I was wounded in Afghanistan on Memorial Day 2011 but my friend Anthony Nunn lost his life on the side of that mountain that day. He was 19 years old from burnet tx. I appreciate yall having a beer for my friend this weekend
We’re a remarkable place and a people, aren’t we? Messy, argumentative, inefficient, overleveraged, unwilling to toe the line, and the prevailing cluster f*ck seems to worsen daily. Fully understand how it must frustrate some of the old world, what with all of those centuries of monarchical power keeping order. Certainly none of Sullivan Ballou, Abe Lincoln or (the fictional) Private James Francis Ryan had any idea that what they were defending would a few decades later manifest itself in Country Joe and the Fish speaking their piece. But the right of peaceful assembly? Petitioning for a redress of grievances? Pretty sure they knew they were fighting for that, which is what Country Joe, in his own style, was doing. I detest a lot of what I see from both of our political tribes, but I thank God that we’re free to openly duke it out amongst ourselves. Sincere thanks to any / all that serve and/or served to keep it that way. It may not look that way as we devour this weekend’s burgers and brats, but we know it doesn’t come for free. Thanks for posting those gems JJ. See you Tuesday morning.
100% Fitz... The most important part of our way of doing things here, in this remarakable 'experiment", is the loyal opposition gets its say one way or the other and moreover, it is always heard... one way or another. Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Bixby and Speilbergs' depiction of D Day, imparted the esence war's higher purposes that we often take for granted. Country's Joe's reminder we won't die for bullshteither!
I never really knew or understood my father, an army man, until I saw and felt history in a movie theater 12 years after he died. It changed me. That is the genius and purpose of art I guess. So now when I visit his grave and tend the grass and the flags that have been left faded over the years through winters by me and my cousins, I slip into a timeless dimenion of gratitude. it never goes away. So fk the dark side of it and keep the faith. God bless this country. See you Tuesday sir.
I shared similar attitudes and apart from the writing, approach. Eventually, I realized that everyone has their own political reality which is near impossible for another to change. Anyway, burgers and beers are more fun. Have a great Memorial Day weekend and RIP to all those who gave their lives for our country.
Similar trajectory for this reader. JJ puts into words something I had felt but had not articulated in a coherent manner. Spatchcock chicken on the smoker tomorrow at 11am MST. God bless the Republic and those that fought for her.
God bless the republic! I can't stop myself from reminding cocktail party critics we are not a democracy. I shouldn't do it because I almost got 86'd from a hoity toity club we belong to in 2016 in a heated debate about Trump with a reporter for the NY Times (Gretchen something). But then my wife saved the the day. Ironically or not we're all friends now. That's America.
It's going to be a cool sunny day here in NJ. I just did a 5 minute youtube on how to cook a spatchcock chicken!
Was your tiff with Gretchen Morgenson? Her Reckless Endangerment seemed a pretty even-handed bit on the the ridiculous conduct in mortgage market leading to the GFC, at least IMHO. Wish I coulda been there.
I can't recall the last name. Old and haughty, I do.. Quite a while ago at a dinner party where I was "liberally" partaking! She was on my left ( no pun intended...)
Meant to add that spatchcocking results are soooooo much more consistent across the bird, and to my mind better. I’ve done chicken and turkeys. Just need to have the right tool to get through some of that backbone on larger birds. Good luck JJ.
Haven’t tried a DIY operation, Fitz. Fortunately, my “source” offers birds in traditional and spatchcock formats. Happy to report that the smoke was successful (momentarily at 400, remainder at 350).
Making amends with today's smoke. Tried "low and slow" last time to disastrous results (waiting guests, undercooked). No experimentation today. This baby is getting the full 350° treatment.
Blue skies and hummingbirds here in the Treasure Valley. Have a great one!
I absolutely love the country but the military industrial complex is a parasite. That goes for all countries with one. Life is really peaceful outside of the US in most countries. It's a human tendency to fight over resources but when do the people ever have a say? Never and were the ones who suffer. Happy Memorial Day. Gone but never forgotten.
Ken Burns is a gifted historian. If you haven't seen his epic documentary "The Civil War" (1988) I urge you to get it (it's on Amazon) ...and watch it asap.
"We shall never surrender." And now the Brits have. Without a fight, without bloodshed, they have acquiesced and embraced evil over good. Islamism over western values. Churchill may have well never even existed, for all the good and the wisdom he blessed England with.
the way it happened no one saw it coming. I went school in europe, spent a lot time in London and Paris. I feel for them but there is an ember of fire yet. And We're on the road back. It ain't over til its over.
I hope so, but their handling of the grooming gangs - something that has gone on for a long time - does not give me a lot of hope. Meanwhile the massive immigration from North Africa and elsewhere, coupled with the wide differential in birth rates between Muslims and white anglos, may have tipped the balance.
My wife's mother (polish age 14) and father (Czech age 18) were catholic, taken from their beds in the night and put into forced labor camps for nearly 6 years. They waited in line 5 years after the war to be relocated in America, met in the middle of the process, married and madeit to the Promised land. When you have people like that in your family it's impossible to forget that America IS the promised land, stiil. I grew up in made beds in good schools. It wasn't my fault that I was ignorant but in time everyone graduates from the college of life.
And... Everyone has their own perspectives. My father and I had many conversations when I was in my 20s and we were rooming together in the 1970s. I think the most telling thing he ever said to me was, " I loved killing Germans." It was a casual line out of nowhere unpromted after a martini or two over dinner following a distant gaze from which he had obviously returned from deep thought.
Unfortunately the dark side of our species is violent. it never goes away. The worst wars are like WW1, Viet nam, and Ukraine that can't be won. The Civil war had to be fought. WW2 had to be fought. Bush let us down. I used to think being president would change the man from bad to good because of the nature of its power to be good. Now I know better. The president either bring good with him or his weakness get worse. Bush the only president I can think of whose legacy gets worse every time he speaks.
I was wounded in Afghanistan on Memorial Day 2011 but my friend Anthony Nunn lost his life on the side of that mountain that day. He was 19 years old from burnet tx. I appreciate yall having a beer for my friend this weekend
My honor sir. I’ll have two!
We’re a remarkable place and a people, aren’t we? Messy, argumentative, inefficient, overleveraged, unwilling to toe the line, and the prevailing cluster f*ck seems to worsen daily. Fully understand how it must frustrate some of the old world, what with all of those centuries of monarchical power keeping order. Certainly none of Sullivan Ballou, Abe Lincoln or (the fictional) Private James Francis Ryan had any idea that what they were defending would a few decades later manifest itself in Country Joe and the Fish speaking their piece. But the right of peaceful assembly? Petitioning for a redress of grievances? Pretty sure they knew they were fighting for that, which is what Country Joe, in his own style, was doing. I detest a lot of what I see from both of our political tribes, but I thank God that we’re free to openly duke it out amongst ourselves. Sincere thanks to any / all that serve and/or served to keep it that way. It may not look that way as we devour this weekend’s burgers and brats, but we know it doesn’t come for free. Thanks for posting those gems JJ. See you Tuesday morning.
100% Fitz... The most important part of our way of doing things here, in this remarakable 'experiment", is the loyal opposition gets its say one way or the other and moreover, it is always heard... one way or another. Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Bixby and Speilbergs' depiction of D Day, imparted the esence war's higher purposes that we often take for granted. Country's Joe's reminder we won't die for bullshteither!
I never really knew or understood my father, an army man, until I saw and felt history in a movie theater 12 years after he died. It changed me. That is the genius and purpose of art I guess. So now when I visit his grave and tend the grass and the flags that have been left faded over the years through winters by me and my cousins, I slip into a timeless dimenion of gratitude. it never goes away. So fk the dark side of it and keep the faith. God bless this country. See you Tuesday sir.
I shared similar attitudes and apart from the writing, approach. Eventually, I realized that everyone has their own political reality which is near impossible for another to change. Anyway, burgers and beers are more fun. Have a great Memorial Day weekend and RIP to all those who gave their lives for our country.
Exactly. The reality is for all its warts and pimples it is our home.
Similar trajectory for this reader. JJ puts into words something I had felt but had not articulated in a coherent manner. Spatchcock chicken on the smoker tomorrow at 11am MST. God bless the Republic and those that fought for her.
God bless the republic! I can't stop myself from reminding cocktail party critics we are not a democracy. I shouldn't do it because I almost got 86'd from a hoity toity club we belong to in 2016 in a heated debate about Trump with a reporter for the NY Times (Gretchen something). But then my wife saved the the day. Ironically or not we're all friends now. That's America.
It's going to be a cool sunny day here in NJ. I just did a 5 minute youtube on how to cook a spatchcock chicken!
Was your tiff with Gretchen Morgenson? Her Reckless Endangerment seemed a pretty even-handed bit on the the ridiculous conduct in mortgage market leading to the GFC, at least IMHO. Wish I coulda been there.
I can't recall the last name. Old and haughty, I do.. Quite a while ago at a dinner party where I was "liberally" partaking! She was on my left ( no pun intended...)
She's a patriot too
Meant to add that spatchcocking results are soooooo much more consistent across the bird, and to my mind better. I’ve done chicken and turkeys. Just need to have the right tool to get through some of that backbone on larger birds. Good luck JJ.
Haven’t tried a DIY operation, Fitz. Fortunately, my “source” offers birds in traditional and spatchcock formats. Happy to report that the smoke was successful (momentarily at 400, remainder at 350).
Where would we be without our better halves?
Making amends with today's smoke. Tried "low and slow" last time to disastrous results (waiting guests, undercooked). No experimentation today. This baby is getting the full 350° treatment.
Blue skies and hummingbirds here in the Treasure Valley. Have a great one!
Enjoying the weekend "with deep appreciation for all my good fortune were it not for those who didn’t come back."
Said simply but perfectly. Deep appreciation indeed. The flag is blowing in the breeze on the front of the house. Cracking a beer in their honor.
I absolutely love the country but the military industrial complex is a parasite. That goes for all countries with one. Life is really peaceful outside of the US in most countries. It's a human tendency to fight over resources but when do the people ever have a say? Never and were the ones who suffer. Happy Memorial Day. Gone but never forgotten.
I love America, which is why I often criticize what we are doing.
As for writing, my attitude is you have to write for yourself, not for others.if others like it too, that's a bonus.
Sláinte.
Well said. Great comments.
A privilege to share.
Thank you all. Enjoy and appreciate.
Sullivan Ballou ... my God, hard to believe we once spoke / wrote to one another that way.
Ken Burns is a gifted historian. If you haven't seen his epic documentary "The Civil War" (1988) I urge you to get it (it's on Amazon) ...and watch it asap.
I watched it when it first aired. Magnificent.
"We shall never surrender." And now the Brits have. Without a fight, without bloodshed, they have acquiesced and embraced evil over good. Islamism over western values. Churchill may have well never even existed, for all the good and the wisdom he blessed England with.
the way it happened no one saw it coming. I went school in europe, spent a lot time in London and Paris. I feel for them but there is an ember of fire yet. And We're on the road back. It ain't over til its over.
Some saw it happening albeit a small minority.
I hope so, but their handling of the grooming gangs - something that has gone on for a long time - does not give me a lot of hope. Meanwhile the massive immigration from North Africa and elsewhere, coupled with the wide differential in birth rates between Muslims and white anglos, may have tipped the balance.
Ty for sharing that sir...
My wife's mother (polish age 14) and father (Czech age 18) were catholic, taken from their beds in the night and put into forced labor camps for nearly 6 years. They waited in line 5 years after the war to be relocated in America, met in the middle of the process, married and madeit to the Promised land. When you have people like that in your family it's impossible to forget that America IS the promised land, stiil. I grew up in made beds in good schools. It wasn't my fault that I was ignorant but in time everyone graduates from the college of life.
And... Everyone has their own perspectives. My father and I had many conversations when I was in my 20s and we were rooming together in the 1970s. I think the most telling thing he ever said to me was, " I loved killing Germans." It was a casual line out of nowhere unpromted after a martini or two over dinner following a distant gaze from which he had obviously returned from deep thought.
Unfortunately the dark side of our species is violent. it never goes away. The worst wars are like WW1, Viet nam, and Ukraine that can't be won. The Civil war had to be fought. WW2 had to be fought. Bush let us down. I used to think being president would change the man from bad to good because of the nature of its power to be good. Now I know better. The president either bring good with him or his weakness get worse. Bush the only president I can think of whose legacy gets worse every time he speaks.