I bought a box of Indian masala tea because I enjoy it when visiting India. I brewed up a mug and it didn't taste very good. Maybe it needs sugar, so I add some. Still didn't taste right. So then I put half-and-half in. Still wrong. Then I remembered that Indians put sweetened condense milk in it. Make a new mug of tea, break out a long-forgotten tin of sweetened condensed milk (SCM) from the pantry. Add some SCM - still doesn't taste right. Then I add a ton of SCM. It turns out that I don't like the taste of masala tea, I like hot watered-down SCM.
Christmas Eve was our family's tradition of going to a nice North Indian meal at an early dinner hour. Apparently, it's not just our family tradition as the restaurant was packed at 6 pm. Christmas Day was low-key chill. Open up a small number of presents and then an early Thanksgiving-style dinner since our kid was studying abroad for actual Turkey Day.
Pretty good. Mrs Slug started the morning quietly. Double D came over for breakfast. We opened presents.
Later, we went over to the in-laws for dinner and more presents. Dinner was prime rib, scalloped potatoes, brussel sprouts, and king rolls. Dessert was lemon torte (Mrs Slug's contribution in addition to the brussel sprouts).
Really nice time. We're lucky in that we get along with our new family. That is a gift in itself.
Very nice. Had a traditional Finnish Christmas Eve with extended family (25 people) and a visit from Santa Claus, and a relatively quiet Christmas Day with just wife and daughters. How was yours?
#1 World Chess player kicked out of tournament for [checks notes] wearing jeans. Both sides concede a bit when they realize that playing chess is better than having to make money other ways
Wicked part 1 (theaters 6/19 WNB). I saw the musical twice in theaters and loved it. The movie is generally well liked in Rotten Tomatoes. Its pacing is soooooo slow and I ended up being bored, looking at my watch an hour into the movie knowing I had another 2 hours to go. Some people are going to love it. I hated it.
I’ve read the book and seen the musical and liked them both. But I just can’t do two and a half hours for part of the story no matter how good the performances may be.
Absolutely. Just an empty gesture statement that he didn’t think about before issuing. Someone did because he apparently sent out a corrected statement a couple hours later.
Orange Oaf once again brings up idea to buy Greenland and says he wants to merge it with Alaska - nevermind that it is about as close to Alaska as NYC is to Berkeley
DBD COOKING ACADEMY
I bought a box of Indian masala tea because I enjoy it when visiting India. I brewed up a mug and it didn't taste very good. Maybe it needs sugar, so I add some. Still didn't taste right. So then I put half-and-half in. Still wrong. Then I remembered that Indians put sweetened condense milk in it. Make a new mug of tea, break out a long-forgotten tin of sweetened condensed milk (SCM) from the pantry. Add some SCM - still doesn't taste right. Then I add a ton of SCM. It turns out that I don't like the taste of masala tea, I like hot watered-down SCM.
MAC
Mid American Conference. #Maction
Maction is legit this year.
How was your Christmas?
Christmas Eve was our family's tradition of going to a nice North Indian meal at an early dinner hour. Apparently, it's not just our family tradition as the restaurant was packed at 6 pm. Christmas Day was low-key chill. Open up a small number of presents and then an early Thanksgiving-style dinner since our kid was studying abroad for actual Turkey Day.
Pretty good. Mrs Slug started the morning quietly. Double D came over for breakfast. We opened presents.
Later, we went over to the in-laws for dinner and more presents. Dinner was prime rib, scalloped potatoes, brussel sprouts, and king rolls. Dessert was lemon torte (Mrs Slug's contribution in addition to the brussel sprouts).
Really nice time. We're lucky in that we get along with our new family. That is a gift in itself.
Very quiet. Christmas eve was the family get together and big meal, and it was the most enjoyable evening of the month.
Kids were back and my sister and her family were also here. Went to a cousins in Fremont. Saw one of his boys and his family that I rarely see.
Went to see my sister and her husband's installation at the SJ Museum of art since my kids and mom haven't seen it yet.
Quiet like those noted below. On Boxing Day I got together with a cousin from Alaska who is in town because he became a grandfather last week.
Very nice. Had a traditional Finnish Christmas Eve with extended family (25 people) and a visit from Santa Claus, and a relatively quiet Christmas Day with just wife and daughters. How was yours?
PRO
Ron Rivera interviewing for Jets role
https://www.thescore.com/nfl/news/3174346
. . . and Rex Ryan. The Jets continue to be the Jets.
Don't do it, Ron! Don't do it!
Commanders clinch playoff spot. For DC-based readers, playoffs are what happens when your team wins a lot.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43219668/commanders-clinch-playoff-spot-jayden-daniels-stars-again-ot-win-vs-falcons
Fans are insufferable. They tend to ignore the last 30 years when the team was irrelevant.
The last 30 years encompasses all of Snyder's ownership and that of the Jack Kent Cooke Estate, does it not?
Those were not happy years.
Big oof. At least the Giants kept Daniel Jones happy.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/agents-take-inside-the-giants-mishandling-of-saquon-barkley-and-how-the-eagles-rb-is-getting-the-last-laugh
#1 World Chess player kicked out of tournament for [checks notes] wearing jeans. Both sides concede a bit when they realize that playing chess is better than having to make money other ways
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/magnus-carlsen-jeans-dispute-resolved-chess/
Not sure it's true but No 2 said the tournament was sponsored by Levis.
Rodgers overtakes Brady for the most of all time
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/aaron-rodgers-makes-nfl-history-by-breaking-this-painful-record-that-was-held-by-tom-brady/
DBD AV CLUB
Wicked part 1 (theaters 6/19 WNB). I saw the musical twice in theaters and loved it. The movie is generally well liked in Rotten Tomatoes. Its pacing is soooooo slow and I ended up being bored, looking at my watch an hour into the movie knowing I had another 2 hours to go. Some people are going to love it. I hated it.
I thought it was okay.
I managed to avoid the book and musical, so I took in the movie pretty well. It helps if you're a fan of traditional Hollywood musicals.
I’ve read the book and seen the musical and liked them both. But I just can’t do two and a half hours for part of the story no matter how good the performances may be.
CAL
Go Bears!!!
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
Texas isn't just the home of cheerleaders/moms sabotaging their rivals - it's now got the goat girl
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/beloved-show-goat-willie-died-after-being-force-fed-poison-by-teen-who-said-she-tried-to-kill-the-animal-twice-police/ar-AA1vyBEA
POLITICS
RIP Jimmy Carter
Gov. Abbott (R-TX) is still a dumbass
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-gov-greg-abbott-sends-condolences-late-first-lady-rosalynn-carter-after-jimmy-carter-death/287-3098b3ec-6ce2-4d8f-92b3-7f3960331e03
I’m guessing the statement was prepared two years ago when he entered hospice care. Sent out now without even thinking about it.
You'd have thought, though, that Abbott knew about Rosalynn Carter's passing 13 months ago and could understand the need to update the condolences.
Absolutely. Just an empty gesture statement that he didn’t think about before issuing. Someone did because he apparently sent out a corrected statement a couple hours later.
A love story that we need: Jimmy literally knew Roslynn her whole life.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/relationships/a45118/jimmy-and-roslynn-carter-love-story/
Babe Ruth has hit the most HRs during Carter's lifetime, 430. Stanton leads active players with 429.
Jimmy was big baseball/Braves fan, hope he knew this stat!
Huh? All of Hank Aaron's 755 were during Carter's lifetime, no?
Oh, you probably mean among Ruth's homeruns, the majority of them were during..
Oh, yup. Sorry.
President Elect Elon Musk says he likes H1-B visas, Trump says "yeah me too" - sparking a tempest in a teacup from his core racist voter base
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dougmelville/2024/12/29/think-dei-is-dead-enter-the-h-1b-visa-and-elon-musks-war/
This seems like a nice preview of how difficult it will be to govern under Trump/Musk.
So much for America First.
Orange Oaf once again brings up idea to buy Greenland and says he wants to merge it with Alaska - nevermind that it is about as close to Alaska as NYC is to Berkeley
https://thehill.com/policy/international/5059147-former-trump-adviser-robert-obrien-denmark-greenland-alaska/
Well, both Alaska and Greenland are partly within the Arctic Circle, are they not?
It's not the low information voter I worry about. It's the low information POTUS.
Also buy Canada and the US will rule the Arctic circle!
On the bright side, Greenland would not influence the demographics of the parties in elections unless Polar Bears are granted voting rights!
Will Greenland get two US Senators? And a US Representative?
No, it will be a territory. Canada, on the other hand …