Hi ,It's snowing like crazy in the Rockies and I'm not skiing! Bummer. That said, lovely to be home for once and Spring cleaning this weekend instead.I also went to see Ready Player One, the new Spielberg adaptation of Ernest Cline's love letter to 80s (geek) pop culture. I'd really enjoyed reading the book, like a fun beach page turner with tons of geek references, many of which I grew up with (or nearly), including many Dungeons & Dragons and video game references I enjoyed.Meanwhile, the movie got a lot of mixed reviews. Two close friends told me to go see, ideally on an IMAX screen and leave my brain at the door. I did go to an IMAX 3D showing, attempted to leave my brains at the door but couldn't comparing with the novel. Conclusion: I'm not hugely sold on the film, though I think it does some things slightly better than the book, but a lot of other not as well. You may well enjoy whichever you choose first between the book and the movie, but one will probably ruin the other.Not too mysterious linkage with the two main stories, interesting and recent snapshot or old world foods in the United States: warring pizza joints and dying German restaurants.Thanks!Willem

 Weekly Combo Two or three flavours, interesting separately, fascinating together 

'Grandma's food': How changing tastes are killing German restaurants (The Washington Post, 10 min read)A worthwhile read, if a little sad to find out about so many apparently iconic and amazing looking German restaurants around the US struggling and closing down. It reminds me of the amazing evenings I've spent with my brother and friends in The Tiroler Hut in London open since 1967 (an Austrian restaurant technically, but let's say it's close enough to the topic), and that my father used to drink beers there with colleagues in the early 70s. If you know of a traditional and excellent German restaurant near you, it's time for a visit! Have a break from your keto or low fat diet; have a schnitzel, roast pork knuckle, spaëtzle, and potatoes.  First Ray, then Patsy, now Joe. Another pizza war breaks out (The NY Times, 6 min read)