Ring My Bell

Earlier this year, Ken Ring did an interview with Fintan Dunne, presenter of The Next Level, a show on "Truth Radio". Ken's wit and wisdom can be listened to here (the mp3 download is linked down page) Be warned, the full interview runs for over an hour. Ken runs through his usual schtick - the moon and weather, ozone holes and global warming - and, for members of the reality-based community, there are are some wonderful laughs to be had towards the end of the show. But perhaps the funniest thing is the credulous presenter, who introduces Ken as being "imbued with special knowledge". Very special...

Wednesday, October 25, 2006 12:24 pm (permalink)

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The Truffle Book

Winner of the Special Jury Award at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. "Absolutely rivetting" - a well-known prince. Available as softback, limited edition hardback, and PDF. Free sample PDF.

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current reading

It's taking me far too long to read this. I have been a fan of Pynchon since reading Gravity's Rainbow as a student. Against The Day strikes me as one of his most approachable novels, full of fantastic characters and wild invention, but I've been busy doing word things, and sometimes the last thing I want to do is read. But this is like fine wine, keeps tempting me to another glass. At 1085 pages, I'll be squiffy before I'm finished.

just read

I've read two books called Heat in the last month. One was damn scary, and one was by George Monbiot, about global warming (which has a fantastic cover). Some would say I've been and gone and had my mid-life crisis, but it didn't involve doing an apprenticeship at the altar of real Italian cuisine and a tyrannical chef. Bill Buford is not me, and for that I'm grateful. I suspect he may be too. I enjoyed it - the kitchen stuff was pretty compelling (as was the Italian butcher I may just have to visit next time I'm on Italian truffle time), but somehow the whole thing didn't hang together. I know where Bill's coming from - and I can sort of sense where he went - but his own motivation (and his family's reaction) remain mysterious.