After missing a few weeks where I still did learn things (the existence of Royal Tennis; this art deco city called Napier; and the butler guy from Magnum, P.I. not actually being English in any way - all of these gems gleaned from my father) I'm back with a for-realsies edition of my not-at-all-popular blog. Here are the choice knowledge nuggets that I plucked from the laconic slurry of the weekend:

Some musician types are as amazing as they are crazy

So, there's this psychotic mutant remixed-to-all-hell version of the Mario theme that I occasionally like to listen to for a giggle.

Yesterday morning I was listening to "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash and suddenly the penny dropped for me: the trumpets towards the start of the Mario Dirty Mix are the same trumpets from the opening of the Johnny Cash staple! My mind was completely spun that someone actually heard those two things and knew they were the same notes played with the same timing. Bloody brilliant.

Side note: one of the people responsible for this barmy ditty is the very rad Binster, who is also responsible for this amazing remix of one of Tim Follin's C64 Ghouls 'n' Ghosts tunes.

Black glutinous rice with mango and coconut milk is delicious

One of the perks of going out with an Asian lass is that I am forced* to eat stuff I never would have even known existed had I not met the love of my undeserving life. This happened again last night when, after a meal of pork belly and noodles, my partner's mother decided we should go the establishment next to the restaurant to get dessert.

I'd never eaten black glutinous rice, but I've learned by now not to fret about this kind of thing; these days I just shut up and try the new stuff. Besides, it was one of the treats this place specialised in and the joint was busy, so that many people can't have busted taste buds, right?

I ordered my BGR with mango and coconut milk. When it arrived, I saw a bowl of thick, rich and deeply dark red soup, for want of a better description. Atop this gluggy maroon stuff was a dollop of bright orange mango pulp and a healthy drizzle of equally bright white coconut milk. I tried the elements separately and thought it was nothing special. However, once I'd vigourously and thoroughly stirred the contents together... well, that made it one of the most delicious and refreshing desserts I'd eaten in a long time.

Man, I can't wait to get back there and order it again.

*Don't worry, gentle reader! I assure you that my arm remains completely untwisted when faced with new and interesting Asian cuisine.