Gas V. Charcoal

It doesn't even matter if you're a carnivore. Using fire to cook with is a primal skill, an accompaniment to spectacle, and a sign to other species that we are superior. Why do you think tailgating is so popular at football games? Nonetheless, if you were required to choose your weapon would it be gas or charcoal?


Gas--It's convenient, easy to clean, and, some claim, the difference in taste is undetectable.




Charcoal--It's an event, a ritual even, less-expensive, and, some claim, more authentic.






I've cooked on nothing but gas until this last week when we picked up a Weber charcoal grill. It truly is an event. Put hair on my chest and burned it off again. And it taste better. Just like the bike that you payed for yourself rode a lot better than the one your aunt gave you for your birthday. O.K. Maybe the taste difference is mental. I did read, however, that in a blind taste test folks couldn't tell the difference between burgers grilled on either but preferred steaks grilled over charcoal. Choose your weapon and explain yourself.

Brother Sport

I have been (possibly) unfairly imposing Animal Collective on my family in the car and around the house lately, but they all agreed this new song is pretty good. Asa expressed his approval with his own Tektonic moves and Magnus just stayed asleep.

If you're willing to make the commitment, you'll need about seven minutes; the song deserves to be heard through.

10 Stuffs the White People I Know Like

10. Salad bars with 1 choice of green but infinite extras--especially gold fish.
9. Papered dogs.
8. Football because every game matters.
7. Anywhere but home.
6. Radio mixes/Satellite radio--It's just one long radio mix isn't it?
5. "Stuff White People Like"--Book and blog.
4. Sufjan!
3. Anything they can BS.
2. A good salsa.
1. Sunglasses.

Patriotism: A Quiz

Is patriotism a tradable stock?
Is it bad ass?
What does it look like?
Does it form a pair with empathy?
If so, are they complementary like dark soda
and Chinese food
or diametrically opposed
like good and evil
encouraging one to choose?
Is patriotism exclusive?
Is the test hard?
What's on the reading list?
What foods increase
the amount of patriotism in humans?
Does it have a dress code?
What symbols are associated with it?
Is it required?
What is the formula
to calculate Gross Individual Patriotism?
Using the aforementioned formula,
what is your GIP?