Tabloid Voyeurism Sells

We are not talking about the National Enquirer here folks.  We are talking about Cable News, Network News, Print Newspapers, Print Magazines, and of course the internet boom in journalistic voyeurism.  We just gave an example  – the use of the term ‘journalistic voyeurism’ is much more interesting than say, ‘Journalistic practice.’ The Fireside Post […]

Take Us to your Leader Elect

Featured McClatchy cartoon Jim Morin / Miami Herald (December 1, 2008) | Cartoons for the week of 24 November 2008

Mormons Tipped Scale in Ban on Gay Marriage

By JESSE McKINLEY and KIRK JOHNSON Published: November 14, 2008 SACRAMENTO — Less than two weeks before Election Day, the chief strategist behind a ballot measure outlawing same-sex marriage in California called an emergency meeting here. “We’re going to lose this campaign if we don’t get more money,” the strategist, Frank Schubert, recalled telling leaders […]

To the Victor goes the Spoils

*Hank’s Giving Day Turkey

This is a recipe out of my Hank Jr cookbook.  My wife cooked this at our first home cooked Thanksgiving and it turned out wonderful.  This cookbook is chock full of recipes for parties, everyday meals and wild game. 1   turkey, washed and drained 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp salt 1 tsp paprika 4 tsps […]

Black Muslim Terrorist

Is McCain a Natural Blonde

John McCain has had so many gaffes this year that some of the boys down at the Bait Shop are wondering if he is a natural Blond.  We did not think much of this talk until Elizabeth Horseback went on the Campaign stump for McCain and Palin.  That about sealed the deal.  She wrote the […]

The Need for Healthy Children to Fight Our Wars

The marvel of conservative inconsistency continues hacking away at the forest of civilization. The forest has become so important that they have forgotten that it is comprised of individual trees. IN this case the individual trees are our children – our future soldiers. Stop abortion, but don’t offer the newborn health care. Protect the lives […]

Artichoke Dip

This is a great hot dip for pita bread or the crackers of your choice. (serves about 8). Ingredients: Two 14 ounce cans of artichoke hearts, drained and chopped. One cup grated Parmesan cheese One cup mayonnaise (fat-free or lite will work) One teaspoon garlic salt One half teaspoon ground black pepper One tablespoon fresh […]

Sarah Palin on SNL with Tina Fey

Sarah Palin jumped on the bandwagon, again. She is pretty good at riding the waves of others. Either Sarah Palin is a good sport – or she just does not get the point.

I Believe – a Tribute to Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops

Levi Stubbs died today. He was 72. The lead Singer of the Four Tops, one of Motown’s greatest. We remember those days – those days when Motown lifted all of us to a higher understanding of music.

Tortellini and Alfredo

Last evening we were knocking around the kitchen, looking for an easy but tasty meal. There was some fresh Tortellini in the fridge so we did some experimenting. Tortellini is a ring shaped pasta, usually stuffed with a meat and cheese, or just a cheese mix. We prefer the fresh tortellini, but we have some […]

Home made Alfredo sauce

This writer likes to cook but sometimes we feel lazy and want an easy meal. One of my other sins is pasta. Laziness and gluttony – sins flavor sins, one good sin deserves another, that’s my motto today. We have an Alfredo sauce that is sinful. Here is what we do. Ingredients: 1 pint of […]

Wicked, The Snape Effect, and Storytelling

There is a reason that we humans are fascinated with stories. There is a deep connection that we have with the stories of others. From history to social studies to literature, all learning is founded in story. Even in mathematics we learn that a powerful way of getting an answer with numbers is to tell […]

Sarah Palin – I’m so Pretty

Natalie Wood perfectly captured the essence of Governor Sarah Palin in the 1961 musical West Side Story.  As we learn more about the Alaskan Governor through media interviews and scandal investigations – we realize the shallowness of this person, Sarah Palin. We apologize to fans of Natalie Wood, Natalie really was pretty and talented. The […]

Salmon Patties

About 30 minutes preparation and cooking time. 1 extra large egg, beaten 1/4 cup of milk 1 finely chopped (grated?) medium yellow onion 1 tablespoon fresh dill, or 1 teaspoon dried dill 1/4 cup chopped parsley (optional) 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 16 ounce can salmon – drain or not. 1 – 2 cups […]

Eazy Hot Wings

I made these myself when I was short on cash but had alot of chicken.  I make these without any exact measurement, time frame or temp so you may need to adjust to your taste. You may use your choice of wing sauce, I prefer tabasco with a little rib rub mixed in. The ingredient […]

Creamy Vodka Sauce…

On the subject of tortellinis, we would impart another recipe from our own Italian friends in Staten Island, NY. We would like to thank Eileen for this one, and we are forever grateful as it is a family favorite. You will need: one cup of ham – cubed one cup of onion (yellow or white, […]

Wicked – A Garden of Good and Evil

You can’t beat a good story in the hands of a skilled craftsman. Gregory MaGuire has crafted a Fabula story in “Wicked, The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” The story has the freshness of spring flowers in a perennial emerald green garden. But this story is not for the faint […]

Rovians From The Planet Bushanus

They are finally being arrested, secured, immobilized.  They come from the planet Bushanus and are called Rovians.  Rovians live in the bowels of humanity, infecting civilized people with flu like symptoms.  We wander through the news cycle, feeling nauseated, faint-hearted, and dismayed.  Some suffer lethal effects, others are carriers. They came to this planet about […]

Cooking for a Crowd: Walking Tacos

Basically, here is how it works: you will crumble the chips in the bags and then cut the tops of the bags off. You can also turn the bag on its side and cut the bag along the edge from top to bottom.

Cooking For a Crowd: The Potato Bar

I am the Director of Youth Ministries at our church, and at out program we eat together every week.  Some weeks have more people than others, of course, but we are getting good at providing meals for semi-large crowds (like 25 – 30 people) with minimal prep and even less of a budget.  I wanted […]

Subliminal Bush

In a previous post here on The Fireside, we mentioned the press conference with the President where he discussed WWIII in the context of Iran. I thought it might be beneficial to see the clip for ourselves: [wp_youtube]94LtRZ3urWY&feature=related[/wp_youtube] “I take the threat of Iran with a nuclear weapon very seriously.” I guess that would account […]

Coldingham Pork Loin (stuffed with cheese)…

In November of 1998 we lived with nine of my fellow sailors in a large, colonial style brick house near a man made lake in Virginia Beach, VA. The house was at the end of a cul-de-sac called Coldingham Court. Thanksgiving came along, and my friend Mike and I decided to host a Thanksgiving dinner, […]

Oyster Stuffing and Thanksgiving

Baked turkeys are best served with a good Oyster Stuffing. The stuffing adds flavor the to meat and to the experience. The early Pilgrims – those folks who invented Thanksgiving, were sea faring people. They came across the ocean and they lived on the coast. Sea food was a basic staple. Blending sea food with […]