Put it in your mouth

Now that so many Korean groceries are being displaced by upscale stores and gentrification, not to mention demolition of old buildings to make way for new ones, there is only *ONE* store that I know of that sells ika shiokara here in New York. (I checked the Japanese sections of several grocery stores in Chinatown--where I didn't see *any* shishamo, although I did find a few brands of nattō.)

So, I need to take the somewhat out-of-my-way subway ride to the Upper East Side to Katagiri. When I double-checked their address on their Web site, I saw that they have been in the same location for 101 years!
I am just so grateful that in this city that is constantly tearing itself apart some continuity somehow survives.

And the tip-off was . . .

. . . the annoying tune it played as it drove down the street.

Police Bust South Beach 'Brothel On Wheels'

. . . doodly doot dee-doo dee-doo, doo-dee doo-dee dee-doo etc.

Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker, Tits

The very existence of flamethrowers proves that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I’m just not close enough to get the job done."

100 points!

A friend of mine has written a new, fun book about the state of wine today. It was reviewed by Forbes recently, and you have got to love Robert Parker's reaction: "It's disgraceful. I'm not going to comment on the book or read it." Or, at least, I admire his reaction--so much internal absurdity in so few words. I don't know whether to think of it as a case of "Criticize Things You Don't Know About" or "Guitar Groups Are On The Way Out"--although I guess, properly, I should appreciate Mr. Parker's comment for it's own perfection, but I'm afraind I can only give it 94 Powell Points.

And I give Alice Feiring 100 Powell Points!

Aw, what the heck, Parker deserve the full 100 Powell Points for his quote. And I'm going to give myself 100 Powell Points for this blog post.

Yay! Everyone deserves 100 Powell Points!

It Can Happen to the Best of Us Dept.

I, unfortunately, have been to too many disasters as president.--President Bush, today

I know what you mean, President Bush; boy, do I know what you mean.