banana peels and carrot peelings

According to Elaine's blog, the world's industrial powers are weakening their currencies relative to ours, so that we can afford to buy their goods.

This is similar to how Britain made cheap factory-made cotton cloth and sugar and sold it to Indians and Chinese in the time of Ghandi... which killed the domestic industrial base and jobs... causing riots and revolt against imperial Britain.

Sound familiar? Just like Japanese cars and Chinese walmart crap is destroying US industrial jobs... what value-added Things of lasting value do we make in this country now?

- lawyers?
- hedge funds?
- vinyl and plywood seas of housing?
- loans and securities made of bundled housing loans?
- fried chicken?
- starbucks and target every 2 miles?

Are these truly "assets"?

Have you bought an American-made anything lately?  T-shirts from Bangladesh and India, socks from Pakistan, polyester women's fashion shoes from China, Korean cars, Panasonic TVs, Samsung phones, Chinese "Haier" brand washer dryers... and what is America exporting besides jobs? Only commodities like coal and corn and beef. We do have to import that commodity called "oil".

We are becoming the 1930s India... the US is becoming a trade colony!

We are becoming what the Founding Fathers didn't wnat us to be... a colony of England and France... during the 1700s, during the 1900s...

On the other hand, you could say that food will become more valuable than cars and TVs in the long-run. However, we still need oil and gas and water to grow all our food, and the former is running out, which means...

hey, check out these new green reviews!

find your favorite yak yogurt, solio charger, or evil organic oreo cookie. or add something new!

Hey, a normal entry.
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My favorite eateries these days include:

* Nan Yang, Laotian food on College. Great food/staff.
* Shendong, Chinese fat noodles on 10th St., Oakland Chinatown.
* Berkeley Bowl, streetwise version of wholefoods, slightly cheaper.
* Betty's Bakery, expensive but decent chicken sandwiches, scones and pies
* 99Ranch, frozen isle. Quick to cook gyoza on sale.
* TJ's, frozen isle. Tip: miss traffic in the Emeryville store (#72) by going during the day, not during lunch rush, and never on Sat/Sun/Mon nights.
* Anything Lulu makes! Yum yum! :)
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Places I'd like to revisit:

* Gaspare's, Italian pizza, 21st Ave and Geary. Good ambience and pizza.
* PF Chang's, "white man's" chinese food, Emeryville/PaloAlto/chain. Okay orange shrimp, cashew nut chicken, broccoli beef. Especially tasty when paid for by your company and provided every Friday for lunch and on select weeknights, for working late.
* Tengu, jstyle ramen, KitaKoshigaya station, Saitama. Amazing ramen, friendly staff, small atmosphere.
* Shigezo, jstyle all you can eat buffet, Sengendai station, Saitama. Unlimited mouthfuls of culinary artwork: vietnamese spring rolls, creme brulet made in front of you, tofu ice creams of various flavors, made on site, infinite slices of maguro (tuna) and other sushi (raw protein), salads, many other dishes! Dinner only Y1500 ($12.87).
* The hole in the wall place, amazing duck roll plates and buns, Hong Kong.
* Sathkar, tandoori greatness, very good service and food, Omiya west exit, Saitama. Pouri and garlic naan to die for.
* Pakistan Palace, very good service and food, Kumagaya by route 17. Comp'ed mango lassi or milk tea.
* Sadly my hometown has no good restaurants.