My friend and co-worker Dale has the flu. I do not know if it is of the swine. He called me Monday morning and told me he thought his sinus' were attacking him. Then he told me that his chest hurt and it was hard to breath. I said that it sounds like the flu. He went to the doctor and reported back to me that I was right.
I have quarantined his office.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The Tea Party of the Damned
Tomorrow's planned tax protests funded by the rich and sponsored by Fox News will be...well, I don't know.
I will let the Rude One tell it:
"Somewhere, Karl Marx is laughing his bearded ass off. Because what is this but classic exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie? It's a bunch of rich fucks, beginning with that tool Rick Santelli on CNBC and ending with the slavering profitmongers at Fox "news," making the poor idiots, who are desperate from fear of or actual job loss and heath insurance loss and home loss, do their bidding. Look at the people attending. Bedraggled Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin wannabes, clinging to the image of those who create the illusion of the working class without the work or the class. Ignorance is such bliss, man.
This movement's gonna die a horribly gruesome death. It really is just the last hideous gasps of a kind of right wing populism that's got nothing to do with actual populism and everything to do with a desperate scrabbling to preserve the status quo for the wealthy. It's ideological endgame, motherfuckers, and the checkmate ain't gonna be pretty."
I will let the Rude One tell it:
"Somewhere, Karl Marx is laughing his bearded ass off. Because what is this but classic exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie? It's a bunch of rich fucks, beginning with that tool Rick Santelli on CNBC and ending with the slavering profitmongers at Fox "news," making the poor idiots, who are desperate from fear of or actual job loss and heath insurance loss and home loss, do their bidding. Look at the people attending. Bedraggled Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin wannabes, clinging to the image of those who create the illusion of the working class without the work or the class. Ignorance is such bliss, man.
This movement's gonna die a horribly gruesome death. It really is just the last hideous gasps of a kind of right wing populism that's got nothing to do with actual populism and everything to do with a desperate scrabbling to preserve the status quo for the wealthy. It's ideological endgame, motherfuckers, and the checkmate ain't gonna be pretty."
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Thursday, April 09, 2009
15 Minute Lunch
I have to link to a blog I read often. Virgil really cracks me up. I think you will find this old post of his quite nostalgic and hilarious.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
I Love This Record
I wish I could find a copy of it. I must have listened to it a million times. Mine got stolen along with the rest of my record collection in 1975.
I Think We Should Take A Step Back
The progressives are in a snit today because Obama's DOJ is keeping the domestic wire tapping that the last administration used in place.
But with "Nuts With Megaphones" like Beck, Hannity, O'Riley and Limbaugh telling their listeners that Obama is going to take away their guns, outlaw Christianity, kill every baby he sees, then give the country to the Muslims, I don't think I would give up the wire tapping either. Domestic terrorists are being indoctrinated every day.
But with "Nuts With Megaphones" like Beck, Hannity, O'Riley and Limbaugh telling their listeners that Obama is going to take away their guns, outlaw Christianity, kill every baby he sees, then give the country to the Muslims, I don't think I would give up the wire tapping either. Domestic terrorists are being indoctrinated every day.
Monday, April 06, 2009
The Anti-Gun Meme Trotted Out Once Again
Crooks and Liars has a good post on the right-wing's rush to claim that the Obama administration is coming after our guns. Like that last Democrat President Clinton in the 90s. Never mind that there is absolutely no basis in fact of this.
I agree with everything in the post, but they left out one thing: You have to believe gun manufacturers and sellers have perpetuated this meme in order to sell more guns. You can argue over ideology all you want, money fuels all. They are in the business of selling guns. They create or perpetuate the lie in order to create more demand, sell more guns. When we hear the likes of Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh ranting about "librals taking away our guns", the gun lobby gets a full blown boner thinking of all the money they are going to make.
Now, I am no "anti-gun" person. I believe everyone has the right to defend themselves and to protect their propery. I got no problem with that. But if someone has an armory in their house stocked with enough fire power to start a coup-de-tat then there is a problem.
I agree with everything in the post, but they left out one thing: You have to believe gun manufacturers and sellers have perpetuated this meme in order to sell more guns. You can argue over ideology all you want, money fuels all. They are in the business of selling guns. They create or perpetuate the lie in order to create more demand, sell more guns. When we hear the likes of Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh ranting about "librals taking away our guns", the gun lobby gets a full blown boner thinking of all the money they are going to make.
Now, I am no "anti-gun" person. I believe everyone has the right to defend themselves and to protect their propery. I got no problem with that. But if someone has an armory in their house stocked with enough fire power to start a coup-de-tat then there is a problem.
My Busy Weekend
I have been using an electrical extension cord to run my fish pond's pump for years now. I decided to run an underground circuit from the house to the pond. I dug a 1 foot deep ditch 60 feet long being careful to move the top layer off to one side of the ditch ( just cut the width with a spade and flipped it over). Then I dug out the remainder of the soil putting it on the other side of the ditch. After the wire was run, the loose soil went back in first, then the top layer was put back on top. Looks almost as good as new. Now I don't have to gather up the cord every time I want to mow.
At the same time all of this is going on, my neighbor was installing an underground wire on his property for his new dog's "invisible fence". So I had to help him off and on during the afternoon. I didn't mind, I like helping my neighbors. I makes me feel good that people find me "handy".
I did a lot of cooking this weekend. I marinated some chicken and grilled it Saturday evening. I tried my luck at making homemade marshmallows. It was a success! I can't wait for my grandchildren to try them.
Yesterday, I made a pot roast. I took a large cast iron dutch oven and browned the meat. Then I took it out and made gravy with the drippings. I placed the roast back into the pot, covered and put it into a 250 degree oven until it was just done. I cut up some potatoes and carrots and added to the pot for another 30 minutes of cooking. Yum, yum, good!
At the same time all of this is going on, my neighbor was installing an underground wire on his property for his new dog's "invisible fence". So I had to help him off and on during the afternoon. I didn't mind, I like helping my neighbors. I makes me feel good that people find me "handy".
I did a lot of cooking this weekend. I marinated some chicken and grilled it Saturday evening. I tried my luck at making homemade marshmallows. It was a success! I can't wait for my grandchildren to try them.
Yesterday, I made a pot roast. I took a large cast iron dutch oven and browned the meat. Then I took it out and made gravy with the drippings. I placed the roast back into the pot, covered and put it into a 250 degree oven until it was just done. I cut up some potatoes and carrots and added to the pot for another 30 minutes of cooking. Yum, yum, good!
Friday, April 03, 2009
Thursday, April 02, 2009
I've Been Ubuntu'ed
Installed Ubuntu Linux on a spare laptop harddrive. So far, so good. This OS is being used a lot by folks who are buying the new Netbook computers. I've been thinking about buying a Netbook but I think I'll wait a few more months.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
I Hate Windows Vista With An Unbridaled Passion!
Fuck Vista. Hate it. Hate it.
If anyone wants me to work on a computer with this piece-of-shit operating system, I charge them extra.
If anyone wants me to work on a computer with this piece-of-shit operating system, I charge them extra.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
I guess I have to weigh in on the AIG controversy.
The more I look at the bonus issue the more I believe the problem is the word "bonus". A bonus is something extra that you get for the job you do. If you are successful at what you do and if what you do adds to the bottom line of the company then by all means you should be given a bonus. The way the AIG story unfolded we were told that people are to be given a bonus that utterly failed the company. Outrage should be the norm for such behavior. But now I read that these people were contract hires that don't work for a regular salary, but work under a contract for money paid to them at the end of their tenure. That is not a "bonus" by definition, it's compensation for work done. Calling this compensation a "bonus " is what makes everyone so angry.
Of course anger and outrage feeds the media so the media piles on feeding the anger and outrage. It's a vicous cycle.
The more I look at the bonus issue the more I believe the problem is the word "bonus". A bonus is something extra that you get for the job you do. If you are successful at what you do and if what you do adds to the bottom line of the company then by all means you should be given a bonus. The way the AIG story unfolded we were told that people are to be given a bonus that utterly failed the company. Outrage should be the norm for such behavior. But now I read that these people were contract hires that don't work for a regular salary, but work under a contract for money paid to them at the end of their tenure. That is not a "bonus" by definition, it's compensation for work done. Calling this compensation a "bonus " is what makes everyone so angry.
Of course anger and outrage feeds the media so the media piles on feeding the anger and outrage. It's a vicous cycle.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Best Steak Recipe
I have never been able to get that "steakhouse steak" taste at home until I tried this recipe from Ina Garten:
Ingredients
2 (10-ounce) filet mignon
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon fleur de sel (kosher or sea salt will work - just don't use as much)
1 tablespoon coarsely cracked black peppercorns
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, optional
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Heat a large, well-seasoned cast iron skillet over high heat until very hot, 5 to 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, pat the steaks dry with a paper towel and brush them lightly with vegetable oil. Combine the fleur de sel and cracked pepper on a plate and roll the steaks in the mixture, pressing lightly to evenly coat all sides.
When the skillet is ready, add the steaks and sear them evenly on all sides for about 2 minutes per side, for a total of 10 minutes.
Top each steak with a tablespoon of butter, if using, and place the skillet in the oven. Cook the steaks until they reach 120 degrees F for rare or 125 degrees F for medium-rare on an instant-read thermometer. (To test the steaks, insert the thermometer sideways to be sure you're actually testing the middle of the steak.)
Remove the steaks to a serving platter, cover tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.
I have tried this with strips and ribeyes too.
Ingredients
2 (10-ounce) filet mignon
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon fleur de sel (kosher or sea salt will work - just don't use as much)
1 tablespoon coarsely cracked black peppercorns
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, optional
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Heat a large, well-seasoned cast iron skillet over high heat until very hot, 5 to 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, pat the steaks dry with a paper towel and brush them lightly with vegetable oil. Combine the fleur de sel and cracked pepper on a plate and roll the steaks in the mixture, pressing lightly to evenly coat all sides.
When the skillet is ready, add the steaks and sear them evenly on all sides for about 2 minutes per side, for a total of 10 minutes.
Top each steak with a tablespoon of butter, if using, and place the skillet in the oven. Cook the steaks until they reach 120 degrees F for rare or 125 degrees F for medium-rare on an instant-read thermometer. (To test the steaks, insert the thermometer sideways to be sure you're actually testing the middle of the steak.)
Remove the steaks to a serving platter, cover tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.
I have tried this with strips and ribeyes too.
Not Surrounded Yet
Glenn Beck and Chuck Norris have lost their goddamned minds.
If we need to be afraid of anything, it should be these motherfuckers.
If we need to be afraid of anything, it should be these motherfuckers.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I Stand Corrected
The spring like weather of late has given way to a cold rain and a high temperature of only 36.
So much for yard work.
At least for a week.
So much for yard work.
At least for a week.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
To All You Republicans Complaining
That President Obama is trying to do too much.
Shut The Fuck Up!
If you can't get behind our president and support him in his efforts to help fix the problems you made, get out of the way and let the rest of us do what needs to be done.
Shut The Fuck Up!
If you can't get behind our president and support him in his efforts to help fix the problems you made, get out of the way and let the rest of us do what needs to be done.
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