Buddy Holly, 'functional denim', bespoke, shiners, more toast and savories

i was singing Buddy Holly and the Cricket's Everyday at my cycling partner Asuka this Saturday as we cycled (what felt like) directly into 18mph wind, and then ruminated on the fact that i've had to explain whom Buddy Holly is to various undergrads (for the record, a early rocker from the 1950s who died entirely too early but left some very short and awesome songs). Asuka, wiser than me as always, pointed out that many of our peers probably wouldn't know who he is either (outside of the Weezer reference), and further discussion involved Mr. Holly as the original hipster. ("Those glasses!!")

Speaking of cycling, Asuka, it looks like someone finally beat us to the punch regarding our athletic denim dream - Huff Post recently reported that some folks in Las Vegas have launched a kickstarter to fund a company for production of 'functional denim', or stretchy jeans for athletes.
While discussing this with a labmate, the question arose, is $100 too much to pay for jeans? Short answer, not for high end jeans (no pun intended), and particularly not for bespoke jeans. ('Bespoke' refers to clothing and other products made-to-order, " The word bespoke is derived from the verb to bespeak, to "speak for something", in the specialised meaning "to give order for it to be made" ", as explained by wikipedia. Technically, the Barbell jeans would probably be more made-to-measure, indicating more of a alterations-made-to-a-standard-pattern process than true bespoke. Anyway.) i saw the huff post article via a friend's FB page; while there, FB referred me to this amusing article from Art of Manliness entitled "Chuck Norris Action Jeans", and i do strongly encourage you to check out the slogans submitted in the commentary.

(Jack and Leslie:) Coldplay has a new single out called Magic. It puts me in mind of Erin Morganstern's pretty book Night Circus, having to do with magic (and probably also as the music video features a circus).

i have been curious for a little while as to why black(ened/ bruised) eyes are called 'shiners' (and probably not in the firefly/western sense, nor in the delicious beer sense). There are a lot of explanations, most of which have negative/derogatory tones (that it was the punishment given to Irish workers by British officers for not keeping machinery shiny, and others) but i most favor the notion that it's because it draws attention to that person/injury, as do shiny objects.

And back to the topic of artisanal toast. This has certainly picked up some media momentum in the past weeks, particularly as the NYTimes is having a 'bread' issue. An article featured the preparation of toast, strangely coincident of another (more imaginative/less serious) NPR article investigating several methods of creative bread toasting. Another NYTimes article referenced making bread from a eatery well known for it called Tartines. i've come across tartines before, mentioned in passing regarding European breakfasts; wikipedia officially links them to 'Open Sandwiches'. That lead to my wikipedia linking to Gentleman's Relish, apparently a savory/anchovy-ie paste, along with Poacher's Relish, the salmon version. This linked to another dish that i never encountered before (thankfully?), Scotch Woodcock, wherein the aforementioned Gentleman's Paste spread on toast, then overlaid with soft-cooked eggs. These are apparently frequently featured as a savoury, a course in British dining after dessert and before port. Most of the dished listed have really interesting names, like Angels on Horseback (oysters, wrapped in bacon and grilled; true origin of name unknown) and Devils on Horseback (dried fruit like dates, likewise wrapped in bacon and grilled; name evolving from the Angels version).