etee2k [DOT] net

Posting has been slow the past week or so. The home Internet connection is still out, and I am having to depend on free WiFi at the local latte haus, as well as my 3G phone tethered to the Macbook via a Bluetooth PAN (Personal Area Network.) However, I wanted to make sure you had some reason (e.g. "new content") to come visit me this week, so here goes:

E D Truitt

Just to remind you that, in case you think I am "leaf"ing you along, I am "petal"ling as fast as I can.

Photograph copyright © 2008 E D Truitt. All rights reserved.

Hell's Kitchen
May 13, 2008

This week... in HELL'S KITCHEN:

Whiny Matt undergoes Chef Ramsay's version of gender reassignment, as he is put on the women's team. After they all fail to identify the faux meat in three dishes, they are given a chance to demonstrate their palates (or lack thereof) in a blind taste test. It seems more like "lack thereof", as the contestants (the men especially) can't seem to identify hardly anything. It comes down to Ben vs. Whiny Matt, in an epic matchup Chef Ramsay compares to "Tyson vs. Holyfield." Hmmm, wonder if that means they are going to taste each others ears.

It turns out they have to identify 10 ingredients in a bowl of clam chowder. Whiny Matt leads his new team to victory, and the reward is a special spa treatment. And Ben gets to serve them iced tea. I am somewhat disappointed that he doesn't pour Matt's right on his facial.

At the beginning of The Service, the Red team gets off to a totally screwed up start, as Rosann manages to screw up the scallops. Then she puts out some RAW SEAFOOD, eliciting a full-blown eruption from Mt Ramsay. The Blue team isn't immune, as Chef Ramsay unloads on Ben, giving him a full salvo of ****, ****, and especially *******.

The entrees are so slow getting out that the 'customers', having run out of bread, are reduced to eating each other. Metaphorically speaking, of course. On the Red team, Rosann is cooking RAW SEAFOOD, while on the Blue Team Ben's 'well done' Wellingtons are being returned because the customers, as hungry as they are, can't stand it when their food moos at them. Finally, Chef Ramsay has had enough... and he orders the Kitchen closed.

Me thinks there will be a losing team this night.

I was right. The Blue team was declared the losing team, and to add insult to injury, Matt is singled out for a public complement. The men are sent out with instructions to each select someone to nominate, and Ben gets all 'strategic'. They all nominate each other, then it comes to Petrozza, who will announce his decision... after the break.

And he nominates himself. Chef Ramsay congratulates Petrozza on his maturity, then demands that Ben surrender his jacket, as an offering to the spiky gods.

Once again I bid you arrivederci, until the contestants play musical teammates, someone adds a special ingredient into their dish for the visiting food critics, and Chef Ramsay hits the wall, again and again and again, next week... in HELL'S KITCHEN.

(cross-posted at etee too)

How's this for a business plan?

Create a giveaway magazine with a name that sounds like some cheap back-alley porno. Create one of those "links to a gazillion ads" domains that shows you don't even have the HTML programming skills of a 3-year old. Sit on it until some awesome women create a successful social network - in their spare time. Decide you also want to create a social networking site for women. Sue the awesome women for "trademark infringement" since their domain name (which they had first) is similar to yours (which is the same as a very common article of clothing.) Lose. Threaten to sue some more, until they change their site's name to something equally awesome (maybe even more awesome), and you incur the wrath of the very audience you created your site to serve (including one who is quite possibly sitting on a goodly portion of the world's reserves of Xanax. And who isn't afraid to use it.)

Way to go, chuckleheads. I'm sure your VC backers are just gonna love you for this one. Maybe next time, you will read your history before you go out and repeat it.

On the other hand... go and visit this awesome site right now. Even if you are a guy. It is that damn good.

Sotty this post is late, but my home Internet connection went down on Friday - and so posting has been very delayed.

This weekend, I had the chance (finally!) to take a trip to the Houston Zoo, where I had a chance to play with use my new Canon EF 70-200 f/4L USM lens. In honor of the day, I present to you my photo "essay" on:

E D Truitt

E D Truitt

Mother and Child

Happy (belated) Mothers Day!

Photographs copyright © 2008 E D Truitt. All rights reserved.

This is the thought that got stuck in my head during last night's American Idol:

"Instead of comparing this Final Four to the Fab Four, they should be comparing them to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!"