Alex

I have no idea about 5 or 8. I have this nagging feeling that I should know #10, but nothing coherent is bubbling up. To help balance out these tough ones, here's an easy one: a White Russian, repeatedly. Hint: The movie made an earlier appearance in this forum, for a different beverage.

Poppies...Poppies...Poppies will put them to sleep. In my clinic, a favorite excuse for a drug test turning up positive for opiods was, "I ate some poppy seed rolls (bagels, cake, etc.) the night before." "Uh, sorry, but I'm not buying that. Obviously you know that eating a sufficient amount of poppy seeds can cause a positive drug test, so you also know that you need to avoid those foods." BTW, poppy seeds do not contain opium per se, but can become coated with it, or absorb some, during harvesting. Several variables influence how much opium remains after processing.

Or, if you're a David Bowie fan, Space Oddity.

'Tis. (BTW, TftC, it's Odyssey, not Oddessy.)

Here's a new one: (Looking at sandwiches in a cooler) "What's that? Chicken?" "Something like that. Tastes the same, anyway." "Got any ham?"

Yeowl! Confirming #3 as Sweeney Todd. I also am certain that my answer to #2 is correct; no need to wait for Yiannos to confirm.

Life of Brian! (w/o the exclamation point). Blessed are the cheesemakers. Here's another one (fairly easy; no Googling/Bing-ing/etc., though): Mrs. Lovett's meat pies.

Perhaps I should put up this sign at the threshhold to our kitchen. It'll also help to keep meddlers out. However, I think I will actually get this one.

After use, I hand wash it as I do any other tool (knife, etc), then dry it, fold down the probe, and put it back in its case. Nothing before use -- just flip and stab. I do like your "sip of vino" technique, though. I'll have to try that.

Oh, yes -- if I haven't already had it washed out, post-tirade, with Palmolive -- heady, but with just a touch of mellow smoothness. I'm still on a roll with making margaritas from Rick Bayless's book.

Lemon merengue pie: Replace half the regular lemon juice with Meyer lemon juice. You can cut back on the sugar slightly, if you like.

This isn't a problem for me. Whenever I'm cooking something more involved than, say, oatmeal, I take off all my clothes, apply antibacterial ointment over every square inch (square centimeter, if I'm not in the U.S.) of my body, and I'm good to go.

I read the title of this topic and thought it was going to be about a new software program, one that automatically initiates a one-time "sealing off" of a website for 24 hours when it detects a click of the "Buy" button for a cookbook or kitchen item, thereby giving the user time to reflect of the wisdom of the purchase. Darn. I could use a program like that.

The final event at the 2010 Heartland Gathering was the Sunday bacon tasting brunch at Zingerman's, hosted by owner Ari Weinzweig. He's even written a book about bacon.

Check out Zingerman's bacon page.

But something within the allium genus, yes?

Thank you for the introduction to fivebooks.com -- interesting articles, indeed, plus guideposts to worthwhile books to read, or reread.

I'd like to see a day devoted to washing your hands of troublesome people and situations.

With bittersweet chocolate: 1) a good California cabernet sauvignon; 2) Banyuls

Fossilized dinosaur scat?

Looks like someone ran over a sea urchin.

Wei Wei Palace (if Naftal should ever detour through GR on his way to or from Chicago). Here's their dim sum menu.

Have you been lurking inside my brain?

Hmm. That's true. Although if I really, really want a slicer for home use, I suppose I could wait for a 9" version ($675 new) to show up.

Just posted on our local Craigslist. This thing is so sharp (How...sharp...is it?), it sliced the "l" right out of the title. The seller says, "Less then a year of minimal use! Like NEW! Serious offers only." I suspect he (?) will accept $500. It's $1160 new. I just hate passing up a great deal, although if I don't use it regularly, it wouldn't be so great. Still...