peepsNet: citizen journalism at its finest

Leftovers + Cucina Nicolina = Mmmmmmm

2009-03-11T17:03:00.002-04:00

Never have leftovers been so ... appealing.

Nicole has come up with some new ideas for used food in an article in the Washington Post which argues that leftovers are not a recipe for disaster. No, food love doesn't mean having to say you're sorry (for having to eat the same thing, day after day, until you are sick of it and next time I'm going to cut that recipe in half or even quarters I am so tired of this).

No, the creative force behind Cuccina Nicolina believes that leftovers are an opportunity to innovate, that they are -- wait for it -- ingredients for the Next Great Meal.

"I couldn't bring myself to throw anything away anyway," Nicole told peepsNet in an entirely made-up interview. "But the chance to use the remnants of one meal to create an equally-compelling second meal is just the sort of challenge I like."

No, we are not talking Stone Soup (or even Noodle Soup). We're talking Quinoa Stew and Banana-Chocolate Bread.

Sorry, I must have passed out there for a moment. Where were we?

Oh yes. I remember. Nicole was invited to guest blog at "A Mighty Appetite" on the subject of "Eating down the fridge." I know what you're thinking. This isn't about eating a pickle of questionable provenance and washing it down with the brine. This is about taking a pickle of questionable provenance and very nearly turning it into a chocolate soufflé.

How many of you have eaten this well on what could have been landfill?

The first night I made a fine dinner of chickpeas and the spinach I'd picked up at my neighborhood farmer’s market. I sauteed a few cloves of garlic in olive oil, added the chickpeas, spinach and a splash of water. I poured the whole mess over a pot of couscous. The next night, I tumbled in from my run, chilly and starving, and went immediately for the protein punch of quinoa, to which I added a mushroom, asparagus, and white bean stir fry. The next after that, I roasted half a head of cauliflower and heated up the leftover couscous and chickpeas, freeing up even more space in the fridge. I found a box of long-neglected ravioli I'd never gotten around to finishing, and so happily lapped them up with a from-canned-tomatoes sauce. The shelves were clearing up just a little bit. Toward the end of the week I finished off the cauli, some baked tofu that'd been lingering for a while and the rest of the quinoa. I was sated and my fridge was bare of leftovers.

Ordinarly, I'd end a post like this with, "And she cooks, too." But somehow I think you got that already.

America, Plus 1

2009-02-19T07:47:00.001-05:00

This line is nuts! originally uploaded by bfgreen.

When Uncle Sam said, "I Want You!', was this the person he meant?

No High Heels, Please

2009-01-01T12:20:00.002-05:00

Nicole's article about noisy neighbors finally saw the light of day at the SF Chronicle, and it's better than even we remember it, whenever the heck that was. Our fact-checkers and librarians are off for the holiday so we can't be sure, but careful readers will find a clue that it has been at least 5 months since this baby was submitted.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, as the case may be) this particular problem is timeless, so the Chron could have waited until next New Year's Eve to print it. Even as the lives which play out in apartments change the apartments themselves remain unaltered windows -- make that sound tunnels -- to other people's worlds.

I once lived in a tiny SoHo apartment, an illegal sublet, which made me even more self-conscious about rousting neighbors who may have been in a position to scotch my sweet deal. And in a perverse reversal of the power dynamic Nicole beautifully describes, it was my downstairs neighbor who held sway.

I was religious in my aversion to making noise. I listened to no music. I watched TV from about 2 feet away (it was a small apartmet, anyway). I never wore shoes indoors and, unlike Nicole, didn't have to make any compromises about not even wearing high heels. I had no pets. For a long time, it was me and only me who lived there.

All was well, for months. But I worked late often and often stayed out even later and one night I came home to find in the stairwell (it was a 6-storey walkup) the daughter of the apartment below making out with a guy from the hood. It was about 3 a.m. Days later I ran into mom, who excoriated me for making noise all the time. I was dumbfounded (more than usual), inviting her by default to elaborate. Her daughter couldn't sleep and was missing school (or work, I forget) because of all of my damn noise keeping her up.

Still dumbfounded, we parted with me mumbling something about being sorry and not making noise anymore (remember, I was there on borrowed time). Then it dawned on me: daughter was staying out late, making out with guys, and mom knew nothing about it. When cornered about not being able to wake up in the morning, lack of sleep from the noisy upstairs neighbor became a convenient and believable explanation, assuming (as I did) mom was a heavy sleeper or hard of hearing (remember, she complained on behalf of her daughter, never herself).

We managed an uneasy truce, me and the old lady downstairs (I usually kill with old ladies), but she exacted some evil revenge on the day I moved out. She reported it to the landlord, who then was able to confront the legitimate tenant from whom I was subletting, blowing his cover.

Wait -- this wasn't all about Nicole? My bad.

Let Him Eat Cake

2008-11-30T17:30:00.000-05:00

The #1 food blog of the moment isn't cucinanicolina (but see how I worked that in): It's Perambulare. What?

Samer's homage to single guys who want cake for one in 10 minutes or less got his blog about 6k page views when it was Stumbledupon.

We're not sure of Perambulare's demographic, but here is a sampling of the comments on this post:

Mme70 (02:03:03) :
Oh. My. God. I’m telling EVERYbody how you are my hero!

helen (15:34:17) :
I just moved to Austria from the US for a semester abroad. My dorm room doesn’t have a kitchen, only a stove and microwave, and I’ve been frustrated by the lack of familiar ingredients with which to make even non-baked desserts. I’m a compulsive baker, and the lack was killing me. Thank you! I’m going to try this tomorrow. You may have saved me.

nicole (19:00:17) :
Gorgeous photo, as always … and I must admit this looks intriguing. Now, if only I had a microwave!!

Not my call, Samer, but I would thank mom, keep up with Helen and watch my back with that Nicole chick.

Samer Keeps Underfed Supermodels in his Basement for Porn

2008-11-27T11:30:00.002-05:00

I only scanned the POV blog at NPR entitled Outside the Frame: Food Porn, but that seems to be the sad upshot about Samer and his once promising interest in photography.

While images like this are interesting — and even beautiful — I love food too much to see it treated like an underfed supermodel, contorting for the camera.

Then there is this other obvious plea for help:

And, of course, there's chocolate. After all, says Flickr user Samer Farha: "Chocolate sells. Maybe more than sex does."

We hope blogger Amanda Hirsch decides to violate a basic tenet of journalism and reveal the secure and undisclosed location Samer is keeping his "models," like the poor, emaciated thing depicted above.

Samer Slides. At Least There Was Cake.

2008-11-19T08:26:00.002-05:00

We complimented Samer on his rock-solid blog post about his 10-minute cake recipe experiments (featured on tastespotting.com, mind you!)

And then he goes and writes this:

"Do do do, da da da. That is all I have to say to you."

Thanksgiving is Coming Up?

2008-11-19T08:08:00.001-05:00

We won't be cooking this year, as our tiny kitchen this year is even tinier than Nicole's, and stocked with fewer essentials than she carries on a backpacking expedition.

But, if we were going to spend any time playing with fire indoors, we would probably make every single thing on her NPR menu, and nothing else.

Plan "A," of course, remains "just happened to be in the neighborhood." We'll bring a hearty appetite. No hurry on the dishes. Would lavender flowers help?

Taking Pictures While Black

2008-11-17T06:30:00.005-05:00

It was only 12 hours after election day, Mike writes on Facebook with some irony, that he was profiled in his own neighborhood while photographing "things that remind me how blessed I am."

Somebody called the cops on Mike -- and, for good measure, emailed them (very web 2.0 racists in North Carolina) -- to report a "suspicious black man" prowling around with a camera under the cover of the noon-day sun.

Before we knew the full story PeepsNet asked if Mike if had run afoul of a Charlotte, NC law about taking out the garbage while black.

taking photos of fall foliage while black, actually. That album called I GOT A GOOD LIFE, MAN? Somebody called the police on me while I was out in my neighborhood taking them. Then sent an email to the neighborhood crime watch saying be on the lookout for SUSPICIOUS BLACK MAN.

The collection of nature photographs in his lovely neighborhood does include a house or two that I suppose he could have been casing from what I'd estimate to be about Google Earth distances. And, of course cameras have been mistaken for lethal weapons -- in Iraq!

Mike is taking it in stride -- he is not quiet Mike for nothing. But he does note the surreality of it all.

It was just very ironic, mostly. I hadn't forgotten where I was, but at the same time, I thought I'd get a little longer to 'feel the joy.' Eh....s'all good, though. The experience actually made the photos more 'subversive' as my friend John says. They have another level of meaning for me now.

We wonder why a truly subversive photographer of our acquaintance has never been wrestled to the ground by alert law enforcement officers. Oh, the injustice of it all.

Nicole and Kate

2008-11-17T06:19:00.001-05:00

Nicole and Kate originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

Another party we weren't invited to. Fortunately iPeepsNet correspondent Samer was there to capture the action (and avoid picking up the check, we hope.)

In the Hills

2008-10-16T13:52:00.002-04:00

In the Hills originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

We admit -- we've been very remiss. Maybe we were wrong to outsource our newsroom to Bangalore but with the extra coin we were able to rent this clown BoBo and really underestimated the creepiness.

Samer's excellent adventure was noted if not well recorded, an oversight we hope to rectify somewhat by advising our readers to check out, at the very least, his China collection.

Once you visit, of course, we predict you won't want to leave.

Nicole @ 30

2008-10-16T13:39:00.002-04:00

hello originally uploaded by nicspir.

The peepsNet team wishes you well on this marvelous day.

Wilderness Nicole

2008-07-26T09:14:00.004-04:00

We have it good authority that Nicole is goin' camping for a few days next week. We sure hope you know what you're is doing; even under the best of circumstances spending days in the wild requires careful planning because you have to carry all your own food. Forget about the edible plants manual -- one sticky page and you'll end up like that "Into the Wild" guy.

Listen -- you are going to get tired of dehydrated macaroni and cheese in about 15 minutes. And you will also need to figure out some way to pass the time in what will otherwise be a repetitive slog through natural beauty, star-studded night skies and the kind of silence you cannot even imagine and are unable to adequately describe.

Here's a thought -- how about some wilderness gourmet cooking! Your welcome!

We know you are too busy so we've done some research on your behalf (we flatter ourselves that you are reading this. Maybe Samer will tell you about it) and found this incredibly thorough, perfectly-time article on NPR.

In it some chick in SF writes all about the things you will need to know. We are sure your comfort level will increase just by reading this:

Escaping into the wilderness doesn't have to mean leaving good food behind. A little preparation before hitting the trail makes dishes like penne pasta with vegetables a cinch.

Boy, this girl really does know her trailmix. Witness:

Years of backpacking in various parts of the United States have taught me that while a box of organic macaroni and cheese is easy to prepare after a long day of lugging a heavy pack up and down mountains, it's not nearly as satisfying as quinoa chowder or fresh vegetables roasted over a fire.

These days my pack is filled with a small container of olive oil, dried herbs, salt and pepper and fresh fruit rather than packets of dehydrated beans and rice or bags of quick-cooking oatmeal flavored with desiccated strawberries.

Our pack would contain 3 GPS units, a sat phone and Glock 19 -- you can get lots of food and even have it prepared and served to you with a Glock - but that's just us.

We have to admit we really didn't read the article too closely or bother to Google the author, whose name escapes me, but it's on the internet and must be true. Anyway there's a nifty companion podcast where the incredibly well-prepared author lays it all out in a way even we can understand. We were captivated.

So, Nicole, do your homework (your welcome!) -- and be safe! No Lord of the Flies stuff, OK!

Samer's Adventure Begins in Mere Minutes

2008-07-18T10:19:00.007-04:00

Samer tweets that he is through IAD security and has had a hearty breakfast "but I'll probably regret the mountain of cheese and bacon once airborne." So might you seat mates, mate.

The Boy Wonder will arrive in Tokyo tomorrow afternoon after a flight scheduled to take about 14 hours. His big regret seems to be that he won't be able to drink a caipirinha "for a good long time. My guess is I won't even be at a bar that has cachaça until at least Germany."

We'll be tracking his flight in real time at flightstats.com.

We're happy for the lad to have this dream assignment (engineer at the Bejing Olympics) and for his dexterity in creating a travel itinerary around it. But I have a dilemma. Who am I going to ask random questions at strange hours about astronomy, mechanical engineering, Apple shortcuts, unix programming and cookery? Well, as least I have a reliable source for that last one a much more manageable three time zones away.

Feeling lucky, punk?

2008-07-13T12:51:00.001-04:00

Feeling lucky, punk? originally uploaded by John C Abell.

Yes, sir, Mr. Farha sir.

Occasionally, very accurate. Wonder who he was thinking of during those shots ...

Our Prayers Have Been Answered

2008-07-10T15:28:00.004-04:00

23,501 originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

That meat blog thing was sort of OK, I guess, but we asked for it (two years ago) and now we have it:

Samer is blogging for real again.

The reason? Boy Wonder is about to embark on a trip of 23,501 miles that begins with one step. Work beckons him to the Beijing Olympic Games and he's making about 47 pre-, post and side trips.

The itinerary:

Tokyo
Hong Kong
Beijing
Dubai
Beirut
Frankfurt
Berlin
Brussels
London
Reykjavik

And Samer has procured exactly what a young, single man passing through so many port of call needs ....

A telephoto lens. What did you think?

Decisions, Decisions ...

2008-06-17T10:49:00.001-04:00

Wondering what the comments would be like if Samer had switched captions on these two recent shots.

Walking Past
Originally uploaded by Samer Farha

Stacked
Originally uploaded by Samer Farha

Feta Attraction

2008-06-16T18:59:00.002-04:00

She likes feta, but it wasn't always thus.

Nicole has classed it up again for another piece at NPR in which she confesses that she was not always a fan of the cheese of her homeland. Apparently there was some kind of unfortunate childhood event which scarred her but not for life, because some years later when faced with starvation or stinky cheese the latter won out with minimal hysteria. Hey Nicole -- she likes it!

PeepsNet can relate. For us, consternation took the form of the black, wrinkly olives of our homeland. Not that we ever liked those bland California varieties one buys in -- yuck -- cans. But green was our valley, and pitted, and perhaps stuffed with garlic or bleu cheese. This, of course, reduced green olives to garlic or blue cheese delivery systems, which obscured the underlying flavor. And, it must be said, those little green guys with pimento that so perfectly augment the martini experience are an entirely different subject.

But we digress. It was not until late in life that I appreciated the Kalamata the way Nicole came to accept feta. And, as I recall, it was in circumstances somewhat beyond my control, as with Nicole, that I was confronted with the dilemma slash opportunity to re-evaluate a childhood aversion to a food so easily made friends with.

Hmmm ... this has veered twice now from the subject at hand.

Nicole's excellent tale of self discovery is here. Don't forget to listen to the podcast (WE think she was extremely well prepared).

Who Says I'm Not a Morning Person?

2008-06-16T10:00:00.001-04:00

Who Says I'm Not a Morning Person? originally uploaded by John C Abell.

Kids: this is why you don't want a career in journalism. Stay in school, just say 'no' to drugs, skip the cigarettes or break the habit clean.

Wait, that's what I did ... OK -- you're on your own.

Katy Breezes Through DC

2008-06-16T09:49:00.002-04:00

San Francisco Guests originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

Miss Katy was in town, and we were unable to attend, sadly. Besides the fun of seeing her and having a relaxed drink with friends we see all-too infrequently we would have wanted to ask what the story is behind those ginormous pearls. Really, are those from the Wilma Flintstone collection?

Word is that the newly-restored Reuters employee was on her way to the OBX for a little R&R, although we don't hear much of people going there for the summer. (note to self: search the interwebs to find out where I can get one of those extremely rare bumper OBX stickers).

Samer got this candid, which enabled peepsNet to have two sequential posts with Katy sitting at a table in a restaurant -- hey, that's almost enough to start a flickr group!

We don't know who that good-looking guy at Katy's elbow is, because, while Samer is a passable photographer he is a terrible reporter. This is why you haven't received dime-one in peepsNet stringer fees yet, dude.

West Coast Peeps Convention

2008-05-02T15:15:00.003-04:00

Dinner at NOPA was fantastic. Lots of "remember when" stuff. Fortunately it was dark inside this fascist eatery best known for a $12 burger so nobody could see peepsNet cry. Even if, we'd blame the gin. Or even the memory of the absinthe.

Katy seemed remarkably unaffected by her return to the Baron's fold. Everything is better in San Francisco, I guess.

Nicole doesn't like photographers. Or at least a guy with an iPhone in her face. Funny tude from someone who was bitten by the shutter bug (niiiiiice) recently.

Live and let live, baby!

Speaking of Photography ...

2008-05-02T14:47:00.005-04:00

Sometimes, she just loves the blur
Originally uploaded by nicspir

... And the need to balance coverage between the Twin Peeps: Nicole has a new camera which she has been prone to call the "camera of gloriousness." Yes, she's in love and she's not ashamed to admit it.

Here's a flickr slideshow from their first vacation together as a couple.

Morning in America

2008-05-02T14:44:00.002-04:00

We've been lazy. Busy. No, lazy.

But we couldn't let this one get by us, even through we've missed about 18 other DCIst "Photo of the Day" pix by the boy wonder.

There was food, too. Really.

2008-04-20T23:23:00.001-04:00

John originally uploaded by nicspir.

Actually lots of delicious food.

Apparently peepsNet hasn't been quite obsequious enough about Nicole, so we got the carrot-and-stick treatment. Sort of literally, come to think of it: a lovely vegan meal, and Polish absinthe which, to the best of anyone's knowledge, was 144 proof -- a fact we discovered way, way too late. Think the dental scene in Marathon Man: oil of cloves and drilling without anesthetic.

Then we didn't offer to do dishes. Sorry, Michael.

Nicole, Nicole, Nicole ...

2008-04-09T12:25:00.007-04:00

PeepsNet isn't about ratting on the peeps. We aren't interested in the seamy underbelly of their lives. We'd rather not think there was a dark side. We don't want to hear about their weaknesses and foibles, or the gender confusion, addiction, gambling obsession, spiritual ambivalence, Oedipal complex, "daddy issues," and ritual cruelty to small animals.

And neither should you.

But there are limits to our restraint. We have just learned that Nicole has been unfaithful -- Nicole! Here is her unrepentant confession, on the Interwebs:

"A confession: I'm obsessed with cauliflower. And I'm not sorry."

Oh -- you're sorry all right.

We can't fathom what possessed npr.org to publish this metaphor-laden "Story of N." Of course, it is extremely well written, dammit.

"If a head of this funny-looking crucifer doesn't find its way into at least one meal a week, I'm either having a bad month or am out of town too much. A dinner without cauliflower feels off-balance, lackluster. A life without cauliflower is no life at all."

Nicole, please. Try to regain a modicum of dignity. No man is worth humiliating yourself like this. (Or likes to be called a "funny-looking crucifer." This may be your problem).

PeepsNet must find a hip urban dictionary to completely understand the disgusting acts Nicole describes below -- reprinted not for shock value but out of journalistic necessity:

"There are so many ways to adore you, cauliflower. I love you for your delicious, crumbly gratins baked for an hour in the oven on Friday evenings. I love your Monday night soups quickly whirled together and laced with mushrooms and herbes de Provence. I love your lazy Sunday afternoon curries served with coconut rice. But I think best of all I love you slow-roasted at 400 degrees for about a half hour."

I just don't know you anymore.

The entire, pathetic love letter is here. And, if you have a stomach for this, don't forget to listen to the podcast.

The World in a Grain of Rice

2008-04-08T10:28:00.007-04:00

She taught us that quinoa could save the world and now Nicole is all about "The World in a Grain of Rice." Make up your mind? What's that? This just in: They are both grains.

Our woman in San Francisco is serving up some Chow (sorry) about what you can do with things called "polenta" and "millet" and "bulgur." Worst cocktails names ever.

But we like lists, and this is a top 10, which means we can just find #1 and go with that without a lot of reading. Cake is mentioned. That's promising.

The "about" part at the bottom is very cool, and peepsNet is going to use this boilerplate for Nicole stories from now on. Our only quibble is calling Cucina Nicolina a "cooking blog." It's about life, people.

Nicole Spiridakis contributes to the San Francisco Chronicle and NPR online, as well as other publications, and writes a cooking blog called Cucina Nicolina.

"Cool Photos" from Rich

2008-04-04T11:59:00.001-04:00

A shout out from David Newman Music to Rich on some "cool photos."

The are cool. The boy's still got game, even though he is getting on in years.

Resurrecting the Resman

2008-04-01T08:08:00.003-04:00

Let's start with the tie.

It was the sort of tie that kids get with their first suit -- a "club" style with irregular stripes of indeterminate and unmistakenly bland colors. The kind of neckwear they keep on hand at fancy restaurants, for uncouth guys who show up in shirtsleeves and baseball caps, because they are too ugly to steal.

Just the ticket for a company stooge who needs to wear a tie every day and wants you to know just how much he appreciates that.

Yes, the Res-man is management scum now, but only the "management" part is new.

He still favors a Bombay martini, dry and neat, but now with a twist of lemon. AP patrician influences, no doubt.

He carries an AP MasterCard, the easier to pay for interviews -- sorry, "travel expenses" for interviewees.

And he still has that ageless twinkle in his eye, even though age has caught up with the former 10/20 vision phenom, who now must occasionally wear reading glasses.

And his hearing is shot. Gotta repeat yourself a couple of times just to get his attention. Of course, we were in a loud bar. But I'm sure he is going deaf.

BYOB

2008-03-31T16:20:00.004-04:00

Any peep in the neighborhood is welcome for a rare Resnick sighting, scheduled for 6 pm at the Ebbett back bar.

For those of you who have successfully wiped this man from memory, he is the guy that:

Woke up with a vision problem. He couldn't see coming to work today.
Has been married 20 years, but it seems like 20 minutes -- under water!

For food or fooling around, Peeps hatch a devoted cult

2008-03-23T08:03:00.001-04:00

We are very confused. Is there a licensing issue here?

Duelists II

2008-03-15T15:22:00.003-04:00

Duelists II originally uploaded by John C Abell.

Proof that Samer and I are not the same people.

Well, not really, I guess.

And then, there is the masthead picture. Oh, Jeez.

Meat Samer

2008-03-14T12:48:00.006-04:00

We've been lobbying for some time for Samer to start blogging again. Yeah, sure, the picture thing is OK, I guess, but anybody can take nice pictures (or act).

Well, our prayers have been answered. And it is a classic case of be careful what you wish for.

Samer is blogging not about Apple, not about GPS, not about the situation in the Middle East, not about Iceland, not about beer.

Samer is blogging about meat.

Not that he isn't a world authority, mind you. It's just that nearly half of the peeps population doesn't even eat meat, so it's kind of a throw down.

And, since the other twin peep is an established food writer -- it's kind of a throw down.

We might just start blogging about redheads. So there.

The Duelists

2008-03-12T15:40:00.001-04:00

The Duelists Originally uploaded by John C Abell.

Proud Papa

2008-03-12T15:39:00.005-04:00

Proud Papa Originally uploaded by John C Abell.

Final Look

2008-03-12T15:39:00.001-04:00

Final Look Originally uploaded by John C Abell.

Cheap Labor of Love

2008-03-10T12:26:00.008-04:00

Photo by Samer Farha

Sorry to make this sound like a Jeopardy answer (I'll take "This and That" for $400, Alex: "What capitalists want -- and artists do") but when the honorees at a gala reception are pressed into service to cover the event -- well, that's the sort of blurring of journalistic lines to save a couple of bucks that peepsNet actually approves of, come to think of it.

Samer's pic helps illustrate the DCIst report on the DCIst 2008 Exposed reception last Friday. It's a lovely, evocative snap which, like any work of fine art tells an important story: you can get a lot closer to pretty women you don't know with a camera than without one.

Anyway, word is that there was an overflow crowd on opening night, with the queue running down the stairs and down the block -- in the rain. So if you didn't get in (or brought your camera and met someone on line while waiting to get in and hit it off a little and decided to bag it to get some coffee somewhere dry and then maybe take some portraits back at your place) remember that the show goes on through Saturday, March 15.

Photo by sduffy

Recreating the Moment

2008-03-08T15:54:00.005-05:00

Recreating the Moment Originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

Samer's DCIst opening reception looked like a blast -- sorry we missed it, but peepsNet had famNet obligations.

Show goes through March 15, so there is plenty of time. I'm getting a personal tour by the artist next week, which was my secret agenda. We do find that being in closed quarters with the rabble that shows up for gallery openings to be a bore. We don't wait on lines, either. Just so you know.

The entire collection is here -- though oddly enough, there are no shots of the boy wonder.

You Can't Make Me Work With Samer!

2008-03-05T23:55:00.007-05:00

Our peeps are traveling far and wide -- first it was Resnick stalking Hillary in Iowa and now this, purportedly Rich Clement at the Oscars.

Caption suggestions?

Samer, Exposed Again

2008-02-21T12:52:00.003-05:00

Samer's featured at the DCist show again this year, so save the date (March 7, opening reception, 7-9 pm).

Even better, Samer's entry is featured on the show's official poster.

I Have a Restraining Order -- and I Know How To Use It!

2008-02-15T19:57:00.005-05:00

A set of fake steak knives for any peep who can name one person in this picture.

A fake Cadillac El Dorado for the first person to name both.

Can't name anybody? You're fired!

I Know What You Did Last Summer, Finally

2008-02-09T21:11:00.000-05:00

Huge backlog over at the Chron must be the reason they are only now printing Nicole's 2007 summer essay about cooking in her brother's tiny Greek apartment. Hell, even he's not there anymore -- rumor has it Kurt is all salty dog up in Maine which, come to think of it, may not be that far from Greece after all.

Anyway, we love the bit about cooking in the sink. Yes, the sink.

Vegan Valentine's Day

2008-02-09T21:07:00.000-05:00

Turns out it falls on the same day as that other one this year. But this year we have a bunch o' new recipes from almost-vegan Nicole, via NPR. The Chocolate chocolate cake with chocolate butter cream (air quotes here) sounds mighty good, in case anybody cares what I think.

Laugh!

2008-01-24T14:07:00.001-05:00

Laugh! Originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

Samer has once again been selected as a finalist in the annual DCIst Exposed photo contest, for obvious reasons (see above).

Cause for celebration, indeed. By outsourcing, shedding non-essential staff and deciding not to cover either the US election or the Bejing Olympics peepsNet has saved enough to buy Samer a beer. And we totally would except we have a strict professional code of conduct which believe me doesn't permit that sort of thing at all.

But catch us at the opening reception on March 7 at Civilian Art Projects in Penn Quarter. We'll be live blogging and maybe we can free up one of our Davos stringers.

Douple Play for Samer

2008-01-02T22:52:00.000-05:00

Catching up on some way overdue kudos after a busy month. The good news is that Samer won't have to pay taxes for a whole year on this since peepsNet is covering it in 2008. Remember: advance deductions, delay income:

Torontoist, Dec. 3, 2007

DCist, Dec. 3, 2007

The boy's complete collection is here.

Happy St. Basil's Day

2008-01-02T22:41:00.000-05:00

There's the author herself, with dad, bro and mom (r-l).

For the Director's Cut, check out cucinanicolina.

My Peeps

2007-12-08T13:20:00.001-05:00

My Peeps Originally uploaded by John C Abell.

When I find the creep who's horning in on my action -- watch out!

You Think You Have It Tough

2007-11-22T02:02:00.001-05:00

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Nicole has revealed her secrets to throwing a dinner party for 15 people in a 6 x 8 room with a table that seats six and chairs for only seven. For her next trick ...

It's a bit of a departure for her Home & Garden column in The Chron (it tops the "Home" section) because not all of the advice is entirely serious.

Consider moving: While we're on the subject of dishes, it's perfectly acceptable to move to a new apartment solely on the basis of its having a dishwasher.

I've always thought that, but have never had the guts to say it out loud.

Make sure there's enough wine: This is most important, as it ensures you'll laugh off any kitchen disasters and that you'll sail through the cleanup without a care at the end of the evening.

That is downright Galloping Gourmet.

Prepare for last-minute RSVPs: If your beautiful wooden dining table is large enough to sit six, perhaps it would be wise to ask just six, rather than 10, guests to the feast.

And even if they all do show up, you have all that wine to sail through finding them all plates without a care.

Anyway, I think our hostess is playing a support role this year, so you won't find her in the kitchen quite as much. But I'm sure there will be plenty of wine.

Quinoa Update

2007-11-21T10:22:00.001-05:00

Fortunately, peepsNet has no rules about how many times it can write about the same thing. How could we, since we only write about the same five (or two) people. No Martian problem for us: the world consists of Nicole and Samer (necessarily in that order), some other people whose names escape me, and Samer and Nicole (not necessarily in that order).

Which brings us to the new crop of quinoa. Well, it's the old crop, and it has cropped up again as the #2 emailed story on npr.org three weeks after its original pub date. She's already done radio to explain the gravity-defying phenomenon of this seed (not a grain, as EVERYBODY knows) which can save the world, so can TV be far behind?

People: there's a writer's strike. You guys need content. It's either a reality show about cage-fighting between Survivor All-Stars and The Biggest Losers, or Nicole. Think about it. Shouldn't be taking that long.

Our theory is that many people are considering Nicole's Quinoa Stuffed Peppers as part of their Thanksgiving fare (that's called "Interpretive Reporting" for you civilians. Not "Making It Up" journalism. Definitely not).

Btw, you can email the story here.

About Tonight and the Segway Sharks

2007-11-20T22:27:00.001-05:00

Segway Sharks Originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

Amazing. I used that line in an entirely different context with Nancy just tonight ...

Anyway -- getting a picture published every day or so on DCist isn't uncommon anymore for the boy wonder -- oh no.

Perhaps Samer has become distraught with the deafening inattention peepsNet has given him, what with all those snaps that get picked up by the hip DC site making the phenomenon of his pictures getting picked up by the hip DC site decidedly un-newsworthy, by definition.

So he's kicked it up a notch. Here is the official tweet, timing in at 2014 ET:

A twofer on DCist, today: Photo of the Day (http://xrl.us/bbjkd) and About Tonight (http://xrl.us/bbjkh).

One's at the top, the other at the bottom.

Props to DCist writer Heather Gross for making the perfect "Land Shark" reference that nobody under the age of maybe 50 will get.

Cool Cocktail
Originally uploaded by Samer Farha

Radio Primps the Internet Star

2007-11-05T08:38:00.001-05:00

Saturday afternoon Originally uploaded by nicspir.

Nicole has conquered yet another medium with a guest shot this morning on NPR's "Bryant Park Project."

Nicole appeared in the segment about the most emailed stuff. Regular peepsNet readers already know that "Quinoa, a Sacred, Super Crop" has been #1 on NPR.org pretty much since it was posted last week.

That's right. It isn't even an NPR story. It has nothing to do with the deteriorating situation in Pakistan. Nary a presidential candidate is mentioned in it.

Host Luke Burbank called the story "A love letter to quinoa" and then turned all Tim Russert with an opening question geared at knocking Nicole off stride -- at 5:17 a.m. PT no less, basically the time she usually just gets to go to sleep after a long night of replying to fan mail: "So, what is so great about quinoa, anyway!" he lashed out (well, that's what it sounded like).

An unperturbed Nicole chuckled and replied with the poise of a veteran that quinoa tastes good and is easy to make. Take that, Luke Skywalker. She then turned the tables and, speaking directly to the NPR universe, postulated that this amazing food could feed the world. What have you done for the world lately?

Check out the podcast, on iTunes or from this NPR page. Nicole's segment begins at about the 1:19 mark.

She's Number 1!

2007-11-01T12:45:00.000-04:00

It's official.

Nicole's Quinoa article on NPR.org is the number-one emailed in the past 24 hours.

There might be another bit of great news coming from the publication of this article, peepsNet has learned. Watch this space.

Best. Clip. Ever.

2007-10-31T14:25:00.000-04:00

Really. Nicole has had excellent play on substantial dead-tree publications like the San Francisco Chronicle and the New York Times (and their digital entities as well, of course) but today's article on npr.org looks really, really pretty.

It could be the bitchin' pictures Nicole took. It could be that the recipes are tantalizing (peepsNet is making the peppers this week). It could be that this is the first food story she has been paid for, after giving away the store for free over at cucinanicolina for so long.

But we don't care. We just like it. Really, really.

More Great Press for Mike

2007-10-20T16:06:00.000-04:00

More great notice for Mike, at AsOneNational, a national website that highlights and advocates for black businesses of note.

TYPE ILLY PRESS is turning the page on the next generation of comic books.

TYPE ILLY PRESS lays out a masterful comic strip featuring ethnic characters in the ultimate battle for survival from the everyday problems that plague our society.

Mike is always a great interview, but this is best line from him I think I have seen so far about his hero, Nefertiti Jones:

"If you ever wished PAM GRIER could play WONDER WOMAN, this series is for you."

Rich in ...

2007-10-20T15:46:00.000-04:00

Rich comes up for air long enough to tell peepsNet that he has carved out a comfortable freelancer's existence and that Maureen is working on a book that is just about ready to be pitched.

He is shooting up a storm for a wide variety of clients, our man in Portland (Ore.) reports, including Reuters and Bloomberg. Apologies to Rich if this is the first time these competing agencies have learned of his mercenary lack of fealty. You have to say "off the record" right off the bat.

Rich says his description of Maureen's book doesn't do it justice. But his take -- that it is "sort of a yogic philosophical look at nostalgia and how we remember those events from our youth and what they mean" -- sounds plenty fascinating to me, so the truth can only be better.

We remind Maureen that peepsNet employs an ombudsman, who would love to hear from her. Or we can sort this out at the Politics & Prose reading.

Here is the money quote from his despatch:

"our cat is freaking nuts! she's 18 y-o and after she eats, she stands in the bedroom howling at unseen entities. just being a cat..."

Wrong. This is what Samer does every time he drinks.

Pets with a Purpose

2007-10-20T15:22:00.000-04:00

You want worms. Red ones. Lots of them. Trust me.

Nicole's latest Chronicle column answers the question that loomed large when she wrote two months ago about gardening in your apartment: where you gonna get all that rich dirt you need to grow tomatoes on your window sill?

The answer is worms. About 1,000 will do.

They don't take up much space, you don't have to clean up after them (that is kind of the point) and they subsist on a diet of vegan scraps that, in San Francisco, would otherwise become part of the three tons of used food collected every day and processed at a commercial compost facility outside Vacaville (love the sound of that town's name).

If you are in Bay area check out the the print version of Nicole's article, which is framable, we hear -- it takes up the whole back page of the House and Garden section, on page on F - 8.

Samer, Exposed

2007-10-19T13:22:00.000-04:00

Samer has begun to market his photos at Etsy, a e-commerce site that lets anyone sell their wares in the same empowering way eBay has turned everyone into an auctioneer.

Not much to see there yet, but since peepsNet was given a preview of Samer's portfolio we can say with great authority, though not for the record, that there are many more great shots to come at FarhaFoto (wonder why he didn't go with PharhaPhoto, which would have been really Phat).

Bookmark the page, but even better: Subscribe here.

On a housekeeping note: We are, of course, too lazy to check the archives and see if we have used this headline before, although we are almost certain we have. Can you plagiarize yourself?

Nicole, Redesigned

2007-10-19T13:10:00.000-04:00

Well, her site is anyway. No reason to tamper with perfection.

After a long period of contemplation and the press of higher priorities nicolespiridakis.com has undergone a complete makeover (no way was I going to use that word in the headline.)

Gone is the iconic picture in the borrowed shirt, replaced with a graceful headshot (used here without permission, as usual).

Speaking of photos, the landing page is a nicely staged shot of one of Nicole's many SF Chron articles -- you know she has a monthly column there called "Common Walls?"

But our favorite page is "clips." There are lots and lots of them, and room for more. Get on it, girl!

The Pantry is Perfect. Of Course It Is.

2007-10-05T15:01:00.000-04:00

On the theory that you just can't know enough about Nicole and the reality that peepsNet is too lazy to do any enterprise reporting, we invite you to surf on over to The Perfect Pantry and read up on what "the passionate cook behind the stove at Cucina Nicolina" likes to read up on.

She's got a birthday coming up (not A Big One, no, not until Next Year) but, who knows, you might get an idea or two about what the girl is into if you haven't yet bought that present yet.

We know this is all only about Nicole's shameless attempt to promote her blog, and we applaud her for it.

Hey -- we hear that a redesign in the offing @ nicolespiridakis.com. About time.

Square Curves

2007-10-04T15:17:00.001-04:00

Square Curves Originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

Samer scores a double today with another DCist "Picture of the Day" and a Flickr explore (#15 and counting)!

Ross in Santa Monica

2007-09-21T16:38:00.000-04:00

peeps-in-law Michael Knud Ross is showing in Santa Monica starting Sunday, Sept. 23, as part of a tw-person show at Terrence Rogers Fine Art.

The exhibit, also featuring David Molesky, runs through Oct. 27. The artists will be on hand at the Sunday opening, 2-5.

If You Want Her, She'll Be In The Closet

2007-09-19T11:03:00.000-04:00

We wonder if Nicole needs to phone ahead for reservations anymore, or if Barry Bonds wants to be photographed with her, or if it's starting to get a little creepy for Gavin Newsome to keep dropping by because "I just happened to be in the neighborhood?"

Not that we think she should stop writing. And neither does the Chron, which today publishes Nicole's latest column about life as a renter in San Francisco. We can't get enough of these. So keep it up. And just tell the mayor when he drunk dials you that you can't hear the doorbell in your closet. Office.

Fare Card, Dave?

2007-09-14T11:02:00.001-04:00

How May We Help You? Originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

More DCist love for Samer.

When we saw this, we were immediately struck by how this image evoked HAL 9000 from "2001: A Space Odyssey," even down to the colors and brightness. Amazing. But we were not alone -- a previous commenter on this picture at flickr made the same observation, first.

This is a great example of how the eye and brain of a true photographer work. Here is something that tens of thousands of people see every day, but this capture seems unique -- special.

On the other hand, maybe nobody has taken this before because there is never nobody in the shot. There is always some poor soul struggling to get one of these machines to do what it is told, fighting to prevail.

Hmmm ... perhaps they are HAL.

A view of HAL 9000's Brain Room in the Discovery.

On T-Mobile

2007-09-13T10:08:00.001-04:00

On T-Mobile Originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

Samer has now taken control of his iPhone and has provided photographic proof.

In his words:

"Look at the top left of this screen capture from my iPhone. "T-Mobile" it says! And I've got Edge working on it, too. It rocks.

"I used the free iPhone Dev Team solution and did it from an SSH session to the phone. It was a bit nerve wracking as it takes approximately forever to do its thing, but it worked. Like a charm."

Letters to the peepsNet Ombudsman

2007-09-12T10:59:00.000-04:00

Dear peepsNet ombudsman,

I'm all about a shrinking world wrought by the digital revolution but at heart I'm a pretty provincial guy. Can you arrange to have Nicole's latest article, about that neighborhood in San Francisco, published on my local newspaper's web site?

Mike in Raleigh

Dear Mike,

No problem. Here it is. And tell your like-minded friends in Boston they don't have to cruise to far-flung servers either.

The peepsNet Ombudsman
"It's all about you."

________________________

Dear peepsNet Ombudsman,

His work is good and all but some of us actually take pictures for a living and kinda resent all the attention Samer is getting with his DCist play. Any chance you can cut back on the articles about him and leave a little air in the room?

Rich in Portland

Dear Rich,

No.

The peepsNet Ombudsman
"It's all about you."

________________________

Dear peepsNet Ombudsman

I may be wrong about this, but it seems like you only write about the same 6 people over and over again. People tell me I'm pretty interesting -- is there any chance you can do an article about me? You could talk me into an interview (wink wink) and I don't look half bad these days on TV.

OBL in ?????

Dear OBL,

Am I mistaken or did you an advice column for our sister publication? Frankly, we were disappointed that you couldn't come to terms on a renewal, but, hey, I also thought Hell would freeze over before CNN walked away from Reuters.

I don't really know how to answer your question. Our subjects generally beg us to stop writing about them. We've never been actually invited to cover anything. We'll have to think about this and get back to you.

The peepsNet Ombudsman
"It's all about you."

DCist: Morning Roundup: Six Years Later Edition

2007-09-12T06:34:00.000-04:00

10
Originally uploaded by Samer Farha

DCIst staff photographer (he isn't?) Samer scores again with Morning Roundup: Six Years Later Edition.

I think he needs a challenge. He should start shooting exclusively with an iPhone.

[19:21] Samer: I have an 8GB iPhone in front of me

2007-09-11T20:16:00.000-04:00

Sexy
Originally uploaded by Samer Farha

These words aren't exactly "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" -- but they are close.

They have met Samer's price, and only part of that was reducing the retail of the first generation iPhone by $200. The deal maker was the release and verification of a free unlock, which lets the iPhone buyer spit in the general direction of ATT's two-year contract and Steve's hard-wired SIM.

For some of us (ahem) this development comes too late. While the Jesus Phone wasn't important enough for some of us to lose sleep and dignity over, waiting on a line outside the Apple Store with guys who have never kissed a girl, it was too important to wait for the Neo to crack The Matrix. This was especially true for those of us whose mobile phone just died out of nowhere (really) and you can't go a day without coverage because that's when the Big Call you've been waiting for all your life will come. But we digress.

peepsNet, which has already benefited greatly from Samer's general Mac expertise and specific pre-ownership iPhone interest, expects great things to be discovered now that the boy wonder has one in his mitts.

You can start by porting VNC and building an IM client that works in the background and notifies even when not in focus. If it isn't too much trouble.

ghettoManga: i got your Superwoman...

2007-09-04T15:25:00.000-04:00

Mike gets a nice review at ghettoManga.

Blogger Samax says he's read all three of Mike's SouthSide Nefertiti books and has seen his growth, especially since relinquishing drawing responsibilities and concentrating on the writing.

"every now and then, a book which started out as a good idea with not-so-great execution starts to catch up to its potential.
Southside Nefertiti (Type Illy Press) is JUST such a book homie!! in its defense, i've been reading the adventures of single mom/college student/superhero Nefertiti Jones for some time now... and series creator Mike Sales is one hell of a great writer... but he also drew the book, which was holding his writing back. like many indie cats, his art was passionate and distinct, but not up to the level it would take to do his skillfull writing justice..."

Apparently You Can Go Home Again

2007-09-01T13:43:00.001-04:00

peepsNet did not see this one coming, which makes it an extra delicious treat.

How better than to start off a new month than a little Nicole read?

Katy Moves On

2007-08-28T13:44:00.000-04:00

After turning in some fine work at MarketWatch, Katy is moving on.

She starts at Thompson in three weeks. Hey -- doesn't that mean she'll be working at Reuters again?

peepsNet Made on 267

2007-08-24T00:00:00.001-04:00

Thumbs Up Originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

Curses!

More Mike

2007-08-22T21:36:00.001-04:00

Could be because peepsNet only just signed up for Type Illy email updates that I just got blasted with four (4) missives. Much of it has already been covered here, but here are some as-yet unreported tidbits:

"The CHARLOTTE ARTS FESTIVAL turned out to be the most succesful outing TYPE ILLY PRESS has ever had. Not only in terms sales, but also in solidifying a long term business strategy for independent comic creators (particularly of color)..."

"we did our HIGHEST first day sales numbers at the CHARLOTTE ARTS FESTIVAL, and we owe it all to the lovely parents and children who came out and dropped HEAVY support for SOUTHSIDE NEFERTITI. Parents looking to get their children reading took to the book, and young teens dug the hip hop angle. The incredible cover art by Randolph Williams caught eyes all weekend, and the story kept them reading."

"Everybody's experience is different, but the reaction to SOUTHSIDE NEFERTITI and the continual support reaffirms to me that there is a significant audience for high quality comics by independent creators and people of color. Not only that, but people of color will SUPPORT high quality comics if they are done well and if the story resonates with them. In one day, I moved more units at the CHARLOTTE ARTS FESTIVAL than I did in an entire weekend at WIZARD WORLD LA and mainstream comics shops put together.

And the Charlotte Arts Festival had a LOT FEWER people. Men lie, women lie, but numbers don't lie. (c) Jay Z And the numbers keep saying to me that people of color – ESPECIALLY PARENTS – are much hungrier for this particular TYPE ILLY comic than mainstream comics fans."

" From the SOUTHSIDE TO SAN DIEGO... SOUTHSIDE NEFERTITI has stepped into new territory. TYPE ILLY'S latest release SOLD OUT the entire special edition print run for the 38th Annual COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL at the San Diego Convention Center!(WEE PALS Creator Morrie Turner and KUNTA KINTE at our (ComicCon) booth, yall!!)

DCist: Morning Roundup: Animal Criminality Edition

2007-08-22T21:33:00.000-04:00

OK -- basically we're just going to start phoning these in.

Samer blah blah blah DCist blah blah blah Morning Roundup blach blah blah featured photo.

DCist: The Weekly Feed: You're at Happy Hour Already Edition

2007-08-18T15:24:00.000-04:00

More DCist love for Samer via The Weekly Feed: You're at Happy Hour Already Edition.

Is Samer getting any $$$ for these marvelous captures? Maybe he should be selling them. peepsNet just might suggest it and ask for a cut.

Manholes: The Other Great Enemy

2007-08-17T00:16:00.001-04:00

P.E.P. CO. Originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

I think I am starting to understand the editorial policy at esteemed competitor DCist:

Check out the DCist flickr group
See if Samer has posted anything recently
Decide to do a story that they can use Samer's picture to illustrate

Well, if that isn't the way they work over there, it should be.

Samer's " P.E.P. CO." is the art on the Aug. 16 DCist story Manholes: The Other Great Enemy. It graces this article, too.

Hey, DCist -- we knew him first!

Mike @ Comicon II

2007-08-16T12:26:00.001-04:00

A profile of The Antidote Trust, the independent collective of which Mike is a member, is at Black Comic Book Blog. Peg is the Trust's showing at ComicCon.

Passage on Mike:

"Mike Sales— He’s a writer, he’s an artist and he’s publisher of quality Comics, so of course he’s Triathlon (Mike actually wears many more hats than those but Multiple Man didn’t quite fit the analogy). To be good at so many facets of the business and still be a team player is a super power all by itself."

Mike @ Comicon

2007-08-16T12:11:00.000-04:00

Long Q&A with Mike (and lots of pictures) at Pink Raygun.

This is a very in-depth interview with Mike. He talks at length about his business plan, marketing and team of artists.

Best for me was the explanation of his inspiration for Nefertiti Jones, Mike's single mom superhero.

Blah Blah Blog

2007-08-14T19:16:00.000-04:00

We don't know what part of this sentence we like better:

"Awesome last name recipient and New York Times contributor Nicole Spiridakis ..."

SFist has picked up on the awesomely last named awesome NYTimes article about an up-and-coming SF neighborhood and -- since all blogs are only about the blogger anyway -- the item became vitriol magnet for author Brock Keeling.

Our favorite, posted anonymously: "If you call the Western Addition, NOPA, you deserve the stabbing or shooting your stupid white ass will get." Ouch.

New York Times? N(o)P(a)!

2007-08-11T13:06:00.000-04:00

The embargo has been lifted, and with it, our spirits.

peepsNet is pleased to reveal that Nicole has crashed through the gates of that certain East Coast newspaper of record with an article about a cool, emerging neighborhood in that West Coast town where she insists she must live.

Sunday's New York Times -- Travel Section, page 4, as earlier alluded to -- carries Nicole's homage to NOPA -- "the name stands for “north of the Panhandle,” that sliver of green jutting east from Golden Gate Park — was once known mostly for low-income housing and random shootings," Nicole writes. "But an influx of attention-getting restaurants and boutiques in the last decade has made it one of the city's cooler destinations, even as it struggles to maintain its gritty individuality," she continues, mocking the inaccessibility of this budding paradise to we Right Coast denizens.

The story is already on the web (yes, that is about the 11th link to it in this pimping puff piece. You should be so lucky.) but we cannot wait to see it in print which, as any New York Times reader will tell you (assuming that Jane O’Shaughnessy speaks for us all), is all that really matters.

peepsNet takes special note of the special care the NYT gave Nicole's article, commissioning a lovely illustration by Jorge Columbo to which we have linked, the better to shore up the paper's sagging readership.

No charge, Gray Lady. A reciprocal link would be just fine.

I'm Just Sayin'

2007-08-06T15:27:00.000-04:00

I know you are all as upset as peepsNet is with the New York Times shrinking and all, but wait until Sunday before you give up on the Gray Lady.

Travel Section.

Page 4.

I'm just sayin'.

Counter Culture -- I Wish I Had Thought Of That

2007-08-04T13:50:00.000-04:00

Nicole is at it again: tormenting all those SF renters who'd rather just like to kick back with an Anchor Steam and watch The Bionic Man set a home run record with even more ways to productively fill their down time.

Now it's indoor gardening. This, from a girl who lives five blocks from a farmer's market and is already booked solid through her 30th birthday (the planning for which has begun, I am sure).

Take a breather and stop making the rest of us look like lazy bums. We like the produce section at Ralphs. We consider vegetables optional anyway. Give us more stuff like you don't have to clean the place all the time. And since you're up, get us a beer.

9 Reasons

2007-08-02T21:25:00.001-04:00

9 Reasons Originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

More DCist love for Samer.

Of course, peepsNet will publish anything having to do with RFD.

Arlington Fly Over

2007-07-31T10:59:00.001-04:00

Arlington Fly Over Originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

Another DCist capture for Samer

"I'm sitting here catching up on some blogs and getting ready for work when this high pitched scream of airplane engines rattles my place. Instinctively, I knew it was either a B-52 or a few fighter jets, and I ran to grab my camera.

They were probably doing a fly over at Arlington National Cemetery, which is a mere 1.5 miles away. Sadly, it's a pretty regular occurrence, though normally it happens around 10a or later, when I'm not home."

It's A Good Thing

2007-07-07T13:12:00.000-04:00

She's at it again.

No, not squandering her feminist inheritance (well, maybe a little -- but it's worth it) but spreading a bit of renter wisdom in the pages of the Chron and its site.

We are looking forward to tear-inducing prose when Nicole goes to Greece later this month. Really. Expectations are high. Really high. And pictures -- we'll want lots of pictures.

Watch This Space

2007-06-15T22:31:00.000-04:00

"L C Smith" Originally uploaded by John C Abell
peepNet knows all about secrets and always respects embargoes -- if The Price is Right (we'll miss you Bob). Our iron-clad code of conduct dictates that we sometimes can't divulge what we know or even acknowledge that we know something that we know. You know?

So let's just say that we are ... intrigued at a little aside over at cucinanicolina and just plain curious to know what Nicole means when she says that she

"got a piece of rather spectacular news the other day, but I'm going to hold on to it a bit until I have something more concrete to show for it."

How spectacular, you ask?

"Needless to say, an already gold-star day of 80-degree temperatures here in San Francisco was elevated to new and glorious heights."

Damn. That girl can write.

Anyway, let's just say peepNet is as much in the dark as anyone and just hopes to be on the release list when the big story breaks. Yeah. That's it.

Break Through

2007-06-14T08:20:00.001-04:00

Break Through Originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

This April 3 shot, taken while Samer was in Toronto on business, gives him a breakthrough in the "ist" arms race: Samer, 2 (DCist, Torontoist), Nicole, 1 (SFist).

Fronted on Torontoist on June 12.

Blue Glow

2007-06-06T10:20:00.001-04:00

Blue Glow Originally uploaded by Samer Farha

Another DCist credit for Samer.

Maybe he should be selling these? Blogging about his photographic experiences? Huh?

Katie of Spain

2007-05-24T16:43:00.000-04:00

Katie's annual pilgrimage to Seville wasn't all play this year.

She was commissioned by the BBC to do a photo essay on Feria de Abril a week-long party that is said to attract a million people.

Amber Waves

2007-05-24T16:09:00.001-04:00

Amber Waves, originally uploaded by Samer Farha

Samer again gets some DCist Picture of the Day love with this shot of a cool ale -- not too cool, peepsNet hopes.

He deserves recognition just for pausing long enough to take a picture of this thing of beauty, a mere millimeters away.

Cooking with Gas

2007-05-23T10:50:00.000-04:00

Are you one of those apartment dwellers who loves to give dinner parties but labors with a lousy oven? You are not alone. But you probably can't tell the tale as well as our Nicole, who lives to cook and bake. You have seen her blog, no?

Let's hope the folks over at Viking or Wolf put her out of her misery. She has people to feed -- lots of them.

Just thought of this: why doesn't the SFGate allow comments on stories? I think peepsNet will ask ...

SFist Mention for cucinanicolina

2007-05-18T10:37:00.000-04:00

We read her regularly of course but it's nice to know that SFist also knows what a super blog Nicole has going on over at cucina nicolina.

So, we have a coast-to-coast smackdown going on now between Samer, whose had a number of pictures published by DCist, and Nicole.

Who to root for. Decisions, decisions.

Round Corner

2007-05-11T07:02:00.001-04:00

Round Corner Originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

Another DCist credit for Samer

A Pattern Starts to Form

2007-05-03T21:44:00.000-04:00

It will never get boring but it is nice to have Nicole's byline appearing in the San Francisco Chronicle becoming routine.

$12 Million or So

2007-04-29T22:51:00.001-04:00

$12 Million or So, originally uploaded by Samer Farha.

Samer thinks he got really close to a lot of money today.

This automobile, if a genuine Ferrari 250 GTO would be one of fewer than 40 ever made.

I'm sure he still loves his VW very, very much.

Godfather of Odd Breaks his Silence

2007-04-18T14:41:00.000-04:00

We don't know whether to call him the "Odd God" or the "King of Odd" or our personal favorite -- Evil Prince Adobe -- but Bob has been interviewed by about.com about (hey -- I wonder if that's why they bought that domain!) his blogging empire over at reuters.com.

For infrequent readers Bob blogs about the Oddly Enough news category he also edits, and the "Good, Bad and Ugly" section, which deals with reader feedback

Samer's Northern Exposures

2007-04-06T15:40:00.000-04:00

Samer has compiled another stunning photo portfolio during his recent trip to Toronto.

The 74 images cover a wide range of subjects: buildings, architectural detail, people, shapes, colors. Oh yes -- there are the obligatory handful of shots involving drinking.

We don't know if Samer will write a guest column about his travels, and his comments on flickr are spare.

Of course, the pictures speak for themselves quite nicely.

The Res-Man is back, Baby!!!

2007-04-01T11:36:00.000-04:00

Would you hire this man?

Jon advises that he is "back in the breaking news game" as an Intake Producer for AP in DC. The gig at APTN starts on Monday.

The Res-Man was a star at Reuters TV when he was plucked to be a member of the elite Reuters Washington Multimedia Desk (in what seemed like a shrewd career move at the time. What's up with that?)

After careful consideration we have decided to dispense with the obvious jokes, but here was our working outline when we were going there:

Check "My Yahoo!" for Hell weather forecast
Google last time Christmas fell in April
Google last time Chanukah fell in April
April Fool's prank by Samer?
"Intake Producer" = "Receptionist"?

While peepsNet is delighted that Jon is no longer a burden on society and Sara, we hope that his golf game won't suffer and that he will make the right priority calls when sailing season begins in earnest.

Congratulations, Jon. And drinks are on you.

Spring is in the Air! Finally!

2007-03-31T12:39:00.000-04:00

Nicole's second article for the San Francisco Chronicle is in today's Home & Garden section.

The story behind the story is pretty interesting: Nic wrote this last Autumn.

Like a fine wine, The Chron will serve no story before its time.

Samer's on the Road, eh

2007-03-30T17:41:00.000-04:00

Samer is in Canada "for work and a little R&R." The work is at Reuters' Center of Excellence in Toronto.

He's agreed to consider becoming a guest columnist on peepsNet to detail his trip, which includes business at the place which made peepsNet possible (er, by being the location at which are located the offshored jobs of the people who used to work for me, whose privacy I continue to invade).

Hopes for any updates on a certain Martin fellow were dashed when peepsNet was informed that he was on vacation.

Excellent timing, Mr. Farha.

No pictures yet: it is Samer's custom to publish upon return. He thoughtfully posted this picture taken in an earlier trip to Toronto.

peepsNet approves

2007-03-29T15:53:00.000-04:00

Specs become her, no?

Wizard World Mike

2007-03-17T11:19:00.000-04:00

Mike is attending Wizard World Los Angeles this weekend with other members of The Antidote Trust.

You can catch him at the Artist's Alley at booths 1411 A&B. What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

Independent Propoganda reports that "Sales will be promoting and signing their latest comic titles, along with other The Antidote Trust members Robert Roach, Dale Wilson, Kevin Grevioux, Korby Marks and Blake Chen."

peepsNet needs to crack that Antidote Trust press list ...

The Antidote Trust

2007-03-15T13:37:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Google Alerts peepsNeet has just learned that Mike is one of the creators of "The Antidote Trust," which describes itself as "... a consortium of like-minded creatives in the comics industry."

Mike's page is very cool, and begins with this brief bio:

Mike Sales (aka M.TOREZ) was born in Columbus, GA, where he swam in creeks, climbed plumb trees and flew kites, then moved to DC and dodged bullets, crackheads and crooked cops for fifteen years (having a ball the whole time.) Currently, he and his lovely wife have settled down in the suburban greenways of Raleigh, NC., here he runs TYPE ILLY PRESS.