There's no point in buying something monogrammed for a couple with different last names, right? I mean, putting each of their initials is weird -- looks like someone else's initials -- and just putting one initial on a "household" gift is shitty, too, I think.

Vortex thinks more like I do. I check for phone, tickets, ID and money, and the rest can go hang.

Jesse. You could do each of their last initials, interlocking.

My friend is doing this for her friend's wedding invitations. K and J in gold, interlocking over a red fleur-de-lis.

I have phone, boarding pass, ID, and money. And pajamas.

Last call on items that should be in my suitcase! I need to leave in about five minutes.

This is really depressing. [link] Also, really amazing, in a "how is this allowed to continue?" kind of way....

From Mother Jones. Boing Boing describes the article:

Mother Jones has a long, chilling feature on The Judge Rotenberg Education Center, a private radical behavior-modification school based in Canton, Mass. The school is run by a rogue behaviorist who uses discredited "punishment" techniques -- electroshock -- on children as young as nine to change their personalities. Matthew Israel, the school's $400,000/year executive director, straps homemade, overpowered shock apparatus to children (including severely autistic and retarded kids) and has his staff administer strong shocks for even minor infractions. Some children have been shocked thousands of times a day, and several children have died at the school.

Eight states send troubled children to the school, where "high functioning" kids are "educated" by being sat in front of computers all day, running through automated tutorial programs. Talking, fidgeting, or acting out during this "school" time is punished with shocks. Some kids' shock apparatus misfires, shocking them without any provocation. The staff are instructed to activate the shock apparatus out of sight of the children, so that they can't mentally or physically prepare for it.

[link]

Okay, I'm off! DRAGONCON!

Have fun!

Have fun!!

Jesse. You could do each of their last initials, interlocking.

Oh yeah, that could be nice.

Ve haf ze NASALCROM!

Thanks, folks. I will do some testing. I can has science experiment in own head!

Hey, does anyone have suggestions for how to prepare shallots to go with chicken Kiev or oven-roasted fish? I impulse bought a few last week, but ti doesn't look like I can justify buying a roast anytime soon.

There's another Bittman recipe that's a favorite of mine-- caramelized shallots (also works with pearl onions). Melt three tbsp of butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add a couple dozen peeled shallots to the melted butter and cook until they brown, about ten minutes. Sprinkle with 2 tbsp of sugar, stir. Add a cup of stock/white wine/water, raise heat to medium high. Cook until the liquid is almost completely evaporated. Stir in a tbsp of balsamic or other vinegar and cook another minute until the onions are syrupy.

One caution: this is not a recipe for dates or other social occasions.