Never been closer, from knife to plate

Do you know where your food comes from? That is, do you know the exact chain of events that brought food to your table today? Think beyond the trip to the supermarket or restaurant: what goes into acquiring land, growing crops, raising animals, transporting products and preparing meals (in no particular order)? I bet it's a lot more complicated - and a lot more "messy" (i.e. unintended consequences galore!) - than most of us think.

Certainly, the topic has gotten lots of "liberal" press over the past couple of years - most notably with the US Senate debate this past Spring over the 2007 US Farm Bill and releases of popular books like Fast Food Nation (by Eric Schlosser), The Omnivore's Dilemma (by Michael Pollan), and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (by Barbara Kingsolver) - but unless you indulge in the actual activities of the farm or slaughterhouse (being perhaps the most "foreign" steps in the process), what you really have is a brainful of intellectual musings to discuss over expensive organic tea and Newman's Ginger O's.. and not a deep and visceral understanding of the actual connection to food. I mean, really, how can that be satisfying (once the awareness is established vis-à-vis a bit of reading, that is): What is more visceral than (the eating of) food?

Admittedly, I am, *ahem*, somewhat of an intellectual snob as well, so let me pass you this salt shaker so that you may sprinkle its contents about the rest of this entry (and therefore be able to continue reading in a comfortable manner). haha.

With that said, I helped to slaughter an animal for the first time in my life - at 28 years of age - this past May as part of the BOSS course I've mentioned before. And it was a totally artificial and symbolic act, since, really, there is no need to do such a thing in this day and age (even being in the wilderness for two weeks). Still, I'm glad I had the opportunity to participate, to deepen - on a very visceral level - my relationship to my food forever, a bit of theory into practice, if you will:

I wielded a knife across a sheep's neck and it was unforgettable.

The blood was warm and very red, fresh from the wound, and, at first, flowing in large quantities. My right hand, vibrating a bit from fluctuating nerves (mine), laid upon the shoulder of the animal as it died; the touch was soft and, in an eerie way (by temperature and effect), the body before me could be confused with something still alive. At this point, the sheep *was* still a sheep, but it could only be so for a few more minutes; an unmistakable and permanent transformation had begun.

The actual act of cutting the throat was quick and almost automatic; the minutes and hours (and days, etc.) afterwards (still, onwards) provided much time for reflection. In fact, I now know that the eyes are true windows to the soul (outpacing cliché); watch their spark fade - most literally - as the brain approaches debility. And upon complete death, the eyelids must be closed manually, an act for the benefit of us still living.

The details are, well, gory details; I couldn't do a play-by-play description justice via prose (which I guess is the point of this entry). But what I can note is that throughout the process, everyone was "there"; there was no misunderstanding of purpose. We saw (and did) it all, and could understand the correlations between each act in the chain: from living, breathing beast to seared, cut meat.

If you know me, I've probably talked about this before en vivo, but I very much appreciate those times in my life when I am fully immersed in a moment, even in something as simple as silently sitting around and breathing after a hard run (never mind the procurement of fresh meat); and when the moment is within the context of a group, I can appreciate it that much more.

Here, everyone and everything smelled of sheep, an odor that does not wash off easily. Again, I will not forget it.

Living life in parallel

I know it seems like I don't have a job, working from home and all (and updating this blog thing), but the truth is that I do. In fact, I've been working at the same (computer) company for almost 8 years now; who woulda thought?

In any case, the past week or so I've been brushing up on new parallel processing technologies (like Intel Threaded Building Blocks) in anticipation of my next work project. And today I received it: Mentor a team of engineers in China as they attempt to multi-thread Open-iSCSI. Basically, I'll be doing program management, and advising them technically, both on an overall architectural level and on an implementation level.

For those interested, iSCSI is basically a protocol that helps implement network storage over TCP/IP infrastructure. While I do need to study the details of the algorithm (and current implementation of it in the Open-iSCSI project), my background is in both networking, and, more importantly, in designing (and writing) parallel programs; lately, I've been doing a lot of teaching on the subject. In fact, most of my "professional life" had been in supporting (crazy-complicated) network processors, which are able to run up to 128 hardware-based threads at once. Making them all play nice together was a challenge. haha.

But that experience proved to be fortuitous; multi-threaded programming is all the rage now (for computer folks, that is). Still, there is much to learn, so I've been checking out a couple of cool - I use the term within the context of work - sources like the Thinking Parallel blog, the Blogs@Intel (specifically under "Research@Intel" and "Intel Software Network Blogs") and the TechRepublic blogs.

While you may not be interested in the actual details of writing multi-threaded software (some days I'm not either - ha!), you may find the analytical method - looking at a problem from this different perspective - curious, and, maybe, even provocative. In these situations, you now have many entities working towards a common goal, but since they are independent for the most part, you'll find unintended consequences galore, including, but not limited to, one stomping on another's set of resources, ruining the whole operation. Again, it's a difficult problem to get everyone to play nice sometimes - especially as the numbers involved go up and up and up.. even if all have the best intentions in mind. And this is a lesson that has application much beyond the computer world..

Where to go for Freakonomics?

As of yesterday, the Freakonomics blog (formerly at freakonomics.com) is now hosted at, and promoted by, NYTimes.com; check it:

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/

I've read through occasionally, and, like reading Marginal Revolution or Malcolm Gladwell's blog, this one is full of tons and tons of random "food for thought"-type entries. That is, this blog includes a really wide array of subject matter - basically, whatever the authors, Stephen J. Dubner and Steven D. Levitt (and site editor Melissa Lafsky), think is interesting on any given day: why *not* muse about global warming vs. a global pandemic (if you had to choose your poison) or starting a bar where the price of beer is updated in real-time, based on demand? Variety is the spice of life, for sure.

At the least, their entries are good jumping off points - links provided therein - to take a deeper dive into a topic you probably wouldn't have come across otherwise. And, depending on your view, this sort of roulette is an entertaining online resource or a total timewaster. For the latter, "food for thought", without application, is, well, mental masturbation (to put it colloquially). haha. But, yeah, what's wrong with that? Flex them braincells; this is a knowledge economy after all..

Derek and Simon, I'll occasionally frequent you

Well, I'm a man who can appreciate absurdism (sometimes, but more and more as the years pass). So, at times proper, I'll frequent the jocular dreams of folks like Bob Odenkirk, sincerely; they could be so funny. And luckily for us (me?), it seems like he's got some new skits going under the "Derek and Simon: The Show" moniker. Check it here(s):

http://www.myspace.com/derekandsimon
http://www.superdeluxe.com/sd/artist/bob_odenkirk

What do you guys think?

Perfect Lineage; I Couldn't Have Done It Better

Work from the past (2002 risen!), updated heavily for the here-and-now. Enjoy:

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Man, oh-man-oh-man,

I can't believe how much I'm entranced with my own smell. Quite primitive, huh? Well, it's a fact that is less characterizing than opiating, really. No, really! So, let's take this fun informatsia at face value and explore the inner workings and forget-me-nevers of time and space, of a nice place for seasoned desire; we'll find reasoning yet! So close your eyes and breathe deep(ly) on this journey, breathe deeply s'il vous plait..

It seems like only yesterday I took a small mammal and threw it in the fire for warmth, later for food. The smell of burnt fur excites me! Bones - the tiniest of bones - are all around, stand-ins for my evolutionary compatriots; they are dead and broken (and teeth-riddled). Still, it's so nice for all of you to stay, laying here and there and everywhere; I can't say no. Lo, the light is going out; the sun is, of course, the one and only constant source (of radiance). And in this moment of shining, I am alive and mating (or, at least, mate-able): I have met the one, the two and the three; we all, eventually, go the way of the cold abyss. Shiver!

Later - so much later to this frisky business - the gardens rang. I awoke, and yet still - at this point - I had no clue this Babylon scene would be a wonder in the future; I simply rose and walked through the garden, wine glass in hand. Drink and be merry, I said (and lived). Nevermind the masses; they are of a different stock and weight; so light and jaded, they've ended up a vague framework for the lives of the elite (I hardly know ye). And who am I to judge? Bang!

Could I have known any better that before long (what is a millennium anyway?) my progeny would be composing symphonies in the key of D minor, playing them in front of kings, queens who would fuck my composer genes if there weren't so many god damn aristocrats faking their love of the eighth note here, now, in an 18th century concert hall. At least these instruments render the electroheliogram of my consciousness perfectly and synchroniphenially, draining the listnessless from my brain stem.. for a brief while anyway. Roar!

Lest I forget, a century or so before, my RNA transcriptions painted the Sistine Chapel with brushes made from the most yielding of goat hair; Asia Minor, you *are* good for something. Each atom of each mechanistic cilium is ecclesiastically bonded to the next; I couldn't have constructed it better myself (though, sometimes, I wish I would have). Dream on: I could have smelled the animals' stables on an odoriferous holiday! Dank!

For now, there is work to be done: the open country awaits the wrangler and his compañeros. You see, a world of rope - tighter and tighter - is beguiling; this world is irresistible! So, regardless of the 10-gallon fashion sense - it is what it is, and everywhere - the herd circulates, the herd obeys without question, though occasionally eddies of aliment - that is, eddies of meat - form around diminutive bodies of water. And I think how quickly things have a'changed. I say: let's lead 'em straight up upon the griddle; my insides be a'rus'lin'. Sizzle!

Before long it was 2007 and clicks and swoons from alpha bit to zeta flit are the order of the day, though everything is less fleshed and carnally-satiating then I remember. But let me temper that thought with the fact that my senses are somewhat dulled; it's been awhile and awhile, and it's been awhile..

Time is a mysterious beast: time renders memories for the living, at times, too flippantly for my tastes, be-grilled or not. Still, there is a need to connect and reminisce, no matter what the outcome for humankind; it's always possible in a manner artificial (and I mean that in every sense of the word). So, when we all go the way of the cold abyss, God save the computer! Blip!

Still, all I want to do is smell my own balls. Good day!

Getting geared up for lap time

Earlier this afternoon, SF public pool locker room:

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ME: Hi David.
Older Guy (OG): Eric, right? Haven't seen you in awhile; how's it going?

(at this point, we're just standing around in our shorty bathing suits, getting geared up for lap time; I'm closing up my locker)

ME: Can't complain; things are pretty good. How about you?
OG: Good, good. Hey, you're looking buff. You lifting some weights?
ME: I, uhh; um, no. No. I've probably gained weight this past month, drinking lots of beers and all that.
OG: Nah, looks good; you're lifting weights.
ME: Uh, hahaha; thanks man.
OG: See you in the pool!

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I'm just sayin' you meet the nicest people at the pool. haha.

All hail the Bear Republic!

Racer 5!

It's still delicious.. even after all these years. Ah.. what else can you ask for? It's a favorite; endearment protocol engaged.

Yeah, so, Zeitgeist does not disappoint.. it had been awhile since I'd been there, but the beers were flowing delicious via pitcher (including some Stone Pale Ale) and the back picnic-tabled garden not too crowded (although smelling like porto-potty, per usual); tonite, the temperature was such I didn't even need my hoodie up; I like..

And, I saw a few Bloody Mary's being made at the bar.. while not a nighttime drink for me, it got me thinking of a return trip in the not-too-distant future while the sun still shinin'.

What's the weather report for the weekend?

Marginal Revolution against the grain of intuition

It *is* one of the sexiest professions at the moment: Economist! Or maybe not. Still, I have a thing for numbers and numerical analysis; I have a thing for insights on life pointed out to be existing against the grain of common intuition. Is that sadism or masochism?

In any case - but in this vein - check out the Marginal Revolution (http://www.marginalrevolution.com/) blog from Tyler Cowen, economist and author of a new book: "Discover Your Inner Economist", being released tomorrow. It will certainly be on my reading list, after - or maybe instead of - Demons by Señor (or Herr, if you must) Dostoevsky.

Mr. Cowen seems to be a polymath, or, at least, a man of varied interests, so you'll have blog entries on the viability of "Medicare for everyone" (don't forget Part II) to star players in central banking (in the US and beyond); and food.. especially DC-area restaurants.

But regardless of your locale, read on, and be a hit at your next cocktail party..