Talk Like a Pirate Day

On By scottpetersenIn Talk Like a Pirate DayLeave a comment

I can’t wait! September 19th is “International Talk Like a Pirate Day.” Do you know about this special day? 

In 1995 two guys from Albany, OR (John “Ol’ Chumbucket” Baur and Mark “Cap’n Slappy” Summers proclaimed September 19th as the day everyone in the world should “talk like a pirate.” The whole idea stemmed from a racquetball injury. One of them reacted with an “Arrrggghhh” as he lay on the floor in pain – and along came an idea. For seven years, it remained an “inside” idea but in 2002 they sent a letter about their “holiday” to humorist Dave Barry.  Barry liked the idea, pushed it in a few columns and the rest is history.

Actor Robert Newton (who starred as Long John Silver in the 1950 Disney film “Treasure Island“) is considered the patron saint of Talk Like a Pirate Day.   So remember, on September 19th, when anyone says anything to you, tilt your head, give them the eye and say “Avast you scurvy lubber.  Prepare to be boarded. . . . ”  

I suggest writing your Congressmen and Senators to make this a national holiday.  Since nearly all politicians are scurvy bilge rats, this should be a natural for them . . . . .

The Great Hash Brown Cook Off

On By scottpetersenIn Hash brown potatoes, Hash brown recipeLeave a comment

Donna and I spent a long weekend in Park City, UT with some good friends. One evening, we planned to make dinner and dine in. Soooooo I volunteered to make my world-famous hash brown potatoes. No big thing. Well, my friend Jack said “I make hash browns too. Why don’t we have a cook off?”  I thought hmmmm . . .  a cookoff.  With that, the gloves were down, the aprons on and the skillets ready. We went to Fresh Market where I bought some large (ideally organic) yellow potatoes (I used 8) and two large yellow onions. I was ready.  Jack bought similar ingredients. We went back and fired up the stove.

I halved, then thinly-sliced the onions.  I washed the potatoes and pitted any “eyes” or rough spots (gotta be perfect).  Then cut into small chunks.  I put the onions and potatoes into a large fry pan with olive oil then covered on low heat.  The object – to cook the potatoes slowly by steaming them with the onions.  I stirred frequently.  This is a slow process – taking 45 minutes or more.  Gradually the potatoes softened and the onions began to darken.  I added garlic powder, pepper, salt and a little Italian seasoning.  Then I tossed in a large spoon of butter.  Mmmmmmm . . . . When the potatoes were ready, I turned up the heat and took off the top to do a little pan roasting for perhaps six or seven minutes.  At this point, well done chopped bacon is an option. 

The result was wonderful.  Jack’s offering was a counterpoint to mine.  He first boiled the potatoes and chopped them small and tossed in with finely-chopped onions.  He used butter only.  His were more traditional flat hash browns with the delicious buttery taste.  Mine were chunky and more of a roasted potato dish.  The gathering happily devoured both.  No winner was declared.  It was a toss up!  🙂   

The 72 . . . or is it 73?

On By scottpetersenIn Gabriel, Islam1 Comment

I find religion a fascinating topic.  I find it easier to talk about religion with Pakistani cab drivers than to talk about politics with those of other stripe.  Over the last couple years, I’ve posted on the Taliban (12/30/12); Islam, Judaism and Christianity (3/26/12); Ahl al-Kitab (8/23/12); and the archangel Gabriel — the amazing messenger of God ( 1/30/12).  Bottom line — Christians, Jews and Muslims all come from Abraham.  We believe in the same God.  We all read the Old Testament.  And the Archangel Gabriel – the uber messenger – plays a pivotal role in all three religions (as he does in the Mormon Church, the Bahai faith and others). 

But in the Judeo-Christian world, you don’t see Lutherans burning Presbyterian churches.  You don’ts see Jews killing Baptists or Catholics throwing rocks at Mormon temples.  There is no sectarian strife among Christians and Jews.  But just walk to the Muslim side of the world and see how Islam behaves.  Many of the 72 (I believe it’s now 73) different sects hate each other.  With fury.  With passion.  The Sunnis hate the Shiia;  Wahabis hate the Ahmadiyya.  And Salafis and Sufis hate pretty much everybody.  In Nigeria, the Hausa Muslims (Boko Haram) seek out and kill Yoruba Muslims – women and children – wherever and whenever.   

I continue to be bewildered and troubled by this much-vaunted “religion of peace” which has 1.6 billion followers.  All recite the same article of faith “La illah ila Allah Muhammed Rasul Alah” (“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger“).  Yet the violence among them — for ostensibly religious (and often political) reason — is mind-numbing.  It is caused mainly by Islamic fundamentalists .(who frankly have no clue about the teachings of Allah).  What is needed are voices of reason and a true ecumenism among Muslims — and all faiths.        

Never Give In . . . .

On By scottpetersenIn Calvin Coolidge, Never never never give in, The Last Lion, William Manchester, Winston ChurchillLeave a comment

Two years ago (August 22, 2011), I had a post titled “Calvin Coolidge.”  The post repeated Coolidge’s oft-quoted words which ended “. . . .Persistence and determination are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

Winston Churchill was a pretty special guy and he brought these words to a whole new semantic level.  In 1941, during the dark days of World War II, Winston Churchill was invited to give the commencement address at the Harrow School. Known for rapier wit and great wisdom – Churchill addressed the young graduates.  But he spoke to the nation.  His comments concluded with an admonition to all – “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

It’s often easy to give up.  Back down.  Throw in the towel.  But with words like Churchill’s – and those of Coolidge – we can’t help but be inspired,  How can one look in the mirror and say “it’s finished” when the specter of Churchill looms over one’s shoulder.  William Manchester’s trilogy The Last Lion chronicles the life of Churchill. It is the best biography I have ever read and one I would highly recommend. It might take a while to read (it’s over 3,000 pages) but don’t give up.  Press on.  Keep reading.  Never give in. . . . .

Syria

On By scottpetersenIn Genocide, Syria, Walter Lippmann1 Comment

In 1943, Walter Lippmann penned the classic treatise U.S. Foreign Policy. This is a must-read for any foreign policy wonk.  The pivotal message of this work is that America must always act in its national interest. If there is no national interest, then there need be no action (or “taking the bait“).

When it comes to Syria – or other trouble spots – just what is our “national interest“?  Is there merit to telling Europeans that “Syria is in your back yard. You guys handle it“?   Would it be better to sit back like we are watching a football game and let matters take their course?  What should America do?  America readies action against Syria — in spite of strong objections from Russia, China, the Arab League and a great many others.  In spite of a disjointed (many say “nonexistent”) foreign policy and without clear policy objective – we prepare to march off as the world’s moral authority.  Risking everything.  

In 1975, we extricated ourselves from Viet Nam and Southeast Asia. What happened? There was genocide on a cosmic scale.  In Cambodia 1.7 million people (20% of the country’s population) were slaughtered by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.  And America did nothing.  After we left Viet Nam, as many as 2 million civilians were murdered by the Hanoi government.  America did nothing.  During a horrific 100 days in 1994, over 500,000 Tutsis were massacred by rival Hutus in Rwanda.   And America twiddled its thumbs.   In a situation like Syria where the casualties number in the thousands is it in America’s national interest to send in the missiles?  Or troops?  To bomb?  Support rebels?  Should we get involved at all?  In Egypt, we grandly supported the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.  Mohammed Morsi was elected President.  And within one year, he was out in a violent overthrow.  And Egypt still reels from violence and uncertainty.        

I’m not sure of the answer but unless our national interest is directly at stake, I’m inclined to watch from the sidelines.  In the upper balcony. . . . . 

Shangri-La

On By scottpetersenIn Shangri-La1 Comment

When I go on vacaction, I’m looking for a place like . . .well, like Shangri-La.  Heck – maybe I’d like to move there.  When I was little,  my father would sing a song that included the term “Shangri-La.”  He would do a lot of humming and then belt out “Shangri-La.”   You hear the term every once in awhile so I thought this might be an interesting post.   

The term “Shangri-La” is a actually fictional location first mentioned in the book Lost Horizon (1933) by British author James Hilton.  The place is described as a mystical paradise – isolated and insulated from the rest of the world.  Everyone in Shangri-La is permanently happy and the people live beyond their lifespans — aging slowly and joyfully.   

Shangri-La is reputed to be situated on the western end of the Kunlun Mountains in China.  Many villages and locales have claimed to be THE Shangri-La but so far there is nothing definitive.  Hilton said he was inspired to invent – and write about – “Shangri-La” after reading articles in National Geographic Magazine about the travels of botanist/ethnologist Joseph Rock.  But Hilton died in 1954 so he’s not talking. 

There are dozens of contemporary references to “Shangri-La.”  President Franklin Roosevelt, who was fond of Hilton’s novel, named the Presidential retreat (now “Camp David”) “Shangri-La” in 1942.  After the Doolittle raid on Tokyo in 1942 (“Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo”), when asked where the bombers came from, he quipped “Shangri-La.”  Later in the War, the U.S. Navy launched an aircraft carrier of that name thanks to FDR’s reference.  It would sure be nice if Washington could become a Shangri-La but I wouldn’t count on it. . . .         

Stop & Frisk

On By scottpetersenIn Chicago, Stop & FriskLeave a comment

Years ago, when I was an Assistant States Attorney, I occasionally rode along with Chicago Police. One day, we were driving on West 18th Street. Suddenly, the officer in the front seat pointed at a car going in the opposite direction and hissed “They’re dirty.” We squealed a U-turn, going boots and saddles (lights and siren). The car stopped, officers hopped out – guns drawn. In the car were two gang bangers (both with records), drugs and two sawed off shotguns.  I often wonder whose life was saved that day.

New York City’s murder rate has fallen from the thousands to a few hundred thanks to stop & frisk “with reasonable suspicion.”  The bad guys don”t know when they’ll be stopped so they’re not packing.  Chicago on the other hand is the murder capital of the (un)civilized world. Thousands of shooting victims. Many innocent.  Many spontaneous.  Explosions of gunfire.  Especially in poorer neighborhoods.  But of course Chicago doesn’t have stop & frisk.  As it “may offend.”  Result?  Gangs rule.  Senseless violence.  Mayhem.  Butchery.  Death.  And Chicago continues sliding into the abyss.

Police are not the problem.  Criminals are the problem.  The bad guys.  Chicago gun laws are the most stringent in the country yet the bad guys have guns.  But in Chicago, there’s no deterrent for the bad guys who carry them.  And then use them. 

Obviously it’s a tough situation.  There are no easy solutions to this problem but ignoring stop & frisk as an option is madness.  I cannot fathom the mindset of those misguided souls who oppose stop & frisk with reasonable suspicion.  If they want to debate the statistics or the Fourth Amendment issues, they will lose.  

Avocados for Breakfast

On By scottpetersenIn Avocados for breakfast, Breakfast1 Comment

This sounds like the title of a steamy romance novel set in Northern California.   “Hey Martha, would you like an avocado for breakfast?”  “Oh Henry, you sweet talker. . . . ”  

I have breakfast every morning.  But for my breakfast, you’d probably make a face – shake your head – and say “You gotta be kidding.”

I try to eat a healthy breakfast.  Oh I know – if there’s leftover pizza or spaghetti carbonara in the fridge, I may grab that and some coffee.  But that stuff doesn’t make for a sparky day.  My breakfast usually consists of high fiber (bran) cereal, blueberries or banana and coffee. Maybe once or twice a week, I will have an avocado (with a little Newman’s salad dressing) and a banana. And the obligatory coffee.  More and more though I’m drifting toward avocados for breakfast. . . . . 

Avocados are a magnificent food.  One of the healthiest you can eat.  And avocados are among the least contaminated so there’s really no need to buy organic (see post of July 12, 2012, for the “Dirty Dozen” foods which you do not want to buy “conventional”).  And avocados are simply delish.  I often make my own guacamole (smooshed avocado, finely-chopped cilantro and lime juice – that’s it) and have it for a meal.  Heck – guacamole for breakfast?  It doesn’t get any better.   

They Dwell Among Us . . . .

On By scottpetersenIn Martin Guitar, They Dwell Among UsLeave a comment

I’ve seen silly emails circulated with this title.  I always delete them as I’ve felt the stories are so farfetched as to be unbelievable.   Until Monday. 

Scout’s Honor. I was on the train on Monday. Heading home after a long day.  The train was crowded with a few folks standing in the aisles.  This 30’ish woman sits down next to me. She takes an orange VISA credit card from her purse and – holding it in her hand – pulls out her cell phone and dials a number. And then in a voice loud enough to be heard 3 or 4 rows away, she says she has a question on her credit card.   She needs detail on the last dozen or so transactions.  And she repeats the card number into the receiver. THEN (as if that’s not enough) after a pause, she repeats a family name and a calendar date (presumably security codes). Then (of course) she read off the three digit security code on the back of the card (“uhmm lemme see. . . two three eight . . . no THREE eight“). For the next 15 minutes, with phone shouldered to her ear, she proceeded to dialogue on the telephone in this highly public place about questioned purchases (one charge was – I kid you not – 9 cents).  She’s writing them down.

I do not believe we should have educational tests or intelligence tests or any other criteria (than citizenship) for a person to vote.  But maybe there is something to having a “Stupid” test.  This woman would be the poster girl.  Not that it would matter with the characters we have in our government. 

By the way, I bought a great bunch of new books on line, some shoes for Donna, a new Martin guitar, I booked us a trip to Europe and I . . . . . OOOOPS  . . . never mind. . . .    

Gluten

On By scottpetersenIn Blood types and health, Gluten, Gluten and blood typeLeave a comment

In my post of October 4, 2012, I talked about how the four blood types vary in terms of vulnerability to certain foods. O (the oldest blood type) is robust and needs animal protein; A is more fragile and has some issues with animal protein (especially the 4-legged variety); for B, chicken is a red flag which can cause health complications; and AB has diminished stomach acid and thus should avoid certain foods.

One of the interesting adjuncts to studies on blood type is the effects of wheat and gluten.  For type A, gluten is usually just fine but for types O and B, gluten can cause inflammation of joints and exacerbate arthritis.  This gluten intolerance is not a result of celiac disease – the autoimmune disorder of the small intestine which causes severe inflammation resulting from gluten (wheat).  It is just that gluten-intolerance can result in aggravation of arthritis and a painful increase in joint and muscle issues.

Donna is type O.  And she has had issues with joint and muscle issues (as well as arthritis).  So she has been steering away from gluten for a while.  However one weekend – after a gluten overload of pasta, breads and other grains, she could barely walk.  The pain neared a ten.  Off gluten again, the pain receded and things were good.  Today, Donna – a type O – is just fine with all manner of proteins, potatoes, vegetables and such but she is on the wagon when it comes to gluten.  And she is feeling better. 

Any type O or B who is having issues with joint inflammation and pain might consider going cold turkey on gluten.  Just to try.  There’s no cost, no risk and it just might help.   But don’t take my word for it.  Google the operative words gluten inflammation or gluten arthritis and reach your own conclusions.