Exotic/Disgusting Foods and Beverages Forum--Another Belgian Cookie/Biscuit

      As regular readers may have already noticed, I try to switch up the topics of the things I cover in this blog, to try to keep it interesting.  So, for the odd food and beverage posts I attempt to not do, say, two alcoholic drinks in a row, or two products from the same country in only a short amount of time.  Anyway, it's been an appropriately long enough time since I talked about a cookie or biscuit, and since I featured something from Belgium.  So here we are.  Today's focus is from the Belgian Delacre company--their Marquisette cookie.

     Delacre was started by a man named, not shockingly, Charles Delacre.  Delacre was a pharmacist by trade.  However, he decided to specialize in making chocolates, going so far as to open a "chocolate laboratory" in 1873.  The business was successful very quickly--by 1879 Delacre was named an official supplier to the Royal Palace of Belgium, which it has maintained up through the present.  In 1891 Charles decided to diversify a bit by starting to make and market pastries, starting with the Pacha Delacre biscuit.  I wasn't able to find out much about the company's size or current staff.  One business website named only a Alberto Cavalleris, but I couldn't confirm elsewhere if he's the CEO, or President, or something else.  The total number of employees is estimated at being between 500-999.  I also was kind of amused to read on the official company website that Delacre products are distributed to "about 12 countries."  I understand some vagueness when your company is available in like 100 or more nations, but they can't figure out the exact number when it's only around 12?  (For the record, another business website listed some of these countries where you can buy Delacre wares--Canada, the U.S., Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, France, the U.K., and China.  Plus I'm assuming Belgium, since it would be weird if a Belgian company with a Royal supplier contract didn't otherwise sell their stuff in their home country.)  Looking at the available products on the Delacre website, the majority of them are biscuits/cookies, and not chocolate candies.  Although most of their cookies have chocolate in them, so there is that.  Aside from the type I tried, other popular selections include their Roule d'Or, Nordica, White Heart, Belize, and Biarritz, to name a few.  Also, for chocolate purists, the Delacre chocolate used conforms to Belgian law, which mandates that the percentage of cocoa used must be at least 35%.  Finally, I figured "marquisette" was a common type of Belgian cookie, but apparently not.  Yet another online source claimed that this name is trademarked by the Delacre company.  I also assumed that "marquisette" meant something like "a little marquis," as in the rank of royalty, but that's apparently false.  The definition I read was that it's a type of fine, gauzy fabric, made from cotton, used to make clothing, curtains, and mosquito nets.  I guess the cookies are also seen as being fine and delicate, and/or perhaps the wavy shape is supposed to evoke a piece of this fabric.

Delacre Marquisettes:  These were kind of barbell or oval shaped, about 2.5 inches by 1.5 inches (or about 6.5 cm. by 4 cm.).   Their color was brownish-yellow, with a dark brown chocolate coating on the two ends.  The texture was crunchy.  The biscuit itself was nicely sweet, and the chocolate was good, too.  The box said it was dark chocolate, but I didn't find it to be unpleasantly bitter, as I often do with this kind of chocolate.  I often criticize European cookies/biscuits for being too bland and boring, but these were a happy exception.  I enjoyed the Marquisettes, and would recommend them.

Details About the April Issue of "InD'tale"

 

     Once again, I'm a little behind on this, but I'm happy to announce that the April issue of "InD'tale" is up and ready to be read.  This issue contains article from S.L. Carpenter, Tamara Cribley, Sarah McEachron, and TJ Mackay.  And one from me, which is about some of the odd, disturbing, and wacky guidelines I've encountered while trying to find homes for my various stories over the years.  Additionally, there are interviews with author Susan Stoker (related to Bram?  I hope so) and rising star writer Ryan Jo Summers.  As well as the next chapter of "Pathway to the Gods" from its creator, Julie L. York.  Accompanied by the usual slate of book reviews.  As always, I'm grateful to Publisher/Editor-in-Chief/Founder TJ Mackay, and the rest of the magazine's staff.  The magazine's address is below, and remember, it's free!

                                            http://www.indtale.com

   Finally, as a preview, look for more movie trivia quizzes in the coming months.  The next few will be a famous action movie, and a couple of sci fi/action films, not necessarily in that order.  Stay tuned!

Exotic/Disgusting Foods and Beverages Forum--An Austrian/American Water

      I haven't discussed a water in quite some time, so let's get to it.  This was a find at my alternate Shop-Rite, in the soft drink/water aisle (obviously).  It was the Liquid Death brand, which is bottled in Frankenmarkt, Austria.

     When I checked into this online, Liquid Death had an odd imprint.  The website was down, but there was quite a bit of information on Instragram and TikTok.  But I'm basing a lot of this post on a longish (about 12-13 minutes) video from Business Axiom.  Moving on, co-founder and current CEO Mike Cessario (who's a Delaware native) noticed in about 2008 or 2009 that many concert goers would refill energy drink containers with water, to both stay hydrated but still seem "cool."  It got Cessario to thinking about how water is advertised.  Essentially, he decided to market a water like it was an energy drink, in a funny and edgy way.  He borrowed some of the dangerous imagery from his punk and metal band background, for example.  Skulls and demons and such are often used in Liquid Death's advertisements.  Along with an atypical product name, and motto ("murder your thirst").  Even the container is different--it's sold in 500 mL/16.9 ounce cans, which resemble beer "tallboy" cans.  The brand also responds to negative comments and reviews in an unusual manner.  They create death metal songs incorporating these criticisms as lyrics.  Liquid Death also took a page from the band Kiss's playbook, by having one of their celebrity investors, Tony Hawk, donate blood, which was mixed into paint that was put on branded Liquid Death skateboards.  The video I watched was quite complimentary of Liquid Death's marketing, claiming it's successful because they're exploiting the "Von Restorff Effect" (aka the Isolation Effect), which basically means that consumers remember products that are unique, and are different from their peers.  Whatever the reason, Liquid Death has flourished.  Despite only having started in January of 2019, it's expected to have an annual revenue of $130,000,000, and an expected company value of $700,000,000.  Liquid Death has also expanded their choices a bit.  It's introduced some flavored carbonated drinks, with appropriate menacing names such as Mango Chainsaw, Severed Lime, and Berry It Alive, and some teas (Armless Palmer, Grim Leafer, and Rest in Peach).  The company does have a softer side, at least on one issue--they proudly don't use plastic for any of their containers, citing the waste and ecological problems with this substance.  Additionally, 10% of their profits are donated to fight plastic pollution.

Liquid Death mountain water:  I tend to like drinking out of a glass rather than from a metal can, so I did this with the Liquid Death.  Its color was clear, as water should be.  It also had no discernable odor, again, as water should be.  The taste was....off somehow.  Perhaps a tad bitter, in a bad way, and maybe a little metallic-y, again, a bad thing.  I didn't do this double blind style versus a water I like, but I think I would have been able to tell the difference.  Which is weird, since with rare exceptions water is basically water.  I didn't like this, will not buy it again, and would not recommend it.

     So, in conclusion, Liquid Death has a cool name, a neat motto, fun morbid imagery, entertaining advertisements, and they seem to have a nice progressive eco-friendly stance.  But, alas, the actual product, the water in the can, was disappointing.  It's hard to mess up a water, but somehow they did.  (If anyone's thinking that maybe I got a bad individual can, I would counter with the detail that my can was well within its freshness date--it wouldn't have expired until June of 2025.  I will try one of their flavored drinks or teas if I see any offered, though, just to see if their other wares are good or not.  One final point about their environmental, anti-plastic stance.  From what I read, it's true that aluminum is recycled more than plastic, which is good, but that the manufacture of these cans actually produces more CO2 than plastic, which is clearly bad.  Many environmentalists recommend that instead of buying any one-use, disposable container, that people should instead fill eco-friendly containers with tap water (filtered if necessary).  Finally, I do have to admit that part of me wants to come up with macabre/whimsical names for Liquid Death's teas and flavored carbonated drinks.  Such as WaterHellion, Grapes of Wrath, and Busted Cherry.

Extremely Difficult Trivia About "The Terminator" (1984)

      This movie is one of my very favorites.  I can recall one evening as a teen when a similarly obsessed friend and I watched it, took a brief break, and then decided to watch it all over again.  And its first sequel, "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" beat the odds and was an extremely worthy follow up.  (Alas, the same can't be said for the, to date, 4 sequels that followed, but that's another story.)  Anyway, I'll follow my usual format of asking the questions first, and then put the answers at the end.  Also as always, these are very detailed questions, probably of interest only to hardcore fans of the movie.   SPOILERS abound, too, clearly.  

Questions:

1)    Where, and in what year does the movie open?

2)    What is the number of the police car that first investigates Reese?

3)    The police cars in that time have a motto written on them.  What is it?

4)    According to the cop that Reese first encounters, what is the current day, month, and day of the week?

5)    Over the course of the movie, we see several characters look up "Sarah Connor" in the phone book.  What are the full names of the three women listed under that name?

6)    And according to the phone books, what are the addresses of these three Sarah Connors?

7)    What is the name of the restaurant where Sarah works?

8)    Where does the Terminator acquire his guns?

9)    At the store, we hear the Terminator asking for a 12 gauge auto loader (shotgun), a.45 Long Slide with laser sighting, and an Uzi 9 millimeter.  What gun does he ask for that he's told the store doesn't carry?

10)   According to the gun store owner, how long is the waiting period for handguns?

11)   We see the Terminator shooting one of the "other" Sarah Connors to death, presumably in her house.  What is the number over the door?

12)   Before she gets ready for her date, we see Sarah wearing a t-shirt featuring the characters of a well known cartoon.  What is it?

13)   Sarah has a roommate, Ginger.  We later see Ginger's boyfriend.  What is his name?

14)   Sarah's date for Friday night cancels, leaving a message on the apartment answering machine.  What is this man's name?

15)   What is the number on Sarah and Ginger's apartment door?

16)   We see Sarah and Ginger's answering machine several times.  What brand is it?

17)   Sarah goes into a bar to hide from Reese.  What is the name of this place?

18)   And on what street is this bar located?

19)   What is the cover charge at the bar?  (Sarah pays it, the Terminator does NOT.)

20)   Just as the Terminator approaches Sarah and Ginger's apartment, the observing police car is called away on its radio.  By what?

21)   We see two Keebler brand foods atop Sarah and Ginger's refrigerator.  What are they?

22)   What is the name of Sarah's pet iguana?  (Apparently the only survivor of the Terminator's rampage.)

23)   What is the bar's phone number?

24)   After the shootout at the bar, the Terminator steals a police car.  What number is it?

25)   After subduing the cop to get this car, the Terminator later perfectly mimics the cop's voice.  What is this police officer's callsign?

26)   According to Reese, what is his military rank?

27)   And what is Reese's serial number?

28)   The Terminator chasing Sarah and Reese is a Cyberdyne System Model 101.  We later learn he's in the 800 series.  What Terminator series number had rubber skin, making identification easy?

29)   Reese and Sarah switch cars, but are caught by the police.  What make and model is this final car?

30)   What is Dr. Silberman's job title?

31)   Reese goes over his actions in the future.  Before serving under John Connor from 2027-29, he spent the years 2021-27 serving under a different military commander.  Who was this, and in what military unit?

32)   While watching Silberman and Reese talk, Vukovitch (played by Lance Henriksen) briefly tells Traxler about an earlier Silberman interview that amused Vukovitch.  What was it?

33)   What brand of sunglasses does the Terminator wear?

34)   How do the police explain how the Terminator broke through the windshield of the car with a single punch?

35)   According to Lt. Traxler, how many cops are in the police building?

36)   Sarah and Reese briefly hear a radio news break.  What station is it?

37)   What make and model of car do Sarah and Reese escape the police station in?

38)   According to Sarah's address book, what is the address of her mom's cabin?

39)   And what is this cabin's phone number?

40)   What is the name of the motel where Reese and Sarah stay?

41)   What is the phone number of this establishment?

42)   What room number are Sarah and Reese staying in?

43)   What three ingredients does Reese buy to make the homemade nitroglycerin for the pipe bombs?

44)   How many pipe bombs do Reese and Sarah make?

45)   The Terminator steals a tanker truck during the final chase.  What business owns the truck?

46)   What damage does the final pipe bomb do to the Terminator?

47)   In the movie's final scene, set in Mexico, what is the date?

48)   How much does the Mexican gas station charge per liter of gasoline?

49)   We see a beer sign at this gas station, too.  For what brand?

50)   How many American dollars does the young kid ask Sarah for in exchange for the photograph, and how much does he eventually settle for?

51)   We see three punks during the opening scene at Griffith Observatory.  How many does the Terminator kill?

52)  With that out of the way, how many people does the Terminator kill in total during the movie?

53)   What is Sarah's educational status in this movie?  

54)   Which real life sci fi/fantasy writer is credited at the end of the movie?

55)   What would have happened if Sarah had an unlisted phone number?

Answers:

1)    Los Angeles, California (or its ruins, anyway), in the year 2029.

2)    #2361.

3)   "To care and to protect."

4)    May 12th, Thursday.  He doesn't give a year, but we know it's 1984.  (Incidentally, this may be a mistake.  Considering much of the action takes place on a Friday, and the Terminator and Reese were in a hurry, I think the cop accidentally said it was Thursday, but it was actually early Friday morning, presumably May 13th.)

5)    In order, there's Sarah Connor, who we later learn is Sarah Louise Connor, then Sarah Ann Connor, and then our heroine, Sarah J. Connor.  (We don't learn what the "J" is for.)

6)    They're partially cut off or obscured, but Sarah Louise Connor's address is 1823 Doncaster, Sarah Anne Connor's is 2816 Easth--, and Sarah J. Connor's is 309 Calder C--.

7)    Big Jeff's.

8)    The Alamo Sports Shop.

9)    The fictional "phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range."

10)   15 days.  Legally he can take the rifles immediately.

11)   14239.  Which doesn't match either of the addresses shown in the phone books for the first two Sarah Connors, so evidently this is a mistake. 

12)   The futuristic "The Jetsons."

13)   Matt, who really likes phone sex, as we see.

14)   Dan Moorski.  Who apparently owns a Porsche, and who really got lucky that he had to cancel!

15)   #225.  Which doesn't correspond to the address seen earlier in the phone books.  Maybe 309 Calder C. is the building address, and #225 is the apartment number, which maybe wasn't in the phone book.  Or it's another mistake by the filmmakers.

16)   An Execu Sect.  Which appears to have been a real model from Toshiba.

17)   Tech Noir.

18)   On Pico Boulevard.

19)   $4.50.  Kind of steep for 1984, I think.

20)   There's a 211 in progress on 3rd and Cameron.  (Since the latter is the writer/director's name, I think this is probably a jokey reference.)  Also, a 211 in police code is an armed robbery.

21)   Their Harvest Wheats, and their Honey Grahams.

22)   Pugsley.

23)   555-9175.

24)   #1874.

25)   1L 19, played by William Wisher, who wrote additional dialogue for this movie, and co-wrote "Terminator 2" and made another acting cameo.

26)   He's a Sergeant Techcom.  (Technological communications?  Technological commander?)

27)   BN38416.

28)   The 600 Series.

29)   A Cadillac El Dorado, a 1977 model.

30)   He's a criminal psychologist.

31)   He was in the 132nd, under Perry.

32)   A guy screwed his Afghan, and then set it on fire.  Presumably the breed of dog and not the blanket or rug, but either way, pretty disturbing.

33)   Gargoyles.  Also seen worn by Dirty Harry in the last 2 movies in that series.

34)   Vukovitch theorizes that the man was on PCP, and probably broke every bone in his hand, although he wouldn't know it until later.

35)   30.

36)   KFLB.

37)   A 1972 AMC Gremlin.

38)   181 Spruce Lane, Big Bear.  I'm not encouraging any trespassing or anything, but according to Google Maps this might be a real address.

39)   555-9861.

40)   The Tiki Motel.

41)   408-555-1439.  Probably another mistake by the filmmakers, since the 408 area code is over 300 mile north of Los Angeles, in the San Jose area.

42)   9.

43)   Mothballs, Karo corn syrup, and ammonia.  From light online research these things don't appear to really make plastique, but for obvious reasons I didn't want to look into this in detail.

44)   7.

45)   J + G Oil Co.

46)   It blasts off his legs, and his left hand.

47)   November 10th, 1984.

48)   40.3.  Presumably pesos.

49)   Tecate.

50)   $5, but he settles for $4.

51)   At least one.  The blonde guy on the right gets some organ (his heart?) pulled out of his torso, and falls down looking extremely dead.  Of the other two, Bill Paxton's spiky haired character gets shoved against the metal fence, and falls down.  (Perhaps concussed?  We don't see him anymore.  But it seems unlikely that the push was fatal.)  The third guy gets trapped and starts disrobing, and the Terminator is later seen wearing this punk's clothes.  It's possible that the Terminator killed the remaining two just to tie up loose ends, but in other situations he usually doesn't kill people unnecessarily.  So I'm guessing the two others survived, but it's clearly unknown.

52)   At least 27.  In order, he kills at least one punk, then Dick Miller's gun store owner, the two other Sarah Connors, Matt and Ginger, at least 3 club goers in Tech Noir, 17 police officers (as revealed in Terminator 2, so 13 cops survived their gun shot wounds), and Sarah's mother.  As I covered in the previous question, it's possible the two other punks were also killed.  And the truck driver at the end is clearly attacked by the Terminator, but it's unknown if fatally so.  Reese's death is caused by his own pipe bomb, so I'm not counting that.

53)   We see the Terminator find Sarah's university ID card, saying it's for the spring of 1984.  Since it's May 13th at the time, that indicates she's probably nearing the end of a semester, or just finished her spring semester.  It's also possible she just graduated.  In the movie we don't see which college she's attending, but other sources indicate it's Western University in Pomona.  And sadly, after the events of the movie, it doesn't appear that Sarah finished up her education, alas, assuming she didn't graduate before.

54)   Harlan Ellison.  Evidently Ellison was threatening a lawsuit, since "The Terminator" was arguably very similar to Ellison's "Soldier" and possibly "Demon with a Glass Hand."

55)   Okay, I'm kind of joking here, but it does lead to an important point.  Mainly, if her phone number (and thus address) wasn't in the phone book, how would the Terminator have located her?  Since it only knew her name, and that she was a resident of the huge Los Angeles metro area.  In the pre-internet days of 1984, the Terminator could have gone to the DMV, and tracked her by her driver's license, or gone to the court house and tracked her birth certificate, I suppose.  But what if she was born in another city, and didn't have a driver's license?  Also, the Terminator might have stopped after killing the 2 wrong Sarahs.  And maybe Reese doesn't find her either, and thus John doesn't get conceived, and....I've gone off the rails here, but you get what I mean.

Exotic/Disgusting Foods and Beverages Forum--Two More Unusual Preserves/Jams/Butters/Spreads

      A little background.  I've discussed odd jams/jellies/preserves/spreads/butters several times before.  Specifically, on May 22, 2015 (apple, pumpkin, mixed berry, jalapeno), on November 23, 2016 (rose hips, plum), on January 20, 2018 (almond, cashew, sunflower), and on February 15, 2020 (English marmalade, apricot, prune, mango).  But the appropriate section of my local Shop-Rite came through yet again.  Recently I beheld two more kinds--fig preserves and sweet potato butter.  From the Braswell's line, out of Statesboro, Georgia, in the U.S.A.

     According to online information, including the official Braswell's website, in 1946 a man named Albert Braswell returned home to Georgia after serving during World War II.  He received help from the GI Bill, which provides American military personnel with financial help for college.  But he had no job.  Therefore, he started making preserves, starting with a steam kettle and a bushel of local pears.  Braswell's Food Company was thus born.  But it's not just preserves--in the over 75 years since being started Braswell's now makes jellies, dressings, sauces, seasonings, mustards, pickles and relishes, seafood sauces and seasonings, salsas and dips, syrups and honey.  Just looking through their selections, the company seems like it's a major fan of Vidalia onions, for one.  Anyway, the business has flourished.  Currently it's reportedly the 7th largest jam/jelly/preserve manufacturer in the country, and is the Number 1 seller of pepper jelly, fig preserves, and pear preserves in the U.S.

     Switching to figs, I was amazed to learn that they are one of the first plants cultivated by humans.  Remains of them have been found in archaeology sites as old as 9400-9200 B.C. (In what is now Jordan).  Which is before such staples as barley, wheat, and legumes were domesticated.  This fruit is native to the Mediterranean region, as well as parts of South and Western Asia.  Figs were hugely popular in both Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.  (As well as in modern Greece and modern Rome, obviously.)  For those interested in reading about a more adult version of figs, consult my post about a booze made from them on September 3, 2022.  Finally, on the downside, the milky sap of the fig plant is a skin irritant for humans, so be careful if you decide to start growing them yourself.

Braswell's fig preserves:  Not much of an odor.  Brownish color, shiny, with visible seeds in it.  I tried some plain, and then on a roll.  The texture was a fairly soft and gooey gel, but there was some crunch from the seeds.  The flavor was nice--sweet, and well, figgy.  It was decent plain, but better on the roll.  Overall a nice spread.  If you like figs in general, you'll probably enjoy this.

Braswell's sweet potato butter:  This one was brownish-orange in color, and had a stronger, pumpkin-y smell.  The texture was more liquid-y, so much so that I could pour it out.  Once again, I tried some plain on a spoon, and then on a roll.  The taste was very good.  I like sweet potatoes in general, and whipped up into a butter was fine, too.  On a roll was almost like a quick and dirty pumpkin pie.  Really enjoyed, and strongly recommend it.  Also, for some of Braswell's offerings they put the product in a more elaborate glass jar, as a collectable.  So now my household has a neat little scalloped drinking glass as well.