February 25, 2010

Tom Perkins: Wall Street Versus Silicon Valley - WSJ.com

Tom Perkins: Wall Street Versus Silicon Valley - WSJ.com

Perkins is a legend in Silicon Valley.

He is also the source of one of my favorite VC quotes: "The time to eat the appetizers is when they are being passed around"

or

Take the money when you are offered the money. You don't always get a second chance.

February 18, 2010

Corby Kummer's Hot Chocolate Recipe

Every Day Is Hot Chocolate Day - The Atlantic Food Channel

Fair use?

"To make two generous or four modest cups, in a saucepan whisk together half a cup of cocoa powder, one teaspoon of cornstarch or arrowroot, a third of a cup of sugar, and half a cup of water, on or off a low flame—it will dissolve either way after thirty seconds or so. Add half a cup more of water and a cup of milk, of whatever kind you like. Keep stirring over low to moderate heat for about ten minutes, scraping the bottom to prevent scorching, until the mixture thickens. I wish I could recommend scooping up some of the dry mix from a canister, stirring it with water or milk, and putting the mug into a microwave oven for a minute or two. But every time I have tried preparing hot cocoa in a microwave, no matter how much headroom I leave in the cup it boils over and makes a mess. I think my recipe provides the ideal dark brew, to be sipped from small cups (proper chocolate cups are somewhere between demitasse and teacups in size). To bring the liquid to a more familiar consistency, simply add another cup of hot milk or a half cup each of water and milk. Optional additions are a teaspoon of vanilla, a pinch of salt, or a sprinkling of freshly ground nutmeg (which accentuates chocolate better, I think, than cinnamon)."

Remember that is Kummer's recipe, not mine. Credit where credit is due. It is worth clicking through on the link above.

Sometimes, you just need some theobromine.

Property Taxes and Home Prices

I may have lined to this before, but I find it interesting:

Property Taxes and Home Prices

February 11, 2010

Wait, wait!

We spent the evening watching the taping of Wait wait, don't tell me! here in Houston.

What great fun!

The show we watched will be played this Saturday, 13 Feb, 2010. Catch it if you can. Our Mayor is the special guest.

It took about two hours for a one hour show. I guess that a lot of the banter, especially from Paula Poundstone, will be cut for brevety's sake.

Get to a live taping of this if you can. They do it in Chicago most weeks, on Thursday evening.

February 10, 2010

More Balzac


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Over and over

Life is just one damned thing after another.
Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)

It's not true that life is one damn thing after another; it is one damn thing over and over.
Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 - 1950)

February 5, 2010

Honore de Balzac

"When we drink coffee, ideas march in like the army" - Honore de Balzac