Surly's Soap Box

Surly's Soap Box is Moving:

2006-01-27T18:53:00.000-06:00

I am moving Surly's Soap Box to: Surly's Soap Box! (Please update your blogroll!)

The reasons: Googles putting profits before Freedom by cooperating with the oppressive Communist in China. I'm not getting on the bandwagon with this: I think it's pretty low the way Google and Yahoo caved into the demands of the Commies, actually resulting in people going to prison. How quickly would they sell us out?

Also, Blogger has been extremely unreliable of late. I know, I know: It's free. You get what you pay for. I wasn't in a hurry pay money for this hobby, but I'm taking the plunge.

(Psycho Bob, let me know when you want to start posting again and I'll add you to the list.)

Hence Forth!

2006-01-26T20:17:00.000-06:00

Hence forth I shall not be calling the place where my child spends her day while her mother and father are at work "Daycare", "Preschool" or "Church (because it's at a Church)"! I shall now be referring to it as "The Incubator".

All I have to do is walk into "The Incubator" and listen: Do I hear a little cough? A sniffle? I know that with in days, I shall be infected with what ever foul, noxious germ or bacteria they are incubating.

I am considering renaming my daughter, "The Carrier", or "The Breeder", but the wife, who is ultimately the pipeline for these diseases because of the amount of time I spend with her and her constant case of the sniffles, threatened me with a slow, painful death.

"Similar to the one I'm suffering now?" I ask.

"Worse."

Okay. No renaming the child. But I choose to retain my bitterness.

Friday Night Food Thing 1.26.06

2006-01-26T16:54:00.000-06:00

Doug Bass and his son requested a recipe for Tom Yum Soup. It's been a long time since I've made it, but my recipe is from a tried and true source: A Thai fellow I cooked with when I did the restaurant thing. (Ahh..the late night hours...the working week ends and never seeing my family...Good times...good times) I've added this one to my own menu for the week end. You may have to make a trip to an Asian food market or whole foods store for some of the ingredients, but I will offer substitutes available at Cub or Rainbow (for those who live here in Minnesota)

Tom Yum Soup

Ingredients for 4:

4 cups of chicken stock
8 large whole shrimp
4 slices fresh galangal (or regular ginger) It's for flavor, not for eating, so large thin slices.
2 lemongrass stalk, smashed and sliced (May sub zest from one lemon)
4 kaffir lime leaves a(add zest of half a lime, or just add a little more lemon zest)
8 Thai chilies (2-4 jalapeno peppers, depending on your heat level. Thai chilies are hotter, but jalapenos are larger)
10 fresh straw or button mushrooms
6 cherry tomatoes
2 shallots
3 tbs lime juice
2 tbs fish sauce (ethnic food section)
1 tbs roasted chili paste (that little jar of sweet/spicy symbal oleck that you can get in the ethnic food section. Usually has a picture of an rooster on the label.
1 bunch cilantro
1 bunch green onions

Method

1. Heat the stock in a sauce pan and add your flavors one by one: begin with the galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and lemongrass. Add the shallots, chili paste, fish sauce and lime juice. Then add the chopped tomatoes, Thai chilies and straw mushrooms and simmer for 5 minutes.

2. Remove from the heat and stir in the shrimps. When they turn completely pink, the soup is ready.

Serve by itself, or with rice. Or as an appetizer.

Garnish with cilantro and green onions and serve immediately.

You can saute some chicken or beef for this recipe as well.

Bastard Report 1.25.06

2006-01-25T22:14:00.000-06:00

Bastard of the Day: Blogger. Blogger was supposed to be down for a half hour this afternoon. It is many hours later, and I’m going to e-mail this one in to see if it works.

Oh, and Commies. They are bastards too.

New entry into the "Know Your Commies" blog roll.

2006-01-25T12:09:00.000-06:00

The World Can't Wait. Can't wait for what? Can't wait for Bush to finish up his term. Gotta get rid of him now. Check out the winners under the "Endorsed By" category.

World Can't Wait is the spawn of the Revolutionary Communist Party, a Maoist organization that endorses the over throw of the government, world wide communism and so on. Apparently they also endorse the "Don't Go To School or Work" Manifesto because most of their protest are smack dab in the middle of the week. How can they afford their cigarettes and Ben and Jerrie's Ice Cream? I've added them to the "Know Your Commies" roll as well.

One thing I learned cruising through their site is that I am a "Theo-fascist" or "Christa-fascist" due to my conservative Christian leanings. Cool. I think I would like to find a "Che"-style shirt with a picture of Jesus on it instead. That should annoy some people.

Forget the Fence...

2006-01-24T17:39:00.000-06:00

Let's go with heavily armed guard towers every 100 yards:

Men in Mexican military-style uniforms crossed the Rio Grande into the United States on a marijuana-smuggling foray, leading to an armed confrontation with Texas law officers, authorities said Tuesday. No shots were fired.

Just to take the human factor (racism, greed, corruptible) out of the mix, lets arm each guard tower with, say a M242 Bushmaster 25mm Automatic Gun hooked up to some sort of motion detector. Sure, some tumble weeds and vermin (small furry creatures, terrorist, drug smugglers) might get wasted, but NOTHING is coming across the border.

Why we need to take care of the Iranians.

2006-01-23T18:55:00.000-06:00

Just what we need: A religious fanatic with nuclear weapons:

The most remarkable aspect of Mr Ahmadinejad's piety is his devotion to the Hidden Imam, the Messiah-like figure of Shia Islam, and the president's belief that his government must prepare the country for his return.

One of the first acts of Mr Ahmadinejad's government was to donate about £10 million to the Jamkaran mosque, a popular pilgrimage site where the pious come to drop messages to the Hidden Imam into a holy well.

All streams of Islam believe in a divine saviour, known as the Mahdi, who will appear at the End of Days. A common rumour - denied by the government but widely believed - is that Mr Ahmadinejad and his cabinet have signed a "contract" pledging themselves to work for the return of the Mahdi and sent it to Jamkaran.

Iran's dominant "Twelver" sect believes this will be Mohammed ibn Hasan, regarded as the 12th Imam, or righteous descendant of the Prophet Mohammad.

He is said to have gone into "occlusion" in the ninth century, at the age of five. His return will be preceded by cosmic chaos, war and bloodshed. After a cataclysmic confrontation with evil and darkness, the Mahdi will lead the world to an era of universal peace.

This is similar to the Christian vision of the Apocalypse. Indeed, the Hidden Imam is expected to return in the company of Jesus.

Mr Ahmadinejad appears to believe that these events are close at hand and that ordinary mortals can influence the divine timetable.

Yup: A couple of nukes for Isreal, then anything he can send at us. I'm tired of reading news stories about how Iran wants nukes so they can be a world player and affect regional politics. These people are out to kill us. They must be stopped, because they will not stop on their own. They are driven, and we must be equally driven, if not more so, to protect ourselves, our childern, and our freedom. Period.

Iran Threatens Full-Scale Enrichment.

2006-01-23T18:40:00.000-06:00

Iran Threatens Full-Scale Enrichment.

Iran upped the ante Monday in its nuclear standoff, warning that it will immediately begin developing a full-scale uranium enrichment program if it is referred to the U.N. Security Council.

Look, are we gonna play North Korea with these maniacs? Are we going to send Madeline Albright, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton over there to strike a deal while the French and the Russians are raking in millions setting up reactors for them? Come on: The U.N. is absolutely worthless dealing with any real crisis unless there is money to be pocketed.

It's time somebody in the White House read a couple of Tom Clancey novels and let some missiles fly. And what ever you do, don't tell anybody about it until the dust settles: We don't want the rats taking to their holes.

NBC Cancels 'West Wing' After 7 Seasons, and I don't care.

2006-01-23T18:36:00.000-06:00

NBC Cancels 'West Wing' After 7 Seasons because the ratings sucked. Do you suppose the ratings sucked because the American viewing audience is sick and tired of their T.V. spewing left-wing propaganda at them? Maybe.

Friday Night Food Thing 1.19.06

2006-01-19T17:58:00.000-06:00

I know that cold weather is going to hit us one of these days. This easy to cook, one pot dinner will help warm you up.

Chicken and Andouille Sausage Jambalaya

Serves 10

INGREDIENTS:
3 tablespoons peanut oil, divided
2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (A lot of seasoning blends have a lot of salt, so be careful. I recommend Paul Prudhommes Cajun Seasoning Salt, but remember to taste as you cook so you don't over salt.)
1 pound andouille sausage, sliced into rounds
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breast, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 onions, diced
2 small green bell pepper, diced
4 stalks celery, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 14.5 once can crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1-1/2 teaspoons salt (Remember: Taste as you cook. I don't want you to ruin this great dish!)
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons file powder (If you can't find it, don't sweat it. It adds a unique flavor and thickens little, but isn't necessary for great jambalaya. Bob's Produce Ranch in Fridley, MN has it.)
2 cups uncooked white rice
4 cups chicken broth

DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat 1 tablespoon of peanut oil in a large heavy Dutch oven over medium heat. Season the sausage and chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning. Saute sausage until browned. Remove with slotted spoon, and set aside. Add 1 tablespoon peanut oil, and saute chicken pieces until lightly browned on all sides. Remove with a slotted spoon, and set aside.

2. In the same pot, saute onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic until tender. Stir in crushed tomatoes, and season with red pepper, black pepper, salt, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce and file powder. Stir in chicken and sausage. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in the rice and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.

Enjoy!

The Bastard Report 1.18.06

2006-01-18T17:25:00.000-06:00

Okay. Step-Father Bastard beats little girl into a coma with a baseball bat. The State of Massachusetts, who is the legal guardian of the girl, wants to remove life support. The Step-Father Bastard is fighting to keep her on life support because if she dies, he gets charged with murder. I think the Bastard State is trying to remove life from the wrong individual in this case.

Former Teen Idol Bastard

Lying Bastard

Commie Bastard

Hillary Bastard Clinton
Check out were she goes on vacation: an old Jamaican plantation.

Enviromental Wacko Bastards.

If your going to be a left wing wacko, go all the way!

2006-01-18T16:39:00.000-06:00

This guy did: Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey

He leaves no doubts in your mind that he is, indeed, a nut case. When Ventura ran for governor, I had my doubts about his mental health. With this guy, no question at all. Here a a couple of jems from his site:

I am a Satanic Dark Priest, Sanguinarian Vampyre and a Hecate Witch. My Magikal Path name is: Lord Ares.

I despise and hate the Christian God the Father. He is my enemy.

I co-own two Covens: Kat's UnderWorld Coven and J & J's UnderWorld Coven of Minnesota, along with a Luciferian Church: The Church of the Followers of Lucifer. The members of the Covens are: Vampyres, Witches, Pagans, Wiccans, Satanists, Demons and Other Kin. I preach about unity and protecting the US Constitution, and all the beliefs our Founding Fathers fought and died for.

In August 1988, while visiting a relative, I met a girl who was totally taken by me and who I was. She was hott and sexy, so I drove her home that night on my bike, and slept with her. Though I do not regret sleeping with her, in 1996 I found that she was my half-sister who I hadn't seen since 1970. Talk about letting your ego get the best of you.

What comment can I make? His site has a lot of 'interesting' stuff, like a supposed friendship with Jeb Bush.

He wants to be Governor of Minnesota and run for President.

Yikes.

I'm...I'm in love.

2006-01-17T16:36:00.000-06:00

Bourbon-Pomegranate Molasses Beef Short Ribs w/ Broccoli Rabe

How could you NOT be in love. When I laid my eyes upon those ribs braised in pomegranate molasses and bourbon, dressed up with a little jalepeno heat, why, my heart just melted. I'm glad my wife seldom reads this blog, 'cause we'd be heading for counseling!

The only thing I would change is that I'd use beef stock instead of water, and if you can't find Broccoli Rabe, go with some Rosemary Roasted Potatoes or Rice.

Ray Nagin, Pat Robertson, and Jerry Falwell walk into a bar...

2006-01-16T21:14:00.000-06:00

Well...Ray decided to play all the left's greatest hits today in honor of MLK day: Racism, Iraq, and Hating America.

"Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it's destroyed and put stress on this country," Nagin, who is black, said as he and other city leaders marked Martin Luther King Day.

"Surely he doesn't approve of us being in Iraq under false pretenses. But surely he is upset at black America also. We're not taking care of ourselves."

Right. As soon as all that government money starts rolling in, they can take care of themselves. Until then, complain and demand.

"It's time for us to come together. It's time for us to rebuild New Orleans _ the one that should be a chocolate New Orleans," the mayor said. "This city will be a majority African American city. It's the way God wants it to be. You can't have New Orleans no other way. It wouldn't be New Orleans."

Ray Nagin: The Racist Prophet. Speaking for God. "A chocolate New Orleans". That's the way God wants it to be. No whites. No hispanics. Just blacks.

Can you believe that these people actually get away with saying this crap? Where is the out rage? Why aren't people speaking up in protest?

Because it was a failed liberal politician desperately trying to pad the vote so he can stay in power. And don't forget the millions of dollars that are going to be pouring into the area: you can't loose control of that money. Not in New Orleans, known for it's corruption.

In other New Orleans news, gunshots were fired during a New Orleans Unity Parade sending three people to local hospitals with minor wounds last Sunday. Thousands of people gathered for the festivity in support of the renewal of the city.

Well, pack my bags I'm heading for NOLA! Can't have a unity parade without shots fired!

Being a gourmand of sorts, I have always wanted to go to New Orleans. Not for Mardi Gras, but for the food. The wife and I were planning a vacation that would have involved dropping the child off at her sister's place in Texas and heading on over for the grand gourmet tour.

But now the 'mystique' is gone. All I can think about is the corruption, crime, and racism. I can cook the food myself, but there is something special about having it prepared and served to you. The atmosphere is essential, but the atmosphere down there no longer lends itself to enjoyment.

I think I'll wait until Ray Nagin is gone. Maybe I'll wait until they have a conservative government. After all, all the great Chefs have restaurants in Las Vegas now.

Helping out a friend.

2006-01-15T21:59:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine, Mark Van Steenwyk, is a pastor and church planter in the West Bank area of Minneapolis. The West Bank is an extremely diverse part of town and home to several colleges. Mark and his wife, Amy, not only minister there, but live there as well. I want to point out that the word "diverse" very seldom means "opulent, peaceful, and crime free". For someone like myself, who has lived most of their life in rural isolation and mountain foot hills, it blows me away that someone can throw themselves head long into such an undertaking. I have just started coming to grips with living in the suburbs, but I still long for the country life (cue the 'Green Acres' theme ).

So anyway, Mark is involved in this:

Consumerism is the driving force in our society —a spirit of our age. It is enmeshed within the fabric of our society. There are many critics to consumerism —those who are rightly concerned about the destructiveness of consumerism when it comes to economic justice or environmental issues. However, consumerism also reaches deep into the heart of American spirituality. Consumerism shapes the way we relate to each other, to our society, and to our God. Christians need to intentionally and carefully navigate our consumer culture, responding to its dangerous complexities with a deepening awareness of its promises and perils. The Conference on Christianity and the Consumer Culture will be both informative, fostering a deeper understanding of consumerism and its role within our society, as well as formative, providing strategies for faithful living in light of the promises and perils inherent to our consumer culture.

I'm asking that you check out his blog, their church website, and the link to the conference, and if it strikes you as something you could promote or be a part of, well, please do.

Also, if you feel led to do so, feel free to send money. Mark's time is best spent on ministry, not fund raising. Back in the '60's and '70's a lot of churches fled the inner city for the safety of the suburbs because they didn't know how to deal with diversity: hippies and minorities. They left a spiritual void in those communities, and if you go to one of those churches, now is your chance to help someone who is "picking up the pieces".

It's a good way to wash the feet of someone who is really out there doing the stuff.

Oh, Canada!

2006-01-14T08:54:00.000-06:00

Tax Payer Funded Study Recommends Repealing Polygamy Ban!

It's all for the children, of course:

A new study for the federal Justice Department says Canada should get rid of its law banning polygamy, and change other legislation to help women and children living in such multiple-spouse relationships.

Those kooky Kanucks!

"Why criminalize the behaviour?" Chief author Martha Bailey said in an interview. "We don't criminalize adultery.

"In light of the fact that we have a fairly permissive society ... why are we singling out that particular form of behaviour for criminalization?"

But there is a voice of reason (if you take out the same sex marriage part):

Another report for the project, also led by two Queen's University professors, dismisses the slippery-slope argument, saying that allowing same-sex marriages promotes equality while polygamous marriages are generally harmful to women's interests and would therefore promote inequality.

Liberal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said he has seen only a summary of the research reports, but already rejects lifting the criminal ban on polygamy.

"At this point, the practice of polygamy, bigamy and incest are criminal offences in Canada and will continue to be," he said from Montreal.

The report argues for the the protection of the rights of immirgrant women involved in legal polygamous marriages from Africa and the Arabic States. Rather than really helping them leave those repressive cultures and assimilate into Canadian culture, they would rather help the immirgrants maintain the staus quo. Oh, I forgot: Canada don't have a 'culture'.

The real problem here is that if they do lift the ban on polygamy, they aren't going to be flooded with African chieftains with multiple wives and rich Saudi princes with harems: they are going to be flooded with leftie wackos with high priced lawyers who have their eyes set on what is apparently the last bastion of family values left in the world. That's the United States, by the way.

Friday Night Food Thing II

2006-01-12T19:49:00.000-06:00

I can't claim this recipe as my own. I don't know where I got it, quite possibly while in Culinary Arts school. Anyway, it's one of my favorites and I use it a lot in my catering business and at home. Feeds 12.

Chicken Wild Rice Soup

This recipe is a series of fairly simple steps: Cook a white roux, sauté the vegetables, thicken the broth, and then stir it all together with some seasonings. The soup is then finished with cooked rice, chicken and whipping cream.

½ cup plus 2 tablespoons butter
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 cup diagonally sliced carrot
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/3 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
(or just use green pepper)
2 cups frozen white or yellow corn, thawed
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 medium jalapeno pepper
1 gallon (16 cups) homemade or canned chicken broth
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon white pepper
(or just use 1/2 teaspoon black pepper)
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (don't loose sleep over it if you don't have it)
¼ teaspoon cayenne
1½ pounds chicken breasts, cooked and diced (cook off the breast in the oven with a little salt and pepper, or cut up the breast and give them a quick saute. Don't over cook!)
3 cups cooked wild rice (You can find canned wild rice: 1 large)
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Make the Roux:
Heat butter in a skillet set over medium heat until hot. Stir in flour. Cook over low heat 2 minutes, or until mixture becomes a paste, stirring constantly — do not brown. Set aside

Heat chicken fat or butter in a large sauté pan set over medium heat until hot. Add celery, carrot, onion, green pepper and red pepper. Increase heat to medium-high; cook until onion is tender. Stir in corn, mushrooms and jalapeno. Cook until mushrooms begin to turn golden brown and shiny wet, stirring frequently.

Remove from heat. Bring broth to boil in an 8-quart stock pot. Stir in butter and flour mixture. Simmer until thickened, whisking like the dickens to prevent lumps. If you have lumps once it comes to a simmer, strain it. Or live with it. Stir in cooked vegetables, parsley, salt, black pepper, white pepper, nutmeg and cayenne. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
Add chicken, rice and whipping cream. Cook just until heated through.

Serves 12.

Bastard Report

2006-01-11T20:04:00.000-06:00

Iranian Bastards

Mexican Bastards

Commie Bastards

Stupid Bastard

Self-Righteous Bastard
(H/T: Cathy)

Stupid Terrorist Bastards

Mexico Demands U.S. Allow More Immigration

2006-01-10T19:11:00.000-06:00

Ya' know, the Mexican government has no spine what so ever. Stalin murdered and imprisoned all of his totally broke uneducated poor, politically incorrect ethnic groups, and criminals. So did Mao, Pol Pot, Mugabi, and a host of other despots. The Brits have there own dark history of dealing with the poor and non-British, and the US has had it's moments.

But the Mexican government, they don't even have the basic male body parts to do any of that. No, they look to the United States weak underbelly (it's porous borders, ineffectual catch-and-release immigration policies, and it's bleeding heart liberal politicians) and expect us to be a net to catch all of their refuse.

They whine about the U.S. wanting to control our borders as being inhumane because it separates families, but the real issue is that illegal immigration is the second largest industry in Mexico.

Mexicans working in the United States are a huge source of revenue for Mexico, sending home more than $16 billion in remittances in 2004, Mexico's second largest source of foreign currency after oil exports according to the country's central bank.

It's to bad that these poor are caught in the grip of a government system that is pretty much geared to keep them poor. Wait, that's what we call welfare!

Aguilar (V. Fox's spokesman) also said migrants "don't emigrate because they lack work, but rather for a series of other reasons, cultural reasons or better living conditions."

Yes. Other reasons. Lack of oppression. Oppurtunity. Better living Conditions.

Read the article here.

Day-O! Day-ay-ay-o! Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home.

2006-01-09T16:49:00.000-06:00

Harry Belafonte called President Bush "the greatest terrorist in the world".

I wrote a song about it.

Day-o, Harry's la-ay-ay-mo
Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, Surly Dave he say Hey-o!
Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home

Flew down south to see him a’thug
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)
For some wacko publicity stunt
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)

Hey Mr. Hugo mon, show me the camera
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)
Short little dictator dude, show me the camera
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)

He say, “George bush is a terrorist so’s his whole BUNCH!”
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)
I hate George W. Bush, now how ‘bout some LUNCH!
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)

Day, he say day-ay-ay-o
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)
Day, he say day, he say day, he Surly Dave he say Hey-o!
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)

Harry hasn’t had a hit song in many o’ years
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)
To make sure no one forgets him he kisses commie rears
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)

He say, “George Bush is a terrorist, so’s his whole BUNCH!
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)
I hate George W. Bush, and I'm out to LUNCH!
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)

Day, he say day-ay-ay-o
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he Surly Dave he say Hey-o!
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)

Hey Mr. Chaves please show me to the camera
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)
Short little dictator dude, show me to the camera
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)

Day-o, Harry's la-ay-ay-mo
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, Surly Dave he say Hey-o!
(Harry's a Commie and he ought to stay home)

Friday Night Food Thing!

2006-01-06T16:15:00.000-06:00

Alright!

The Nightwriter has his "Friday Fundamentals in Film".

Doug of Bogus Gold has his "Friday Fun Quiz".

Now Surly Dave presents (fanfare please): Friday Night Food Thing!

The purpose: To present useful, attainable recipes with accessible ingredients.

Though I'm posting the first one now, on Friday afternoon, I will in the future try to post them on Thursday night so you can make if grocery list. If you want.

With out further ado:

Chicken with Thai Peanut Sauce

I know. Your wondering where you are going to get Thai peanuts? Don't worry. Any natural peanut butter (no sugar added, definitely non of that peanut butter/jelly mix stuff)

Anyway, on to the ingredients list:

4 chicken breast, thinly sliced
1 bunch green onions
1 tablespoon canola oil (or what ever you usually use)
1 bunch cilantro (you won't use it all, but you can only buy it buy the bunch)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Juice of 1 lime, or a tablespoon out of one of those little lime shaped jugs.
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 cup chicken stock (No MSG please. It's for your own good that I tell you this)
pinch of red pepper flakes (depending on your heat level)

1 12 oz package thick spaghetti noodles (I highly recommend Barilla brand)
salt and pepper

***note on chicken stock: It freezes really well. Let's say you buy on of those quart jugs with the flip top lid? Shake it, open it up, pour out what you want and just pop the rest into the freezer. Then you have stock on hand for Wild Rice Chicken Soup! (Which I'll do in a couple of weeks) Otherwise, divide it up into zip top bags and freeze it.***

1. Is you chicken sliced? Good. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then wash the cutting board. You DO NOT want raw chicken coming in contact with anything other food stuffs. Washing the cutting board also helps remind you to get your hands clean. Make sure you wash the knife as well.

2. Next do the green onions at a bias (45 degree angle or more, about as thick as the chicken.

3. Chop up 2 tablespoons of cilantro.

4. Get a frying pan or saute pan heating on the stove top on medium high heat.

5. Get the spaghetti going per manufactures directions. (If you think your juggling to much, you can wait until the chicken is done before getting the spaghetti going).

6. Add oil, then chicken. After a couple of minute add half the green onions. Give it a stir every couple of minutes.

7. Mix the peanut butter, garlic powder, 1/2 the lime juice (add the rest 'to-taste' before serving), soy sauce and chicken stock together.

8. Once the chicken is done, turn the heat down to low. Sprinkle with pepper flakes, and half the cilantro, and then add the sauce.

9: Toss with the noodles, garnish with left over green onions and cilantro.

The peanut sauce recipe can be made with less stock or water to make a great dipping sauce as well.

Enjoy!

China Round Up!

2006-01-06T08:59:00.000-06:00

I thought it would be interesting to put up a bunch of news articles regarding China: The host of the 2008 Olympics, the great up and coming economy, the model of government oppression that we are being forced to accept because there is an opportunities to get in on the action.

Microsoft Shuts Down Chinese Blog

Can't loose the techno-foothold in China! What's the life of a man compared to a non-free market.

A blind activist in China and his family have been placed under house arrest for four months and he was beaten by thugs when he tried to venture out, after exposing forced abortions in his home province on the east coast.

Last 'Gang of Four' Member Dies.
Best quote: "Hundreds of thousands of people were driven to suicide after suffering mental and physical harassment by gangs of young Red Guards professing to follow Mao's teachings."

Now the BBC is helping the Chinese rewrite history.

China to keep population below 1.37 bln by 2010

40 million frustrated Chinese bachelors. Either the country is going to go totally gay, or Korea better lock up their women.

And lets not forget Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the worlds youngest political prisoner.

And George Bush let the NSA listen to the phone calls of people who want to kill us. Where is the outrage?

News and politics

Bummer...

2006-01-05T09:09:00.000-06:00

Home sick today. If you get the stomach bug that's going around, DRINK LOTS OF WATER, and don't eat anything.

On the bonus side: SciFi channel is running a Battlestar Galactica marathon of all of last seasons shows. I'm a bit of a scifi geek, so as long as I am laid out by some dreaded virus, I might as well be entertained.

Of course my boss is not impressed. I left work early yesterday because I was pretty much not functioning, but the boss would rather have me there infecting everyone than at home. I hate to say it, but I don't think this job is going to work out for me. I enjoy the making the product we make (architectural signage), but the owner of the company is, well, whacked. I know there is a problem when the artistic collides with practical, but I can't build a 'concept'. I can't read minds, and the boss can't make prints. So everything I build has to be rebuilt because of the boss's inability to properly express her vision. The saying around the shop is: "We build it nice because we build it twice." fortunately, I know it's not me. The company hasn't had a welder/ fabricator stay for more than a year in the last 6.

Oh well. I'll just start cruising the help wanted ads once again.

Riots! Gunfire! Curfew Imposed!

2006-01-04T14:49:00.000-06:00

Riots! Gunfire! Curfew Imposed! The Palestinians are being oppressed again! Their travel is being restricted, their right to work is being trampled on!

Hundreds of Palestinians streamed into Egypt on Wednesday after militants with stolen bulldozers broke through a border wall in the most brazen challenge to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' authority.

Oh wait! It wasn't the Israelis? It was the Egyptians?! What the... I'm incredulous that the Egyptians would erect fences to keep their Palestinian brothers out!

Hmmm:

Witnesses said as many as 1,000 Palestinians rushed into Egypt, but Egyptian Brig. Adel Fawzi, director of criminal investigations for North Sinai, put the number at 300. He said border police did not stop the intruders because they had no orders to shoot.

Raanan Gissin, an aide to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said the unchecked crossings are a violation of the agreement Rice negotiated.

"We will deal with any terrorism that emanates from their territory, and we know how to deal with it," he said.

Hmmm... The Egyptians fear terrorism from their Palestinian brothers? I'm shocked! Shocked I say! Let's see...

Fatah-affiliated vigilantes demanding government jobs or the release of imprisoned friends have been responsible for much of the anarchy, particularly since Israel's pullout from Gaza.

...demanding government jobs or the release of imprisoned friends...

Kind of sounds like the New York Mass Transit Strike: "We want respect, dammit, and money!!! Yeah, money and our friends out of jail!!!" or "Sorry Joe, we could have gotten you out of jail but instead they offered me a cush job at a government help desk."

"The Palestinian Authority is turning into the Palestinian Anarchy," Gissin told The Associated Press. "You have armed gangs that are controlling the fate of 3 million Palestinians."

No! Way! The Palestinian people have all ways been a peace loving people! A model of copasetic cohabitation with thier neighbors. Their government has been a model of stability! Look at the way they treat the parents of some silly, misguided little girl who gave her life for the Palestinians:

Palestinian gunmen burst into a Rafah house early Wednesday and tried to kidnap the parents of Rachel Corrie, who was killed in 2003 as she protested the impending demolition of a house in the southern Gaza town, according to a witness.

Poor Rachel: She gave her life for dysfunctional people and a seamingly anarachist state that can't even respect her parents for the foolish sacrifice of throwing herself in front of a bulldozer. And it's sad that there are 3 million Palestinians, 98% of which would probably love to just have a job, raise their kids, and live in peace. It's probably that 2% that's screwing it up for everyone else. I just can't imagine all the Palestinians being filled with the hate and rage so often exhibited.

Predictions for 2006

2006-01-02T17:57:00.000-06:00

I know. I'm late coming to the predictions game, it being January 2nd and all. But I'm going to give it a shot.

1: There will be unrest in the Middle East. Sand will be involved.

2: There will be clashes between major religious groups.

3: There will be major disasters that will be blamed on George W. Bush not signing the Kyoto treaty.

4: There will be major disasters where Jerry Fallwell claims it's God's wrath.

5: Fidel Castro will die. In his will he leaves Cuba to Hugo Chavez.

Series of long term predictions involving the Vikings:

Ziggy Wilf says he wants a winning team and money is no object. Here what I think is going to happen over the next 5 years:

A: He brings in good staff and players. Randy Moss is returned to Minnesota in shackles.

B: 2006 they go to the play-offs, 2007 the win the Super Bowl.

C: Public support swells for the Vikings, State financing for a stadium in Blaine comes through.

D: 2007-2010; the Vikes are major players in the NFL. The new stadium is built, Ziggy develops the surrounding area with half million dollar homes.

E: He also scores a deal to develop the Metro Dome site.

F: 2010: Ziggy rakes in a billion dollars from all the real estate deals, then sells the Vikes for about eight hundred million. Or he pulls a Poulad and milks the team dry. Over all, Ziggy makes a couple billion over the next 5 years. Money is, after all, the object.

When the Music Fades...

2006-01-01T13:25:00.000-06:00

When the Music Fades by Matt Redman

When the music fades,
All is stripped away, and I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself is not what you have required.
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear;
You're looking into my heart.

(chorus)
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about you
All about you Jesus.
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about you,
All about you Jesus.

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve.
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is yours, every single breath.

A Quiz! A Quiz!

2005-12-28T19:16:00.000-06:00

I don't do many of these. Okay, this is, like, my second. Here goes:

You are a
Social Conservative
(38% permissive)

and an...
Economic Moderate
(56% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Centrist

Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid
Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Okay. That wasn't bad. I just wanted to be the first kid on my block to do this one.

George Bush and John Kerry linked to Human-Train-Wreck Anna Nicole Smith!!!

2005-12-26T17:09:00.000-06:00

Let's review the facts stated in this article:

George Bush is from Texas.
Anna Nicole Smith is from Texas.
J. Howard Marshall II, Anna's deceased husband, was from Texas.

George Bush went to Yale.
Howard Marshall went to Yale.

George Bush has served in Washington.
Howard Marshall did as well.

For some reason, the author of the article found that was enough information to connect George Bush to the Human Train Wreck, Anna Nicole Smith. I say, if your going to make such leaps, go all the way:

George Bush went to Yale.
J. Howard Marshall went to Yale.
John Kerry Went to Yale.

George Bush has served in Washington.
J. Howard Marshall served in Washington.
John Kerry did as well.

John Kerry is a gigalo and opportunist, marrying millionaire Teresa Heinz Kerry.
Anna Nicole Smith is a, well, stripper, and opportunist, marrying millionaire J. Howard Marshall.

Teresa Heinz Kerry like to tell reporters to shove it.
Anna Nicole Smith likes to shove it into peoples faces.

It's pretty clear to me, using the logic used in the report, that if Anna eventually wins her dead husbands fortune, John Kerry will run off with her. If she eventually looses, she'll run of with Teresa Heinz Kerry.

Look at the facts.

Unto us a Child is Born

2005-12-25T09:14:00.000-06:00

“ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ”- Isaiah 9:6

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus

"1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

As my 3-year-old daughter remindeds us, Christmas is about Jesus. Presents are nice. Family is, well, err.. entertaining, but the reason for the season is indead a celebration of Christ's birth.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Attention Last Minute Shoppers!!!

2005-12-24T12:31:00.000-06:00

(Surly Dave sneaks up behind staple-faced teenage cashier with the attitude, slips a sack over his head and clubs him into unconsciousness, thus commandeering the microphone for the store's public address system.)

"Attention Last Minute Shoppers! Attention! Because you decided to wait until the last minute to do your shopping, with full knowledge that the place would be packed, knowing full well that the lines would be long, that the parking lot would be a mess: You forfeit your right to complain, protest, nitpick, grumble, whine, carp, or bitch about any of the fore mentioned situations. You brought this on yourselves, so loose the fricken' attitude!!!"

Merry Christmas

Five Weird Things I Do...

2005-12-23T16:53:00.000-06:00

The Night Writer has tagged me with a meme:

Since you're new to the MOB I thought I'd tag you with this "weird" meme that I got hit with. This one is pretty simple: create a post listing five weird habits you have or things that you do. It's up to you whether or not you want to tag anyone else.

Let me look at this through the lens of the Christmas Season:

1: The only way I can eat Lutefisk is if I cook it. Even then, I have a hard time with it.

2: I drove 65 miles to the Day Fish Company in Day, Minnesota, to buy Lutefisk today. Because they have good lutefisk. My wife says it's because I love her.

3: I purchased Limburger Cheese for a serious Christmas gift for someone. Someone I love.

(Surly's wife gives Dave a swift kick and takes over his top 5. But how to pick when this man of mystery (err misery) is full of so many weirdisms.)

4: Dave is currently sporting a holiday handle bar mustache that he "styles" with my expensive goopy molding mud (a hair product I often use to give my hair that messed up look). Honestly, the "Catfish Hunter" thing is growing on me ... ok so it is really growing on him, but I'm getting used to it. In my heart of hearts though, I hope he shaves it off as a New Years resolution (or at least before we see my family again).

5: This man loves food and cooking so much that one of his Christmas requests for 2 years in a row has been a rather pricey cookbook called the "French Laundry Cookbook" that he has the audacity to call "food porn" because of the gorgeous food photos between its covers, ... Well maybe this year, provided it turns him on so.

Boot to the Head...

2005-12-22T22:46:00.000-06:00

Don't you wish that you could mentally give morons a boot to the head from the comfort of your own home? Granted, it's not as fun as doing it in person, but you wouldn't have to worry about getting caught, going to jail, or worse, discovering the idiot is bigger than you and could deliver you a serious a** whopping.

Just think, you could be sitting, say, at your computer. And your reading a blog like, say, Peace Like A River, which in turn points you an interview with this total whack job: Hasan Hanizadeh. Excuse me, Dr. Hasan Hanizadeh, who works for the Tehran Times and frequently pens anti-American conspiracies, is the author of the book, The History of the Jews.

Host: "Were there six million Jews at all at that time, who could have been annihilated in the crematoria?"

Hasan Hanizadeh: "First of all, this figure is greatly exaggerated. The number of Jews in the world does not exceed 12 million. Only now, 57 years later, has it reached this figure. Clearly, at that time, considering the dispersion of the Jews, there could not have been six million Jews in Europe alone. In any event, the Zionist lobby and the Jewish Agency use this issue as a club with which they beat and extort the West.

"Unfortunately, the West has forgotten two horrendous incidents, carried out by the Jews in 19th-century Europe - in Paris and London, to be precise. In 1883, about 150 French children were murdered in a horrible way in the suburbs of Paris, before the Jewish Passover holiday. Later research showed that the Jews had killed them and taken their blood. This event caused riots in Paris back then, and the French government found itself under pressure.

"A similar incident took place in London, when many English children were killed by Jewish rabbis. These two incidents still haunt the minds and souls of the Europeans, but due to the growing influence of the Zionist lobby in Europe - or to be precise, the influence of the Jews - these two incidents are, unfortunately, never mentioned."

Two events THAT NEVER HAPPENED! (*Boot to the Head*)
Your are just following "The Protocols of Zion". (*Boot to the Head*)
A book that was propagated by the Soviet Union to turn the Muslims against the United States. (*Boot to the Head*)
Your just a freakin' tool. (*Boot to the Head*)

Aahhh. I feel better.

More Cooking with Beer.

2005-12-22T17:15:00.000-06:00

Still got some Leinenkugels Apple Spice Beer lying around? Try this:

1 rack of Baby Back ribs (or 2 lbs riblets)
2 bottles of Leinenkugels Apple Spice Beer
1 medium onion, chopped
5 sprig fresh thyme, or 1 tablespoon dried thyme
2 Bay Leaves
Salt and Pepper

Rub the ribs down with salt and pepper, then place in a dutch oven or large pot.
Add onion, thyme, bay leaf, and beer.
Add enough water just to cover.
Bring to a simmer, NOT A BOIL!!! Boiling toughens up the meat. A simmer is when the water has some bubbles coming up from the bottom and is just moving. About 185 degrees.

Cook until you can grab a bone and it just pulls right out, about an hour.

**Pay attention to how much moisture cooks out. You can reduce beer a little bit, but if you do to much, you will have a real bitter tasting concoction. If the beer reduces more than an inch while cooking, add water to bring it back up. Also, once it has been cooking for half an hour, taste the liquid. Is it to salty? Need a little more pepper? You can doctor it a little bit, but don't go over board.**

What the...? Mexico mad because we don't want unchecked migration?

2005-12-20T17:36:00.000-06:00

MEXICO CITY - The Mexican government, angered by a U.S. proposal to extend a wall along the border to keep out migrants, has struck back with radio ads urging Mexican workers to denounce rights violations in the United States. Facing a growing tide of anti-immigrant sentiment north of the border, the Mexican government is also hiring an American public relations firm to improve its image.

So, the Mexican government has money to throw around on public relations firms, but not enough to hire honest cops to chase corruption out of their government.

It's hard to underestimate the ill-feeling the proposal has generated in Mexico, where editorial pages are dominated by cartoons of Uncle Sam putting up walls bearing anti-Mexican messages.

Like what anti-Mexican messages? No Trespassing? If "No Trespassing" is a racist slur against Mexicans, then every farmer from here to the Dakota's is a racist S.O.B.

Fernando Robledo, 42, of the western state of Zacatecas, says the proposals could stem migration and disrupt families by breaking cross- border ties.

"When people heard this, it worried everybody, because this will affect everybody in some way, and their families," Robledo said. "They were incredulous. How could they do this, propose something like this?"

So...Is border jumping (BREAKING THE LAW!) such a part of the Mexican lifestyle that we jeopardizing their way of life? We are ruining their families by closing up the border? Even though they break the law, we should let them just come and go as they please? What's next, are they going to protest locks on doors?

He said many Mexicans felt betrayed by the anti-immigrant sentiment.

Excuse me: It's an anti-illegal immigrant sentiment.

"We learned to believe in the United States. We have a binational life," he said of Zacatecas, a state that has been sending migrants north for more than a century. "It isn't just a feeling of rejection. It's against what we see as part of our life, our culture, our territory."

Our Territory? The Mexican territory ends at the Rio Grande, buddy. This is the United States. If you want to live here, drop the 'binational' crap. If you don't like the way it is in Mexico, VOTE! Stop putting up with corrupt government. If you want to be here, do it the right way. File the paperwork. From what I understand, it's easier than most people realize.

The sense of dread connected with the measures is hardly restricted to Mexico. Immigrant advocacy and aid groups in the United States are worried about provisions of the House bill that upgrade unlawful presence in the United States from a civil offense to a felony.

"This is a sad foreshadowing," said immigrants rights activist Kathryn Rodriguez of the Derechos Humanos coalition in Tucson, Ariz. She fears the bill could expose those who help sick or dying migrants to criminal prosecution.

The House bill, passed on a 239-182 vote, would also enlist military and local law enforcement to help stop illegal entrants and require employers to verify the legal status of their workers.

Mexicans are outraged by the proposed measures, especially the extension of the border wall, which many liken to the Berlin Wall. Some are urging their government to fight it fiercely.

"Our president should oppose that wall and make them stop it, at all costs," said Martin Vazquez, 26, at the Mexico City airport as he returned from his job as a hotel worker in Las Vegas. "More than just insulting, it's terrible."

What do these people want? Is it so terrible that we don't want people wandering across our border when ever they please? Is it to much to ask that we want to know they are here and where they are? If you ask me, those who don't want to go through the paperwork and the system are suspect enough to be kept out. And kicked out.

Some guy named Otis...

2005-12-20T17:12:00.000-06:00

I was in the field today, in other words on a job site, installing some "Don't use the elevator if the building is burning down" signs. There was a lot of discussion with the elevator installers and inspectors as to what the legal sign is supposed to be and so on. Blah, blah, blah... After I got back to the shop the owner was is tizzy because the issue wasn't resolved and she was getting on me because some designer got it wrong.

Anyway, she yells at me, in front of everyone in the shop, "Who did you talk to? I need a contact person?"

I responded, "I don't know. Some guy named Otis."

Otis Elevators. Get it. Well, I didn't get fired, but she was not happy with me because everyone in the shop broke out laughing.

This just happens to be my 100 post! Yea!!! Wears the fanfare? The ballons?

Cooking with Beer!

2005-12-19T15:43:00.000-06:00

Got your attention? Good.

Let's say you wandered into a local bottle store looking for something new, different, holiday-e. And let's say you left with a six-pack of Leinenkugels Apple Spice Beer. You bring it home, crack one open, and now your wondering what the heck your gonna' do with the other 5 bottles.

Don't despair. Here's what you do:

Go to the store and get yourself 4 chicken leg and thigh quarters and some fresh thyme. Okay, you can use dried, about a teaspoon per chicken leg. Yes, you can use chicken breast, but try to use organic chicken. You may also use a whole roaster chicken, but I think the quarters are best for this application...ANYWAY....

Rub down the chicken with salt, pepper, and the thyme. Add a tablespoon of minced garlic.

Put the chicken in a sealable flat dish, or a large zip-top bag, and pour 1 bottle of beer in. Let it marinade for about an hour.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and place in a roasting pan. Save the marinade!

Now if you want to get gourmet here, this is what you do: before putting the chicken in the pan, chop 1 onion, 1 carrot, and 1 stalk of celery. Cut them all into about the same size pieces. Put that in the roasting pan and place chicken on top. Drizzle with olive oil.

Cook for about 45 minutes. How can you tell when it's done? If the meat and skin has pulled away from the knuckle at the end of the leg, and if you can twist the bone right out of the leg, it's done. Also check to see if the juice run clear.

When chicken is done, remove from pan and cover with foil.

Now, tilt the pan and see all the fat that collects? Using a small ladle or large spoon, try to get as much of the fat out as possible. You want to leave about two table spoons.

So now you have a pan full of onion, carrots, celery, and chicken fat. Place the pan on the stove top, turn on your burners to about medium, and cook the vegetables.

Once they are done, add 2 table spoons of flour and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add the marinade.

Once the sauce comes to a boil, taste the sauce. You should have an apple/thyme flavored sauce with just a hint of beer in the back ground. Add salt and pepper as desired.

Strain thru a wire mesh strainer, toss a teaspoon of butter on top and serve over the chicken.

For a starch, you could go with some classic mashed potatoes, or you could go with risotto (my favorite).

And I'd serve this with green beans, if I were you.

Went to a Blogger Party...

2005-12-18T20:45:00.000-06:00

When my wife and I arrived at Keegan’s Saturday, all we could find was a table tucked in the corner that had a sign that said "Only for groups of Four or more." Seeing that the place was packed, we decide to take the table and grab onto the next couple that where looking for a place to sit. The next "couple" just happened to be the Clan Stewart, of Night Writer fame.

First off, I have to thank Jon Stewart, for taking me around and introducing me to many of the bloggers at the MOB gala Saturday evening. I wasn't really sure how to approach having to go around and introduce myself to others, but Jon took care of that for me. While Jon took me around, his wife and mine hit it off. (Remember: Crème Brulee Bread Pudding!)

I really feel bad that I don't remember everyone I talked to. Or rather, yelled at. The place was kind of loud and after a few hours my throat was hatched. I'm only used to yelling for a minute or two at a time, and that's usually in traffic. And it's usually words you don't use in polite society. Of course, I wasn't sure if this was polite society, but I didn't want to take any chances.

My anonymity, courtesy of the internet, is pretty much blown. On more than one occasion someone remarked that I didn't really look that surly. Oh, and nice mustache.

I’ll have you know, when I’m wearing a chef’s coat, I’m quite the stud. The mustache is key.

Anyway, Jon took me on the rounds. I met Kevin Ecker. Kevin didn’t have the cold, steely look of the prairie dog slayers of my youth. Nor did he have the bulbous, Jimmy Duranty nose caused by years of alcoholism. But hey, he’s still young.

Others I met included Cathy of Cathy in the Wright, and Kathy the Cake Eater, and Doug’s wife, who I apologize, I can’t remember her name (**Got it: Mama Ellen**). I do remember she worked in food service for a number of years. Kathy the Cake Eater talks with her hands, which is okay unless she holding a drink. But that’s okay. Most of the time the glass was empty.

Let’s see…Who else? There was Ben from Hammerswing75 accosting people with a camera. If construction falls thru, he could have a career as a paparazzi.

Scott of Pinkmonkeybird.

Leo from Psycmeistr's Ice Palace.

Doug Crappie, of Crossword Bebop was there. He sat close by, close enough that I had to ask him to move so I could get out of my corner.

It turns out that at the table next to us was presided over by Mayor Doug of Bogus Gold. Of course, by that time I got over to talk to him, my throat was gone, and no amount of black and tan was going to revive it. All I could really get out was my name, blog-name and a "nice to meet ya."

There was the Nihilist. Learned Foot. The Flash. Mitch Berg. Brian “St. Paul” Ward and other Fraters Libertas folks who I didn’t have a chance to meet because they were surrounded by groupies.

There where a lot of people. I couldn’t really get my head around all the names. I hope nobody feels slighted if I don’t include them in this post.

About 8:00 the Stewart family wandered off to talk to others, and my wife and I decided to go do a little Christmas shopping while we still had a baby sitter.

It was a great evening, and we plan to attend more of the MOB get togethers.

New additions to the Blogroll...

2005-12-16T20:19:00.000-06:00

I've be adding some new sights to my Blogroll, and wanted to draw your attention to one in particular: Post Secret

You are invited to anonymously contribute your secrets to PostSecret. Each secret can be a regret, hope, funny experience, unseen kindness, fantasy, belief, fear, betrayal, erotic desire, feeling, confession, or childhood humiliation. Reveal anything - as long as it is true and you have never shared it with anyone before.

This is kind of a melancholy/bittersweet site that will have you scratching your head in disbelief to one persons secret, and then leave you deeply touched by anothers.

I did some checking around and the site appears to be legit, not just ran by one guy putting his own stuff out. I check it every couple of weeks or so, and I'm never disappointed. Perhaps I should post my own little secret?

Civil Unions

2005-12-15T20:16:00.000-06:00

Isn't great that civil unions give gay and lesbian relationships the legitimacy of marriage with all the legal protections and such? And if you can find a lefty watered down church that doesn't believe in sin you can even get a blessing that implies some sort of spiritual bond -- all the better.

And of course, when it all falls apart, after all the screaming for special treatment and to be recognized and excepted, you just say, "Hey, we're not so special after all".

Typos, typos everywhere...

2005-12-15T18:36:00.000-06:00

UPDATE: Pinky Monkey Bird was kind enough to point out:

"...you just want to band your head against the monitor because you have made a public display of your ignorance!"

I think you meant "bang your head".

Hope this helps.

It helps.

Thanks.

Saturday at the MOB get together up I will be the one with my head in a cast on my forehead.

Actually not. I laughed myself silly when I saw that my rant about typos had a typo. Absolutely Poetic.

Instead of a cast on my cranium, I will be the short, heavy guy with a handle bar mustache.

I hope to put some faces to the names, so don't be afraid to introduce yourself.

Fluffy white beautiful snow...

2005-12-14T19:25:00.000-06:00

Snow fell today. Lot's and lot's of snow. Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow. Fluffy white stuff every where.

Don't you hate it when you have a typo in a post and you don't notice it until it's been up for a couple of days? You know what you wanted to say, and your quick glance at the post seems to say what you wanted it to say, and you run the spell check and it seems to go well, then you're looking at your post and see the freakin' typo right in front of you and...

Fluffy white beautiful snow covering up the lawn maintenance you neglected towards the end of fall. Don't have to rake those leaves now!

...you see the freakin' typo right in front of you and you just want to bang (not band) your head against the monitor because you have made a public display of your ignorance!

AAARRRGGGG!!!!

Children building snowmen and making snow angels. Hhhmmm... Snow.

Tookie Williams must Die, or all Death Row Inmates Granted Clemency.

2005-12-11T13:14:00.000-06:00

Look, I believe in the death penalty in principle, though I believe our system is flawed and unfortunately, many innocent people are on death row. Not all of them are innocent, just a small percentage, but they are constantly over turning convictions with DNA evidence.

HOWEVER...When there is overwhelming evidence, that can not be denied, then I'm for it. Not just as punishment for the criminal, but as the government full-filling it's contract with the people that justice will be served.

Tookie has been publicly repentant for what he's done, but what about all the other repentant death row inmates who don't have famous lawyers and celebrities pulling for them? Is it justice to spare Tookie but let the next one up face his execution because his crime wasn't sexy enough to garner attention?

Some people blame him for starting a gang that lead to the deaths of hundreds of others thro gang warfare and crime. He didn't go to trail for that. He went to trail for killing four men, and was found guilty. That's his crime. All those other people who pulled triggers, swung bats, or stabbed someone need to be held accountable for their crimes, not to be let off the hook because Tookie started it.

Justice must be delivered on a level playing field. There can't be exceptions. If Tookie is granted a reprieve, then Schwarzenegger needs to grant it to all.

French Onion Soup for Thirty.

2005-12-09T13:01:00.000-06:00

10 lbs Sweet Onions (Walla Walla, Vadalia, or even Mayan)
1 1/2 sticks butter
9 quarts beef stock or broth. Get the good stuff: NO MSG!
1 Package of fresh thyme
6 to 8 bay leaves
3/4 cup flour
1 $10.00 Bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon
Kosher Salt and Pepper
1 fat loaf of French Bread
1 cup olive oil
2 lbs shredded Gruyere cheese

*Cut peeled onions in half, stem to root. You should now have a half-moon looking chunk of onion. Now, root end towards you and the stem end pointing away, position your knife about a quarter of an inch off the cutting board and slice toward the center of the onion, like trying to cut wedge. TA DA! That is called a French cut. If your doing 10 lbs of onions, repeat 20,000 times. Resist urge to open the wine.

*Once you are done, find the largest pot you have in to whole house. Probably one of the Cub Foods $10.00 things you used once to boil potatoes for Christmas. The bottom is probable really thin, so temperature control is vital! Your are not frying onions, you will be caramelizing them.

*Turn your burner on to medium low. Resist the urge top crank it up. Toss the butter in and once the butter is melted, add the onions. For this many onions, add a couple of table spoons of kosher salt, give it a stir, put a lid on and let it sweat for 10 minutes. Not need to stir. Yet.

*Update blog.

*After 10 minutes, give it a stir and cover for another 10 minutes.

*Update blog.

*Remove cover. Watch carefully. Over the next hour to hour and a half, you'll want to stir the onions every so often. If they look like they are getting dry, add a 1/4 cup of water. Once again, resist the urge to crank up the heat. Caremalization of onions is an exact science, and not to be taken lightly.

*Update blog.

*About a hour into it, you onions will start to darken up. What you are looking for is a deep brown, like mahogany. Think dark brown sugar. Even darker than that.

*Update blog.

*Once the onions have achieved their goal, add the flour and coat evenly. Cook for a couple of minutes, then add the wine. The whole bottle. Turn the heat up to medium, and reduce the wine/onion mix to a sticky syrup.

*No blog updating now. Only cooking soup.

*Add stock, thyme and bay leaves. If you have any cheese cloth, make a little pouch for the thyme and bay, other wise tie it all together with a string or be prepared to fish it out later.

*Bring it up to a simmer, then hold for about a half hour.

*While the soup is in a holding pattern, make some croutons: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Slice French bread into 30 1/3rd inch slices, sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Toast til crisp. Crank up the broiler. Sprinkle cheese on top and broil for about 4 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls, then float the cheese covered crouton on top.

*Serve. You can thank me latter.

NOTE: When serving this much soup it is important to stir the soup with the ladle before every serving. Make sure it's stired up so everyone gets a equal amount of soupy goodness.

Pretty Light Blogging...

2005-12-06T21:27:00.000-06:00

for the rest of the week. I have two catering gigs coming up: one Friday night and one Saturday afternoon. Between that and my regular full time job, all my time is consumed. In fact, I should be in bed right now so I can get up a 5:00 am to go to work.

Wasted Life (The Funeral of George Best)

2005-12-04T15:14:00.000-06:00

George Best is considered a 'Soccer God' over in the UK and Europe. He was also a notorious alcoholic who continued to drink even after a liver transplant. Not to mention numerous divorces, some wife beating, some time in prison, and a few kids scattered about. His favorite comment of himself was "I spent 90% of my money on women, drink and fast cars. The rest I wasted." He retired from soccer at 27, and the rest of his life was wasted.

100,000 people came out to his funeral. People lined the streets throwing flowers and crying for the man. For what? There should be tears for the years wasted and the opportunities squandered. His natural talents on the field really meant nothing. It's sad that people would worship him.

Curious Hamster had this to say:

"It is, I think, a symptom of a serious illness in society. We have come to celebrate the superficial above all else. Fame, money and good looks are feted as the pinnacle of human achievement. It is shallow, empty nonsense and it is, ultimately, extremely unhealthy."

I find celebrity worship to be, well, nauseating. Just because someone can act, sing, or throw a ball well doesn't qualify them for deification. And as Hollywood as shown us numerous times, being famous does not qualify someone to expound on politics and social events. How often have we seen people who are sleazy worshipped just because they have good looks, money, or fame. Granted, if it's money earned through capitalism, they are vilified.

Pretty shallow if you ask me.

Norm Coleman Responds!

2005-12-01T21:43:00.000-06:00

A couple of weeks ago I posted a copy of a letter I sent to Senator Norm Coleman expressing my disappointment and angst that the Republican majority are playing footsie with the democrats. I told him I was upset over the inaction concerning ANWAR, closing the borders, getting justices confirmed, so on. I told him that I was thinking of leaving the party, or at least I wasn't going to give a penny until the Republicans started acting like a majority. Today, I received his well thought out response.

Dear X:

Thank you for contacting me concerning harp seal hunts in Canada.

As you may know, the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans prohibits taking harp seal pups during the country's annual hunts. I expect Canada to enforce its laws to ensure that harp seal pups are protected, and I will closely monitor this issue thanks to you bringing it to my attention.

Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me. I value your input. If I can be of further assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate

Doesn't it just tug at the old heart strings that a busy Senator would take time to address the concerns of one of his constituents?

Catholic Church bans Gay Priest.

2005-11-30T20:58:00.000-06:00

First off, I am not Catholic. I am a conservative evangelical. Second, I try not to 'do' religion here on this blog because I have been thinking about starting a religious blog. Actually, I have one, but it is sorely neglected.

But this morning I was on my way to work and caught a little of Bill Bennett's show, where he was talking about Andrew Sullivan going ballistic over the Catholic Churches decision to ban gay priest.

I just want to comment on a few of his statements from this article:

Go watch a gay rugby team compete in a regional tournament with straight teams and you will see how vast but subtle the revolution has been. And, in fact, this is the trend: gay civil associations in various ways are interacting with parallel straight associations in a way that leaves their gay identity more and more behind. They're rugby players first, gay rugby players second.

I don't think of Christians as "hyphenated". Either you is, or your in the process of becoming. To separate your self by hyphenation: gay-Christian, black-Christian, charismatic-Christian, adulterer-Christian, is to really display what is most important in your life. The problem I have with gays who protest the church for equal rights is that they are more concerned about being gay than they are about being Christian. They are seeking to be validated, and the harder stance the church takes, the more riled up they get because the church refuses to accept the practice of homosexuality as normal.

And so the Catholic church accelerates its turn toward authoritarianism, hostility to modernity, assertion of papal supremacy and quashing of internal debate and dissent. We are back to the nineteenth century. Maybe this is a necessary moment. Maybe pressing this movement to its logical conclusion will clarify things. But those of us who are struggling against what our Church is becoming, and the repressive priorities it is embracing, can only contemplate a form of despair. The Grand Inquisitor, who has essentially run the Church for the last few years, is now the public face. John Paul II will soon be seen as a liberal. The hard right has now cemented its complete control of the Catholic church. And so ... to prayer. What else do we now have?

Look...I don't want a church whose doctrine is under the influence of an out spoken minority. I don't want a church that is moved by the whims of what ever is politically correct. The church should be a rudder, not a sail. Andrew Sullivan is trying to change the church politically, and the church, all churches, should be above that.

It's a full-scale attack on the reformist wing of the church. The swiftness of the decision and the polarizing nature of this selection foretell a coming civil war within Catholicism. The space for dissidence, previously tiny, is now extinct. And the attack on individual political freedom is just beginning.

Once again, he looks at the church as a political institution. Apparently the church is supposed to take polls whenever it makes a decision, but Andrew won't recognize the polls anyway because most people don't endorse homosexuality as a lifestyle choice.

He wants the church to exist in his realm, his box. He doesn't want anyone telling him how to live.

Maybe if he practiced his religion with out the political motivation, his eyes might be open to other things.

How to conclude? How do I draw all this together? I think I said it best when I said: The church should be a rudder, not a sail.

News and politics

Just what Third World Countries Need...

2005-11-29T13:12:00.000-06:00

Space Technology! That's right! Why worry about things like civil rights, education, housing, water, you know, the drab little things when you can have something as super sexy as your own satellites and having your own launchers?

Iran has major ambitions in space, looking to show off its technological abilities, monitor its neighborhood _ where the United States has hundreds of thousands of troops, and establish itself as a regional superpower.

Iran's economy is based on oil and it's major industries are the development of weapons of mass destruction, and, like most dictatorships, the state itself. Most economic activity is controlled by the state. The religion is the state, so you have all the imams (sp?) on the government payroll, all the university staffs are on the pay roll, just about everybody who works. However, even after socking away $30 billion due to high oil prices, they do nothing to relieve people from the hardships of unemployment, poor utilities, so on. The only private sector jobs are small neighborhood works shops, farming, and such. They even have a shortage of skilled labor because their colleges are nothing more that indoctrination centers. If you are lucky, and your family is connected, you might get to go to Russia or China for school.

But they have $30 billion tucked away. What are they going to do with all that money?

Well, the Russians are happy to help:

Russia, which has helped the Iranians with their nuclear program, appears to be the main partner in transferring space technology to Iran.

"Nuclear officials told us that they don't have a good experience of dealing with Russia," said Talebzadeh, referring to Moscow's slowness in completing a nuclear power plant in Iran. "But countries we can obtain technology from is limited. And we can't ignore the fact that Russia is a world leader in space technology."

You can always count on the Russians to come to the aid of a despotic dictatorship that has no interest in helping it's own people. And if your are bent on military supremacy and the destruction of your neighbors, well, they are always happy to vicariously relive the 'good ole days' through you.

Well, as long as the money flows.

News and politics

A Friend in Need..

2005-11-28T21:26:00.000-06:00

My friend Uncle Ben at Hammerswing75 ask for prayer:

Horrific News
This post is going to be difficult to write. Four civilians were kidnapped in Iraq on Saturday. I haven't been able to find lots of details, but here is the general story, which is:

Norman Kember, a retired professor from Pinner, north London, was abducted with two Canadians and an American in Baghdad on Saturday. Mr Kember, a grandfather in his 70s, had traveled to Iraq last week on a peace mission.

Mr. Kember is a good friend of my parents and a longtime member of my Granny's church, Harrow Baptist. I remember seeing him a few years ago when I was stopped by in England to visit my Gran. We were at the church and he came over for some conversation. "I remember when you were this tall", putting his hand down by his knees. He is an extremely nice man who went out of his way to be friendly. His wife Pat, who possesses an equally wonderful character, must be in absolute shock.

My parents have asked for my prayers. There will be many. I, in turn, am asking for yours. I hope that there will be many.

I haven't even had time to get angry at the people who have done this. For the time being that isn't important. Our prayers are. Thanks

P.S. Please ask others as well.

Update: Mom has provided a further link, which includes a picture.

Before I let it go...

2005-11-28T17:06:00.000-06:00

MOB Mayor Doug has appointed me, with much fan fare: "Official Chef (and a damn fine one at that) to the Office of the Mayor". I don't know how I will carry out the duties of my office, but I have some ideas: I was thinking of doing some sort of "MOB" charity event this spring or summer, either go upscale or a good old fashioned Texas BBQ. If anyone of my regular readers (both of you) have any ideas, send them along.

Crosley Radio Blog of the Week Nominee!

2005-11-25T21:06:00.000-06:00

That's right! Surly's Soap Box is in the running for the Crosley Radio Blog of the Week! So if you like what your see here, please vote for me. Or if you don't like what you see else where, vote for me. Or if you just stumbled upon my site and don't have a clue as to what's going on because it's two-in-the-morning and your in some sort of surfers trance, go vote for me.

Seven Deadly Sins of Blogging (Or, "I'm going to blogging hell")

2005-11-25T13:20:00.000-06:00

Apparently, I am doomed to blogging hell. GreatNexus (via Van S) has come up with a list of the Seven Deadly Sins of Blogging. They are (with excerpts):

1. Using Free Blog Hosting Services

I have nothing against free blog hosting services like Blogger, Live Journal, or TypePad. If you are doing it just for fun, or just want to give blogging a try, these services are highly recommended. For those of us that take blogging a little more seriously, I think it is essential to run a good blog software with your own domain name and professional hosting.

Come on now. Technorati is tracking 21.8 million blogs as of this morning, ranging from silly little blogs like, well, this one, to powerhouse blogs like Captains Quarters. I think that a lot of the add-ons and do-dads that professional software and professional hosting are cool, but a lot of it is just plain distracting. When it comes down to it, you want to be able to read what someone has written with out having to wade through a bunch of crap like advertising and wish-lists. It's the content that matters, whether its humorous or hard hitting, and it doesn't matter who hosts it.

2. Ignoring the Basic Principles of Good Web Site Design and Usability

It really doesn'’t matter if you do everything right, if the first thing a user sees is a badly designed site in neon colors cluttered with flashing graphics and laced with background music they will leave. Off the top of my head, here are some design and usability things to do and avoid:

Things to do

* Pleasant color combination,— i.e., no neon or flashy color
* Clean layout with plenty of white space
* Logical navigation system with clearly marked section and subsections
* Prominent and scannable titles and group labels Ã— i.e., users should be able to quickly read through the headings to understand the content of the page
* Fast load time,— i.e., 5 seconds or less. Any longer and you risk losing your visitor

Things to avoid

* Overuse of flashing graphics and animation
* Background music with no option to turn off
* Broken links
* Under construction sign.

I agree with this one, particularly about dead links or blogs that haven't been updated, in, oh, 6 months or so. Bloggers should go through their links once and a while and clear off the slackers. It's funny, once in a while I'll go to the TTLB Ecosystem to see what blogs I group up with and find that some of them haven't been updated in over a year! Wait, that's not funny, that's pathetic! I rate below an unupdated blog about a teenage transexual?

I think I need to be alone for a while.

3. Being the Jack Of All Trades

Blogging is very much like magazine publishing. Have you seen a sport magazine featuring Thanksgiving recipes or comparing the top ten baby strollers? I donÃ’t think so. People read blog because they are interested in a particular subject. If your blog does not focus on a subject, a person, or a thing — then you risk hurting your blog popularity.

The better thing to do is focus one subject and be the master at it. Start with the subject that you find most interesting and write a few short posts expressing your thought or commenting on something you’ve read. As your expertise grow, do some research and write longer articles to establish your authority on the subject.

If you are multi-talented and have many things to blog about, create one blog for each subject.

Let see, I have posted on everything to how much Jimmy Carter sucks as an expresident, posted gourmet menadvertisedized my catering company, and whined about going back to work. If I wasn't a "jack-of-all-trades", I would hardly have anything to post at all.

4. Not Posting Regularly

My rule of thumb is to publish at least one post per day, more if possible. Without a regular publishing schedule, it is very hard to establish loyal readers. Beside, I found that the more I post, the more traffic I get.

When I was 'selfunemployed', I had lots of time to post, often two or three times a day. Life has changed, and I don't have the time to blog has I once did. If either one of my regular readers feels put of by this, well, HELLO! It's just a blog! I have fun writing it, you have fun reading it, once in a while someone get's annoyed, once in a while someone feels inspired. If I started getting speaking engagements or had my own talk radio program, that would be different. There would be a whole lot more people getting annoyed.

Imagine this scenario: You are an avid newspaper reader and you have a choice between two equally well-written newspapers.

1. Newspaper A publishes daily and you can always get an issue first thing in the morning
2. Newspaper B publishes whenever they want to — sometimes you see 4 publications in a day, sometimes a week will go by before you get a new publication

Which would you choose? Personally, I would choose A. If you are a wise guy and say both, then which newspaper do you think sells more copies? I believe the answer is A. I hope you see the importance of regular posting from this example.

21.8 million blogs. If they like your blog, they'll keep checking back. If you know your not going to be posting for a while, just say something. Blog surfers are incredibly loyal to their favorite blogs.

5. Publishing Badly Written Posts

I am not saying that you have to be top-notch and write like William Shakespeare or JK Rowlings. I am not saying that you have to be a top-notch writer, or internationally renowned like William Shakespeare or JK Rowlings. In order to attract readers and build credibility, your writing has to be decent…below is a quick checklist:

* Your writing clearly and effectively convey thoughts and ideas
* Your writing has minimal grammatical and spelling errors
* Your writing has good structure and flow

Also, if you are stating facts and statistics in your post, make sure the information is well researched.

I can pretty guarantee that if you did write in the style of Shakespeare you're blog would probably tank. You'd attract maybe a hundred of so Shakespeare geeks, and you'd have way more traffic than I do.

And bad grammer, spelling, and flow are my style.

6. Spamming and Stealing

To be successful at blogging, you need more than a good site and great writing. Unless you are already exceptionally well known, success in the Blogosphere is all about networking and community. Do not try something that would hurt your reputation and relationship with the blogging community. For example:

* Don’t comment spam other people blog — do write thoughtful comment pertaining to the subject at hand
* Don’t spam via trackback and pingback — do use trackback and pingback when you write about other people’s posts
* Don’t copy other people work and post it as your own — do use short quotes and excerpts to add to your own posts
* Don’t attack other blogger’s work and opinion — It is okay to disagree on something and present your viewpoint, but don’t be respectful and say something non-constructive like; “That guy is really stupid and don’t know what he is talking about”

I have actually had a post stolen. On Blogger, you can change the date and time you posted. I'm sure you can do it with any program, but this one site that I read regularly unexpectedly posted my post (with a few changes) an hour before I actually wrote it. It get's even stranger, because when I read that site two hours after making my original post, he had nothing. The next day, however, there was my post dated and timed for an hour before I actually wrote it, on his site. Weird, huh?

7. Failing to Establish a Personality

There are a lot of blogs out there, therefore you need to establish a personality. You cannot succeed as another John Doe Blogger, because readers can read the other million John Doe’s Blogs. These are some of the easy things that you can do immediately to establish a personality.

* You should have your biography and photo on the blog so that your readers can establish closer connection to you as a person.
* You should establish your stance and viewpoint on the subject your blog is focusing on. This is like politic. Your readers should know if you are left-wing or right, pro-life or pro-choice, etc.
* You should have original posts with your own idea and opinion. Minimize the number of link and comment posts. If all you post say, “hey look what I found over there (link), I think it’s great and you should look at it”, then you will eventually lose all your readers because you have nothing original to offer.

I've got plenty of personality to go around. And I'm unique to boot! All around fun guy. I keep my identity some what secret for my wife's sake. She is worried about the ramifications of her family finding out I'm not a brainwashed union commie drone. I think they suspect something all ready, but she doesn't want them finding a paper trail.

I know there’s a lot of other mistakes and things to avoid. However, I found these to be the most critical to a blog’s success. I hope this post help you better your blog.

Smug, isn't he With all his knowledgee and traffic, telling people how to run their blogs. But over all, there was a fair amount of good information to be had.
Maybe I'm not going to blogging hell after all.

Where is the Black Pit of Despair?

2005-11-25T09:07:00.000-06:00

Hmm...

"The economy in Florida is the healthiest in the nation," said Rick McAllister, president of the Florida Retail Federation, which said Wednesday that retailers expect sales this holiday season to increase by more than 6 percent over last Christmas.

"Unemployment rates are the lowest that we've seen in three decades and job growth is double in Florida what it is across the nation," McAllister said.

via Local 6 News

Where is the devastated economy? I'm still waiting for the black pit of despair and depression caused by tax-cuts and hurricane to totally sink this country. Well?

On a personal note, when I went out looking for a job, I sent out ten resumes and got 6 job offers. This shouldn't happen in a depressed economy.

I guess the black pit of despair is in the democrat's hearts. Now if the Republican's would just drive it home and act like the majority party and get stuff done.

Another Menu.

2005-11-25T08:45:00.000-06:00

Well, my plea for an appointment to Mayor Doug's cabinet has gone unanswered. I post another mouth watering menu to entice.

Let's see...

Japanese Cucumber Salad with Ginger, Cilantro, Mint and Rice Wine Vinegrette
Seared Tuna with Grated Ginger and Chives on Wasabi Mashed Potatoes
Chocolate Mousse Petit Fours

There you go, Doug. There you go.

I'm thankful! Really, I am!

2005-11-24T11:21:00.000-06:00

Yadda,Yadda,Family,Yadda,Yadda,God,Yadda, Friends,Yadda,Yadda,That I live in the greatest nation on the planet,Yadda,Yadda,Wife and Daughter,Yadda,Yadda,and mostly I'm grateful that weasels aren't six feet long. Have you seen what a weasel does to a chicken? They are like little vampires. Can you imagine going on a walk through the park and this six foot long weasel jumps out of the brush and latches on to you neck? I'm very thankful that they are measured in inches, not in feet.

**UPDATE**

Uncle Ben from Hammerswing75 points out: You're thankful that there aren't giant weasels? Surly Dave!, surely you've heard of the Democrat party? I am thankful that I don't take walks through parks because here in MN they would surely jump out and "chicken" me. (Note to self, buy firearms.)

I would like to add that these the Democrate Weasels don't go for the throat because the real buying power is in the wallet. Of course, if you follow the thread out farther, you can conclude that the Democratic Party is a pain in the... well, you get it.

Having Fun this Thanksgiving and Defending Yourself Against Lefties.

2005-11-23T21:18:00.000-06:00

Heading out to the crazy in-laws for the traditional turkey sacrifice? Thrilled about sitting next to slack jawed toothless yokel relatives you haven't seen in years, or didn't want to see? Maybe it's not the inlaws: maybe it's your own family? (I'm NOT implying anything here!) Maybe playing some Thanksgiving Bingo will take the edge off.

Perhaps you've had a political conversion of sorts. Maybe you were a Wellstone Democrat who one day woke up to that fact the Liberals, Commies, and Socialist elitist are blowing nothing but smoke and if they have their way, they will be sipping lattes while everyone else is toiling under the rule of a Stalinist taskmaster named Abdul. Maybe one day you stumble across the Hugh Hewitt show hear, quite possibly for the first time, logic and reason applied to politics. You found your emotionalism and liberal white washing (as in sepulcher) eroding away as Hugh's velvety smooth voice humorously mocked John Kerry's famous "First I voted for it, then against it " speech, plays Wellstone saying he won't run for a third term a 1000 times, and spars with James Lileks on a weekly basis.

And now your heading home.
Conservative.
Republican? Perhaps.
In favor of tax cuts.
Pro-military.
Anti-Abortion.
ANWAR? Drill away, baby.

And perhaps the worse: You support the war in Iraq.

And your scared. You don't want to get caught up in some heated emotional exchange that could forever mar your relationship with your family. But you don't want to be a Republican Senator... err, I mean wuss about things either. How do you stand up to the "Bush Lied, People Died" crowd?

Our buddy Hugh comes to the rescue: Hugh Hewitt's 12 Step Program for Defending Your Position On the War in Iraq.

Knowledge is Power.

By the way, Happy Thanksgiving.

Congratulations Doug at Bogus Gold!

2005-11-21T20:17:00.000-06:00

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Doug at Bogus Gold on his recent election, or should I say, elevation, to Mayor of the Minnesota Organization of Bloggers (MOB). I would also like to take this opportunity to suck up to Doug, as I am seeking an appointment has “Official Chef to the Office of Mayor of the Minnesota Organization of Bloggers (MOB)”, or some other long, flowery, yet stately sounding position.

Until I get such appointment, I will daily (3-4 times a week) post a mouth watering menu (with an occasional wine pairing? maybe) to tempt Doug with the possibility that I may actually cook such a meal for he and his cabinet at some future event. Maybe.

So I am seeking the assistance of my loyal readers, all 3 or 4 of you, to rally behind me and petition Doug to appoint me. Of course I realize I may actually have to cook a meal sometime, but it’s a chance I’ll have to take.

TODAY”S MOUTH WATERING MENU:

Spinach and Dried Fruit Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing.
Fruit Salsa Glazed Game Hen on a bed of Chipotle Sweet Potatoes with Farm Fresh Haricot Verts.
Mixed Berry Trifle

Is your mouth watering Doug? Is it? IS IT? Then wash that entrée down with a 2004 Maryhill Gewurztraminer.

Resistance is futile. Err... I mean, "At your service."

Where is the real 'quagmire'?

2005-11-20T21:31:00.000-06:00

A Trainwreck in Maxwell has a pretty good take on the real military quagmire our country in in.

The Horror! The Horror!

2005-11-18T21:26:00.000-06:00

It's horrible to see the effects that oil drilling and pipe lines is having on the caribou in Alaska. The horror of it all. Go to Psycmeistr's Ice Palace to view the destruction.

Then watch the personal break down of a man as he struggles to defeat BIG TOBACCO!

Is there no hope? The Maid from Missouri cries out for a hero!

But some have found something to sing about. Hope is indeed on the way.

I think I'm going to leave the Republican Party. (Copy of Letter sent to Norm Coleman)

2005-11-17T19:26:00.000-06:00

Norm,
I think I'm going to leave the Republican Party. See, I want to elect someone who will use the power that the people gave them to accomplish the will of the people, protect them, and of course, protect the constitution. I know I'm sounding a bit old fashioned here, but hey, if the people you vote for and help get elected aren't going to do the stuff that you elected them for, then why bother?

But I wouldn't be fooled into not voting. No, No, No. I'm just saying that I think I'm going to go shopping for a new party, one that is conservative and if put in power will take advantage of it!

I'm tired of the lame-o republican senators (small 's' on purpose) who are handed a victory, a majority in the senate, only to show their true colors as Dem's in Disguise. I mean, come on now! We (Conservatives) should be sticking it to the liberals every chance we get! What do we get? Wide open boarders, McCain tying the hand of our intelligence services, Coleman and Kennedy wimping out on ANWAR because they are afraid of offending people who wouldn't vote for them in the first place.

How come nothing is being done to seal up our borders?
Why do you fear the filibuster?
Why don’t you challenge the idiots who are propagating to “Bush lied” crap?

Would you get over yourself! You being in office is not as important as getting the job done.

That it. No more money. I'm done.

Swift and Merciless Justice

2005-11-15T20:36:00.000-06:00

I heard this morning that some people think we need to understand the woman who failed to blow herself and a bunch of innocent people into small pieces in Jordan a couple of days ago. Listen closely so you don't misunderstand:

SHE IS A TERRORIST!

SHE WAS INTENT ON MURDERING INNOCENT PEOPLE!

In this day and age, there is no "understanding" these people: There is swift and merciless justice that instills fear into those who would bring about such horror. The people who contemplate such atrocities must go to bed every night with a sense of impending doom, that the axe could fall at any minute. This woman can not be made a hero as the far left will try to do: she pulled the trigger, and the trigger didn't work. A failed attack doesn't release her from justice.

I just had to rant. Thank you.

10 Things Not To Say During The First Couple of Days at Your New Job.

2005-11-10T19:59:00.000-06:00

Here's a list of things not to say during the first couple of days at your new job:

1: "Greenday? Do I look like a drug addicted, addle brained commie?"

2: "I heard that this is a diverse place to work: (in a Col. Klink German accent) 'Da longer you verk here, da verse it gets!'."

3: "Kurt Cobain? I listened to some of his music, and you know, I think he did the right thing."

4: "Tongue ring? Is there some one around here I can trust?"

5: "Did you hear about the peanut? He was assaulted!" (Laugh very loudly)

6: "I could try to explain to you why I don't like professional wrestling, but you wouldn't understand."

7: "Why wouldn't the sesame seed leave Las Vegas? He was on a roll!" (Laugh hysterically. Toss in a snort of two)

8. If you see a #3 or any NASCAR shrines, make sure you mock it: "Nascar is obviously the result of inbreeding. I mean, 'hey, lets watch the 'purty' cars go round in circles for hours'. Only people whose parents swam in the same gene swamp could come up with that."

9: "Karl Rove pulled some strings to land me this job."

10: "You know, my last boss liked to tell me what to do until he ended up in one of those CIA black sites."

Humor Work

Worse than Commies...

2005-11-09T20:54:00.000-06:00

...the KQRS Morning Show. I dislike socialism, communism, and leftie sediments in general. With France burning and Europe catching fire, terrorism, and so many other real issues, Tom Barnard and the White Trash Morning Show go on about lesbian cheerleaders. Then some whack job bimbo calls in to brag about her own encounter, and the call screener gets all hot for her phone number. All this on the radio, in the morning. I don't know whether to be insulted by the shows content or the fact that this show DOMINATES the Twin Cities market. (I know, some one will say "just turn it off". I work in a shop with other people and everyone gets their day with the radio) Is Minnesota that low brow that this kind of crap gets constant air play? Is this the lowest common denominator in our society? Sad, sad, sad.

The Soviet Union fell...

2005-11-09T20:42:00.000-06:00

...but Communism lives on. Christi at Common Sense America has an excellent post linking the subversive communist movement to the resistance of teaching Intelligent Design in school. Is there a communist plot to subvert American values? There is indeed, and if you deny it, you are a fool.

Bad Walmart! Bad!

2005-11-07T19:22:00.000-06:00

Walmart.  The mega conglomerate that capitalist love and socialist revile.  My father in-law falls into the socialist camp, and when ever we get together, he has to bring up Walmart as the source of small town collapse and legions of underpaid and uninsured.

“Oh!  Evil Walmart is coming to town and it’s going to drive all the local stores out of business.”

“Walmart doesn’t provide insurance to their employees.  It juggles the hours to keep people from working full time.”

“Bad Walmart!  Bad!”

I’m from a small rural community so I know this:  Those small town stores weren’t paying much more than minimum wage, and they weren’t providing insurance. Usually when Walmart comes to town they end up driving the crappy little Pamida’s and  other little discount stores out of business.  The thing these people won’t admit to is that people vote with their feet:  If the local community stores were really serving the community, then people wouldn’t patronize Walmart.

On the other hand, I do think that it is pretty low that a company that has prided itself on charitable giving schedules people for 39 hours a week so they don’t have to provide insurance benefits.  That is pretty lame.  I know that business is ultimately ran for the benefit of their share holders, but maybe it’s time that the share holders (Theresa Kerry Heinz has over 5 million dollars invested into Walmart) stopped being so greedy.

Hey, social responsibility can’t be legislated.

News

Posting will be slow for a little while.

2005-11-07T19:01:00.000-06:00

Until I get my new work schedule figured out, I’ll probably not be posting as often as when I was, say, self/unemployed. Once I get into the new rhythm and flow of life, things should pick up.

Another dreaded quiz.

2005-11-04T09:16:00.000-06:00

I did it. I caved into blogger peer pressure. Of course, I'm assuming I have blogger peers. Anyway, this personality test via Doug at Bogus Gold.

FUN LOVING- Most of the time, you are awesome to be
around. Right? People notice your warm
personality and they are automatically
attracted to you. You must have a lot of
friends, or a few really close ones. Either
way, you're nice, relaxed, and you know how to
have fun. You get a little stressed out every
once in a while, either from school work or
from your social life, because you feel like
you have to keep everyone happy. Don't worry
about things like that. You should live your
life for yourself. Besides, youre naturally
kind, so people will like you for whatever you
do and whoever you are!

Discover your personality with this Inkblot test!!!!
brought to you by Quizilla

I don't think this is attractive at all...

2005-11-04T08:17:00.000-06:00

A 47 year old Madonna. Her age doesn't bother me. It's that used up, 80's coke whore look. It's just kind of creepy.

Nuclear Power for Venezuela? Huh?

2005-11-03T22:52:00.000-06:00

I thought we would have learned: Don't give nuclear reactors to Despots and Dictators!

NO! NO! NO! NO!

Let's look at the track record here: Kim Jong Il. North Korean Stalinist Dictator. Could have a couple of nukes.

Pakistan: President Pervez Musharraf's statements in May, 2002. Musharraf said that Pakistan did not want a conflict with India but that if it came to war between the nuclear-armed rivals, he would "respond with full might." These statements were interpreted to mean that if pressed by an overwhelming conventional attack from India, which has superior conventional forces, Pakistan might use its nuclear weapons.

Iran: Been in the news enough lately. A extremist Muslim nation trying to build nukes. Special thanks to France on that one.

And there are more.

The point is: Don't allow unstable governments, dictators, and despots to have nuclear anything. Not power. Not weapons. Not even the stuff that make watch dials glow in the dark. Nothing.

Now I read this: Bush appears open to Venezuela nuclear power.

Despite tense relations with Venezuela, President George W. Bush says it might be OK for the South American nation to have a nuclear reactor for peaceful energy uses.

Come on now people! It's never OK for commie thugs to have nuclear anything! Venezuela has plenty of oil, what the hell do they want with a Nuclear Power Plant? It's pretty damn obvious to me.

News and politics

Surly's Got a Job!

2005-11-03T08:30:00.000-06:00

Yup, I'm re-entering the work force. Good bye self-employment, we hardly knew ya'. As those who have been reading the Soap Box regularly know, I was not thrilled about returning to the culture of welding and manufacturing (see this post).

But this time I believe I have scored. I've been hired by a small shop to build and manage their welding and fabrication department. This is huge! I will be doing the hiring, firing, and most importantly (to me) is setting the "tone" of the work place. All this and pretty decent ching. I won't be buying any rounds at Keegan's (mostly because I'm cheap), but making the trek won't send the wife into a tizzy about money. But not this week. Wait until the first check or two comes in.

Democrats tell Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele: Get Back to the Plantation!

2005-11-02T20:02:00.000-06:00

I can not believe the Democratic Parties inbred racist tendencies:

Black Democratic leaders in Maryland say that racially tinged attacks against Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele in his bid for the U.S. Senate are fair because he is a conservative Republican.

I find it incredible that the party who grandstands on race issues pulls stunts like this. Notice I didn't say shocked. They left has a plantation mentality: The only good black is one who is under the thumb of the white leftie Democrat. If anyone has initiative or views outside of their plantation, go after them! String 'em up! Take 'em down at any cost. If they are successful in realms other than entertainment, radical preaching (I use the term 'preaching' loosely. I really mean rabble rousing racist, 'Reverend Politicians'), and of course politics that combine the previous to elements, you are a sell out, an Uncle Tom.

But black Democrats say there is nothing wrong with "pointing out the obvious." "There is a difference between pointing out the obvious and calling someone names," said a campaign spokesman for Kweisi Mfume, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate and former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

When will the black people of the Democratic Party stop drinking the Kool Aid? The only people holding them down are the people who keep them corralled with the barbed wire of victimhood and institutionalized racism: The Democratic Party and other leftist groups.

Don't be fooled. You can achieve as far as your drive and talents will let you.

Read more here: Psycmeister, KAR and here.

News and politics

Open Letter to Jimmy Carter.

2005-11-02T14:38:00.000-06:00

Jimmy Carter. Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy. You’re out of the loop, bud. You’re washed up. You have no connection to the government any more. You have no connection with the people of the United States. The only information you get nowadays is from the same sources everyone else has available, unless someone is leaking information to you. But more than likely you’re just hearing a bunch of other Democratic Party hacks.

See, Jimmy, the Dem’s are just using you. They think that throwing a little “Jimmy Carter” into the mix brings some credibility. Add some Bill Clinton and you’ve got a party.

Well, you’re out there touting the Party Line once again: The White House Manipulated Iraq Intel.

But you don’t have any credibility with the majority of the people in the U.S. You only appeal to the far-leftie fringe. The center left, and anyone else to the right of there, just wants you to go and enjoy your retirement. Build houses. Enjoy your grand kids. Be the kindly, elderly statesman: Polite and quite.

Remember Hugo Chavez? The Commie dictator of Venezuela that you helped install? He’s offering to let Castro use his F-16’s. All thanks to you buddy. All thanks to you.

News and politics

Inside the mind of Coleen Rowley.

2005-11-01T14:34:00.000-06:00

Coleen Rowley: FBI Special Agent, whistleblower, candidate for Minnesota's Second Congressional District. Leftie Whacko:

"I don't see it as anything I did as much as the events themselves," said Rowley, who says she voted for Bush in 2000 and supported Kline in the past. "I think what happened on 9/11 allowed the administration ... to pursue policies of prisoner abuse, violation of civil liberties, the whole Iraq war - things I was concerned about for my whole career."

I see Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, and George W. sitting around the oval office on 9/10, brainstorming:

"You know, Haliburton has devised a whole new prison that enables systematic abuse of prisoners, providing civil liberties are violated. All we need is a war. (*sigh*)"

"I know what you mean, Dick. I've been wanting to stick it to a bunch of muslim extremists. And that Saddam Hussein Why I oughta..." (clenches fist in anger)

Karl Rove, sitting quietly in the corner, tapping his fingers together in a conspiratorial fashion, "Don't worry gentlemen. I have heard your desires, and have already enacted a plan that will make your dreams of prisoner abuse, violating civil liberties, and invading Iraq come true. He he he..."

George and Dick are now sitting attentively on the edge of their seats. "Tell us more, Karl, tell us more!" like children listening to Christmas stories.

"Oh, you'll see tomorrow. Tomorrow, you'll see." (maniacal laughter and snorting)

"Now if we could find a use for the Haliburton Weather Control Machine." Says George, staring dreamily out the window.

News and politics

I haven't been very funny lately.

2005-10-31T11:31:00.000-06:00

I haven't been very funny lately. I think I got off to a good start, but alas...things have kind of sputtered lately. I'm afraid the stress of having my catering business kind of tank has dulled my razor sharp wit and sense of humor. I've noticed some of my more recent posts have been more biting than I care to be.

I'm afraid I have to head back into the wonderful world of welding and manufacturing, and do the catering thing on the side. (Don't forget: I'm available for events large and small! No shameless self-promotion here. No groveling. None.) I thought I had broken the golden handcuffs of working for "The Man".

For the most part, I don't really mind welding. It's the culture that I have a problem with: Drugs. Booze. People who are working from one case of beer to the next. Biological and homophobe humor, usually combined in some sick, twisted way. I hate to stereotype, but after twenty years of doing this kind of work, well, if the shoe fits...

If you are someone who takes night classes, who doesn't go to strip clubs, who can enjoy adult beverages with out having to get drunk, who hasn't given up on self improvement and being a good citizen, who actually reads books with out pictures in them, you have a hard time fitting in.

Of course, being a gourmet chef (a damn fine one at that) doesn't help either. Example:

"Hey Jim. What are you up to this week end?"
"Well, Mary's kids are with their dad, my oldest girl is with her mom, but I've got the youngest one this week end because her mom is flying out to Vegas to marry the guy who manages the Subway. So me and Mary are going to knock off a case of Bud and grill some burgers. After the kid goes to bed, we're gonna pop a porno in the DVD, smoke a joint, and get busy (nod, nod, wink, wink) How 'bout you, Dave?"
"Well, I'm going to the liquor store to find a good wine to go with dinner. I'm making Parmesan encrusted chicken breast with a sage buerre blanc, carmelized leak mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus and carrot medley, and a strawberry triffle for dessert. I'm thinking chardonnay, but nothing to oaky. Then I'm going to finish reading '100 People Who Are Screwing Up America'."

Then there the whole Wrestle Mania thing. And monster trucks. And NASCAR. Someday I will bring my daughter to a monster truck rally so she will understand why you shouldn't drink Bud Lite. Or wear cowboy hats if your not a cowboy. Or put those idiotic chrome stipper silhouettes on your pickup or go out with guys that do. NEVER go out with guys that do. Never.

Often times they are commies or socialist. They don't bother me as much as when they are apathetic.

I don't sound like a snob, do I?

But for now, it's good to have a couple of marketable skills. I've only really applied myself to the job hunt for a couple of days last week and I've already got a few interviews and weld tests for this week. I'm sure I'll be back to work soon. Get back to work, stabilize the income, return some normalcy to the home front. Regroup and make another run at it down the road.

So there. A little peek into the soul of Surly Dave. A little "touchy/feely" stuff.

I think I need a hug.

Prince Who?

2005-10-29T22:59:00.000-05:00

I'd almost forgotten that the United Kingdom has a monarch. I remembered British Royalty has part of history. See, they don't have any real purpose any more. All they are is a drain on the U.K.'s economy. History is great. Nostalgia is wonderful. Time to go away. Now, they also want to be an embarrassment. It seems that Prince Charles (tall gangly guy with big ears, mom's the Queen or something) wants to come over here and talk to George Bush about how the United States isn't giving Islam a fair shake.

What qualifies this guy to make a plea for Islam? What I see here is another guy with unearned wealth sticking his rather sizable nose into an argument that he is not qualified to participate in. George Bush: We are in Iraq and Afghanistan to drive out totalitarianism and establish democracy. Let also encourage the British and not receive Chuck as a V.I.P. He is part of an archaic system that we shunned a couple centuries ago, and yet some people still honor. Same with the Saudi's. Let's only talk to their elected officials.

Look, I understand that a religion with a billion adherents are bound to have a few loonies. Unfortunately, the loonies are in charge. They are the only ones we ever hear from, and often times it's with a bomb strapped to their back or with hate spewing from their orifices. I just hope we never see one with an nuclear bomb strapped to their back and spewing hate. That would be bad.

Talken' about Price Gouging

2005-10-27T23:22:00.000-05:00

The big talk around town is price gouging by oil companies. I'm torn about how to feel about the oil companies raking in the dough by exaggerating the damage of the hurricanes that swept through the gulf this year. The capitalist in me says, "Why to make money! I wish I had oil stocks right now." The social conservative in me says, "How dare they take advantage of us?" I decided that I was going to be pissed about it. It is pretty dirty when a few companies that control vast amounts of stuff people need to function on a daily basis take advantage of a couple of disasters to turn a profit. In my anger, I was almost tricked into the Great American Tradition: Pass some laws and sue someone.

Yup. I almost fell for it. The desire to make someone pay.
"Let's go after the big, evil oil companies!"
"Let's sue them!" "Let's pass some laws!"
"Let's bring down the oil greased Halliburton/Bush/Cheney war mongering, weather changing, military machine!"
(I'd better watch out or I'll be awarding myself the next "Tin-Foil Hat Award".)

Like I said, I was tempted for a minute. Then my mind started thinking of the man-made energy crisis of the 1970's. Lawsuits abounded and were settled.
Who won? Why, the Lawyers of course. They raked in millions.

Like the big multi-million dollar big tobacco lawsuit here in Minnesota a few years ago. Who won? The Lawyers. They raked in millions.

So I don't want to go after the oil companies for anything. I don't want to pass any laws. They would only serve one purpose: To make some hacks like John Edwards rich.

I can't be party to that.

The only real change won't take place in the court rooms or in the halls of Legislature. There's an old quote that goes, "A man forced against his will is of the same opinion still." You can't force what is really needed: A change of heart. You can't force a heart of service and compassion for others.

I still believe in making a buck. Don't worry about that. Money can't buy happiness, but it can by a better form of misery. I'd much rather be miserable in a Porche than in a Pinto.

Damage or Discipline?

2005-10-27T22:51:00.000-05:00

I was listening to Hugh Hewitt this evening talking about how the Rights rejection of Harriet Miers was damaging to the President and to Conservatives in general. I don't think 'damaging' isn't the correct word. I think "discipline" is. As I understand it, “Bjorking” was something the leftie Senators did to a man. Not a good thing. What happened to Harriet Miers was a ground swell grass roots movement within the GOP. This is good because we are, after all, the party. It’s too bad that there were people who had to viciously attack the woman and were doing victory dances today.

Miers does the Right Thing

2005-10-27T09:12:00.000-05:00

I am not a legal expert. Most of my experience with the law can be summed up in five words: "Would the defendant please rise."

But I do think Bush made a mistake on this one. The Supreme Court was one of the areas the conservative movement just wasn't going to let pass. We have let Bush spend billions in entitlements with the Medicare prescription package and other pork projects like the highway bill. We were rankled by the lack of immigration crackdown. But one of the primary election promises that we weren't going to let go of was a conservative Supreme Court Justice.

As Harriet Miers withdraws her nomination, Bush has an excellent opportunity to nominate someone from the "A" list instead of the "B" team. Let's get the best of the best and gear up for a battle in the Senate. Let's let Harriet Miers move on with out beating this thing into the ground. In spite of everything, she did, in the end, do the Right thing.

Stuff I Read This Morning and You Should Too!

2005-10-26T09:20:00.000-05:00

Around the web in 80 seconds:

Wizbang:  The Only Dead Muslim is a Good Muslim:  A look at the paradoxical  views Muslims have of Terror Bombings.

CommonSenseAmerica: Liberals Tell Americans to Shove It:   The liberal left is absolutely giddy over the possible indictments of Karl Rove and Scooter Libby…

Oblogatory Anecdotes:  Pig in the Poke:  British pansies, err… Bankers aren’t handing out piggy banks any more because they don’t want to offend Muslims.

Psycmeistr's Ice Palace: How Sweet it is!:  Blowhard Galloway get busted.

Hammerswing75: 2000 Ain't Just the millennium, It's an Excuse For a Party

Enjoy!

Hugh Hewitt Show Summary (for the next few weeks)

2005-10-26T08:43:00.000-05:00

Before I forget, I wanted to summarize the Hugh Hewitt show for the next few weeks:

“Don’t you love Harriett Miers? I can’t believe that you don’t support Harriett Miers? Here, let’s listen to this audio of the President speech, and then we’ll get back to Harriett Miers. Hmmm… Harriett, Harriett, Harriett. Was there ever a better choice than Harriett Miers? Lets take some calls: “John from Minnesota: Don’t you just love Harriett Miers? No? Don’t you support the president?” Now let’s have a guest that will tell us way they don’t like Harriett Miers, and I will tell them way they are wrong. Those eyes. Have you ever looked into the eyes of Harriet Miers?”

I don’t think I’ll be winning any Crosley Radios with this post.

The military death toll passes 2000.

2005-10-25T15:52:00.000-05:00

The military death toll hit 2000 today. In news rooms all over the country “journalists” are doing the “YES!” arm pump”. Cindy Sheehan was near orgasmic. Jesse Jackson and Jimmy Carter where doing high fives.

Mikewhale Moore is sunning himself on a beach somewhere. Moore, by the way, is linked to Fidel Castro via Jimmy Carter, who he sat next to at the Democratic National Convention. Here is a picture of Jimmy Carter hanging out in Cuba calling for an end to the sanctions (That’s for Psycmeistr )

Ted Kopple isn’t celebrating though; he’s resting his voice so he can read the list of those who honorably gave their lives for our freedom. His is an unworthy voice, by the way.

I feel for the families who have lost loved ones fighting this war. I greatly value the sacrifice that’s being made. I had a sense of duty while I was in the service, but it wasn’t until years after I got out that I really came to appreciate the service that was really being done. Protecting this country is a big job being done by some of the most unlikeliest people. My brother (who occasionally posts here as Psycho Bob) and I both joined the Navy out of a combined sense of duty, tradition (out father and grandfather had served in the Navy), and economics. The ‘80’s weren’t generous to the newly graduated from high school, college just didn’t come together, and so the military was a good option. And it was a noble option, not the way some of the left try to paint it.

We understood that being in the service could mean our lives. At any time the enemy could strike, as evidenced by the bombing of the USS Stark in May of 1987. Sure, the day to day grind takes the luster out of the service. In many ways it was a job that you couldn’t quit. When I got out I had a little bit of an attitude about it, but as time moved on, I gained a new appreciation of what I really accomplished: I defended the country. Just the mere fact that I was counted in the rolls was a deterrent to those who would attack us. My particular job and position wasn’t anything glamorous, but the fact that I was there was what counted.

So I salute the fallen, pray for their families and friends, and honor those who make the decision to defend the country even when such a choice is unpopular. God Bless ‘Em.

News and politics
Opinion

TIN-FOIL HAT AWARD

2005-10-25T14:42:00.000-05:00

Yes my friends, in response to the Clinton Body Count, (also deserving of a Tin-Foil Hat Award) I present to you: BUSH BODY COUNT !!!

Here’s a nugget for ya!

Along these lines, lets not forget that the NWO's handpicked, designated first emperor of the 4th Reich's forthcoming "American Union," George DUBYA Bush, has really kept up the family's deadly tradition as Texas governor--having signed nearly ONE HUNDRED EXECUTION WARRANTS since he became governor in the Lone Star State. Nice killing job, DUBYA!!

And don’t forget this little paranoid rant:
President John Fitzgerald Kennedy: An internal FBI memo reported that on November 22 a reputable businessman named George H. W. Bush reported hearsay that a certain Young Republican had been talking of killing the president when he came to Houston. The Young Republican was nowhere near Dallas on that date. According to a 1988 story in The Nation, J. Edgar Hoover said in a memo that Mr. George Bush of the CIA had been briefed on November 23rd, 1963 about the reaction of anti-Castro Cuban exiles in Miami to the assassination of President Kennedy. George H. W. Bush has denied this, although he was in Texas at the time and cannot account for his whereabouts at the time. Bush Killed JFKjr
Not only George H. W. Bush take out the dad, but he, or his son, took out JFK JR! Talk about a family vendetta! What a smooth turn around! What a link! What conclusive evidence! What a Wacko!
Wow. I am amazed by how much time people have on their hands.

Opinion

Equal Time For White Racist! (or "Aren't they Cute?")

2005-10-24T09:38:00.000-05:00

Aren’t they cute? Young Singers Spread Racist Hate.

"We're proud of being white, we want to keep being white," said Lynx. "We want our people to stay white … we don't want to just be, you know, a big muddle. We just want to preserve our race."
Lynx and Lamb have been nurtured on racist beliefs since birth by their mother April. "They need to have the background to understand why certain things are happening," said April, a stay-at-home mom who no longer lives with the twins' father. "I'm going to give them, give them my opinion just like any, any parent would."

I wanted to give a little equal time to the white wackos. This story shouldn’t be about these poor little brainwashed girls, but about the nut ball family they are in. But I can’t endorse removing them from that family situation because next thing you know someone is taking my daughter away because we are raising her to be a Christian.
I haven’t listened to any of their music, but I would really laugh my, well, you know, backside off if it has even the slightest hint of hip-hop strains.

File under:
News and politics
Opinion
Racism

Kill Whitey!!! (Where's Chris Farley when You Need Him?)

2005-10-22T21:30:00.000-05:00

Okay. I can't ever think of a time when I would need Chris Farley. But after I read a post about Kamau Kambon at Common Sense America, I remembered a stoned Farley in the movie Tommy Boy encouraging the crowd to get out the vote and Kill Whitey!!!

This guy is about as whacked. Here is a nugget of wisdom from a speech given at Howard University Law School Oct. 14th:

Kambon told the audience white people "have retina scans, they have what they call racial profiling, DNA banks, and they're monitoring our people to try to prevent the one person from coming up with the one idea. And the one idea is, how we are going to exterminate white people, because that in my estimation is the only conclusion I have come to. We have to exterminate white people off the face of the planet to solve this problem."

Kill Whitey.

This kind of hatred bothers me, obviously because I am a target. But what bothers me even more so is that this guy's been a professor of education at St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, and a visiting professor at North Carolina State. Another wacko professor, a la Ward Churchill.

I'm not really stunned by their hate and lunacy. There's a lot of discussion about how this hatred has been brewing, or rather, is being brewed, in the black communities for sometime. The big question is: What the hell are they doing lecturing at a college or university? Why are these institutions allowing themselves to be used as platforms for this kind of discussion? Once upon a time the only public place these whack jobs had to preach their message of insanity was on street corners. Shortly after they open their mouths they would be hauled away and locked up, taken out of society. Ever hear of schizophrenia? How about Psychosis? They can be treated. Letting people live in their delusions is not proper treatment.

Where are the people who raised a big deal about Bill Bennett? Shouldn't they be out raising the alarm about the racist Kamau Kambon? Well of course not! Kamau Kambon has the protected status of being black, liberal, and a professor. He's untouchable.

File under:
News and politics
Opinion
Racism

Vote for Blog of the Week...

2005-10-21T17:46:00.000-05:00

Go to Radio Blogger and vote for Hammerswing75 to win the Crosley Radio Blog of the Week Award. Hammerswing75 could win one of Crosley's fine radios. Which is good. He was laid off this week and will probably have to pawn it for food.

A stupid little quiz...

2005-10-21T15:51:00.000-05:00

I'm not really a big fan of online quizzes: What mystical creature are you? Which Alcoholic Drink Are You? What South Park Character are you? (I'm not Cartman, dammit!)

Anyway, after all the blog surfing I've done lately, I think there is some sort of unwritten rule, some requirement, that at some time you must post the results of some sort of online personality test.

Which Food Network chef are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

There. Does this increase my traffic?

Blogging
Humor

NEVER leave the rice bowl unguarded...NEVER (or, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, vowed Thursday to resign if lawmakers take away his pork)

2005-10-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

Good. Resign. Go home and stop wasting my tax dollars. If Alaska wanted to waste 230 million dollars to service 50 people, let them. Stop taking the money out of my pocket. I wonder how many millions, possibly billions of dollars this putz has wasted in his 24 years in self, pardon me, public service.

I'm pleased that Norm Coleman (R-MN)voted yes to this amendment, but of course "The Sky is Falling" Dayton voted along with the sheep.

See how your "public servants" voted here.
News and politics

Late Night Blogging (or, Surly Dave Needs a Job)

2005-10-19T22:50:00.000-05:00

Fall: The days grow shorter, and nights grow longer and cooler, mosquitos die, and biochemical processes in the leaf begin to paint the landscape with nature's autumn colors.

I was checking out Common Sense America, looking through some of the great links posted for my purusal.

I followed a link to Col. Bunny's Intergalactic Source of Truth and went snooping around. I found this link to information about the Soviet Gulags. The link is on the side bar along with a few others. One prisoner describes his experience and survival thus:

"In this ever-renewed hell of suffering, where I struggled in the agony caused by starvation, cold and exhausting labor, it was only the knowledge of my innocence, my unbreakable belief in the greatness of God, and the most complete submission to His will which gave me the spiritual peace and calm that enabled me to remain a human to the end."
-- János Rózsás

Such tales are heard from many people today: People from Afganistan. People from Iraq. People from Cuba. Jews who survived the Holocaust, and POW's who survived Bataan. Often times, these tales of hope have one thing in common: An undying believe in something greater than themselves. It's not their cause, not their family, not any life of comfort they may have once had. It's a belief in God.

A Little History Test...

2005-10-19T22:11:00.000-05:00

...found at The Crusader. Sample question:

1. 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by

a. Superman
b. Jay Leno
c. Harry Potter
d. a Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40

Neo-Nazi March Prompts Counter-Protest & Riot

2005-10-19T08:31:00.000-05:00

Here are some quotes from a Democracy Now interview with Pastor Mansour Bey. He is a minister at Toledo's First Church of God.

"...Neo-Nazis coming to challenge the gangs and to liberate the white people from the blacks who were terrorizing their neighborhoods. And so, as I said, already the word had went out that we're not going to let these people come into our hood, into our territory and just do what they want to do."

Our 'territory'? Our 'hood'? Notice that they had already decided to take a militant stance against the Nazis.

"I should add, professional counterdemonstrations who came into Toledo from surrounding cities and states, who came in and began to confront and to again insult and just to kind of do verbal battle with the neo-Nazis. I should say also that among those professional counter-protestors, there were what some- anarchists who really were inciting a lot of the people. In fact, it was them who originally brought eggs and other type of refuge and was passing it out among the residents of the neighborhood"...

So they were already geared up for a confrontation, but it wasn't their fault because some out of town professional counter-protestors mixed with a smattering of anarchists worked the crowd up.

"And at one point, those eggs and refuge were thrown at the neo-Nazis, and the police reacted very swiftly and very forcefully by moving in the mounted police.

And that kind of angered the people, also, because when they came in with the horses, they did not discriminate."

Hello! An anarchist throwing a rock is just as much a criminal as any member of the local "youth club" throwing a rock!

"So the people became more and more agitated because they felt three things. Number one, the neo-Nazis should have never been allowed to come into their neighborhood. Number two, they were angry at the mayor for, again, making the statement that the neo-Nazis had the right for freedom of speech to say what they were saying in their neighborhood. And thirdly, even when they were told that the neo-Nazis were gone, then they wanted to know, well, how come the police are still here then? How come they're still occupying our neighborhood? And so that really began again to build that - that those anger - that resentment began to build."

Why are the police still occupying our neighborhood? Why are all the people standing around with eggs and refuge? Why is when people riot it's the fault of the police? Or the 'counter-protesters'? Can't these people think for themselves? How about a little personresponsibilityity here. Sorry, but if I was at a protest and someone started handing out rocks, I'm out of there.

Later in the interview, Pastor Mansour Bey makes the same point that I made in a previous post: If nobody shows up, there wouldn't be a problem. Of course, it's the mayors fault for not routing the protest parade route through the right part of town. I'm amazed at the length Pastor Bey goes through to shift the blame off of the gangs, but he doacknowledgedge that they played a part. I think this was a crowd of people that were already hostile and they were just looking for an excuse to be violent. Even after they had been told that the Nazis had left they kept looking for trouble. There is never a good excuse to loot, burn, and riot. It doesn't mater if the Nazi's are marching through your neighborhood or your favorite team wins a play off.

How Do You Protest A Nazi March?

2005-10-17T09:20:00.000-05:00

Neo-Nazi losers march in Toledo, and the best way to protest against them is to burn down a bar and smash windows:

It wasn't enough to stop an angry mob that included gang members from looting and burning a neighborhood bar, smashing the windows of a gas station and hurling rocks and bottles at police on Saturday. Twelve officers were injured, one suffering a concussion when a brick flew through her cruiser window.

Can't we all just get along! Come on now! A bunch of hate filled ignorant racist come into your city to stir up hate and what do you do: You let them win! You give them what they want: Violence, crime, civil unrest. Good for you, people of Toledo! And to make it worse, the people doing the looting and burning were gang members! Yea! There are a bunch of Neo-Nazi losers sitting around this morning patting themselves on the back saying, "See, I told you that them stupid ***** (fill in your own hate filled racial expletive here)***** are nothing but a bunch animals!".

Someday, some body will realize that the way to deal with this type of stuff is the STAY HOME! Imagine this: Adolph wants to cause hate and discontent in a mid-sized city in the Midwest. He and his cronies show up to march and NOBODIES THERE. They try to get themselves worked up into a group hate, but it just doesn't cut it. There is nobody there yelling and glaring at them to feed off of, because hate begets hate. They get in their bus and head home. Maybe next time.

There are two ways to deal with pathological haters: Marginalize them, by which I mean to make them irrelevant to today's society, or to totally remove them from society. Seeing that there is no moral or just way to remove them from society: Ignore them. They will go away.

I am not saying that this lifestyle of hate is not a problem. It is. It's sickening. But the way these people are validated is by the hate of others. If we stop hating them, it takes the wind out of their sails. It taps their strength. They shrivel up.

Then we can work on marginalizing Paris Hilton.

Irony

2005-10-16T16:59:00.000-05:00

The definition of irony: Using a gasoline powered leaf blower and then putting the leafs into biodegradable plastic bags. Think about it.

Why do people race to doom?

2005-10-14T09:26:00.000-05:00

You know, it amazes me how people jump to conclusions, you know, race to doom. I find this article on The Drudge Report linked by some scary "INFLATION" header. Compare and contrast to this article (via Powerline) in Pravda that talks about how the US economy is booming.

We a constantly inundated with end of the world statistics: The Housing Market is going to Crash!!!, The Hurricanes wrecked the economy! Gas Prices Drive Up Trucking Costs, Dooming Christmas because Barbi Dolls Double in Cost! On a side note, I just purchased a truck load of Barbie's. I bought them at today's prices, and when the Christmas rush kicks in, I'll sell them at holiday premium prices!!!!! BWAA HAHAHAHA!!! I'll be RICH! RICH ! I tell ya!

Anyway, inspite of all the dire predictions, things just seem to plug along. Here in the Twin Cities, I can't see housing prices collasping: too many people are moving here. They have to live somewhere. Could it slow down a little? Well, hopefully not until I cash in.

As far as gas prices go, all I can say is "George Soros". Yup, George AND Warren Buffet are speculating against oil prices, thus driving the price up in order to make Bush look bad. What's a weakened economy compared to bringing down the conservatives? I think oil prices will experience a "dot com" style bust at some point here. If George and Warren can get a democrat into the white house this next time around, they'll do everything they can to help them look good. Think I'm talking conspiracy here? Why is Buffet hoarding $30 billion? Putting that money into the economy, which is what an investment firm is supposed to do, would probably give that economy a pretty good jolt, you know, companies buy computers, companies make computers, companies hire people to build the computers, people get jobs, get paid, buy their own computers, and so on. That would make Bush look good.

We wouldn't want that now, would we? After all, it's alright to drag down the economy as long as you drag down the Republicans.

Proof that George Bush altered the weather!!!

2005-10-12T14:21:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know that there are serious issues to be discussed in today's world. Earthquakes. Terrorism. Vikings sex scandal. But I need to draw your attention back to the hurricanes. Yes, Katrina and Rita, not the North Carolina Hurricanes.

I have discovered proof that George Bush and his Skull and Bones allies are controlling the weather through ancient black magic occultism. This site blows the doors off the conspiracy! I would write more, but I just noticed the black helicopters touching down in the front yard and I have to grab my tin foil hat and head for....

...I'm...I'm back now. The medicine has kicked in. I don't remember having to take medicine, but the Doctor, who was standing over me when I woke up in my basement insists that I've always have to take medicine because of my paranoia. He gave me a list of positive affirmations to chant when I start getting "concerned":

"It's okay for Bush to spend money hand-over-fist."
"Harriet Miers will make an excellent Supreme Court Judge."
"Haliburton does not control the weather."

What's this tin foil hat for? And who was that mysterious Dr. R.?

Why is the Constitution Still relevant?

2005-10-11T21:22:00.000-05:00

Because the guys who got together and wrote it were serious about the future of this great nation. LearnedFoot of KAR helps us understand why this 18th century document is still relevant today.

Yeah, Sure, You Betcha'..

2005-10-11T11:34:00.000-05:00

"In May, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced his intention to develop a peaceful-purpose nuclear program, along with countries like Iran, Argentina and Brazil."

Let's send Clinton down there to negotiate. He did such a fine job with North Korea.

Once Again We Fail...

2005-10-11T07:47:00.000-05:00

Ah...The West. Not the wide open range and herds of buffalo. Certainly not Euro-Frisco. The West in the Geo-Political sense. We have once again failed to fling open the doors of banks and treasury and pour money into a 3rd world nation where disaster has struck. Quick to condemn us, quick for a hand out. I am not opposed to helping people out. I do get tired of the government throwing my tax money willy nilly at every problem that arises, whether it's New Orleans, the Tsunami effected areas, or Pakistan. I would rather have the choice of giving out of my own pocket than having the government just pull the cash out of my wallet. Anyway, what really gets me going is when the nations who are receiving our assistance bitch that it's too little to late. Stuff like this makes me consider joining the John Birch Society. Why do we continue to support these countries that relish in the idea of out down fall? If the governments and religions oppress their own people, what makes the liberal think they will treat us any better? Well, I've got news for you: if the west would fall as the 3rd world wishes, there would be no money, no food, no tents, and no clothes coming at all. How many in the world would perish if the good old U.S.A. pulled the purse strings tight? I'm not saying we should, but I sure wish these wasteland countries would think about that for a change.

Read this thought provoking commentary!

2005-10-09T20:32:00.000-05:00

and laugh. Damn I wish I was quicker.

The French are Striking

2005-10-05T06:15:00.000-05:00

Yup. The French unions have taken to the streets to protest economic stimulation. Yes, the country with record high (10.2%) unemployment is NOT going to stand for the government trying to allows companies with fewer than 20 employees to fire them within two years instead of six months!

``This mobilization is entirely justified by the liberal and repressive offensive organized by the government,'' France's main left parties said in a joint statement on Oct. 1. ``We demand the abolition of the new work contracts.''
The leftist opposition to the de Villepin government, including the Socialist Party, the Communist Party, the Communist Revolutionary League and the Green Party, called on workers on Oct. 1 to back the strike and ``make the government back down.''

This is what happens when the people expect the government to take care of their every need. This is the face of unions, communism, and the left in general. They want the government to tend to their every needs. I wonder if the French have a government program for rubbing the feet of the elderly. Oh! That's right. They don't really care about their elderly. Too inconvenient to take care of them when you go to the sea on holiday.

New Link

2005-10-04T08:56:00.000-05:00

I've added a new link to the "Know Your Commies" links list:American Traitors. The site hasn't been updated for a while, but provideds an interesting list of politicians, entertainers, journalist, and such, that hate America.