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Veselka's cabbage soup is the best soup.

I found this recipe via Adam's great soup battle (though the recipe is from smitten kitchen), and I'm so glad I did: this soup was a meal and a half, and so tasty.

One note: don't use red cabbage, even if you already have it on hand, unless you want purple soup (albeit purple soup that still tastes wonderful).

I shouldn't be craving espresso at 11pm at night.

... but the Intelligentsia Coffee series makes me want a cup of espresso, right now.

I am not a fan of Thomas.

You might be thinking, "Oh! I wonder what well-respected children's magazine this critic Topham Hatt writes for?" Let me burst your media bubble: "SIR" TOPHAM HATT IS A CHARACTER IN THE SHOW! It's like quoting Yoda to sell The Phantom Menace: "Like this movie, you will!"

via www.onfocus.com

That's Paul Bausch on the deceptive critical reviews of a Thomas the Tank Engine film.

And but yes, it's very hard work finding good television that also appeals to kids. I'm partial to (the admittedly short-attention-span-inducing) Yo Gabba Gabba, particularly the tooth fairy episode with Amy Sedaris.

New Dirty Projectors

"Ascending Melody" (which the Dirty Projectors have been playing live now for going on two years) is now out on 7", and can be downloaded for free from the band's site. It's good.

Dusty Springfield - All Cried Out (live)

via www.youtube.com

Dusty singing "All Cried Out" on the Ed Sullivan show in 1965.

Animal Collective - What Would I Want? Sky (live)

via www.youtube.com

Live at Troubadour from February of 2009. Such a lovely song.

Eating & dining

Another surprising area for sharp memory is the taste and texture of cheap candy. Not imported chocolates, but Red Hots, Good and Plenty, Milk Duds, Paydays, Chuckles. I dreamed I got a box of Chuckles with five licorice squares, and in my dream I exalted: "Finally!"

via blogs.suntimes.com

Roger Ebert's "Nil by mouth" is the best thing I've read in a long time. The last paragraph is the killer, but since I'm also a fan of cheap candy, I'm quoting the above.

Dean Martin - Houston (Year 1965)

via www.youtube.com

So, so wonderful.

The Thrill

Joe Posnanski's Best Players in Baseball (from 1970-2009, based on Win Shares, via David) confirmed my childhood belief that Will Clark was the best player in baseball for a couple of years.

My reasons for his best-player status may not be as statistically valid, but they include: Clark homered in his first major league at bat, off of Nolan Ryan; and, as was pointed out in the comments, his 1989 NLCS grand slam against Greg Maddux was, well, thrilling: