When I was in college I studied communication and my senior paper was an analysis of the impact of Internet usage on interpersonal social skills.  I am coming to the realization that the Internet is not only having a negative impact on social interaction but is also breeding a new generation of inconsiderate pricks.  As a long time Internet user I have long been aware of the opinionated and confrontation nature of news groups and forums and how they can escalate into “flame wars”. However, I have seen a large increase in the negative attitudes people display in these online forums.

It seems that I can’t read a thread in a forum or mailing list in which someone doesn’t call another subscriber “stupid” or make some other insult.  Has the anonymous nature of such communities nurtured our ability to be insulting?  I believe that when people begin to express such behaviors regularly in online situations that behavior has the ability to carry over into real life situations.  Does this lead us down the path to a violent society?   I certainly hope not.  While I do see an increase in “attitude” in people, I don’t necessarily believe that this carries over into physical confrontation.  However, that is a potential future if such behaviors continue.  Why can’t we all be civil to each other and be accepting of people who don’t understand something and try to rationally explain it to them rather than call them an idiot?

Well, 2007 is not off to a good start for me.   In late 2006 I applied for a new job and was interviewed a few weeks later.  Right before the holidays I was offered the position.  I was supposed to start the job on Jan. 16, 2007, following a 3-day weekend.  Unfortunately, on the preceding Friday I received word a little after 4pm that the job was eliminated and would not be hired.  Talk about a kick in the teeth.  Luckily the position was in the same organization I work so I was able to keep my old job.  Just imagine if it was a position out side of my current place of employment, I’d be unemployed!  I’m not so upset about not having the job, but very disappointed in the way it was handled.  Needless to say I’ve started floating my resume around.  The Unfortunate outcome of this is that it may take me out of NM.  I’m looking for a job working in web technologies of any sort (web design, content mgt., portal mgt., etc.).    I haven’t found much in ABQ that will keep me in my current salary range. So the adventure begins… who knows where I will end up.

Our friends at Zinc have quietly opened their new restaurant.  Savoy Bar & Grill is located on Montgomery between Juan Tabo and Eubank.  While I hope this doesn’t become the way people describe it location, it is located in the spot where YesterDave’s was many moons ago.  I had the privilege of dining at Savoy last weekend.  My friend Jeff and I showed up for an early dinner and later joined some friends from Zinc for a long night of drinking in the corner room.  This quiet opening was organized to help them fine tune the menu and getting things running smooth so that the first experience at Savoy is amazing. Let’s talk food…

Appetizers:

We started off with the Wood Oven Fired Shrimp Flatbread.  This was a tasty treat, but I was a little disappointed with the weak pesto flavor.  The flavor seemed to be over powered by the lemon used in the dish.  We provided our feedback so I hope to try a new and improved version on my next visit.

We also tried the Ahi Tuna & Hamachi Sashimi.  I have to admit that the only fish I eat is sushi and while the name of this item implies my favorite fishy friends it was a let down.  The Hamachi didn’t melt in my mouth like I have come to expect from a good cut of Yellow Tail.  Many people liked this but I will likely pass next time.

Entrees:

I had a hard time deciding what to get for my entrée.  So many choices to choose form, all of which sound amazing.  I finally decide on the Truffle Roasted Flatiron Steak.  I was certainly not disappointed in this choice.  The steak was amazing and the sides complimented it perfectly.  The fire-roasted vegetables had a spicy flavor and the potatoes where crisp and flavorful.

Jeff selected the Pork Porterhouse, henceforth referred to as the Porkerhouse.  I kept thinking it was a cut of beef and had to look at the menu three or four times before I could get that it was pork in my head.  The Porkerhouse was a huge cut of meat, at least an inch and half thick.  I have always found a piece of pork this big hard to cook without drying it out or leaving it pink in the middle.  The wonderful Chefs and Savoy had absolutely no problem with this.  The cut of meat was cooked to perfection and had a wonder flavor.  The white bean & bacon ragu served that accompanied this entrée was delicious as well.
When we joined our other friends later in the evening we had the pleasure of watching them eat.  Some of the favorites that came from their table included the Bone in Filet and the New York Steak.  The reactions as they passed bites around between the bottles of wine were priceless.  Based purely on one person’s taste of the New York Steak, it will be my next order at Savoy.

Desserts:

No meal is complete with out a dessert and I selected the Crème Brule.  I was certainly not let down.  The dessert was rich and creamy and had a nice thick glazed crust on top.  Jeff opted for the Pain Perdu with vanilla bean ice cream.  The poached pears had a nice sweet taste from the Riesling.  I’ve never had this dessert before so it looked like a scoop of ice cream on French toast to me.  Regardless both desserts were wonderful.

The night concluded with several drinks and great conversation, and that’s what a good meal is all about.  I certainly plan to return to Savoy and look forward to the Lounge and Patio areas opening.  The Lunch menu also looks amazing.  I’ve always thought Zinc has the best fries in town, but the Parmesan fries sound tasty.

After two weeks off from work and almost as many feet of snow, I’m back.  Last Wednesday was my first day back to work for 2007.  It was hard to get motivated after being on vacation for 2 weeks.  As a result I’ve been in frantic panic mode for the last week. It seems I can’t get caught up and more things keep landing on my desk.

The unfortunate side effect is that I haven’t posted anything for the last week.  Well, this is just a blip to prevent things from getting stale.  I have plenty of stuff to cover from the last week.

Snow covered cars, Savoy Bar & Grill, New Gadgets and Toys, and more…