European-Style Curry and Rice

Today, it is nice and sunny again!
But I remain deep in the shock... I lost one of the big contests. The result is not yet released, but I realized it from the package I received yesterday, which was the lowest award! Always things don't go my way. I knew it and was true :(

Snap out of it!
I went out to eat lunch with my co-worker.
We had curry and rice at a famous curry restaurant called "Aubergine" near our workplace. They serve European-style curry and rice. They use special onion paste and simmer the curry for about 2 days. They have 4 levels of spice. Their butter rice cooked with spices goes great with the curry and brings out the rich flavor of curry!
I had a vegetable curry using seasonal vegetables. By eating it, I realized that the seasoning was similar to the Mediterranean Curry roux which I used for my curry and rice the other day! I think S&B did a great job!!!

Different story.
Last night, I went to the spa again. This time, I had a free facial treatment. It is for free for three times since I purchased the IPL treatment package in April.
The spa uses Environ products, which are forefront of scientific skin care. I had a vitamin therapy, which involves the use of electric current to facilitate greater penetration of vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene into the skin.
The therapy wasn't that bad, but I didn't like the way they removed my makeup. I thought it wasn't thorough... which was kind of uncomfortable. Anyway, I have 2 more times to try out, so will see!

Again, different story.
Yesterday, I found an interesting software while searching how to backup my Blogger posts.
Blogger Backup: a simple utility to backup to local disk your Blogger posts.
Using the GData C# Library, the utility will walk backward in time, from your latest post to your last, saving each post to a local Atom/XML file.
I used it and was great! It saves all the posts (only text, no images) in few seconds!

There is another tool that saves images as well. Firefox add-ons called DownThemAll. I haven't tried it yet since I use IE. Also, all Blogger images are saved in Picasa web album automatically, so I thought it is not that necessary to save images.

Also, there is an instruction at Blogger Help.
How do I create a backup of my entire blog?
But this requires the modification of your template, so it isn't that convenient if you want to back up your blog on a regular basis.

It is good to have a shelter against every storm :)

Oops, I was going to translate my recipe, but running out of time!
Hope I can tomorrow!!!

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Natural Disaster

Today, the sun showed up, but the forecast says it's gonna rain again this weekend :(

This morning, we ate the last of the ikanago no kugini that my grandma gave us. Next year, I really want to cook it with her to learn how!!!

Yesterday, I wrote that global food crisis is closer than we think.
In addition, we people live in Kanto region need to be prepared for a great earthquake, which might take place soon.
Severe earthquakes have hit Japan since the beginning of the twentieth century.
In 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake (magnitude of 7.9) took place, which caused extensive damage over a wide area including Tokyo. Then in 1995, the Great Hanshin Earthquake (magnitude of 7.2) took place, which devastated much of the Hanshin area, including Kobe and Awaji Island. And in 2004, the Chuetsu earthquake (magnitude 6.8) took place, which ravaged the central region of Niigata prefecture. In 2007, the Noto Peninsula Earthquake (magnitude 6.9) and the Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake (magnitude 6.6) took place.
We have frequent earthquakes these days, so we are overdue for a large one! I need to provide against it but it depends on where you are. I might better check the safest place to take cover during the earthquake.

Speaking of earthquake, Tokyo Fire Department has asked for the survival food recipes using preserved (canned) food products and familiar vegetables in April. I submitted some of my recipes. Hope I could pass preliminaries since I had a call from them that I am a nominee.

Sorry for the gloomy topic again.
Bad weather until yesterday made me think pessimistic.

Tomorrow, I will write something happy!!!
I have a lot to write!

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Global Food Crisis

Hello!
This morning, the wind and rain were very strong!
I took a bus to go to the train station.
It cleared up in the afternoon though.

Yesterday, I received a notice about the reward card I use at a supermarket. They say that they gonna change the reward system. Currently, 1000 points = 1500 yen, but from September, 1 point = 1 yen. I think I won't be interested in accumulating points at that supermarket any more...
Too bad!

Bad things are happening on the food market as well!
The government raised the price of wheat in April, which pushed up prices for many food products, including bread, noodles and confectionery from this month. They have already raised the price last year, so this was the second time! (Higher prices to hit hard in April)
Hope this could be a solution: Japan looks to rice flour as wheat prices rise.
Also, prices of butter and cheese are going up! (Butter supplies running short at supermarkets)

Global food crisis is closer than we think.
This article was very interesting: 8 Ways to Fix the Global Food Crisis.

We consumers can't easily change things, but we can try not to waste food!
I always try to get clearance food products to save money, but maybe need to do so to save our food.
Someday, we all might need to grow vegetables for our own consumption, just like it used to be!

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