Props! Vol. 2

"Props!" is a reoccuring feature on this site that will basically consist of a short list of things that are cool, things that are awesome, things that are recommended, and things that rule. I, therefore, will be giving mad "props" to everything on the list. You can read the first installment here. I apologize for not doing this again sooner, but I've been busy. Hope you're satisfied... So stop bothering me about it, assholes!

1. "America's Test Kitchen." Check your local listings on PBS for this cooking show, which usually airs on weekends. I'm now a cooking show expert, as my lovely girlfriend enjoys watching them (despite not really actually cooking herself). Most cooking shows are either kind of elitist in their assumption that everybody's kitchen just happens to have 9 quarts of squid-stock lying around, and make things that are too complicated or expensive for everyday use. ATK has much more of a populist appeal, and I've learned things from how to dice an onion to how to make shrimp to which is the best microwave popcorn. When this show ends after 30 short minutes, I am sad. I could watch it for hours.

2. The Elephant 6 Collective. This was a group of musicians/bands in the mid to late 90s, stemming from Athens, GA, which each released albums influenced by 60s Sgt. Pepperesque psychedelic pop, to put it the most simply. Everyone played on everyone else's albums, produced each other, and seemed to operate on a completely different level than all other 90s rock. The bands involved include the Apples in Stereo, Olivia Tremor Control (see previous post), and Neutral Milk Hotel. The latter's "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" is probably one of the top 10 records of all time, buy it tomorrow if you don't have it.

3. Bob Costas. Since he only comes out of hiding to do his HBO show and Olympic broadcasts nowadays, I don't get to see much of him, but the man is always on his game. I remember his play by play from the NBA finals and World Series more than the games themselves, his steady intelligence and quick sarcastic wit never fall to brighten my sports-viewing experiences. He's going to be doing the pregame/halftime show next year when the Sunday night football games are on NBC, about 390 days away. I'm going to make a paper chain with 390 links, and each day i will cut another one off until, finally, I can be immersed in his brilliant radiance.

4. Tilapia. When it comes to fish, this one is great. Usually pretty inexpensive in a supermarket (4-5 dollars a pound, most of the time coming in individually vacuum-sealed packs), it is easy to make and very healthy. Best yet, most of these are raised in 'farms', instead of pulling out of polluted waters. I usually add salt/pepper, dill, lemon juice and occasionally garlic, then bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes for 4 fillets. Tonight I made some on my George Foreman grill. It was OK, but the outside was kind of toughly hardened. Baking is 'where it's at,' though, as the kids say.

5. Public Transportation. Sure, you may love the Jaguar that you drive, and be secretly intimidated and confused by your city's public transportation system, but once you figure things out you'll realize how simple and easy it is. Why waste your commute cursing at traffic when you could be reading a book or dirty magazine?