David Mark Brown, Author at David Mark Brown

Where has the Sombrero Gone?

February 4, 2011 by David Mark Brown

[dropcap2]T[/dropcap2]he literal translation of sombrero is ‘shader,’ and for good reason. It is the ultimate shade hat. Interestingly, try to find one in the United States and 9 out of 10 google hits will bring back the “Tequila Pop N’ Dude” costume. But don’t worry, you can choose between the drunk, fat guy version or the female “Sexy Shooter.” (Which, because it includes less fabric, is appropriately priced $15 less.)

In Spanish, sombrero typically refers to any hat with a brim, so an on-line shopper would expect to be able to find some nice contemporary options available to satisfy their sombrero urgings, the empty ache in their soul for head shade. But no. Surprisingly, no one really wears the sombrero anymore, unless its Halloween or you’re in a Mariachi band (or you’re the “Tequila Pop N’ Dude” on spring break).

I think that’s a shame.

Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux

February 2, 2011 by David Mark Brown

Redneck Sustainability: Ferment for Health

January 31, 2011 by David Mark Brown

[dropcap2]I[/dropcap2]nventiveness comes in two flavors: the evil genius sort and the practical necessity sort. I personally am a fan of evil genius, but like horseradish, a little goes a long way. The bricks between the mortar of everyday life must be built with practical necessity genius, or else everything sorta’ smushes together.

This is where The Green Porch takes a moment to highlight another redneck example of said practical genius, the bolt and board bottle opener. It is noteworthy, observant reader, that many occurrences of redneck genius involve beer, but not such a stretch to understand beer as a necessary precursor to continued and broader genius. Thus the correlation should shock only the most sheltered prohibitionist.

Perhaps this is the best moment to alert the un-lubricated public of the significance fermentation has played in human discovery. A big one.