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Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Speaker John Boehner, self immolation, and the G.O.P.'s rapid slide into irrelevancy
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Ed.
The Bone makes his sequestration face. I am not a fan, but admit I feel for him. He has tried, but is pretty much helpless while his party is hell-bent on self-immolation, not to mention relishing his humiliation every step of the way.
The Speaker thought getting Bachmann, Palin, Paul, Herman Cain, Rick Perry, et al, out of the way would help. But the instant they shuffle one whack job out the door, another wingnut steps in to fill their shoes. And that's the way I like it.
The Bone makes his sequestration face. I am not a fan, but admit I feel for him. He has tried, but is pretty much helpless while his party is hell-bent on self-immolation, not to mention relishing his humiliation every step of the way.
The Speaker thought getting Bachmann, Palin, Paul, Herman Cain, Rick Perry, et al, out of the way would help. But the instant they shuffle one whack job out the door, another wingnut steps in to fill their shoes. And that's the way I like it.
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Monday, March 04, 2013
Did a UFO pull a Randy Quaid on the Siberian Meteor? (Alien Lore No. 245)
By Jack Brummet, Unexplained Phenomena Ed.
The meteorite that exploded over, and crashed into, Siberia last month (injuring at least 1,200 people), was hit by an unidentified flying object that caused it to explode over the Ural Mountains, according to some UFOlogists. [1]
This theory is based on analysis by researchers of a blurred video of the rock as it raced across the sky over Chelyabinsk, Siberia. The U.F.O. researchers claim a small 'object' can be seen colliding with the meteorite, despite the fact there were no reports of Russia launching missiles to down the celestial intruder. We know that Russia hopes to develop weapons able to destroy incoming space objects, but most [sane] people believe that that technology does not yet exist.
The theory: The Greys have something very different in mind for us, and didn't want a space rock thwarting their plans. There is a contentious debate online questioning whether Russia was “saved by a UFO.” You think the comments section on YouTube or Huffington are weird?
NASA scientists estimate the meteorite was 55 feet wide and weighed 10,000 tons. It exploded above the Ural mountains with a force equal to a 500 kiloton bomb.
“At first, we also believed that the Chelyabinsk meteorite was just an ordinary meteorite, a cosmic body,” Alexander Komanev, a spokesman for the Russian UFO community, said. “But on at least three films of the space rock you can see how an object catches the meteorite.”
In images, the object looks tiny and oblong-shaped. It “flies into it - and the meteorite explodes and falls,” ala Randy Quaid's final scene in the film Independence Day.
[1] The apparent explosion of a small meteor over Siberia early on Friday was not the first time that that part of the world has had a too-close encounter with a space rock. The region was the scene of what is believed to be the largest space-related explosion in human history, 105 years ago.
The earlier meteor explosion, known as the "Tunguska Event" happened the morning of June 30, 1908, in a forested area in central Siberia, about 1,200 miles northeast of Chelyabinsk, the Siberian city where much of the damage and injuries occurred Friday.
The UFO Approaches the meteorite in a Randy Quaid kamikaze mission
The meteorite that exploded over, and crashed into, Siberia last month (injuring at least 1,200 people), was hit by an unidentified flying object that caused it to explode over the Ural Mountains, according to some UFOlogists. [1]
This theory is based on analysis by researchers of a blurred video of the rock as it raced across the sky over Chelyabinsk, Siberia. The U.F.O. researchers claim a small 'object' can be seen colliding with the meteorite, despite the fact there were no reports of Russia launching missiles to down the celestial intruder. We know that Russia hopes to develop weapons able to destroy incoming space objects, but most [sane] people believe that that technology does not yet exist.
The Landing Site - one of the small craters formed by the meteorite
NASA scientists estimate the meteorite was 55 feet wide and weighed 10,000 tons. It exploded above the Ural mountains with a force equal to a 500 kiloton bomb.
Satellite view of the explosion
“At first, we also believed that the Chelyabinsk meteorite was just an ordinary meteorite, a cosmic body,” Alexander Komanev, a spokesman for the Russian UFO community, said. “But on at least three films of the space rock you can see how an object catches the meteorite.”
In images, the object looks tiny and oblong-shaped. It “flies into it - and the meteorite explodes and falls,” ala Randy Quaid's final scene in the film Independence Day.
“Such a number of videos, made from different angles, leads us to believe that something has blown up the meteorite.”Komanev also said in the days prior to the meteorite, a number of UFOs were seen, over Chabry and over Chelyabinsk. The objects moved across the sky and disappeared, only to return later.
[1] The apparent explosion of a small meteor over Siberia early on Friday was not the first time that that part of the world has had a too-close encounter with a space rock. The region was the scene of what is believed to be the largest space-related explosion in human history, 105 years ago.
The earlier meteor explosion, known as the "Tunguska Event" happened the morning of June 30, 1908, in a forested area in central Siberia, about 1,200 miles northeast of Chelyabinsk, the Siberian city where much of the damage and injuries occurred Friday.
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Saturday, March 02, 2013
Friday, March 01, 2013
Ex-Pope Benedict XVI and Maxwell's Silver Hammer
By Jack Brummet, ATIT Religion Ed.
A most fascinating facet of the abdication of Pope Benedict XVI is hearing stories of the silver hammer, and the destruction of the Papal ring. And the awesome fact that the deliberations and voting by the Cardinals for the new Pope occur in The Sistine Chapel. "At the deathbed of the pope the camerlengo takes a silver hammer and lightly taps on the pope's forehead three times, calling him by his Christian name. When there is no reply, he announces to those present that the pope is dead. The camerlengo also removes the Fisherman's Ring from the Pope's finger. At the first meeting of the Sacred College the ring and papal seals are broken." The camerlengo is the chamberlain of the church, who takes over the administration of the RC church in the interregnum between popes. The expired Pope's staff are immediately shuffled out of office, powerless and out of the loop.
It was only tonight that I put two and two together and realized that this Roman Catholic ritual was [probably] what inspired The Beatles's song "Maxwell's Silver Hammer":
A most fascinating facet of the abdication of Pope Benedict XVI is hearing stories of the silver hammer, and the destruction of the Papal ring. And the awesome fact that the deliberations and voting by the Cardinals for the new Pope occur in The Sistine Chapel. "At the deathbed of the pope the camerlengo takes a silver hammer and lightly taps on the pope's forehead three times, calling him by his Christian name. When there is no reply, he announces to those present that the pope is dead. The camerlengo also removes the Fisherman's Ring from the Pope's finger. At the first meeting of the Sacred College the ring and papal seals are broken." The camerlengo is the chamberlain of the church, who takes over the administration of the RC church in the interregnum between popes. The expired Pope's staff are immediately shuffled out of office, powerless and out of the loop.
It was only tonight that I put two and two together and realized that this Roman Catholic ritual was [probably] what inspired The Beatles's song "Maxwell's Silver Hammer":
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Thursday, February 28, 2013
Image: Abraham Lincoln and the Q-tip
Even a marble giant requires a Q-tip every now and then.
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Cooking with Jack, No. 3 - Limoncello
By Jack Brummet, Cooking Editor
I first learned about infusions from Paul Bertolli. Our old friend Jan Newberry was a friend of his (he was the head chef at Chez Panisse for many years), and one night we went for a special dinner at his great restaurant in Oakland. He served us several infused wines and liqueurs paired with his fantastic food. I was amazed at the way a handful of leaves, peels, or herbs could transform an alcoholic beverage. He didn't serve us limoncello, but he lit the fire under me to find out more. . .
Limoncello
15 lemons, well scrubbed (organic preferred)
2 750ml 100 proof vodka
4 cups sugar
5 cups water
Carefully zest the lemons so there is no white pith on the peel. place one bottle of vodka in a jar and add the peel as it is zested.
Let sit for at least ten days and, preferably forty days in a cool dark place.
Combine the sugar and water, bring to a boil and cook for about 5 minutes until thickened. Let it cool for say an hour.
Add to the limoncello mixture along with the other bottle of vodka and allow to rest for another ten to forty days.
Strain and bottle, keeping one in the freezer for use. Your local brewing shop has lots of interesting bottles you can put it into for gifts.
It's great mixed with ice, soda, and bitters. It's fine straight up, and is nice poured over ice cream, a pudding, or even in tea.
A volume recipe (for Christmas gifts)
70 lemons
4 - 1.75 liter jugs of 100 proof vodka (7 liters total)
17 cups sugar and 21 cups water boiled into a simple syrup.
Peel the lemons & soak them in 3.5 liters of 100 proof vodka (2-1.75 L jugs).
10-45 days later, add the syrup & 3.5 more liters vodka (2-1.75 L. jugs)
10-45 days later, filter and bottle. It should make about 12 bottles or so).
Limoncello
15 lemons, well scrubbed (organic preferred)
2 750ml 100 proof vodka
4 cups sugar
5 cups water
Carefully zest the lemons so there is no white pith on the peel. place one bottle of vodka in a jar and add the peel as it is zested.
Let sit for at least ten days and, preferably forty days in a cool dark place.
Combine the sugar and water, bring to a boil and cook for about 5 minutes until thickened. Let it cool for say an hour.
Add to the limoncello mixture along with the other bottle of vodka and allow to rest for another ten to forty days.
Strain and bottle, keeping one in the freezer for use. Your local brewing shop has lots of interesting bottles you can put it into for gifts.
It's great mixed with ice, soda, and bitters. It's fine straight up, and is nice poured over ice cream, a pudding, or even in tea.
A volume recipe (for Christmas gifts)
70 lemons
4 - 1.75 liter jugs of 100 proof vodka (7 liters total)
17 cups sugar and 21 cups water boiled into a simple syrup.
Peel the lemons & soak them in 3.5 liters of 100 proof vodka (2-1.75 L jugs).
10-45 days later, add the syrup & 3.5 more liters vodka (2-1.75 L. jugs)
10-45 days later, filter and bottle. It should make about 12 bottles or so).
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