The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation threatened legal action over the online sale of a vial purportedly containing dried blood from the former president following a 1981 assassination attempt.
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Reagan foundation out to halt blood sale
People who missed out on London 2012 Olympic tickets are being offered another chance to go to the Games in a further online sale.
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New sale of 2012 Olympic tickets
Hi there. I'm Kat. You may know me from Daily Show writer Miles Kahn's popular screenshot above, or its subsequent appearance in countless blog posts such as Jim Romenesko's “Thank you, CNN!” or Videogum's “Tips for Solo Dining” or Jezebel's “We Just Really Want to Make Sure You’re Cool on the ‘Eating Alone’ Front.” Oh, and now The Soup's “My Dinner With Entrée.” I'm sorry about ruining TV journalism for everyone while not looking anything like the world's most beautiful human, Beyonce , but I really do dig eating alone sometimes. On purpose, even. Not just because of my hideous deformities and “man face” (thank you, internet commenters!). Not everyone enjoys solo dining, though, and that's such a shame to me. Plenty of people don't think twice about sitting alone in a restaurant, out of necessity or preference. Armed with a book, a phone, people watching or their own quiet thoughts, they're good to go. For others, it's a source of intense embarrassment or anxiety, and that's what I went on CNN Newsroom to discuss in my weekly segment (previous installments of which addressed slavery in Ivory Coast cacao fields , antibiotics in beef and the impact of growing your own food ). Earlier this week, my colleagues at CNN Travel had run a much-commented-upon piece about a site that pairs female business travelers with other women so they would not have to bear the discomfort of eating alone in a strange city. This story, frankly, depressed me – the politics and angst of the high school cafeteria writ large and a decade (or two or three) later. The women interviewed admitted to skipping meals, hiding at dark tables in the back, or faking cell phone calls to avoid the scrutiny of other diners, who they felt perceived them as “sad, lonely spinster(s)” clearly out to ensnare unsuspecting gentlemen by sexily eating salad alone at the bar. The discomfort isn't gender-limited though; the Newsroom guest before me, a whip-smart, take no prisoners political analyst, flinched when I told him the topic. Though he travels the country extensively and alone for his job, he might brave a diner at lunchtime, but never a higher-end restaurant at night. The notion simply cowed him. I'm lucky enough to have no qualms about walking into a restaurant anywhere on the shmanciness spectrum at any time of day and taking great pleasure in my meals. When I was 19 years old and trying to stitch myself back together after an excruciating breakup, a friend told me he thought that there was nothing in the world more intriguing than a woman eating on her own. Twenty years later, I still take that to heart . While I don't put a great deal of thought into how my fellow patrons are perceiving me, I do attribute other solo diners with a sense of self confidence, calm, and delight. I have plenty of people I love in my life, but they may or may not share my food obsessions. That's okay; I don't need them to. My husband isn't keen on offal or intense spice, so I won't subject him to it. I could be working in a city where I don't know a soul. I may just wish to chill out with a nice Manhattan, a plate of oysters (that I don't have to share) and the comfort of my own company. I might just be hungry. I figured I could help empower someone who needed it. My tips (in a less reductive form than one might guess from the screenshot): Sit at the bar This one is a slam dunk. You're not taking up a whole table and drawing a server's potential disdain with a lowered check total. A bartender can be a companion and ally if you'd like one, or a protective force if you're in need of such a thing. It's also a great way to chat with other patrons, or stare dreamily at the liquor collection, lost in your own thoughts. Ask questions about the menu Curious diners get great service. Per almost every front-of-house staffer I've known professionally or as a friend, they'll pay special attention to a person who seems genuinely curious about the food and drinks, and often bring them extra things to try. Bartenders and servers are humans, too – some of the best ones, even – and appreciate a friendly patron who actually values their opinion. If you do return to the place (and have tipped humanely), you'll be on the fast track to “regular” status. Bring a book As my friend Steven, a pro-level solo diner , says, a book is the universal symbol for “Please don't talk to me.” If a woman is indeed concerned with being seen as a Dockers-chasing harlot, a book is a smashing defense (just no “Fifty Shades of Grey,” please) – or an excellent distraction that can be easily be tucked aside if something entertaining arises. Or, if you are perhaps in search of a comely fellow Proust fan, that's a big ol' flag you can fly. Use Twitter This may not be for everyone, but as I wrote about a few months back after traveling for an uncle's funeral , if you're eating solo out of duty and not desire, there are worse things than having a social network in your pocket. While I'd sooner swallow a lobster pick than tweet at the table when there's company present or post pictures of my meal, if I'm alone, on occasion I'd like company. Because I write about food for a living, my online circles tend to be pretty dining-centric. I like to make the most of any meal opportunity I have while I'm in a new city, and chances are that one of my over 22,000 followers has a few recommendations that shouldn't be missed. While it's not been exceptionally pleasant having my worth as a journalist, appearance or potential social appeal assessed by strangers and other media professionals on the internet, it's all part of the cycle, and it's helped at least one person. A good friend and fellow journalist, Adam Robb, has recently become the caregiver of his very ill grandmother , and it's taken a toll. As he told me yesterday, he opened his Facebook to write me a note and vent a little bit. The first thing in his newsfeed was that screen grab. “I'm taking it as a sign from God I should take myself out to dinner tonight,” he told me. He went to Daniel Humm and Will Guidara's NoMad – one of the hottest new restaurants in New York City. He thoroughly enjoyed his meal. He ate alone. Take Our Poll Previously – How to eat alone at the bar , Grazing the bar and Dining solo on the road
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That’s me in the corner, that’s me in the spotlight eating all alone
You say broo-sheh-tah. I say broo-ske-tah. Should we just call the whole meal off? Dining out gives people a night off from cooking and clean-up duty, but it can also serve up a buffet of pronunciation pitfalls. The Wall Street Journal recently revealed that, after years of testing, Olive Garden’s gnocchi sales finally took off after the dish was further described on the menu as “traditional Italian dumplings.” In the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology , a study titled “The name-pronunciation effect: Why people like Mr. Smith more than Mr. Colquhoun” further proved people are more likely to favor easy-to-pronounce names than difficult-to-pronounce ones. In the case of Olive Garden, traditional Italian dumplings (Mr. Smith) won the popularity contest against gnocchi (Mr. Colquhoun), and added an extra comfort level for diners. A similar study by Hyunjin Song and Norbert Schwarz at the University of Michigan concluded that “fluently processed stimuli are judged as more familiar and elicit a more positive affective response than disfluently processed stimuli.” That is, if something – for instance, an ingredient – is difficult to pronounce, the consumer automatically assumes it's more harmful if it sounds unfamiliar. Tongue-twisting dishes are not only risky, they can bring up deeper social and class anxieties. “There is a class-raising association with knowing other languages,” says Margaret King, a cultural analyst and director of a Philadelphia think tank that studies how consumers determine value in products. “It could be a form of speech anxiety. When one is anxious about public speaking, it is more often than not a symptom of the ego and a fear of making a mistake or being embarrassed in front of people they do not know,” says Lyndsey Elliott , an Orange County, California-based psychologist. She continued, “In the same vein, when someone is at a dinner on a date, with co-workers, and/or in mixed company, a similar effect of anxiety can take place. ‘People will think I am dumb’ or ‘I want to make a good impression’. People tend to play it safe in social situations where there could be any risk of looking anything but their very best.” All this anxiety has the potential to boil over when the waiter is standing there, order pad in hand. But professionals, both in and outside the restaurant industry, are eager to soothe diners’ pronunciation fears and even empower them to make more delicious decisions. “It’s a sign of sophistication to admit your ignorance. Sophisticated people don’t get caught up in this or judge themselves or get caught up in dealing with people who do,” says King. When you order the jota, for example, order with conviction. Jota (pronounced yota) is one of executive chef Carmen Quagliata’s northern Italian specialties at the lauded Union Square Café in New York City. He says he tries to counteract any unfamiliarity with the Italian phrasing by also including an English description or story about where the dish originated from. “I don’t think that much about how comfortable someone is going to be. I do think about if this is the best way to market this dish that I’m dying for people to have,” Quagliata says. And even if the diner butchers the pronunciation, the restaurant’s waitstaff is instructed to never correct them. After all, they themselves had to learn the phonetic pronunciation of all the dishes before service. “It’s only a teaching moment if they invite it; otherwise, it’s just pure enjoyment,” says John Ragan, the wine director for Union Square Hospitality Group , the parent company of Union Square Café. When it comes to wine, Ragan advises his staff to connect the dots during their own wine education. When a person understands why a grape is pronounced a particular way because it’s from a certain region of Spain, for example, they can infer even more information that the wine list may not convey. If the guest seems receptive, they can even share this knowledge. “Understanding the culture is understanding the language,” Ragan says. Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology & Viticulture Institute in Ontario, Canada, concluded that consumers not only liked the taste of a wine better when it was associated with a difficult-to-process name, they also would pay more – an average of $2 more in fact – for the more linguistically challenging winemaker. “I would say that because consumers have an intuitive theory that that which is rare, is more valuable, they will tend to prefer the wines with more difficult to pronounce names,” says Antonia Mantonakis, an Associate Professor at Brock University involved in the study. King agrees that the inverse for wine makes sense, because there is a common perception of wine as being more refined. Whether it’s food or wine, don’t sweat it; point to it if you’re too intimidated and let the waiter deal with it, King says. “They’re there to help you, not make you feel on trial.” “If you don’t know what something means or how it is pronounced, you are not alone. I liken it to ‘there is no such thing as a stupid question.’ Usually someone else wants to know the answer as well, so why not take the lead and initiative and just ask?” Elliott says. In the age of instant information, Elliott says diners can familiarize themselves with the online menu ahead of time in order to know how things are prepared and decrease angst around choices that they may regret later. “People may shy away from fancy names because they don't want to be disappointed, end up hungry or seem exposed or silly for ordering something they shouldn't have to begin with ,” Elliott says. And if nothing else, the more risks taken, the better as far as King is concerned. “You’re not going to be judged on your Burmese pronunciation the way you will be judged on your French and Italian. The expectation of expertise isn’t there.” Five Tips for Anxious Orderers 1. Research the restaurant ahead of time; online menus are your friend. Especially if you're dining out with a date or business partner, you don’t want to be stuck for 30 minutes trying to decipher the menu when you could be engaging in conversation. 2. Still wary? Listen to online pronunciation guides, or if you have a smartphone, there are food translator apps available. 3. Let the server take charge. Order last and say, “I love how you say the dishes, I want to make sure I'm saying this right…” or say, “I'm really interested in this beef preparation, can you tell me more about it?” Usually, this will lead the server to repeat the full name of the dish. 4. Take risks. Bradford Thompson, a menu design instructor at the French Culinary Institute, says people should be more willing to take a chance with an appetizer than an entrée. With a bad appetizer, you can still recover; whereas a bad entrée can put a damper on the entire meal. 5. Have confidence. Don't be afraid to mess up. It's not what you say, it's how you say it. There’s always room for interpretation, especially for a non-native speaker. Take Our Poll
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It’s pronounced hos-pi-tal-it-tee
Feeling flush this Tax Day and looking to blow your whole refund on a single meal? You're in luck, because Triomphe restaurant in New York City is hosting a 12-course “Great Write-off” dinner at a mere $1040 a head. While you're busy gobbling down caramelized foie gras and toast with ramp jam and Ossetra caviar with traditional accompaniments, the rest of us will be frantically clicking “like” on Facebook, shaking printer cartridges and rifling for couch change to take advantage of these national Tax Day food deals. – Facebook Arby's Get a free value-sized order of curly fries today only by liking Arby's on Facebook and printing a coupon. The roast beef chain has also started an #arbystaxrelief hashtag on Twitter to promote their $5000 sweepstakes. Bruegger’s Bagels A coupon for a $10.40 Big Bagel Bundle (that's a baker's dozen of bagels and two tubs of cream cheese) is yours for liking the bakery chain on Facebook . The offer is valid through today. Panda Express Today only, like Panda Express on Facebook and download a coupon good for a single serving of the chain’s new Shanghai Angus Steak. White Castle Like White Castle on Facebook and receive a “Prep For Tax Day” discount of 15 percent good through midnight tonight. Non-Facebook fans can go to the White Castle website to download the coupon. – Online coupons and ordering Boston Market Print a coupon from BostonMarket.com and bring it into a participating location to receive a free individual meal with the purchase of an individual meal and a fountain drink, valid today only. Chili's Print an online coupon to receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of an adult entree at participating Chili's restaurants through April 18. P.F. Chang's Place an online order today only and receive 15 percent off. The offer is also available for dine-in and does not include happy hour items or P.F. Chang's for Two. Souplantation Pop over to the chain's Fresh Ideas Blog for a printable coupon for a buy one, get one for $1 lunch or dinner, valid today only. No printer access? No problem. Just show the website on your phone. – In store Chevy's Stop by participating locations today to enjoy two premium Herradura margaritas for $10.40 and have Chevy's pick up the tax on your meal. Cinnabon Visit a participating Cinnabon location today (sorry – no airports or travel plazas) from 6 to 8 p.m. to receive two free mini Cinnabon bites. Hooters All day today, Hooters offers a Tax Day special of 20 boneless wings for $9.99. As the site notes, there is an additional charge for dressing. Marble Slab Creamery and Maggie Moo's Ice Cream and Treatery The frozen treat chains are offering a “Yobate” today only. Visit a participating location of either Marble Slab or sister store Maggie Moo's between 4 and 7 p.m. and receive a free scoop of their new yogurt. The offer is in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and customers can offer a donation throughout the month of April. McCormick & Schmick’s Locations across the country are offering an extended happy hour from 3:30 to 11 p.m., with a menu including $2.95 to $5.95 “bar bites” and special Tax Day drinks like “The Clear Conscience” and “The Bloody Mary Tax Code.” Seattle’s Best Coffee Visit a participating location today only for a free small brewed coffee on the house or like Seattle’s Best Coffee on Facebook during the “Great American Coffee Refund” to get a free sample of Level System coffee to brew at home. Sonic The drive-in chain is offering an all-day happy hour today with a “Tax Cut” – half price drinks and slushes at participating locations. Know of a Tax Day deal we missed? Earn some serious culinary karma and share it in the comments below. We'll add it to the list and give you credit for the tip. Previously – Tax Day wines that won't break the bank
David Wood, a veteran war correspondent, always wondered about the men he saw being medevaced off the battlefield with grievous injuries. When Wood, 66, joined the online Huffington Post last year, he got his chance to find out what became of them. Read full article > >
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Pulitzer Prizes in journalism, arts and letters announced; two D.C. area winners
America Online announced Monday that it has sealed a $1.1 billion deal with Microsoft for more than 800 patents. According to a news release announcing the deal, the companies entered into a non-exclusive license for the patents, following an auction. Read full article > >
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AOL sells patents to Microsoft in $1.1 billion deal
Social scientists have confirmed what most singletons have known for years: Online dating is a crapshoot. A new analysis of 400 academic studies explores whether online dating represents a dramatic shift in the way people seek mates (it does) and whether it is ultimately a good thing for daters (eh . . . sorta). Read full article > >
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Online dating has its pros and cons, meta-analysis says
Thanks to Facebook, the concept of “defriending” has become part of the online culture. But in the real world, breaking up is a lot more difficult.
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It’s Not Me, It’s You: How to End a Friendship
Yesterday’s Web site blackout — otherwise known as “The Day the LOLcats Died” — did a great deal of awareness-raising against the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act, also known as SOPA and PIPA . But for those who weren’t aware of the legislation, confusion reigned. Read full article > >
This post has been updated. The hearts of students across the country sank when they logged on to their computers Wednesday morning to find that Wikipedia had gone dark. The online encyclopedia was one of many to pull its content from the Web Tuesday, protesting the House Stop Online Piracy Act and the Senate Protect IP Act. Read full article > >
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SOPA blackout has some students floundering, others unfazed
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Sarah Palin likes girls with guns. In an email to National Review Online, Palin said, “I’m all in favor of girls with guns who know their purpose.” The comment referred to Sarah McKinley, the 18-year-old who shot 24-year-old Justin Shane Martin on New Year’s Eve as he tried to break into her Oklahoma home. Read full article > >
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Sarah Palin: “I’m all in favor of girls with guns who know their purpose.”
Wordnik, the online dictionary, brings some of the Web’s vox populi to the definition of words. It shows “what’s out there right now,” one of its founders says.
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Novelties: Wordnik’s Online Dictionary: No Arbiters, Please
Shares in Zynga, the online games maker behind Mafia Wars and FarmVille, fall 5% on their first day of trading.
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Shares in Zynga fall 5% on debut
That’s me in the corner, that’s me in the spotlight eating all alone
Thursday, April 26th, 2012Pulitzer Prizes in journalism, arts and letters announced; two D.C. area winners
Monday, April 16th, 2012Sarah Palin: “I’m all in favor of girls with guns who know their purpose.”
Friday, January 6th, 2012
