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Death By Cuddles (feat. Malnutrition)

Well, not exactly cuddles (or cuddles at all), but eating rabbit can certainly be the death of you.

Rabbit starvation - or the more exotic name mal de caribou - shows up when you eat too much lean meat and are, you know, trapped in a desert or the tundra or a similarly punishing environment. Your kidneys can't handle the high amounts of protein without supplemental fat/carbohydrates and you'll soon be pushing up daisies. It works the...

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The Scoop on Chopsticks in Thai Food

If this post were a horror movie the title would be appropriately ominous. Since it's about food I guess the right word is "hint."

Chopsticks were invented about 4000 years ago in China, and spread to nearby Japan, Korea and Vietnam without too much trouble. I'd like to think it's thanks to 筷子 translating to "quick little bamboo fellows" but if you'd prefer to think it's thanks to utility that's fine as well.

While Chinese missionaries...

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Notes on Chewing Gum

I was excited to learn that two of my favorite things, New York City and gum, have a bit of shared history. Here's the short version: 

In 1869, General Santa Anna, eleven-time former President of Mexico, was exiled in Staten Island, staying with Thomas Adams, a former photographer he had met decades before. 

Santa Anna thought chicle could be mixed with rubber to make cheaper tires and suggested it to Adams as a business...

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My Favorite Bars for Working

We've all read Brooklyn Based's excellently thorough guides to coffices--coffee shops that are particularly good for working--but maybe you like something a little stronger with your free wifi. 

I know I do, so here's a short list of my favorite bars for working all around Brooklyn, or at least the parts of Brooklyn where I spend all my time. Of course, more research is needed, so look out for updates and suggest your favorites...

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Japanese TV: Don't stop the microbes

I've been on a fermenting rice kick recently (which you'll only see the results of when the experiments are all done), and this morning came across Moyashimon: Tales of Agriculture. Moyashimon: Tales of Agriculture follows the adventures of Tadayasu Sawaki, a first-year college student at an agricultural university.

What a boring dude, right? Totally wrong! He can see microorganisms. Whether it's food poisoning, sake brewing, or...

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