Speaking of mundane shit, the only chains I frequent are the local ones. It wasn’t an intentional thing, it’s just that all the national ones are bland as Hell. It took me a while to realise that — I loved Burger King and such as a kid — but now that I have I can’t go back. I’ll pop down to the local pub for a burger or around the corner for a pizza before going to McDonald’s or Pizza Hut any day, and not just because the local places are closer.

I’ve noticed that even the big chains based on having “good” food can be a bit crap. E.g., Boloco and B. Good. B. Good’s burgers are not all that bad, but they’re a little plainish. They’re always overcooked, but that happens anywhere that doesn’t offer them made to order. Boloco, on the other hand, is just shit. I remember when the Bolocos used to be called “The Wrap”, and they were actually awesome. I used to frequent the one near Northeastern with a friend of mine, and I’d get the Buffalo chicken wrap because it rocked so hard. But now we’ve got this Boloco thing that’s barely edible.

Sadness.

Actually, it’s because they’re possessed by Satan. Everyone knows Dunkin’ Donuts is the One True Donut.

(Hi, Blake. We met at the PZ-less Boston Pharyngula meetup MAJeff organized.)

My transition from “not drinking” to “having a glass on special occasions” happened when I took Mehran Kardar’s advanced statistical physics class. After we finished each problem set, we’d walk to Bukowski’s and drown our sorrows in cheese dip, hamburgers and stout.

(I haven’t owned a television set in years, and the last one I did own was connected to a DVD player, a desktop computer and an Atari 400. Somebody else has to be the representative of science to Middle America, because I sure as Hell aren’t qualified.)

Blake, I talk a lot about beer because I like it. I just hate the ordinariness that people settle for. Bad beer, reality TV, sugar frosted flakes, McDonald’s hamburgers. Beer makes me less grumpy if it’s good.

(People who truly love beer may disagree.)