Forget crispy fried nori or pliant hijiki: mekabu comes in a coating of—there's no other word for it—goo. As one chews, it starts to expand, until suffocation starts to seem like a real possibility.

I insisted we share the driving and, after we pulled in for a tank of petrol one hour into our drive, she reluctantly let me take over. 'Give it some welly,' she said to me as I eased off the clutch. 'I'm trying,' I said

Coordinate term: programming in the large

The newcomers often bring an array of ancillary problems to meetings, including emotional trauma and addiction to other drugs. As the organization metamorphoses, its supporters wonder whether A.A. [Alcoholics Anonymous] can or should be such a big tent.