Thursday, March 31, 2005

Bad Uncle, Good Aunt

Yesterday was my nephew's 5th birthday, and I forgot it. I feel incredibly guilty, and want to make it up to him (he's halfway across the country). Suggestions?

UPDATE:

Here's a good suggestion. Be married to a woman who remembered for you.

Home (State) Cooking

I realized last night that it has been quite some time since I posted anything of substance, and that it has also been quite some time since I blogged on two of my favorite topics: My beloved home state, and cooking. I shall endeavor to kill three birds with one stone.

Now, for a long time, there was no "Oregon Cuisine" to speak of, at least not in restaurants. We have been an economically poor state for some time, and were predominantly rural as well. This didn't lend itself to a commercial gourmet identity. But there was a foundation waiting to be built upon, and recently some Oregon chefs have started to build on it. Most notable of these is Caprial Pence.

To understand a region's cuisine, you must look at its history and culture. And to understand Oregon's history and culture, one must start with a three-word phrase: The Oregon Trail.

The Oregon Trail was the largest voluntary land migration in recorded history. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 300,000 people made the arduous crossing from Independence, Missouri, to the Willamette Valley. Just like the nation it became the 33rd state of, Oregon was founded by immigrants. But there's a catch. Most of the immigrants who came to Oregon came from America itself. So while old families in the east can say that their ancestors came from Germany or England or Ireland, many old Oregon families can say that our ancestors came from Pennsylvania, or Ohio, or Maine, or Virginia. The implication for our culture, and our cuisine, should be obvious. It is derived directly from the cuisines of the regions from which those original settlers came. You’ll find Southern influences, Midwestern influences, and New England influences. And often you’ll find an amalgam of all these. In addition, because of the Spartan conditions on the trail, most settlers arrived here with very little left in the way of foodstuffs. So while they brought their recipes with them, they had to modify them to use local ingredients.

Luckily for these early Oregonians, there were plenty of local ingredients from which to choose. The Pacific Northwest was (and still is to a lesser extent) teeming with game, seafood, and wild edible plants. These too added their influence to Oregon food, as did the indigenous people who had used them for centuries. We became addicted to salmon and crab, halibut and rockfish and clams and venison and elk and trout.

Another way that the Oregon Trail influenced our cuisine is in the very reason for the migration: arable land. Every year the Willamette River and its tributaries carry tons of rich, dark volcanic soil down from the mountains into the valley where is becomes some of the most fertile farmland in the nation. Over the years, the very foodstuffs that the settlers and their descendants have grown for sale to other places have also become inextricably tied to our own diets: berries, pears, mint, potatoes and onions, milk and cheese, winter wheat, filberts (hazelnuts to people who live where they’re not grown). Recently the big player in this has been wine.

There have been other influences as well. Later eaves of immigration brought people directly from other countries, so there are direct ethnic influences as well, sometimes localized in specific communities – Junction City, just north of Eugene, is Scandinavian. Mt. Angel outside of Salem is very German. As part of the Ring of Fire, there’s also a strong Asian influence.

I have become more and more aware of this as, after returning to my home state as an adult, I have attempted to develop recipes and dishes and meals that have a distinctly Oregon flavor. I have tried to take two different tacks: One is to take recipes with origins in other regions, states, and countries, and replace key ingredients with Oregon products. My Beef Oregonian is one example of this. The other approach has been to start with a main Oregon ingredient, and build a recipe around it. My efforts so far have produced few recipes, but those I have developed make me proud.

And so, bearing all of this in mind, I would like to submit a good spring/summer grilling recipe, with an Oregon flavor to it:

Brian’s Filbert Encrusted Steelhead

This dish is a variation on a method for cooking fish, especially salmon and steelhead, that has been used by indigenous peoples in the Northwest for centuries. I have added a modern Oregon twist to it. I prefer steelhead, but you could also use salmon (steelhead is not a salmon; it is a subspecies of rainbow trout). Top preference in this case goes to Coho, but use farm salmon if you must.

This is definitely a dish best served over a grill, though you can use an oven if necessary. If you use a grill, use an aromatic wood on the grill. The native tree favored for such grilling here in the Northwest is alder, though oak or apple would work too. Avoid mesquite or hickory, as these are not native to the Northwest. Absolutely necessary for the recipe are four untreated cedar planks, thoroughly soaked with water. Originally the Indians pegged the salmon to these boards, but we will alter that method slightly, for reasons that will become plain later.

The recipe calls for:

4 steelhead filets, skin on, 6-8 oz.
1 cup finely chopped raw filberts
1 cup honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon finely chopped dill weed
1 lemon, quartered
4 sprigs dill weed for garnish

Mince the garlic as finely as possible. The dill weed should also be finely chopped. Mix both with the honey. Place the steelhead filets on the cedar planks, skin down. Lightly sprinkle them with lemon, then salt and pepper to taste. Spread the honey mixture over the steelhead until it is completely coated. Sprinkle the chopped filberts on top until they completely encrust the tops of the filets. Place the planks on the grill or in a 300 degree oven, close the grill lid and cook until the flesh of the fish is firm. The filberts should be slightly toasted and the honey should be caramelized at the edges.

Plating suggestions:

Leave the steelhead on the planks, garnish with more dill weed.

Side dishes that will go well with this dish and give a further PNW flavor would be:

Fried russet potatoes (what did you think the “ORE” in “ORE-IDA” stood for?). Do not peel. Slice into rounds and fry with slices of sweet yellow onions – Oregon Hood Rivers or Washington Walla Wallas. Simple seasoning is the best – salt, pepper, maybe paprika.

A Northwest-influenced salad: cranberries, mixed greens, pears, and more filberts with a raspberry vinaigrette.

I prefer a soft red wine with salmon and steelhead, not white. You might try a blush, I never have. If you do, a good Pinot Noir Blanc, if you can get it, is almost as complex as a straight P.N., but is more refreshing in summer (note to fellow Oregonians: Saginaw Vineyards, between Eugene and Cottage Grove just off I-5, makes one that rocks). Of course the natural match for Oregon wines would be Pinot Noir. Otherwise a Shiraz or Syrah might also work, but I haven’t tried them.

All Her Trials, Lord

Are over.

Terri Schiavo is dead.

Fly to Jesus, Terri.

I shall say no more on this.

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Speaker for the Read

Book Lists. Just about everyone's got 'em. Books you want to read, books you have read and recommend others read, books your mom or dad read to you... The list of lists goes on.

Well, I have a list. Or two or three, actually. But in this case, I'm referring to one specific list. It isn't actually codified, or fixed, but it's a running tally in my head. Let's call it my list of shame. This is a list of books that I not only WANT to read, but am ashamed to admit never HAVE read. Let's not go into all of the entries, or you might lose all respect for me.

There are many books on this list. Some are books I believe EVERYONE should read, or at least be familiar with. Others are genre specific -- books that should be read if you consider yourself a fan of a given genre.

Well, this week I get to cross a book off of the latter list. It's a book that I have long had an interest in, but finally my good friend Brian (aka Lurch in the comments) gave me as a gift on his recent visit. I started reading it Monday night, read it on the bus and on breaks yesterday, and polished it off last night.

As a long time Sci Fi fan, particularly military Sci Fi, I am ashamed to say that it took me until my 36th year to be able to proudly say, I have read Ender's Game. What a read!

I have to admit that there were a couple of things that disappointed me. One of them was the ease with which I deduced a couple of plot twists that were supposed to be surprises (I won't spoil it for anyone by saying which ones). The other was that I struggled with a suspension of disbelief in accepting some of the dialogue, both internal and external, as being consistent with the age of the characters, regardless of their life experience. But these were minor irritants, and overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre.

Monday, March 28, 2005

Fatherhood, Wallenda Style

Good News and Scary News With Regards to the Lad!

(And all in one day)

First, the good news:
The Feared Redhead called from The Lad's pediatrician's office. The good doctor has DC'ed (discontinued) use of the apnea/bradicardia monitor.

Now, the scary news:
The Feared Redhead called from The Lad's pediatrician's office. The good doctor has DC'ed (discontinued) use of the apnea/bradicardia monitor.

I feel like the last two months (as of yesterday) have been practice, and suddenly I'm stepping out onto the high wire without a net for the first time. It's exciting, and thrilling, and absolutely terrifying.

Mutual of Omaha Vs. Soylent Green:

They're BOTH people, you know....

Thanks for the Memory (and memories) to the Llama Butchers.

Apparently today marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Marlin Perkins, one of the men who helped define my childhood tyelevision viewing experience. He was the host of the TV series Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, which was iconic for many of us. As Robbo points out, it was commonplace to the point of cliche for Marlin to pose as the host and hero of theshow while his younger, humbler, and more virile assistant, Jim Fowler, did almost all of the hard, dirty, dangerous work. I also remember Marlin's uncanny ability to use any situation they encountered as a point from which to seque in to a plug for their sponsors:

"Jim is attempting to circumcise the Cape Buffalo. It looks like the big fella is trampling Jim into a lifeless mush. When life leaves me feeling trampled underfoot, I turn to my good friends at Mutual of Omaha."

Happy Birthday, Marlin, and Rest in Peace.

Friday, March 25, 2005

Happy Easter, Yo!

And a Big Shout Out to my Peeps!


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Crippled Fat Johnny Nixon

Thanks for the Memory to Wicked Thoughts:

HOW TO SING THE BLUES

UPDATE:

I've decided to remove the body of this post. It seems too many people were given the mistaken impression that I wrote it. I did not. It was originally posted over at Wicked Thoughts. I agree with those who have kindly posted links to me: It's hilarious. So if you want to read it, go over to Wicked Thoughts and give him both the credit AND the traffic.

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Raise Your Voice While You Can

Thanks for the Memory to Jane at Armies of Liberation.

Originally posted to run until Midnight, March 14th, 2005

Yesterday I received an email from Jane asking me to sign this petition. Unfortunately, I was out of the office all day, so I didn't get a chance to respond until today. At the time she wrote me, she was aiming for 400 signatures. I'm happy to report that she's far surpassed that number.

Since I've taken up the call to arms with regards to McCain-Feingold's intrusions on our freedom of speech and the press, I feel it behooves me to be consistent and speak out on behalf of this Yemeni journalist. Please read his letter to Jane, then go sign this petition.
******************************************************
*************** UPDATE !!!!! ************************
******************************************************

3/23/05

I have received a wonderful e-mail from Jane at Armies of Liberation, linking me to some VERY good news!

WE DID IT!!!!!!

Al-Khaiwani has been freed!!!!!!

This is wonderful news, and a very good day for freedom. Thanks to any and all my readers who got involved, as well as my fellow Bloggers. See? You have a voice, and when you use it, YOU WILL BE HEARD!

LET FREEDOM RING!

Friday, March 18, 2005

What Movie Am I?

Thanks for the Memory to Gullyborg at Resistance is Futile!

Apparently, I'm:



I can think of worse things to be called.

Take Your Filthy Paws Off My Blog, You Damned Dirty Apes!

Thanks for the Memory (and the title inspiration) to Gullyborg at Resistance is Futile!

There is now a petition you can sign to register your opposition to the attack on irst Amendment freedoms posed by the McCain-Feingold Act. Right or Left, you'll be in good company: Kos and Malkin, The Heritage Foundation and the Kerry Campaign. Go sign it.

Blog Free or Die.

The Beginning of the End

Well, today's the day. Today at 1:00 PM EST, by court order, Terry Schiavo's feeding tube will be removed, and she will begin to starve to death.

I'm not sure what I'm feeling about this right now: Sadness; anger; confusion; resignation... all these emotions and more come to mind, and I'm just an observer. I can only imagine what it must be like for those personally involved in the case.

I have to confess that since joining Blogs for Terri, my enthusiasm was waned for lobbying on behalf of her parents. Please don't get me wrong -- I still believe that active euthanasia is wrong. And if the claims made by Terri's parents are true, I still oppose the decision to remove the tube.

But recently, a Blogger I respect greatly raised some troubling points that I just can't ignore. Smallholder at Naked Villainy presents arguments with regards to Terri's medical state of which I was not aware. I would encourage those who, like me, have been on the other side of the issue, to read the entry and consider it. If they are true, I have to concede that I also would question the wisdom of continuing to keep her alive.

However, while he has given me pause to doubt, I do feel obliged to respond and raise a point or two for him to consider:

Smallholder begins his post with the comment "The intent was to highlight the point that those who want the government to intervene in the dying process are hardly acting conservatively - inasmuch that conservatives generally believe in individual free will and a minimum of government intrusion in our lives."

I agree, but this assumes that we're talking about an individual's own free will and choice. The argument being made in this case (right or wrong) is that dying WASN'T Terri's choice, and that the government SHOULD prevent someone else from imposing THEIR will on Terri. Whether this is actually the case or not is, of course, the crux of the entire saga.

Smallholder asserts that the overwhelming weight of medical evidence was on the side of Terri's husband, and that no valid contrary medical opinion was offered in court. On the other hand, I have also read that such evidence and opinions have been put forth but that the court, or rather the specific judge presiding, refused to entertain them. In either case, my sources (Smallholder and his opposites) are all third party at best, so I'm not sure what to think.

Here is what I now pray for: Wisdom and peace and healing. I pray that the truth, whichever story it may support, would be known. I pray that the officials and medical staff in Florida would have the wisdom and compassion to do the right thing -- whatever that may be. And one way or the other, whatever the outcome, I pray that God would heal those involved -- Terri's husband, her parents, all those involved, and especially, that He would heal Terri. I do believe in miracles, and I don't believe we can control their occurrence by either maintaining or removing a feeding tube.

One final thought. Last night as I watched the News, Geworge Stephanopoulos reported that, because Congress passed a law preventing removal of the tube, but passed two different versions and then adjourned, Terri's husband could proceed with the removal of the tube. There was, it seemed to me, a smirk on his face and a smug tone in his voice.

No matter which side of this case you're on, that doesn't seem to me to be the proper sentiment to convey right now.

The Beginning of the End

Well, today's the day. Today at 1:00 PM EST, by court order, Terry Schiavo's feeding tube will be removed, and she will begin to starve to death.

I'm not sure what I'm feeling about this right now: Sadness; anger; confusion; resignation... all these emotions and more come to mind, and I'm just an observer. I can only imagine what it must be like for those personally involved in the case.

I have to confess that since joining Blogs for Terri, my enthusiasm was waned for lobbying on behalf of her parents. Please don't get me wrong -- I still believe that active euthanasia is wrong. And if the claims made by Terri's parents are true, I still oppose the decision to remove the tube.

But recently, a Blogger I respect greatly raised some troubling points that I just can't ignore. Smallholder at Naked Villainy presents arguments with regards to Terri's medical state of which I was not aware. I would encourage those who, like me, have been on the other side of the issue, to read the entry and consider it. If they are true, I have to concede that I also would question the wisdom of continuing to keep her alive.

However, while he has given me pause to doubt, I do feel obliged to respond and raise a point or two for him to consider:

Smallholder begins his post with the comment "The intent was to highlight the point that those who want the government to intervene in the dying process are hardly acting conservatively - inasmuch that conservatives generally believe in individual free will and a minimum of government intrusion in our lives."

I agree, but this assumes that we're talking about an individual's own free will and choice. The argument being made in this case (right or wrong) is that dying WASN'T Terri's choice, and that the government SHOULD prevent someone else from imposing THEIR will on Terri. Whether this is actually the case or not is, of course, the crux of the entire saga.

Smallholder asserts that the overwhelming weight of medical evidence was on the side of Terri's husband, and that no valid contrary medical opinion was offered in court. On the other hand, I have also read that such evidence and opinions have been put forth but that the court, or rather the specific judge presiding, refused to entertain them. In either case, my sources (Smallholder and his opposites) are all third party at best, so I'm not sure what to think.

Here is what I now pray for: Wisdom and peace and healing. I pray that the truth, whichever story it may support, would be known. I pray that the officials and medical staff in Florida would have the wisdom and compassion to do the right thing -- whatever that may be. And one way or the other, whatever the outcome, I pray that God would heal those involved -- Terri's husband, her parents, all those involved, and especially, that He would heal Terri. I do believe in miracles, and I don't believe we can control their occurrence by either maintaining or removing a feeding tube.

One final thought. Last night as I watched the News, Geworge Stephanopoulos reported that, because Congress passed a law preventing removal of the tube, but passed two different versions and then adjourned, Terri's husband could proceed with the removal of the tube. There was, it seemed to me, a smirk on his face and a smug tone in his voice.

No matter which side of this case you're on, that doesn't seem to me to be the proper sentiment to convey right now.

Thursday, March 17, 2005

Familiarity Breeds Contempt

...Especially with regards to after hours medical facilities.

Today it's the Peace Health (go figure that's what Eugene's biggest medical provider is called) Pediatrics Evening Clinic. The Lad has been fussy, colicky, and runny all day, and so instead of quaffing a Guinness for St. Pat's, I'll be sitting in a sterile room.

God, I love this kid. Need further proof?

Slainte!

To all my fellow Bloggers and readers of Irish extraction, a Happy Saint Patrick's Day, and one of my favorite Irish blessings:

May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead!

LadBlogging

So neither I nor The Feared Redhead slept well last night, thanks to a series of alarms from The Lad's apnea monitor. in all cases, he was breathing the whole time. On the one hand, I'm ready to chuck the thing out the window, on the other, I'm afraid that the day after the monitor is DC'ed, he'll stop breathing for real and we'll wake up to find him dead.

I knew I was giving up sleep, spontaneity, and disposable income when I signed up for parenthood, but must they take my sanity too? Those Fates are bitches!

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

In Like a Lamb, Out Like a Lion????

As you may well know, my beloved home state is famous, among other things, for rain (Astoria Oregon gets twice the annual average rainfall of Seattle). Well, this winter's been a bit different. All during late February and early March, the weather has been unseasonably pleasant -- I'm talking sunny days in the 60's and 70's. And while a bit of that is nice, it was starting to concern me, and still does -- we're probably facing a drought this summer. Furthermore, I actually enjoy rainy weather in winter -- it's bracing, refreshing, cleansing, and lends perspective to summer's sun.

But today, when I left the house, it was chilly enough to warrant a jacket. At work, as the day wore on it was even chilly inside -- a fact I attributed to the A/C being abused. But no.... a while ago, I turned from my desk to the window to see that the sky was dark, and the glass streaked with water. It's raining.

Now THAT'S the Oregon I know and love. Welcome back, you beautiful, stormy wench!

All Pretense "Stripped" Away

Thanks for the Memory to Ace via the Llama Butchers.

There was a day and age where I found Doonesbury amusing, if slanted. That was so very long ago. For years, Doonesbury has been the Keith Richards of comic strips, dead but unready to actually stop breathing.

Finally, someone has written an obituary.

HungerBlogging

Today is the day of the Hunger Strike for Darfur. Since I chose to participate, I decided I'd blog on the experience.

Sunday Morning I was given the opportunity by my pastor to present the hunger strike to all of the members of my church. Many in our congregation fast on Wednesdays anyway, so it seemed a perfect match. While I'm politically active, as a Christian I believe in God's ability to move hearts and change minds, so I decided to couple the political act of a hunger strike with a fast. Today I will be praying for Darfur.

This morning I forgot what day it was and accidentally broke the fast before it began. I don't feel so bad since it was a very small amount of food (a bag of fruit chews and a mug of hot chocolate), and immediately resolved to resume the fast for the rest of the day. I was tempted by free muffins at work, but abstained.

Also remembered to go over to the Darfur website and register as one of the hunger strikers, and left a message that I was doing this to show solidarity with htose suffering in Darfur.

How noble that sounds, eh? Rot. I'm fat, I'm well-fed, I'm rich by world standards, and one measly day without food will in no way help me experience for myself the plight of those being starved. But that was the best I could come up with on the spur of the moment.

No, this isn't about me "identifying" with those in Darfur, this is about me using every proper political and spiritual means available to me to try to help. This is like writing my congressman (note to self....) or writing a letter to the editor. It's not heroic, but it helps. I feel like I just tossed another starfish back in the ocean.

UPDATE:

I received the following email back after signing up to fast for Darfur (I added the emphasis in bold):

Dear Darfur Hunger Striker,

Thank you for making a small sacrifice today to spark the world’s conscience. Whether you are fasting alone, at work or at home, with friends or family, know that there are over 2,000 people across the United States acting in solidarity with you and millions of people in Darfur counting on actions like yours to bring them justice. You should feel proud.

Going without food for a day is not easy - our stomachs are already rumbling! But we can only imagine the deprivations and dangers faced daily by the victims of the genocide in Sudan. Everytime you feel hungry or refuse an invitation to eat something today, why not use the opportunity to tell someone why you are fasting and about what is happening in Darfur?

Response to the fast has been overwhelming and we've decided to open it up so people can fast any day from today through Sunday. If you know people who are not fasting today but you think may want to raise awareness about the genocide in Darfur, please forward them the link below so they can join in this action:

http://www.darfurgenocide.org/MarchStrike.html

Don't forget that you can help spread news of the fast by contacting your local media or passing out flyers. You can download everything you need, including advice about dealing with the media, from our website at:

http://www.darfurgenocide.org/media.html


Good luck, and best wishes

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Tuesday Morning Coming Down

For the last week and a half, my mother has been here visiting, getting to know her new grandson. She flew out of Eugene Mahlon-Sweet Field this morning at 6:35 AM. I already miss her.

Since my father died and I moved back to Oregon, I've seen my mother three times including this visit -- once in the fall of 2003 when we buried my father's ashes. that Christmas, and this visit. We won't see her again until Christmas.

I grew up living, except for one short period, thousands of miles from my grandparents. And though I've always adored them, I was never a s close to them as my cousins. I don't want that for my son.

Monday, March 14, 2005

A Thousand Words Redux

Thanks for the Memory to DFO at Huckleberies

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Another Little Piece of My Blog

Apparently my old post explaining the title of this blog has been getting more attention lately than when I posted it. Thanks to one of the more recent comments, I feel compelled to respond here instead of there.

First of all, David, thank you for the words of encouragement, and thank you for the update to your Blog title. As per your request, a little about me. For my regular readers, you may learn somehting here:

My name really is Brian, my last initial really is B. I'm 36, a native of Oregon (born in Roseburg), living in Springfield Oregon. My father was a pastor, so I moved all over the western US as a kid, living ins Southern and Northern California, Southern Idaho, and Southern Oregon. I graduated from High School in a small town near Roseburg back in 1987. After a short and ill-fated stint in college, I ended up living in San Diego, CA for 12 years. It was while there that I was introduced over the phone to my future bride (Known around these parts as The Feared Redhead), who was living in the Minneapolis area at the time. We were married in July of 1999. In July of 2001, my father died of either a stroke or heart attack (no autopsy to be sure), and TFR and I moved back to Oregon. Life was hard as we made the move with no jobs waiting, but we hung on and eventually found work. We are now the parents of a 6-week-old baby boy (The Lad) and a 3-year-old Lhasa Apso (Little Big Dog). I work as a tech support agent for a software company, TFR is on maternity leave.

We're active in our church, and I have several hobbies, including cooking, wine tasting, Role Playing Games, and BLogging. I'm politically conservative, and was an active volunteer for President Bush' reelection campaign. We also believe in personal charity, and give as often as we can to organizations like Samaritan's Purse.

I did return to college later in life, and did much better (even making Dean's List), but time and financial restraints have prevented me from completing a degree.

So for all of you who have read me but never knew some of these things about me, welcome to me.

Friday, March 11, 2005

Quote of the Week

Some people just love to use their right to speak freely to fret about the horrible effects that freedom might have on people who live in places where you can get your fucking tongue cut out for criticizing the government?


John from Wuzzadem, in a comment over at Ace's.

Come Together Right Now

Some of you who follow my comments sections may have encountered some comments by Library Mary. If you read her comments, you'll soon reach the conclusion that she is politically to the left of me, yet is civil in her dissent.

That's partly because she's just a damned decent person, and partly because she's one of my oldest and dearest friends.

Well, today she forwared an email to me. I have decided to post it here because it provides an opportunity to get involved in an issue I believe in:

Dear Friends,

Recently, you were moved enough by the tragedy in Sudan to visit DarfurGenocide.org and take action. Thank you so much for this, we're writing now to tell you about a new opportunity to make a difference.

The situation in Darfur is one of continued horror. The massacres continue, and
a "final solution" of man-made famine is looming over the 2 million refugees crammed into towns and camps.

We can stop this crime, but it will take effort. A first step is to join together to stage the largest one-day hunger strike in US history on Wednesday, March 16th. Please demonstrate your solidarity with Darfur and sorrow over enforced starvation in Sudan. Click below to sign up for the fast and put your dot and testimonial on an online map of America:

www.darfurgenocide.org/MarchStrike.html

Political pressure is needed now and together we can make a difference. Next week is a big week for Darfur: new legislation (the Darfur Accountability Act) is being introduced in Congress with new measures to pressure the Sudanese government, the UN will be voting on whether to impose additional sanctions on Sudan, and Congress is also voting on how much money to budget for food aid and peacekeepers in Darfur. The moment is crucial, and yet recently our government has been easing up on pressure on Sudan. A nationwide fast sends a strong message to our leaders that we want real results for the suffering people of Darfur. Click below to participate:

www.darfurgenocide.org/MarchStrike.html

Once you sign up, you can also help spread the word by forwarding this email to 5 friends, writing letters to your Congressperson, distributing a flyer (available on our website) in your community, or telling your local press about your decision to participate in the fast. Thank you so much for doing something about this horrendous tragedy. We CAN stop it.

Sincerely,
The Res Publica Team
www.darfurgenocide.org
www.therespublica.org


I have been convinced for some time that Darfur was one issue on which the Left and Right could and should agree. What's going on is genocide and must be stopped.

Sweating Bullets is Bad for Your Complexion

Since The Lad was born, TFR has been on unpaid leave. She planned on taking 3 months off. Given our income, this has been a bit of a challenge, but between depleting savings, racking up some temporary debt, other creative budgeting techniques and tightening our belts, I figured we could do it.

Until today.

Today, TFR called and gave me an update on a meeting that occurred between a coworker and her boss. Based on the outcome of that meeting, TFR will probably not be going back to the same job on May 2 as planned. Here's why:

TFR is an esthetitican. For those of you unfamiliar (namely my fellow straight males), she is trained and licensed to perform skin care services at a spa -- facials, blemish extractions, and waxing services. For you ladies, gays, and metrosexuals out there who know just how obscenely expensive yet essential these services can be, you might be interested to learn that the average commission earned by estheticians for these services is 40%-50% of the cost of the service. Based on those costs, and the amount of time it takes to provide the service, that averages out to omewhere in the neighborhood of $18 per hour here in the Eugene area.

TFR makes nowhere near that. This despite the fact that she has a phenomenal reputation -- she has clients who are not only return clients, but who refuse to see any other esthetician. Clients who have moved out of the Eugene area yet still drive down from Portland and Salem on a monthly basis to see her. She suspects, but has no way of confirming, that she's probably one of the 100 best estheticians in the state.

So it was decided by her and her coworker, who also has an excellent rep and loyal clientelle, to ask for $20 per hour, settle for $18, and quit for anything less.

The Spa owner has not given an answer yet, but the odds are it will not be satisfactory.

Which means that I may be the sole breadwinner for longer than expected. And I'm unsure that my income will be able to support us for long.

Please pray, loyal readers.

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Just When I Thought That I Was Out

They Pull Me Back In.

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Thanks for the Memory to Drudge. Costarring Little Green Footballs.

*Sigh*
So much for the hiatus. It happened in the Northwest, and it involved TuhRAYzuh Heinz-Kerry: how was I to not blog on it? Joel Connelly of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (one wonders which definition of the second word applies) writes on Her Craziness' recent visit to Seattle. Below are a few quotes from the column, with my impressions in italics:

What made Teresa Heinz Kerry so refreshing to some voters, and threatening to others on the 2004 campaign trail, is summed up when THK talks about her speech to last year's Democratic convention:


Personally, I never felt threatened by her. If I was a Democrat, on the other hand...

"Nobody told me what to do," she told a Saturday fund-raiser here.



You don't think it might have been that much of what you did/said was "I-Am-Napoleon" crazy?


Heinz Kerry flew into town on her own Gulfstream jet (the Flying Squirrel, named for a Sun Valley ski run) direct from a conference on global philanthropy at Stanford.


A more appropriately named aircraft never flew.

She talked energy-efficient building design with Seattle Art Museum boss (and old friend) Mimi Gates. She dined at Wild Ginger and flew back east with takeout food from the Third Avenue restaurant.

As LGF's readers observed, the irony drips from those two paragraphs like crude oil. Energy efficiency? Private jet? Did the subject of John...er... the family's SUV come up?

At a lunch for Rep. Adam Smith, guests were treated to more spicy observations than will likely be heard at all fund-raisers under the Westin's roof from now to the 2008 presidential race. A sampling:


Oh, please, Dahling, keep talking!

"You cannot have bishops in the pulpit -- long before or the Sunday before the election -- as they did in Catholic churches, saying it was a mortal sin to vote for John Kerry," she said.

....

"The church has a right and obligation to teach values," Heinz Kerry declared. "They don't have a right to restrict freedom of expression, which they did.


But you think their freedom of expression should be restricted when it comes to criticism of your hubby? Moral and logical consistency aren't your strengths, are they, T?

Heinz Kerry is openly skeptical about results from November's election,


Somehow I doubt her concerns extend to the results of Washington's gubernatorial election...

"Two brothers own 80 percent of the machines used in the United States," Heinz Kerry said. She identified both as "hard-right" Republicans. She argued that it is "very easy to hack into the mother machines."


Before marrying into the Heinz fortune, Heinz Kerry went by the moniker Acid Burn.

Heinz Kerry is still steamed at what the Republican attack machine did to her husband.

"Think about last year," she said. "Once John had his nomination, the Republicans spent $90 million to destroy his reputation."


Ummm.... Rayzuh Dear... If, as a Dem, you're going to throw those stones, I'd avoid spending time at the homes of Dan Rather or George Soros... they're still sweeping up broken glass.

"We have to develop a discipline for this party, so the people of this country know more clearly what it is to be a Democrat," she said.


Maybe the problem is it's already all too clear, ya think?

Classic Heinz Kerry -- spouting off baseless, self-contradictory, often vitriolic babble, reacting with shock and contempt when people reject it for what it is, then somehow viewing their reactions as justification for continuing on the same path. Personally, I am delighted that TuhRAYzuh continues to speak her mind. If we can just keep her in the public eye, between her and Howard Dean, the Democratic party will be wearing a kimono in a quiet room, writing a final haiku as their wakizashi waits by 2006.

Cross-Posted at Head West, Turn Right.

One final note: Even as I was preparing to break my self-imposed silence with this post, my good friend Cameron at Way Off Bass was already blogging on it, and suggesting that my quote is perfectly applicable to The Contessa. I couldn't agree more, though flattery will still get you nowhere, Cam.

Monday, March 07, 2005

Makes Brian Something Something II

Folks, I'm feeling a bit burned out, so I'll be taking a blogging hiatus. Sorry, but I just don't have the energy, I can't think of anything to say, and nothing has me excited (positively or negatively) enough to Blog. I will try to keep it short, just a few days, Please be understanding.

Friday, March 04, 2005

On His Watch

Thanks for the Memory to GOP Bloggers via the Jawa Report:

"It happened on George W. Bush's watch"

It was a popular line of the Left for the last couple of years. So let's just see what else has happened on Bush's watch:

1. Afghanistan held its first-ever modern democratic election.

2. Iraq held a true democratic election for the first time in 30 years.

3. The Palestinians freely elected a leader.

4. Saudi Arabia will hold its first ever national election in November.

5. Lebanon's pro-Syrian government resigned, paving the way for free elections.

6. Libya scrapped its WMD programs.

7. Egypt is now allowing challengers on the ballot, paving the way for the first-ever multiparty presidential elections.

Whither Blogger?

Can anyone tell me what happened to the Blog King of Fools?

A Question Regarding the Stupidity That is McCain-Feingold

So if by blogging for/linking to a candidate's site, I'm making a campaign contribution, do I get to write it off on my taxes?

Thursday, March 03, 2005

Verbal Tea

Thanks for the Memory to the Llama Butchers.

I did fairly well on The Commonly Confused Words Test:

English Genius
You scored 100% Beginner, 86% Intermediate, 100% Advanced, and 77% Expert!
You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!

Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!

For answers to the Beginner section only (the first ten questions), visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/. I will post the answers to the other questions as soon as possible.


Head... Swelling... Must... Resist... Gloating....

You Can Have My Blog When You Pry The Keyboard Out of My Cold, Dead Hands!

Thanks for the Memory to Ace of Spades.

You may or may not be aware of the McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. It was a law that was SUPPOSED to help clean up our electoral process by eliminating "soft" money, slush funds, etc. What it has done instead is open up a whole slew of new ways for special interests to influence campaigns. Many have argued it infringes on First Amendment freedom of speech. Until now, I didn't know enough about those arguments to agree or disagree. That just changed.

bloggers and news organizations could risk the wrath of the federal government if they improperly link to a campaign's Web site. Even forwarding a political candidate's press release to a mailing list, depending on the details, could be punished by fines.

Apparently a federal judge has ruled that such activity constitutes a contribution to a campaign by the Blogger.

Rubbish.

I do not get paid to blog. I do not pay for the use of the server where my blog is located. I am not contributing anything more than my time and my "voice". The only difference between what I do when I blog about a candidate I support and what I do when I sit at a phone bank and make calls is the medium of communication. Are we then to suppose that next it will be a violation of McCain-Feingold to put a Bush or Kerry sign in our yard? Please.

I'll admit it took a personal touch to get me involved in this issue, but not because I was previously unwilling -- just uninformed.

This isn't a conservative vs. liberal issue. This should matter to you whether you're to the left or the right, red state or blue. This is about an attempt by a small-minded judge to curtail an exciting new avenue for citizen participation in the democratic process.

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Bin Kennedy

Thanks for the Memory to James Taranto via the Llama Butchers:

"Our military and the insurgents are fighting for the same thing--the hearts and minds of the people--and that is a battle we are not winning."--Ted Kennedy, Jan. 27

"Thousands of mostly black-clad Iraqis protested Tuesday outside a medical clinic where a suicide car bomber killed 125 people a day earlier, braving the threat of another attack as they waved clenched fists, condemned foreign fighters and chanted 'No to terrorism!' "--Associated Press, March 1


No, Ted, you are NOT winning that battle.

But we Americans ARE.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

So the Oregonian's not All Wet After All

Thanks for the Memory to Gullyborg at Resistance is Futile!

The Portland Oregonian has published an editorial by Michael Arrieta-Walden that is guardedly pro-Blogger.

For once I can be proud of news coming out of my home state.

Gray Hair and a Gray Hare

Thanks for the Memory to Woody over at The Inner Dad. He has some good insight on the disturbing news that Warner Brothers is planning to revamp Bugs Bunny.

I remember once reading an essay that argued that Bugs Bunny was the ideal American man -- clever, witty, loyal, resourceful, and unflappable in the face of insurmountable odds. I've been a Bugs fan my whole life, and cried when Mel Blanc died. Even as an adult, watching Bugs Bunny cartoons helped me maintain some tenuous contact with my childhood.

I'm not, you can imagine, thrilled by this news.

Blegging for Info AGAIN

Is there anyone out there with legal training who might give me a bit o' free advice (no, this isn't about the camera)?

A Darned Good Question

Thanks for the Memory to Mark at Head West, Turn Right.

David Brooks asks, or rather repeats, an excellent question:

Why Not Here?

Afghanistan
Iraq
Georgia
Ukraine
Egypt
Cairo

The disease known as Freedom is highly infectious. Where do you suppose it will break out next?

Terri Schiavo: An Update to the Vigil

Thanks for the Memory to BlogsforTerri for the update:

Notice of Hearing - Terri Schiavo Guardianship Case

Announcement from the Schindler's media office
March 4, 2005 at 1.30pm ET (GMT-5) in Judge Greer's courtroom, the following will be heard:

- Emergency Expedited Motion to Compel depositions of Michael Schiavo and Jodi Centonze
- Emergency Expedited Motion to permit Terri Schiavo to receive rite of Extreme Unction in compliance with her religious faith
- Emergency Expedited Motion for permission to provide food and water by natural means
- Emergency Expedited Motion to permit Florida burial without cremation
- Emergency Expedited Motion for limited media access to Terri and visits with her family
- Emergency Expedited Motion to allow Terri to die at home
- Emergency Expedited Motion to not remove feeding tube when nutrition and hydration are terminated
- Expedited Motion for family access to Terri while she is dying
- Emergency Expedited Motion for permission to photograph and video record Terri with her family
- Emergency Expedited Motion to request the appointment of a medical witness

A half-day hearing has been scheduled to address these items.


Keep praying, folks, and keep raising your voice. Time is running short, but while there's life there's hope. Don't let them snuff it out.

Short Circuit Citied

I took the camera in to Circuit City last night. I had purchased what they called a "service contract" when I bought the camera, so I hoped it would cover damage not covered by a warranty. No such luck. Even though they call it a service contract, even though the literatur with it says free repair, it's really just an extended warranty and so does not cover accidental damage. So now I'm out the $319 for the camera, the $109 for the contract, and I have no camera to record the growth of my newborn son. I'm going to scrape up the means to replace the camera, because it means so much to me and TFR to have those memories.

But you can bet money on where the camera will not be purchased.