Space, The Final Frontier..............

O.K. I still can't get the reach out to the Muslims thing out of my head.

NASA which put a man on the moon has decided to reach out to a religion which in the past hasn't shown a great deal of enthusiasm for science (other than building the bomb) If we had done this years ago, I could see the fact finding commission after the Columbia disaster marking it up as "Insha'Allah" (God's Will)

Perhaps we should change the music in the back round from the theme of 2001 A Space Odyssey to Steppenwolf's Magic Carpet Ride.

Just sayin...........

I Almost Missed This One...............

I almost missed this birthday and would have regretted it if I had.

I have the greatest admiration and respect for a man who is first and foremost a gentleman. A person who places the good of others above his own. A man who keeps his word and means what he says. Such a man was born in 1946.

Happy Birthday President George W. Bush!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't agree with all of his policies and think that he lost his way when he tried to out liberal the liberals. But even with my differences with him I have a great deal of respect for President Bush. What you saw, was what you got and there are damned few politicians you can say that about. He also kept the nation safe after 9/11 when there were so many out there who wanted to harm us.

In his retirement, Mr. Bush has continued to demonstrate what a class act he is by following a old tradition of former presidents of not criticizing the current president (As much as he needs it) or his policies.

So, Happy Birthday Mr. President, may you have many, many, more and enjoy your retirement, you have earned it through your years of service to your country and we thank you.

Garden Bounty...........

Been a while since I have posted a food entry, I think I need to just to take my mind off current events.

The locals are starting to open fresh produce stands around here. Even though I still can't eat like I want to, I find I just can't resist stopping and eyeballing all the veggies at these stands. I just love fresh corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and every thing else that is fresh this time of year. In the past I would even grow my own small garden but I found that I just didn't have the time to invest in it properly.

Here is a recipe that I picked up for a tomato, cucumber and onion marinade that is pretty darn good.

4 ripe tomatoes
3 fresh cucumbers, peeled
1 sweet Vidalia onion, peeled
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

1. Cut the tomatoes, cucumbers, and onion into 1/4 inch slices and combine in a large bowl. Put aside in the refrigerator while you make your vinaigrette.

2. Combine the sugar, vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir and remove from the heat. Let cool to room temp.

3. Pour the marinade on the vegetables, toss to combine, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until well chilled.

My late grandmother made something very much like this when I was a young pup but I never learned how she made it. I think I have come close to what she did. At least the taste is similar, and that's close enough.

I Could NOT Make This Stuff UP..........

O.K. let me see if I got this right.

The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the state of Arizona to overturn a state law that is modeled after a federal law (which the libs think is racially motivated) but drops charges in a slam dunk case of voter intimidation (That there is NO doubt WAS racially motivated) that was even caught on video.

Then the head of NASA goes on Al-Jazerra television to tell the world that his number one mission is to reach out to Islamic countries because of their past history in science and mathematics.

If I didn't already, I would start drinking.

Today's Birthdays.........

In 1747............

John Paul Jones, father of the U.S. Navy was born near Kirkbean, Scotland. Warrior and fine ship's captain.

In 1925............

Bill Haley, Rock and Roll legend.

Today In History.......

In 1885................

Louis Pasteur noted French bacteriologist inoculated a young boy who had been bitten by a rabid dog. The patient did not develop rabies.

In 1947................

Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov's masterpiece the Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947 was first issued to select units of the Red Army. The AK-47 is without a doubt one of the most successful military weapons in history with an estimated 170 million AKs and derivatives having been made to this date. The AK's primary benefits are it's ease of manufacture, cost, simplicity and reliability. Being the primary weapon of the old Com-block, it was exported all over the world and either sold or given to every piss-ant third world liberation outfit around. With a service life of 20 to 40 years, we will be seeing this weapon on the world stage for a very long time.

Independence Day..............

I guess I look at July 4th just a little differently than most folks. It's a holiday for me not of jingoism, nor rabid patriotism, but rather of a great deal of satisfaction. It's as if I look at the country and say, "Well old girl, 234 years old and still doing fine." I couldn't be prouder. We have seen some tough times but we have landed on our feet and kept on going to create one of the greatest countries in the world.

This is the first Independence Day that I haven't spent dressed in clothing that went out of style 250 years ago. Feels a little strange, but I will be spending time with my mom and dad, sister and various other kin folk. I am sorta reminded of what Erma Bombeck had to say about the holiday:

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.

But since it is one of the most important holidays that we celebrate, I thought I would see what John Adams had to say about it. He said:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will triumph in that Days Transaction, even although We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

They agreed to the declaration on the 2nd, but signed it on the 4th so ol' Johnny got the date wrong. But he sure did every thing else right.

So folks, I hope you all have a very happy and safe 4th of July and keep a eye on that tater salad.