Reminded by one of the anecdotes in the Memoirs. I know, it’s kinda poppy, but still. And I can’t control the earworms, as any fule kno.
Besides, Suzi Q:
And even though she’s a granny or something today:
…still would.
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Food Palaces
Finally, a list in the Daily Mail that I can more or less agree with, because food. The markets (ranked by the DM; * means I’ve been there):
1. Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia, USA*
No argument. Best frigging food choices on the planet. I’d like to mention my favorites, but we’d be here all day. It’s actually worth going to Philly just to visit the place; then get the hell out. One of my buddies used to fly to Europe via PHL and used to break his trip there, just to get road food from Reading. I might do the same, if ever…
2. Borough Market, London, UK
Missed this one, somehow (makes note).
3. Adelaide Central Market, Adelaide, Australia
Strylia, ergo no chance.
4. (tie) Mercado Central, Valencia, Spain / South Melbourne Market, Melbourne, Australia
See above; but I wouldn’t mind going to Valencia.
6. Torvehallerne, Copenhagen, Denmark
I’m not a huge fan of Scandi food, generally speaking, but if I ever get there, sure (because Copenhagen).
7. Marché Bastille, Paris, France*
Been there and it’s lovely (because Paris); but I’ve been to two or three others in the city that are just as good.
8. Granville Island Public Market, Vancouver, Canada*(?)
I’ve been to a foodmarket in Vancouver, but it’s been so long that it might have been another one. Still, if this is the same one, it’s excellent.
9. Chelsea Market, New York City, USA*
Went there at least a dozen times when I lived in Joyzee. Great but overpriced (#NYfC).
10. Ferry Building Marketplace, San Francisco, USA*
Excellent with amazing choices of seafood, but parking (back when I went) was nosebleed, even for SF. Easier to take a cab.
11. Milwaukee Public Market, Milwaukee, USA*
Best foodmarket in the Central Midwest, by a country mile. Nothing Chicago does can compare.
12. La Boqueria, Barcelona, Spain
Never been to Barcelona, but if I do, I’ll definitely give this one a shot.
13. Marché Atwater, Montreal, Canada*
Disagree. Jean Talon is far better than Atwater, although it’s a fur piece outside downtown (but reachable by the metro). I want to get back there SO badly, because saucisson.
14. Pike Place Market, Seattle, USA*
Nice, but I was unimpressed with the bread offerings (not everyone likes sourdough).
15. Viktualienmarkt, Munich, Germany*
Should be much higher on the list. Best Bavarian foods ever. Just the sausage selections alone are worth the trip. I and the kids must have tried four or five different kinds of wurst, and all were wonderful. And we won’t talk about the pastries and cheeses… oh and the upstairs doughnut shop sells the best berliners in the world.
16. (tie) Or Tor Kor Market, Bangkok, Thailand / Mathallen Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Never been, unlikely to go to either.
18. Municipal Market of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
See above. Brazil has never been high on my list.
19. St. Lawrence Market, Toronto, Canada
Anything Toronto has, Montreal usually has better, and cheaper.
20. Foodhallen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands*
Another one that should be higher up the list. From breads to pannekoek to fries to (duh) cheeses, it’s tops. If I lived nearby, I’d weigh 600lbs.
That’s my 2 cents. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to the kitchen.
Couldn’t Help Myself
From Insty, yesterday:
…which led me straight to this:
Sorry sorry sorry.
Caption Competition #441
Suggestions in Comments.
Like It Should Have Been
Jay Leno looks over what I think is the most beautiful car I’ve ever seen — much prettier than any Dino 246 — and talks to the guy who created it.
And the drive… that engine sound made all sorts of my body parts start to swell and stuff. Basically, the guy made an E-type that is what Jag should have made but didn’t, either because the cost would have been prohibitive or else the technology was unknown at the time. What he has now? Phwooaaaaarrrr.
Exquisite.
“Bannings”
Ran into this little A.I. video SOTI, and while none of it concerns me — yet — I think there are a couple of things worth noting.
The “12 Guns Being Banned in 2026” are interesting, although none of them fall within my “I Want This Thing In My Gun Safe” parameters, mostly because they are chambered in calibers that don’t interest me (although that new Zastava M70…hmmm), too expensive (e.g. Daniel Defense) or else I’m just not interested in that type of gun (e.g. Tavor 12ga multi-tube shotgun).
However, what does interest me is that the GFW state legislators — all the usual suspects, plus Vermont (!!! WTF?) — have decided that if they can’t ban a gun just because it’s a gun, they’re going to ban it because it’s “military-specific” (like that matters), “common sporting purposes” (ditto), “concealable” (ditto) or, more worryingly, because of various features that they don’t like. In other words, the guns are becoming too efficient and reliable, and only the military should have access to these features (again, bullshit, but it’s what they’re running with).
It’s a long video and both boring and/or irritating (#A.I.narration), but like I said, what it reveals is the ways with which the GFWs are targeting guns. And my Virginia Readers should pay special attention because that’s the direction your state is heading if it’s not there already (ditto Colorado, a.k.a. Eastern California).
Of course, the Second Amendment Foundation will get involved at some point, and maybe a few of these abuses will reach the Supreme Court to have their pee-pees whacked; but that’s leaving our fate in the hands of lawyers, which is always a risky proposition.
However, there may come a time when some guy (or guys) will get sick of all this bullshit and say “Come and get them” to which the state will reply “Challenge accepted” and the whole thing will end in tears. I should point out that this is precisely the outcome these totalitarian bastards are hoping for.
Be careful out there, buy more ammo, and practice a lot. And now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to the range.
Afterthought: I think it’s time I should look at one of those FRT (forced recoil trigger) thingies, just because I suspect that they will soon be a definite target for the GFWs. Which is why I should get one, most probably for the FrankenPoodleShooter.
Likewise, as soon as I can buy a moderator (“silencer”) over the counter without paperwork, that too will be added to the above. Not because I especially want one, but because they don’t want me to have one.