It is very hard for me to imagine that Guinness cupcakes could be anything but super yummy. Make me some–I’ll be your friend.
While we’re talking about food, I’ve got to say that enough is enough. I consider myself at least something of an epicure, so I believe that there are such things as quality olive oils, that some vinegars are worth ridiculous amounts of money, that artisanal cheeses can be wonderful, etc. Hell, I might even believe that there is some discernible quality difference in salt.
But I’ve got to draw the line at butter. Come on–it’s butter.
When I read an article discussing 30 different kinds of craft butter, I’ve got to just say “Stop it”. I can see justifying the cost and effort to source craft versions of some things, but I just can’t believe that the expense and environmental cost (which needs considering with internationally imported goods, especially ones that need refrigeration) require for importing butter can be justified by the subjective difference between things which can both be called butter.
That being said, it’s kind of funny to read the florid, wine-snob-style descriptions of different butters.
It has the lively pungency of fresh goat cheese
possesses an intense aromatic profile and grassy taste
Smooth but not overly unctuous on the palate, it has a clean, tangy flavor
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: don’t mess around with Antarctica–and especially don’t mess around with sea-monsters that display protean behaviour, or radial symmetry.
Scientists who conducted the most comprehensive survey to date of New Zealand’s Antarctic waters were surprised by the size of some specimens found, including jellyfish with 12-foot tentacles and 2-foot-wide starfish.
The story about how Paul Myers (our man at Pharyngula) was blocked from entering a screening of the creationist oeuvre Expelled, but his guest–Richard Dawkins!! (who discusses the incident and film on his site)–was let in, is probably the most amusing anecdote I’ve read lately.
However, the existence of the movie, and the spin surrounding it do fill me with all the disappointment you would expect. I can’t even believe people can make the “science is suppressing dissent by blocking Intelligent Design” argument with a straight face, much less that the funding could be raised to make a propaganda film on that basis.
If you read the very-heavily-framed fluff piece at the Christian Post, you will find this quote:
“People will be stunned to actually find out what elitist scientists proclaim, which is that a large majority of Americans are simpletons who believe in a fairy tale,” said Walt Ruloff, co-executive producer and co-founder of Premise Media, which is producing the film.
I’m not sure I can say it better than that–the problem is that Ruloff thinks the scientists are wrong, when he’s actually the representative of a bunch of simpletons who believe in a fairy tale. Worse, he’s the representative of the subset of religious people who think that their fairy tale is not only moral and spiritual guidance, but actually trumps the rational process and the scientific paradigm. ‘Nuff said.
Oh, OK, one more thing. It has to be said: apparently the creationists lose the argument, since the entire movie calls for the application of Godwin’s Law.
