Today's Tids Issue 2,998
Opening Stuff:
What to do? What to do? Hmmmmm. Nothing looks good to me.
Everybody seems curious
about what might have been said when ideologically opposed German Pope
Benedict and Argentine Pope Francis sat down for lunch. I'll tell
you what they talked about -- relatives.
The Question:
It
was centuries before people figured out exactly when they wanted to
celebrate the New Year. January hadn't been invented until 155 BC, so
that al previous celebrations began on March 1. As the celebrations
became more and more pagan, the Catholic church around 700AD changed new
years to December 25. Finally, around 1560, the Gregorian Calender
solidified Jan 1 as the beginnning of the year and everybody parteeeeed
for the changeover. Name the official New Year song and in which country
it
began, and a traditional New Year's gift in that country. In what
country do the people eat 12 garpes at midnight? In which country do
they burn the Christmas trees to purge the old? In what year did they
start dropping the ball in Times Square? Bonus points; Name the
traditional Southern Dish for NY.
The Headlines:
--World Looks Towards Positive 2014.
--Wall Street Ends Best Year Since 1990's; Mood Brighter Even As Jobs Are Scarce.
--Sotomayor Grants Roman Catholic Affiliated Organizations Exemptions From Undesirable Portions Of Mandate.
--Egypt Seizes Islamist Leader's Assets.
--Vandals Spray Anti-Kerry Graffiti On West Bank Buildings.
--Doctors, Hospitals Ready for Confusion As ACA Begins.
--Pot Users Lining Up In Colorado.
--Barbara Bush Hospitalized With Respiratory Problem.
If you are watching all of
the Tea Leaves, it appears that you can pour your money into just about
any
investment and reap huge rewards. Have you ever seen more bullish
reports out of Wall Street. Then the bulls go wild after the biggest
stock spurt in years, it is often a time to step back. Or at least seek
another opinion.
Recipe, Department:
We know that a great steak is
always a satisfying meal. But what do you put with it other than rich
buttery hashed
brown potatoes. Let's try this cauliflower dish, which is good in
itself and will delightfully co-mingle with beef juices. Preheat over to
425. In an ovenproof skillet heat (Med) 3 tbs Olive Oil, 3 tbs unsalted
Butter; smooth around pan and add 5 minced garlic gloves, 2 minced
shallots and cook & stir til shallots soften (3-5 mins). Scrape
mixture into a bowl and add 1 cp bread crumbs, 1/4 cp fresh grated
Parmesan and 2 tbs parsley. Salt and pepper to taste. In to your skillet
add 5 tbs OO and heat (Med). Into it stir a head of Cauliflower cut
into 1 1/2 florets, plus diced core. Coat all CF with oil and bake in
preheated oven for 10 mins. Add 1 cp halved cherry (Or grape) tomatoes,
toss with Cf and roast another 15-18 mins. Toss veggies with 2 tbs lemon
juice (Can add capers if desired). Sprinkle Crumb/Parm mixture over
Tom-CF combo and bake 5 to 7.
Tomorrow
I'll give you a rich creamy brown gravy recipe to put over the
Cauliflower and Tomatoes. Tomatoes? What tomatoes...I picked them all
out.
Would you eat in a restaurant called "Change Your body Cafe"? What's that all about.
I never get tired of Griegs Piano Concerto in A Minor.
Everybody is talking about a great, bright
new year, better than any of the recent years past. But, I worry more
about the people, millions of them, caught up in what appears to be a
new world of declining opportunities for the once powerful middle class;
For all of those whose careers have become
non-existent because of technology. It's going to be brighter in the
world of statistical progress, but dimmer in the reality that so many
people, really good people face. And, it bothers me.
If liberals are called progressives, how come they're always looking backwards to recreate history.
Young people go to gyms today just to be able to lift packages at self-checkout at Costco.
The Conscience: Chapter 31 continues.
Chuck was sweating as ran the last steps under the Rhode Island
sun to catch up with Joe, who was all consumed assuming an official
demeanor that would give him free reign in the building ahead. He
checked his wallet for the forged credentials, smiled to himself, and
moved to the plain, gray door. The only identification was the poorly
affixed stick-on numbers 25. He looked at he untrimmed grass at the
foundation. Not tooimpressive he thought. "Piece of cake" He mouthed and
turned and smiled at Chuck as he pulled open the heavy steel door.
"Looks like a shithole," said his crude friend Chuck. Joe was actually
surprised that the place seemed so tired, considering what Sanna had
said about the Smith guy.
It all changed when the pair stepped inside. There was activity
everywhere, amidst what appeared to be the most sophisticated machine
tools he had ever scene. Robots were everywhere working without sweat,
and the place was splinter clean. As he looked around, he saw cameras
throughout the place. He immediately went into alert mode. He eyed Chuck
who also took notice of their watch dogs. They instinctively pulled at
their caps adding shadows to their faces.
Joe pointed a finger at a glass enclosure in middle of the factory
floor where a couple of guys sat looking at computers. The
chunky twosome started towards the office, barely taking their eyes
away from the sophisticated activity now all around them. It will be a
shame to see this go up in a ball of fire thought Joe. He was sure Chuck
didn't care.
Just as they reached the door they heard a voice behind them, "Can I
help you?". They turned to see an attractive woman, well dressed, with a
quizzical look in her eye. He saw his partners face brighten as it
normally did when a woman appeared.
The boys explained their inspector gig,
showing credentials, while she nodded and they nodded appropriately
back. Finally the bobbing heads stopped. "Follow me, you have to sign in
at the front office." She smiled a giant smile and Chuck fell inline.
Joe, moved more cautiously, turning and looking around.
In a minute they were indie a plush carpeted room where a big guy was
rising from a chair. "Hi, my name is Ed. We've been expecting you. Just
in from Genoa?" Joe moved quickly to turn, but stumbled over a wide eyed
Chuck, crushing a wood chair on his way to the floor. When he looked
up, he saw Ed had been joined by two other big guys, both holding guns.
The Answer:
Auld
Lang Syne was first sung in Scotland at "Hogmany" the rousing New
Year's celebration, where if you brought shortbread you were greeted
warmly. In Spain they eat 12 grapes at Midnight, one for each month
ahead (Better than olives). Bon fires of old Christmas trees brighten
the skies in The Netherlands. The Big Ball first fell in Times Square in
1907. Bonus: If you are down
south on
Jan 1 you'll probably be eating "Hoppin' John", a dish of black eyed
peas and ham hocks. "Eat Peas on New Years Day and have it all the rest
of the year."
Read a book;
lie down and stare out the window and make up beautiful things; get
into the football rut; or just listen to Grieg below and and imagine
Scandinavia, rippling snow covered icy streams, running down magnificent
mountains into breathtaking fjords below, with ships plowing
through crystalline waters and boats sailing heartily neath Norwegian
blue skies.
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