Metallica’s new album, Death Magnetic, is right around the corner. The first video for the album is ‘The Day That Never Comes’, and it’s pretty good. Well, the video kind of sucks but the song is pretty kick ass. I’ve “sampled” the entire album (Thanks to mininova) and it lives up to the hype that’s been going around. Many so called fans say they haven’t released a good album since Master of Puppets, …And Justice for All, or The Black Album. I say every album from start to finish has been pretty good if not great, even St. Anger. But I think the latest album should satisfy those fans of the earlier stuff.
Check out the video for ‘The Day That Never Came’
It seems like Metallica is now embracing the internet. They are going to be releasing the album digitally prior to it hitting stores. Now only if they would follow Radiohead and let fans decide the price they want to pay.
A few years ago I saw the Robert Rodriguez movie Once Upon A Time in Mexico. The special features on the DVD included a ‘10 Minutes Cooking School‘ where Robert Rodriguez cooked up something called puerco pibil aka cochinita pibil (check the link for some more information about cochinita pibil). His presentation had me really interested in trying out the dish…plus it looked really good.
Even though the feature is listed as a 10 minute cooking school, it’s really more of a 5 minute one leaving a bunch of holes that you need to fill in yourself. I tried the dish out and it was just ok. At that point I had never had cochinita pibil before so I didn’t know what it was supposed to taste like. Luckily, we found a place in Austin that served it and it was damn good, damn, damn good. It blew the one I made completely out of the water. So I completely ditched Mr. Rodriguez’s recipe and went back to the drawing board. I have tweaked some thing hear and there resulting in some pretty delicious slow roasted pork. Now I want to share my recipe with you.
Before getting into the pork recipe, we need to make some pickled onions. If you want to fully enjoy the pibil you must have the onions with it.
Pickled Red Onions
1 cup boiling-hot water
1 medium red onion, halved lengthwise, then very thinly sliced lengthwise
1 fresh habanero or Scotch bonnet chile, halved, seeded, and deveined, then thinly sliced
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican), crumbled
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pour boiling water over onion in a small bowl and let stand until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain onion well and return to bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Cochinita Pibil
3/4 cup Achiote paste*
10 cloves garlic
1 1/2 cup orange juice
Juice of 2 limes
8 bay leaves
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon ground thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 pounds pork butt, cut into 2-inch chunks
1 pound banana leaves
Big Ass Zip Loc bag or marinade container
Aluminum foil pan & foil
In a food processor or blender, blend the achiote paste, salt, garlic gloves, oregano, thyme, cinnamon, bay leaves, cumin, orange juice, pepper, and lime juice. You want to make sure you blend everything really well. Here is what mine looks like after blending;
Put your pork butt chunks into the big ass zip loc bag, then pour the marinade into the bag. Seal up the bag making sure to get as much air out as possible. Put the bag into the fridge and let it marinade for 24 hours. If you can’t give it 24, plan for at least 12.
After marinating, line your aluminum foil pan or baking dish with a layer of banana leaves. Use the longer leaves as you will be wrapping it around the meat. Dump the contents of the zip loc bag into the pan making sure the pork is evenly arranged. Take the overlapping portion of the leaves and wrap around the pork. Next, wrap the dish tightly in foil, you don’t want any heat to escape.
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Bake for 6 hours or until the pork is tender and easy pulled apart. Remove from the oven and let it cool down for a few minutes. Take some forks and pull the pork chunks apart. Now you’re ready to enjoy this great dish. I serve it up taco style with the onions but it’s great even without tortillas.
(The above picture is not mine, I found it on google. We have a bunch of pictures of preparing the pork but by the time it’s done we forget about the pictures and just eat)
If you go taco style, make sure you get some freshly made tortillas. It really adds to the whole dish. In my experience the ones found in the your local grocery store’s bread aisle takes away from the whole thing.
*Some Cochinita Pibil recipes call for grinding up annatto seeds. I’ve tried this and haven’t really liked the end result. The paste has been consistent for me. You can find the paste in many grocery stores that carry international foods.
Google announced the release of their open source browser, Chrome. I came across this at MarketPlace via this link.
Being the one that likes trying out new things I quickly downloaded and installed it. Installation is painless as I would expect. After everything I’ve read about the browser I was expecting to be wowed…I haven’t been wowed. I don’t see myself moving away from Firefox anytime soon. It’s still too early to call this thing a dud, but it continues my lack of interest in the tools Google offers, besides the search of course.
I know I’m in the minority when I say Google’s offerings are pretty much crap, but I think way too many people eat up this stuff just because it’s from Google. But…anyway, I will continue playing with it trying to keep an open mind.
I invite you to share your thoughts on the new browser. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, go here: link.
I have been playing around with Adobe Photoshop for a little over ten years. It seems like only yesterday I was running a Rage Against the Machine fan site and abusing the hell out of Photoshop filters. Back then, I couldn’t have enough text engulfed in flames. It was a magical time. Fast forward to today and my photoshop skills haven’t really progressed. I go through spurts where I will soak up a ton of PS knowledge, then not touch PS for months. When I do go back to it, I have forgotten everything I learned previously. Well, last week I sat down in front of PS again and began my dabbling. In my playing I created some things I thought would make cool backgrounds.
Here are two of the ones I created. I have more but haven’t exported them yet.
Here is a little tribute to my obsession with flames in my own designs.
If you’re interested in the downloads, I will have them up in the Downloads page shortly.
I have had a ton of requests (read: 2 people) to post the SirRobbieRob.com WordPress theme. So, I have gone ahead and packaged it along with the .psd files. Feel free to pass this around to everyone. The only thing I ask, customize the theme to fit your site. Have some fun with it.
License
By downloading and using this theme, you agree to the following terms:
You may NOT resell this theme
You may use this theme for personal or commercial projects
You may modify, translate or distribute
If you have any questions or problems, please let me know. Download | Support
We can now scratch off Barton Springs from our to-do list.
In the ten years I have lived in Austin, I can count on one hand how many times I’ve been to Barton Springs. It’s kind of sad because this place is freakin’ awesome. The water averages about 68 degrees all year round. In the winter, I’m told, it feels nice and warm. On our 100 degree Summer days, the water is nice and refreshing.
We went on a day it was 102 degrees outside…and it was only 11AM. Originally, we had planned to spend the day at the Austin Ice Cream Festival but that ended up being horrible. You would think an Ice Cream Festival would have free ice cream from a variety of places. There were like 5 different businesses there. All of the unknown venders were charging an insane amount of money for their products. I have never even heard of your dinky shop and you want me to pay $5 for a scoop of your organic ice cream…HA! You best be taking your game elsewhere, or I will shiv your ass and make you my prison bitch.
Anyway, after soaking in the crap festival we decided to go to Barton Springs. It was a blast! Even though I haven’t been a ton of times, I’m surely going to miss this place.
If you’re ever in Austin on a warm day, you should think about going to the spring. If you do, make sure you work up a sweat. It’s just that much better after running around. Also, be prepared to have your breathe taken away when you get into the water. It’s quite chilly and will produce shrinkage.
Way back in 2000, a co-worker sent me a music video of a Indian pop singer. At the time I didn’t know it, but his name was Daler Mehndi. When I first set eyes on the awesome ‘Tunak Tunak Tun’ video, I laughed my ass off. I had to have watched that thing a hundred times just that day. Every time, laughing at the cheesiness of it all. But soon, the laughter turned to amazement. It reminded me of all the things I love about the 80′s, bright colors and good music. I started looking into other bhangra artists and I hit the mother load. I couldn’t understand a single word they were saying but damn if it didn’t kick ass.
I went from listening to Indian music to watching clips of Bollywood films. Imagine the most awesome thing you can…now times that by a million. That is how awesome the Indian entertainment industry is. I would love to live in a world where things could be solved by breaking into dance and song. Sounds like a perfect world to me.
Check out one of Daler’s music videos.
If you haven’t seen the Tunak Tunak Tun video, search any video site. It’s everywhere.
A small example of Bollywood awesome-ness. There is a movie called, Shootout At Lokhandwala. The movie has guns and a bunch of bad ass gangstas. In between popping caps in asses, they take a time out to bust into song and dance.
See, you’re never too hard for some dancing with your fellow gangstas. The Bloods and Crips should be watching this. They could learn a thing or two about real Thug Life.
I’ve been in my music listening mode today. It’s a time when I just put my iPod on shuffle and listen to anything that comes on. No skipping allowed. There are certain lyrics that are popping out at me. Most of them are ones that I don’t ever really listen to and others are ones that I’ve heard some much, I ignore. Some are inspirational, some are stupid, and some just make you go, wtf? I’ve pulled out some of my favorites and thought I would share them with you.
DMX – Good Girls, Bad Guys F**kin with me? I have you in the back of the Chevelle
Like what (what) hittin it raw dogg in the butt
Kanye West – Stronger You know how long i’ve been on ya?
Since prince was on apollonia
Since OJ had isotoners
Sadly, I think I own all of Kanye’s CDs. Why? I have no idea. There isn’t any real substance to any of his work. It’s either excellent lyrics like this or sampling the entire Motown catalog.
50 Cent – Wanksta Cuz we don’t go nowhere without toast
Nuff said
Sisqo – Thong Song Dumps like a truck, truck, truck.
Thighs like what? what? what?
Let me sing it again!
Please do! I love that song. Even this long after it came out, I find myself randomly busting out these lines.
Lil Wayne – Lollipop Call me so I can
Come and do it for you
Call me so I can
Come and prove it for you
Call me so I can
Make it juicy for you
Call me so I can
Get it juicy for you
Lupe Fiasco – Little Weapon Now little Terry got a gun he got from the store
He bought it with the money he got from his chores
He robbed the candy shop told them lay down on the floor
Put the cookies in the bag; take the pennies out the drawer
Khalil got a gun he got from the rebels
To kill the infidels and American devils
A bomb on his waist, a mask on his face
Prays five times a day and listens to heavy metal
Little Alex got a gun he took from his dad
That he snuck into school in his black book bag
His black nail polish, black boots and black hat
He’s gonna blow away the bully that just pushed his ass
Rage Against The Machine – Township Rebellion Yeah, so you thought you could get with the hardlines
That fill your mind
Thoughts, battles fought
And lessons taught
Yes I’ll display the fitness
And flip like a gymnast
Raise my fist and resist
Asleep, though we stand in the midst
Of a war
Gotta get mine
Gotta get more
Keepin’ the mic warm against the norm
‘Cause what does it offer me?
I think often it’s nothin’ but a coffin
Rage Against The Machine – Freedom It’s set up like a deck of cards
They’re sending us to early graves
For all the diamonds
They’ll use a pair of clubs to beat the spades
With poetry I paint the pictures that hit
More like the murals that fit
Don’t turn away
Get in front of it
Real Life – Send Me an Angel It gets in your eyes
It’s making you cry
Don’t know what to do
Don’t know what to do.
Classic! I use this song to measure my maturity level. If I can listen to it and not chuckle to myself, I have reached the next level in maturity. I have yet to reach that next level, I chuckle every time I hear it. HA
Shakira – Whenever, Wherever Lucky that my breasts
Are small and humble
So you don’t confuse
Them with mountains
Slayer – Necrophiliac Relentless lust
Of rotting flesh
To thrash the tomb she lies
Heathen whore
Of Satan’s wrath
I spit at your demise
Vanilla Ice – Play that Funky Music Now you’re amazed
By the VIP posse
Steppin’ so hard
Like a German Nazi
Sade – Smooth Operator Coast to coast
L.A. to Chicago
Good Times! Some of you may be questioning my playlist. But don’t! I don’t question your sexuality (sometimes I do) so don’t question my taste in music.
Until recently, I can honestly say I didn’t know what true anger really was. I use to think being mad at someone was the same as being angry with them. But I’m finding out these are two, totally, different emotions for me.
This new discovery came this past May while visiting my parents in Virginia. A few days before the trip, there was a little family drama that resulted in the end of a relationship. Although not intended, the results of that drama were my doing. When we got to Virginia, the topic came up before we even got back to the parent’s house. It started off as I expected it to, a little blah this and blah that. What I didn’t expect was for it to get any further than that. This is where anger introduced himself to me. If I was the Incredible Hulk, this is where I would be turning green and tearing off my shirt. But I’m not; I just saw red and wanted to puke.
What actually sparked this? In short, being told what my thoughts and intentions were. Now, you can disagree with me all day long and I could care less. People have different opinions and don’t always share mine. But, telling me I thought something when I didn’t or I intended to do something that I didn’t; really pisses me off. It pisses me off more when I tell you this, and you keep telling me what my intentions are.
Things eventually ended up winding down. But I was drained and ready to fly back home. The trip ended up being fun but the topic popped up more than I cared. The anger went back into its cave to hibernate…but not for long. Even after getting back home, the topic came up on every phone call back home.
Then, I talked with the person at the other end of the drama. The talk was very similar to Virginia. This person was telling me what my intentions and thoughts were. This person, who thinks they know who I am, is telling me my thoughts and intentions. This person, who I have distanced myself away from along time ago, knows me better than I know myself. The anger I felt in Virginia has nothing on this. I felt a fire grow inside me, a fire that continues more than a month later. I can feel the fire spreading and getting out of control. That little bastard, Yoda was right. Anger does lead to hate.
When I’m mad at someone it doesn’t last very long. Mainly because being mad takes way too much energy and I’m too lazy to dedicate that much to something. Anger is different. It’s like a cancer; it starts off with getting mad then grows into something that eats away at you.
The awakening of this emotion has had its positives, even though it doesn’t sound like it. This one thing sparked an emotional awakening, if you will. I went from being emotionally shut off from people to slowly opening back up. That side of things has been awesome. The major downside is it can easily get out of control. Already, it has mutated from anger to something unthinkable towards that one person. The worst part, I can feel it spreading out to other relationships in my family. Something I’m not willing to let happen.
I need to find the balance, where I don’t let the anger consume me and I don’t completely ignore it. That’s one of the fun things about personal growth; finding a good balance.
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