The .gif image to the left is from the Bear and Kitten comic (their animated gif contest). Reminds me of little cp's kitten Thea (see right, click to embiggen). She just couldn't help it! She snapped!
Also, this is what the house is like (from Strange Brew).
Feliz Navidad todos!
New Discoveries:
Mantecol - the irrsistable argentinian candy bar
Indio Pícaro - hahaha...gross.
Personal musings:
Got sicky. Turns out it was pestilence. Gram says it's common to get sick after long flights.
Dancing Reggaeton takes more drinks than just one. YouTube it if you aren't scared...it's like an interpretive dance of sex!
The unregulatable shower temperatures prompt yelps of "Aye!"
Remember not to flush the toilet paper.
Greater than a 1:1 ratio of guys to girls helps with stemming the flow of cat calls.
The food:
Chinese food is better in Chile
Made gnocchi which turned out good but the sauce was crazy (more like salsa).
Piscola=good. Also good is Pisco sour (but Señor says Peruvian ones are better than Chilean ones though).
Went on search for peanut butter (crema de cacahuete aka. mantequilla de maní). Found it on the top shelf behind a post. Turns out others seem to like it too because it keeps lessening when her back is turned.
More humorous signs:
Wet floor sign (Precaucion! Piso Mojado!). It reminds CP of this "Caution! This Is Sparta!" image that was going around the interweb. Heehee.
Habla Chileno?:
Little cp says "no" like a Clilean now. Kind of a singsong "nuuhoao" sound.
Speak slowly dammit! One at a time!
Starting to lose English ("Let's go back to that...building thingy...where our beds and TV is").
Sites seen:
Unnamed Chinese food restaurant in Santiago.
More peeps (everyone lives right there:)
Kamikazee discoteca.
View Larger Map
Gnocchi (aka. gnocchi di patata) are little potato dumplings that are eaten like pasta (i.e. with sugo or cheese). They are a tasty Italian treat that can't be beat and is one of little cp's favorites. FYI It is pronounced "nee-yo-kee" and comes from the word "nocchio" which means a knot in wood (as in Pinnochio). From what I understand, in Toscana (Tuscany) some call them "topini" which means little mice (as in Topo Gigio). I don't really advise ordering them as that anywhere else though.
Ingredients:
1kg (2.2lbs) potatoes
1 egg
300g (11oz.) flour
salted water
This video is OK recipe-wise, but is clearly Inglese in its approach. First you don't have to use rock salt, regular salt is fine. Basically, make some mashed potatoes. But, no extras like milk or butter. You can season it if you really want to but if you boiled them in salted water you probably won't need any more salt (or anything really, maybe some salt in the water when you boil the gnocchi if you want), mix in egg and flour to make dough. Sometimes if people want to get fancy they add things to the dough like spinach puree or tomato, but that's pretty crazy. Anyway, you cut the dough into gnocchi by rolling a small portion into a finger-thick string and chop them off. In the video they leave them like that (Blasphemy!), but I assume it is because of how they served them with oil). It's much better if you shape them. We squish and roll each one with two fingers to make a folded indent, which makes some texture to catch the sauce. Some people roll them onto a fork (or gnocchi board), over the zester side of a 4-sided cheese grater, or whatever. It's all good as long as it's done with love (and preferably painstakingly).
Now, the biggest thing that can go wrong is to over boil them. If you do that, they might turn to rubber, sludge, or even disintegrate (depending on how long you boiled them and the consistency of the dough you started with). It's best not to boil too many at a time because they will float when they are ready to come out. Also, some people fry them (with onions, etc. like perogies) instead of boiling, but I've never had them like that. As for serving, I've never seen anyone eat them with olive oil like in the video, but I assume that is why he didn't shape the gnocchi at all (as I said, the shaping process is to make it so the gnocchi will catch and hold sauce, but who wants to eat dumplings with puddles of oil in them?). We always eat it with tomato sauce or with butter and Parmigiano. But, to each their own I suppose. So there you have it! Buon Appetito! Next time, Nonna's chicken soupa...or maybe sugo...whichever I feel like.
"Even running is a kind of dance"
Usage:
1) directly, referring to running and how it is a kind of dance
2) more commonly, by replacing "running" with any action (eg. Even going to Chile is a kind of dance), for comedic effect esp. if an individual performing the action is in an anxious state of mind.
Reference to:
Season 13 episode 15 ("Blame it on Lisa") in which the Simpsons go to Brazil. Homer is kidnapped and they come upon Carnival in Rio but Marge is too busy worrying to dance but,
Brazilian: You cannot run from Carnival, because even running is a kind of dance! Another Brazilian: (in flames) I am on FIRE and I dance!
Marge: Well maybe I can dance and worry at the same time.
Other quotes from this episode:
Dance Instructor: This is where we invented the Lambada and the Macarena. We are now developing our most powerful dance, the Penetrada! It makes sex look like a church.
Renaldo: Now the monkeys cannot bite me! I am like sugar to them!
Homer: Why did you make a prank call to Brazil, boy?
Bart: But I didn't!
Homer: (Yelling) Choke on your lies!
Lisa: Why must you fight with every utility?
Homer: I told you, I have too much time on my hands!
Homer: Wait, wait, wait, so in August it's cold?
Lisa: That's right.
Homer: And in February, it's hot?
Lisa: Mm-hm.
Homer: So it's opposite land! Crooks chase cops, cats have puppies!
Lisa: No, Dad, it's just the weather.
Homer: So hot snow falls up?
Pilot: This is your captain speaking. The local temperature in Rio de Janeiro is hot hot hot! With 100% chance of passion!
Co-Pilot: You make that joke every time!
Pilot: It was that joke that made you fall in love with me!
Homer: I have a bladder the size of a brazilnut!
Kidnapper: Around here we just call them nuts.
Other fun situations from this episode:
Bart watches a Xuxa parody named Teleboobies.
Homer and Bart go to the beach and are required to wear speedos on Copa Cabana beach because the lifeguard says there is a dress code.
So it comes to this. A post series on the musings from the mind of my Dad (π has always been my Dad's symbol). You may remember that my Dad inspired half of the title for this blog (click here for other Dad mentionings). Dad thinks his first post should be about his idea that superheroes all come from Genesis 6. Basically, all superheroes have angel genes and that gives them their abilities (even Batman). Don't even get him started or he'll go on and on worse than when I talk about my "Nothing Nothing" theory of the Universe.
Now we aren't talking about a scenario like in the movie Hancock or the myriad other movies where an angel is the hero, or comic book angel types (someone made a list of all the angel-esque comic book superheroes here, there's 73 by their count), or the X-men nerds among you (I know there's at least one) may remember an angel character in there. These are are different because they are all actual angels or chararcters that vaguely look like angels, whereas Dad is talking about a demigod kind of concept (like Hercules or Samson) where superheroes are the descendants of angels. He envisions a movie that is kind of a cross between "Unbreakable" and "Jurassic Park" where geneticists cobble together the "angel genes" from different people to create some crazy genetic angel Frankensteins...and mayhem ensues. I dunno, I'd go see it. It's got just the right amount of blasphemy.
Cursory observations:
-Dogs everywhere (that is #2 on the Chilean danger list...#1 is men)
-Palm trees everywhere (summer, 30 degrees during the day, still wearing fuzzy socks at night)
-Police cars are green
-The street signs are whacked out (Examples include: 
speed limits signs have a red circle with a number in the middle; pedestrian crossing signs have different people on them; they're in Spanish)
Personal victories:
-Figured out what to do at the airport (missed connecting flight due to inclement weather so went to Dallas instead of LA, put luggage in the right place, talked to the right people, got through customs, got a visa. Woohoo!)
-Kicked a pigeon in Santiago (heh heh heh)
-Attempted the "Himno Nacional de Chile" on Blackie (the pocket trumpet).
Sites seen:
-The Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago (saw Freda paintings, she was probably crazy). Map.
-Mall del Centro in Rancagua (went to Yogen Fruz, they have those in Chile too). Map.
-Unamed restaurant on outskirts of Rancagua (had empanadas out 
of a brick oven and the place had a dirt floor and flowers on walls and ceiling! It was great!)
-Street vendor with an alpaca (snapped a photo, thought it may have been a vampire alpaca, will check to see if it shows up in the picture)
Personal musings:
-Itchy nose (allergies? pestilence?)
-It's weird being a minority and being "muy alta"
-Can you feel like you belong but not understand what the heck is going on? Why yes...yes you can.
-Cats are comforting.
Current irritations:
-Got hit on by some guy (didn't understand what he said, which was probably a good thing)
-Pesos (there's so many of them!).
-Can't speak Español yet.
Did You Know:
-The presidenta de la Republica de Chile is Michelle Bachelet Jeria. An inspiring woman who has a graduate degree in medicine, has survived torture and exile, and became the first female Chilean president in 2006. Also, her Mom is an archaeologist.
-The symbol for the Chilean peso is $. One Chilean peso = 0.00187987503 Canadian dollars so that means that for the sack of oversimplified conversion 50pesos= a little less than 10cents; 1000pesos = a little less than 2dollars; 2000pesos = about 3.75dollars.
HaHa! I bet you thought it was going to be this:
p.s. My Dad thought the shoe-icide joke was so hilarious that he told it to everyone all day at work. So I had to put it up.
So little cp is off on her Chilean/South American adventure! But not without being rerouted through Dallas instead of LA. Crazy winter. Well she won't be seeing any of the white stuff for a while! Stay tuned here for updates on her progress in the "We're Missing the Chile" series. You may also notice that I've embedded a map on the right which looks like this:
View Larger Map
but smaller. I'll update it as little cp passes on the info. Hurray! You're livin' the dream! Remember, even going to Chile is a kind of dance!
p.s. The title is a reference to Season 8 Episode 9 "El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer".
"Damn you! A box!"
Usage:
1)Generally, as an exclamation of rage. Spoken in any scenario that would warrant the phrase "Damn you" followed by "A box!" to cut tension and add levity.
2) An exclamation of rage or despair at a situation directed at a vaguely associated inanimate object or individuals past or present that can not hear you, God, or the world in general.
3) Ironically, as an exclamation of faux rage (esp. in recognition of the futility of anger at inanimate objects, etc.).
Reference to: Season 5 Episode 12 ("Bart Gets Famous") Also, in reference to Planet of the Apes "Damn you! You blew it up!".
Other quotes from this episode:
"Damn TV, you've ruined my imagination, just like you've ruined my ability to...um...uh...oh well"
"I didn't do it"
"I wish I was dead"
"Don't worry, everything's going to be aaaallll right"
"You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel."
"Ay, ay, ay! No me gusta!"
"Woozle Wuzzle"
Now I've seen 2 of the big four (you may remember Megadeth from this post but I'm still missing Anthrax and Slayer). How absolutely mind-blowing was that!?! Though I may be prejudiced because of the insanely awesome standing spots we had (also it was friggin' Metallica).
You may have to sign up to check it out but there are tour pics here.
The pic on the left is the ceiling of the stage area, decorated a la Death Magnetic.
The right pics are of the stage, we were standing in the pit area next to the stage 
on the right there (they only let in 60 people).
Here is the breakdown of the show:
Openers:
The Sword and Lamb of God. 
Both were really good, The Sword is a little more Metallica-y, good music but I couldn't hear any of the vocals. Lamb of God is high energy and more thrashy. LofG has a new CD called Wrath coming out in Feb2009.
Highlights:
Sweet location that we had.
When it was dark all of the lighters in the stands looked like hundreds of stars.
The "lasers".
Lars' giant shadow on the crowd.
They dropped beach balls on us.
I caught a pick! Woohoo!
Jerks sited:
Kids playing with lighters.
Crazy girl who almost clawed my eyes out to get a guitar pick (she wanted it more). But I got a different pick so it was OK.
The Set list:
That Was Just Your Life
The End Of The Line
Creeping Death
Harvester Of Sorrow
One
Broken, Beat & Scarred
Cyanide
Sad But True
...And Justice For All
Wherever I May Roam
The Day That Never Comes
Master Of Puppets
Fight Fire With Fire
Nothing Else Matters
Enter Sandman
- - - - - - - -
Last Caress
Breadfan
Seek and Destroy
A Brief History:
Metallica formed in 1981 in LA when Lars Ulrich posted a band advertisement in a local newspaper. 
In 1982 they recorded their first song called "Hit the Lights" for "Metal Massacre Vol.1", with James Hetfield playing bass, Lars on drums and Dave Mustaine on guitar. After their first live show they ditched their bassist (Ron McGovney) for a new one (Cliff Burton) that they saw at a club (they liked the cut of his jibb and how he could handle his wah-wah pedal). Then in 1983 they ditched Mustaine (because of his being hepped up on goofballs) for current lead guitarist Kirk Hammett (to whom Dave Mustaine harbours an open hostility). In 1986 Burton was killed in a bus crash while on tour in Europe. After much soul-searching they decided to keep on and recruited Jason Newsted to replace him. In 2001, Newstead left Mettalica because of irreconcilable differences, and because he wanted to release other stuff with his side project Echobrain but Hetfield was against it. Then he went and joined Voivod. Also in 2001, James entered rehab for his various addictions. During this tumultuous time a documentary about the band was made called "Some Kind of Monster" which was released in 2004. In 2003, Robert Trujillo replaced Newstead as the bassist (Newstead replaced Trujillo as the bassist for Ozzy. Ahh the circle of life). And now we find ourselves at the Metallica lineup we know and love today.
Fun Facts:
-The first run of Metal Massacre Vol.1 listed the band's name as "Mettallica"
-In 1987 Metallica had to cancel a SNL appearance because James broke his wrist skateboarding.
-In 1992 James Hetfield was accidentally lit on fire during a concert.
-Kirk Hammett took guitar lessons from Joe Satriani.
-In 1999 Metallica recorded 2 performances with the San Fransisco Symphony Orchestra which was released as their album S&M.
-Metallica was a key player in that anti-Napster thing. Remember that thing?
-GuitarHero:Metallica was announced this year to be released by March 2009.
Metallica on the Simpsons:
p.s. The new video for "All Nightmare Long" just came out! It's about zombies! It's sweet!
"Remember, we're in the Itchy lot."
Usage:
1) Generally, after parking at any time (esp. if relatively far away from the intended destination) as a reminder for everyone to remember the location.
2) Specifically, after parking in a large/complicated/crowded parking lot (esp. if relatively far away from the intended destination) as a reminder for everyone to remember the location and/or as a commentary on the crowded, convoluted, or large nature of the parking lot
3) Ironically, after parking in an especially easy to remember or uncrowded location (e.g. directly in front of the intended destination or a completely empty parking lot).
Variations on the quote: Use of the term "Itchy lot" (according to Urban Dictionary), in the past tense, when one has forgotten where one has parked (esp. if one has parked in a very large and/or crowded parking lot). eg. ""Where did we park?" "I don't know. In the Itchy lot?"
Reference to: Season 6 Episode 4 ("Itchy and Scratchy Land") when the family arrives at the Itchy and Scratchy Land grand opening they park in the sprawling, crowded parking lot. Is they are walking away from the car it is revealed that there are two (identical) parking lots and Homer says "Remember we're in the itchy lot".
Other good quotes from this episode:
"Hello! Euro Itchy & Scratchy Land open for business! Who are you to resist it, eh? Come on, my last-a paycheck bounced! My children need wine!"
Upon entering "Itchy's 70s Disco (Est. 1980)" Marge: Hey...the bartender even looks like John Travolta. Bartender: Yeah..."looks like".
"Alright we're here. Now let us never speak of the shortcut again"
"This truly was the best vacation ever. Now let us never speak of it again."
"In a moment, we will be landing in Itchy & Scratchy Land. The amusement park of the future where nothing can possi-bligh go wrong. Uh, possibly go wrong. Heh. That's the first thing that's ever gone wrong."
NIN started in 1988 by Trent Reznor (he's also the only official member) in Cleveland. Here is the NIN website and here is their myspace. To set the scene, NIN does what is described as "Industrial Rock" which is Industrial music (harder experimental music usually with electronic stuff) and punk rock that dabbles in Industrial Metal. Got it? To quote D, "It's like Tool, but good!" (D.G. pers.comm. 2008). Kids from my day may remember NIN for the single "Closer" from the 1994 album "Downward Spiral". This album also had the song "Hurt" which was covered by Johnny Cash in 2002 on his America IV album (my favorite JC album for sure).
Nine Inch Nails - Lights In The Sky 2008 tour ad from Nine Inch Nails on Vimeo.
The concert itself was very visually stimulating (there is a pile of videos up on the YouTube if you're interested). Lots of lights, a different background images and themes for each song. It was so highly choreographed that T.R. didn't talk to us at all and the music didn't pause between songs. The show was split into three different feels. The first part was some hard stuff and classics and then an instrumental interlude from the Ghosts albums and then some more recognizable stuff and newer things.
The Set List:
1. 999,999
2. 1,000,000
3. Letting You
4. Discipline
5. March Of The Pigs
6. Head Down
7. The Frail
8. The Wretched
9. Closer
10. Gave Up
11. The Warning
12. The Great Destroyer
13 - 15 some new instrumental stuff from the Ghosts albums
16. Piggy
17. The Greater Good
18. Wish
19. Terrible Lie
20. Survivalism
21. Ghosts 31
22. Only
23. The Hand That Feeds
24. Head Like A Hole
Highlights included:
The lead guitarist playing the banjo and the recorder during the Ghosts songs. The bassist played a stand up acoustic bass too! Bitchin'!
The sweet, highly choreographed light show that was so much better than Tool it wasn't funny. Well OK it's kinda funny.
Jerk sightings:
One guy trying to start a mosh pit. FYI one guy moshing is just a jerk running into people.
A couple grope-dancing and using more than their fair radius of space. Nice concert etiquette jerks!
Fun facts in NIN recent history:
The concept album "Year Zero" was written while Reznor was on tour for the 2005 album "With Teeth". The CD changes colour when it gets warm! The album critisized government, etc. and painted a picture of an dystopic future. 
An alternate reality game of the same name was released contemporaneously as a sort of unorthodox marketing campaign. He also released a "Year Zero Remixed" album that featured some of his songs redone by other artists and made downloads of some of the songs available for the public to remix. In 2007 T.R. broke with Interscope records and went solo. This was in the wake of a lot of Trent rage about his label selling Year Zero at inflated prices and arguements about his personal artistic rights. He went so far as to encourage fans to steal it off the internet. Since then he's gone along on this vein scince. In fact, NIN has licensed the new project Ghosts I-IV, a 36 track instrumental collection, under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. You may remember Creative Commons from this post.
p.s. A mini "This Music in History":
NIN - Hurt - Downward Spiral (1994)
Johnny Cash - Hurt - America IV (2002)
p.p.s. Recent news on the NIN website: Trent enraged that his music has been used at Guantanamo Bay. Read more in this article from the Associated Press.
