Out with the bad. In with the good.

Here at the Talking Simian offices (a.k.a. my cupboard under the stairs), I'm always on the lookout for great things that I can pass along to you. Since there are plenty of places to find negative reviews of things that suck, I offer up a plethora of positive reviews about old stuff and new stuff to help you get to the good things in life a little quicker. Basically, if it sucks, then I don't waste time reviewing it. In turn, you don't have to waste time reading about crappy things you'll never buy or go see. I hope you find these quick reviews helpful in your search for your new favorite things. If you've tried a new restaurant or listened to a cd that you loved, tell me about it. I want to know too! You can also see more reviews at my original Blogger page > talkingsimian.blogspot.com
The summary of this site in just a few seconds.

This Week's Favorite Videos

A guy that I considered to be my hip uncle or a world weary travel companion has passed away. Anthony Bourdain was important to me. He showed me that people can travel to exotic places like Singapore, Lebanon, and New Jersey. He taught me to love food. He taught me to not be afraid to try things like eating from a food cart or asking for more hot sauce. He taught me that life isn't made for being timid or fake. He taught me that we're all temporary and life is precious. He taught me to watch out for certain things when I go to a restaurant. Me taught me what mise en place is.  He taught me all of these things without me ever meeting him. Through his shows and books, he showed me how to be a participant in the world. I'll miss his candor, humor, and views on everything. These were a couple of his favorite songs. There were dozens more he's mentioned over the years, but these I remember off the top of my head.
See you around, Tony.
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The Orangutans

The video here is something that I'm involved with. There are so many things that encroach on our simian friend's habitats. An unneeded snack food product derived by deforestation shouldn't be one of them. I stand up for Orangutans because they are important to me and to the rest of the world. Think about cutting palm oil out of your diet. We don't need it at all to survive. If you feel like being a part of this, visit InYourPalm.org. You don't have to put any money in if you don't want to. Just sign up and add your name to the growing list of people that care enough to voice their opinion. See more on my 'Why This?' page.
I was informed by my legal department (my wife) that I needed to let everyone know that I haven't been paid to review any of these things on this website. They are merely art, events, beverages, food, music, and books that I have found to be interesting enough to share with you. I wish someone would pay me loads of money to write for them but, as it stands, I am doing this for the sheer enjoyment of trying something new and writing about it.