WTF-Beta

Within the last few years, at least two large ethnic food markets have opened in Staten Island, one pan-Asian (HL Mart) the other Middle Eastern (Mekkah Mart).

This reflects the population changes here, with a marked influx of Chinese, Albanians and Turks. We also have a sudden explosion of Turkish restaurants.

Sociologically, this is irritating some Italian-Americans who believe this is "their" island. They have been for decades a large bloc, but their proportion is declining.

I've been to the Asian market a few times. I just discovered the Middle Eastern one yesterday; they have an amazing panoply of foods. Palestinian olive oil, in gallon tins, even! Lebanese too.

A lot of Mexicans have settled in, and they have their markets too, but they tend to be little places, nothing like the others I mentioned. The Sri Lankan population has 2 or 3 of its own small markets too, and a few restaurants.

I'm enjoying the availability of these varied foodstuffs for my cooking, even if I only understand how to use a fraction of the offerings.

Trump's picture looks awfully similar to his mug shot.

Ate it as a child when my mom served it. And that was the end of it for me. I don’t even know if our local markets sell it.

If people don’t write in cursive, what are graphologists going to do?

Sorry, CHAS, it sounds like your situation is complicated. I had two cataract removals, and after the first I had a retinal tear that was fixed by laser...fortunately vision still very good in that eye. Wishing you the best.

@AndyD said in Can you read cursive?:

Seems like they want free labour.
“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Even if you know cursive, the version of cursive used in Revolutionary War times probably looks a bit different.

Incredible. I shall require a few servants and maintenance staff.

Just no. Brave New World.

Didn’t read the whole thing in depth. I like great coffee and do pour-overs here at home.

But I appear to be out of step with the current coffee movement. I like a dark-ish roast, and the coffee snobs would accuse me of having a leaden palate. I made a trip to a Devoción (mentioned in the article) coffeehouse in NYC and they don’t even offer a dark roast. Nor do other boutique places. Somehow, the fancy light-roast single estate darlings lack body and taste too acidic to me.

Well, I have found a couple of nice coffees that I order consistently. I know there are others out there but it’s Russian Roulette buying random bags and hoping you’ll like them.

Also Chana dal…I think.

You can call them anything; just call me for dinner.

Happy anniversary to us'n's!

Are you sure “turnkey” isn’t a misspelling of “turkey?”

@wtg It’s going to be an exhausting four years.

I don’t have any fear of getting up in front of an audience…but I sure wouldn’t mind some tips on practicing effectively, and accomplishing more in less time.

Used to drink gallons of tea until acid reflux got the better of me. Coffee doesn’t bother me.

That is the title of a book by Molly Gebrian, who is a neuroscientist as well as a musician. I don’t have the book yet (planning on ordering it) but it was well recommended by a musician I know on Facebook as “game changing.” Also well-reviewed elsewhere.

Basically practice technique informed by new knowledge of how the brain works most effectively.

She also has videos on YouTube if you want to get the flavor of what she’s talking about.

Bots?