Chapter 64: The Revolution Will Be Sponsored

The revolution will not be televised, it'll be sponsored. By TastyKake. That's right, Happy Bastille Day everyone! Vive le Revolution and pass the Krimpets. Krimpets, you say?

Don't let the seeming English provenance of the American confection disturb you on the day commemorating the French Revolution. No, no, no, you silly English knigggghhhttsss.

In Philadelphia today, according to the Star-Ledger, there will be a re-enactment of the storming of the Bastille at Eastern State Prison. And from over the wall will come pounds of butterscotch Krimpets from TastyKake. As the Ledger reports in the Today section, "Let's just say they've taken liberties with history. Armed troops will toss 2,000 Butterscotch Krimpets over the prison walls as Queen Marie (Antoinette) cries, 'Let them eat TastyKake!'"

Mon dieu.

Chapter 63.93: But What About My Coffee Cup?

Here's an interesting story. An entrepreneur in Edmonton has decided that he doesn't want to contribute to paper waste caused by so many coffee to-go cups. If you're planning to stop by his shop and get a cuppa joe before work, you better bring your own coffee mug. He won't serve it any other way. While I suspect I'd be a little annoyed if I were asked to plop down $10 for a walk-around mug (though he says it's only 37 cents more than he paid for them), I must say it's an interesting concept that could catch on (though probably not at Starbucks, where the coffee wouldn't taste good regardless of the container).

Chapter 63.9: A Healthy Thirst

Ok, I don't normally post things like this and I couldn't tell you when I last had a strawberry daiquiri, but this sounds tasty.

Strawberry Daiquiri Pops


1. Start with a box of strawberry ice pops — the all-fruit kind works great.

2. Dunk each in a glass filled with light rum and a squeeze of lime juice.

3. Dip one side of the ice pop in a mixture of superfine granulated sugar and a little freshly grated lime zest.

If anyone out there tries it, let me know what you think.

Chapter 63.8: What's Happening?

My train this morning was delayed -- a New York train ahead of it was about 15 minutes late -- so we were late into Hoboken. When we arrived, a large crowd congregated at the head of the stairs to the PATH trains below. I took another route down, but still met with a line of people. When I finally got onto the platform, I saw one 33rd Street train packed to the gills with people and crowds of humanity standing around, looking confused. I asked a man if any announcement had been made about the delay. "Two Amtrak trains are blocking the way into New York," he said. I nodded and my mind was awhirl. Was it worse than that? What would I find when I entered New York. July 7 was the anniversary of the underground attacks in London. Am I safe?

So far, I am. I don't know yet what happened. Perhaps it was just two trains blocking the way into New York. Or maybe it's simply Monday after people have taken vacation.