The State of California - or - the X-Governors

The Four Ex-Governors of California sat down for a discussion of the question Is California Governable?.. I wonder that myself sometimes..

Gold on a plate - or - SLIPPERY SHRIMP

Hey everyone.. I can't believe this, but the LA Times has published the recipe to Slippery Shrimp - a divine dish made at LA's Yang Chow restaurant (if you haven't been, go -- it's good -- the pork fried green beans are also good.. well.. everything there is good)

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July 27, 2005
latimes.com : Food
CULINARY SOS

Yang Chow slippery shrimp
By Barbara Hansen, Times Staff Writer

Dear SOS: I am a second-year college student at the University of Arizona, and I miss the fabulous taste of slippery shrimp served at Yang Chow restaurant in Pasadena. Whenever I get a chance to come home, I call my mom and ask if that can be our first meal. If you would try to locate the recipe so that we can make a modest effort in satisfying our shrimp fix, we would be ecstatic.

K. Nissen
Monrovia


Dear K. Nissen: This slightly sweet, slightly spicy shrimp dish was introduced at the original Yang Chow, which opened in Chinatown in downtown Los Angeles in 1977. It is also on the menu at the two other Yang Chows in Canoga Park and Pasadena.
Total time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

1 pound large shrimp

1/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons water

2 cups oil

2 large cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon minced ginger root

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

1 tablespoon tomato sauce or ketchup

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 tablespoon white wine

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 green onions, sliced

1. Peel, devein and butterfly the shrimp.

2. In a bowl, mix the shrimp with one-quarter cup -cornstarch to completely coat the shrimp.

3. Combine the remaining 2 teaspoons cornstarch with 2 teaspoons water in a bowl and set aside.

4. Pour the oil into a skillet or wok and heat over medium heat until hot. Add the shrimp and deep-fry until golden, about 45 seconds.

5. Remove the shrimp and drain the oil from the wok, leaving 1 tablespoon for stir-frying. Reheat the wok. Add the garlic, ginger and cayenne. Stir for a few seconds, then add the tomato sauce, vinegar, wine, sugar, salt, one-quarter cup water and the reserved cornstarch mixture. Cook and stir until the sauce is thick.

6. Add the shrimp; toss until covered with sauce. Add the green onions, stir, turn out onto a platter and serve.

Each serving: 302 calories; 19 grams protein; 16 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 18 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 168 mg. cholesterol; 508 mg. sodium.

7.0 Earthquake in Mall Culture - or - The Ascendant Domination of MACYs

It seems that with the announcement that Federated will be closing down hordes of regional department stores, and converting the rest to MACY's (with a handful of Bloomingdales amongst..

I originally heard the news via Philadelphia-oriented media.. My immediate reaction: "I hope they keep Lord & Taylor.. But would I be upset if they converted it to a Bloomingdales? (don't think so..) And STRAWBRIDGES -- who really cares?"

I noticed in the hubub that the Filene's brand would close as well, which saddened me as more than 1/3 of my wardrobe over the last 5 years has been purchased at the Filene's Basement on 6th (Ave of Americas) and 18th.. Of course, when the LA Times ran ITs story today, I realized what this truly meant.. 1) This means that one of the seminal department store brands of my childhood, ROBINSONS, would also be eliminated.. 2) I'm a self-absorbed A-hole.. I didn't give a sh7*# about Strawbridges.. but hearing about Robinsons all of a sudden brings me pause..

What else does this tell me about myself? I may not become a true Philadelphian until living here for 15 or 20 years (I don't expect to be here that long.. but I am reaching the point where I don't not expect it either..) There's lots of things about where you're from and where you're at that you care about -- and maybe this is the core of being a native.. Natives care about the most trivial aspects of a place's milieu, but these aspects have been part of that milieu for a while and are as a consequence formative of it.. It's like "the Vet" being blown up -- another example of a Philadelphia institution that I have no attachment to.. But if they blew up the Colliseum I would have an emotional reaction.. If the Phillies moved cities would I care? Not really.. but the Dodgers!?!? And I don't even WATCH baseball.. I feel that I care about Philadelphia and where it's going -- I'm a Philadelphia homeowner.. but I guess I was just a bit surprised to notice in such an illustrated way that my heart is still in the Southland..

But this is not what this post was supposed to be about..

It was supposed to be about the shift in malls due to all of this vacated space -- who is going to move in? Sears is still the biggest department store (even with this buyout, Federated is only number 2).. I haven't yet read the NYTimes piece.. but the LA Times story suggested this might be a golden opportunity for Nordstrom's who is very popular in California and could expand their footprint, though this would be the last thing Federated would want as they are direct competitors.. Kohls has been wanting to expand in California, and this is their chance.. Or what about Wal-Mart? Wal-Mart moving in would seriously change what "going to the mall" is all about.. Even Kohls and Sears, though lower-cost retailers, are department stores.. "Category Killers" like Bed Bath & Beyond would also change the feel of malls, but they are already anchors in outlet malls, so I don't see this as as drastic a change as Wal-Mart.. In addition, a line in the LAT article suggested that with the money they get from selling the stores, Federated will update its own stores, potentially revolutionizing Macys as a shopping experience across the country.. I guess it is an exciting and scary time in this business depending on if you look at the potential uncertainty or the potential for change and innovation..

Below are some articles:

LA Times: 21 Department Stores to Close in Southland

Philadelphia Inquirer: Strawbridge's stores to be sold, converted

New York Times: What's in a Store's Name? Federated Will Find Out

Boston Globe: It's official: Filene's brand will be gone

Any thoughts?

Great Press, or, What goes up...

So.. It figures -- today the Daily News slams Drexel.. Let's hope that new Provost works fast to generate more good press to cover what seems to be the university's uncanny knack for generating bad press.

Director

The Inquirer profiles new Drexel Provost Steve Director today. His professional pedigree is solid - he was Dean of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon and then Michigan, two schools Drexel could learn from. Everything I've heard from and about this guy seems to suggest that Drexel is on the way to being smart about respecting its strengths while adding some academic heft and earnestly trying to broaden its scope (in recruitment and promotion) beyond this region, creating a true national university (in more than name only -- note the emphasis on both words). Not unlike the city in which it's located, it seems that an outsider might be better able to appreciate the facets that are dismissed by those overly familiar with Drexel's past.

Phillyist

Phinally, a brand-name blog chain has hit this city, and I couldn't be more thrilled.. Please patronize.. This city is no less deserving of a brand-name blog chain than Austin or Boston or Seattle.. And if you disagree, tough -ist..

GOOGLE EARTH

Google is now officially taking over the world.. Or at least presenting it to us in a pretty compelling way.. If you haven't already seen this, check it out.. GOOGLE EARTH -- it's pretty FUNCKING insane.. The future is pretty much now I guess..

New Periodic Table... NEW PERIODIC TABLE?!?!?!

Play cousin The Quantic beat me to the punch (and way out-qualitied me here) blogging about the THE NEW PERIODIC TABLE!!!

Insane.

NEWS: FOX to buy MySpace -- Boondocks Cartoon

Just to remind myself for the future, and actually get word out to all kiddies out there..

Rupert Murdoch's NEWS CORP IS BUYING the company that owns MYSPACE.COM!!!!! According to the LA Times (cite: News Corp. to Buy Intermix Media for $580 Million By Jesus Sanchez, Times Staff Writer, 11:38 AM PDT, July 18, 2005)..

In other news - THE BOONDOCKS CARTOON will begin on Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network in October -- just in case I forget, which I'm sure I will -- will you guys please remind me? Thanks..