Saturday, March 21, 2009
What could possibly go wrong?
Hand up, everyone who knows what the phrase "reactive armor" means. Ok. Ok. Very good. Now, hand up, everyone who would like to wear it.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Recon report
Operating as I am five or more (in some cases, many more) years ahead of most of y'all (age wise, anyway), here's a brief note on something you can expect to encounter in a while: cataracts. All the steroids I took in 2007 and 2008 gave me a big honkin' blur in my left eye, and just last week, I had it dealt with. So far, I'm a satisfied customer. No longer wearing glasses for distance vision, for the first time since I was 12. Near range is another story, but the sheer convenience of wearing just any old pair of non-prescription sunglasses is worth the price of admission.
The procedure is mostly trivial -- expect to blow half a day, plus lining up the usual "responsible adult" to transport you. No pain, briefly sedated, lots of drops in the eye. What you get is the damaged lens removed and a nice new synthetic one implanted -- which of course won't develop cataracts of its own, so barring complications, once you do an eye, it's done.
The procedure is mostly trivial -- expect to blow half a day, plus lining up the usual "responsible adult" to transport you. No pain, briefly sedated, lots of drops in the eye. What you get is the damaged lens removed and a nice new synthetic one implanted -- which of course won't develop cataracts of its own, so barring complications, once you do an eye, it's done.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Shop Local - redux
A while back, I posted my own personal buy local list, saying that "things are tough ..." Well, they haven't gotten any easier, and I believe I'll just repost the list, perhaps with an update or two. Again, if you want these folks to be around, you need to buy from them -- not the big-box stores. Sorry if that's stating the obvious, but I get the impression that not everyone understands it.
And of course, here at the places I beg of you not to spend your money.
Whole Foods: all marketing, all the time, with marginally better quality perishables than low-end supermarkets and a predatory approach to local competition. You spend more for what you buy and get far less value. Not a place to buy wine, either; if you can spell "Bordeaux," let alone pronounce it, you will know more than the wine staff.
Trader Joe's: just say no. There is nothing here that you want, and most of it is of very dubious provenance. Again, the staff know nothing that you don't already know.
Kroger's, Meier's, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Costco, etc. There is absolutely no viable cost/quality equation you can come up with that justifies shopping with these people. None. Don't try.
Wine, Deli, Chocolates | Morgan and York | 1928 Packard, Ann Arbor 48104 | 734 769 9770 | http://morganandyork.com/ |
As we say in Ann Arbor, "you know, the old Big Ten Party Store." Repeatedly voted Best Wine Shop. Especially in the realm of small French labels and Kermit Lynch - imported values, this is the place. Update 2009 03 16: see Matt's Wine Buying Trip journal. | ||||
Wine | Everyday Wines | 407 N. Fifth Ave - 1st Floor Ann Arbor, MI 48104 | 734.827.WINE | http://www.everyday-wines.blogspot.com/ |
Just as the name implies, Mary Campbell's shop is dedicated to affordable wines. Update 2009 03 16: not the easiest place to see from the street, but always worth a trip. | ||||
Produce, high-end groceries, wine | Produce Station | 1629 S. State St. Ann Arbor MI 48104 | 734.663.7848 | http://www.producestation.com/visit.php |
With the exception of the Farmer's Market in season, there is no better place for produce in Ann Arbor, period. Small, inconvenient to get to and get around in, it's worth the effort. Unofficial Rules: do not use a full size grocery cart (even though they have them), do not bring children. Update 2009 03 16: Produce Station has invested in wine and beer as an additional source of revenue, and they do tend to have a good selection of Spanish reds, if you're looking for Tempranillo. | ||||
Deli, luxury foods, coffee beans, bread | Zingerman's | 422 Detroit Street, Ann Arbor MI 48104 | 888.636.8162 | http://www.zingermans.com/default.aspx |
Although Zingerman's is the Superpower of local vendors, with aspirations to a global reach via their mail order side, they're still local, and they still roast a fine coffee bean. | ||||
Produce, meats, plants | Ann Arbor Farmers Market | 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor 48103 | 734 994-3276 | http://kerrytown.org/detail.asp?id=336 |
In season, the best produce available. In the winter, a desolate tundra of crafts and wreaths. I mark the return of reasonable weather in the area by the reappearance of edible things at the market. Unofficial rules: no strollers! Update 2009 03 16: still not much edible, but Spring is coming! | ||||
Produce, groceries, wine | Fresh Seasons Market | 2281 W Liberty St, Ann Arbor MI 48103 | (734) 662-6000 | (nothing useful yet as a website) |
Again, "the old Coleman's Market." Not on my beat, but Northwest Side residents swear by it. | ||||
Meats, produce, groceries | Sparrow Market | 415 N. Fifth Ave - 1st Floor Ann Arbor MI 48104 | 734.761.8175 | http://www.kerrytown.com/sparrowmeats/index.html |
There is no better, more consistent source of meat in Ann Arbor, with the possible exception of the actual raisers who come to the Farmer's Market. The rest of Sparrow's empire in Kerrytown is pretty darn good, too. Update 2009 03 16: Bob and company seem to be hanging in there, and it's coming up on lamb season! | ||||
Meat | Hannewald Lamb | Stockbridge MI 49285 (in the Farmer's Market, too) | 517-851-4718 | http://arbormarket.googlepages.com/hannewaldlamb |
A local raiser, with a Farmer's Market presence. The absolute best lamb I've ever cooked, and nice dog treats, too. | ||||
Smoked fish etc. | Durham's Tracklements | 212 East Kingsley Street Ann Arbor MI 48104 | 734-930-6642 | http://www.tracklements.com/contact.php |
Nationally-known source for great smoked fish and other smoked animals. In fact, a tiny hole in the wall on the north side of Kerrytown. Wonderful stuff. | ||||
Groceries | Busch's | various | various | http://buschs.com/ |
Although Busch's exhibits most of the faults of supermarkets, it is, at least, a local enterprise. If you absolutely, positively have to shop at a supermarket, these are slightly better than the other places. Not recommended for anything that perishes or comes in grades of quality, such as fish, meat, deli, or produce. | ||||
Dog-related Stuff | Dog-o-Mat | various | various | http://www.dog-o-mat.com/ |
The retail presence of Carolyn's Ann Arbor dog empire, including the most exclusive dog recreational facility in the area, Pawrun. |
And of course, here at the places I beg of you not to spend your money.
Whole Foods: all marketing, all the time, with marginally better quality perishables than low-end supermarkets and a predatory approach to local competition. You spend more for what you buy and get far less value. Not a place to buy wine, either; if you can spell "Bordeaux," let alone pronounce it, you will know more than the wine staff.
Trader Joe's: just say no. There is nothing here that you want, and most of it is of very dubious provenance. Again, the staff know nothing that you don't already know.
Kroger's, Meier's, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Costco, etc. There is absolutely no viable cost/quality equation you can come up with that justifies shopping with these people. None. Don't try.
Matt Morgan's Wine Journal
Our good pal, Matt Morgan of Morgan and York is on a buying trip to various vintners in France. His illustrated trip report is here -- good reading if you're a fan of non-Parkerized, real wines.
Tempers flare, shoes fly
To believe or not ... according to this conspiracy theorist, Iranian President Ahmadinejad was himself the victim of a shoeing, after a bit of a PR issue (his motorcade running down a local). The Iranian Govt. denies it. Take your pick. But if it's true, then it seems we may have a dangerous trend of escalation going on here -- it's no longer enough to fling pies at those of whom we disapprove. Shoes (presumably) hurt more.
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