These are our voices. They talk about food.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Cascarones
Cascarones are confetti-filled eggs that you crack on peoples' heads in the time of Easter. Many people think they come from Latin America, but they really originate in China. When Marco Polo brought them to Italy, they were filled with perfumed powder and given as gifts. They were brought from Italy to Spain to Mexico, where the powder was replaced with confetti. The Spanish word for eggshell is cáscara, which names the eggs. It is said that having a confetti egg cracked over your head means good luck, so eggs are sometimes cracked on special occasions such as birthdays and weddings (where they may be filled with bird seed).
Cascarones are made by hollowing out the egg and stuffing it with confetti. First, you take a paring knife and make a small hole in the egg. After rinsing it out and letting it dry, the shells are dyed and decorated. The egg is filled with confetti and covered with paper. If you don't want to make the eggs, you can often buy them at roadside stands or grocery stores in the time of Easter. Hide the eggs and hunt for them, or just sneak up on a friend and smash one (gently) on their head. It's a great way to celebrate Easter!
Cascarones are made by hollowing out the egg and stuffing it with confetti. First, you take a paring knife and make a small hole in the egg. After rinsing it out and letting it dry, the shells are dyed and decorated. The egg is filled with confetti and covered with paper. If you don't want to make the eggs, you can often buy them at roadside stands or grocery stores in the time of Easter. Hide the eggs and hunt for them, or just sneak up on a friend and smash one (gently) on their head. It's a great way to celebrate Easter!
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| Cascarones, in all of their colorful glory |
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Lexeme* to Bamboozle** your friends.
Today, Dearest readers, I feel the need to amplify your english lexeme. Of course, please use these wisely. Definitions, pronunciation and the like come from Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, which is one of my favorite lexicons.
So, without farther babble on my part, so words for you:
1) ruritanian [roor-i-tey-nee-uhn] adj. noun
a mythical, romantic kingdom conceived as the setting for a fairy tale,drama, comic opera, etc.; any small, little-known country or region considered remote, backward, or exotic.
It was a ruritanian novel, and reminded Ariel of childhood tales.
2) Estival [es-tuh-vuhl] adj.
3) Frivolous [friv-uh-luhs] adj.
5)inane: [in-an] adj.
6)abhorrent: [ab-hor-en(t)] adj.
7)dissemination: [dis-em-e-na-tion] noun
8)ambiguous: [am-big-yu-wes] adj
9) bestial: [ bes(h)-chel] adj;
10 ) begets: [bi-get] verb transitive
Today's Words were provided by the letters A and B, and by the number 12.
*[lek-seem] a word or base; a vocabulary item
**[bam-boo-zuhl] to perplex; mystify
So, without farther babble on my part, so words for you:
1) ruritanian [roor-i-tey-nee-uhn] adj. noun
a mythical, romantic kingdom conceived as the setting for a fairy tale,drama, comic opera, etc.; any small, little-known country or region considered remote, backward, or exotic.
It was a ruritanian novel, and reminded Ariel of childhood tales.
2) Estival [es-tuh-vuhl] adj.
pertaining to summer; of or occurring in summer
Ms. Young’s dress is quite estival today. 3) Frivolous [friv-uh-luhs] adj.
characterized by lack of seriousness or sense; lacking any serious purpose.
The decor in her house was frivolous.5)inane: [in-an] adj.
lacking substance, meaning or point
Twilight fan’s antics are inane. 6)abhorrent: [ab-hor-en(t)] adj.
causing disgust, hatred, etc.; detestable
The way the budget is being handled is quite abhorrent. 7)dissemination: [dis-em-e-na-tion] noun
to spread abroad as though sowing seed (~ ideas); To disperse through out; to spread widely
The dissemination of the black plague was quite fast. 8)ambiguous: [am-big-yu-wes] adj
doubtful o uncertain; capable of being understood in two or more possible senses.
The projects for SciTech are always ambiguous at the beginning. 9) bestial: [ bes(h)-chel] adj;
of or relating to beasts; resembling a beast; lacking intelligence or reason; marked by base or inhuman instincts or desires.
We must quell our more bestial impulses and find the common ground. 10 ) begets: [bi-get] verb transitive
to produce as an effect
Violence does not beget peace, no matter which way you look at it. Today's Words were provided by the letters A and B, and by the number 12.
*[lek-seem] a word or base; a vocabulary item
**[bam-boo-zuhl] to perplex; mystify
3D chalk art
This is neat, very neat. An artist called Julian Beever makes chalk art on sidewalks, that, from a certain viewpoint, appears 3D. This will not work from any other viewpoint.
For example, this piece
But from another angle...
Julian Beever has travelled all around the world to make his chalk art, becoming very skilled. He is well known for his ability to make amazing looking water.
And now, for your enjoyment, some of his works
For example, this piece
Sofie (^_^)
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Sofie's Leads
Lead 1: Shocking Statement
Misa Ando came to America full of expectations. She was leaving her family for a full school year to come stay with people she had never met face to face before.
Lead 2: Descriptive
Misa Ando walks briskly down the hall and taps me on the shoulder. She smiles sweetly and politely points out that the planned meeting place, the library, is closed for an exam. She sighs and thinks a while about where to go. We head to the art room, somewhat noisier than the library, but the bustle and clamor seems somehow to be more fitting.
Lead 3: Twist
When she came to America as a foreign exchange student, Misa Ando had no idea of the tragedy that would happen later that year. When she heard that Japan had been hit by an earthquake then tsunami, she was shocked. “[I was] depressed for three days,” she says, though the crisis was far away from her home in Japan.
Misa Ando came to America full of expectations. She was leaving her family for a full school year to come stay with people she had never met face to face before.
Lead 2: Descriptive
Misa Ando walks briskly down the hall and taps me on the shoulder. She smiles sweetly and politely points out that the planned meeting place, the library, is closed for an exam. She sighs and thinks a while about where to go. We head to the art room, somewhat noisier than the library, but the bustle and clamor seems somehow to be more fitting.
Lead 3: Twist
When she came to America as a foreign exchange student, Misa Ando had no idea of the tragedy that would happen later that year. When she heard that Japan had been hit by an earthquake then tsunami, she was shocked. “[I was] depressed for three days,” she says, though the crisis was far away from her home in Japan.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Clarissa's Leads
Lead No. 1 Descriptive:
A cloud moves in the sky, changing the shadows over the uneven ground. A split second later, the sound of a shutter goes off, and Emily removes her camera from her face to look at the picture she just took. She nods silent approval of the photo, and moves to a new target a bit farther on.
Lead No. 2 Descriptive:
There are over a thousand photos posted on her facebook. Each one is different, each one tells you something. These thousand are the ones that survived.
Lead No. 3
“I just choose what ever i think will look cool, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes it does,” Says Emily Park about photography. Emily is a Photography major at Ithica Collage.
A cloud moves in the sky, changing the shadows over the uneven ground. A split second later, the sound of a shutter goes off, and Emily removes her camera from her face to look at the picture she just took. She nods silent approval of the photo, and moves to a new target a bit farther on.
Lead No. 2 Descriptive:
There are over a thousand photos posted on her facebook. Each one is different, each one tells you something. These thousand are the ones that survived.
Lead No. 3
“I just choose what ever i think will look cool, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes it does,” Says Emily Park about photography. Emily is a Photography major at Ithica Collage.
Leads (Ariel)
Several years ago, Benny Lewis happened to be in Valencia, Spain, working as a photographer at a party. Spotting a lonely guy in the corner, he walked over, took a girl, and put them next to each other so that he could have another picture. Years later, the man asked gave him a full-day tour of Naples, because that girl became his wife. This isn’t the only time Benny Lewis has brought people together; in fact, he spends every day discovering the way people live and making them feel at ease. (Narrative)
Benny Lewis is always looking for somewhere new to go. Even while stationary, his eyes dart around, checking out the locale, “sussing out the area”. (Description)
Benny Lewis’ life is a massive social network. (Startling Statement)
Benny Lewis is always looking for somewhere new to go. Even while stationary, his eyes dart around, checking out the locale, “sussing out the area”. (Description)
Benny Lewis’ life is a massive social network. (Startling Statement)
Friday, April 8, 2011
Carnival
Carnival is a Brazilian festival that occurs directly before Lent. Although it has Pagan origins in Saturnalia, it became a celebration of worldly pleasures, such as partying! Carnival occurs for the entire week. Shops shut down and people turn out to celebrate. In Rio de Janero, the location of the biggest carnival, many neighborhoods have parades with blocos, groups of people playing instruments or performing. Samba schools, groups of dancers, perform in the Sambadrome, which lasts for four days. They prepare all year round for this occasion. A fat man is chosen to play the role of Rei Momo, Carnival King. Feijoada, a bean and meat stew, and pastries with sweet and savory fillings are eaten during this holiday.
On another note, this week I interviewed Benny Lewis, a traveling, multilingual blogger who just happened to be in Austin. Benny travels new places every two to three months and knows eight different languages. He was just heading off to Amsterdam when I caught him on his last day here. I was very fortunate to interview him. Check out his blog to read about some interesting travel experiences!
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| The biggest party on the planet.... |
On another note, this week I interviewed Benny Lewis, a traveling, multilingual blogger who just happened to be in Austin. Benny travels new places every two to three months and knows eight different languages. He was just heading off to Amsterdam when I caught him on his last day here. I was very fortunate to interview him. Check out his blog to read about some interesting travel experiences!
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| Benny Lewis, in all of his glory and wit |
Japanese Schools
Well, I am writing a feature story about a Japanese exchange student at our school. I thought it might be interesting to know a bit more about Japanese schools and school life.
Though most schools in Japan (over 95%) are public, many require that students wear uniforms. Schools in Japan are generally more strict about rules and learning than in America. Classes study toward a major exam at the end of the year. Athletics and clubs are very popular in Japan, with students usually being a member of at least one. Lunch is eaten in the classroom, and can be bought or brought (bento is a traditional japanese lunch box). The students have to clean their own classrooms. They sweep, scrub the floor and clean the erasers. When entering the school, students must take off their shoes and put on indoor shoes, to keep the floors clean. The school year actually begins in April, with several breaks in between. High school, or similar schools, aren't required but most students attend them anyway. Elementary school tends to focus on organized, group activities, such as art and music. Middle school often focuses on getting into a good high school.
Sofie (^_^)
Though most schools in Japan (over 95%) are public, many require that students wear uniforms. Schools in Japan are generally more strict about rules and learning than in America. Classes study toward a major exam at the end of the year. Athletics and clubs are very popular in Japan, with students usually being a member of at least one. Lunch is eaten in the classroom, and can be bought or brought (bento is a traditional japanese lunch box). The students have to clean their own classrooms. They sweep, scrub the floor and clean the erasers. When entering the school, students must take off their shoes and put on indoor shoes, to keep the floors clean. The school year actually begins in April, with several breaks in between. High school, or similar schools, aren't required but most students attend them anyway. Elementary school tends to focus on organized, group activities, such as art and music. Middle school often focuses on getting into a good high school.
Sofie (^_^)
Cheesecake!
Cheesecake!
okay, so if you don’t know what a cheesecake is, then you’ve been living under a rock.
Just saying.
more to the point: The other day, I made my very first home-made cheese cake! It was plain, true, but absolutely amazing. Why did i make it? well, because; a) I like to make good food, and b) store-bought cheesecakes can get pricy.
Any way, the recipe I used can be found here.
okay, so if you don’t know what a cheesecake is, then you’ve been living under a rock.
Just saying.
more to the point: The other day, I made my very first home-made cheese cake! It was plain, true, but absolutely amazing. Why did i make it? well, because; a) I like to make good food, and b) store-bought cheesecakes can get pricy.
Any way, the recipe I used can be found here.
so, for all of you who wish to make your own, here is the recipe I used:
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus room-temperature butter for pan
- 12 graham crackers (3-by-5 inch)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 2 1/2 pounds bar cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make crust: Butter a 9-by-3-inch springform pan. In a food processor, pulse graham crackers until fine crumbs form; add melted butter, sugar, and salt, and pulse to combine. Press crumb mixture into bottom and about 1 inch up side of pan. Bake until set, 12 to 15 minutes; let cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven to 325 degrees.
- Set a kettle of water to boil. Make filling: Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese on medium until fluffy, scraping down side of bowl. Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy. Beat in lemon zest and juice, and salt. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down side of bowl after each addition. Beat in sour cream.
- Wrap bottom half of pan in foil. Pour in filling; place in a roasting pan. Pour in boiling water to come halfway up side of springform. Bake until just set in center, about 1 3/4 hours. Remove pan from water; let cool 20 minutes. Run a paring knife around edge; let cool completely. Cover; chill overnight before serving
Edits: the water is to make sure the cheesecake doesn't break while cooking, but it's entirely cool if the surface does split.
--issa
Friday, April 1, 2011
British TV: Doctor Who
Time for a little bit of travel:
There are some things the British are proud of. One of which is Doctor Who. Doctor Who is the longest, continually running Sci-Fi show. It’s been on air since 1963. The show centers around a nine-hundred year old alien called The Doctor. No-one but River Song (that’s a girl) knows his real name. The Doctor, and all other Time Lords (his race) can regenerate to avoid death, which in the real world means that a new actor takes over the character. There have been 11 different Doctors,the current one is being played by Matt Smith.
The Doctor Takes around companions on his travel. Oh, yeah, forgot to tell you. The Doctor has a TARDIS. TARDIS stands for Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space. The TARDIS is a time machine, which is in the shape of a British Police Box.
Doctor Who was first aired on November 23, 1963. The show failed out by 1989, and was turned into a radio show. In 2003, Russel T. Davies started the TV series up again. The First episode of the new series, “Rose” aired on BBC, on March 26 2005. The 6Th series of the new series comes out on Easter weekend of this year (!).
How is this travel? Doctor who goes everywhere, from London, England, Modern day, to Pompeii on Volcano day. From watching Doctor Who, you learn history, and about the dangers of the future. It’s an amazing show.
I suggest you watch it. now.
There are some things the British are proud of. One of which is Doctor Who. Doctor Who is the longest, continually running Sci-Fi show. It’s been on air since 1963. The show centers around a nine-hundred year old alien called The Doctor. No-one but River Song (that’s a girl) knows his real name. The Doctor, and all other Time Lords (his race) can regenerate to avoid death, which in the real world means that a new actor takes over the character. There have been 11 different Doctors,the current one is being played by Matt Smith.
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| and his bow tie |
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| Doctor # 10 (played by David Tennant) and the Tardis |
Doctor Who was first aired on November 23, 1963. The show failed out by 1989, and was turned into a radio show. In 2003, Russel T. Davies started the TV series up again. The First episode of the new series, “Rose” aired on BBC, on March 26 2005. The 6Th series of the new series comes out on Easter weekend of this year (!).
How is this travel? Doctor who goes everywhere, from London, England, Modern day, to Pompeii on Volcano day. From watching Doctor Who, you learn history, and about the dangers of the future. It’s an amazing show.
I suggest you watch it. now.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Fish Tanks!!!!1!
Look at some awesome fishtanks:
Like this toilet, half of the tank is for fish and half is toilet stuff
or this sink one, it has to confuse the fish
apartment anyone?
It's a little cramped in here
Next on the fish channel... more fish!
Well that was interesting and educational... kind of. But in any case, I hope you enjoyed looking at these, who knew aquariums were so versatile? But still, I won't be buying these anytime soon.
Sofie (^_^)
Like this toilet, half of the tank is for fish and half is toilet stuff
or this sink one, it has to confuse the fish
Well that was interesting and educational... kind of. But in any case, I hope you enjoyed looking at these, who knew aquariums were so versatile? But still, I won't be buying these anytime soon.
Sofie (^_^)
Vosges Haut Chocolat
My family eats a lot of gourmet chocolate. I mean, why buy five bars of crappy Hershey's chocolate when you can have one bar of truly satisfying and interesting chocolate? One of my favorite brands of chocolate is Vosges Haut Chocolat. Exotic chocolates are created by Katrina Markoff from her Chicago kitchen. Katrina is a Cordon-Bleu graduate and personally picks all of the flowers, fruits, and spices that go into the chocolate. She has traveled to places such as Spain, Southeast Asia, Australia, France and Italy, and her chocolates have an East-meets-West theme. Some of the chocolates I have tried:
- Naga Bar: Milk chocolate with coconut and curry powder. The coconut provides a nice crunch to this chocolate, and I find it very creamy.
- Red Fire Bar: Ancho and Chipotle chiles and cinnamon make this dark chocolate bar kind of spicy. Has a good kick.
- Blood Orange Caramel Bar: I found this combination really weird. I didn't like it much; the orange and caramel were pretty overpowering.
- Cherry Rooibos Bar: This sweet, delicate milk chocolate bar tastes of tea and cherries.
- Peanut Butter Bonbon Bar: The peanut butter in this bar is kind of overpowering and not sweet at all. The taste is good, in the end, but takes some getting used to. Too salty.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Cheeses from...
Denmark! Today, we will highlight cheeses from Denmark, the only country with a "D" beginning its name.
First up: Saga
Saga is a soft cheese, from cow's milk. It is like brie and blue cheese combined. Great for desserts as well as with wine (if you are of the age). It can also now be found in America.
Second: Havarti
Havarti is more commonly known. It is a semi-soft cheese, from cow milk.It is named for the farm in Denmark that originally created it. A very simple flavor, buttery and sweet, a slight hazelnut flavor if it is aged longer.
Finally: Esrom
Esrom is a semi-hard cheese with a mild flavor and buttery texture, getting sharper with age. It is made from cow milk. Often times, seasonings are added to enhance and complicate the flavor.
To find out more go to this site.
Sofie (^_^)
First up: Saga
Saga is a soft cheese, from cow's milk. It is like brie and blue cheese combined. Great for desserts as well as with wine (if you are of the age). It can also now be found in America.
Second: Havarti
Havarti is more commonly known. It is a semi-soft cheese, from cow milk.It is named for the farm in Denmark that originally created it. A very simple flavor, buttery and sweet, a slight hazelnut flavor if it is aged longer.
Finally: Esrom
Esrom is a semi-hard cheese with a mild flavor and buttery texture, getting sharper with age. It is made from cow milk. Often times, seasonings are added to enhance and complicate the flavor.
To find out more go to this site.
Sofie (^_^)
Fossil Rim!
I love taking trips to the zoo and petting zoos. It’s fun to just look at the animals lounging around. of course, in conventional zoos, there’s never more than 10 animals a cage, and you’re never allowed to pet the animals.
Meet Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, located up by Dallas. At Fossil Rim, herds of Oryx, deer, Zebras, and Antelope roam over 1,000 acres of Texas woodland. Visitors are allowed to drive through the park in their car on a 9-mile long drive. If the animals come up, you can feed them. Vistors can even spend a night in parts of the park!
Fossil Rim has over 50 species of animals living on the land, including Giraffes, Zebras, Rhinos, Cheetahs, and Waterbuck. Most can be hand-fed, so long as you stay in the car.
When I’ve gone, The Giraffes have come up to the car, and stuck their heads inside! The Zebras are known to surround cars, demanding food. The herds of Red Deer are huge, and very friendly.
Here's some pictures:
Meet Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, located up by Dallas. At Fossil Rim, herds of Oryx, deer, Zebras, and Antelope roam over 1,000 acres of Texas woodland. Visitors are allowed to drive through the park in their car on a 9-mile long drive. If the animals come up, you can feed them. Vistors can even spend a night in parts of the park!
Fossil Rim has over 50 species of animals living on the land, including Giraffes, Zebras, Rhinos, Cheetahs, and Waterbuck. Most can be hand-fed, so long as you stay in the car.
When I’ve gone, The Giraffes have come up to the car, and stuck their heads inside! The Zebras are known to surround cars, demanding food. The herds of Red Deer are huge, and very friendly.
Here's some pictures:
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| Blackbuck along the road |
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| Female Blackbuck |
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| This is not encouraged. |
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Red Velvet Cake: A Recipe Review
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| Note: This is the Epicurious photo, not mine.....My cake was not this pretty... |
Recently I made red velvet cake for a couple of friends who had done something kind for me. The cake was generally well-liked. The texture of the cake was just right, and it wasn't too sweet. The only thing I found about the cake was that it was too dry. My ideas for fixing this problem range from adding more buttermilk or butter to cooking the cake for less time. I'll probably just figure it out through trial and error. Any ideas on this?
The icing also worked especially well. It was delightfully thick and the cream cheese was accented nicely. The secret to making the icing is to add sugar in half-cup portions to make sure that the cream cheese is not overwhelmed by the sugar. I found the best amount to be two cups, but the recipe recommended two and a half, so I suppose it's all a matter of taste. The other thing I might recommend is making sure that all of the lumps of the cream cheese were out, which was something I had trouble with. I made the icing by hand without the use of a mixing machine, but perhaps that was not the best idea. Somebody try this for me, would you?
Overall, this was a really good recipe that balanced flavors nicely and complemented textures well. --Ariel
Cake
- 2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour (sifted, then measured)
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring
- 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 large eggs
Frosting
- 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 1/2-pint baskets fresh raspberries
- 3 1/2-pint baskets fresh blueberries
Friday, March 18, 2011
Ramen
Most people are familiar with the instant Maruchan ramen, which makes up most of the diet of college students and lazy people. However, authentic ramen is much more than a block of bland noodles in a brightly-colored package. Ramen is a Japanese dish consisting of Chinese-style wheat noodles in a meat, fish, or vegetable broth with various vegetables or types of meat. This dish varies from locality to locality in Japan.
Recently, on my trip to New York with the LASA quiz bowl team, I tried real ramen for the first time. Upon entering the crowded, club-like restaurant Totto Ramen, I ordered a bowl of spicy vegetable ramen and awaited my meal. I was surprised with a large bowl of noodles, vegetable broth, seaweed, and colorful Japanese vegetables, complete with a small ramekin of spicy oil to flavor the soup. The ramen was fresh, vivid, and made an instant impression on my mouth. The noodles and vegetables were firm and perfectly cooked. It made a nutritious and delectable dinner.
The only drawback to ramen is that there are very few authentic places in America, let alone Austin. The best ramen is to be found in bigger cities, where the Asian population is bigger. If you ever find yourself in New York, though, stop by Totto Ramen. It will be well worth your time.
Recently, on my trip to New York with the LASA quiz bowl team, I tried real ramen for the first time. Upon entering the crowded, club-like restaurant Totto Ramen, I ordered a bowl of spicy vegetable ramen and awaited my meal. I was surprised with a large bowl of noodles, vegetable broth, seaweed, and colorful Japanese vegetables, complete with a small ramekin of spicy oil to flavor the soup. The ramen was fresh, vivid, and made an instant impression on my mouth. The noodles and vegetables were firm and perfectly cooked. It made a nutritious and delectable dinner.
The only drawback to ramen is that there are very few authentic places in America, let alone Austin. The best ramen is to be found in bigger cities, where the Asian population is bigger. If you ever find yourself in New York, though, stop by Totto Ramen. It will be well worth your time.
This is the inside of Totto Ramen. It's even better late at night.
Thank the Colombia Culinary Society for this photo.
Delicious ramen....not mine, though.
Thanks to VillageBlog for this photo.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Shiny Things From School
We all love shiny things. Sometimes, however, we miss the everyday shiny objects we pass.
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| I drink these a lot. They're very shiny.... |
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| My Friend's necklace. That's a cello. |
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| Sheldon and his french horn. Most instraments are shiny and cive off funny reflections. |
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| Scott, and his shiny glasses. |
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| Mr. Pace, the physics teacher. He offered. |
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Dollfie?
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Sofie's Leads
Sew What?
Lead 1: Descriptive
I watch as my mother sits on the ground, pinning a pattern to a piece of shiny blue fabric. She is making me a Halloween costume, as she has for many years past. This is a dying tradition in countless families in the United States. Most costumes that come to one’s door on Halloween are bought from specialty stores and catalogues that pop up a month before for their biggest profit of the year.
Lead 2: Rhetorical Question
When was the last time you made something functional for you to wear? The answer for most is ages ago or never.
Lead 3: Compare and Contrast
Many years ago, there was no other way to get clothes other than sewing them yourself or, if you were rich, hiring someone to do so. Today, almost no one does this at all. Near everything we wear is store-bought and most of that is imported.
Lead 1: Descriptive
I watch as my mother sits on the ground, pinning a pattern to a piece of shiny blue fabric. She is making me a Halloween costume, as she has for many years past. This is a dying tradition in countless families in the United States. Most costumes that come to one’s door on Halloween are bought from specialty stores and catalogues that pop up a month before for their biggest profit of the year.
Lead 2: Rhetorical Question
When was the last time you made something functional for you to wear? The answer for most is ages ago or never.
Lead 3: Compare and Contrast
Many years ago, there was no other way to get clothes other than sewing them yourself or, if you were rich, hiring someone to do so. Today, almost no one does this at all. Near everything we wear is store-bought and most of that is imported.
Clarissa's Leads
Lead 1:
Austin has many trademarks. One is Tex-Mex food, a style of cooking which combines elements of Mexican and southwest - specifically Texan - cooking to create the trademark flavors. Tex-Mex pulls heavily on the use of cheese, chilies, and meat to flavor dishes, leaving vegetarians with little more than chips and queso to eat.
Lead 2:
My parents love Tex-Mex food, we generally go to Chuy’s on Friday nights. My mother get ones of the ‘Big as yo’ Face’ burritos or the ‘Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom’ enchiladas, my father tends to close his eyes and point to something. I, being vegetarian, get to pick between a chili with cheese stuffed into it, a vegetable enchilada, quesadias (off the appetizers), or a tasteless salad I could make at home. There’s a reason I fabricate papers on Friday evenings.
Lead 3:
To say that Tex-Mex restaurants have good vegetarian meals is to say cheese makes a good main ingredient. Let me be clear: it doesn't.
Austin has many trademarks. One is Tex-Mex food, a style of cooking which combines elements of Mexican and southwest - specifically Texan - cooking to create the trademark flavors. Tex-Mex pulls heavily on the use of cheese, chilies, and meat to flavor dishes, leaving vegetarians with little more than chips and queso to eat.
Lead 2:
My parents love Tex-Mex food, we generally go to Chuy’s on Friday nights. My mother get ones of the ‘Big as yo’ Face’ burritos or the ‘Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom’ enchiladas, my father tends to close his eyes and point to something. I, being vegetarian, get to pick between a chili with cheese stuffed into it, a vegetable enchilada, quesadias (off the appetizers), or a tasteless salad I could make at home. There’s a reason I fabricate papers on Friday evenings.
Lead 3:
To say that Tex-Mex restaurants have good vegetarian meals is to say cheese makes a good main ingredient. Let me be clear: it doesn't.
Ariel's Leads
Lead #1: Descriptive
On a bright Saturday morning, I was, in fact, not sleeping in. Instead, I was winding my way through the farmer’s market crowd. Although environmentally conscious neo-hippies made up some portion of the population, there were also young families, couples strolling hand-in-hand, and bikers stopping to get breakfast. As I stood in line for my fresh tamales, I began to wonder what compelled this motley crowd to pass up H-E-B and buy their food here.
Lead #2: Compare and Contrast
Prior to the Industrial Revolution, most families made their own bread, milked their own cows, and picked their own corn. They saw their work adorning their tables on a regular basis. Farming was a regular occupation and provided for many people. Nowadays, most people buy their food from H-E-B, in brilliantly colored plastic bags and cans. Though this is a convenient way to satisfy one’s taste buds within twenty minutes, we have lost knowledge of where our food comes from and what is put into it.
Lead #3: Narrative
--------- ------------’s son had a problem: he couldn’t stop itching! Young ----- -------- constantly got painful red rashes. Even after several doctor’s appointments, he wasn’t diagnosed with anything, and trial medications did nothing for the suspicious rashes. Finally, --------- ------------ decided to change the soap he was using, making her own to substitute for those that he had used for all of his childhood. That was how she began to find herself selling body products at the Austin Farmer’s Market.
On a bright Saturday morning, I was, in fact, not sleeping in. Instead, I was winding my way through the farmer’s market crowd. Although environmentally conscious neo-hippies made up some portion of the population, there were also young families, couples strolling hand-in-hand, and bikers stopping to get breakfast. As I stood in line for my fresh tamales, I began to wonder what compelled this motley crowd to pass up H-E-B and buy their food here.
Lead #2: Compare and Contrast
Prior to the Industrial Revolution, most families made their own bread, milked their own cows, and picked their own corn. They saw their work adorning their tables on a regular basis. Farming was a regular occupation and provided for many people. Nowadays, most people buy their food from H-E-B, in brilliantly colored plastic bags and cans. Though this is a convenient way to satisfy one’s taste buds within twenty minutes, we have lost knowledge of where our food comes from and what is put into it.
Lead #3: Narrative
--------- ------------’s son had a problem: he couldn’t stop itching! Young ----- -------- constantly got painful red rashes. Even after several doctor’s appointments, he wasn’t diagnosed with anything, and trial medications did nothing for the suspicious rashes. Finally, --------- ------------ decided to change the soap he was using, making her own to substitute for those that he had used for all of his childhood. That was how she began to find herself selling body products at the Austin Farmer’s Market.
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