Obama... Sushi...

Obama Sushi. Need I say more?

Via coldmud via The Food Section.

Another great reason to move to Switzerland...

Not only do they have the Alps, fantastic transportation and Zurich (the 4th most livable city in the world), but living in Switzerland means eating Swiss chocolate. And lots of it, apparently.


The NZZ (a newspaper that many people I know love, but I can't really read) reported today that despite the economic downturn/credit crunch/recession/depression/whatchamacallit, the Swiss "Schoko-Industrie" had its best year ever in 2008. This doesn't surprise me really, since chocolate is one of life's most fantastic affordable luxuries which people are less likely to give up when times get tough.

More astounding, I think, is the fact that the average Swiss resident eats 12.4 kg of chocolate a year (including imports). This works out to more than a kilogram of chocolate a month, which boils down to about 30 grams a day.

It seems that before I can live there I have some catching up to do. I think I can manage.

Keeping the peace in cottage country

It's been a while since I've posted anything here (and that's an understatement), but recently I read something so puzzling that I have to share it.

A summer scene on the banks of the Gull River, Minden

Some of you may know Minden, Ontario; famous for the surrounding cottage country, Dollo's IGA and the Rockcliffe Hotel/Tavern, it is a small town of which I am very fond.

It seems that there is some controversy surrounding the Chili Competition being held in Minden on February 15th as part of the town's 150th anniversary celebrations. This year (as opposed to previous years?) the cook-off will be "violence-free". Read this curious post from the Minden Sesquicentenial website (via Penny's Blog) to try to find out more. Let me know if you have any luck.

And remember - be careful with chili, it can really get the tempers flaring.