So, I have two pet peeves about Thanksgiving, and these are in fact more just personal preferences.
One, I love my Turkey brined. If it isn't, I'll still eat it, but I'll get the same look on my face that I do when I drink a Coors and I start thinking about Guinness from the tap. Nothing beats a brine for a Turkey, it really is the perfect way to cook the bird, and by golly it's the only way to go. It keeps the meat juicy and tender, adds a ton of flavor, and let's you cook the bird thoroughly without it getting dry.
That's one, two:
Tryptophan! It's in Turkey, and most people think it makes you all sleepy and lazy on Thanksgiving Day, but it does not. Swiss cheese, a Big Mac, and Pork all contain significantly larger amounts of Tryptophan than Turkey. In fact, Tryptophan is present in all kinds of meat, not just Turkey. Many feel sleepy on Thanksgiving Day because they eat such a large meal, and this directs blood to the GI system, making them feel sluggish and drowsy. So, let's not do the Tryptophan trend. Saying it's the Tryptophan is like saying cookies taste good because flour is in them...it just doesn't add up.
Anyway, thought I'd put those down. Happy Thanksgiving All!
For more, click here
One, I love my Turkey brined. If it isn't, I'll still eat it, but I'll get the same look on my face that I do when I drink a Coors and I start thinking about Guinness from the tap. Nothing beats a brine for a Turkey, it really is the perfect way to cook the bird, and by golly it's the only way to go. It keeps the meat juicy and tender, adds a ton of flavor, and let's you cook the bird thoroughly without it getting dry.
That's one, two:
Tryptophan! It's in Turkey, and most people think it makes you all sleepy and lazy on Thanksgiving Day, but it does not. Swiss cheese, a Big Mac, and Pork all contain significantly larger amounts of Tryptophan than Turkey. In fact, Tryptophan is present in all kinds of meat, not just Turkey. Many feel sleepy on Thanksgiving Day because they eat such a large meal, and this directs blood to the GI system, making them feel sluggish and drowsy. So, let's not do the Tryptophan trend. Saying it's the Tryptophan is like saying cookies taste good because flour is in them...it just doesn't add up.
Anyway, thought I'd put those down. Happy Thanksgiving All!
For more, click here
Labels: Thanksgiving
I know gas is dropping all over the country, but I saw a news story the other night that showed North Texas as having some of the lowest prices in the nation. The national average is 2.02 at the time of this post, I paid the below price the other day and walked away from the pump with a bounce in my step.
This is a Howard Stern radio broadcast, which is amazingly funny and also extremely disturbing. He went to Harlem to talk with black voters about why they support Obama, except he switched main policies and vice presidential picks between Obama and McCain. It's pretty interesting, I hope this represents just a minority of voters.
I did not vote for Barack Obama, but he is now my president, and I have a great deal of respect for that. I think that most Republicans have done a good job realizing that a strong president is the best thing for America, whether it is their guy or not. Now is not the time for a lot of hate and dissent, now is the time for progress and security in order to protect our country in every way possible.
Bush set a good tone this last week, encouraging the nation to transition quickly and productivity, and fully committing himself to moving Obama in as fast as he can. Let's look back 8 years ago. Bill Clinton offered nothing more than a little sarcasm at the coming Bush administration, and did very little to help with the transition. The left took up chants of "not my president" and began cultivating an attitude of hate and opposition at every chance instead of looking to loyally oppose their president. I thank God that my party on the whole does not like the majority of the left 8 years ago. We need a strong president to keep safe. While I think that I will disagree with Obama in the future, I will wait and be loyal as an American first, and oppose in appropriate and productive ways. In today's world, I much prefer the president be ready for everything the moment he steps into the White House, rather than have to catch up to events.
I honestly hope the left can come around someday and be Americans first, Democrats second. The latest incident is the gay marriage amendment in California. Somehow proponents of gay marriage think it is alright to hate racially and threaten to burn down churches, all because most people don't agree with them. This is America, a decision was based democratically, and people are allowed to vote the way they want to. There is no cause to throw out bitter hate and threaten to commit felonies on proper citizens, that's just disgusting. On a side note, it's pretty hilarious the left in California is just tearing apart themselves and anyone who will listen, again, being an American first and a...well whatever you are that makes you threaten people based on race and religion...a fascist, a racist, a monster...second. You have to appreciate the disgusting hilarity of that situation.
Bush set a good tone this last week, encouraging the nation to transition quickly and productivity, and fully committing himself to moving Obama in as fast as he can. Let's look back 8 years ago. Bill Clinton offered nothing more than a little sarcasm at the coming Bush administration, and did very little to help with the transition. The left took up chants of "not my president" and began cultivating an attitude of hate and opposition at every chance instead of looking to loyally oppose their president. I thank God that my party on the whole does not like the majority of the left 8 years ago. We need a strong president to keep safe. While I think that I will disagree with Obama in the future, I will wait and be loyal as an American first, and oppose in appropriate and productive ways. In today's world, I much prefer the president be ready for everything the moment he steps into the White House, rather than have to catch up to events.
I honestly hope the left can come around someday and be Americans first, Democrats second. The latest incident is the gay marriage amendment in California. Somehow proponents of gay marriage think it is alright to hate racially and threaten to burn down churches, all because most people don't agree with them. This is America, a decision was based democratically, and people are allowed to vote the way they want to. There is no cause to throw out bitter hate and threaten to commit felonies on proper citizens, that's just disgusting. On a side note, it's pretty hilarious the left in California is just tearing apart themselves and anyone who will listen, again, being an American first and a...well whatever you are that makes you threaten people based on race and religion...a fascist, a racist, a monster...second. You have to appreciate the disgusting hilarity of that situation.
Labels: Bush, Election 2008
I must say, I'm not normally a South Park fan, but there are a few select episodes that I have seen and liked. This video is a South Park take on the election, and it honestly is one of the most good-natured, fair, and funny views on everything. Kudos to South Park for the video, only watch it if you don't mind a few swear words now and again.
Labels: Election 2008, Satire, South Park
I finally made some tea today, I haven't done so in the last 8 months or so with the hot weather and all. I forgot how good tea makes you feel, it keeps you focused and energized while tasting excellent. I miss the Dekalb Farmers Market, which had Jasmine Oolong and other great teas for really cheap, I mean dirt cheap. Thankfully I still have several containers from when we were in Georgia. Almost done applying to SMU, hopefully that process wraps up when I get my last essay finished. I'm very thankful for all the people in my life that help me so much with the process of grad school, I've been truly blessed.
And now for something you'll really like! Matt Payne sent me some great Ben Folds tracks with WASO, they're really awesome, that man has talent.
Side note: I hope Obama is the moderate liberal with some conservative values he says he is, and that extremists like Pelosi do not push him around; I'm giving our President Elect a fair shake and honestly wish him well.
And now for something you'll really like! Matt Payne sent me some great Ben Folds tracks with WASO, they're really awesome, that man has talent.
Side note: I hope Obama is the moderate liberal with some conservative values he says he is, and that extremists like Pelosi do not push him around; I'm giving our President Elect a fair shake and honestly wish him well.
Labels: Ben Folds, Election 2008, Tea
Throughout this election on talk shows and interviews, I have seen black voters say repeatedly that race is a huge, if not the only, factor for them in this election. A good example out of the many is Tracy Morgan on Conan replying to the question "who are you voting for?" with the answer "who do you think, I'm black." Why is this acceptable? So many people have fought for too long to have people revert to voting based mainly on skin color. I have heard this from blacks and whites, but surprisingly from many blacks. Some feel that skin color is a major issue, and I wonder how progressive this really is. I understand it's a major achievement for the black community to have a black man running for president, but to overlook flaws or merely to choose based on skin color misses the point. Vote for Obama or McCain because you agree with them or feel that they have the best experience for America's current problems. Do not vote for them because they are white or black. Racism can affect both sides in this election, and the bug can bite both black and white people. Our skin color does not make us immune to racism and I encourage both blacks and whites to not vote based on skin color, but for the right man for the job.
That's for this election. I voted today, hope you did too!
That's for this election. I voted today, hope you did too!
Labels: Election 2008, McCain, Obama, Racism
The last eight years have brought out the very ugly side of America. We've seen people make unsupported lies and wish people dead based on ideological views. I remember reading about Tony Snow's death, and many comments to that story (an alarming number in fact) were praising his death as an act of God and laughing at this family man rotting in hell. When is there ever need for stuff like this? Recently a San Francisco radio DJ was overheard yelling expletives and death threats at John McCain and Joe the Plumber during a previously recorded news spot. Again, why? What could possibly motivate someone to wish another dead on party lines? I don't think America will go far enough left or right to call for people to get up arms and defend themselves from tyranny. Fact is, there is no call for hate of this magnitude in a democratic system that rivals any other in the world. We need to have respect for other opinions out there and not run like the other half doesn't exist.
This election, no matter who wins, should be a call for us to unite and fix the problems that need fixing. Sadly, I do no think this will happen. Rational thinking often doesn't come from certain people, whether their guy wins or loses. Both parties have whackos out there, and both parties also have some good folks, and both parties need to be balanced by the other sometimes. However, there should never be the hate that I've seen over the last eight years, it's truly horrendous. We don't need to agree, but stop the hate.
Also, if you're a Republican and expecting McCain to lose, don't worry. Obama may be fairly liberal, but he had to resort to conservative talking points on lower taxes, strong foreign policy, and strong defense spending to get the votes he needed. This country is still a Center-Right country, and conservative ideals are not ending with Obama, even if he won't actually implement any of the conservative talking points he used to get votes. But if he doesn't, the people of the United States have a good memory, and our ethics and values are not thrown out overnight or at the drop of an eloquent speech.
This election, no matter who wins, should be a call for us to unite and fix the problems that need fixing. Sadly, I do no think this will happen. Rational thinking often doesn't come from certain people, whether their guy wins or loses. Both parties have whackos out there, and both parties also have some good folks, and both parties need to be balanced by the other sometimes. However, there should never be the hate that I've seen over the last eight years, it's truly horrendous. We don't need to agree, but stop the hate.
Also, if you're a Republican and expecting McCain to lose, don't worry. Obama may be fairly liberal, but he had to resort to conservative talking points on lower taxes, strong foreign policy, and strong defense spending to get the votes he needed. This country is still a Center-Right country, and conservative ideals are not ending with Obama, even if he won't actually implement any of the conservative talking points he used to get votes. But if he doesn't, the people of the United States have a good memory, and our ethics and values are not thrown out overnight or at the drop of an eloquent speech.
Labels: Election 2008, Media Bias
So, Fox News is Biased and Unfair? Clearly Not.
0 Comments Published by d.t.blaser on 11/2/08 at 10:47 PM.
The Project for Excellence in Journalism, an unbiased and unaffiliated news reporting agency, has determined that Fox News has the most "fair and balanced" coverage of the election in this recent study. That's right, Fox News, the always hated network by the left who time after time try to tie their proper news coverage to an overall conspiracy of "conservative hate." Obama has critiqued them in rhetoric, left wing bloggers are always at their throats, and much of the other media tries to paint them as negative and biased.
However, this study has proven that Fox News does try to bring all the news stories to you in a fair manner that lets the viewer decide, and in fact they have succeeded at that. Even if you throw out the data and all the clearly biased AP articles hitting Fox News, you cannot deny that the ratings for Fox News are consistently higher than the competition by a wide margin. Also, a serious news network's best way to put bias aganist it to rest is to do their job well everyday in order to say back "the proof is in the pudding." I do not like how Fox News has become a buzzword on the left symonomous with "stupidity" and "fear mongering" when it has better ratings because of its fair, calm manner of reporting stories that inform the viewer without telling them how to think. Look at the records of any given day, and you'll find Fox has as many Democrats as it does Conservatives and that its ratings are consistently higher, especially in prime time. Don't try to box people into only hearing the "left approved" news like MSNBC by throwing unmerited hate at Fox. By the way, the same study showed MSNBC as very biased "pro Obama," it looks like they really might think he is beyond humanity from the numbers on their coverage.
If you're going to write about poor journalism, write about the loss of integrity at MSNBC.
However, this study has proven that Fox News does try to bring all the news stories to you in a fair manner that lets the viewer decide, and in fact they have succeeded at that. Even if you throw out the data and all the clearly biased AP articles hitting Fox News, you cannot deny that the ratings for Fox News are consistently higher than the competition by a wide margin. Also, a serious news network's best way to put bias aganist it to rest is to do their job well everyday in order to say back "the proof is in the pudding." I do not like how Fox News has become a buzzword on the left symonomous with "stupidity" and "fear mongering" when it has better ratings because of its fair, calm manner of reporting stories that inform the viewer without telling them how to think. Look at the records of any given day, and you'll find Fox has as many Democrats as it does Conservatives and that its ratings are consistently higher, especially in prime time. Don't try to box people into only hearing the "left approved" news like MSNBC by throwing unmerited hate at Fox. By the way, the same study showed MSNBC as very biased "pro Obama," it looks like they really might think he is beyond humanity from the numbers on their coverage.
If you're going to write about poor journalism, write about the loss of integrity at MSNBC.
Labels: Fox News, Media Bias
So found this list from the New York Post and looked up several of the more interesting cover songs. The below is a favorite song of Karen's and myself, and it's a fairly unexpected but good rendering of "Under Pressure" by David Bowie and Freddie Mercury. I have wasted much time on you tube as a result of this list looking for sweet covers, a process that was started by Bowie's "Space Oddity" cover on a Lincoln commerical. Meh, whadda gonna do?
Oh, and John Coulton's folk rendition of "Baby Got Back"
Oh, and John Coulton's folk rendition of "Baby Got Back"
