Random Thoughts

[kurumi]

I've been watching the original run of Ren & Stimpy with my wife.  I'm convinced that Ren Hoek is probably one of the most evil children's cartoon character that was ever created.  He's violent, engages in acts of torture and is prone to fits of rage.  He actively sits awake in one episode debating to himself about murdering Stimpy in his sleep because he had to be nice earlier in the day.

That said, the show is still hilarious and I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did unaltered in the early 1990s.

The "Happy Helmet" episode might be my favorite. Ren makes a little breakthrough of self-awareness. Beyond that, I'd rather not spoil it

[Rothman]

Happy happy joy joy...

[ZLoth]

US Geography Trivia: Can You Name The Largest US Cities In Each State?

This is from the British game show Pointless where the contestants not only have to get the correct answer, but also the most obscure answers.

[Rothman]

US Geography Trivia: Can You Name The Largest US Cities In Each State?

This is from the British game show Pointless where the contestants not only have to get the correct answer, but also the most obscure answers.

It's an hour long.  Highlights?

[D-Dey65]

My former hometown of Medford, New York has a Sam's Club Warehouse. Somehow my mother got a membership years ago and often too my father and I, as well as other relatives to that Sam's Club. In the early days of that franchise, some local adult contemporary radio station was making a promotional deal at the entrance of the store, so hearing this station from the speakers was kind of impossible to ignore (I know, that's like girls saying their "a little bit" pregnant). During this promotion, they decided to have a trivia contest where they gave listeners the opportunity to guess when certain rock or pop songs were made. I was answering those questions to myself (barely) like gang-busters. But since I tend not to listen to adult contemporary radio, I didn't actively participate in this contest.

[Scott5114]

It's an hour long.  Highlights?

They manage to not pronounce Nevada correctly once in the entire video, and the state containing Tulsa and Norman is guessed to be Alaska.

[ZLoth]

US Geography Trivia: Can You Name The Largest US Cities In Each State?

This is from the British game show Pointless where the contestants not only have to get the correct answer, but also the most obscure answers.

It's an hour long.  Highlights?

I admit, I did a lot of skipping forward on this one. The sections are:
* US States and US State Capitals that do not contain the letters 'U' or 'S'
* US States and US State Capitals that do not contain the letter 'A'
* US States depicted on the 50 state quarters based upon descriptions (e.g. A peach and the state motto "Wisdom, Justice, Moderation" (Atlanta))
* Largest US Cities in each state (hint: Sacramento is not the largest city in California)
* Major cities in US states that are not capitals based upon descriptions (e.g. Tulsa, Norman... is NOT Alaska)

[kphoger]

They manage to not pronounce Nevada correctly

IMHO, that's forgivable, considering the 'correct' pronunciation butchers the Spanish more than the 'wrong' one does.

[mgk920]

 Barring a major change in the state's governing set up, how long before Denver is no longer #1 in Colorado, dropping to second or third (behind Aurora and Colorado Springs)?

Mike

[JayhawkCO]

Barring a major change in the state's governing set up, how long before Denver is no longer #1 in Colorado, dropping to second or third (behind Aurora and Colorado Springs)?

Mike

#1 what? Population?

[kphoger]

US Geography Trivia: Can You Name The Largest US Cities In Each State?

Largest US Cities in each state (hint: Sacramento is not the largest city in California)

Barring a major change in the state's governing set up, how long before Denver is no longer #1 in Colorado, dropping to second or third (behind Aurora and Colorado Springs)?

#1 what? Population?

I assumed so, based on the previous conversation.

[JayhawkCO]

I assumed so, based on the previous conversation.

Missed it. Didn't look upthread far enough.

Denver isn't going anywhere as #1 anytime soon, but if any city were to pass it, it would more likely be the Springs. Pretty unlimited space to the east that is growing pretty fast. Aurora also has space to the east but the buildup isn't as active.

[kphoger]

At its most basic, an enchilada doesn't even have to have any filling at all.  The word literally means 'flavored with chiles', which refers to the tortilla's having been dipped in a sauce made from chiles (and then usually lightly fried before serving).  The en- prefix does not refer to the whole thing being rolled around something else.

I've know this for years, but I've found that very few people north of the border are aware.  In fact, a few years ago, I was at a local Mexican restaurant here in town, and I asked for an order of enchiladas with no filling.  The waiter, despite being a Spanish-speaking Mexican-American, looked at me like I had mice coming out of my ears.  Apparently, he'd never heard of such a thing.  But during one meal on my recent trip to the Huasteca region of Veracruz, bowls were placed on the tables partway through our meal, and the cook and everyone else referred to the contents as 'enchiladas'.  They were nothing but homemade corn tortillas, coated in a red chile sauce, lightly fried, and simply folded over in half.  And it doesn't get any more traditional than the setting:  in that village of about 350, more than 60% of the population is bilingual with their traditional Náhuatl dialect, and I frequently heard tortillas proudly referred to as 'tlaxcalli'.  (Of course, they were delicious, and a perfect accompaniment to that day's meal.)

[Max Rockatansky]

Sometimes my wife's aunt in Jalisco will make them with no filling as part of breakfast.  She has always made them with eggs and beans on the side.

[Rothman]

At its most basic, an enchilada doesn't even have to have any filling at all.  The word literally means 'flavored with chiles', which refers to the tortilla's having been dipped in a sauce made from chiles (and then usually lightly fried before serving).  The en- prefix does not refer to the whole thing being rolled around something else.

I've know this for years, but I've found that very few people north of the border are aware.  In fact, a few years ago, I was at a local Mexican restaurant here in town, and I asked for an order of enchiladas with no filling.  The waiter, despite being a Spanish-speaking Mexican-American, looked at me like I had mice coming out of my ears.  Apparently, he'd never heard of such a thing.  But during one meal on my recent trip to the Huasteca region of Veracruz, bowls were placed on the tables partway through our meal, and the cook and everyone else referred to the contents as 'enchiladas'.  They were nothing but homemade corn tortillas, coated in a red chile sauce, lightly fried, and simply folded over in half.  And it doesn't get any more traditional than the setting:  in that village of about 350, more than 60% of the population is bilingual with their traditional Náhuatl dialect, and I frequently heard tortillas proudly referred to as 'tlaxcalli'.  (Of course, they were delicious, and a perfect accompaniment to that day's meal.)

Redneck enchiladas...

[kphoger]

Redneck enchiladas...

Sounds like you developed a new variety of chile.

[JayhawkCO]

So enchiladas are basically just non-fried chilaquiles.

[kphoger]

So enchiladas are basically just non-fried chilaquiles.

In my experience, chilaquiles are not made from whole tortillas either, but rather from chips or strips.  They take already-fried tortillas and then simmer them till they're soft—which is kind of the opposite of enchiladas.

[JayhawkCO]

So enchiladas are basically just non-fried chilaquiles.

In my experience, chilaquiles are not made from whole tortillas either, but rather from chips or strips.  They take already-fried tortillas and then simmer them till they're soft—which is kind of the opposite of enchiladas.

But the only reason you simmer the already fried tortillas is to make them soft, so either way, it's a soft tortilla in chili sauce.

[kphoger]

I suppose so.  The main difference, though, as I said, is that chilaquiles are not made from whole tortillas.  At least, I've never seen them use whole ones.

[JayhawkCO]

I suppose so.  The main difference, though, as I said, is that chilaquiles are not made from whole tortillas.  At least, I've never seen them use whole ones.

Nor I, but I guess a slider and a burger are the same thing to me, despite the size/shape difference.

[kphoger]

Nor I, but I guess a slider and a burger are the same thing to me, despite the size/shape difference.

But a plate of scrambled eggs is not an omelette.

With a lot of Mexican food, the shape is the key difference.  You can make tostadas and taquitos out of the same ingredients, but they aren't the same thing.  Likewise, tacos and burritos.

(ib4 Taco Bell)

[ZLoth]

All I can say is that I've had some excellent Tex-Mex enchiladas at Maria's Tex Mex Restaurant in New Boston, TX, Rio Lerma in Terrell, TX, and Bajio Cocina & Bar in Garland, TX. All three are mon-and-pop locations, and I wasn't even trying to locate the best restaurant.

[JayhawkCO]

Nor I, but I guess a slider and a burger are the same thing to me, despite the size/shape difference.

But a plate of scrambled eggs is not an omelette.

With a lot of Mexican food, the shape is the key difference.  You can make tostadas and taquitos out of the same ingredients, but they aren't the same thing.  Likewise, tacos and burritos.

(ib4 Taco Bell)

I suppose I'll agree with that. To be fair, there is a slight difference in the method of cooking scrambled eggs vs. an omelette though.

[kphoger]

To be fair, there is a slight difference in the method of cooking scrambled eggs vs. an omelette though.

There is a slight difference in the method of cooking chilaquiles vs. enchiladas, too...