Just to make you feel a bit old…

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All of these things happened 30 years ago.

Notable events of 1988:

  • The Soviet Union begins its program of economic restructuring (perestroika) with legislation initiated by Premier Mikhail Gorbachev – followed by the total collapse of the Soviet union later in the year.
  • The Phantom of the Opera, the longest running Broadway play ever, opens.
  • Iran–Contra affair.
  • Celine Dion wins the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland.
  • A report by U.S. Surgeon General states that the addictive properties of nicotine are similar to those of heroin and cocaine.
  • NASA scientist testifies to the Senate that man-made global warming has begun.
  • Al-Qaeda is formed by Osama bin Laden.
  • The Morris worm, the first computer worm distributed via the Internet, written by Robert Tappan Morris, is launched from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the U.S.
  • Benazir Bhutto is sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head the government of an Islam-dominated state.
  • Pan Am Flight 103 is blown up over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing a total of 270 people.
  • TAT-8, the first transatlantic telephone cable to use optical fibers, is completed.
  • Zebra mussels are found in the Great Lakes.
  • Tim Berners-Lee begins to openly discuss his plans for what would become the World Wide Web at CERN.
  • Rihanna, Sasha Grey, Jessie J, Adele, Rupert Grint, Emma Stone and Tinie Tempah are born.
  • Philippe de Rothschild, Richard Feynman, John Holmes, Robert A. Heinlein, Kim Philby, Enzo Ferrari, Félix Leclerc and Roy Orbison die.
The following songs make it to the Billboard top 100:

  • “A Groovy Kind of Love”, Phil Collins
  • “A Hazy Shade of Winter”, The Bangles
  • “Candle in the Wind”, Elton John
  • “Desire”, U2
  • “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”, Bobby McFerrin
  • “Faith”, George Michael
  • “Fast Car”, Tracy Chapman
  • “Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car”, Billy Ocean
  • “Got My Mind Set on You”, George Harrison
  • “Heaven Is a Place on Earth”, Belinda Carlisle
  • “Kokomo”, The Beach Boys
  • “Man in the Mirror”, Michael Jackson
  • “Need You Tonight”, INXS
  • “Never Gonna Give You Up”, Rick Astley
  • “One Moment in Time”, Whitney Houston
  • “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, Def Leppard
  • “Red Red Wine”, UB40
  • “She’s Like the Wind”, Patrick Swayze
  • “Simply Irresistible”, Robert Palmer
  • “Sweet Child o’ Mine”, Guns N’ Roses
  • “The Loco-Motion”, Kylie Minogue
  • “The Way You Make Me Feel”, Michael Jackson
  • “We’ll Be Together”, Sting
The following movies are released:

  • A Fish Called Wanda
  • Akira
  • Beetlejuice
  • Big
  • Bloodsport
  • Cinema Paradiso
  • Coming to America
  • Dangerous Liaisons
  • Die Hard
  • My Neighbor Totoro
  • Rain Man
  • Scrooged
  • The Dead Pool
  • The Last Temptation of Christ
  • Twins
  • Who Framed Roger Rabbit
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[recipe] Overnight Yeasted Waffles

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Night Before:

1/2 cup (125ml) warm water
1 packet active-dry yeast
1/2 cup (125ml) melted butter
2 cups (500ml) milk
1 tsp salt
4 tbsp sugar
3 cups plain flour, sifted

The Next Day:

2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla paste

Combine the yeast and the water in a large mixing bowl and let stand for a few minutes. Stir to make sure the yeast dissolves into the water. Melt the butter over low heat or in the microwave. Combine the butter with the milk, salt, and sugar. Test with your finger to make sure the mixture has cooled to luke warm, then stir it into the dissolved yeast mixture. Add the flour and stir until there is no more visible flour.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit on the counter overnight. The batter will double or triple in bulk as it rises.

The next morning, beat the eggs together and add them to the batter along with the baking soda and vanilla. Using the whisk, beat the eggs and baking soda into the batter until completely combined.

Make the waffles according to your waffle maker’s instructions, cooking until the waffles are golden-brown. Cooking time will vary with your waffle maker, but it is typically 4 to 6 minutes.

Waffles are best if served immediately, but re-heat well in the toaster. Leftovers can be kept refrigerated for up to a week. Leftover waffles can also be frozen for up to 3 months and toasted straight out of the freezer.

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Beer street Vs Gin lane

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Beer Street and Gin Lane are two prints issued in 1751 by English artist William Hogarth in support of what would become the Gin Act. Designed to be viewed alongside each other, they depict the evils of the consumption of gin as a contrast to the merits of drinking beer.

On the simplest level, Hogarth portrays the inhabitants of Beer Street as happy and healthy, nourished by the native English ale, and those who live in Gin Lane as destroyed by their addiction to the foreign spirit of gin; but, as with so many of Hogarth’s works, closer inspection uncovers other targets of his satire, and reveals that the poverty of Gin Lane and the prosperity of Beer Street are more intimately connected than they at first appear. Gin Lane shows shocking scenes of infanticide, starvation, madness, decay and suicide, while Beer Street depicts industry, health, bonhomie and thriving commerce.

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[recipe] chili colorado 

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4 dried ancho chiles
2 dried pasillas
4 dried guajillo
1.5L chicken stock, separated
1 onion peeled and quartered
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp Mexican oregano dried
2 Bay leaves
1kg pork shoulder cubed
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 cups small white potatoes quartered

Remove the stems (and seeds if you want it milder in heat), from the anchos, pasillas, and guajillos. Cover chiles with 500ml boiling chicken stock and let them steam for about 30 minutes until they are tender. Put the chiles and all of the chicken stock, onion, cumin and Mexican oregano into a blender and purée until smooth. Set aside.

Cut the pork shoulder into half inch cubes, season with the kosher salt and pepper, and brown the meat in a large, stock pot over medium heat with oil.

Add the rest of chicken stock and bay leaves and simmer on low uncovered for one hour. Stir in the potatoes and chile purée. Simmer for another 45 minutes uncovered until the meat is tender and the sauce is a thick, deep red color. Season with additional salt. Serve with warm tortillas and some sour cream. 

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