bonus -tom waits

Remember that movie Mystery Men? Found this deleted scene on the internets. Tom Waits.... rascal. Watch.

dean's shortbread

The bakery Dean's of Huntly is less than 50 years old; unlike the storied, ubiqitous, red wrapped, Walker's shortbread and much more like-granny-baked to me. A step up. Easy to spot as it is the one in the green and cream wrapping.

woodsongs -lambchop (and others)

Lambchop was on Michael Jonathan's WoodSongs Old-Time Radio House, last Monday, January 26. Streaming media available from today here. They were preceded by the Tannahill Weavers in this clip (a Scottish trad band). Lambchop at the 16 and 47 minute mark. Play. They tell the story of how they came up w/ 'lambchop' as a name incase you didn't know (i didn't). Lot of chatting. Good stuff.

late to the party -belle and sebastian

Hate to admit but ignored all Scottish pop after Teenage Fanclub sort-of-didn't-make-it. Only time I heard these guys before last month was in the movie High Fidelity...no joke. Joke is on me though... they are so damn good. My loss. Big ups to Chris for the gift of cd's and heads up...; Peel/BBC Sessions NEVER disappoint. This takes late to the party to a ridiculous level I know... Your gran' can probably sing along...

bold faced name -sean connery

white house farmer

Last fall Michael Pollan wrote a fantastic article titled Farmer in Chief, calling for the White House to lead by example and nominate a White House 'Farmer' in addition to White House 'Chef'. You may have read it already. The White House Farmer nomination process was not started by the Obama administration (started privately, read the AP release here) but is definitely gaining traction.

My vote happens to be for Shepherd Ogden (more here); a gardener/entrepreneur/tough and tough to describe character from Landgrove Vermont (now living in the DC area), who started the Cook's Garden mail order seed company in 1983, forging a path/choice for homesteaders. Further achievements as long as your arm (sidenote: also turned the lawn on the Mall in DC into an organic lawn).

"Shep Ogden was the founder and President of Cooks Garden seed company, he is a very experienced Market Gardener, a top speaker on gardening and organic subjects and the author of Straight Ahead Organic among other titles. He has the gardening ability, the people and management skills to carry a position of this importance. Shep has approved this nomination and also supplied references: USDA Ext Agent for DC, Sandy Farber Dir US Botanic Garden, Holly Schimizu Chief Hort Guy for Nat’l Park Service NW, Rob DeFeo Chef (organic) Nora Poullion." Taken from his nomination profile.

Anyway, if you like the idea, please visit WhiteHouseFarmer.com and read around. And you must vote before January 31st.