The Couch

Long ago I had a blog called Fletcher’s Couch.

But this is better!

The Couch

(Photos taken at the Shamattawa

Dump in Manitoba, Canada)

 

 

 

 

Where the HELL is the remote?

Some Lunch? Daily Post Photo Challenge

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/photo-challenge-lunchtime/

• 6 cups good-tasting chicken stock
• 12 medium raw shrimp, shells removed
• Other seafood of your choice: fresh mussels, scallops, crab, or sliced fish fillet (up to 1 handful of each)
• 1 stalk minced lemongrass*, OR 2.5 to 3 Tbsp. frozen or bottled prepared lemongrass (or see substitutions list)
• 2 kaffir lime leaves* or Substitute with lime zest
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. galangal OR ginger, grated
• 1-2 sliced red chilies OR 1-2 tsp. Thai chili sauce*
• optional: handful of fresh mushrooms, sliced thinly
• 1 medium tomato, cut into thin strips
• other optional vegetables: handful baby bok choy
• 1/2 can (14 ounce) thick coconut milk (not ‘lite’)
• 2 Tbsp fish sauce)
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
• juice of 1 lime
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh coriander (cilantro), roughly chopped
Preparation:
1. Pour stock plus lemongrass and lime leaves in a deep soup pot over medium-high heat. If using fresh lemongrass, also add the upper stalk pieces for extra flavor. Bring to a boil.
2. Add garlic, galangal/ginger, chili, and mushrooms (if using). Reduce heat to medium and simmer 2-3 minutes, or until mushrooms are soft.
3. Add the shrimp, any other seafood you’re using, and tomato plus baby bok choy (if using). Simmer over medium heat 3-4 minutes, or until shrimp turns pink and plump and mussels have opened. Scallops, crab, and fish should all be firm to the touch and no longer translucent.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low and add the coconut milk, fish sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, and sugar. Stir well to combine and gently simmer until hot (do not boil at this point). Taste-test the soup for salt and spice, adding more fish sauce instead of salt (I usually add 1 more Tbsp.), or more chili as desired. If too sour, add more sugar. If too spicy for your taste or if you’d like it creamier, add more coconut milk. If too salty, add another squeeze of lime juice.
5. Serve in bowls with fresh coriander sprinkled over. For an extra hit of flavor, you can also add some Thai chili sauce, either store-bought or the homemade version: Nam Prik Pao Chili Sauce Recipe. ENJOY!

Pray tell, do you judge a book by its cover?

http://www.ted.com/talks/chip_kidd_designing_books_is_no_laughing_matter_ok_it_is.html

Book cover is the first thing you notice if you are into first impressions and who is not?

And I am afraid I do judge a book by its cover, very much so. Let me give you a few random examples:-

This must be a chick book– and I will not even consider opening it.

This is obviously some murder mystery? Well now I will look to see if I can learn more about the author and maybe there is a summary of the plot.

Another mystery? But here I know something of the author ….so yes I am biased and I will probably buy the book.

Quite a smart cover and I will be interested.

Forget it!

A very good author , very good novel and a very good cover. I am overdoing good here

🙂

But mostly I enjoy non-fiction, history and biographies etc. and then the cover usually does not make so much difference. It usually is professionally done.

Hilary Mantel faces six newcomers in contest for women’s fiction prize

http://m.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/mar/13/hilary-mantel-womens-prize-for-fiction Dare one mention Gillian Flynn’s gone girl in the same category? I read about 25% of this book then removed it from my kindle what absolutely poorly written cr#p. No please! Not the same league.

😦

 

You can download GF book here and tell me what you think!

Botha: Media offered money for Pistorius crime scene photos

Botha: Media offered money for Pistorius crime scene photos
http://mg.co.za/article/2013-03-09-botha-media-offered-money-for-photos-of-pistorius-crime-scene/
– South Africa News Android App

Just to prove how the media get their ‘stories’- how can you believe them????

I am not kidding I swear!

Proposal to Ban Drunkenness at UN Budget Debates

One would think it goes without saying that the people determining the budget of the world’s leading international diplomatic organization should be sober when doing so, but apparently, it does not. Diplomats who have participated in the UN’s budget debate sessions say that it is not uncommon to see delegates who are visibly drunk. It is apparently such a significant problem that a US ambassador to the UN has proposed making the negotiating rooms inebriation-free zones.

and we thought this was bad (in 1955)

I’m afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it.

 

 

How do you Park?

And there are more here…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2288497/And-thought-bad-parking-Hilarious-pictures-worlds-worst-drivers-leave-cars.html

Holy Smoke or more of the Same?

 

Click on picture to see detail