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Last updated on July 16th, 2017 at 04:38 pm
Should pasta-producing Durham wheat be used to feed hungry Italians, or to sate Gaia with green-happy biofuels? CNN gets an answer:
At this popular Roman restaurant, talk of sacrificing pasta for environment draws laughter.
Sensible people, the Italians.
UPDATE. It’s “Durum” wheat, dammit!
The latest scourge of Mother Gaia™: spaghetti. Throw in meatballs with sauce, and She’ll scream.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 07 25 at 12:14 PM • permalink
If Tim and Andrea will forgive me this O/T, I want to say thanks to everyone for their kind comments and well wishes. Mr. H took it on himself to print them out for me, and I was surprised and touched at your kind words. You people are simply the best.
I had a very bad scare last week, a heart attack which was fortunately mild, but unfortunately not my first one. I don’t know want to bog down this thread with lengthy details, so if anyone has questions you can click on my name and email me and I promise it won’t bounce.
I apologize for my cryptic, drama queenish “goodbye”. In my defense, I knew what was happening, panicked, and at the same time lapsed into the denial we heart patients are known for. Somehow, instead of calling 911 right away, I had the irrational thought that I should be saying goodbye, so I emailed friends, posted my post, and deleted my email screen name. I truly thought it was the end this time. I was lucky my husband came in and realized something was wrong, or things could have gone from bad to worse.
This blog has been one of the pleasures of my day, and I missed it and all of your wonderfully funny, snarky, raucous comments. Please resume while I sit and enjoy. And once again, thank you for the well wishes.
“Durum” wheat, dammit!
Posted by Don’t Bogart that Midget, Comrade! on 2007 07 25 at 12:45 PM • permalink
- Welcome back, RebeccaH. Glad to hear all’s on the mend.
I got a suggestion: Lay off the scungilli for a while and start pounding on the red wine. The paisanos I know say it keeps you healthy.
Which brings me to Grimmy. You better know ‘Talians name their pasta after body parts, so watch it. Next time you have penne, look it up. you’ll gag knowing what you’re eating.
Oh, OK, CNN got it wrong. That makes more sense.
Posted by Don’t Bogart that Midget, Comrade! on 2007 07 25 at 12:46 PM • permalink
You’re welcome Rebecca. You certainly put smiles on our faces too.
What did you miss? Hmmm. Well, there’s the Return of Andrew BoltCue: Hysterical sobbing from Left
There was also the tantrum I threw at work, which involved me breaking a window
. Oops.John Howard fell over.
I’m sure there’s other stuff too.
Durham wheat!!!!!!!!!!!!! and CNN!!!!
As someone said if they cant even get small things right how can we trust them with big ones.
Its Durum wheat and its on every spaghetti packet.
Posted by LaVallette on 2007 07 25 at 07:38 PM • permalink
Durham wheat? This is disgraceful.
Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 07 25 at 07:54 PM • permalink
fascinating discussion
wb RH
hehe Italians will not change their diet for climate change – seems we need to stick to corn. But the CNN comment that “they can afford it” was not all correct – I’m sure if prices keep rising not ALL could afford it.
Welcome back, Rebecca honey. Don’t you go scaring us like that, ‘mK?
Take good care of yourself – we need you.
And thanks, Mr. H!
Posted by Barbara Skolaut on 2007 07 25 at 09:07 PM • permalink
Hey, Rebecca! Get well soon, and don’t smite the moonbats so energetically (even though they dearly need it).
Posted by SwampWoman on 2007 07 25 at 10:13 PM • permalink
- #15 – I suffer occasional bouts of tachycardia
Tim has the odd bout of tacho-revvia.
Rebecca dear, it is a delight to have you back!
The late Kerry Packer (local media magnate) once had a very severe heart attack and was clinically dead for a short while. He was operated on by the talented (and also late) Dr. Victor Chang here in Sydney, and lived to tell about it. Kerry’s famous remark later was that he’d been to the other side and there was nothing there. We are not sure which direction he went in.
Victor Chang was murdered by some asian gangsters who accosted him on his way to work one morning.
It was said that Kerry paid for all NSW ambulances to be fitted with the gear that kept him ticking long enough to make it to the operating table.
KP (1937-2005)
Durum or hard wheat has a high protein content – around 14 to 15%.
It’s the gluten (protein) content of durum wheat which makes better bread and better pasta.
Soft wheat, with protein content around 7-9% is fine for cakes and cookies.
It would be particularly stupid to use expensive, high-grade, high-protein wheat to make bio-fuel.
Cheaper soft wheat has a higher starch content, and it’s the starch which is converted into alcohol.
If you must use grain for bio-fuel, then corn[maize] is the best choice. It’s by far the cheapest cereal to produce.
Posted by pog-ma-thon on 2007 07 25 at 11:46 PM • permalink
The nautical field has known how to mix alcohol and gasoline for years.
They’re called jetskis…
Or, if mixing it in groups, bass boats.
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 07 26 at 12:15 AM • permalink
- Posted by Mr. Bingley on 2007 07 26 at 06:29 AM • permalink
The problem is of course that they have no say in the matter as they import the majority of their wheat that is used to produce pasta.
I’m all for converting wheat into alcohol.
Just not for putting that alcohol into vehicles.