Bamboo Revolution #1

Aside from being the most important component of the Panda diet (second only to frozen fruits, our favorite dessert), bamboo is one of the fastest growing woody plants in the world. There are >1000 species of bamboo, and it is an important plant both economically and culturally. Bamboo's long life makes it a Chinese symbol of longevity, while in India it is a symbol of friendship. Bamboo forests sometimes surround shrines as part of a sacred barrier against evil; many Buddhist temples also have bamboo groves.

Bamboo is important in modern economical development as well. This is (hopefully) the first post in a series on the importance of bamboo to the modern world.

Outside of Lusaka, Zambia, local craftsman build handmade bikes out of locally-grown bamboo. The company, named Zambikes, is owned by two Californians and two Zambians. Santa-Cruz-based bike designer Craig Calfee designed and built prototype experimental bikes using bamboo, and his tests suggested that bamboo's strength and lightness make it a great substitute for metal, and it has excellent vibration-dampening properties. These bikes are sold in the US at a cost of ~$500 for the frame and ~$900 for the entire bike. I highly suggest you look into this company if you are seeking to purchase a bike. Buying a Zambike helps support a developing nation, and is good karma for the global community.

Rob Rob and Bunny's Movie Review: Enter the Dragon (1973)

Rob Rob's Review (two panda thumbs up): Aside from the fact that this movie has some awesome fight scenes in it, I like it because Bruce Lee plays a Shaolin Monk. The main Shoalin temple was founded in Dengfeng China in the 5th century by Chan Buddhists. Shaolin monks practice the basic peaceful tenants of Buddhism, but when provoked, they release the fury of Shaolin Kung Fu, much like Pandas are typically docile creatures, but when provoked can turn into ferocious warriors.

Bunny's Review (two ears up): I first met Bruce Lee when he was playing Kato in "The Green Hornet," and over the years we hung out a few times here and there. I, like everyone else in the 1970's, was really into the whole idea of being a Kung Fu master. Bruce was one of the few people who actually was one, but it is important for me to point out that Jim Kelly (who plays "Williams," the black American in the film) was also an accomplished marital artist, and later went on to star in many blaxpoitation movies, including "Black Belt Jones" and "Black Samurai." Unfortunately the world lost Bruce not long after this movie was completed (but before he had finished "Game of Death"). However, Jim Kelly and I have crossed paths a few times here and there, and whenever we do, we inevitably light one up, talk about the 70's, and put this movie on. This movie is the definitive 70's Martial Arts movie. So many great fighting scenes and so much cool 70's dialogue (my favorite is when Williams is questioned by Han and Han's men come up behind him ostensibly to take him prisoner, and Williams looks at Han sitting behind the desk and says, "Man, you come straight out of a comic book..."). I have a lot of good memories about hanging out on the set of "Enter the Dragon," so I may be a bit biased, but I really think this is the most important martial arts movies ever. Everyone was involved. I remember meeting Jackie Chan (who played one of the guards) for the first time, and after he walked away, Bruce leaned over to me and said, "Bunny, that guy could be a good marital arts actor, but instead I fear he will make really shitty action-comedy movies..." Bruce was right on, just like he was in this movie. Below is a picture of Bruce snapping Jackie's neck.

Name engraving is complete...

Bill Guerin sent me the picture above.

Stanley Cup Bling

I'm excited to say that today Bunny and I received our Stanley Cup rings. As coaching consultants, the organization felt that we were integral enough to the success of the team that we deserved championship rings. Bunny and I helicoptered to Pittsburgh and picked them up this afternoon, and I'm typing this post on my Blackberry as we fly back. I'm excited about my second championship ring. For those of you who've forgotten, here's a picture of my Steelers superbowl ring that I was given last spring:

I believe the Penguins ring is much more elegant, though I cherish them both. I don't, however, believe in wearing them because dwelling on past achievements distracts one from the work left to accomplish. Because of their importance and value, I keep them locked in a vault in a bank in Center City.

Rob Rob and Bunny's Movie Review: Slumdog Millionare

Rob Rob (2 panda thumbs down): I appreciate that this movie tried to illustrate the plot of oppressed people, namely the poor of India. Coming from an oppressed species, I have great sympathy toward all who fight oppression. However, I thought that this movie would be more uplifting, but it was instead horribly depressing. Even the somewhat happy ending wasn't enough...I mean, seriously, the mob killers are still probably going to come after the protagonist and his girlfriend is horribly scarred both mentally and physically. He probably has PTSD and will wake up screaming every night while having dreams about being tortured by the chubby Indian police guy. All the money in the world can't buy sanity, but it can buy medication, so I'm thinking that the best thing these two have going for them is that they can at least spend the rest of their pitiful lives medicated out of their mind on prozac and xanax so they can try to forget the horrible things that happened to them. I thought China was bad....I'm never going to India.

Bunny (2 ears down): What the fuck, man? Where was the trippy music and dancing? I was lead to believe that there would be trippy music and dancing. I was terribly disappointed. This movie was marketed as the "Feel Good Film of the Decade." Seriously, see the movie poster picture. This is more like the "Slit My Wrists Film of the Decade." I'd rather watch the fourth hour of the Today Show than watch this movie again.

Overall, we don't recommend this movie to you unless you like being depressed.

Panda News 9/29/09

Lin Ping (shown above), the Panda cub born this past May at Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand, made her official debut to the public this week. Her birth came as a surprise to the zoo keepers, as they did not know her mother was pregnant. I spoke with her mother, Lin Hui, on the phone, and she told me that even she did not know she was pregnant; she was in fact not even aware that she had had sex. I am happy to report, though, that Lin Ping is currently doing very well.

Here are some baby pictures of Lin Ping sent to me by Lin Hui:

Bistro Romano Review

Bunny and I went to Bistro Romano this past week, and I thought I would share a review of the food. We went for the Lobster Fest, which includes a salad, lobster, and pasta side dish for $15.95.

All in all we had a good time, and would definitely go back again.

Ambiance: 4/5 stars.
The entrance to Bistro Romano is somewhat elegant and somewhat tacky, but it makes for a perfect cool old-timey combination. The bar was very cool, and was from a defunct luxury cruse ship called “City of Detroit III.”

A painting above the staircase down to the main restaurant also came from the same ship.

I can only assume that such looting has contributed heavily to Detroit’s current state of disrepair. The main restaurant is situated underground, with low ceilings and exposed beams that create a rustic charm. While I feel that Bunny and I were seated at one of the worst tables (perhaps they didn’t recognize that Bunny and I are as well-traveled as we are), the setting still made it charming, and it would be a nice place to take a date, if I was into that kind of thing.

Martini: 4/5 stars
Bunny’s martini was delicious and fruity, and promptly delivered.

Salad: 4/5 stars
The salad did not suffer from over-use of dressing, and the roasted red peppers added a nice flavor. I enjoyed the real olives. Bunny does not like olives, so he gave them to me. Bunny would have liked some carrots in the salad, but there were none.

Pasta: 4/5 stars
Simple linguini in a tomato basil sauce with parmesan cheese. Nothing fancy, but good. Sometimes simple is best. Bunny and I both enjoyed it.

Lobster: 4/5 stars
The lobster was yummy, though it was overly buttery. Strangely superbuttery. As if the lobster was force fed butter for several days before killing. Also, the shells were strangely soft, though the meat was not over-cooked. All in all it was a yummy, albeit slightly creepy, lobster.

Leave the gun, take the cannoli: 4/5 stars
I like the fact that the waitress brought all of the desserts to our table for us to view. It is nice to see a.) portion size and b.) composition of the desserts. Nothing is worse than ordering something and getting a tiny too-rich-to-eat dessert that costs $10. Bunny and I split a cannoli. I don’t think that Bunny enjoyed the fact that the cannoli had a strong pistachio flavor. However, I thought it was nice. The chocolate sauce was good, and the chocolate chips in the cream filling were a nice touch. At $7.95, dessert was very reasonably priced.

Bamboo availability: 0/5 stars
No bamboo dishes were found on the menu, much to my disappointment.

Prices: 4/5 stars
A decent lobster dinner for $14.95 is tough to beat. Drink and dessert prices were also very reasonable.

Service: 3/5 stars
The service was adequate. I would have liked to have had my water refilled, but no one ever came back to check on it. No one asked me if I’d like a second beer, either. I think restaurants are silly not to be attentive to drinks. They could have made an extra $3.50 off of me if they would have just inquired about my empty beer glass.

Overall rating: 3.5/5 stars.
We both really enjoyed this restaurant. It would have been rated higher had they included some appetizers containing carrots or bamboo on the menu.