I wish I had been in the audience not because I don’t like hugging either but after the Mexico comment I would have said, “And the only reason I’m standing in front of you is my forebears came to this country somewhat illegally (you didn’t need immigration papers then) from the savage hellhole that is Maritime Canada,…

Try reading something like “I’m voting for Candidate X because he is right on all the issues!” or “Really, their food is so good” in Comic Sans. I always assume people are being sarcastic.

That’s a mini meat loaf en croute with a tomato-based glaze, at least in the US. I’ve made it. It’s a little too much for me but people seem to like it.

I’ve actually had garum, or as close as you could make it in 2006 at a restaurant trying to recreate a fairly upscale Roman dinner from the Imperial era. It is pretty nasty stuff, but it covered up the rotting meat and lots of other foods that basically spoiled if not eaten with a few days of slaughter/harvesting.

When television first got its start in the US there was a mandate that the networks provide news programming for basically these reasons. By 1961 FCC Chairman Newt Minow was already calling TV “a vast wasteland.” in a speech delivered before broadcasters no less. Minow is still alive! I’m sure he blogs about the Real…

Since we’re on the subject, I learned recently that Imperial Rome had tons of (sex-segregated) public toilets and guys used to hang out there and crap together convivially on benches with holes cut out and discuss business, complain about their wives, children, and slaves, or whatever came up. Also, they had public…

You should submit that to whatever tabloid featured in Midweek Madness runs the “My pet looks like a celebrity” feature. Although that is probably not your pet and that woman is probably not a celebrity. At least in the US. Who is she?

I am a pretty avid reader of the darkest, most unhinged comments on stories that come from the extreme of the right-wing fringe. Some people collect stamps, some people garden, I like to don a figurative HazMat suit and dive right in.

Oh, I bet Malia has heard about this guy.

What she’s really thinking, from that image above is, “We’re having that stupid party tomorrow night and let’s see, I’ve got the shrimp for the shrimp cocktail, and the cheese, and the pitted olives for the martinis, and the lime green jell-o for the jell-o shots, but I hate my husband’s boss so much and his wife is…

It’s 1958. She’s thinking about Jell-O salad.

Dear Ken:

I love it when people “drop by” on Ina’s show. She must have a pretty substantial spread in the Hamptons. That kitchen alone! And they often eat outside, oblivious to the 30-person filming crew. “Here, have some more chicken salad, and don’t mind that man hovering over you with a camera that weighs more than you do.”

I googled him because I don’t know who he is and learned the same thing, but sadly it appears that Kevin Dubrow is deceased. Cocaine overdose. Body wasn’t found for six days.

There is a great Cher quote that goes something like “Yes, I’ve had a lot of work done, I think it makes me look great, and if I want to put a couple of tits on my back I’ll do it.”

I had to google Terry Dubrow just to figure out who he was and learned that his deceased older brother used to play in Quiet Riot!

Where on earth did you find a Barney? Was this a long time ago? Was this his given name? SO MANY QUESTIONS.

I went to a wedding once where the bride laughed hysterically the entire time. From the moment she entered to walk down aisle until the moment she left. The ceremony took forever because she couldn’t get a word out because she was laughing so hard. I usually cry at weddings but this was the one time I cried from…

I assume that’s from Mad Men? Who are the characters, do you know?

I actually thought requiring you to bring your child(ren) to a co-op interview was the norm! I’ve heard so many horror stories about co-op boards and interviews that we purposely didn’t even consider a co-op (even though they’re usually cheaper) and went for a condo instead.