two kinds of news

i know, i've been missing in action lately. i would like to blame the inventor of the knitting needle (and freaks and geeks) for that one. but i come to you with some good news, and some bad news. first the bad:


momofuku ando, the inventor of ramen died on friday. yes, some guy invented instant ramen (and founded nissan foods, the guys that bring us top ramen and cup noodles) -- it wasn't just a gift sent down from the gods to those of us who learned how to cook in a coffee pot.
i know what you're thinking -- jen, we're adults now. we don't eat ramen anymore. well, maybe you would if you had access to these, er, interesting recipes. or maybe not...


and now for the good news (for you guys at least, not so much for me): jeopardy! is having another online contestant test. yup. it'll be wednesday, january 24 (for those of you in the central or mountain time zones) and you just have to go here to register. that gives you two weeks to study and prepare, not that you'll need it, you brainiacs you. (unfortunately this test is off limits to those of us who took the test in march -- we dorks are out of the running until next year.)