravitz; cherished grandmother of Michelle Simon and Doug Neustadt, Jennifer and Stefan Triandafilou, Michael and Laura Umansky, Lauren and Joe Savariego, Josh and Brittany Simon, Matt and Zach Asman, Marc, Adam and Dana Kravitz; much adored great-grandmother of Mia, Lily, Isabel, Joey, Jake and Dylan; loving companion of Murray Fox and his family.

Lillian, known as "Bubby", was loved by all her friends, relatives and everyone she touched. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 30, 11:30 a.m. at Temple Beth Ami, 14330 Travilah Road, Rockville, MD 20850. Interment, King David Memorial Gardens, Falls Church, VA. The family will sit Shiva following interment through Sunday, at the residence of Karen and Alan Asman. Arrangements by Edward Sagel Funeral Direction, Inc., 301-217-9400.

J Street: Examining the Israel debate on campus

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:15:00 +0000

I sat in on a panel yesterday discussing campus engagement with Israel at the J Street conference. Here's my post for JTA's political blog, Capital J:

Examining the Israel debate on campus

By Rachel Tepper · October 26, 2009

In keeping with their message of youth engagement, the J Street conference featured a panel of speakers from several campuses across the country.

Giving their two cents about campus dialogues about Israel were representatives from Hampshire College (of false-Israel-divestment-accusation fame), University of Maryland, University of Colorado at Boulder and Harvard University.

Panelists agreed that tensions within Jewish groups and between student organizations of various faiths played a significant role in student life and continues to be an ongoing problem.

When asked about the specific nature of these tensions, Hampshire College president Ralph Hexter replied with a chuckle "What tensions don't I face?" Hexter referred to accusations earlier this year that his institution had divested from Israel. These claims, most notably made by political commentator Alan Dershowitz, were later reversed. Dershowitz, as fate may have it, is in fact the parent of a Hampshire College alumnus. On a lighter note, Hexter said that the back and forth between school and pundit was in fact an excellent example of how the school takes care to maintain good relations with the extended Hampshire College family.

According to David Shneer, associate professor of History and director of the Program of Jewish Studies at University of Colorado at Boulder, one way to reduce tensions is to teach politics, but not to preach it.

"It is not the place for professors to politicize their classrooms," stressed Shneer. Instead, he advocated that professors give their students the tools to understand the political landscape, allowing them to then form their own opinions. Shneer even invoked AIPAC (an oft-whispered name at J Street's conference), saying he was proud of students who became engaged with the group after concluding his class. It makes him happy, said Shneer, to see his students being active.

Aimee Mayer, member of the J Street U's student board of directors and president of the University of Maryland J Street U, spoke about the tensions between Jewish, Muslim and Palestinian groups at her university. At times, conflicts got so out of hand that the school required fighting groups to complete mandatory dialogue sessions moderated by the University of Maryland's student union.

However, Dr. Bernard Steinberg, president and executive director of Harvard Hillel, noted that if relationships between groups are nurtured, meaningful and productive bonds can be formed. Steinberg related a story which took place at Harvard earlier this year during the Israeli operation in Gaza, when groups representing views on both sides of the debate decided to jointly host a vigil for the human lives lost.

When Harvard University turned down their request to hold the event at Harvard Yard, citing what Steinberg called bureacratic reasoning (Harvard said lit candles violated the university's fire code, but Steinberg believes Harvard wanted to avoid possible negative press), the Jewish groups sheepishly offered the Harvard Hillel's court yard as a substitute. Knowing that Hillel was hardly neutral ground, Steinberg said the Jewish groups would have considered it reasonable if the Muslim and Palestinian groups turned down the offer. However, they accepted. Steinberg pointed to this story as an example of how a living relationship between Jews and Muslims can be built, and touted it as a model for interactions on college campuses and beyond.

Rihanna and Adam Lambert have a lot in common. Including eyeshadow.

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:24:00 +0000

Is it just me, or do Rihanna and Adam Lambert's new album covers look eerily similar?

Asymmetrical rocker haircut and head tilt? Check. Liberal application of eyeshadow equal parts fierce and fabulous? Check. Hopelessly cool yet completely nonfunctional glove? Check.

All I'm saying is that either these two are working with the same people or they've both been dumpster diving behind David Bowie's house. In 1972.

Ben-Ami: J Street conference “the birth of a movement”

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:09:00 +0000

Live blogging today at the J Street convention in DC. Here's my latest post for JTA's political blog, Capital J:

By Rachel Tepper · October 26, 2009
The buzz surrounding the J Street conference at the Grant Hyatt Hotel in DC has apparently gotten around. The latest numbers indicate that 1500 people are in attendance -- blame late walk-in registrants for the lower number reported earlier -- and roughly 150 members of the press are currently milling about (including yours truly).

In addition, nearly 250 student representatives from 70 college campuses are taking part, representing what J Street executive director Jeremy Ben-Ami calls a "different set of emotions" when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Young people, explained Ben-Ami, have different associations with the state of Israel, as he says is only natural for those with a separate set of life experiences. J Street, he believes, is an organization which embraces these voices.

Ben-Ami offered some colorful responses to reporters in a midday press briefing Monday, calling the idea of a one-state solution a "one-state nightmare."

A question regarding the wall dividing Israel and the West Bank prompted Ben-Ami to respond, "good fences make good neighbors." The problem, he stressed, is not the wall's existence but its placement. He explained that a defined border, agreed upon by both Israeli and Palestinian authorities, must be established.

When asked his thoughts on the suggestion that J Street was a thorn in the side of Capitol Hill lawmakers, said Ben-Ami with a smile, "We're here to help." The Jewish perspective held by those with most political capital, he said, is not that held by most American Jews. These organizations, which Ben-Ami failed to name, have "for too long spoken for the community."

Ben-Ami said Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren's decision not to attend the conference "a serious mistake," and called the conference "truly the birth of a movement." Time will tell.

I Ain't 'Fraid of No Ghosts. Who You Gonna Call? Matt Mulholland!

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:49:00 +0000

In one of the most simultaneously bizarre and awesome videos I've ever seen, Matt Mulholland of New Zealand has recorded himself doing an a cappella rendition of the Ghost Busters theme song.

It's pretty incredible. Why Mulholland is naked and holding a stuffed monkey in one of the frames, I do not know.

That being said, it's still amazing.

(via YouTube)

Be Warned: Do Not Photograph the Limo in Chief

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:03:00 +0000

Apparently, some amateur photogs learned the hard way that you don't take pictures of the President's limo.

Asylum's White House reporter, Tommy Christopher, witnessed a somewhat tense interaction between a Secret Service agent and a man who had snapped an image of the presidential limo's interior.

I was copping a smoke outside the briefing room, where the Secret Service was prepping two of the presidential limos to take him to an event at the Ritz Carlton. They were checking something under the hood when one of the agents pointed through the briefing room window and shouted, "Hey! C'mere!"

Apparently, he had seen one of the cable news tech guys shooting a picture with his iPhone. He made the guy come outside, and show him that he had deleted the photo.

Yikes. Well, now we know. If I had a burly, six-foot-tall Secret Security agent bearing down on me, I'd delete my photograph too.

According to Christopher, the rules are as follows: under no circumstances can photographs be taken of a presidential limo while either the hood or trunk is open.

Despite the no-cameras rule, Christopher was able to take a pretty good mental snapshot:

I can tell you that there were no signs of any hookers or Kenyan birth certificates, but I thought I saw something that looked an awful lot like a flux capacitor.

Maybe that's how Obama was able to travel back in time and save the world, as suggested by Jen Sorenson of Slowpoke comics fame.

Mystery solved.

Zac Efron on Entourage

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:37:00 +0000

A bit late, but as I do not have HBO, I just saw this for the first time. It just made my day.

"Good Yontif!" Why does everything I write about have to do with Jews these days? I guess I can't escape who I am.

Mark my words, Zac Efron is about to become an enormous star. And by enormous, I mean he's going to pull a Justin Timberlake and break himself out of the Disney bubble. You have been warned.

Did I mention he's a Jewish boy? I'll take him.

(via YouTube)

Win a Chance to Meet Dr. Sanjay Gupta...Via Skype for Your Book Club? What?

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:15:00 +0000

This is seriously being advertised on CNN right now:

Have you ever cheated death? Click here to tweet us your medical miracle with #miracle to @sanjayguptacnn

You could win an autographed copy of Dr. Sanjay Gupta's new book, Cheating Death and a Skype guest appearance from Dr. Gupta at your book club event!

Cheating Death is available now on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Borders.

What? People are willing to compete for a chance to Skype with Sanjay Gupta? For their book club? That doesn't seem like a very exciting prize. Especially when you consider that it will probably just wind up being a chance for him to pitch his new book.

Prizes that would be more enticing:

The opportunity to talk to a real doctor who actually practices medicine on living people instead of blabbing about near-death experiences on 24-hour cable news shows.
Learning about medical issues that aren't sensationalist...oh wait, this is CNN. Nevermind.
A front row seat to watch a snail crawl up a pane of glass.

Also, how many people in the world belong to a book club? Other than middle-aged white women?

And we've just discovered Dr. Gupta's target demographic.

The Travel Channel's Adam Richman Visits DC

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:23:00 +0000

Everyone's favorite chazzer, Adam Richman, is coming to DC tonight.

For all you goyim out there, chazzer is Yiddish for 'pig' and usually describes someone who takes pigging out to another level. I don't think Richman would be offended; he's the host of Man v. Food, a Travel Channel show that follows Richman to restaurants across the country and documents his performance in a variety of food challenges.

Tonight, Man v. Food visits Washington, DC. According to spies across the city, Richman was spotted filming at the following locations: Ben’s Chili Bowl (big surprise there), Horace & Dickie’s Seafood Carryout (fried fish galore), and Chick’s & Ruth’s Delly (in Annapolis, but we'll let it slide).

The episode airs tonight at 10 pm EST on the Travel Channel.

Interestingly, there's another reason calling Richman a chazzer is appropriate. While Richman has never talked explicity about his Jewish identity, he's on record crediting his heritage for his larger-than-life appetite.

In an interview earlier this year with Rock & Roll Ghost, Richman explains: "...I think I always dug eating. I come from a family of cooks and eaters. And in a lot of families, certainly Northeastern Jewish families, food is love. Not in terms of a substitution, but in terms of an expression thereof."'

Touche, Adam. Touche. I think my mother would agree.

Obama's Nobel Prize Explained

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:06:00 +0000

Ah, yes. Now it makes sense.

Jewish roots for ‘Where the Wild Things Are’

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:07:00 +0000

Who knew Where the Wild Things Are was so Jewish? My most recent post for JTA explains.

Here's a snippet, click here to read more.

Causing a rumpus in the box office this week: Spike Jonze’s fanciful film adaption of the perennial childhood favorite, Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. The flick was officially the film of choice this weekend, pulling in a whopping $32.5 million.

Sendak’s story, well known for its poignant themes of family and the conflicts it engenders, has some interestingly Jewish roots. Born in 1928 to Eastern European Jewish immigrants, Sendak modeled his “wild things” on aunts and uncles who visited his family’s Brooklyn home on weekends during his childhood.

In a 2005 interview with The Jewish Museum in Manhattan, Sendak said that his only relief from these family members, who pinched his cheeks and had voracious appetites, "was to examine those relatives critically and make note of every mole, every bloodshot eye, every hair curling out of every nostril, every blackened tooth." Sendak even modeled one of the book’s famed phrases, “I’ll eat you up!” from a similar, albeit friendlier saying these relatives used to use: “You're so cute, I could eat you up.”

New Music: Lily Allen

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:50:00 +0000

Check out Lily Allen's new music video for "Who'd Have Known."

I'm a fan of anything that involves the kidnapping of Elton John a la Misery and the framing of Lily Allen in a Kathy Bates-esque role. Because it's just so ridiculous. And has quite little to do with the lyrics of the song.

Unless it's a song about psychotic self-delusion. In which case, this video makes total sense.

At any rate, it's a catchy song. Enjoy.

Happy Blogger-versary!

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:43:00 +0000

Over the weekend, October 17th, Plight of the Pumpernickel celebrated 1 year of existence.

Can you believe it's been 365 days since I wrote my first entry? It's amazing how much a part of my life this little corner of the interweb has become.

Today, this little blog of mine boasts about 140 subscribers, upwards of 130 separate hits a day and has successfully blogged its way into the hearts of countless randos nationwide.

Do you read Plight of the Pumpernickel? I'm constantly amazed by the people who do. This time, don't be anonymous. Leave a comment and share what you'd like to read about next year.

In celebration, I propose the following contest:

Write in the comment section
how you think I should celebrate my blogger-versary.
Whoever contributes the most original idea will:

a) Receive a Plight of the Pumpernickel-themed winner's package
b) Be featured in an upcoming post
c) Become the object of my utmost respect and affection

You know you want it. Let the games begin!

7-Hour Energy Was a Bad Choice

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:49:00 +0000

We've all seen the commercials for 5-Hour Energy, the flavored energy drink that purports to boost energy without the risk of a sugar crash.

The beverage, sold in small "shot" containers, has spawned a slew of drinks boasting similar benefits. CVS sells a product that goes a step further -- the Fuel 7-Hour Energy Shot. 2 more hours of energy? What could possibly go wrong?

A lot, apparently.

I'm an energy shot virgin, so perhaps going straight for the 7-hour stuff was a mistake. But earlier this week, I found my dead-tired self in the energy drink aisle at CVS. I was powerless to resist them.

Fuel's 7-Hour Energy Shot was only $3.99, which I eagerly handed over. Stepping outside the CVS, I unscrewed the bottle and drank it on the street. I felt a little like Alice in Wonderland, sipping a somewhat mysterious liquid from a small vial.

And down the rabbit hole I went. My energy was boosted, to be sure. I had the following exchange with a friend back in the office:

Me: I just drank my first ever 7 hour energy drink! WOWSAS!
Friend: Feeling good?
Me: SO PUMPED
Friend: I've only heard of 5 hour energy. 7 is crazy.
Me: 5 hour energy is for p*ssies.
Friend: Ha.
Me: I have no idea what I just ingested, but I like it.

Aha. As evidenced by this conversation, at this point I seem to have liquid crack coursing through my veins. However, my enthusiasm for the product was short lived.

Seven hours later, the energy crash that I was not supposed to get started to set in. I began to feel tired. I'm talking very tired, the kind of fatigue one feels when given painkillers. I did not feel good, to say the least.

I developed a raging headache. My entire body felt heavy. I thought I was running a fever. Upon arriving home, I checked my temperature. The thermometer registered 96.9 degrees Fahrenheit -- nearly two degrees below normal. Interesting.

I decided the smartest thing to do would be to go to sleep. Channeling my future geriatric self, I turned out the lights at 7:30 pm and fell into a blissful slumber. All was fine and dandy until I was awoken by a phone call from my mother at 10:30 pm. The headache was back now, and I felt hot and cold at the same time. Try as I might, I couldn't get back to sleep.

I finally managed to doze off at 6 am, but only after watching over 7 hours of infomercials. Apparently, after a certain time at night, the only things running on television are Extenze advertisements. We're talking every channel.

Eventually, I gave up trying to click through them all and decided to watch them. Did you know taking a simple pill can increase the size of a certain part of the male anatomy? And that if you're not completely satisfied with their product, they'll refund your money? If Extenze didn't work, could they afford to do this?

Oh, late night informercials.

I woke up at 8 am, meaning I slept for 5 hours total after taking 7-Hour Energy. In one 2-hour and one 3-hour chunk. In certain respects, the energy drink did what it was supposed to do. After all, it did kept me awake.

What have we learned from this episode, boys and girls? NEVER take 7-Hour Energy. In fact, I'm going to take this a step further and suggest that you avoid energy drinks like this in general.

That is, unless you want an evening like the one I just described. Or you desire to gain an intimate knowledge of Extenze commercials. Hey, I don't judge.

Stressful day. Thank goodness for kittens.

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:23:00 +0000

Sorry for not posting today. Pumpernickel fail. I ran all over today, and there was no time to write.

I'm so glad someone thought to put kittens and YouTube together.

Cat yoga. It does a body good. "Let each breath go with a sigh..."

(via YouTube)

Dalai Lama visits Washington, DC sukkah

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:07:00 +0000

Even though the Dalai Lama didn't meet with Obama, he got to experience another kind of first over the weekend: a visit to a sukkah at Adas Israel in Northwest Washington, DC.

The picture is really great. Check out the blog post on JTA. Oh, and you're in for a special treat if you go see the original article. Yep, I'm quoting myself. How awesome is that?!

The Dalai Lama popped in on a Sukkot celebration with a visit to the sukkah of a Washington, DC area synagogue on Saturday.

The Buddhist spiritual leader met with the congregation's worshippers in the sukkah of Adas Israel Synagogue after Saturday's Sukkot holiday prayers, YNet.com reports.

The Dalai Lama told the crowd that it was his first time inside a sukkah, and that he admires Jews very much for their perseverance through years of oppression. He said he has "a lot to learn from the Jews" and sees them as an example for his own Tibetan people, who have been in exile for 50 years.

That Gummy Bear is a Goner...

plightofthepumpernickel@gmail.com (The Pumpernickel) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:50:00 +0000

Whoa. This video shows what happens when a gummy bear, which is composed of sucrose, is dropped into molten potassium chlorate.

Let's just say I'm glad I'm not a gummy bear right now.

(via Boing Boing)

Plight of the Pumpernickel [del.icio.us]

pepper1386 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 14:13:23 PDT

Musings on all things quirktastic in Washington, DC. A young gal out and about, making a fool of herself and sharing it with the world. Drop by for a laugh or to learn something new.