Text 8511, 98 rader
Skriven 2008-06-05 17:44:00 av Michael Loo
     Kommentar till en text av GLEN JAMIESON
Ärende: BEYOND RANTS 426
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 GJ> From what I have read, both, although the temperature has much to do
 GJ> with it.  As the world warms, the "North Island of Australia" (as the
 GJ> Tasmanians call it) will have fewer areas suitable for growing quality
 GJ> whites, which will then come more from Tasmaniacs and Kiwis.
 
Well, then I'll quit drinking, which will be good for me, as
I prefer cooler-weather wines of all sorts.

 GJ> any other chains within USA which are based outside USA - for example
 ML> Yep, bunches of them. Wagamama, Angelo Pietro, Pret a Manger
 GJ> I don't recall reading of any of those in your reports on travel
 GJ> foods, or aren't there any that you recommend?

You don't recall reading about most other chains in my reports,
either. I did have the famous natto spaghetti at Angelo Pietro
once: it was sort of like carbonara with snot in it. I don't
recall having eaten at Wagamama, though there are others who
swear that I did. Pret a Manger I will avoid, as it sells mostly
sandwiches (which I am not in general fond of, except burgers,
which are intrinsically wonderful even if they are served on
buns).

 GJ> Of the groceries, Aldi has been getting established on our east coast,
 GJ> where it has been very successful in undercutting the big two of
 GJ> Woolworths and Coles.  When in Melbourne recently I tried a $5.99
 GJ> bottle of their red, which was very drinkable.

Aldi owns Trader Joe's.
 
 ML> China argues that as "Western"
 GJ> countries (which in this instance includes Australia, which is to the
 GJ> South) used lots of petroleum to achieve their present high standard
 GJ> of living, why shouldn't China?
 ML> "Because you don't have to" has a good ring to it.
 GJ> Try telling that to the millions of Chinese who are now building and
 GJ> buying cars at a greater rate than any other country, forcing up the
 GJ> cost of our countries' fuel, mainly diesel.

I'm not bothering. There was some talk of carbon neutrality
today, but most buzz was generated by our guest speaker, who
told us that the way she was coping with stage fright was by
imagining that she was addressing the world's largest Gryffindor
reunion. She put in a big pitch for Amnesty International, which
has as many bones to pick with China as the environmentalists.
I have always been down on Taiwan, but I have always been very
down on Communist China.

 GJ> Modern nuclear generators are designed with so many redundancies that
 GJ> the "big disaster" cannot occur.

One hopes so, but lots of cannots still do.

 ML> I'm still looking at wind power and solar cells.
 GJ> The main advantages of those sources are where a local installation
 GJ> can save building long power lines, or fuel is very expensive, such as
 GJ> on isolated islands or way out in the bush.

And fuel isn't going to get to that level of expensiveness, you think?

   Their main disadvantages
 GJ> are that they need diesel or coal back-up capacity after the sun sets
 GJ> and the wind stops blowing. The best environmental solution of all is
 GJ> "hot rocks", using the heat of the Earth.

Geothermal is a good idea, but I wonder whether it's good for
areas of huge population density. Could it not be the backup
after the sun sets? 

 GJ> I see you have been researching Nando's   :)

At some point I'll find out whether it is as good as
the chicken chains we have already.

Pineapple Haupia
cat: dessert
servings: 6

1 cn (8 1/4 oz) crushed pineapple
3 Tb cornstarch
3 Tb sugar
1 ds salt
2 c coconut milk

Drain pineapple well.

Combine cornstarch, sugar and salt; stir in 1/2 c coconut milk to
form smooth paste.

In a saucepan, heat remaining milk on low heat. Stir in cornstarch
mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Stir
in pineapple. Pour into shallow 8" square pan. Let cool until firm.

Honolulu Star-Bulletin 4/23/08

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