US doesn't follow SI or metric units but yet, MS Word and other US spell checkers insist that I spell metres as meters.

A meter is usually a suffix for an instrument that measures something.. like a thermometer, an odometer etc. The SI units of distance is always spelled metre.

Enforcing a blatant misspelling of units you don't even use borders on the ridiculous.

by not wasting food, but we definitely can make small positive individual contributions to bringing down the staggering proportion of food that is wasted in America, in particular.

I stumbled upon this site: (wastedfood.com) and the statistics are shocking... till you think back to the time you wasted food. It was probably waste that was entirely avoidable by a few wise measures such as:

1. not buying more food than you can eat or store properly.
2. realizing the practical limitations of storage in your kitchen and fridge
3. following a simple weekly schedule and fridge/pantry accounting plan to finish the older food before you go and get a newer version of the same food.
4. having a good idea of what is in your fridge and on your kitchen and pantry shelves so you are not always in doubt at the grocery store. If it helps, take a weekly picture of your fridge shelves and kitchen shelves before you go grocery shopping. (Oh yeah, don't forget to replace these pictures with new ones every week.)
5. (if memory is still fickle, maybe use small post it notes ON the fridge with days and dates by which specific food must be consumed.)
6. checking all stored (even supposedly non-perishables) for infestation and mold every fortnight.
7. storing nuts, grains, beans and lentils in PLAIN sight or in airtight containers in the freezer
8. researching proper storage techniques for all kinds of food and religiously sticking to best practices of storage for various kinds of food,
9. giving away the food you know you are going to waste to people who will eat them!
10. and again, making a pledge to not buy more than you will use in a practical span of time,

More nifty tips about how not to waste food are here at this and this

It breaks my heart every time I have to throw out something because I have forgotten to follow even just one of these guidelines.

for that one woman in the corner, don't you think?

Christmas should be called Consumermas.

I still can't get over the weirdness of people demanding random things from other people in their lives for the birthday of some random bloke from waaaay back that most of them don't emulate in real life and worse, don't even identify with.

When did shameless extortion get associated with a religious icon's birthday? Why not just call it what it is and not candy coat the entire extortion cycle in some pretentious gift-wrap of religion (that most are actually leery about)?

What I find even more laughable is people who place seemingly "reasonable" things on their extortion list. As if it is okay to extort "gifts" if it is some "reasonable" thing.

I am an outside observer but I find the whole culture of extortion and consumerism surrounding one's own birthday and the birthday of some centuries old hippie as extremely weird and venal.

Super easy sprouts sauté.


The toughest part is perhaps waiting for the mung beans to sprout. This is 2 days growth.

Heat a pan on high medium.
Drop in a tbsp of olive oil and swirl it around.
Add chopped ginger, red hot chillies and jalapenõs.
Add cumin seeds
Sauté for 20-30 seconds
Add sprouts.
Sauté for 2-3 mins or so.
Add chopped green and red bell peppers.
Sauté till crisp tender.
Add salt and chopped coriander leaves (cilantro) halfway through.

Garnish with finely chopped raw red onions, lemon juice and Haldiram Bhujia! Serve hot.