Opening Stuff:
I read an opinion the other day by a reliable, logical source that said basically, "When it comes to the way you look don't listen to the opinion of others." First, other opinions are most likely overrated and probably based on some outside influence totally unrelated to you. Second, Why would you want to adjust your appearance to please others. If they don't like you the way you are, why would you want to be with them in the first place.
During World War 2, a law was passed banning bakeries from selling pre-sliced bread. The reason: They didn't want to increase the demand for metal parts. Think of the uproar today if espresso was banned from high end coffee shops because it was needed as fuel for short range missiles? "You kidden' me? You want me to give up my cappuccino frappagooey for Freedom?"
I see where The New England Patriots Players Union has affiliated itself with the RI AFL/CIO. Does this mean we now have to pay for the Patriot's Pensions? Actually George Ney, despotic head of the RI AFL/CIO is expected to exonerate the Pats for their loss saying that it wasn't their fault. Sunday was a legal Union Holiday and the Pats did what all good Union members do -- they took it off. Hey, I feel better now.
The Question:
Here's a couple of food words: Pesto, Ragout, Gratin, Chutney, Creole, Nougat, Glaze. Define them.
The Headlines:
--Hu Get's US Red Carpet Treatment Reserved For Who's Who.--Goldman Sachs Earnings Fall 53% In 4th Q; Investment Banking Biz Declined Sharply.
--Apple Q1 Dazzles Investors; Investors Say Apple OK During Jobs Hiatus.
--Dems Unify Against HC Repeal Vote.
--New Flooding Swamps Australian Towns.
--2010 Is 2nd Worst Year In Fifty For Homebuilders.
--Euro Surges After Successful Portugal Bond Sale.
Back to More Stuff:
Excuse me! When we want to impress A List foreign dignitaries we send Joe Biden to greet them? I don't get it.
Kids are the future. Right? The core for tomorrow's America. I guess it will all work out if they survive the coddling of today's mamby-pamby world.
Machine tool sales are way up. So? November 2010 sales of these machines that serve as the basis for everything made the world over are up 99.98% compared to November 2009. That is the fastest MT turn-around since World War 2. Durable goods spending and income averages are rising positively and steadily, but not wildly. This bodes well for continued MT sales and factory productivity improvement. So manufacturing is back, but it may not have that big an effect on easing unemployment. Obviously, machine tool builders will start hiring, but new the efficiencies they offer their customers will slow the need for extra employees that normally would contribute to a fast turn-arounds in past labor intensive economies. Overall though, it is a healthy signal.
Almost Near: Chapter 2 continues. --Samantha sat snugly in her gray cocoon and ate in silence.The waitress was depressing. The sea air inspired food and aromas from Lillie's had dissipated and the bacon, eggs and hash browns now laid dully on her plate. She ate quickly, tasting nothing. Her mind was whirring like the drone of an air-conditioner interrupting sleep. Her town still looked like the perfect town. But it had lost the personality. She was a complete stranger in a room full of lifetime friends. Maybe she should have written more. Sent pictures of her new home in...in...where was it?
She closed her mind, left a small tip for the ogre, moved over to the cash register. Lillie's sister was there talking to a couple of men going out the door. She turned towards Smantha as she was handed the scribbled light green check and a twenty dollar bill.. Her eyes looked up and then immediately to the register keys. Samantha wanted to say, "Nice to see you again, Rose. You look the same, even after all of these years." But, now she knew better. Something had happened to her town. Rose counted out the change and turned, looking Samantha directly in the eyes, smiling. "Thanks for comng in," then she paused. "Is this the first time in town. You look a little familiar."
Samantha smiled back a little and a lot inside. "Oh, I was here a long time ago, but I doubt if anybody would recognize me. I used to eat here a lot." She didn't say she was Ginny's niece. She didn't want to hear, "I didn't know Ginny had a niece," again. "Thank you!" and her eyes betrayed a new enthusiasm. And she saw that Rose felt good because of it.
The sun was still shinning beautifully off the water. She glanced down towards the end of the dock, but saw that gray dory bobbing aimlessly...empty. She started up the steep hill to Ginny's.
It seems like only yesterday I was watching Alfred Hitchcock protege Tippi Hedrons panicked. running down the street as The Birds overwhelmed a little seacoast town. She turned 81 today. Just like that. This mom of Melanie Griffith is old! I thought she was still a starlet looking for her next big role after The Birds. Man, time catches up with you. I guess I just haven't been paying attention.
Of course the big news last night across all networks was the retirement of Regis Philbin. Say what? Next I am expecting a new reality show that will be a host-off competition to find his replacement. I thinking Piers Morgan, but he just began his Larry King replacement gig. Hey, he would be alike a Geezer in Waiting. How about Kelly and Howard Stern? Kelly and Anderson Cooper? Kelly and Glen Beck? Kelly and Robert Gibbs!
I think the really, really big question today is, "Why exactly did Baby Doc return to Haiti?". What does he know that the rest of the world doesn't know. Is he there to take charge in the midst of chaos. Is his ego so large that he doesn't see the risk of coming back to a place where he is wanted by the law?
American Idol is beginning again. It will surely be interesting to see how this powerhouse program functions without you-know-who. I really never watch until they get over the early trials. I don't enjoy watching rejects, even if they have heartwarming stories. But, I may tune in to see how the new panel works together.
The Answer:
The meaning of the word Pesto is being liberalized, say like Scampi (It used to be Italian for shrimp but now means garlic butter et. al.) Pesto used to be a safe understood order because it simply was crushed basil garlic, pine nuts in grated cheese and olive oil. Now you can find Peas, dried tomato, spinach or whatever pesto. It's scary. Gratin means topped with brown crumbs, but most know it as a cheese dish. Chutney is an East India sweet pickle, but now it can be any chopped up jellied mess that looks inedible. Creole simply means with tomatoes. Nougat is no more than a mixture of almonds and sugar. Ragout is a stew made of meat and or veggies served with a sauce. Glaze as presented on menus appears to be way more than it is. It is cooking down meat juices to make foundation for ...Gravy! That;s why a always look for "Glaze" next to any pretentious appearing meat dish.
The End:
And then there is Salsa. Don't get me started on salsa.
I remember a couple of good friends in Vermont telling me that they loved calls by salesmen from New York City. On those days they would wear their seediest clothes and play the doofus game as the pinstriped New Yorker with shiny shoes smudged by their parking lot snow took pride in overwhelming the "yokels" with his ultra-smooth presentation. At the end of the pitch, they would fumble a bit and then ask a question so astute and insightful, that it would have the New Yorker stumbling, er-ing and ah-ing. The phrase empty suit is one of the best comments on today's society. Or maybe all societies throughout history.
My hair looks kind of messy today. I can't figure out if need a haircut or a shower.
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