|
Wolf Jammies
Wednesday October 20, 2010
Posted by: JoshuaWolfson at 1:19PM EST on October 20, 2010
Wolf Jammies has moved to a new, more user-friendly blog format. You can find it here.
Tuesday October 19, 2010
Posted by: JoshuaWolfson at 11:48AM EST on October 19, 2010
I got a chance to finally try some raw milk last week. It tasted kind of like half and half, with an earthy aftertaste.
It's definitely richer and thicker than whole milk you'd buy in the store. Raw milk is also frothier -- it's consistency reminded me a bit of instant breakfast shakes.
Overall, I'd say I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, especially since I'm not a big fan of store-bought whole milk.
The woman who shared the milk with me lives outside of Casper and owns a few dairy cows. She and her family drink raw milk exclusively, and she also uses the stuff to make cheeses, ice cream and other dairy products. You'll read more about her soon.
In the meantime, I can tell you I didn't experience any tummy troubles following the taste test. (I'll admit that, as a city boy, I was a little concerned.) That said, I have no plans to go raw. I can't imagine going to the trouble to get raw milk when I hardly ever drink milk to begin with.
Update: I forgot to mention that the taste of raw milk can change depending on what the cow is eating. The woman I spoke with told me there are certain times of the year where her family flavors the milk with chocolate because the cow's diet has affected the taste.
Thursday October 14, 2010
Posted by: JoshuaWolfson at 11:01AM EST on October 14, 2010
My wife hates smoking. If it's a choice between going to a bar that allows smoking or puttering around the house, she's go for the couch and the knitting needles every time.
Cigarette smoke in bars doesn't bother me. Maybe the booze dims the senses, but I don't seem to mind all that much. In fact, in some bars -- the kind of dives I prefer -- it kind of adds to the charm of the place.
Eating is another story. I don't like the fumes and the smell when I'm at a restaurant. It distracts from the food and the experience.
Next month, the Casper-Natrona County Health Board could vote to pursue a workplace smoking ban. The group proposing the bang wants to prohibit smoking in not only restaurants and bars, but all indoor businesses in the county.
There will be plenty of time to debate such a ban, and I'm sure the conversation is already begun in the Trib.com comment's section. But in the meantime, I'd like to know: How much does smoking influence where you eat and drink?
Do you, like my wife, avoid restaurants and bars that allow smoking? What about restaurants that have separate smoking and non smoking sections? Is that still too much for you?
For the smokers out there, do you look for establishments that allow you to light up? Or do you do most of your smoking at home or outdoors?
Tuesday October 12, 2010
Posted by: JoshuaWolfson at 12:24PM EST on October 12, 2010
Wyoming ranked number one in the nation in a recent survey of best- and worst-performing states. The survey, by the financial news and opinion site 24/7 Wall St., noted the Cowboy State's low debt per capita and poverty rates.
24/7 Wall St. says it compiled the survey by examining hundreds of data sets, then choosing what it considered the 10 most important financial and government management indicators. You can read about the methodology by scrolling to the bottom of this page.
I found our state's number one ranking interesting because I've spent the summer listening to candidates discuss Wyoming's supposed failings. It got me wondering, do Wyoming residents have a pessimistic view of their state's performance?
Having lived here for nearly four years, it certainly feels like Wyoming is run much better than California, the state where I came from. (The Golden State came in a dismal 49th, besting only Kentucky.) I covered government in California, and I can tell you, it was aggravating to witness how slow and inefficiently the state seemed to run. The ballot initiative process, which often led to contradictory and short-sided governance, didn't help.
I'm curious what you think about this survey? Would you rank Wyoming's as our country's top performing state? What did this survey get right? What did it overlook?
Monday October 11, 2010
Posted by: JoshuaWolfson at 3:26PM EST on October 11, 2010
Casper's first Indian restaurant briefly opened its doors this weekend. I haven't lived in a city with an Indian restaurant for seven years, so for me, this was the culinary equivalent of the Pixies getting back together.
Monsoon Indian Cuisine served a lunch buffet for a few hours Saturday in anticipation of its grand opening this Friday. Instead of watching The Hurt Locker for the 18th time, I decided to check it out with a few other Star-Tribune reporters.
Here's a few observations, with help from special guest blogger and CST education reporter Jackie Borchardt:
Overall, we'd recommend giving it a try. You can find it at the corner of Wolcott and Durbin streets in the Market Square building.
Friday October 8, 2010
Posted by: JoshuaWolfson at 3:44PM EST on October 8, 2010
I thought I'd share a couple emails I've received this week after asking people for the reasons they prefer raw milk over the stuff we buy in stores.
Just to get this on the record again: I wasn't asking people to justify their decision, as one poster suggested. I'm merely curious what motivates people to buy raw milk, given it's significantly more expensive and harder to get.
Here's a few responses I received. (You can find other reaction in the comments section for this blog post.) These emails present both sides of the debate. I've left out names:
"Having worked on a small dairy farm ... one summer, I had the chance to savor raw milk. For a person who likes dairy-milk or otherwise, I can tell you, nothing can compare with whole, raw milk fantastically cold, right out of the storage vat. The rich goodness is incredible. And I knew the cows were well treated, and how clean we kept the dairy."
"I would like to discourage anyone from drinking raw milk . My neighbor became critically ill with Guillian - Barre' after one exposure and has been debilitated ever since. This woman was a practicing RN and her husband a Vet. It has ended her career and forced her husband to acquire partnership in his practice to allow time to care for her. It has devastated their lives ... Louis Pasteur found our answer back in the 1800s identifying that the risks of illness outweighed the benefits of the nutrients found in raw milk thus leading to pasteurization."
Wednesday October 6, 2010
Posted by: JoshuaWolfson at 11:07AM EST on October 6, 2010
I'll admit up front I don't really understand the allure of raw milk. But maybe that's because I'm not a big milk person to begin with.
I can't remember the last time I poured myself a glass of milk. I only consume it when it's helping my cereal float. Keep it away from my coffee, my oatmeal and, generally speaking, my belly.
The milk I do consume is of the nonfat variety. Everything else tastes, well, too fatty, creamy, gooey.
That said, I'm really fascinated by the interest in raw milk. Some people, I've been told, pay up to $8 a gallon it and are willing to make car trips to Colorado -- where raw milk sales are legal -- to purchase the stuff. That's hardcore.
Interest in raw milk seems to be growing, and on Tuesday, a state legislative committee endorsed a bill that would open the door to certain kinds of legal raw milk sales. Under the bill, people could purchase a share of a rancher's cow, and in exchange, would receive some of its milk.
I want to know more about why people drink raw milk. I also want to know the obstacles you are willing to put up with to buy it. So please drop me a line and let me know.
How much of it is the perceived health benefits and how much of it simply a matter of taste?
Are you concerned about the treatment of cows at dairy farms?
Does it make your pancakes fluffier? Your cookies chewier?
You can post your responses in the comments section, send me an email at josh.wolfson@trib.com or find me on Twitter @joshwolfson.
I'm ready for my education.
|
About This Blog
Rate this Blog:
 2 rating(s)
Categories
• Shoffler
Older Posts
Latest Entries
Loading...
 |
|
[Home] [News] [Sports] [Local Weather] [Announcements] [Classifieds] [My trib.com] [Features] [Jobs] [Homes] [Cars][Help] Copyright © 1995–2009 Lee Enterprises - A subsidiary of Lee Enterprises Incorporated | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact Us |
Leave a Message
Leave a Comment
Request a Friend