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July 30, 2007
EDF
EDF: Eric Drew Foundation
I heard this amazing story about Eric Drew on NPR.
"Fighting for his life
Air Date: 07/27/2007
Eric Drew had his identity stolen while he was in the hospital - and he pursued the thief even while he was undergoing treatment. "
It took me a while to find the podcast, because "the story" confused me with npr podcast story of the day. here is how: http://thestory.org/, and subscribe the podcast.
I can totally feel the empathy toward Eric, when he told the story. I had been in the similiar situation, and I can understand the frustration and anger of the patients who just want to get the right treatment both medically and humanely.
Posted by renh at 12:33 PM | Comments (0)
lemon grass
Udon Noodles with Lemon Grass Clam Broth
Recipe Courtesy of Ming Tsai
Show: East Meets West With Ming Tsai
Episode: Noodles
Canola oil
2 pounds manila or little neck clams, cleaned
6 stalks lemon grass, sliced, white part only
4 slices ginger
2 Thai bird chiles
1 white onion sliced
1/3 cup mirin
4 cups chicken stock
2 packages udon noodles
1/2 pound spinach leaves
1 tablespoon butter (optional, but really good)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt and white pepper to taste
In a very hot stock pot, add 1 tablespoon oil, add clams and stir for 2 minutes. Add lemon grass, ginger, chiles and onion and stir for 2 more minutes. Season. Deglaze with mirin and reduce liquid by 80 per cent. Add chicken stock and turn heat down to simmer. When clams are open, remove and continue slowly simmering the broth. Check for seasoning. Reduce broth by 20 per cent, which should take about 30 minutes, then strain. Bring broth back to a boil; add udon, spinach, clams and butter. Add lemon juice and serve in large bowls.
Shrimp in a Coconut, Ginger, and Lemongrass Broth
Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2001
Show: The Essence of Emeril
Episode: Ginger
1 quart shrimp or fish stock
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons minced shallots
1 stalk lemon grass, finely sliced crosswise
1/4 cup julienned ginger
6 kaffir lime leaves, julienned
2 tablespoons Thai fish sauce (nam pla)*
2 tablespoons Thai hot chile sauce (sriracha)*
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound small peeled shrimp
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons minced green onions
*Available at specialty Asian markets.
Place all of the ingredients except shrimp, cilantro, and green onions in a medium pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Strain and return to the pot. Bring to a boil, add the shrimp and cook until the shrimp are firm and pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and green onions, and serve.
Posted by renh at 12:18 PM | Comments (0)
July 24, 2007
the debate
I just watched some parts of the cnn&youtube democratic candidates debate at youtube. I am a foreigner, and to me it seems that this is a great idea and format to the american public to get them more involved and better informed, although I do agree with a lot of people that it could have been much better with more substance.
My opinion,
Gravel: direct, honest, and kind of bitter. but I like this guy, maybe not as the president-to-be.
Dodd: I am not sure he answered the questions. A definite no.
Richardson: did not stand out particularly.
Edward: sharp, good at playing words, I can see him as being a lawyer. I understand he grew up in a not so affluent family, but that did not justify for his bringing up this issue even when asked who was his favourite teacher.
Clinton: solid performance. I like her. She handled the questions with good strategy and maturity as a politician, and even with some humor. but then again, i hope her ties to the big corporations were less.
Obama: i know it's bad to judge a book by it's cover, but his ears are a problem for me. and i do think that he is not "authentically black enough". he might be more sincere, his fund raising has been successful, esp given the fact that it's most from the smaller donations, somehow, i wish he has been more experienced.
Biden: I like him. he seems to be realistic about the war and knowledgable. he's been in the green zone several times and darfur.
Kucinich: little guy, but his firm stand impressed me. the fact that he did not vote for the war or support for the funding for war seperated him from the rest of the candidates. I wish little guys can have more chances.
overall, i think it's not bad. it's not hard core political debate, but on the other hand it showed the other side of the candidates. and some of the questions were heartfelt. I was impressed by how they were executed and phrased. in the end, i felt kind of sad. who is nominated or elected is not my issue, i am just an ousider. nobody mentioned HIB. from the cnn board, it seems that h1b is bad for americans' job market. but then, they also talk about the education system here, just look at how many kids are failing high school. if enough high tech job candidates are available here, microsoft probably doesn't need to open a new division in vancouver to deal with the hiring problem.
Posted by renh at 06:20 PM | Comments (0)
July 22, 2007
boston gal personal finance blog is good. I found I share some sentiment with her.
Posted by renh at 08:38 PM | Comments (0)
July 14, 2007
potato salad
Potato Salad Copyright, 2006, Ina Garten, All Rights Reserved
Show: Barefoot Contessa
Episode: Pooch Party
3 pounds small white potatoes
Kosher salt
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped red onion
Place the potatoes and 2 tablespoons of salt in a large pot of water. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are barely tender when pierced with a knife. Drain the potatoes in a colander, then place the colander with the potatoes over the empty pot and cover with a clean, dry kitchen towel. Allow the potatoes to steam for 15 to 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, dill, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Set aside.
When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in quarters or in half, depending on their size. Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl. While the potatoes are still warm, pour enough dressing over them to moisten. Add the celery and red onion, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Toss well, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Posted by renh at 11:28 AM | Comments (0)
July 11, 2007
fix the car
I was pulled over by the officer twice. Finally, I realized the problem needed to be resolved as soon as possible. I called the brewers and was told that it would cost $200. After discussioin with bear, I changed my mind and decided to choose DIY. On a very hot noon, I went to autozone and got some small parts. I got a red tape for temporary fix of the lens and a kit for temporary/permanent fix. I cut the red transparent board and attached the patterned paper on top of it. Finally, I stick it onto the broken lens with the white sticker that came with the kit. on top of the white sticker, I attached the red tape just to make it look better and more durable, hopefully.
The staff at autozone were very friendly and helpful.
Posted by renh at 09:35 PM | Comments (0)
squan·der (skwndr)
tr.v. squan·dered, squan·der·ing, squan·ders
1. To spend wastefully or extravagantly; dissipate. See Synonyms at waste.
2. To fail to take advantage of; lose a chance for: squandered an opportunity to go to college.
3. Obsolete To scatter.
n.
Extravagant expenditure; prodigality.
collateral: Assets pledged by a borrower to secure a loan or other credit, and subject to seizure in the event of default. also called security.
Posted by renh at 09:25 PM | Comments (0)
July 10, 2007
BEIJING, China (Reuters) -- China executed a former drug and food safety chief on Tuesday for corruption in an unusually swift sentence which will serve as a warning amid a series of health scandals that have stained the "made in China" brand.
recently the news from China hasn't been very positive. The missing children forced into slavery working in kilns. The pet food poisoning and low quality tire. It is sort of a shame for me to hear this from the radio. but I think maybe this is a good opportunity for the chinese people to do a bit reflection. The majority of the goods China exports are cheap, labor intensive and low tech. Yet there are more and more high tech exports. you go to the store and pick something up, "Ah, another made in China"; however, the brand is owned by US/EU. I think this is a huge problem, the big corporations own the brand name, yet exploit the cheap chinese labor. I don't think this is good chinese economy in the long run. quality control and brand making are important. I hope we all have learned a lesson.
Posted by renh at 08:06 PM | Comments (0)
July 06, 2007
toil:
intr.v., toiled, toil·ing, toils.
To labor continuously; work strenuously.
To proceed with difficulty: toiling over the mountains.
defer v.tr.
To put off; postpone.
To postpone the induction of (one eligible for the military draft).
nihilism:
Philosophy.
An extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence.
A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.
Rejection of all distinctions in moral or religious value and a willingness to repudiate all previous theories of morality or religious belief.
The belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement.
Psychiatry. A delusion, experienced in some mental disorders, that the world or one's mind, body, or self does not exist.
Posted by renh at 01:43 PM | Comments (0)
July 05, 2007
intr.v. loi·tered, loi·ter·ing, loi·ters
1. To stand idly about; linger aimlessly.
2. To proceed slowly or with many stops: loitered all the way home.
3. To delay or dawdle: loiter over a task.
Posted by renh at 11:58 AM | Comments (0)