In 1994, a cave was discovered in southern France, now known as Chauvet Cave. It contains the earliest known examples of paintings, present on the walls. The exact dates are of some dispute, but it's generally agreed that they're at least twice as old as any paintings discovered before that.

The paintings are of an incredible quality, also. They're thought by art historians to be superior in quality to anything from the Roman period, or the Renaissance. They were only matched by paintings produced during Picasso's time. They depict many animals, some of which are now extinct. Here's some pictures. Keep in mind that, at this time, there were no "rules", artistically, so to speak. These days, there are clear examples of art. We're surrounded by them. Forming our own art is relatively easy by comparison. There was no one to learn from, no examples of "good" vs "bad". This is raw artistic talent from men who lived dozens of thousands of years ago.



Very interesting stuff.

Official Website: http://www.hanasakuiroha.jp/
Original Creator: P.A.Works
Original Character Design: Mel Kishida
Air Date: April 3, 2011
Production Studio: P.A.Works
Episode Count: 26

Staff:
Director: Masahiro Ando
Series Composition: Mari Okada
Music: Shiroh Hamaguchi
Character Design: Kanami Sekiguchi
Art Director: Kazuo Tochi
Chief Animation Director: Kanami Sekiguchi
3D Director: Yoshimasa Yamazaki
Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa
Director of Photography: Satoshi Namiki

Cast:
Ohana Matsumae: Kanae Itou
Nako Oshimizu: Aki Toyosaki
Takako Kawajiri: Ayumi Tsunematsu
Minko Tsurugi: Chiaki Omigawa
Denroku Tasukawa: Cho
Yuina Wakura: Haruka Tomatsu
Tarou Jiroumaru: Junichi Suwabe
Touru Miyagishi: Junji Majima
Enishi Shijima: Kenji Hamada
Tomoe Wajima: Mamiko Noto
Satsuki Matsumae: Takako Honda
Sui Shijima: Tamie Kubota
Renji Togashi: Tarou Yamaguchi
Kōichi Tanemura: Yuuki Kaji


Episode 1 subbed Horrible subs [720p]
Splazm [720p]
Doki [720p]
Hatsuyuki-Tsuki [720p]

Haven't watched it yet, but I'll watch anything by Masahiro Ando. Looks like a good slice of life show. Gonna check it out once it's done downloading.

A week ago... the world changed.

Rumors abound for years that California chain IN-N-OUT was coming to Dallas. But it never showed itself.

But a week ago, 2 opened in the Dallas area. The first 2 IN-N-OUTs in Texas. A Chain that only existed in California, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. People have gone on and on of its epicness. A little background on North Dallas and its northern burbs: 99% of everyone in Dallas came from California to follow all the companies that came here since Texas is an emerging IT and banking giant, but mostly because it's cheap, a tax haven, and impossible to be sued here. Many of the transplants have cried endless tears of IN-N-OUT not being in Texas. Those elsewhere may not understand, but this whine has been as constant around Dallas as a Vuvuzela at the last World Cup.

However, that all changed last week. Some people stood in line for 3 days for the opening. WFAA, the ABC affiliate here, had footage of grown fucking people crying as they had a burger. (sauce: http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/cityofate/2011/05/in-n-out_burger_is_so_good_you.php) But that's expected since most Californians are known to be tit-babies.

So here comes my part in this quest: to travel to IN-N-OUT and claim one of these for myself to see what the hype was about. How long would I have to wait in line? IT COULD BE YEARS.

I went to the IN-N-OUT in Frisco, a typical fast-growing suburb that's grown by 60,000 people since the last census. Here you'll find an IKEA and an Apple store and other things trendy and nauseating. As I pulled into the parking lot of the strip mall where IN-N-OUT sits, I have to navigate a gauntlet of traffic cones and traffic cops. Even after a week, IN-N-OUT still requires special event treatment. Even the news channels are talking about this place in an ad infinitum hype.

I get in line and wait only about 35 minutes to get to the counter and about 15 to get my food after I have ordered. This is far better than I expected. I braved the crowds and insanity to see what this was all about.

My verdict:

It's a burger with shitloads of thousand island dressing on it. The price is good. The fries were seasoned well and had that odd, but good, taste that those dried potato string things you buy in stores that come in cans.

Overall Deliman Grill has better sandwiches and burgers, but they are more expensive (but bigger).

People make too big a deal about a fucking burger.

5/11/2011 - NEVER FORGET

And yes, I did create this recipe. I had this shit lying around. Originally it did not have blue cheese or bacon. Just the sauces mixed together is god-tier as it is.