I am going to come down on you like a ton of bricks...

Ever wonder what a ton of bricks looks like?

How about two and a half?

Teacher Dave and I picked up two and a half tons of patio bricks this morning (and then put them on pallets). It was awesome.

Argh

There are days when you can hit "Snooze" with impunity. There are other days when you can hit it once or twice without issue. Then there are the days when having the alarm set for the normal time is pushing the bounds of credulity given the things you have to get done that morning.

The last was my morning.

That means that I hit the "Snooze" button with impunity.

When I realized what I was doing, my exclamation could have been heard for miles around. I do believe that I frightened a gaggle of geese near me.

Yay me, no?

Politics and History

I am coming to the conclusion that the left is fighting for a future that will never happen while the right is holding on to a past that will never exist.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world...

Are the ones who do...

RIP Steve Jobs

"So, who is this man? He's the anchor baby of an activist Arab muslim who came to the U.S. on a student visa and had a child out of wedlock. He's a non-Christian, arugula-eating, drug-using follower of unabashedly old-fashioned liberal teachings from the hippies and folk music stars of the 60s. And he believes in science, in things that science can demonstrate like climate change and Pi having a value more specific than "3", and in extending responsible benefits to his employees while encouraging his company to lead by being environmentally responsible.

Every single person who'd attack Steve Jobs on any of these grounds is, demonstrably, worse at business than Jobs. They're unqualified to assert that liberal values are bad for business, when the demonstrable, factual, obvious evidence contradicts those assertions."


What they're "protecting" us from - Anil Dash


Thank you, Steve Jobs, my first real desktop was a Mac. My first laptop was a PowerBook. I have had three iPhones, and at least double that number of iPods. Some of my favorite films are Pixar films. You impacted my life in a profound way. Rest in peace.

Uninformed Opinions of No Particular Merit

Over the past couple of days, I have been trying to understand what #OccupyWallStreet is all about. One of the issues with understanding what this movement is about is that the movement is different things to different people. Good for them, I guess, especially since this is proof positive that the left does not do things well. The right and the Tea Party folks have, at the very least, message control. Ezra Klein's post from yesterday helped me understand why he is taking this seriously, but I still do not know why I should take them fully seriously. This statement, from Klein, is the closest I have to a reason for supporting the movement, "It’s not that 99 percent of Americans are really struggling. It’s not that 99 percent of Americans want a revolution. It’s that 99 percent of Americans sense that the fundamental bargain of our economy -- work hard, play by the rules, get ahead -- has been broken, and they want to see it restored."

Does anyone seriously think that Herman Cain is a serious candidate for PotUS? There is the 9-9-9 tax plan, which some people love, but is probably extra-constitutional. Then there is the whole thing relating to the length of bills, which makes for great sound bites, but would be a piss poor policy implementation. Cain would probably be better for the country than Michelle Bachmann, but...when people start telling me that they are fully supporting Cain, I know that I can write them off as either loons or political idiots.

Good Hair's family had a camp that had an awful name. Is anyone surprised?

Oh, the Big Bad Jobs Bill...it's dead. Again, I ask, is anyone surprised?

Hot, Strong and with a Spoon in them...

HJ77 texted me a picture this morning of her coffee:

"Hot, black and with a spoon in it"

This is my standing answer to how I like my coffee and how I like my women.

I have to admit that I have stolen this bit from Eddie Izzard.

For HJ77, here is the original bit.

Another Song That I Heard This Weekend

And this was a song that I had not heard since college.

(Yes, I did purchase it on iTunes.)

Seeing the first Lollapalooza was a formative experience in my life. This band was one of the shared headliners, along with Jane's Addiction.

Without any further ado, I present Siouxsie and the Banshees.



Kiss Them For Me

Mamma Say Mamma Saw Moo Maw Coo Sah?

During baseball the other night, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was playing on the PA during the game.

I, naturally, started singing along.

Then, with the bewildered look of HJ77, I played it. (Yes, I have Thriller on my phone. Don't you? What's wrong with you?)

She claims that she has never heard this.

Given that she may have had a bit of a sheltered upbringing, I can (sort of) understand.

But...never having heard this great song?

Blasphemy!

So, for HJ77, I provide this video:



Isn't it great?

Eh, I am watching baseball

Okay, just so you can see Hank Williams Jr. comparing President Obama to Hitler and the Speaker of the House to Bibi...

In defense of the wonderful (heh) folks at Fox & Friends, they seemed a bit shocked as well.

I can only wonder what Jon Stewart and the Daily Show will do about this.

Does anyone feel for Kid Rock for being name checked in this? Me neither.

Monday Morning Coming Down

When HJ77 left this morning at 6 am or something like that, I decided to stay up, watch the news (both WNYT (because I promised) and MSNBC) and I saw more about Amanda Knox then I wanted to, not because I do not care (not that I really do) or that it is not relevant (it is not) but that is all that people were talking about (that and #OccupyWallStreet which...well...later).

It was interesting, especially in a way that is totally disinteresting. She is, in all likelihood, headed back to Seattle. Justice has been served, no?

This weekend was a blast. HJ77 came in on Friday night, and I made a angel hair with a white sauce and meatball meal and we just relaxed and watched baseball, or at least until the rainout. My lack of sleep during the week had finally caught up with me, even while HJ77 was wired, and I had to crash, hard, like a Cessna flying to the Vineyard.

Saturday, we headed out to Oktoberfest at Wolff's Biergarten after a quick trip through the Troy Waterfront Farmer's Market. (Side note: When I want to wear a heavier jacket, even if it is a weather proof suede, I should not listen to other people (*cough*) when they say I should just go with a fleece jacket. Just sayin'.) It was very fun and it did get packed enough where my discomfort with crowds ended up getting the best of me prompting a quick exit...well, not that quick. We were there for three hours, largely hanging out with Teacher Dave. After Oktoberfest, we headed to McGeary's, which was much warmer, and had a couple of drinks, including McGeary's wonderful mulled cider.

We headed home and it was dinner time, as well as baseball time. (Surf and turf(aged and dry rubbed NY Strip steaks & Maine Lobster tails), with an extremely overcooked cauliflower risotto and fresh string beans sauteed in olive oil and Balsamic, for those following along at home.) A note on the baseball game. The name Fister will make me giggle. I am not going to apologize for it. It was a wonderful Saturday and wonderfully fun.

Sunday, because various plans fell apart, and because HJ77 was a little under the weather, we stayed it, watched sports and read, all the while I was doing a low and slow treatment on some Danish pork ribs. Now, let me lay some knowledge on you who don't do BBQ. Danish ribs are the small ones. They have lots of connective tissue and the meat is tough to get at. You have to do low and slow on them or you have now meat to eat. They also react well to being braised as part of the process, so that you can keep them moist. I made a dry rub where the flavor profile consisted of a dark chili powder as well as a Madras curry with some of the moisture for braising coming from an English Ale and some Balsamic (for both the acid as well as the sugar content). It was an experiment. I think they turned out well.

While we were noshing on the ribs, the various sporting events (The Yankees were losing, the Giants were losing, and the Patriots looked unstoppable.) required some light gambling. At the top of the ninth, I did bet HJ77 that the Yankees would come back, and they almost did. I did win my dollar back with my call that the Giants would come back against the Cardinals. You win some, you lose some...

As to what we were reading, HJ77 was reading The Leftovers while I was reading (and I am still reading) The Coming of the Third Reich. Reading this book, especially given the current situation, makes me uneasy, especially as I watch the news of the world, the national news, and think about the conversations that I have had with those who are actively intellectually incurious. There is a lot here to process, and a lot to rethink about the rise of National Socialism. At one point, I read a section to HJ77 and asked her to replace "National Socialism" with Tea Party and Germany with "The United States". She rightly pointed out that I was being unfair.

Anyway, that was my weekend...how was yours?