Interesting Chef Interviews from Around the Web - - Portland Food ...

Portland restaurant news hasn?t been terribly interesting lately, but here are a few stories from around the web which have caught my eye.

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Men?s Journal has a great article on Gordon Ramsay. It puts a more human face on the?volatile?celebrity chef, and almost has me liking him.

The story talks about his childhood, current home life, the upcoming show ?Junior MasterChef? which features kids, his swearing, and the great deception he pulled off in 2007, where he garnered publicity after accusing a competing chef for stealing his reservation book, which it turns out he had arranged himself.

You can read the article here.

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The Huffington Post sat down with Thomas Keller for a lengthy, honest interview about tasting menus, the rise of the celebrity chef, how he manages all four restaurants plus his cooking line and Cup4Cup gluten-free line of foods.

The interview starts off with Keller?s no BS style -

Chef, you bought the French Laundry in 1994 when Yountville was a ghost town. How has it been to watch the area change over the years? I think that?s pretty much common knowledge; you can find that on the website. Did you do any research on me whatsoever? I?d rather just talk about what you really want to know.

Ouch! Has anyone tried his C4C flour? I?m not a gluten-free fan, but I know many people are.

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Pok Pok Portland ? shack pass-through

Eater National has an interesting interview with Andy Ricker, on his first year in NYC.

Were there pleasant surprises?
Oh yeah, totally. I was pleasantly surprised by what people ordered here in comparison to what people ordered in Portland.

Like what?
There are certain things on the menu that I feel are more emblematic of what Pok Pok means to me. In Portland, for instance, we sell zillions and zillions of chicken wings. In New York, when people come out to eat, we sell a huge quantity of northern Thai laab, and to me, that?s one of the more esoteric items on the menu. I was pleasantly surprised by that.

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that more than 50 percent of our clients in Portland are tourists who are brought to Portland for whatever reason but have heard of us through the TV shows or whatever, which feature the wings prominently. I think in New York we?re still getting the dining crowd. We also have a very high number of Thai diners here.

Good interview. If you are a fan of Ricker, it?s a must read.

"I have a wide-range of food experience - working in the restaurant industry on both sides of the house, later in the wine industry, and finally traveling/tasting my way around the world. Whether you agree or disagree, you can always count on my unbiased opinion. I don't take free meals, and the restaurants don't know when, or if, I am coming."

Source: http://portlandfoodanddrink.com/interesting-chef-interviews-from-around-the-web/

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Parents of kidnapped journalist seek answers

MILWAUKEE (AP) ? The parents of an American journalist kidnapped in Syria more than four months ago said Thursday that his latest disappearance is more upsetting than an earlier one in Libya because they don't know who is holding him.

James Foley, 39, was working in northwest Syria with another journalist when they were kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Nov. 22, his parents said. Foley, a freelance journalist, had been working in Syria for about a year and was contributing videos to Agence France-Press when he disappeared.

It's unclear whether he's being held by the government, a rebel group or a criminal gang, said his mother, Diane Foley.

"We don't know who to direct our plea to," she said. "We don't know who is holding him or why."

Foley was held for six weeks by the Libyan government in 2011, but his parents said that situation was very different because the U.S. government worked with the Libyan government to secure his release and provided them with regular updates.

The U.S. does not currently have a formal relationship with Syria and there has been no regular or reliable information about Foley, his parents said. Though they have been in touch with federal officials, they said the most they've received are rumors of their son's whereabouts.

"I joked a while ago that it would be nice to hear from a terrorist asking for $10 million just so we know he's alive," said his father, John Foley.

The Foleys traveled to Milwaukee from their home in Rochester, N.H., for a Friday night vigil for their son at Marquette University, where he studied history. He taught in Arizona, Massachusetts and Chicago before switching careers to become a journalist.

He had been working in war zones for about five years when he was taken captive in Libya while covering that country's civil war. Another journalist ? South African photographer Anton Hammerl ? was shot during their capture and left to die in the desert. Foley and another journalist were released.

"I'll regret that day for the rest of my life," Foley told The Associated Press in 2011. "I'll regret what happened to Anton."

Friday is the two-year anniversary of his capture in Libya. If he had doubt about going back to a war zone, his parents said he didn't share it with them.

His father said he doesn't feel his son was reckless. Any journalist committed to covering conflict and war takes some risk, he said.

"It's just the nature of the occupation and the environment," John Foley said. He added, "He wanted to tell stories about people that were truthful and that would help them."

Twenty-eight journalists were killed in Syria in 2012, prompting the Committee to Protect Journalists to name it the most dangerous country in the world to work in last year.

Those who lost their lives include award-winning French TV reporter Gilles Jacquier, photographer Remi Ochlik and Britain's Sunday Times correspondent Marie Colvin. Also, Anthony Shadid, a correspondent for The New York Times, died after an apparent asthma attack while on assignment in Syria.

Foley had agreed to text his mother about every 48 hours so that she wouldn't worry, and he had a video conference with his parents once a week. They learned about his disappearance in a phone call from Clare Morgana Gillis, the journalist held captive with him in Libya.

His parents said federal officials have advised them to keep quiet, and they did for more than a month. Diane Foley said they decided to speak out because publicity seemed to help secure their son's release in 2011. Still, they second-guess themselves.

"Are we going to make him too valuable?" John Foley asked. "If we don't say anything, is he not valuable enough?"

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/parents-talk-journalist-kidnapped-syria-221837504.html

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Listening to the Big Bang ? in high fidelity

Apr. 4, 2013 ? A decade ago, spurred by a question for a fifth-grade science project, University of Washington physicist John Cramer devised an audio recreation of the Big Bang that started our universe nearly 14 billion years ago.

Now, armed with more sophisticated data from a satellite mission observing the cosmic microwave background -- a faint glow in the universe that acts as sort of a fossilized fingerprint of the Big Bang -- Cramer has produced new recordings that fill in higher frequencies to create a fuller and richer sound. (The sound files run from 20 seconds to a little longer than 8 minutes. See link at bottom of article.)

The effect is similar to what seismologists describe as a magnitude 9 earthquake causing the entire planet to actually ring. In this case, however, the ringing covered the entire universe -- before it grew to such gargantuan proportions.

"Space-time itself is ringing when the universe is sufficiently small," Cramer said.

In 2001, Cramer wrote a science-based column for Analog Science Fiction & Fact magazine describing the likely sound of the Big Bang based on cosmic microwave background radiation observations taken from balloon experiments and satellites.

A couple of years later that article prompted a question from a mother in Pennsylvania whose 11-year-old son was working on a project about the Big Bang: Is the sound of the Big Bang actually recorded anywhere?

Cramer answered that it wasn't -- but then began thinking that it could be. He used data from the cosmic microwave background on temperature fluctuations in the very early universe. The data on those wavelength changes were fed into a computer program called Mathematica, which converted them to sound. A 100-second recording represents the sound from about 380,000 years after the Big Bang until until about 760,000 years after the Big Bang.

"The original sound waves were not temperature variations, though, but were real sound waves propagating around the universe," he said.

Cramer noted, however, that the 2003 data lacked high-frequency structure. More complete data were recently gathered by an international collaboration using the European Space Agency's Planck satellite mission, which has detectors so sensitive that they can distinguish temperature variations of a few millionths of a degree in the cosmic microwave background. That data were released in late March and led to the new recordings.

As the universe cooled and expanded, it stretched the wavelengths to create "more of a bass instrument," Cramer said. The sound gets lower as the wavelengths are stretched farther, and at first it gets louder but then gradually fades. The sound was, in fact, so "bass" that he had to boost the frequency 100 septillion times (that's a 100 followed by 24 more zeroes) just to get the recordings into a range where they can be heard by humans.

Cramer is a UW physics professor who has been part of a large collaboration studying what the universe might have been like moments after the Big Bang by causing collisions between heavy ions such as gold in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York.

Creating a sound profile for the Big Bang was something to do on the side, Cramer said.

"It was an interesting thing to do that I wanted to share. It's another way to look at the work these people are doing," he said.

Sound of the Big Bang are available in several lengths here: http://faculty.washington.edu/jcramer/BBSound_2013.html

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Washington. The original article was written by Vince Stricherz.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/2T7nrDJQkxw/130404170154.htm

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Why Roger Ebert mattered to movie lovers

Vince Bucci / Getty Images file

By Randee Dawn, TODAY contributor

Roger Ebert may have started out as a film critic. But before his death Thursday he had become much more: Television host (his shows ran on and off in various iterations from 1975-2011), pioneer of a 15-year-old film festival, "Ebertfest," popularizer of the "thumbs up/thumbs down" manner of fast reviews, author of 15 books, screenwriter ("Beyond the Valley of the Dolls") and hearty cultural critic (his online journal covered everything from climate change to religion?to everything good (and bad) about Chicago ... and beyond).

He was a big man, bigger than life -- but never in pursuit of his own stardom. The films were everything, and in the end, he was clearly never happier than when he was in the presence of the art of the movie.

"Film criticism is important because films are important," he said in a 2005 interview. "Films are important because they are the art form of the 20th Century ... They can be both a good influence on society and a negative influence."

That was the sort of approach that earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, the first film critic to do so, in 1975. As he saw it, Ebert's mission was not just to separate the wheat from the chaff when it came to movies; he wasn't focused on merely elevating highbrow work and finding new ways to denigrate big-budget blockbusters. He also acknowledged that his perception of what a "good" film might be would change over the years, just as he as a person would change. He stood by his critical decisions, even when he himself?was criticized himself for a lack of consistency.

"I am uninterested in being 'consistent,'" he wrote.?

But he was consistent in several areas: He routinely opposed the Motion Picture Association of America's ratings system, angered that a film like "Whale Rider" was rated PG-13 and "The Passion of the Christ" wasn't given an X rating for its violence. He also regularly debated with video game creators and players over whether games could be art.?

The reason anyone wanted to debate him in the first place, however, is that Roger Ebert found a way to make movie criticism interesting and relevant, an art form of its own. His arguments on "At the Movies" with Chicago Tribune film critic Gene Siskel (who died in 1999) made them both household names, taking their debates on to other TV arenas like "The Tonight Show." They made it possible for the average viewer to understand that two very opposing takes on the same film could be right at the same time. The pair, and later Ebert by himself, influenced generations of up-and-coming critics.

"For those of us practicing criticism on a regular basis, Ebert was both a figurative and literal mentor who was graceful in his ability to spend time responding to the requests of hundreds of aspiring critics over the years, including this one," wrote Indiewire's Eric Kohn, noting that Ebert moved with the times -- he Tweeted and moved onto the Internet to interact with those next-generation critics.

Meanwhile, Ebert's books ranged from summations of the best of the best to best-of compilations to fun titles like "I Hated, Hated, Hated this Movie" (2000). He even co-authored (with Daniel Curley) a book on small walks in London in 1986, and in 2011 finally won a New Yorker cartoon caption contest, a long-time goal. That expansive, Renaissance Man-level polymath approach to films and the greater world beyond also elevated him from being "just" a newspaper's film critic.?

Ebert's illness, then, in its own way, was just another area to explore and understand through writing and engagement. His disinterest in hiding out -- even when the cancer operations severely altered his appearance -- was undoubtedly courageous, but it literally put a new face on his career: Yes, he was still writing reviews, but his writing now included discussing his illness and the greater world beyond. When he announced Tuesday that he would be taking a step back from his regular writing duties, calling it a "leave of presence," he clearly had every intention of continuing to write, but the topics would be on his own terms.

In the end, Ebert may not have been a "critic's critic" the way legend Pauline Kael was -- but he was the popular man's film lover: Never just a critic, never just a fan, always a blend of both. His last published words (from his "leave of presence" post) say it all: "Thank you for going on this journey with me. I'll see you at the movies."

Related content:

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2013/04/04/17603382-roger-ebert-and-why-he-mattered-to-movie-lovers-everywhere?lite

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US missile defense shield to counter NKorea threat

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks at the National Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington, Wednesday, April 3, 2013. Hagel warned of sharply deeper cuts to personnel, health care and weapons systems across his department, in order to put the brakes on spiraling costs and reshape the military for leaner budgets and new challenges. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks at the National Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington, Wednesday, April 3, 2013. Hagel warned of sharply deeper cuts to personnel, health care and weapons systems across his department, in order to put the brakes on spiraling costs and reshape the military for leaner budgets and new challenges. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks at the National Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington, Wednesday, April 3, 2013. Hagel warned of sharply deeper cuts to personnel, health care and weapons systems across his department, in order to put the brakes on spiraling costs and reshape the military for leaner budgets and new challenges. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? In the face of escalating threats from North Korea, the Pentagon said Wednesday it will deploy a missile defense system to Guam to strengthen the Asia-Pacific region's protections against a possible attack.

The delivery of the missile shield system comes as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel labeled North Korea's recent rhetoric as a real, clear danger and threat to the U.S. and its Asia-Pacific allies. The Pentagon chief said the U.S. is doing all it can to defuse the situation.

Deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System is the latest step the U.S. has taken to bolster forces in the region in a far-reaching show of force aimed at countering the North Korean threat.

The Pentagon already has sent dispatched bombers, stealth fighters and ships.

Tensions have escalated between North and South Korea in recent weeks. The communist North has vowed to increase production of nuclear weapons materials, and threatened a pre-emptive strike against the U.S.

Hagel told an audience at the National Defense University that there is a path to peace on the troubled Korean peninsula, but it doesn't include making nuclear threats or taking provocative actions.

The land-based missile defense system includes a truck-mounted launcher, tracking radar, interceptor missiles, and an integrated fire control system. The Pentagon said the system will boost defenses for American citizens in Guam, a U.S. territory, and U.S. forces stationed there.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-04-03-Hagel-Korea/id-6b94a887d61f469f85e90e13726fe2d1

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On your mark, get set, benchmark! 3DMark Android Edition now on Google Play

Android just gained another go-to for benchmarking. After failing to hit the 2012 mark for its Android-specific performance software, Futuremark's finally delivering on its promise and making 3DMark available today on Google Play. Typically used as a PC benchmarking tool, the free-to-download app now lets users catalog and compare performance across Windows and Android devices -- iOS and WinRT versions are still listed as "coming soon." There are a few caveats to use, though, as the application requires a smartphone or tablet running Android 3.1 or higher, with 300MB of storage space, a minimum of 1GB RAM and the ability to play nice with OpenGL ES 2.0 (which is about 90 percent of all Android devices, according to Google). Who knows? It could even find a permanent place in our own Android reviews soon. Only time and testing will tell -- check after the break for a video preview of what's in store.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google

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Via: Xperia blog

Source: Google Play, Futuremark

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/ZfGwFqCYmN0/

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"Mad Men" grapples with identity crisis in penultimate TV season

By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Mad Men" returns to television on Sunday to find suave advertising executive Don Draper on a beach in Hawaii reading Dante's epic poem "Inferno."

That is about all the detail that Matthew Weiner, creator of the Emmy-winning 1960s-era drama, wants viewers to know ahead of the two-hour premiere of the sixth, penultimate season that he says is packed with more than its usual share of action.

Weiner, who is known for eschewing the plot leaks, trailers and teasers that promote most other TV shows, says the opening scenes capture the overall theme of the new season.

"This season is really an answer to the question (posed to Draper) at the end of last season - 'Are you alone?'," Weiner told Reuters.

"This season is about Don Draper's identity crisis and that of all the show's characters. ... It's not being caused because he is out of touch with society, or because he is old. This is his problem and society has caught up with him. The whole world is in the same state as Don Draper."

The last season of "Mad Men" ended in the spring of 1967 with enigmatic advertising genius Draper (Jon Hamm) newly married to his vivacious aspiring actress wife Megan (played by Jessica Pare), his prot?g? Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) departed for a rival outfit, and his New York firm on the brink of expanding after a tough financial year.

Just as the United States and much of the Western world was on the brink of big social and political upheaval in the late 1960s, so too are the characters of "Mad Men."

"Mad Men," broadcast in the United States on cable channel AMC, is credited with driving a new era of smart, complex drama on both cable and network television since it first appeared in 2007 and went on to win four Emmy awards for best drama series.

Yet for all its influence in reviving interest in 1960s fashion and design, Weiner says "Mad Men" has never been just a history lesson or even merely a character study but rather a way of using the past to illustrate the present.

LOTS OF PLOT

"I always use the historical events to illuminate the issues of the characters," said Weiner, who was a philosophy and history major in college. "Don comes first, and Don comes from me and where I am in my life and what I think is going on in the world."

"What I am feeling right now is that the economic and political situation in the year the show is set and right now are very different from each other. But there is a similar sense of identity being adrift," he added, noting current anxiety over job security and advances in technology that sometimes appear to separate rather than unite people.

If that sounds a lot to digest in a TV show, Weiner says he hopes viewers will allow each episode to "marinate" in their minds, rather than watching several episodes in "binge-viewing" sessions.

And for those who thrive on the slow-burning drama that has characterized past "Mad Men" seasons, Weiner promises plenty of action this year as the series begins to draw to a close.

"There are a lot of events and plot and a lot of exciting things that happen based on Don's personality, his impulsiveness. Some of it comes from goodness some of it comes from childishness.

"Some people say it's a soap opera - I don't consider it an insult. If that's the genre, they are really going to enjoy this year. If I was in the audience I would be happy the way the show turns out," he said.

Weiner has long said that he plans to end the story with Season 7, due to be broadcast in 2014.

"I don't know if it's enough (time) for me to finish telling the story but I do not want to overstay my welcome. The longer you do a show the harder it gets ... and I don't want to repeat myself," he said.

The series' unbroken run of Emmy wins was halted in September 2012 when psychological thriller "Homeland" swept the TV industry's most coveted award as best drama series and drama actor and actress.

Weiner said the goal of "Mad Men" had never been to win trophies, but the loss was disappointing for the entire cast and crew just as filming for Season 6 was beginning.

"An award is literally a gift that comes from outside ... But I am a human being and I am always, always sure we are not going to win, and I did not know it would feel that bad (to lose). The fact that we won ever is a shock to me."

(Editing by Mohammad Zargham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mad-men-grapples-identity-crisis-penultimate-tv-season-113944786.html

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