Saturday, June 27, 2009

THREE AT A TIME

There is a “wives tale” that “celebrities die in threes,” within a very short time of each other. First, there was Ed McMahon, then Farrah Fawcett, followed by, Michael Jackson.

Ed was 86, heading for forever, Farrah was 62 and dealing with cancer, and Michael was almost 51, with a variety of health issues, including pain management. More than likely, none of them woke up with the expectation that they would die on the day when they did die.

For many years, each made their own special contributions to entertaining people.

Like him or not, Michael Jackson was a very innovative and talented entertainer.

However, Ron Upshaw, of the Ron and Don show, News talk 97.3 KIRO FM, (Seattle and Puget Sound area), made the following comment about the passing of Michael Jackson. “Thursday, June 25, 2009 @ 3:27pm Good riddance to the King of Pop I say good riddance to the King of Pop, my only regret is that he didn't die in prison where he belonged. I'm convinced he was a pedophile, and that's why I feel so strongly. What do you think? How do you feel?
~Ron”

Personally, I find it amazing how some people can be so uncaring, mean–spirited, and just plain nasty. Many people believe that Michael Jackson had a twisted, less than normal childhood, because he became a musical sensation by the age of 10. He spent his formative years, grinding out performance after performance with his older brothers, performing as The Jackson Five, in the goal – set by his parents – to mine or harvest as much money as possible, for as long as possible. He was the star. He was the special ingredient that made success.

Years later, during his trial, there was photographic evidence of Michael Jackson’s predilection for photographs depicting prepubescent males in a variety of sporting activities. More than likely, these were photos taken in European countries, at nudist camps, where most people would not raise an eyebrow at such photography.

Here, in the U.S., however, such photos almost brand, or would brand, someone as a pedophile. Still, one must wonder why an adult male would practically wallpaper the bathroom with such photos. Though for some people it does raise the possibility that Michael Jackson could have been bi-sexual. So what if he did have feelings toward both sexes?

The fact is, Michael Jackson DID have his day in court. I responded to Ron’s invitation to what do you think? What do you feel?, by making the following comment:

“Ron, MJ had his "day in court" and was found innocent. What you suspect, others suspect too; however, the California legal system found MJ innocent of ALL the charges against him. It is necessary to mention that adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, tend to repeat the offense on others. Not my opinion, but medical fact.”

Researchers report that sex abuse is not so much about sexual gratification, although that is part of it in some cases. Rather, most sexual abuse is about power and control, over other people. Usually, these victims are helpless to do anything about it, due to the threats of harm, against them or family members, etc. The threat of physical harm to the victim or others is part of the perpetrator's power and control issues. There are studies that show that many adult survivors of childhood sex abuse have a tendency to repeat the behavior.

Michael, Farrah and Ed will be missed, but will also be remembered for their unique talents.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

BACKYARD GRILLING/BBQ


A question from Jon, in Arkansas: "What is the secret for grilling potatoes? Other than the nail, do you microwave for a few minutes, boil em?...an enquiring mind wants to know."

The secret is consistent heat. These were larger size spuds known as 'bakers' and required careful attention to make sure they were completely cooked. Inserting the "cooking nail," (found in the cooking gadget section of most grocery stores), helps distribute heat to the middle of the potato. Using tongs, of course, about ten minutes to a side, turn, ten more minutes, turn, etc., until they have had about 90 minutes cooking time.

I cooked these on Father's Day. The temp gauge on my cooking grill device ranged from about 175 to 300, as I added briquettes and adjusted, up and down, the tray holding the fire. Most of the cooking time was with the lid closed. Constant turning of the chicken, pork and potatoes, allows a better chance of complete cooking, without burning.

You can tell by the color of the chicken and pork that doneness is almost at hand. A closer look at the potatoes shows the nail protruding a bit. Look closely at the bottom potato and you will see a tiny dark smudge on the nail.

That shows the spot where I inserted the nail into the potato when I started cooking it. For whatever reason, as the potato cooks, the nail gradually comes out of the potato a little bit. In this example, a little more than one inch. Plus, as the potato reaches doneness, there are wrinkles on the skin. These potatoes ended up getting very happy with butter, fresh cut and chopped chives, and Knudsen's Hampshire Sour Cream.

Note, I usually DO NOT slather BBQ sauce onto cooking food, because doing so masks the flavor and appearance of the food, and risks burning the sauce. I like looking at the colors and smoke ring of the cooked meat.

However, I did prepare a batch of my nearly world famous BBQ sauce, so everyone could enjoy some on the side if they wanted to do that.

With blanched fresh asparagus, this was a great meal...!!

So, Jon, I guess the secret is consistent heat, frequent turning, and a careful eye for doneness; plus, the love of cooking good food for yourself and others to enjoy. Be sure to let me know how the potato caper goes in your backyard.

Photos courtesy of Clint, of CMC Productions.


Tuesday, June 16, 2009

RECENT NEWS COMMENTARY

A news item today mentioned that, despite the opposition of federal prosecutors, “U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman decided that John Hinckley, the man who tried to kill President Ronald Reagan, can spend more time away from his psychiatric hospital and apply for a driver's license.”

Some time prior to March 31, 1981, Hinckley had purchased a pistol and special ammo, intending to cause maximum damage, (Six Devastator rounds, which have lead azide-filled centers within lacquer-sealed aluminum tips designed to explode on impact, though all failed to do so), and tried to kill President Reagan. Hinckley wounded press secretary James Brady, police officer Thomas Delahanty, and Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hinckley,_Jr.

Since 1981, Hinckley has been carefully hiding behind the smoke screen of mental illness, and, more than likely could still be a threat to others, especially Jodie Foster. By being confined to a mental hospital, Hinckley has been living the "country club" style of incarceration.

Gramps believes that if Hinckley is well enough to get a driver’s license, etc., maybe, just maybe, he is well enough to return to real confinement, for real punishment for his crime. (He was found innocent by reason of insanity.) His insanity should require life time confinement, to keep the public safe.

Hinckley tried to kill a U.S. president, and wounded others. According to a 1965 federal law, Hinckley should be in prison for the rest of his life for the attempted assassination.



D A V I D - L E T T E R M A N told a bad joke the other day, one in which he attempted to deride one of Governor Sarah Palin’s daughters. It was very definitely a bad choice for Letterman to even THINK about telling such a joke, let alone actually tell it to the studio and televised audiences. Yet, he and his joke writers thought it would be a great joke...

Gramps believes that whenever Mr. Letterman derides, or makes fun of others, more than likely he does so to mask his own insecurities.

Someone must point out that Mr. Letterman has a few deficiencies as well. Every day, David Letterman wakes up to a bad hair day, with that little tuft thing he has going on the front of his thinning pate. It would be far easier to shave his head.

Almost every day, Mr. Letterman dresses like a buffoon. Anyone who continuously chooses to wear white socks with suits, is a tad fashion impaired at the least. In addition, he seldom selects ties that compliment his appearance, further evidence of being reasoning impaired. However, maybe that isn’t his fault. Others who lack fashion sense for color coordination could be dressing him.

So, that is what he faces everyday - bad hair and bad clothing choices; and, to make himself feel better, he picks on others.

All of this points toward an over paid, marginal talent. Why? Real men do not make fun of minor children of celebrities. After all, during the election of 2008, POTUS candidate Obama made it very clear, that the families of candidates are off limits.

Yet, for whatever reason, David Letterman and his joke writers do not get it; that it is not OK to pick on others, especially children.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

NEWS ITEMS

There has been a lot of news in the last 10 days.

Imagine being on a big jetliner flying from point A to point B, over open ocean, at about 33,000 feet and a speed of about 500 mph.

You encounter some mild turbulence that quickly turns into violent shaking, bucking, banging, terrifying all aboard the plane. The shaking gets worse and with a terrible groaning noise, the wings are ripped from the plane. The plane starts to fall, almost like a dart into the ocean. There is no time to grab an oxygen mask. With any luck, the sudden force of gravity and decompression causes all aboard to pass out before the plane crashes into the ocean.

More than likely, that could be what happened to that Air France jet. Either that, or there was an explosion. My prayers are with the families and friends of all who lost their life on that flight.

********

Last Sunday, members of the Al Qaeda Muslim terrorist group beheaded a British citizen, because England would not release a jailed terrorist, known as Abu Qatada.

In response to that, I believe the British authorities should take action to behead Abu Qatada, on a worldwide TV broadcast, then have him drawn and quartered; and have his entrails burned on a pile of Islamic religious literature and books. His quarter-sectioned body should be placed in a manure pit and covered with pig's blood, then left to rot in the sun.

People need to wake up to the fact that we are fighting their war, using our rules. There is no level playing field. Al Qaeda is not a signatory to the Geneva Conventions. If we do not start fighting the war using their rules, we will lose. Al Qaeda is a group of religious nuts who want you dead. It is time to think about protecting yourself and your way of life.

For many Muslim/Islamic fundamentalists, the only good infidel is a dead infidel. Supposedly, their religious literature recommends killing all infidels, unless they convert to Islam.

More than likely, we are in the early stages of a war of us against them. Meaning, all infidels (all other religions on the planet), against the right wing Islamofacists like Al Qaeda.

By the way, the goal of war is to win.

Their war consists of doing whatever it takes to strike terror in the hearts and minds of their enemy (that would be the U.S. and allies).

Rape, chopping off of the fingers, hands, feet, ears, nose, emasculation (losing the family jewels), and, beheading, are all part of their play book; because they are not signatories to The Geneva Conventions.

So people should not get too upset if the U.S. or allies decide to use an eye for an eye approach.

********

There is another war, one involving the U.S. government against U.S. veterans. The Veterans Administration (VA) handles claims for veterans who were sick or injured while serving in the U.S. military. There is a growing backlog of claims against the VA, and the backlog grows each day as more troops leave the military and become veterans. Presently, there are close to one million claims in the backlog.

The VA, under Cheney and Bush, became very unfriendly to veterans. It is beginning to look like the Obama administration is providing more of the same. Why?

The new VA administration is making it more difficult for veterans to file legitimate claims. Worse yet, the WWII and Korea veterans are being asked to provide “better documentation.” The VA realizes this is nearly impossible for 70 to 90 year-old veterans. I wonder if the VA is expecting most of them to die before there can be a decision on the claim.

Apparently, if you served in the U.S. Navy, doing electrical repair in a U.S. naval shipyard during WWII or Korea, having to work in and breathe asbestos dust, and you now have an asbestos related illness, that is not proof enough for an older veteran.

There ought to be a better way, and President Obama should be all over this to help veterans.

********

Last Sunday, a doctor was murdered at his church in Kansas.

With apologies to Joan Baez. and Joe Hill… “I dreamed I saw Paul Hill last night, alive as you and me. Said I to Paul, you’re six years dead,” “I surely am said he; I surely am said he.”

Paul Hill was another right wing Christian, crackpot, defrocked minister, do-gooder, who was seriously mentally ill and unstable, because he really believed he had to act for God, and killed an abortion doctor.

Paul Hill failed to realize that GOD is all-powerful, and does not need any human help.

The State of Florida made sure that justice was done, and on September 3, 2003, via lethal injection Paul Hill became an ugly historical footnote. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Jennings_Hill

There are several more like Paul Hill who are doing life in prison, costing the taxpayers of their state close to $125 per day in incarceration and upkeep costs.

The religiously fervent anti-abortion folks just don’t get it. If GOD did not want abortions to happen, they would not be possible.

Throughout history, many people have decided to act on God's behalf. God is all-powerful and does not need any help from people. To believe otherwise is the work of satan.

It is very wrong for anyone to decide that they should become the prosecutor, the jury and the judge to provide punishment, especially on behalf of God.

Just because someone does something that you do not like, it does not mean you have the right to kill that person.

I hope that upon conviction, this killer receives an appropriate and meaningful punishment. Anyone who claims that God sent a killer to kill the doctor is under the influence of satan.