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Not to be confused with Soylent Green or Ubik, Product 19 is a cereal from Kellogg’s that was conceived in the 1960s as a healthy competitor for Total. Apparently the copywriter had one of the largest “fuck it” moments in the history of his trade and named the 19th product pushed through his office in 1967 exactly that. No, really. Though still being produced, Product 19 is being discontinued by grocers, thus providing the scifi/surreal (ce-real?) cart you see above.

In this product showcase from Corning – that io9 has dubbed “creepy” – we are presented with a world that benefits largely from the ubiquitous integration of touch-enable data displays integrated into every day glass surfaces. It’s beautiful and I want to live in this version of the future, but I think the first YouTube commenter summed up a nagging feeling in the back of my mind best:

BUY STOCK IN WINDEX NOW!!!

Aside from the impossibly clean houses, cars and public spaces that Corning seems to envision, I am also curious about how we are powering more and more screens at bigger and bigger sizes.  How are we producing all of this glass and where?  And who has access to the technology aside from the conspicuously diverse group of under 40s actors who portrayed “the near future”.

They may always end up as fodder for Paleofuture, but these videos sure do encapsulate the nearly Utopian dreams of our modern society, don’t they?

In my world, the weekends exist almost solely for the making and eating of delicious pancakes. There are many kinds that I have built into my repertoire: whole wheat with cardamom, walnuts and almond milk, unbleached white with bananas, cinnamon and curry powder, etc. It’s hardly a Saturday without a pan-cooked treat covered in black cherry jam or orange marmalade.

Which is precisely why this robot who can flip pancakes but never taste them is the most depressing use of technology I’ve ever seen.  Thanks for nothing, Engadget.

Guess who had a slice of Paula Deen’s pecan pie.

Find out more about this adventure through the South.

Bellatrix approves of our American flag cake, to be presented to the Danish  representative at Chestertown’s mayorial mansion this evening.

Tonight’s Imperial dinner was capped off in this manner:

Discovered in the newest issue of Everyday Food, this drink required the purchase of a massive bottle of Maker’s Mark, a brown liquor that I would normally shun.  However, after muddling a slice of peach or two with three blackberries, tablespoon and a half of honey, tablespoon of lemon juice and some powder sugar, splashing with seltzer and allowing some dried mint to infuse, it was infinitely sippable. A truly Southern sort of beverage.  Bravo to Kate.

Updated with more photos aqui.

Well, friends, I’m here. Here are some photos of our stay in Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo, Mexico so far:

Good morning from Mexico!

The Mexican Rigel – a Mexicat, if you will.

Yes, it really does look like a god damned postcard.

Ah, extravagance!

So, yeah. I do have to say that I’m extremely grateful for being a US citizen at the end of the first decade of the 21st Century. This is beyond amazing – far better than any Mayan king could have imagined – flying thousands of miles to be on a beach in the dead of winter.

We had birds yesterday morning, much to the (wishful) gastronomical delight of the cats.

And then the cooking began – aided by a bottle of Ruinart champagne…

…and observed, of course, by the Smeageltrix.

There were walnut and chocolate chip cookies.

And then a delicious dinner of pork tenderloin medallions wrapped around apple-sage stuffing and accompanied by Boursin mashed potatoes and white asparagus.

Oh, it a was so very good.

And then it was time to open presents from my family. Clyde was very intrigued the cat gift. What is it?

Some sort of weird tunnel. It makes such delightful crinkly sounds…but Rigel is skeptical. This will require further exploration.

Merry Xmas!

Since I really need an excuse to think about it right now, I thought I’d post a few of the resort in Mexico where I will be in 17 days, the Iberostar Quetzal.

Evidently, I'll be arriving via this gate.

And presumably walking through these paths to my room.

Before lounging the days away in this pool/bar.

Oh, yeah, did I mention the Mayan ruins at Tulum?

Pretty freaking great. There are apparently monkeys that visit the balconies (Bella, you are getting a new friend) and a Japanese restaurant in the resort. Cave snorkeling, jungle hiking and a bar at the airport. Passport, take me away!