Inquiring Minds Want To Know
p.s. really sad about Heath Ledger's passing. :(

The following is an email I sent out to a group of friends in response to some questions that were asked during dinner. Since I worked so hard on it, I figured it could serve as a blog. I'm trying to blog at least once a month(it was once a week, but that's not gonna happen).








This email has come about thanks to Yolanda’s inquisitive nature which subsequently inspired Jason, Alex and I to ask some questions of our own on the car ride home last night.

1. What are the different types of Panko?
-There are two forms of panko. White panko is made from crustless bread, while tan panko is made with the entire loaf. Both types are usually sold plain, and panko can in fact be rather bland. However, the crumbs absorb flavor readily, making them an extremely versatile ingredient. Some companies also make seasoned panko with popular Asian spices.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-panko.htm

2. What’s the difference between Au Gratin and Scalloped potatoes?

"Scalloped potatoes are a milk based potato dish. Thepotatoes are usually sliced very thinly although what technically makesit 'scalloped' is the milk base. A gratin on the other hand is any dishthat is topped with cheese and/or bread crumbs and layered with bits ofbutter and is baked until brown and crispy. People often get themconfused and use the terms interchangeably. However, gratins can be madewith a variety of vegetables”http://food.families.com/blog/ask-a-food-blogger-scalloped-potatoes-vs-potatoes-au-gratin

3. (While discussing Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons in the car)
a. What is it called when you have a word/words and you rearrange the letters to make a different word/words? Ex: sliver = livers
anagrams :(LATIN ana- 'again' + gramma 'letter') defined as words made from the letters of another word. an anagram does not have to use all the letters of the first word. You create words using only the letters that create names or words, or phrases or sentences, and these words within names or words are anagrams.

perfect anagrams : defined as using all the letters of a word or name to make another name or meaning or revealing from the first. To claim a miracle real, you have to be a miracle claimer.
(This one is a bit confusing and a bit more philosophical but eh, you get the picture….my head hurts.)

b. What is it called when you have a word or group of words, that can be read backwards and forwards? Ex: a man a plan a canal panama, or civicpalindromes(GREEK palin ("back") and dromos ("way, direction") ) : definition : same spelling forward and backwards, and so reads same forwards as backwards
c. What is it called when a word(usually) or figure is drawn a certain way that you can read backwards, forwards, upside down? Example below
ambigrams(ambi=both, gram=word) - names, phrases or words made to read the same forward and backwards, reversed upside down. The master of Ambigrams is John Landgon. You can see many examples of his art at the web site of John Langdon, including his creation of the Angels and Demons ambigram as used in Dan Brown's books, Angels and Demons