August 10, 2013: On milkshakes and space!

Look at them all, all smiles, pretending like they all get along.  From left to right: my former nemesis Ashleigh, Birthday Boy Carl “Ghost Writer” Binder, my gal Akemi, Ivon, Kerry (with a Y), and Lawren.  The other night, we met up for dinner at Stackhouse Burger (slow service, okay burgers, way too much bun to meat ratio) followed by milkshakes at the What’s Shaken Milk Bar.  The shakes were good, but I much prefer the version served up at Moderne Burger.  For some reason, it’s one of the few burger joints in Vancouver that actually offers milkshakes.  Romers Burger Bar, for instance, offers the inferior ice cream float.  At Stackhouse Burgers, you can get a double bourbon instead that, while good, isn’t really AS good.   What gives?

I’ve been testing out milkshake recipes at home lately, making use of varied ingredients (multi-flavored ice creams, syrups, milks, booze, etc.) with equally varied results.  The biggest issue I’ve come up against has been consistency.  While all delicious, none have quite achieved that maddening thickness that makes it all but impossible to suck through a straw.  I think I may start experimenting with thickening agents like wondra, agar or xanthan gum.  Come on, you milkshake experts.  Any suggestions?

I thought this was interesting.  Apparently, more than 100 000 people have applied for a one-way ticket to Mars, part of the Mars One project to colonize the red planet starting in 2022.

http://www.clickorlando.com/lifestyle/technology/More-than-100-000-want-to-go-to-Mars/-/2242398/21404096/-/vmqh3az/-/index.html

Seems like a lofty goal, but that hasn’t deterred the tens of thousands of prospective candidates who have paid the application fee ($38 dollars if you’re American) and completed their profile in the hopes that they may be among the lucky 40 selected to form the multinational crew.  Now, before you start rolling your eyes, let me point out that while an average of $38 for every one of the 100 000 applicants (so far) may seem like a cash grab, it’s estimated that the first four-person mission will cost approximately $6 billion dollars.

I imagine this blog would have more than its fair share of space-minded adventurers.  So, do tell.  Given the choice, which of the following “space” programs would you volunteer for?  And, most importantly, why?

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Tagged: milkshakes