Monday, November 17, 2008
Sgng of the Day: What's Love Got to Do With It
Tina Turner will be 69 a week from Saturday and is one tour. And you know she's not doing some Barbara Streisand/Celine Dion kind of show, featuring a lot of standing around. It got a great reveiw in the Globe today.
So here's to Tina Turner. Today we'll feature the song that kicked off her comeback in the 80s. Imagine that her "comeback" was about 25 years ago!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
What's a blog?
Sabutai, autor of Quriltai on the Shore, is celebrating a full year of blogging. Congrats to him for that, and for his excellent explination of what this blogging is all about for some of us...
"It's the online equivalent of talking to yourself a little too loudly in the hope that people around you will be impressed by what you're saying. And i'm not good at shutting up."
"It's the online equivalent of talking to yourself a little too loudly in the hope that people around you will be impressed by what you're saying. And i'm not good at shutting up."
Friday, November 14, 2008
Song of the Day: Let me clear my throat
Without endorsement or compliment of any kind, I give you the opening to an article feature on wikipedia. I certainly didn't know this. Follow the link for more of the story.
Nazi Germany initiated a strong anti-tobacco movement and led the first public anti-smoking campaign in modern history. Anti-tobacco movements grew in many nations from the beginning of the 20th century, but these had little success, except in Germany, where the campaign was supported by the government after the Nazis came to power. It was the most powerful anti-smoking movement in the world during the 1930s and early 1940s. The National Socialist leadership condemned smoking and several of them openly criticized tobacco consumption. Research on smoking and its effects on health thrived under Nazi rule and was the most important of its type at that time. Adolf Hitler's personal distaste for tobacco and the Nazi reproductive policies were among the motivating factors behind their campaign against smoking, and this campaign was associated with both antisemitism and racism.
The Nazi anti-tobacco campaign included banning smoking in trams, buses and city trains, promoting health education, limiting cigarette rations in the Wehrmacht, organizing medical lectures for soldiers, and raising the tobacco tax. The National Socialists also imposed restrictions on tobacco advertising and smoking in public spaces, and regulated restaurants and coffeehouses. The anti-tobacco movement did not have much effect in the early years of the Nazi regime and tobacco use increased between 1933 and 1939, but smoking by military personnel declined from 1939 to 1945. Even by the end of the 20th century, the anti-smoking movement in postwar Germany had not attained the influence of the Nazi anti-smoking campaign.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Try this...
Pork Chops (4, pounded thin)
Small can of evaporated milk*
T dijon mustard*
3 green onions, chopped*
Pan fry some pork chops in a little olive oil. Remove them from the pan, but keep them warm in the oven.
Lower heat and add evaporated milk to the pan, stiring to loosen the bits left from the chops. Mix in in the dijon mustard and green onions. Once mixed, add the pork chops back in, turning and stiring until sauce starts to thiken slightly.
Serve over rice.
*We often double the evaporated milk, mustard and onions to create more gravy.
Small can of evaporated milk*
T dijon mustard*
3 green onions, chopped*
Pan fry some pork chops in a little olive oil. Remove them from the pan, but keep them warm in the oven.
Lower heat and add evaporated milk to the pan, stiring to loosen the bits left from the chops. Mix in in the dijon mustard and green onions. Once mixed, add the pork chops back in, turning and stiring until sauce starts to thiken slightly.
Serve over rice.
*We often double the evaporated milk, mustard and onions to create more gravy.
That reaction
Those wonderful folks at Fios gave us free HBO and some other stations for the first month. When mrs noternie called to cancel them after the 30 days, they said not only could we keep them for another two months, but we were going to get Showtime and a bunch of others, too. Seems the promotion they were running had been upgraded, so we were given the upgraded promotion.
Anyway, having HBO allowed me to DVR "The Departed" and "Mystic River," two movies I've long wanted to see. As much as I look forward to watching them, I'll enjoy no longer getting the reaction I've been getting from people when they reference the movies and I tell them I haven't seen them. You know that shocked, how can you do without oxygen "what do you mean you haven't see it/them" reaction. Yeah, I can do without that.
I read Mystic River, along with all the other Lehane books. I even got to see the movie for "Gone, Baby, Gone" and loved it.
So in the next few weeks I hope to find the time to squeeze in a viewing of these two movies. Then people can just be shocked that I don't watch "The Office" or that I haven't seen "40 Year Old Virgin" or one of the newer Batman movies.
Anyway, having HBO allowed me to DVR "The Departed" and "Mystic River," two movies I've long wanted to see. As much as I look forward to watching them, I'll enjoy no longer getting the reaction I've been getting from people when they reference the movies and I tell them I haven't seen them. You know that shocked, how can you do without oxygen "what do you mean you haven't see it/them" reaction. Yeah, I can do without that.
I read Mystic River, along with all the other Lehane books. I even got to see the movie for "Gone, Baby, Gone" and loved it.
So in the next few weeks I hope to find the time to squeeze in a viewing of these two movies. Then people can just be shocked that I don't watch "The Office" or that I haven't seen "40 Year Old Virgin" or one of the newer Batman movies.
Song of the Day II: Manic Depression
Mitch Mitchell's worth two SOTDs. There's some fine drumming (and guitar, of course) on this tune, Manic Depression.
UFC--Boxing
I like the UFC. For those who don't know much about it, UFC stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship, and organization that puts on MMA fights. MMA is mixed martial arts, a style of fighting that includes boxing, wrestling, judo, grappling, kickboxing, jujitsu and other fighting disciplines.
Where boxing matches go 10-12 three-minute rounds, UFC fights have three five-minute rounds. Championship fights go five rounds. The mixed disciplines and shorter fights lead to more action, generally. Fights can go the distance and end on decisions, but they can also end by knock out or when one fighter gets another to submit by putting them in a hold that puts pressure on a joint or deprives them of oxygen, through a choke hold.
The gloves are much thinner in MMA, so fighters get knocked down quicker. And because fighting on the ground is allowed, when one guy gets knocked down, the fight doesn't stop for a count. While it sounds more barbaric than boxing, there isn't the accumulation of punches that do long-term damage, as there is in boxing. If an MMA fighter gets stunned and can't defend intelligently, the fight is over. In boxing, with the bigger gloves, it's harder to land a punch that has the impact to knock a guy loopy for 10 seconds, so they take many, many more punches.
I also like boxing. But the multiple sanctioning organizations and the continuing frustration of fighters taking big, guaranteed paydays rather than fights against other top fighters makes it tough to follow.
The recaps of the Bernard Hopkins-Kelly Pavlik fight described it as a one-sided trouncing. And while it was that, when I watched the replay, I kept marvelling at how little actual action there was and how few clean hard shots were landed over the course of twelve rounds.
So the buzz about the UFC (and smaller MMA promotional organizations) has been growing. Some say they have passed by boxing. Boxing purists call MMA a sideshow fad. But as this article points out, the UFC has been going pretty strong for a while and has some elements that could enable it to continue taking a significant slice of the fighting pie.
Where boxing matches go 10-12 three-minute rounds, UFC fights have three five-minute rounds. Championship fights go five rounds. The mixed disciplines and shorter fights lead to more action, generally. Fights can go the distance and end on decisions, but they can also end by knock out or when one fighter gets another to submit by putting them in a hold that puts pressure on a joint or deprives them of oxygen, through a choke hold.
The gloves are much thinner in MMA, so fighters get knocked down quicker. And because fighting on the ground is allowed, when one guy gets knocked down, the fight doesn't stop for a count. While it sounds more barbaric than boxing, there isn't the accumulation of punches that do long-term damage, as there is in boxing. If an MMA fighter gets stunned and can't defend intelligently, the fight is over. In boxing, with the bigger gloves, it's harder to land a punch that has the impact to knock a guy loopy for 10 seconds, so they take many, many more punches.
I also like boxing. But the multiple sanctioning organizations and the continuing frustration of fighters taking big, guaranteed paydays rather than fights against other top fighters makes it tough to follow.
The recaps of the Bernard Hopkins-Kelly Pavlik fight described it as a one-sided trouncing. And while it was that, when I watched the replay, I kept marvelling at how little actual action there was and how few clean hard shots were landed over the course of twelve rounds.
So the buzz about the UFC (and smaller MMA promotional organizations) has been growing. Some say they have passed by boxing. Boxing purists call MMA a sideshow fad. But as this article points out, the UFC has been going pretty strong for a while and has some elements that could enable it to continue taking a significant slice of the fighting pie.
Song of the Day: Fire
There aren't many drummers in rock history that everyone can name. Not as many as their are lead singers and guitarists, anyway. They may rate a touch higher than bass players.
Mitch Mitchell was one that was known by name. He played for Jimi Hendrix during the brief, brilliant, legendary stretch at the end of the 60s. If you haven't gone through a period where you immerse yourself in Hendrix and listen obsessively to everything, you should. Hendrix himself was tremendous, but the entire band and the music they put out is well worth some time in your ears.
Why not now? Mitchell can't do it anymore. He just died.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Mmmmmmmmmm, Meat Pies and Laben
Spent the day yesterday down at mom and dad's with my sisters--one is in from out of town. Lunch was a special surprise (to me): dad was sent out to pick up an order from Sam's Bakery in Fall River.
Included in the order were the standards meat pies, laben (meat and yogurt) and spinach pies, along with some sweet pies. There were also some things that I don't remember us ever ordering: open cheese pies and chourico pies.
It was a huge order. So much so that after everyone had lunch, my brother in law and I were ordered to split up the remains to take home. I don't know if they had planned on eating it the rest of the week, then plans changed as they headed up to Freeport today or what the deal was. But I headed home with a big bag of stuff, some of which I'm enjoying for lunch right now.
Yummy in my tummy!
Included in the order were the standards meat pies, laben (meat and yogurt) and spinach pies, along with some sweet pies. There were also some things that I don't remember us ever ordering: open cheese pies and chourico pies.
It was a huge order. So much so that after everyone had lunch, my brother in law and I were ordered to split up the remains to take home. I don't know if they had planned on eating it the rest of the week, then plans changed as they headed up to Freeport today or what the deal was. But I headed home with a big bag of stuff, some of which I'm enjoying for lunch right now.
Yummy in my tummy!
Song of the Day: Money
Could be song of the year.
One of the nation's leading shopping mall owners is going under, just in time for the holidays.
Discussion continues on how the feds will spread down that $700 billion corporate welfare/bailout/loan fund. Turns out the original goal is not the current goal. Funny how that works. Funny also how this stuff--however necessary--is not called socialism, but a progressive tax system is.
The Red Sox have announced ticket prices are not going up. First time in 14 years that's happened. What triggered ticket price freeze last time? A strike that led to cancellation of the World Series.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Song of the Day: Travelin' Soldier
The Dixie Chicks do the Veteran's Day honors for Song of the Day. I'm a half-hearted fan of the Chicks. The beating they took for critical comments of the President were exaggerated and mean-spirited. Their answer, Not Ready to Make Nice, was a courageous and worthy response. I've since heard lead-singer Natalie Maines on the Howard Stern show and like her quite a bit. On the other hand, besides a select few, I'm not a fan of their songs. Country music doesn't really do it for me.
Anyway, thank you to all the armed service veterans that have sacrificed to serve our country. The mission isn't always what it should be, maybe, but that shouldn't reflect on those who do their best.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Maine's good, go there
mrs. noternie and I went to Kennebunkport, Maine for a few nights this weekend. Highly recommend a visit if you get a chance. It's a great place to spend a day or two. There are some very good restaurants--from high end establishements to joints--there are some good local, independent shops to peruse, there are lighthouses and beaches to explore, even in the colder weather, and it's a quick run up to Portland or Freeport if you want to do that.
If you're not an invited guest of the elder Bush--and mrs. noternie and I certainly were not--you can still take Ocean Drive, stop on the paved shoulder and take a glance at the family manse on Walker's Point. They've added a windmill to the property, which continues a trend of the old man becoming more likable to me the older he gets.
Accomodations
King's Port Inn--In style it was half B&B and half motel. We had a B&B type room in the main house, that was appointed well with a CaliKing bed, double shower and jacuzzi tub. Breakfast was continental with optional waffles. Very good value within sight of town center.
Food
Allison's (bar and pub fare, good stuff)
The Ramp (joint, great steamed mussels in garlic broth)
Hurricane (upscale, leisurley paced yumminess)
More details if I get a chance, but I wanted to give the basic endorsement.
If you're not an invited guest of the elder Bush--and mrs. noternie and I certainly were not--you can still take Ocean Drive, stop on the paved shoulder and take a glance at the family manse on Walker's Point. They've added a windmill to the property, which continues a trend of the old man becoming more likable to me the older he gets.
Accomodations
King's Port Inn--In style it was half B&B and half motel. We had a B&B type room in the main house, that was appointed well with a CaliKing bed, double shower and jacuzzi tub. Breakfast was continental with optional waffles. Very good value within sight of town center.
Food
Allison's (bar and pub fare, good stuff)
The Ramp (joint, great steamed mussels in garlic broth)
Hurricane (upscale, leisurley paced yumminess)
More details if I get a chance, but I wanted to give the basic endorsement.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Song of the Day: One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
George Thoroughgood falls into two categories: he's got more better than average songs than you might think and if you haven't listened in a while you might forget how good some of them are.
This is a really good one. I hear it on one of the Sirius channels every week or three. Great tune.
"Everybody funny. Now you funny, too"
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
It was close after all
Well, relatively speaking. In practical terms, McCain would have had to do a great deal better in a lot of places to win. But compared to other recent presidential elections, in terms of the electoral college vote, this race was very close. I found these numbers surprising.
Number of electoral college votes won by victorious Presidental candidates.
2008, Obama--349 electoral college votes (ish)
2004, W. Bush-286
2000, W. Bush-271
1996, Clinton-379
1992, Clinton-370
1988, HW Bush-426
1984, Reagan-525
1980, Reagan-489
Source: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/votes/index.html,
via http://www.usconstitution.net/elecvotes.html
Number of electoral college votes won by victorious Presidental candidates.
2008, Obama--349 electoral college votes (ish)
2004, W. Bush-286
2000, W. Bush-271
1996, Clinton-379
1992, Clinton-370
1988, HW Bush-426
1984, Reagan-525
1980, Reagan-489
Source: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/votes/index.html,
via http://www.usconstitution.net/elecvotes.html
Ladies and Gentlemen, President-elect Barack Obama
In case you didn't get to stay up to watch his speech last night or, like me, fell alseep part way through and woke up with all the Obamas and Bidens on stage...
Song of the Day: A Change is Gonna Come
Boomp3.com
This is a brilliant, soulful song by Sam Cooke. I think it is the most fitting song for the results of last night's election.
The lyrics are as follows. As good as they are, Cooke's singing and the backing music easily matches the quality. Really a tremendous song all the way around. It's worth following this link to the Wikipedia page on the song and reading the origins of the song.
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees
Ohhhhhhhhh.....
There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
This is a brilliant, soulful song by Sam Cooke. I think it is the most fitting song for the results of last night's election.
The lyrics are as follows. As good as they are, Cooke's singing and the backing music easily matches the quality. Really a tremendous song all the way around. It's worth following this link to the Wikipedia page on the song and reading the origins of the song.
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees
Ohhhhhhhhh.....
There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Welcome to the new America
An African-American President of the United States of America? That's a pretty big deal.
It's true! It's true! It's true!
I just got back from early morning lit drops in NH, stopped to vote and then got a free coffee at Starbucks. You get a choice of bold, mild or decaf.
Good for them. Good for me. I'll be up watching returns tonight. I may post while watching, but posting should be light tomorrow.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Good for them. Good for me. I'll be up watching returns tonight. I may post while watching, but posting should be light tomorrow.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Song of the Day: Better Way
Did you vote today? You're going to, right? We don't have to get all Schoolhouse Rocky on you, do we? (I would've anyway, but I couldn't get one in the right format.)
"Better Way"
by Ben Harper
One, two, one, two, three
I'm a living sunset
Lightning in my bones
Push me to the edge
But my will is stone
'Cause I believe in a better way!
Fools will be fools
And wise will be wise
But i will look this world
Straight in the eyes
I believe in a better way!
I believe in a better way!
What good is a man
Who won't take a stand
What good is a cynic
With no better plan
I believe in a better way!
I believe in a better way!
Reality is sharp
It cuts at me like a knife
Everyone i know
Is in the fight of their life
I believe in a better way!
Take your face out of your hands
And clear your eyes
You have a right to your dreams
And don't be denied
I believe in a better way!
I believe in a better way!
I believe in a better way!
My ballot
For President and Vice President--Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Barack Obama was not my first choice. He wasn't my second choice. I was first for John Edwards and then Hillary Clinton. But I'm not unhappy with the Democratic nominee. No candidate is perfect; not this one, not the other two I preferred before him. Still, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, who I've always liked a lot, are far and away the best choice in today's election. If there were nothing to consider by temperament and style, Obama's optimistic, positive and to some inspiring campaign would have it all over McCain's bitter, divisive effort. But Obama also seems to have and celebrate an appreciation for the intellectual efforts, where McCain-Palin seem to think anything not from the gut is elitist. I am a Democrat and a liberal, it is true. So ideology and policy preferences turn me to one party naturally. The Obama-Biden ticket though, gives me confidence that they will seek solutions and fairness, not just success of the party line.
For US Senate--Blank.
I like Kerry, but I don't think he does enough for the state. He started pushing harder on national issues leading up to and since his Prez run, but I don't think he ever really "gets it" when it comes to representing Massachusetts and doing constituent services. i don't think he'll notice all the blank votes cast for this race, but I will. I wouldn't mind him moving on to a Cabinet position. I think he'd do better in the rarefied air. We might get a less influential member of the Senate, but i think they'd work harder and get to the level Kerry got to much quicker, Prez run notwithstanding.
For US Congress--Blank
I'm not a big fan of Stephen Lynch...or his wife, not that it should matter. But there's something off putting about seeing her double and triple parking the car with the US Congress plates to run into a store only a block or two from the house.
Mass Ballot Questions
1--No. Until the infrastructure fairies, education fairies come along.
2--Yes. Is weed worse than alcohol? Not in my book.
3--Yes. Not very strong feelings on this, but strong enough to vote on it.
Barack Obama was not my first choice. He wasn't my second choice. I was first for John Edwards and then Hillary Clinton. But I'm not unhappy with the Democratic nominee. No candidate is perfect; not this one, not the other two I preferred before him. Still, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, who I've always liked a lot, are far and away the best choice in today's election. If there were nothing to consider by temperament and style, Obama's optimistic, positive and to some inspiring campaign would have it all over McCain's bitter, divisive effort. But Obama also seems to have and celebrate an appreciation for the intellectual efforts, where McCain-Palin seem to think anything not from the gut is elitist. I am a Democrat and a liberal, it is true. So ideology and policy preferences turn me to one party naturally. The Obama-Biden ticket though, gives me confidence that they will seek solutions and fairness, not just success of the party line.
For US Senate--Blank.
I like Kerry, but I don't think he does enough for the state. He started pushing harder on national issues leading up to and since his Prez run, but I don't think he ever really "gets it" when it comes to representing Massachusetts and doing constituent services. i don't think he'll notice all the blank votes cast for this race, but I will. I wouldn't mind him moving on to a Cabinet position. I think he'd do better in the rarefied air. We might get a less influential member of the Senate, but i think they'd work harder and get to the level Kerry got to much quicker, Prez run notwithstanding.
For US Congress--Blank
I'm not a big fan of Stephen Lynch...or his wife, not that it should matter. But there's something off putting about seeing her double and triple parking the car with the US Congress plates to run into a store only a block or two from the house.
Mass Ballot Questions
1--No. Until the infrastructure fairies, education fairies come along.
2--Yes. Is weed worse than alcohol? Not in my book.
3--Yes. Not very strong feelings on this, but strong enough to vote on it.
Early to rise
I'm on my way. It's 3:44 and I've already got coffee and ten minutes on the road.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Monday, November 3, 2008
Song of the Day II: Take off
Boomp3.com
I'm heading to the battleground state of New Hampshire tomorrow to place door hangers for Barack Obama and Jeanne Shaheen. I'll be reporting to a field office at 4:50am, for 5am deployment.
You should do something. Here's a list, in order of importance...
1--Vote
2--Tell a bunch of your friends and family to vote.
3--Make calls to get out the vote (GOTV). In many cases now you can sit in your house, log onto a website and use your phone (many have unlimited long distance) to call voters in battleground states.
4--Go to a busy place and hold a sign for your candidate.
I'm going to write and pre-post the way I'm voting on everything in tomorrow's election. I'll schedule it to post at 6am.
I'm heading to the battleground state of New Hampshire tomorrow to place door hangers for Barack Obama and Jeanne Shaheen. I'll be reporting to a field office at 4:50am, for 5am deployment.
You should do something. Here's a list, in order of importance...
1--Vote
2--Tell a bunch of your friends and family to vote.
3--Make calls to get out the vote (GOTV). In many cases now you can sit in your house, log onto a website and use your phone (many have unlimited long distance) to call voters in battleground states.
4--Go to a busy place and hold a sign for your candidate.
I'm going to write and pre-post the way I'm voting on everything in tomorrow's election. I'll schedule it to post at 6am.
Song of the Day: What's going on?
The great Marvin Gaye with the title track off of one of the greatest albums in my collection.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
October accomplishments
Congratulations to me.
October 2008 saw a new high mark set for posts on this blog. I hope you enjoyed more than you disliked. And if you did, I hope you'll recommend the site to a friend...or two...or three...or to as many friends as posts you read here that you like. The number of daily visitors is growing steadily, but we're not in danger of blowing out any servers just yet. I'll let you know. I know what traffic is like here because, as I announced in song, I installed a hit counter sometime ago.
Seriously, if you enjoy the site, share it. If you enjoy a post, forward it by emailing someone a link or copying the post and sending it along. I also enjoy the thought that some readers may forward posts of mine because they think it will get under someone else's skin. So please feel free to do that.
October was also the month during which the site featured it's 500th post.
October 2008 saw a new high mark set for posts on this blog. I hope you enjoyed more than you disliked. And if you did, I hope you'll recommend the site to a friend...or two...or three...or to as many friends as posts you read here that you like. The number of daily visitors is growing steadily, but we're not in danger of blowing out any servers just yet. I'll let you know. I know what traffic is like here because, as I announced in song, I installed a hit counter sometime ago.
Seriously, if you enjoy the site, share it. If you enjoy a post, forward it by emailing someone a link or copying the post and sending it along. I also enjoy the thought that some readers may forward posts of mine because they think it will get under someone else's skin. So please feel free to do that.
October was also the month during which the site featured it's 500th post.
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