If you are planning to have guests of differing political persuasions seated around your Thanksgiving table, you might hope that the recent presidential election will not be brought up in conversation.
Good luck with that.
Passions were hot on both sides and have not cooled much in the days since. One little gloating comment from a Trump-supporting uncle could trigger a flamethrower response from a despondent, Harris-loving cousin. One under-the-breath reference to the parade of evil clowns Trump is assembling for his cabinet could be met with a turkey leg tossed by an Elon Musk fanboy.
If you think fights might break out over the good china, maybe this is the year to take your celebration to a nearby saloon, with bouncers standing ready.
Well, turkey’s been thawing in fridge for two days, we have all the ingredients for the sides and trimmings except gravy and rolls – looks like a trip to K-rog on the way out of town. Get to try out the new multiple probe thermometer in the smoker. And of course, my mom’s sweet potato casserole will make its holiday debut for the TG/Xmas season.
Our table will undoubtedly include political chat, but since it’s just me, Mrs. P and LP (politically clueless) it won’t be too contentious unless Mrs. P’s brother calls, and any BS from him will cut the call off very quickly.
And WINTER IS COMING !!! The high Saturday is 22F, lows in the teens over the weekend. Time for log splitting and fire management.
Everyone enjoy the holiday and your friends and family.
Well, another turkey day shows up. Will I get hit with a migraine so bad I can’t see to drive? Or, perhaps a touch of norovirus and can’t leave the bathroom? Maybe I will forget what day it is and go to a boat? Maybe I will get there and my brother throws me out again? My shrink will be very busy next week.
Got mine thawed Sunday and had it salt brining in plastic storage bag in frig. Today I will add my spice rub for the next 24 hours: Slightly toasted cumin seeds, black peppercorns and dried chile peppers coarsely ground with mint leaves and cayenne pepper (no salt).
I currently have a policy of not engaging in debate topics with hosts when I’m a guest in their home. In the past it has gotten ugly and now the stakes are too high. Any discussion of politics in my family’s homes are generally in the form of “jokes” that I will find unfunny. We’ll see how it goes this year.
Everyone showing up at Rick’s brother’s house voted for Kamala…. except the 6 yr old.
Dan’s daughter usually goes to her mother’s house… but she has Maga uncles and doesn’t want to go this year.
Also…. we are getting our first measurable snow… about 5 inches. Should prove interesting.
“Musk reposted two X posts that revealed the names and titles of people holding four relatively obscure climate-related government positions. Each post has been viewed tens of millions of times, and the individuals named have been subjected to a barrage of negative attention. At least one of the four women named has deleted her social media accounts.”
“Several current federal employees told CNN they’re afraid their lives will be forever changed – including physically threatened – as Musk makes behind-the-scenes bureaucrats into personal targets. Others told CNN that the threat of being in Musk’s crosshairs might even drive them from their jobs entirely – achieving Musk’s smaller government goals without so much as a proper review.”
“It’s his way of intimidating people to either quit or also send a signal to all the other agencies that ‘you’re next’,” said Mary “Missy” Cummings, an engineering and computer science professor at George Mason University, who drew Musk’s ire because of her criticisms of Tesla when she was at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”
“Musk targeted Cummings on what was then called Twitter, and his legions of fans followed. In an interview, Cummings said she received a torrent of attacks, including death threats, and had to temporarily relocate before she eventually moved.”
“Cummings said she already knows of federal employees who “have dedicated their lives to civil service,” already quitting their jobs in anticipation of what’s to come.
“He intended for them, for people just like this, to be intimidated and just go ahead and quit so he didn’t have to fire them. So his plan, to some extent, is working,” she said.
Grateful to read this Ken Burns story. His childhood story has always resonated with me for similar reasons. They skipped over his brief time in Newark Delaware, likely for reasons of irrelevancy, but it is relevant to me.
As mentioned in the article, he did raise the South again and what followed.
Burns may have only spent eight years of his childhood in Newark, from 1955 to 1963, but he has always referred to Delaware as his home, Louise Amick said. He also briefly attended West Park Place.
For more than 40 years Burns has produced and directed documentaries on the Vietnam War, the Civil War, Prohibition and the game of baseball. And in interviews about his work, he has spoken fondly of Newark and his time in the First State.
It was 50 years ago my wife packed her car and left for Virginia with a man. It was up to me to file papers and divorce her. I think I saw her twice since then when she wanted some stuff she had left behind. This all happened a week before Thanksgiving. You know what? That was the best Thanksgiving ever. Mom came and roasted my turkey the company gave out. My great Aunt came to my apartment, as well as my brother. Mom baked pies and made sides. She took a break from sitting for days with Dad, who was battling recurring bouts of pancreatitis in the local hospital. Mom was great those days for me. We gave thanks and prayers were asked for Dad to recover. We had laughter and great conversation because damn it, we were alive.Dad endured two major surgeries and a great surgeon, Dr. Edwards , cured him. Dad lived another 27 years.Life went on, I got a cheaper apartment and began dating and found Carla Lee. I really do have a lot of miles in my rearview mirror, but I keep on truckin’. As a matter of fact, I am taking the old blue Ford truck to Commercial Point in 19 hours. Just had it serviced, it will make it. The Odyssey van has a shaky, slipping transmission. Just one of those things. Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone. Oh, that ex of mine? She remarried several times and I heard she found happiness in Fremont, California. If any young person in love asked me for advice as to if it is a good idea to marry a 19 year old beautiful person…well…I would simply say follow your heart, but use your brain a little too. Some young folks aren’t really serious at 19.
I discovered a yellowing sheet of paper in my recipe folder with a history of the Maryland Beaten Biscuit typed out. Googled it and lo and behold there’s a web link. Apparently this went into the Congressional Record. These are basically “hard tack.” My grandmother called them “beat biscuits.” She used an actual hammer. I’ve made them a time or two in the past. Today, I’m procrastinating by reading recipes instead of cooking them.
Watching all 3 seasons of Ted Lasso & bought a box of chocolate covered cherries. Didn’t there used to be 20 or 24 in a box? There are now only 10 & they seem a bit smaller. Three and 1/3 cherries per season.
“I don’t have a car. I don’t have a credit card,” Giuliani told U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman, raising his voice from the defense table during a hearing. “They have put a stop order on, for example, my Social Security account,” he said of the women, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
We tend to think of Thanksgiving as something fixed—part of our national topography, like Mount Rushmore. A major feature of holidays is, after all, that they are pretty much the same every year. But another major feature is that they are social constructs, and Thanksgiving has been changing basically since it was invented. The first Thanksgiving—the one many of us learned about in school, the one with the Pilgrims—is believed by historians to have taken place sometime between September and November, and aside from being a meal, it had almost nothing to do with our modern celebration.
David Horsey on A side of politics may be unavoidable on Turkey Day | The Seattle Times
Some important preps accomplished by now:
if hosting:
turkey is thawing, all cooking ingredients on hand, that which can be done ahead of time has been or shortly will be
if travelling:
phone charged, weather checked, airline or vehicle checked, luggage free of TSA unacceptable and ticket in hand
if nothing planned:
sit back and just enjoy the day.
Well, turkey’s been thawing in fridge for two days, we have all the ingredients for the sides and trimmings except gravy and rolls – looks like a trip to K-rog on the way out of town. Get to try out the new multiple probe thermometer in the smoker. And of course, my mom’s sweet potato casserole will make its holiday debut for the TG/Xmas season.
Our table will undoubtedly include political chat, but since it’s just me, Mrs. P and LP (politically clueless) it won’t be too contentious unless Mrs. P’s brother calls, and any BS from him will cut the call off very quickly.
And WINTER IS COMING !!! The high Saturday is 22F, lows in the teens over the weekend. Time for log splitting and fire management.
Everyone enjoy the holiday and your friends and family.
Well, another turkey day shows up. Will I get hit with a migraine so bad I can’t see to drive? Or, perhaps a touch of norovirus and can’t leave the bathroom? Maybe I will forget what day it is and go to a boat? Maybe I will get there and my brother throws me out again? My shrink will be very busy next week.
Got mine thawed Sunday and had it salt brining in plastic storage bag in frig. Today I will add my spice rub for the next 24 hours: Slightly toasted cumin seeds, black peppercorns and dried chile peppers coarsely ground with mint leaves and cayenne pepper (no salt).
Out to Firehouse 9 for Fish and Chips. If fish was good enough for the pilgrims …
Randy Rainbow flashback in honor of WICKED
The Del Lib guy is my old-time music man in the absence of Sturge.
The rest of the bird story is over here.
https://delawareliberal.net/2024/11/26/song-of-the-day-11-26-the-rivingtons-the-birds-the-word/
I currently have a policy of not engaging in debate topics with hosts when I’m a guest in their home. In the past it has gotten ugly and now the stakes are too high. Any discussion of politics in my family’s homes are generally in the form of “jokes” that I will find unfunny. We’ll see how it goes this year.
Everyone showing up at Rick’s brother’s house voted for Kamala…. except the 6 yr old.
Dan’s daughter usually goes to her mother’s house… but she has Maga uncles and doesn’t want to go this year.
Also…. we are getting our first measurable snow… about 5 inches. Should prove interesting.
Hair we go again
Meanwhile his is dissipating. This is the term of office that will really show his age.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/27/business/elon-musk-government-employees-targets/index.html
“Musk reposted two X posts that revealed the names and titles of people holding four relatively obscure climate-related government positions. Each post has been viewed tens of millions of times, and the individuals named have been subjected to a barrage of negative attention. At least one of the four women named has deleted her social media accounts.”
“Several current federal employees told CNN they’re afraid their lives will be forever changed – including physically threatened – as Musk makes behind-the-scenes bureaucrats into personal targets. Others told CNN that the threat of being in Musk’s crosshairs might even drive them from their jobs entirely – achieving Musk’s smaller government goals without so much as a proper review.”
“It’s his way of intimidating people to either quit or also send a signal to all the other agencies that ‘you’re next’,” said Mary “Missy” Cummings, an engineering and computer science professor at George Mason University, who drew Musk’s ire because of her criticisms of Tesla when she was at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”
“Musk targeted Cummings on what was then called Twitter, and his legions of fans followed. In an interview, Cummings said she received a torrent of attacks, including death threats, and had to temporarily relocate before she eventually moved.”
“Cummings said she already knows of federal employees who “have dedicated their lives to civil service,” already quitting their jobs in anticipation of what’s to come.
“He intended for them, for people just like this, to be intimidated and just go ahead and quit so he didn’t have to fire them. So his plan, to some extent, is working,” she said.
***
Grateful to read this Ken Burns story. His childhood story has always resonated with me for similar reasons. They skipped over his brief time in Newark Delaware, likely for reasons of irrelevancy, but it is relevant to me.
As mentioned in the article, he did raise the South again and what followed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/realestate/ken-burns-new-hampshire-home.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/realestate/ken-burns-new-hampshire-home.html?unlocked_article_code=1.dE4.yK7f.srRMMHZBqc_Y&smid=url-share
https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2017/09/28/effort-rename-school-after-filmmaker-ken-burns-flounders-before-starts/707575001/
BID, i hope there’s someone who will help these employees sue the pants off Elon like the Georgia ladies did to Rudy.
It was 50 years ago my wife packed her car and left for Virginia with a man. It was up to me to file papers and divorce her. I think I saw her twice since then when she wanted some stuff she had left behind. This all happened a week before Thanksgiving. You know what? That was the best Thanksgiving ever. Mom came and roasted my turkey the company gave out. My great Aunt came to my apartment, as well as my brother. Mom baked pies and made sides. She took a break from sitting for days with Dad, who was battling recurring bouts of pancreatitis in the local hospital. Mom was great those days for me. We gave thanks and prayers were asked for Dad to recover. We had laughter and great conversation because damn it, we were alive.Dad endured two major surgeries and a great surgeon, Dr. Edwards , cured him. Dad lived another 27 years.Life went on, I got a cheaper apartment and began dating and found Carla Lee. I really do have a lot of miles in my rearview mirror, but I keep on truckin’. As a matter of fact, I am taking the old blue Ford truck to Commercial Point in 19 hours. Just had it serviced, it will make it. The Odyssey van has a shaky, slipping transmission. Just one of those things. Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone. Oh, that ex of mine? She remarried several times and I heard she found happiness in Fremont, California. If any young person in love asked me for advice as to if it is a good idea to marry a 19 year old beautiful person…well…I would simply say follow your heart, but use your brain a little too. Some young folks aren’t really serious at 19.
I was trying to post a free link and I got a picture. When I try to post a picture, I get a blank. IDK, I just roll with it.
Great story, Dexter, thanks for sharing.
I discovered a yellowing sheet of paper in my recipe folder with a history of the Maryland Beaten Biscuit typed out. Googled it and lo and behold there’s a web link. Apparently this went into the Congressional Record. These are basically “hard tack.” My grandmother called them “beat biscuits.” She used an actual hammer. I’ve made them a time or two in the past. Today, I’m procrastinating by reading recipes instead of cooking them.
https://mdbeatenbiscuits.com/beaten-biscuits-a-history/
In keeping with a Ken Burns theme…
https://www.nps.gov/mana/learn/kidsyouth/hardtack-during-the-civil-war.htm
Ivy – perhaps it is something like this hardtack from Tasting History. Link to Tasting History
Blue Bronc, that looks a lot like something my Spanish American war veteran had preserved in his makeshift museum in Cecil County, MD.
Watching all 3 seasons of Ted Lasso & bought a box of chocolate covered cherries. Didn’t there used to be 20 or 24 in a box? There are now only 10 & they seem a bit smaller. Three and 1/3 cherries per season.
The Beat Biscuit is chewy and doughy on the inside though it takes a lot of chewing.
BID, I can see how they shrink the chocolate coating and the quantity, but how can they shrink the cherries?
Not Cheaper by the less-than-a-dozen?
Poor Rudy. He don’t have a pot to piss in.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/26/giuliani-rant-judge-00191717
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2024/11/move-thanksgiving-october/680802/?utm_campaign=atlantic-daily-newsletter&utm_content=20241126&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=The+Atlantic+Daily
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