PicoBlog

Note: This post includes affiliate links. I’ve been reading a wonderful book called National Dish by Anya von Bremzen, which is not what I’m here to talk about today but I bring up because I’m engrossed with how it explores the forces — historical, political, economic — that come to define a nation’s cuisine. (If you’re interested, this Taste podcast interview is great.) But one of the big takeaways is that nationalism expressed in food is a relatively new, somewhat suspect phenomena.

A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content — and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven’t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.

This week I’m excited to share with you the recommendations of a friend of mine who you might not recognize by face—but I’m nearly certain you’ve tried his products. Ben Cohen—THE Ben of Ben & Jerry’s fame—created the super famous ice cream brand in Burlington, Vermont with his friend Jerry Greenfield all the way back in 1978. The original Ben & Jerry’s was in a renovated gas station in downtown Burlington, where the two of them had relocated after leaving Long Island, where they both grew up.

A supporter of Rediscovering Jesus recently wrote me saying they were interested in specific verses that are lost in translation. This new series is on that topic. This is one of my favorites, Luke 12:49: KJV: I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled! NIV: I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

(This week’s post exceeds the content limit for Substack’s email service, so if you want to ensure that you see the full contest results, just click the headline above, “The Land Of Scuba & Saint Nick.” Also, we just posted an archive page for the Dishcast — see all 70 of our episodes in one place, along with corresponding clips and select transcripts.) First up, from our Coloradan sleuth in NJ, an update on the window view that keeps on giving:

Jeff Tweedy isn’t sure why they cheer at the line. “The wind blew me back, via Chicago, in the middle of the night”—from “Via Chicago” He’s said as much in interviews, but the hometown crowd always cheers. They also cheered for the following line from “Far, Far Away”: “I long to hold you in my arms and sway. Kiss & Ride, on the CTA” No one has ever cheered for the CTA.

When it came to physically getting to Saratoga Chowderfest on Saturday, Sue Hartz was a woman with a plan—a parking plan. “Don’t write this—I don’t want people to know my secret,” she said, on the verge of exposing the key to every Saratogian’s parking woes. Naturally, I started writing. ncG1vNJzZmirkaeutbvGmqOirpmjtG%2B%2F1JuqrZmToHuku8xop2iumZeybq%2FHnpqkZZOdvLiwxKudnqukYn9xfpM%3D

My friends, There are many talented chefs in this city, but one of my all time favorites is Victoria Blamey. If you’re scratching your head, trying to place who I am talking about, I’m glad you’re here reading this because she is just fantastic. And also because she’s soon going to be back to cooking for us, at a to-be-named restaurant in Brooklyn, hopefully by the end of the year. 

A screenshot of footage taken from an Atwater police officer’s body camera is shown here. FULL VIDEO BELOW AND AT WWW.ATWATER.ORG By VICTOR A. PATTON victor@cvlocaljournalism.org Oct. 20, 2023 ATWATER (CVJC) — Atwater police have released video footage of an Aug. 13 incident where a suspect was shot and killed after pointing a gun at an officer during a foot pursuit, according to Police Chief Michael Salvador.  The 10-minute video wasuploaded Tuesday evening to the city’s website and contains footage from an Atwater police officer’s body camera plus aerial footage shot from a Stanislaus Sheriff’s Office helicopter.