Pan

I've seen Mrs. Manners somewhere, I think in the Daily News. Her etiquette is a little too genteel for rough-and-ready New Yorkers, though. Really, though, I don't think the fine points of Mrs. Manners-style etiquette are the issue. As I said, it's having consideration for others that counts. You need to be able to observe some version of Hillel's maxim: Do not do unto others that which you would hate to be done unto you. If everyone just tried his/her best to follow that, how much better would this world be?

Have you been watching me?

Hmmm...Things are a lot different outside of built-up areas like most of New York City is. No-one's ever buzzed me to try to get me to give them money. If they did, I definitely wouldn't let them in and would suspect them of trying to rob me.

Fresco, some people feel that being young men entitles them to take up 3 seats on the subway, and some people feel that being drivers entitles them to take up 2 lanes on the highway. Again, I really think this is an issue of people just plain being assholes.

jsolomon, what's MRSA?

Nero, I don't think the issue really is whether one does or doesn't have children, and whether that's by choice or happenstance. The real issue to me is that people have to have consideration for others and take responsibility for their behavior and the behavior of the children in their care.

As many of you know, we've been having a thread on BSE in the U.S. But this thread isn't about the news. Rather, I'm curious to know how many of you are avoiding beef and beef products since the news broke. I'd also like to hear from Canadians, Brits, and anyone else who's had any reason to consider whether s/he may be at risk from BSE. For my part, I have in fact avoided beef and beef products since the news broke, but that's only a few days ago. I'll follow developments, but I can't predict in advance how long I'll hold out on being beefless.

You mean there are a lot of people down there who oppose killing ducks because they're cute or something? I would have never thought that would be true!

Sure, that's a good reason to kill all the geese. Especially since their poop is non-toxic and non-disease carrying. But it's disgusting, and geese are delicious to eat. Also, there are such huge flocks of them that it would really take a huge campaign to kill them all. I doubt many people are seriously suggesting that. If anything, they'd suggest hunting some of them, and I would support that.

The black color probably is, too.

USDA Stands by Mad Cow Detection System: My remarks: Seems to me they're being too blase and slow to act.

That's disgraceful! I hope we could all agree on that one.

Thanks for reporting back, and continued good luck to you!

He's 6'2" at 14?! Good grief. What do you feed that boy? Okra-The pod of the Gods The boy will eat anything, but he prefers sushi of all sorts and Mexican (real Mexican, he knows the difference as we were living there for a while) and soups of all kinds (particularly duck gumbo and Toscana Soup w/andouille instead of italian sweet sausage). And if he's quick-footed and talented at basketball, maybe he'll become a point guard in the NBA and treat you to upscale dinners in time.

Feel better soon, JJ, and get some rest!!!!!!

I'd propose to call it an "alternative sweetener," but I definitely would not use the words "synthetic" or "artificial."

I'd kill for old NY pizza! Have you been to DiFara's? Whoops, wrong thread.

One question: Are those dishes put in quotes in the menu, and are they described in the menu? (I wouldn't know, as I've never been to the French Laundry.)

My question was about the current issue of Bartender Magazine. Where is it published, Australia?

I'm surprised at the number of people in this thread who sound like they regularly get unexpected rings of their doorbell. Who's ringing? When someone rings my doorbell unexpectedly, it's usually some drunk schmuck who rang the wrong bell, but if it's during the day, it might be some postal delivery person with a package. When my parents get an unexpected ring, it's usually a package. They answer. And unlike the phone calls, I don't have a problem with that.

From the story, it sounds like kosher beef is much safer than treif beef, but not necessarily 100% safe.

Quotes from R. Washburn: As Roger Attenborough said in the character of Gandhi in the movie Gandhi: "That would be a good idea." [referring to Western civilization] Seriously, "civilization" is a very general term, usually one given a positive value. I don't see a point in debating an abstraction. Survival is what every species is about. Some manipulations of nature may put us in danger, so a degree of caution is advisable.

Why do you find genetically altered cows scary? Law of unintended consequences!

I've always seen potatoes and sweet potatoes listed as very high glycemic items, along with bread (especially white bread), corn, rice (esp. white rice), juice, and sucrose.

Great stuff again, Kris and Helen. (Yes, Elyse, this is a dual blog - right? ) Kris, how much English do your children speak? Same question for Helen.