Luke Spencer's Hate Blog: 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year

SAW 20091231.

This is a post from my WordPress blog Stay A While, along with the comments. I decided to duplicate my WordPress blog posts (along with all comments) on Blogger for posterity. Also because I lost my WordPress password and haven't been able to recover my account. So I just copied everything over and changed the publish dates. Anyway, enjoy.

Subject: I'm a dead man.

I'm taking a lesson from my Republican friends. They know how to forget reality ever happened.

I'm going to forget 2009 ever happened. For me, 2009 was (as the Queen would say) "annus horribilis". Part of what happened in 2009, means I won't be around long in 2010. Funny how life unfolds. Maybe not so funny, all the crazy ways people try to stop it from occurring. Certainly not so funny, how little people seem to cherish life, or how poorly they treat their fellow human beings.

I read in the Wall Street Journal yesterday, that there will be a one time, one year (2010) only ban on estate taxes. That could mean doubling the estate left to your family. So of course (as the article goes on) family members are trying to decide if they should pull the plug on Grandma, or Grandpa this year, instead of letting them remain peacefully in an unconscious state. Death and taxes? Please find more meaning in life, than that.

Some religious people, who believe in everlasting spirit, seem to want that to happen prematurely. I happen to believe in "Dust to Dust". If I am wrong, I will find out. If I am wrong, will I be aware of my Earthly experience? I won't be taking anyone with me, nor did I take anyone while I was here. The height of insanity, is to think I have a right, or duty to take someone out, as long as I'm going. It is totally correct to get them, before they get you.

If wrong, I had always envisioned a "Defending Your Life" type of process. Defeating fear, in all its forms, does improve the condition of the spirit of life. That of course, is only a reflection of the limitations of my human mental capabilities, but then so is God belief. When humans can believe that religious adherence is not necessary to achieve a higher level of a better human experience, maybe then killing in the name of religion will stop. I won't hold my last breath.

I started blogging because that was one thing I could physically do. I found it engaging and enlightening. It certainly did reflect the human experience from good, to bad, and everything in between. Anonymity seems to give people the freedom to speak. Like a quiet, shy person opens up, with a little help from a mind altering substance. Express whatever your mind is comfortable with, but neglect to improve your mind.

Thanks to all those (even the bad) who laid that experience at my feet.

I wish you a Happy New Year, whatever that means to you.

5 Responses.

01. December 31, 2009 at 9:22 pm.

TAO: happy New Years Tom... It has been a sheer delight to have made your acquaintance.

02. December 31, 2009 at 9:25 pm.

Sue: HAPPY NEW YEAR TOM!!!!

03. December 31, 2009 at 11:46 pm.

rockync: And I wish you a happy new year ~ whatever that means to you!

04. January 1, 2010 at 1:59 am.

Tom 5704: Thank you Tao,I know what you write is correct, because few are listening. That's usually the way it goes. Sue, Happy New Year! Keep supporting your President. He needs your voice, and things are going to get worse for him. Rockync, Thank you. It means nothing for me. I hope the meaning for you, is surpassed by what actually happens.

05. January 1, 2010 at 10:37 am.

rockync: Actually, Tom, I don't get excited about the change over and usually go to bed before the ball drops and all that nonsense. But the one thing I always do New Year's Day is I have my Dad and his family over for dinner. I cook him all his favorite foods (Czech) because my step mother doesn't know those recipes. It's a nice day to wind down, eat, laugh and enjoy each others' company. Not a bad way to kick off a new year.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Take Me To Your Leader

SAW 20091201.

This is a post from my Wordpress blog Stay A While, along with the comments. I decided to duplicate my Wordpress blog comments (along with all comments) on Blogger for posterity. Also because I lost my Wordpress password and haven't been able to recover my account. So I just copied everything over and changed the publish dates. Anyway, enjoy.

Subject: Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin.

Two new polls report that former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh are the most powerful conservatives in the country. According to a 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair survey, 26 percent of Americans rate Limbaugh as the most influential conservative voice, followed by Fox News host Glenn Beck at 11 percent. In a Washington Post poll, a plurality of Republicans say Palin best reflects their "party's core values", and they would vote for her "if the presidential nomination battle were held today". Two people who don't fare as well in the Post poll are George W. Bush and Dick Cheney:

Just 1 percent pick George W. Bush as the best reflection of the party's principles, and only a single person in the poll cites former vice president Richard B. Cheney. About seven in 10 say Bush bears at least "some" of the blame for the party's problems.

The Post surveyed 804 "Republicans and Republican-leaning nonpartisans" for its sample. Palin is particularly popular amongst the "loyal followers of Limbaugh and Beck". "Overall, 18 percent of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents cited her as the person most representative of the party's core values. ... Among those who regularly listen to Limbaugh, however, Palin was cited by 48 percent, and among Beck's viewers, it was 35 percent, far surpassing others".

3 Responses.

01. December 1, 2009 at 8:44 am.

Tao: Yes, yes all of the Republican Party's issues can be laid at the feet of Bush/Cheney…except they tend to forget that Beck/Fox News/Limbaugh were once loyalists.But now they have moved on to Palin…Nothing like the "American Idol" model of how to run a political party...

02. December 1, 2009 at 4:12 pm.

Tom-5704: Hi TAO,Thanks for stopping by. I hope you find my blog a respite from the names you get called on other blogs. I read the thread at Oracular Opinion. If these are the leaders the Republicans choose to lead their party, they are in deep dodo. They will lose even if President Obama can't lower unemployment, passes a bad health care bill, ramps up the war in Afghanistan, gives more money to the banks, or any other action the liberals are unhappy about.So what do your employees want for Christmas dinner? Pop Tarts? Just a joke.

03. December 2, 2009 at 7:45 am.

TAO: Personally, I think the whole right wing of America is not conservative as much as they are a bunch of angry malcontents…They feel they have lost control of their lives and they want leadership that gives them a sense that someone is in control. Christmas at the plant will be a afternoon of snacks, punch and gift exchange. THAT is one tradition that will not change. I think Thanksgiving gets clobbered because of Black Friday and now Cyber Monday.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving Eve Day

SAW 20091126.

Subject: Fictional personal story.

I had a lot on my list to do yesterday. I knew it was going to be a busy, hectic day. It has been raining all night. A cold rain. I heard the weather report before I went to bed last night. The rain is supposed to turn to snow in the afternoon. So I thought I would get an early start and be home before the snow came. The streets and the stores were busy.

First stop, the bank of course. On my way to the grocery store, my truck died in the middle of a busy street, in a heavy, cold rain. It was something electrical. A young guy in a beat up old junker stopped, came to my window, and told me to pop the hood. I got out and checked under the hood with him.

It was pouring out, and we both got drenched in minutes. My alternator was bad. There was an auto shop just two blocks away, but the truck would have to be pushed, or towed with no power steering, or brakes. The guy got a tow chain out of his trunk and hooked the vehicles together. We were both soaked by then, and the rain started to turn to snow.

Towing my truck two blocks was harder than I thought it would be. We got to the auto parts store, they had no service bays. The clerk at the store said since I did not live to far away, if I charged my battery maybe I could get back to my garage and get towed to a service garage from there.

So I went back out in the snow storm and disconnected my battery, carried it into the store and had it charged. Then I carried the battery back out in the storm and reconnected it. I turned off everything electrical including the heat and lights, and drove off. My house was five blocks away.

I made it back to my house. I had to get out and open the garage door, and just then the vehicle died again. I pushed the truck into the garage.

I called a service garage to set up a time to have a new alternator put in. I figured I would be without transportation for the Holiday weekend. It's been three hours since I first left on my mission of errands, and I was totally wet and cold.

The service garage guy said he could fix it today. It would take about an hour to put in a new alternator, and the towing would be free. I could not pass that up, as much as I wanted to just hit the shower and start a fire.

So I went back out in the storm, pushed my truck out of the garage and waited for the tow truck. The tow truck showed up five minutes later. We got to the service garage and they started on the job immediately. In 40 minutes my truck was fixed and running great. Minus 250 bucks, I headed home.

I gave up on finishing the errands and went straight home It has now been six hours since I left home to do my errands. The whole incident was a bummer, but I thought I was lucky to get the truck fixed the same day.

It was snowing very hard on my drive back to home. When I walked in the house, the first thing I did was to light a fire in the fireplace. I stripped in front of the fire and headed to the shower. That hot shower felt so good. I put on a bathrobe, started the tea kettle, and put two chicken breasts in the oven to roast.

5 Responses.

01. November 26, 2009 at 7:41 am.

Shaw Kenawe: Great story, Tom.Great example of why I often give thanks: I'm thankful for the essential goodness in people.How could we not feel this way when Anne Frank, herself, wrote in the diary she kept while she and her family hid from the Nazis in an attic in Amsterdam:"In spite of everything, I really believe people are really good at heart."Happy Thanksgiving to you, and to your good Samaritan, Jeff.

02. November 26, 2009 at 2:10 pm.

Pamela D. Hart: Wow, Tom, you were very lucky that "Jeff" stopped to help you. It's nice to know there are still good people in the world! We just had some "car" woes. Both of our vehicles had issues. My jeep needed a battery; our truck needed $1,000 worth of work! Thankfully we weren't stranded either time!Let's see, Thanksgiving Eve, I just blogged and waited for my Dad to come over. He stayed the night as he is having dinner with us today. My Mom is in San Diego with my sister. I'll miss seeing my Mom, but my sister is lonely as her husband is currenly on the USS Nemitz and will be on it for the next 6 months. She needs family with her, too, and my Mom decided to stay with her this year. Our Thanksgiving dinners are normally large because my Mom usually does most of the cooking. We are kinda scattered this year. But it all worked out and we'll get together for Christmas. After dinner tonight we're going to play some board games and I even got instant lottery tickets for prizes. My Dad, husband and youngest son are VERY competitive. So, it should be a lot of fun! And the lottery tickets will make it even more interesting! I hope your day is very happy, Tom. Enjoy.

03. November 26, 2009 at 3:16 pm.

Tom: I want to thank Jeff H. again for helping me out!Shaw,Happy Thanksgiving!Yes, Life is all about other people and their basic goodness. I have been the beneficiary of peoples help many times, and I have tried to help people where and when I can.I'm new to this blog World and sometimes I wonder if people are still nice to each other, but everyday I am shown that they are.I understand (reading some of your blog archives) that it has been a tough year for you and your family. I hope this day finds reflection of the good family times, for you and your family.Life is for the living and living should be a positive experience, even if you have to force yourself sometimes.Pamela,Happy Thanksgiving!I also come from a competitive family of brothers (no girls-poor Mom). In that sense, what are the rules for splitting the possible lottery winnings?I'm sure your Mom would rather have everyone together. I think she knew your sister needed her company at this time.My parents have both passed on and my brothers are scattered all over the country. We have not had the big family get together, for many years. I thought many times I would not miss those, but I do.So with Mom gone, are you cooking?I'm cooking and watching the dog show (love dogs) while I blog this. It's snowing hear again today. Just right for a Winter Holiday.While the boys are arguing over a game, call your Mom and sister. They will enjoy hearing the commotion in the background.We as Americans are creating quite a commotion amongst ourselves. Lets hope as we enter the Christmas season, that it will be a loving family type commotion, not an angry family splitting type of argument.For both of you, blogging seems to bring a lot of anger to your blogs. Minds are not easily changed, neither are personalities. The best you can do, is what you two already do, lead by example. Maybe, just maybe, it will rub off on some of the hard cases.

04. November 27, 2009 at 12:57 pm.

rockync: Great story and I hope you had a good Thanksgiving after all that!

05. November 27, 2009 at 4:39 pm.

Tom: Hi Rockny,Yes, it was a nice quiet day with good food.I hope your day was what you wanted.Today I slept in, and I do not go shopping on Black Friday. Another quiet day.The Sun is finally shining today. The snow should be gone by Sunset.Everyone, have a nice weekend.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

IT’S BEEN A WHILE

SAW 20091014.

Subject: I am sick.

I'm Back.

That's right, I'm back.

I used to post everyday, then nothing for over 6 weeks. Sorry.

There is a good reason, but I'm not into writing about my depressing, boring medical problems. Suffice it to say that I never saw the tunnel of white light.

Besides, my idea of Heaven is this car and no speed limits.

Nice to see the world of politics is as it was before I took my little trip, ridiculous.

I did not expect Rush to become a "nice" guy in 6 weeks. Let him have his NFL team, and be glad he's not financially supporting a Little League Baseball team.

Neither did I expect President Obama to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Did I miss something?

I will try to post on a regular basis, but that depends on a lot of things. Blogging is one of the things I can do. Sit, type, read, and spew my questionable thinking.

Speaking of questionable thinking... the Health Care Bill from the Finance Committee could only have come from the mind of an overpaid Health Care lobbyist. The industry gets millions of new (forced to buy) customers and the rest of us get a raise in our insurance premiums. I advise buying stock in Health Care Corporations.

0 Responses.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

WOODSTOCK – 40 Years Ago

SAW 20090816.

Subject: Music.

Woodstock 1969 Performance Lineup

Day One: Friday, August 15 1969.

Richie Havens

1. Minstrel From Gault
2. High Flyin' Bird
3. I Can’t Make It Anymore
4. With A Little Help
5. Strawberry Fields For Ever
6. Hey Jude
7. I Had A Woman
8. Handsome Johnny
9. Freedom

Sweetwater

1. Motherless Child
2. Look Out
3. For Pete's Sake
4. Day Song
5. What’s Wrong
6. Crystal Spider
7. Two Worlds
8. Why Oh Why

Bert Sommer

1. Jennifer
2. The Road To Travel
3. I wondered where you'd be
4. She's Gone
5. Things Are Going My Way
6. And When It's Over
7. Jeanette
8. America (first standing ovation at Woodstock)
9. A Note That Read
10. Smile

Tim Hardin

1. Misty Roses
2. If I Were A Carpenter

Ravi Shankar

1. Raga Puriya-Dhanashri / Gat In Sawarital
2. Tabla Solo In Jhaptal
3. Raga Manj Kmahaj / Alap Jor / Dhun In Kaharwa Tal / Medium & Fast Gat In Teental

Melanie

1. Beautiful People
2. Birthday Of The Sun

Arlo Guthrie

1. Coming Into Los Angeles
2. Walking Down The Line
3. Amazing Grace

Joan Baez

1. Joe Hill
2. Sweet Sir Galahad
3. Drug Store Truck Driving Man
4. Swing Low Sweet Chariot
5. We Shall Overcome

Day Two: Saturday, August 16 1969

Quill

1. Waitin' For You

Country Joe McDonald

1. I Find Myself Missing You

2. Rockin' All Around The World
3. Flyin' High All Over The World
4. Seen A Rocket
5. Fish Cheer / I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixing-To-Die-Rag

John B. Sebastian

1. How Have You Been
2. Rainbows All Over Your Blues
3. I Had A Dream
4. Darlin’ Be Home Soon
5. Younger Generation

Keef Hartley Band

1. Believe In You
2. Rock Me Baby
3. Leavin' Trunk/Halfbreed/Just To Cry/And Sinnin' For You

Santana

1. Persuasion
2. Savor
3. Soul Sacrifice
4. Fried Neckbones

Incredible String Band

1. Catty Come
2. This Moment Is Different
3. When You Find Out Who You Are

Canned Heat

1. I'm Her Man
2. Going Up the Country
3. A Change Is Gonna Come
4. Leaving This Town
5. The Bear Talks
6. Let's Work Together
7. Too Many Drivers at the Wheel
8. I Know My Baby
9. Woodstock Boogie
10. On the Road Again

Grateful Dead

1. St. Stephen
2. Mama Tried
3. Dark Star / High Time
4. Turn On Your Lovelight

Leslie West & Mountain

1. Blood Of The Sun
2. Stormy Monday
3. Theme From An Imaginary Western
4. Long Red
5. For Yasgur's Farm
6. You And Me
7. Waiting To Take You Away
8. Dreams Of Milk And Honey
9. Blind Man
10. Blue Suede Shoes
11. Southbound Train

Creedence Clearwater Revival

1. Born On The Bayou
2. Green River
3. Ninety-Nine And A Half
4. Commotion
5. Bootleg
6. Bad Moon Rising
7. Proud Mary
8. I Put A Spell On You
9. Night Time Is The Right Time
10. Keep On Choogin'
11. Suzy Q

Janis Joplin

1. Raise Your Hand
2. As Good As You've Been To This World
3. To Love Somebody
4. Summertime
5. Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)
6. Kosmic Blues
7. Can't Turn You Loose
8. Work Me Lord
9. Piece Of My Heart
10. Ball and Chain

Sly & The Family Stone

1. M'Lady
2. Sing A Simple Song
3. You Can Make It If You Try
4. Stand!
5. Love City
6. Dance To The Music
7. Music Lover
8. I Want To Take You Higher

The Who

1. Heaven And Hell
2. I Can't Explain
3. It's A Boy
4. 1921
5. Amazing Journey
6. Sparks
7. Eyesight To The Blind
8. Cristmas
9. Tommie Can You Hear Me
10. Acid Queen
11. Pinball Wizard
12. Abbie Hoffmann Incident
13. Fiddle About
14. There’s A Doctor I've Found
15. Go To The Mirror Boy
16. Smash The Mirror
17. I'm Free
18. Tommy’s Holiday Camp
19. We’re Not Gonna Take It
20. See Me Feel Me
21. Summertime Blues
22. Shakin' All Over
23. My Generation
24. Naked Eye

Jefferson Airplane

1. The Other Side Of This Life
2. Plastic Fantastic Lover
3. Volunteers
4. Saturday Afternoon / Won't You Try
5. Eskimo Blue Day
6. Uncle Sam's Blues
7. Somebody To Love
8. White Rabbit

Day Three: Sunday, August 17 1969

Joe Cocker

1. Delta Lady
2. Some Things Goin' On
3. Let’s Go Get Stoned
4. I Shall Be Released
5. With A Little Help From My Friends

Country Joe & The Fish

1. Barry's Caviar Dream
2. Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine
3. Rock And Soul Music
4. Thing Called Love
5. Love Machine
6. Fish Cheer / I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixing-To-Die-Rag

Ten Years After

1. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
2. I Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes
3. I May Be Wrong, But I Won’t Be Wrong Always
4. I'm Going Home

The Band

1. Chest Fever
2. Don't Do It
3. Tears Of Rage
4. We Can Talk About It Now
5. Long Black Veil
6. Don't Ya Tell Henry
7. Ain't No More Cane on the Brazos
8. Wheels On Fire
9. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
10. The Weight

Johnny Winter

1. More And More
2. I Love You Baby More Than You Ever Know
3. Spinning Wheel
4. I Stand Accused
5. Something Coming On

Blood Sweat And Tears

1. Mean Town Blues

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

1. Suite Judy Blue Eyes
2. Blackbird
3. Helplessly Hoping
4. Guinnevere
5. Marrakesh Express
6. 4 + 20
7. Mr Soul
8. Wonderin'
9. You Don't Have To Cry
10. Pre-Road Downs
11. Long Time Gone
12. Bluebird Revisited
13. Sea Of Madness
14. Wooden Ships
15. Find The Cost Of Freedom
16. 49 Bye-Byes

Day Four: Monday, August 18 1969

Paul Butterfield Blues Band

1. Everything's Gonna Be Alright
2. Driftin'
3. Born Under A Bad Sign
4. All My Love Comin' Through To You
5. Love March

Sha Na Na

1. Na Na Theme
2. Jakety Jak
3. Teen Angel
4. Jailhouse Rock
5. Wipe Out
6. Who Wrote The Book Of Love
7. Duke Of Earl
8. At The Hop
9. Na Na Theme

Jimi Hendrix

1. Message To Love
2. Getting My Heart Back Together Again
3. Spanish Castle Magic
4. Red House
5. Master Mind
6. Here Comes Your Lover Man
7. Foxy Lady
8. Beginning
9. Izabella
10. Gypsy Woman
11. Fire
12. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) / Stepping Stone
13. Star Spangled Banner
14. Purple Haze
15. Woodstock Improvisation / Villanova Junction
16. Hey Joe

There were almost 500,000 people there. There was a shortage of food, water, and toilets, but no one got hurt and there were no fights reported. There was some bad acid and people did get sick. There was a huge traffic jam. As you just read, the performers were the best.

Just a month after man had landed on the Moon. The Vietnam war protests were at their height. The bloody riots at the Chicago Democratic National convention were just a year before, and so were the murders of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Nixon was President, but Watergate was in the future, so were the killings at Kent State.

Some of the bands that declined the invitation to play at Woodstock were: The Doors, Led Zepplin, Jethro Tull, The Byrds, Bob Dylan, The Moody Blues, Joni Mitchell, and Tommy James and the Shondells.

3 Responses.

01. August 14, 2009 at 11:39 pm.

Jennifer: As I was not even a thought in my parents head back then it was really neat reading this post. Although I recognize some of the bands, and some of the songs, most of them are completely foreign to me. I sometimes imagine what it would have been like back then. If I could have really let loose and let the music and whatever else happened to catch my fancy take over and just let go. Maybe it was just the time or maybe it was the person, I'm not sure. I actually went to a Christian version of Woodstock called Creation. (minus the drugs and nudity) Camping and listening to music, meeting other people. I imagine it was quite different then the real thing though.

02. August 15, 2009 at 12:35 am.

Tom-5704: Hi Jennifer, OH yes, quite different. Woodstock was the stereotype of "sex, drugs, and rock and roll". Were your parents part of that back then?It was the time. Many who you would not think would, did get into it. Lessons learned, that's why I think the boomers have gone along with the war on drugs for 30 years, even though they brought it to the culture in a massive, popular way. Same with sex and stopping unwed pregnancies. How's it going? How can you have two boys and still be up so late? Are you not dead on your feet at the end of a day?

03. August 19, 2009 at 8:39 am.

TRUTH 101: I never heard an original Woodstock album that didn't have skips through a third of the songs. I guess they tried to put too much on the vinyl. My family was on Guam during this time but my older sister and brother made Dad go back to the states so they could be a part of all this.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Mustard Marinated Grilled Steak

SAW 20090812.

Subject: Food.

The Steak

Choose a good steak for grilling. A cut with medium marbling is best. Trim off excess fat. Fat should be about 1/8th of an inch. Fat adds to the taste, but to much fat will just make fire flares while grilling. The steak should be 1 and 1/2 inch thick to 2 inches thick. This will allow for good outside blackening while the inside remains pink and juicy.

I prefer a New York Strip steak, but this recipe is great for any beef steak; T-bone, Porterhouse, Sirloin, etc. This marinade is especially good for tenderizing cheaper cuts.

The Recipe

I got this recipe from my father. He got it from a chef in New York. Mustard marinades for beef are nothing new. This is a simple recipe, that tenderizes beef while giving a great taste.

The mustard, salt, and wine vinegar work together to break down the marbling, making for a tender "butter knife" steak.

Mustard Marinade for Grilled Steak

4 ounces (1/2 cup) of plain salad mustard.

1-1/2 ounce of Red Wine Vinegar.

2-tablespoons of table salt.

Stir ingredients together.

Spread on steak and pierce with a fork.

Flip the steak over and repeat – marinate both sides.

Let steaks marinade at room temp for 5 hours.

This amount should cover one large (2-4lbs) steak, or two smaller steaks. Multiply recipe for more, or bigger steaks.

Another one of my favorites, is an Eye of the Round roast in this marinade, over night in the refrigerator. Grilled to medium rare, and sliced thin.

Grilling

You don't have to, but I use Hickory wood chips in the grill to add flavor. Soak the wood chips in water for about 2 hours before adding to the grill. Add them just before you put the steaks on the grill. Spread them around the out side of the hot coals.

Whatever grill you use, it is better to have a cover. A cover will help put out flare ups and smoke the steaks.

Try to use as little starter fluid as possible. Remove the grill grate before squirting the starter fluid, so not to have the fluid on the grate. Let the fluid soak into the coals for a few minutes, then lite the coals, and put the grate back on.

Then wash the Mustard marinade off the steaks.

The coals should take about 30 minutes until they are white ashed and fully afire. If needed, shake the grill lightly to evenly spread the hot coals. Add your water soaked Hickory chips to the hot coals, around the edges of the coals, not in the middle of the coals.

Put the steaks on the grill and allow the fat to start dripping on the coals and fire to start blackening the meat a little, about 3 minutes.

Put the cover on about 30 seconds to kill the flames and smoke the steaks.

Remove the cover, turn the steaks over and do another 3 minutes for the other side of the steak.

If the flames are to high, or to many, just put the cover on to put them out.

Turn the steaks back over again, this time reversing the grate position to get the cross look, for about 2 minutes.

Turn the steaks again to match the cross look, for another 2 minutes.

The cover use, is on and off. To kill flames and smoke the steaks.

By this time the steaks should be done to medium rare, have a nice outside blackening and a pink inside.

Adjust time to your preference of rare, medium, or well done. I do not advise a no pink juice, well done steak. You can cut into the steak on the grill to check the level of rareness, be careful of flames.

If you like a rare steak, let the flames hit the meat longer to get the blackening effect. Reverse for a well done steak. This will take experience to get it just the way you like it.

Let the steak sit a few minutes. It will retain its juice better if you don't cut into it immediately.

One of the signs of a good steak, is how it tastes cold the next day.

I have grilled, smoked, used the spit, on every kind of meat store bought, or wild. From whole turkeys, to pigs, lamb, kabobs, etc.

If you have questions, ask me.

Enjoy.

3 Responses.

01. August 12, 2009 at 4:35 pm.

Shaw Kenawe: Yum. Well one delicious recipe deserves another.I used to have a cooking blog and another blog name "Isabella di Pesto". Here's an easy recipe.

02. August 12, 2009 at 6:23 pm.

Tom 5704: Hi Shaw, I'm impressed.Many good recipes on that blog. Thanks. As typically male, I know about meats, grilling, smoking, etc., not so much about baking, deserts, etc. I have a great recipe for a chicken-wild rice hot dish. I'll post it some day.I noticed you must have stopped and just do political blogging now.I have my political opinions, but I'm not as astute at it as you, Pam, Jennifer, James, and the others. I'll speak my mind and probably get eaten alive by more informed bloggers, but I'm not shy.

03. August 12, 2009 at 6:39 pm.

Shaw Kenawe: What's great about your participation is that you keep it decent. That is missing from so much of our blogs and our blogging discussions. I'm glad you're a blogger. I gave up my recipe blog because I was so intimidated by other cooking blogs, and I felt they were doing a much, much better job.

Spelling Error: deserts (desserts).

Compound Word Errors: over night (overnight), out side (outside).

Thursday, August 6, 2009

TELEVISION

SAW 20090806.

Subject: Fictional personal story.

My Dad used to call it "The Boob Tube" or "The Idiot Box".

My Dad was in his mid thirties before television was even available to the average American. Most Americans did not own a television set. As shown in the above picture, Americans would gather around a shop window to get a look at this new, amazing, unbelievable technology.

Television had been around as a Scientific creation for years, but it was not until after WW II that Americans started buying TV sets. In a few short years TV ownership went from single digits to over 80%. Milton Berle was credited with getting Americans to go out and buy TV's just to see his show.

This is an old Philco TV. This is the TV I grew up watching. Only black and white, color TV's were not yet available. This TV was 2-1/2 feet high, 2 feet deep, it was all tubes and very heavy. It generated enough heat (see those big side vents) to warm yourself on a chilly night. Back then, we thought the picture quality was great. Today it would be considered horrible. It was truly a piece of furniture. A focal point in the living room.

When our family got a TV, we were only the third house on our block to have one. That increased guest traffic in our house by a factor of 15. In those days the set offered us 3 stations. CBS, NBC, and some local station that was mostly old movies and wrestling. Never heard of ABC.

I can't remember, must have been over a year, but my parents decided to get the new COLOR version of television. This one (left) was the first color TV affordable and available to the public. We were the first to have color TV on our block and that created another and bigger rush of neighbors to our living room. Newer, better, in color. We were the Smiths surpassing the Jones. The "old" black and white TV set, was put downstairs, for us kids.

In a truly American trait, the television just got better and bigger, and families kept buying the newer models. American society seems to approach many appliances of comfort (cars, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, you name it) in that manner. Buying the newer, better model, even if there was nothing wrong with the old model.

On the high end, TV's have always been a piece of furniture. The main piece in the room of the house, that entertained. Smaller TV's allowed us to have one in any and every room.

This beautiful flat plasma screen is set in a handsome box, but you could just hang it above a fireplace.

These days TV's can be a Dick Tracy wrist watch, or a 2-1/2 inch by 1-1/2 inch pocket size, which can also be a personal computer and telephone.

When I was a kid, I was outside all day. If I was not, my Mom asked if I felt sick. TV was an evening thing, with the family. I never sat and watched hours of TV by myself. When I moved out of my parents house, I did not own a TV for years. Then I got one of those 9″ B&W TV's, just to watch the news. I did not own a color TV until I was over 40, even though, by this time TV's were high quality and everyone had at least two.

Today I have a nice 36″ tube type (very heavy) color TV, it's about 13 years old, but still gives a great picture. I keep my TV on ALL the time. I don't watch it all the time, it's just on whenever I’m home. I will cook, do house chores, work on the computer, whatever, it is always on. I tell the family I'm just waiting for the prices of flat screens to go down. Truth is, I'm totally happy with my TV, but I never thought I would have to pay to receive broadcast stations – another blog post.

As I get older, I sleep less. I would say, I have trouble falling asleep sometimes. When I do, I lay in front of the TV, and I'm asleep in minutes. Now the TV is on day and night. If my TV dies, I will drop everything, leave work, whatever, to make sure I can buy a new one, and have it plugged in by dinner time. Am I addicted? Oh yes. Is America addicted? Even worse than I am.

With all this retrospective on television, you might think I'm old. I'm not. Really, I'm not. That's my delusion anyways. I choose to believe it that way.

0 Responses.

This commentary received no responsese.

Spelling & Contraction Errors: TV's (TVs).

Compound Word Errors: wrist watch (wristwatch).

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Untitled #2

SAW 20090805. Originally titled "77".

Subject: I am a fake Liberal.

Explanation: Was Devils Tower once an explosive volcano? Famous for its appearance in films such as Close Encounters, the origin of Devil's Tower in Wyoming, USA is still debated, with a leading hypothesis holding that it is a hardened lava plume that probably never reached the surface to become a volcano. The lighter rock that once surrounded the dense volcanic neck has now eroded away, leaving the dramatic tower. High above, the central band of the Milky Way galaxy arches across the sky. Many notable sky objects are visible, including dark strands of the Pipe Nebula and the reddish Lagoon Nebula to the tower's right. Green grass and trees line the moonlit foreground, while clouds appear near the horizon to the tower's left. Unlike many other international landmarks, mountaineers are permitted to climb Devils Tower.

2 Responses.

01. August 5, 2009 at 7:04 am.

Shaw Kenawe: You've got a really good looking blog full of interesting subjects. Love the photos. Thanks for visiting me. I'm going to put you on my blog roll and will be back to read your new posts.

02. August 5, 2009 at 12:58 pm.

Tom 5707: Hi Shaw,Thanks for stopping by. I put you on my link list. I like to have different things for different people, not as many political posts as you have, but I will write about politics. I am liberal. This is the 9th day since I started this blog, and I change it everyday. Stop by again. I will stop by your blog again. Thanks.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Freedom of Speech

SAW 20090804.

Subject: Luke & TAO's avatar.

This is the famous painting by Norman Rockwell titled "Freedom of Speech". It has become an icon of the most basic of American values. An individual getting up in a town hall meeting, and calmly giving his opinion of an issue before a legislator votes on that issue.

Expressing one's view on how his government should set law on any given issue in a calm, uninterrupted manner, is the rock our freedoms are based on. Respecting the views of all Americans, each American has their time to speak up and state their position.

The goal might be to get a politician to vote one way, or another, but the reality is that you have a right to voice your views, without intimidation.

The same goes for the treatment given to a politician at the town hall meeting. You may disagree with the politicians viewpoint on an issue, but he has a right to be heard without intimidation, just as a citizen does. This has been the hallmark of the debate of issues, within the free people of America.

Over this weekend, many politicians held town hall meetings about the health care issue. An issue that the polls tell us, a majority of Americans want to see a change in the system we now have. Yet, these usually lightly attended and calm proceedings, were met in more than one venue, with the loud screaming and shout down of the politicians speaking at the town hall event.

They were all Democratic party speakers. The shouting citizens were all against the change in the health care system the Congress is considering. The meetings were worthless, because the exchange of ideas and definition of the legislation never took place. The citizens were successful in shouting down the speakers. One Democratic representative had to be escorted out of the hall by 5 policemen.

This would all seem very America except that these citizens were not voicing their individual concerns. These people were part of a organized effort, backed by corporate lobbyist, to defeat the current Congressional legislation on health care.

They hijacked and twisted the age old tradition of free speech in an open town hall meeting. The politicians were not able to speak, but worse, citizens speaking for the legislation were shouted down and not able to voice their opinion in a calm manner heard by all.

These are the actions more comparable to the "brown shirts" of early Nazi Germans, not the actions of sincere people voicing a deep concern. The brown shirts of Germany used to go to town hall meetings and disrupt those meetings by shouting down the majority view, and then out in the streets would physically attack the meeting attendees.

I read no reports of any attacks on people, but our calm system of debate, was stopped. Whether you are for, or against the current legislation, we must all be against this kind of fascist behavior. Intimidation has no place in a democracy of ideas, freely voicing those ideas, or allowing those from the government and the public to voice their concerns about future legislative action.

Money, intimidation, and fear is how corporate America has a louder voice than individual Americans.

Tom

0 Responses

Spelling Error: politicians (politician's).

Compound Word Errors: shout down (shoutdown), brown shirts (brownshirts).

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Play the LOTTO And WIN WIN WIN

SAW 20090802.

Subject: I'm going to be rich!

Do you play a lottery game? Millions do, and millions win. There are over 30 States that have a lotto game, and then there are the mega-lotto's that have multiple state groups. These lotto games are making about 2,00 people a year millionaires. That does not include the millions of people who win smaller amounts.

In most cases, the winners take the cash value, which is usually about half of the annuity value. There are the taxes, that usually take about half of the winnings, and other payouts (like ticket seller percentage) but hey, most still end up with a multi-million dollar check, for a few dollars investment.

The odds of winning one of these mega-lotto games, is between 120-160 million to one. The odds of getting struck by lighting is a million to one. But as the saying goes, you can't win, if you don't play.

In the old days the criminals running numbers games predetermined who would win. These days lotto games run by States, are legitimate and under high security. Lottery fraud is usually limited to theft by clerks who sell the tickets. I could not find one example of fraud at the top level of government.

I spend $2 dollars a week on the mega lotto. I don't play the smaller scratch off games. I have won many times, all under $20 a win. The largest payout in the U.S. was 365 million.

America spends about 45 Billion a year on the lottery. Microsoft had gross sales of 44 Billion in one year. Much of this money goes to fund State programs from schools to wildlife. Although, not one State has lowered taxes because of the profits made on the lotto.

I should also mention that over a third of the big winners end up bankrupt within five years. Many have family problems, and for some reason the statics are full of negative outcomes of lotto winners. If you happen to be lucky enough to win, say no to the photo shoot and press conference, and get a lawyer before you go to get your check. Good Luck!

4 Responses.

01. September 9, 2009 at 1:40 am.

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Spelling Errors: lighting (lightning).

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Blog Rules and Information

SAW no date.

This is the first from my Wordpress blog Stay A While, along with the comments (of which there are none). I decided to duplicate my Wordpress blog posts (along with all comments) on Blogger for posterity. Although just the ones (post or comments) where I discuss people attacking my blog (the ones written after I lost my mind, in other words). "Lost my mind" you say? Yes, it is true. Which is why I turned on Liberals (of which I, on this blog, have professed to be) and say they are the ones who "hate". As well as Rational Nation. He is also one of the haters and blog attackers. He is, in fact, the WORST one.

For a list of ALL the commentaries from Stay A While, see here.

Subject: Blog Rules, Information & Consequences.

I do use comment moderation.

I don't post anonymous comments.

If you want me to link your blog, just ask.

You might be asked to qualify and defend your opinions and statements, that goes for regular comments also.

I don't do this for money. I don't post ads, and I won't post your ads.

This is not a "G" rated blog but :

I will delete trolls, spammers, commercials, pointless vulgarities, and other junk, at my discretion.

Attack me with consequences.

Attacking visitors is forbidden and you will be deleted and banned from my blog.