Nicole, Nicole, Nicole ...

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

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.

Nicole, Redesigned

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!

ghettoManga: i got your Superwoman...

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..."

Watch This Space

"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.

Spring is in the Air! Finally!

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.

The Antidote Trust

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.

Myth Conceptions - Black History of Comics

Mike is one of four author/illustrators interviewed for this Silver Bullet Comics article by Brant W. Fowler:

"What better way to close out the month on this, the next to last day of February, which is also Black History Month? There are so many important events throughout history that are recognized during this month, but aren’t or haven’t always been noted in accepted curriculum for our schools and so forth. While Black History should be celebrated at all times, it’s good to have this period of time in which we can all be educated about parts of history we may not be aware of, or haven’t searched out ourselves."

"To help me with the topic I was fortunate enough to speak with a few creators both independent and professional and get their outlooks and opinions on the subject."

Southside Nefertiti #2

Mike gets a very strong review for his graphic novel Southside Nefertiti #2 from Brant Fowler at SilverBulletComics.com.

Among the comments by Fowler that will appear on Mike's next book jacket:

"... in usual fashion, Sales has crafted a very real and powerful story full of real life drama and angst and colloquialisms that really give this story depth and character."

"His characters are intelligent without becoming something they’re not ... Sales doesn’t shy away from stereotypes, but he doesn’t give into them either.

"... the story is deep and very telling. It’s a representation of urban life told in a manner to inspire hope, justice and strength."

Be sure to get your copy of Southside Nefertiti #2 soon -- book illustrator Don Tate II was very glad to get his as a gift from his children's book author mom, Eleanora E. Tate!

Oh yeah - and check out the redesign at Type Illy Press. I guarantee that is one intro you will not be skipping.

Today, H&G -- Tomorrow ... ?

This is where she'll be

Yeah, Iraq is disintegrating, the White House is leaking memos like there is no tomorrow (see: Iraq is disintegrating), people that outwardly seem to have no mental defects are already running for president and there was this story on the TV tonight about rats figuring out how to eat their way into FEMA trailers parked in Jefferson Parish.

We're not interested in small stuff like that on peepsNet.

Nicole has been offered a monthly column by the Home and Garden editor at the San Francisco Chronicle. Her beat will be the trials and tribulations of the renter in San Francisco.

Regular readers of peepsNet know that Nicole has already been published in the Chron. She has also pitched two other pieces that were accepted but haven't yet run and has generally been making a nuisance of herself -- you know what I'm talking about -- that the folks there must have thought well, she isn't going away so we better give her what she wants.

Smart move, Chronicle. Where do I subscribe?

Follow the Money

Here at peepsNet we love writing and writers and people who love writing. Add in politics, green and greed and we are yours.

We are also thrilled when a peep finds her voice after moving cheese for so many years.

So for a good read on California prop 87, the initiative that would impose a new tax on oil production in the state to fund a range of alternative energy programs, look no further than Katy Hunt's MarketWatch thumbsucker.

This is far from Miss Katy's first MW byline -- she get them pretty regular. Subscribe to her stories here. We hope she is not peturbed that peepsNet has covered a certain other San Francisco writer more thoroughly. Let's just say that other person has a better press agent.

Nicole, on a Roll

The Chronicle's Home & Garden section has greenlighted another story by Nicole, on rooftop gardens in San Francisco.

No word yet on her deadline or when it will appear in print.

Nicole Spiridakis, Special to The Chronicle

Nicole has an article in the San Francisco Chronicle! (We in the business call it The Cron. Oh yeah.)

She's been pitching them story ideas like a utility daily reliever and hit with a piece on upsizing from a studio to a one-bedroom, and negotiating the straits of decorating for two.

The Chron sent a photographer and the piece is adorned by four pictures. She is in two of them and looks happy in both. Michael is in the same two and looks happy in only one. Of course, in the one where he looks a little distressed she is lighting some very unmanly lavender candles. (Hang tough there, Michael: next thing you know there will be purple towels in the bathroom and "no room" for your New Guinea art.)

This is the second article about Nicole in a major metropolitan newspaper. Shortly before she left DC the Washington Times profiled Nicole's legendary hostess talents in an article headlined "Elbowroom," about entertaining in small spaces. She didn't write that one, and it shows.

We expect the new expanses at Nicole's disposal will only enhance her ability to make guests feel warm and welcome and sorry to leave.

On a housekeeping note: unless the rest of you guys start getting a lot more interesting this space is going to turn into the Nicole Spiridakis News Service.

A New Home for cuciananicolina

cuciana nicolina is dead! Long live cuciananicolina!

Nicole's culinary-related blog died over the weekend, no doubt from a sudden burst of use, as has already been noted by peepsNet. Sadly, there was collateral damage: the most recent post was lost in the tragedy and Nicole writes that while she probably will restore it on her new space "... at the moment I'm totally annoyed by the whole thing and need a little break."

She has migrated to Blogger, and peepsNet welcomes her to the fold. Don't forget to update your bookmarks and to Blogroll the new location.

New Blood

The peepsNet hidden blog-cam captures Professor Katie King making a point to her "Introduction to Online Journalism" class at George Washington University.

peepsNet welcomes, without fear or favor, all new entrants into the citizen journalism space .

Bring it on.

Maybe You Can't, but the Cover Does Help

Well, some people know how the game is played ...

Yes, the SWAG is starting to pour in but make no mistake, dear readers -- peepsNet cannot be bought unless the price is right.

Our friend Bob Crooke has shared with us what might have been called in a gentler time the "galley" of his soon-to-be-completed novel, Sunrise. But these days the "shop around" version actually looks like a book, the better perhaps to penetrate the thick skulls of some bigshots who probably can't decide whether the writing is any good unless-- hint! hint! -- it is already printed and bound. Possibly by another publisher. Perhaps the one the author went to when you passed.

Works here too. See, now I can publish a picture like this and say ... "I was reading the New York Times and saw this new book Sunrise ... ". Not that peepsNet would stoop to such subterfuge. Not for a lousy pre-publication copy with not even a dead-president "bookmark."

On the other hand, peepsNet is truly touched that Bob has shared his new baby with us, and we are honored that we most possess what may be the only copy not in the hands of a someone who can actually do him some good. Need proof? Here is the peepsNet technorati ranking.

Outsource Me, Will You!

Mike, a victim -- or is that beneficiary? -- of outsourcing, is a very quick study.

peepsNet hears that the author/illustrator and force behind TYPE ILLY PRESS has found such success in publishing that he has to hire other artists to finish his work, the better to concentrate on marketing and creating and not sweat the details.

Of course regular peepsNet readers already know about his fantastic write up in the Raleigh News & Observer.

Author! Author!

Author, friend and former colleague (not necessarily in that order) Bob Crooke has a new web site to promote the brand.

Crooke, author of American Family, is in the advanced stages of completing his second novel, Sunrise.

Speak, Rissoto

The pace is quickening at Nicole's culinary blog. Sources also tell peepsNet that lots of writing is going on there in the City by the Bay.

cucina nicolina has three new entries this month, and four this summer.

The latest recounts a weekend camping trip where the challenge was to make a gourmet meal. peepsNet is now about to make the same joke for the third time, which is far short of our goal of beating it to death:

"She eats better in the wild than I do at home."

Thank you, and don't forget your waitresses.

Because of technical difficulties (ahem) there are no pictures accompanying Nicole's prose, which makes peepsNet's dime-store blog light-years advanced. But her collecton can be seen here.