Letterman on Bush, McCain, Palin, and Clinton

David Letterman is taking over late night television.  With this monologue, it is easy to see why.  His writers are superb, and Letterman knows how to tell a joke.  Is this merely a case of art reflecting reality – or are these just jokes?

Michael Jackson, Legendary Hero or Villian

Michael Jackson is dead at age 50.  Already the hype has taken over the airways.  Even in death Jackson continues to shock the sensibilities of the entire populace, fans and foes.  Farrah Faucett died today at age 62 – no offense intended but Farrah has been bumped off the news cycle.  Michael Jackson was as […]

Baking Bread – An Experience

I began baking bread about fifteen years ago. I have experimented with white bread, egg bread, sweet bread, rolls, loafs, braided loafs, and combinations of these. I now use a single recipe of my own design – it is a sweet egg bread. Recently I tried using some wheat flour. I found that if I used about half white flour and half wheat flour I had the best chance of achieving the texture and flavor I like.

Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan – an Unusual Duo

We have images of people.  We have images of singers.  We have images of music genre.  Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan are two images that contrast in my mind.  The curiosity of a County Star singing with an anti-war legend struck me as worthy of comment. After some reflection – the only approach that seemed […]

Finding a Voice With Music

Dad, I am one of those lovers of music that has no musical background. I wasn’t in band in high school; I never sang in a choir, I never even managed a successful stretch of lessons that allowed me to learn an instrument. I toyed with the idea of learning the violin, but I am […]

Kevin Spacey Impersonations

Every now and then a real talent comes along. Kevin Spacey is one such talent. Check out this video where Spacey spontaneously impersonates Jimmy Stewart, Johnny Carson, Katherine Hepburn, Clint Eastwood and several others… [wp_youtube]O8JmN_-oudY[/wp_youtube] This guy has phenomenal powers of observation – and is able to translate his observations into superb acting. But Spacey […]

Hypochondria – The Disease Of The Elderly

I am in the class of people politely referred to as ‘Senior.’ When I was young I thought Senior meant really old, fragile, frail, sickly, helpless. Today I understand Senior as that stage of life before Elderly. Senior is a prelude to an honest understanding of illness and mortality. Senior is that time of life where we begin to examine the ailments we will experience as elderly. I used to be a hypochondriac, but now I think I have something much worse. – it is called aging.

Colbert and Conan – String Dancing

What can we say – these two are great comedians. Steven Colbert and Conan O’Brian often play off each other – they make fun of each other and politicians should take a clue of how to react. Conan invented the ‘string dance’ and Colbert imitated Conan. Here they are together:

Bobby McFerrin

Check this out.  The classical singer Bobby McFerrin with some classical interpretations. McFerrin is to music what Jim Carey is to comedy. No, wait, that discredits McFerrin – he is incomparable. Here is Ave Maria, all voice with no instrumental accompaniment – a fascinating expose by a true master. The theater is in the round. […]

Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly, a real American talent. True Love Ways: Live in 1958: The day the music died: And here is Don McClean singing American Pie:

America Derailed

Rights organizations have historically been a blessing to life as we know it today. While they did not necessarily reflect the ideology of every person in this great country, their purpose was for progression and prosperity of the nation as a whole. Women’s rights, abolishment of slavery, equal opportunity employment and to a good degree, affirmative action have all been for positive change to move our country forward. Now we are stuck in a gravy bowl of economic turmoil and some of these new found organizations are just adding flour.

Surnames are Sacred Cows

In 1986 a friend of mine was named the new Abbot of a Benedictine Monastery. I was proud to just be a friend at the ceremonial induction. The trappings of a basilica, with sunlight filtered through ornate stained glass windows, candles burning with gentle flames, rows of black robed monks walking in cadence to the […]

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 […]