Culture
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 […]
13Oct2008 | bryan | Comments Off on Wicked, The Snape Effect, and Storytelling | Continued
Frugal Halloween Costume Ideas
My wife and I went to the local department store to get costumes for our children. We could not believe what the prices are anymore. As a child I remember Halloween costumes being nothing more that two pieces of plastic colored to look like your favorite villain or hero. With a plastic mask painted as […]
13Oct2008 | Cole James | Comments Off on Frugal Halloween Costume Ideas | Continued
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 […]
12Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 5 comments | Continued
McGrinch
Media has painted McCain as the Grinch. Here is the story. This McGrinch was a citizen of Peopleville. The residents of Peopleville where a happy bunch, who all would come together for the best interests of the people. There where mainly two types of people in Peopleville. The Republiwhys and the Demawhats. They were a […]
11Oct2008 | Cole James | 2 comments | Continued
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 […]
11Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Salmon Patties | Continued
Manicotti – an easy baked dish
We are getting ready for an Italian Thanksgiving in Kansas City. We have been experimenting with some Italian dishes that are quick and easy, and of course – all things pasta. Here is one that we like: Manicotti Ingredients: 2 cups of spaghetti sauce (try the home made stuff) 1 egg, lightly beaten 2 cups […]
9Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
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 […]
9Oct2008 | Cole James | 1 comment | Continued
McCain, Palin is Great Because I was a POW
John McCain had a news flash for Americans in the town hall debate the other day. McCain was clever in demonstrating his comprehension of American politics. Some of his jargon is difficult to follow – probably because his language was affected while serving as a POW. Highlights from McCain’s debate answers: The moderator is a […]
8Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
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, […]
7Oct2008 | bryan | Comments Off on Creamy Vodka Sauce… | Continued
EPA Puts Republicans on Endangered Species List
The Environmental Protection Agency, a cousin to the National Parks, has declared the species of neanderthal Republicans to be endangered. Qualifying as endangered provides specific government protection. Specifically, the EPA is developing a Republican Wildlife Refuge. Preliminary plans are to locate the Refuge in Alaska. Drastic action is called for after a recent study by […]
7Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on EPA Puts Republicans on Endangered Species List | Continued
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 […]
6Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Born in the USA – Is Springsteen anti-war? (video)
We present here the lyrics and a video of Bruce Springsteen performing ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ Here is the question – is this anti-war, anti-American, anti-insanity? This writer believes Springsteen is following the tradition of historically great artists. His art reflects the conditions of society at a given time. Art lives in history as a […]
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Born in the USA – Is Springsteen anti-war? (video) | Continued
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 […]
5Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Rovians From The Planet Bushanus | Continued
Baking Bread – Recipe and Discussion
This writer began baking bread about fifteen years ago. We have experimented with white bread, egg bread, sweet bread, rolls, loafs, braided loafs, and combinations of these. We now use a single recipe of my own design – it is a sweet egg bread. Recently we tried using some wheat flour. We found that if […]
2Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
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.
2Oct2008 | bryan | Comments Off on Cooking for a Crowd: Walking Tacos | Continued
Kansas City Italian Meatballs
This writer has a friend in the Kansas City Mafia. We have been invited to Thanksgiving Dinner. They are having an ‘Italian Thanksgiving.’ All of the food will be traditional Italian – she won’t give away the family secrets, but she did talk some about their food. She told us to be careful because she […]
30Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Kansas City Italian Meatballs | Continued
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 […]
29Sep2008 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
Scalloped Potatoes
Preparation 30 minutes. Cooking time 1 hour 45 minutes. Oven 350 F. 1 cup chopped onion 1 clove garlic, chopped (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder) 1 cup grated cheese (Parmesan, Romano, or your choice) 1 stick butter or margarine 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon dried […]
28Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Scalloped Potatoes | Continued
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 […]
26Sep2008 | bryan | 6 comments | Continued
Bush Sends FEMA to Wall Street
thousand mobile homes are being resurrected from the old cotton fields down home. Bush has ordered the National Guard to fill 85,000,000 sand bags. Proclaiming on National Television Bush declares, “Everybody do something, it it doesn’t work we can surge later.”
25Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Bush Sends FEMA to Wall Street | Continued
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, […]
24Sep2008 | bryan | Comments Off on Coldingham Pork Loin (stuffed with cheese)… | Continued
Kansas City Spaghetti Sauce
We are going to Kansas City today to watch the NFL Chiefs fight for the dignity of Herm Edwards. There will be a gang of folks gathering together, the Chiefs are just an excuse to eat all things Italian. My favorite is the Italian Spaghetti Sauce. (Is that an oxymoron?) Herm may have cost the […]
21Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
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 […]
15Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Oyster Stuffing and Thanksgiving | Continued
Political Humor – 2008
These cartoons are made available by the Time web site. Thanks to Time for sharing. Others are self attributed.
1Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Political Humor – 2008 | Continued
The War Prayer, by Mark Twain
Mark Twain says it best. Once again it took an artist to capture the staggering essence of events that many Americans have become immune to. This particular writing is in response to the Spanish-American war with the Philippines in 1898. Mark Twain became an anti-imperialist. Born Samuel Clemens in Hannibal, Missouri, he was an honest […]
28Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The War Prayer, by Mark Twain | Continued
Will Rogers on War
`I don’t care how little your country is, you got a right to run it like you want to. When the big nations quit meddling then the world will have peace.’ `People talk peace. But men give their life’s work to war. It won’t stop ’til there is as much brains and scientific study put […]
26Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Will Rogers on War | Continued
More on Barbecue Rubs
This writer posted a recipe last week on my new Barbecue Rub recipe. I tried it last Thursday on a five pound chicken – it worked out pretty well. The success is qualified however. I rubbed the chicken about ten minutes before I put it on the grill. Excited with the results I tried it […]
21Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on More on Barbecue Rubs | Continued
The Rub – Nuances of Barbecue
Marinade, butter and baste, and rub it in – barbecuing is raised to the level of fine dining. Smoking ribs, turkey, chicken, and pork shoulder or butt has become one of my favorite cooking methods this summer. Today I am trying my own recipe for a rub. The test subject on my smoker is a […]
15Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Bee Gees Music Videos
I really like these folks. This music dates me for sure – but I believe the songs are relevant yet today. If you are not a fan of the Bee Gees just skip on to our next post. Words: [wp_youtube]dn9cHegvcFI[/wp_youtube] To Love Somebody: [wp_youtube]ykU8iSKkJR0[/wp_youtube] How Deep is Your Love: [wp_youtube]mCj0F0o9u-8[/wp_youtube] You Should Be Dancing – […]
11Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Bee Gees Music Videos | Continued
Andy Williams – memorable songs (Videos)
Andy Williams captured me at my eighth grade graduation dance. I danced with Jerri to the Williams rendition of “Moon River.” I remember thinking that life could not get any better – and as it turns out – it did not. All of that aside, Andy Williams came into the lives of millions over the […]
9Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Andy Williams – memorable songs (Videos) | Continued
Who’s On First, Abbott and Costello video
Talking movies have been around for less than 100 years. The pioneers of comedy set the stage, if you will, for generations to follow. Abbott and Costello perfected the art of a straight man with a buffoonish clown. Their act “Who’s On First” is a classic that never wears out. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello […]
9Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Who’s On First, Abbott and Costello video | Continued
Joan Baez – “It ain’t me babe” (Video)
I was a huge fan of Joan Baez in the 1960’s. But I did not really understand her music or her message. I thought I did – I was one of those adolescents who believed he had a total grasp on the rights and wrongs of life – but I was sadly mistaken. I am […]
8Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Joan Baez – “It ain’t me babe” (Video) | Continued
Learning about Smoking Meat
This has been a good summer for my patio. A friend gave me an old smoker – one of those stand up models with a water/drip pan. But hey, I never smoked a piece of meat in my life. I have smoked other things, but they could easily fit in my shirt pocket. So I […]
5Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Learning about Smoking Meat | Continued
Procrastination Posting
Timing is everything in blogging. Well, not everything. Content is a key element, but secondary to timing. It is important, though… content… but you have to wait for the right content to come along, or it just isn’t worth the effort. I never post anything early in the morning. It comes off as too zealous. […]
12May2008 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
Pacino – Scent of a Tango
I was channel surfing last evening when I happened on the ‘Dances with the Stars” program. The contestants were dancing a tango – so I stopped to watch. Not bad, I thought – but they seemed to be overdoing a wonderful and exotic dance. Unlike Al Pacino in “Scent of a Woman.” One of the […]
7May2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Pacino – Scent of a Tango | Continued
smoking bans: a look at freedom, liberty and autonomy
There is an understanding in our free society that we can exercise our personal autonomy as long as we do not interfere with the rights and liberties of others. The true nature of government is to build and maitain infrastructure and to make and enforce laws that protect the rights and liberties of the people. […]
16Apr2008 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
Police Pursuit – Losing Humanity
Son, This has been a sad week for me. As you know I have worked in the social service industry, after retiring from a career in information systems and finance. It is one of those thing us ‘baby-boomers’ do – giving back something that was given to us. The social service field is really tough. […]
27Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Police Pursuit – Losing Humanity | Continued
Counting Crows – Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby
Dad, I still love the Counting Crows and their music. I have been listening to this song, Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby, about once a day for a month now, and trying to figure out what all of the imagery is about. I think that it is about a guy (the singer, Adam Duritz I guess) who […]
19Sep2007 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
Baking: Culinary Artist vs. Kitchen Technician
Dad I am interested in baking my own bread. I know that this is something that you have some experience with. I believe that there are two kinds of cooks – the ‘culinary artist’ and the ‘kitchen techinician.’ I tend to be the culinary artist, and that style of cooking is more about developing a […]
19Sep2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Baking: Culinary Artist vs. Kitchen Technician | Continued
Sweet and Spicy Sausage and Grits
I made this recipe as a medley of several other dishes that my wife and I have liked over the years. It is pretty simple and is a nice break from the norm. You will need: 1 Kielbasa Sausage (we use turkey sausage so that we feel more healthy) 1 green pepper 1/2 an onion […]
15Sep2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Sweet and Spicy Sausage and Grits | Continued
On My Tombstone – “He Tried.”
Son, OK. Let’s assume for a moment there is a God and there is an afterlife. I have been searching since before you were born for some safe and sane ideology; trying to know the unknowable. Now I am an aging man. I have learned that I don’t know very much. My expectation for myself […]
31Aug2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued