Different perspectives

It's actually become a point of pride for me now to stay vegetarian. As vegetarian as I am right now, at any rate. The staff at Indian restaurants seem to get a kick out of it when Enfant Terrible and I turn down suggestions of mutton curry and the like "because we're vegetarian".

Most of the staff are vegetarian themselves, although a recent exchange I had with one fellow made me realize that not everyone is vegan 24/7.*

He: Today vegetarian ah?
Me: Yep, every day. You too?
He: Oh god, no, it's Friday.
Me: What happens on Friday... oh, non-vegetarian on Fridays?
He: On weekends. Whee!**

* Technically, it's impossible to be "pure" vegetarian because an amount of animal protein winds up in food during processing anyway. Anthony Bourdain said so.
** His expression said "Whee!"

Man of Steel (2013): Fangirling

When I watch a film based on a book/comic/real life, I believe that there should be some leeway in terms of faithfulness. While it's true that a film would have been enriched if [character/scene/chapter] had been included, it wouldn't make a difference to me if I know nothing of the source material. Of course, I sympathize with the purists, but please, it's just a film. A film that almost all people who like men will enjoy staring at watching.

The best thing about Man of Steel is, in my wholly biased opinion, Henry of Cavill. Cavill is broad of shoulder, cleft of chin, and wavy of hair. He is also tight of butt and shapely of calves. May I also mention that he is quite handsome and has a smile that can light up a room and make your toes curl?

Why yes, I do like apple pie. Your apple pie. (Pic via Fiz Z Entertainment; the hi-res version is almost life-size [just kidding])

Elder wisdom

An old chestnut* states that an eatery must be good if there are a lot of people inside. In Malaysia, this means that if there's a queue outside the place that spills on to the road, most people would bet that the food will blow your mind. That, or they're screening a live badminton final in which a Malaysian is playing. Or the place has a Groupon deal.**

I used to buy into this idea, but now I know 2 things:

1. People attract more people.
2. The quality of a crowded eatery depends on who is crowding the place.

Anatomy of a Malayalee banana leaf meal (how many types are there??) (by The Food Detective)

Local flavour

I remember writing a fluff piece, when I still wrote fluff pieces around 2011, about staycations. The economic downturn was still hitting the Americans hard, though I believe Malaysia was less affected, if at all. 

In fact, people are still talking about staycations. Whether you're cash-strapped or platinum-carded, the idea is appealing: take your vacation days but don't leave town. Hit your own town like a tourist. Pessimistically, that could mean "spend 3 to 4 times what you usually would for lunch/pay exorbitant prices for souvenirs (... what?)/get food poisoning or sunburn or both/squabble in the car or get carsick or both".

Furthermore, no hotel staff will make your bed, leave mints on your pillows, and there will be no cheerful "Good morning!" at the breakfast table because it's your own breakfast table and no one else in the family is on staycation. And you'll still have to do your own laundry.

via West Cobb Magazine