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Hold onto your mousepad!

• Saw this on lifehacker, the world’s fastest shoelace knot. Initially I thought, “who cares?” Really how hard is it to tie your shoelaces? I thought I’d give it a try because who knows, maybe the .3 seconds I’ll save will add up to an extra 5 minutes over my lifespan. Lo and behold this knot changed my life. I’ve been tying and untying my shoes for days now, trying to get faster and faster. The nice thing about this method is that it makes a tighter knot, and makes double knots unnecesary.
• Dragdropupload extension for firefox. Basically it’s what its name says. When you have a web form to fill out to upload a file - you can now just drag and drop the file you want to upload into the form, instead of hitting the browse button and diving through your file system. Done.
• Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 3000 This will be the only Microsoft product I will probably ever endorse. I like it because it’s symmetric and I use the mouse with my right and left hand. Also I like it because it has only two buttons. Other mice put way to many specialty buttons, which only confuse me. Also the tilt wheel is nice because you can scroll windows horizontally and vertically. The tracking is smooth, and the height, shape, and weight all feel good. The only drawback is that it uses AA batteries which have to be replaced from time to time and sometimes the wireless link breaks. Does Logitech make a nicer wireless BT mouse? Of course, but nothing is nicer than this mouse for $30.
• Muji Barrel Pens are the best feeling, well constructed pens for the money. They feel and grip like an x-acto knife, and they disassemble/reassemble smoothly and precisely. The textured aluminum feels great and the knurled barrel grips well. Unfortunately my source in London says they’re going to stop making them. As a testament of how good these pens are, he went out and bought five just in case.

I guess I should answer my own post

1. Wheat, If I had a wheat allergy I think I’d miss bread, pizza, baguettes, paninis, hoagies… I think I’d miss rice second most.

2. I think nothing beats biting into a ripe tomato at it’s peak right off of the vine when it’s still hot from the sun. When I was staying with a family in France, my host stewed a rabbit. It’s custom to offer the head of the rabbit to the guest or the head of the household . I think looking at that eyeball-less rabbit head staring back at me and thinking “how are you supposed to eat this?” will always stick with me.

3. I haven’t eaten at many great places. A lot of restaurants stick with me because of who I was with and the experience at the time. I think Wagamama always sticks out as my favorite place, partially because they’re only in the UK and also because of the great food and cool ambience. I’ve always wanted to eat at Commander’s Palace or Morimoto’s

4. I would have to say the Maryland Blue Crab is what I’d recommend as the ultimate delicacy. I say that as a Chesapeake watershed snob. The Blue Crab is unique (and far superior) to any crab or crustacean out there. The Chesapeake is a unique ecosystem and a world treasure. Unfortunately I recommend the Blue Crab with th irony of knowing that their numbers are rapidly declining. There may be a point in my lifetime when they won’t be around anymore, much like how the Chesapeake oysters are a thing of the past. So enjoy the blue crab, but be responsible in their conservation. For the cheese connoisseurs, I’d say try real Roquefort cheese. As in the delicious bleu cheese that is made in caves in Roquefort, France. Anything else is a cheap imitation. If you like bleu cheese, it will blow your mind.

5. Well I probably wouldn’t have much of an appetite for a last meal, but it would be a bizarre combination including fresh silver queen corn and tomatoes picked minutes before eating. Amish style macaroni salad. Sushi. Blue crabs. If I had room still left, possibly chicken corn soup made my Wills’ grandma. Actually all together that would make a pretty gross meal.