Openly Eccentric - Open Thread 6/19/2016

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One thing about summer vacation is how much more cooking I end up doing. I'm not a "Subtle" cook, as far as my taste goes. I tend towards brute force solutions to hunger problems. So, most of my stuff tastes good, and is incredibly filling, with lots, and lots of leftovers. I tend towards the figurative "Peasant Food", but there's a reason that peasants eat it, after all. Tacos, Stews, goulashes, etc... I reflect on this because it's how I'm feeling this week.

I'm noticing my taste is becoming more and more simple as time goes on. While I love Shakespeare, and other older entertainments, I just can't get into the new trends of "SHOCK" or "TWIST" just because they're new. If anything, gratuitous flip-flopping on the plot becomes dull as anything else after a time. Predictably unpredictable would be the term I'd use. Was actually talking with a friend who writes music as a hobby, and was discussing tone, and how music is better to the ear if it sounds slightly familiar, but has enough variations to attract attention. Perhaps I'm just ranting here, but sometimes I really think that less is often more, which we lose track of in our Baroque obeisance to wealth in our culture.

However, if nothing else summer has given me time to contemplate. Had a hideous nightmare that I was exactly one year ago, and that one was a doozy, let me tell you. There's just something horrible about those dreams where nothing you do makes a damn bit of difference, only this one was an actual experience.

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It seems to be a trend in Australia that women care more about climate change in general than men do. I haven't run the numbers myself, but it sounds about right considering the only candidate in our election even bothering to mention it as part of her platform is Jill Stein. (I know Bernie did, but note how quickly the media ignored it...)

Midnight Raids are now becoming common again. I know I may seem to be a bit hypocritical about this, but midnight arrests bug the hell out of me. If you're going to arrest someone, you do it in broad daylight, and you do it in a manner consistent with the law. This midnight shit is hiding your actions, and is dodgy as hell.

Remember when we used to joke about Ireland being backwards because of their abortion laws? Well, now not only do they have abortion, which makes them more progressive than most of the US, but NOW they also have Paternity Leave. It's like watching your country slip further and further behind as the rest of the world accepts reality.

And remember how certain lawmakers made it illegal to sue gun manufacturers? Well, there's a lawsuit challenging that. Essentially the claim is not that it's illegal to make the gun. The claim is that it's negligence to put a weapon that requires military training into the hands of the untrained. Sorta like suing a guy who gives the keys to a car to an unlicensed driver, KNOWING they're unlicensed, and then who claims they aren't at fault when the guy runs over ten people.

So, to finish up with some music, I've been listening to some 80's synth recently, so I hope folks don't mind hearing it. Just old movie themes, but they are pretty good, and set a mood quite well. (The world is feeling a bit Dystopian to me right now, so... dystopian films are on my mind)

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1JYDmo19to][video:https://www.youtube.c...

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OLinda's picture

and everybody!

Been out watering the lawn and flowers this morning, getting them ready for 95 degree F. today. Looking at the 10-day forecast, every day is either in the 80s or 90s. :(. I frown, but I still prefer it to snow!

In the news. The underground sprinkler system at a home had a leak, and saturated the surrounding grounds until there was a mudslide behind the house. The house is now not safe to live in and the people had to move out.

I wonder if they knew there was a leak. I have alerts set up with the water dept. so if I use more than a certain amount in a day, I get an email about it. Otherwise, with the bill only coming every three months, you could have a leak for a long period and not know it until you got the bill (unless it was something visible inside, of course).

Bears and mountain lions came up in this thread the other day. You may have seen in the news where, in Aspen, a mother saved her 5 year old boy from a mountain lion by prying the mountain lion's mouth open with her hands to free her son. Amazing what you can do when it's your child in danger. This happened in the front yard of their home. That little boy will sure have a story to tell when he grows up.

Well, that's the news from Denver metro and beyond, haha.

Happy Father's Day detroitmechworks and all you C99 Dads!

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We are trying to soak our garden up before we leave for a week. All that high heat and sun bakes a garden very quickly. Good thing for sprinklers.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

detroitmechworks's picture

I hear it gets better later, but... for now it's kinda, meh.

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

riverlover's picture

I had to look it up to be sure. If I venture out and see any PoCs, I will become a privileged white woman with that greeting. Danger zone, where there should not be one.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

My local neighbors and friends who are celebrating the day with a trail ride were all waving at me, I got some hugs, got to pet some horses.
I close my office in observance of the holiday tomorrow. The courthouse will also be closed. Texas flags are flying, no rebel flags in sight.
All good here.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

OLinda's picture

I'd like to have some recipes that only need a few ingredients. I don't cook or bake that much and so don't keep a lot of items on hand. I get discouraged looking at recipes because I would have to buy nearly every ingredient and then never use most of them again for a year or never. I really don't need a dozen ingredients for a meal. Something simple.

Too many flavors are not necessarily good as well. For example, even with a simple sandwich. Top it off with 2 slices of whole dozen grain bread, maybe it includes flax and sunflower seeds too, eh, and you can't tell if there are slices of turkey in the sandwich or not.

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hecate's picture

godliest foods extant requires but three ingredients: true fettucine alfredo, as concocted by Alfredo di Lellio in Rome in 1920.

12-16 ounces fettucine (fresh, if possible)
1 stick unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1 cup (or more) freshly grated reggiano

Cook the fettucine in a pot of boiling salted water. If fresh, that's about two minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the butter & cheese in a bowl.

Drain pasta, add to bowl, and toss. Mix in some fresh ground black pepper, and serve.

Another easy one is sauteed chicken with nam pla prik.

1.5 pounds chicken breast
white pepper
turmeric powder
2 tablespoons olive oil
15-25 fresh thai chilis, minced
3-6 cloves garlic, minced
thai fish sauce

Chop the chicken into pieces about the size of the first joint of your thumb. Douse liberally with white pepper and turmeric powder.

Heat the cast iron skillet. Add olive oil. Saute chicken.

Meanwhile dump the diced chilis and garlic into a small bowl and cover with fish sauce. This is what is called nam pla prik.

When the chicken is done, scrape it into a bowl and pour the nam pla prik over it. Eat it. Tastes real good, and will purge your system of all Evil.

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Although I can prepare some fancy foods, I tend to keep it simple, and cook large amounts of food that last several days. Leftovers become soups and stews, meat goes into sandwiches, tacos, or into a pot of beans or peas.
Like most of my friends and neighbors, I could eat Tex Mex food every single day and never tire of it.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

OLinda's picture

That's what I'm talking about. Smile

I actually even have one of the three ingredients for fettucine alfredo on hand!

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hecate's picture

And on the cusp's mention of Tex Mex, above, reminds me there's a pretty simple chili recipe, a variation on the Wick Fowler wonderment. It goes like this:

3 pounds stew beef
4 tablespoons olive oil
4-6 ancho chili pods
2 eight-ounce cans El Pato tomato sauce
1 teaspoon ground oregano
1 tablespoon crushed cumin seed
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon (or more) cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon Bufalo salsa chipotle
4-10 minced garlic cloves
2 tablespoons cornmeal

Boil the anchos five minutes. Cool, stem, seed, and chop. Reserve the cooking water.

Chop the beef into pieces half the size of the first joint of your thumb. Sear the beef in the oil in the cast-iron dutch oven in two to three batches. Return the beef to the dutch oven, together with the anchos and the reserved cooking water. Should be about two inches of liquid above the meat. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes.

Add the rest of the ingredients, except the cornmeal. Simmer 45 minutes, covered.

Add the cornmeal to thicken. Simmer another 30 minutes.

Some people will simmer a lot longer than that. Some will also heave in an additional 12-24 crumbled cayenne/de arbol dried chilis after the first 30 minutes.

& here's quick & easy shrimp:

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1.5 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tablespoons thai roasted chili paste
1 tablespoon thai fish sauce

Heat wok over medium heat. Add oil. Add garlic and onion; stir-fry until fragrant and onion is just softened. Add shrimp and toss. Add roasted chili paste and toss with shrimp. Stir-fry until shrimp is cooked through. Add fish sauce and toss.

That's it. You're done. Time to eat. ; )

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riverlover's picture

The year I had a prolific crop one-half of one was sufficient for a pot of chili. And I am not averse to hot. different variety I am sure.

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hecate's picture

not a different variety. Nam pla prik wants lots and lots of Thai chilis. As here:
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The idea is to eat fire.

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riverlover's picture

wake up, in a smart way.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

I have always favoured simple recipes when I cook. Not that I can't do complex, but I hate to waste anything, and who has time for complex?

#1 lemon chicken
place boneless, skinless chicken pieces in fry pan, cover halfway with water. Add butter or your preferred cooking medium. Boil away the water and season with lemon pepper. Continue to lightly 'fry' until water is gone and remaining reduction sauce starts to brown. Flip as needed. Rice works well with this.

#2 Minute rice a'la Busy
Disregard instructions on Minute Rice box. Heat water portion in microwave with chicken bullion cubes and butter amount recommended. (I use three cubes for a four portion serving) Once butter has melted and cubes have been dissolved (use a fork half way thru to break up cubes) add rice while stirring. Continue to cook rice per box instructions. Works great with fish, chicken and beef dishes. Yum. My wife's favourite.

#3 turkey wraps
No cooking necessary. Cover flour tortilla with thin layer of refried beans. Add layer of turkey and shredded/melted cheese of choice. For an added kick, season with A1 sauce (It's almost like mole, yum). Heat until cheese begins to melt and serve. Or eat cold. Still good. Fancy it up if you wish by adding greens, mushrooms or ? Be creative.

#4 Choy Suey a'la Busy
Fry, roast or otherwise cook a slab of beef. The better the cut, the better the end result. When meat is cooked, cut into small cubes. (I used to cut into really small cubes when the kids were little, else they'd eat nothing else) While meat is cooking, get veges going. I used to use a large can of Chop Suey vegetable mix for my base, but it seems to no longer be available. Frozen Chinese vegetable mix works well. Cook vege mix in large fry pan. Add a bit of water to cook, then add soy sauce and Worcester sauce for flavour. When vegetables are reduced, add meat and serve over rice. I like to add bean sprouts, water chestnuts (sliced up ) and bamboo shoots to the mix. Whatever you like/afford works. Baby corn is good also. Plus those dried noodles a great with this. Really.

#5 Spaghetti
Boil up angle hair or vermicelli (not that thick stringy crap). You know how. Fry up hamburger meat and brown. Then crumble meat and drain fat thoroughly. Add tomato sauce (I still love Contadena), tomato paste or whatever you like. Season with Heinz ketchup and A1 (two of my secret ingredients), garlic powder, onion powder, oregano and basil to taste. Plus or minus any other Italian spices. The ketchup and A1 are key IMHO, as is the basil. Optional to add stewed or fresh tomatoes, onion and mushrooms. The more love you give this dish, the better. Best as a one cook recipe. Simmer until you can't wait any longer. And it will be better as leftovers tomorrow.

Bon Appetite

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Never give up. Never surrender.
Vote Green Party: Jill 2*16

OLinda's picture

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LUWr1KlP.jpg

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riverlover's picture

Or do I have to make one myself? lol. Faster might be better than other options.

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detroitmechworks's picture

The MIC would use the opportunity to create their ideal conclave. Which means the next world will be even more screwed up than this one. Smile

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

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magiamma's picture

that would be some form of justice !

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Hot Air Website, Twitter, Facebook

Lookout's picture

are being harvested now. Nothing like fresh produce - had some of each with yard eggs this AM.

Alternet had a piece up today saying war is about profit for the MIC. Glad that old story is being retold.
http://www.alternet.org/world/washingtons-aimless-middle-east-strategy

Focusing on Washington rather than on distant war zones, it becomes clear that the military establishment does indeed have a strategy, a highly successful one, which is to protect and enhance its own prosperity.

war machine.jpg

I'm looking forward to more wikileaks this week.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jun/12/wikileaks-to-publish-more-h...

“We have upcoming leaks in relation to Hillary Clinton … We have emails pending publication, that is correct,” Assange said.He did not specify when or how many emails would be published.

“There’s very strong material, both in the emails and in relation to the Clinton Foundation,” Assange said.

Charles Ortel (a RWer) has a site up on the foundation that give you an idea of how T-rump will go after the foundation and global initiative. http://charlesortel.com/ I hope the super delegates read it!

Thanks for the thread DMW have a good second longest day! Tomorrow is the full moon solstice.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

riverlover's picture

Warm and private enough here. Mosquitoes should arrive soon. Damselflies have begun. They like my red door.

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NCTim's picture

DamSelfies.

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The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

DesertRose's picture

and his birthday party was vegan. We didn't tell anyone.

On a side note, two things I learned.
!. If you serve cupcakes, make the kids sit at a table to eat them.
2. If you have homemade play-doh guest goodies, hand the child the play-doh, after he/she is out your front door. (Another guest brought them and gave them out.)

It's going to be 116 degrees here today.
Happy Father's Day to all the dad's.

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detroitmechworks's picture

Worst I ever experience was 140-150 (Wasn't sure on the temperature because we didn't get issued thermometers.)

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Big Al's picture

Going to get a picture taken of me and my kids and grandkids. That's what I said I wanted. When they start piling up like that it gets pretty fun. Beautiful day here in Portland/Vancouver area. A beautiful day in the neighborhood.
Maybe I'll take my "End U.S. Imperialism" sign with me.

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NCTim's picture

I took Sweeetie, sister-in-law and husband to the local brew pub. The delicious chocolate milk stout put a smile on Sweeties face. She probably only drank about four ounces, wore a couple ounces, but enjoyed enough to text her approval. Bonus, Philly Cheese Steak food truck parked out front.

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The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

hecate's picture

of the NRA are taking garlic and a crucifix to The Hairball.

On Friday, The Hairball told his thugs it "would have been a beautiful, beautiful sight" if the Orlando people had come to the club armed with killing machines. Because then there could have been, like, a gun battle. Like on the television. And, like on the television, the "mud person," he would then have been vanquished, by the Good people.

"If we had people, where the bullets were going in the opposite direction, right smack between the eyes of this maniac . . . And this son of a bitch comes out and starts shooting and one of the people in that room happened to have, and goes boom. You know what, that would have been a beautiful, beautiful sight, folks."

Today the murderers of the NRA are going on the Sunday shows to say The Hairball has a spittoon for a brain.

"I don't think you should have firearms where people are drinking," said Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's chief executive officer[.]

NRA lobbyist Chris Cox told ABC's This Week: "No one thinks that people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms. That defies commonsense."

Meanwhile, back at the spittoon, he says "common sense" also includes racial profiling of the mud people.

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NCTim's picture

Garlic, onions and peppers.

I just put together a batch of Vidalia onion soup with beef tips. Just sirloin tips, sweet onions, minced garlic, a dash of Worcestershire sauce and beef broth.

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The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -