Not much to report, had a nice long phone call with Mom & Dad. I miss them very much. Any time you hear anyone say they are opposed to gay marriage, and equal rights for same-sex couples, on the ground of “family values,” do me a favor. Please tell them that you know of a man who has been expatriated from his country for the past 14 years because he is married to and madly in love with someone of the same gender. Because of this forced expatriation (due to the rights withheld him but afforded anyone who marries someone of opposite gender) he has been separated for all that time from his nation of birth; aging parents, siblings, nieces and nephews; all of whom he also loves deeply. Then tell them this friend of yours says they should shut the fuck up.
Letter to the Editor of SCMP
I read the article by Stuart Lau regarding a 23% price rise in Seven Eleven stores between October and December of 2011, with some interest. It seems to me that since the global economic events of 2008 the trend in both public sentiment and in the news is to be decidedly anti-business. It seems the new norm to look only for the alleged wrong doings of businesses and place them in rather unflattering light. Continue reading
Insulation.
Today was a record cold day (of some sort) for Hong Kong. The temperature got down to near freezing on some of our mountains, and very uncomfortable in most of the city. In a normally balmy sub-tropical place, the few days of extreme cold we have each year are big news. Continue reading
Spirits and climate.
I am not much of a spirit drinker. Mostly I stick to wine with the occasional beer thrown in for sport. However, I really enjoy a good brandy, Cognac, Armagnac, Bourbon or Single Malt, but only when it is chilly and rainy. In winter those drinks seem so smooth and right… they go down easy, provide a gentle warmth from within and the flavors seem perfect for the weather. In warmer months I might have a Kentucky bourbon or Tennessee mash on ice as a aperitif, but I never have taken to Scotch or the brandy spirits in warm weather. They just don’t seem refreshing or suitable to the weather. I have also never taken to other spirits (Like Vodka, or Gin ) primarily because they are cocktail spirits, and if I want a fruity drink I’ll stick to wine. Continue reading
Year of the Dragon
Many of my non-asian friends may not know, but today is the first day of the year of the Dragon. All of my comments (mostly contempt) for the arbitrary and capriciousness of the Gregorian new year apply here as well. However as a public service message I will now cast your personal horoscope for this, the year of the Dragon. After-all, it’s not like one needs any skill to cast an accurate horoscope… Continue reading
Chinese New Year Eve
Today is Chinese New Year Eve in Hong Kong. I took the day off and Henry and I joined his family at his elder sisters home for traditional CNYE Poon Choy dinner and then a walk around the traditional flower market. Continue reading
Best Supplier Award
This year the best supplier award goes to Chef’s Garden for the simple fact of their recognising that they have an obligation to serve their customers, and that this obligation requires they work hours that are convenient to their customers. Continue reading
Pink Roasts
One of my sisters commented (to Henry) that she wished she could make roasts that were as evenly pink as my duck breast. She didn’t know it was duck breast and she is right, it was seared and then slow roasted. That is the secret to perfectly evenly cooked roasts. Cooking is all about time and temperature, and in this case specifically slow and low. Continue reading
God Damned Bluehost – Recipe
I was going to post this last night, but my blog was again sequestered by Bluehost (my web host), and for no apparent reason (and without explanation) inaccessible to me. Hence the title. Though it might more aptly be called:
Seared duck breast with Bourbon-saffron risotto, braised cabbage and roast root vegetables.
Help Stop SOPA/PIPA
Today I blacked out my site in protest against Sopa/Pipa. Read more in the link.
http://wordpress.org/news/2012/01/help-stop-sopa-pipa/
