1. I'm pleased that "Million Dollar Baby" won this, that, and the other Oscar award last night. I'm glad that "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" won as well. I'm relieved that "Sideways" won no more than one and kind of annoyed that it even won the one it did (pretentious, irritating flick that it was).

2. This site (stolen from Chan) is pretty amusing: Maniac Muslim.

3. Excerpts from "Modern Muslim Cooking of Indo-Pakistan" by A. Nisa Bhatti, First Edition 1964:

From Furniture:
A clock is essential in modern kitchen. Modern cookers necessitate the observing of cooking time which can only be determined with the help of clock which will increase the cooking efficiency. Modern kitchens are also equipped with radio set as an amusement for the housewife while cooking, and to make the atmosphere of the kitchen more pleasant. There should be a [chair] for housewife to sit easily and do her knitting job or any other such thing along with the supervision of the kitchen.

From Practical Hints:
Try to prepare food with a variety. If you have 1lb. of meat, cook in two or three varieties. Though it involves some extra labour but your family will enjoy the hour spent on the table. The look of the food must be appetising. It is natural that the mouth will water when there is something good looking on the table. The way the food is fixed on the table is also very important. The artistic fixing of food sharpens our desire for that and the more the desire for a foood the more easily it will be digested, of course. Almonds are sometimes bitter in taste. It is better to taste them first by slicing slightly on the side or else it will spoil the whole charm.

From Selection of Foods:
Meat: With the exception of calcium meat contains all the necessary minerals and salts needed by the human body. It is especially good source of phosphorous and iron and contains a small amount of carbohydrates. It is also rich in many of the vitamins so necessary to a normal healthy body. The completeness of meat as a food is rather evident. It is certainly a most honourable tribute to any food product.

I'd post some of the recipes (the pigeon korma looks very interesting), but I have to attend to my knitting job and check on how charming my almonds are right now.