This is always an inflammatory topic, and it has taken the forefront of the national debate (I refuse to say dialog since that would imply a sense of rationality and civilty) given the evil acts against the students and staff of Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut.
I spent much of the day trying to sort it out. I will not rehash the arguments of the pro and anti-gun positions. There is already an enormous amount of shouting back and forth between the two sides....... and that's just the arguing inside my own head. The harsh reality is that both sides are correct. Both sides are also wrong.
First of all, I own guns. Some I bought in my own name, others I purchased from others. Some are merely keepsakes and mementos. Others are kept around for killing. Yes folks, killing. That is what guns are for. Target shooting, hunting, and the like are recreation for many. Even the most shrill of the anti-gun movement would get a kick out of emptying a clip through an AK-47. SO they are fun, but the purpose of guns remains killing.
Let me give you a run-down on my 'recreational' weapons. I've a 30-06, a 30-30, a 10/22, and a 12 ga. shotgun. The first two are designed to hunt large game, especially deer. The 30-06 also has a decent scope on board. Combine that with some 'accelerator' ammo that I may or may not still have and you have a weapon system that is untraceable. I permanently gave up hunting years ago. I keep the 30-30 because it is fun to shoot. Why then do I keep the 30-06? The 10/22 is waiting for any family member that expresses any interest in taking it. Technically none of these guns are mine. The 30-06 was my father's. The 30-30 came from my brother George.....I think. I didn't buy it. The 10/22 was a gift from either my mom or dad, so who knows who owns that one. That leaves the shotgun. I had a buddy of mine get that for me almost 30 years back. He was about 18 at the time and working for ZCMI. They stopped selling guns, so he bought a bunch of them at a smoking deal.
I also have guns that are not for recreation. That means they are expressly for killing folks. I used to have an 'assault rifle'. I returned it to its previous owner. I have a .40 SW and the aforementioned shotgun for defensive purposes. Assault weapons are, by their nature for offensive use. I can't rule out using deadly force, but if I do I won't need to take out a dozen people, just one or two tops. The shotgun is much safer to use in home defense because it lacks penetration. Pistols, especially in the dark and against moving targets, require me to be close enough that I am practically touching the bad guys with it.
I like having guns. They are a comfort to me. There have been times I have drawn them in defense. Fortunately both situations defused without me having to shoot. I have since abandoned guns and now use a staff to defend myself in the back-country. Twice this year I was rushed by dogs with their fangs bared. The last guy didn't even apologize for his dog. I told him I was just going to kick his dog, the staff was for him. I'm thinking of getting a spear tip at the Chinese store in the mall. It will look cool!
Finally I want to make a simple point. The police cannot protect you, at least not immediately. Self-defense is not only a right but something everyone should commit themselves to learn how to do.
That's the gun nut in me. While I have mellowed somewhat over the years, I am still, deep down, a nasty person under certain circumstances.
What about the anti-gun side of me? I am reminded of a story I heard about my nephew. When he was young he wanted to go 'bunny-camping' with his Dad. He thought the purpose was to find rabbits so he could pet them. I laughed at the time, but I have since come to realize that he was right. I have bunnies that I pet every day. While I do not speak out against hunting, I find the practice personally abhorrent now. In fact, the only reason I didn't bludgeon those dogs I mentioned earlier, was because I don't want to have to someday explain to my nephew why I was mean to a dog. Though I suspect he'd give me a pass on the owners.
Guns don't always impart safety. Don't believe me? Then why don't they allow me to pack heat on a plane? Or a courtroom? Let's assume that I am carrying a pistol and trouble breaks out. Even if I don't fire a single round, what happens when the cops show up? They don't know who is the bad guy and who isn't. I might get shot! That kind of defeats the whole damn purpose doesn't it. Besides, pistols often miss and sometimes hit innocents. I do sometimes carry a knife. My lifetime batting average on getting the proper target with it is 1.000. If I am defending my home, then there can be little doubt who the bad guy is. He's the dead guy on the floor. Outside of the home, I feel that firearms simply cannot be justified. My wife still believes otherwise, which means nobody better screw around with me, at least when she's nearby.
People point to Switzerland and correctly assert that every house with a man between 20 and 50 has an assault weapon in it. It's true. Every man (not women incidentally, the Swiss were actually the last European nation that allowed women suffrage) between 20 and 50 has to be in the militia. And guess where they keep their firearm? Locked up at home. The Swiss don't have young thugs gunning each other down in the street. They don't have anybody shooting up schools or shopping malls. Obviously guns aren't the problem. Right?
Partially. The Swiss culture and population are a bit more homogeneous than our own. Like Americans they glorify money, but not violence. There is another crucial difference between us and the Swiss. Every single freaking gun is where it should be, with whom it should be, and stored how it should be. Let me break that down.
Where it should be:
Either in the home or on duty. They don't hunt a lot in Switzerland.
With whom it should be:
In Switzerland know who has what and everything is accounted for. Damn those Swiss are orderly and efficient.
We do criminal background checks on gun sold by dealers. Yet no such standard exists for private saless. I could go outside right now and sell my pistol to some asshole pissing on my mailbox, who is strung out on meth, and has been without his anti-schizophrenia medications for two months. How any rational person can defend this defies reason. All gun ownership must be tracked and background checks must be done. Plain and simple.
Gun ownership is a privilege, not a right. If you have a car it has to be registered, and inspected. You have to have a license to operate it. To keep your license, periodically you have to demonstrate you still know what the hell you are doing. And when you violate the law you lose your license and , often, the car. The same standards should be applied to guns. Like cars, there will still be some that make it into bad guys hands. But we can significantly reduce the amount of guns held by the bad guys. And yes, the law-abiding among us can still get weapons after we established that we don't piss on my mailbox or have a criminal record, restraining order, etc.
How it should be:
In a safe or with a gun lock. That will keep little kids from finding daddy's gun and blowing their brains out with it. But wait! What if I have to 'get at it fast'? Keep the damn thing unloaded. Still not quick enough for you? Load it at night when you are sleeping and unload it and lock it up when you wake up the next day. It's the same reason I don't keep my car gassed up and running in my driveway.
I tend to get confused at night. If I reached for my gun every time something startled me, then my dog Fly would have died a thousand deaths when she bulldozes the bedroom door open. I would have shot all my kids at least once, when they've sought help for ailments in the middle of the night. Even my wife would have been capped multiple times after she has awakened me at night (usually on my birthday or when I have done something especially thoughtful or romantic earlier in the day).
Finally there is my conflicting emotions. I mentioned earlier that having guns around makes me feel safe. It doesn't make me safe, but I do feel safe. And that has value. I am also a Taoist, and as such I simultaneously value and despise weapons of any sort. People often ask, "what would Jesus do". I doubt he'd own a gun. Were he threatened, I suppose he could start throwing lightning bolts or unleash angels with fiery swords. I dunno. Also being a Mormon, the closest thing to Jesus, is what would Thomas S. Monson have me do. Call me crazy, but I'll bet that old boy doesn't have a gun either. If he gets up in conference and instructs LDS faithful to rid themselves of weapons then I will do it. I won't sell them, I'll melt them down. If I had sufficient faith I would have already done it since, according to Lao Tzu, Heaven protects the merciful.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
what is wrong with me......and everyone else.
I am a slothful man. There is a difference between lazy and slothful. I am typically lazy. As I type this I am sitting in my filthy La-z-Boy recliner wearing nothing but some nylon running shorts. This particular pair of shorts is one that I found at Diamond Fork Hot Springs about five years back. Somebody had left them hanging at the Kokopelli pools. I noticed they were my size so I threw them in my backpack, took them home, and washed them. Five years later I am wearing an atricle of clothing that I found abandoned in the mountains. I am wearing the sticky remnants of some Pho' broth that spilled on me. I've been up an hour already and have not bathed. That is sloth.
I have also not blogged for about 10 months. That would be clear evidence of calculated indifference. Anyone that knows me realizes that my indifference is not calculated. By definition, calculated indifference would in fact necessitate desire.
One of my favorite books is 'Eat the Rich' by P.J. O'Rourke. While it was written about 20 years ago, it holds up well. The central theme about the book is why do some countries suck and others don't. In it he gives a simple overview of what makes markets, how currency is derived, and examines various economic systems. He visits countries, travels around and talks to regular folks.....and their finance ministers.
Uncle Peej (as I'm fond of calling him) is also a gifted writer that manages to pen statements that are astute and wildly funny. He has written other books that would serve as excellent companions to 'Eat the Rich'. Among these are 'All the Trouble in the World', 'Give War a Chance', and his most famous 'Parliament of Whores'. I feel that 'Eat the Rich' is his magnum opus.
All that stuff that our parents were yelling at us about during high school and college is right. All of the things they told us to do are the same things that nations need to do. Perhaps it is time we need to revisit these virtues. The following list is blatantly lifted from Uncle Peej's book.
1) Hard Work
2) Education
3) Responsibility
4) Property rights
5) Rule of Law
6) Democratic Government
there is only one item that I would add to the list and that is:
7) Being part of something bigger than yourself.
For many that is manifested in adhering to a faith. For others it is an adherence to a particular ethos. Merely existing within such a system doesn't impart wealth. That is reserved for those that truly believe that they are an integrated piece of a larger and greater whole.
Note that culture is not listed. People equate culture with fine arts. Having the Utah Symphony visit equatorial Africa won't lift them out of poverty. Yet clearly there are some cultures where poverty doesn't exist. It is the values espoused by the culture that impart prosperity.
As a child my father taught me some very racist notions. He told me that all races and cultures bring various things to the table and are to be studied and appreciated. There was one that is superior......the Japanese. Think about Japan then read the above list. Now picture a place, a people, a country, or any place that poverty exists. Read the list......it should be pretty obvious what their problem is!
When was the last time you saw a poor person of Japanese ancestry either here of in Japan? How about a Swede? Have you ever seen a prosperous Somali or Bolivian. Even the ones that are either pirating ships or trafficking Coke are perpetually back on their ass the moment the cash flow halts for more than a week.
Russia is a well-educated nation. In Russia, chess is a spectator sport for hells sake! It exports food. It is swimming in oil and gas, rare minerals, diamonds, and any other natural resource you can think of. Why does Russia suck? Look at the list.
China, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, India, and Iran are all the location of ancient and sustained civilizations and cultures. China and India are the only two that are getting better. The others suck and are getting suckier. Look at the list.
Cultures that derive their character from the above list thrive no matter where they exist. The reason that the Swedes and the Japanese are not poor is because they refuse to live anywhere that doesn't adhere to the list.
So back to my unkempt (and progressively smellier) self that is flopped in a recliner that even the filthiest person on earth would hesitate to sit in. How do I stack up personally on this list?
Hard Work
I work hard.......in a sense, and only at work. My wife can attest that nothing short of the prospect of sexual favors will exact any housework out of me. What I do in the Pharmacy is often fast-paced, requires constant focus, and involves being on one's feet for hours on end. Still it's not a particularly demanding job from a physical sense. I worked a number of jobs that involved getting dirty, being in temperature extremes, and lifting and moving large amounts of heavy shit. These jobs suck. The people that do them are not without dignity or worth. These jobs are quite necessary. Nonetheless these jobs suck. The reason I went to Pharmacy School is to get a job that was clean, indoors, and didn't involve heavy lifting. I had just such a job when I delivered pizza, but being a Pharmacist pays a bit better.
Education
I got through Pharmacy School, and half way through an MBA. The lion's share of my 'education' has been feeding my hobbies. I like to war-game and spend time in the wilderness. If I can either in a natural hot spring, it's even better.
Responsibility
You know what? I should probably cut my losses short by stopping right now. Suffice it to say that the list is correct. We need to adhere to it on a personal level. When this is done, we can do it within our family. When this is done, we can do it within our community. When this is done we can do it within our State. When this is done then we can do it within our country. When this is done, then (and only then) the world will change.
Right now the only changing I am going to do is stand up, shower, and put on some clean clothing in which I can appear in public.
I have also not blogged for about 10 months. That would be clear evidence of calculated indifference. Anyone that knows me realizes that my indifference is not calculated. By definition, calculated indifference would in fact necessitate desire.
One of my favorite books is 'Eat the Rich' by P.J. O'Rourke. While it was written about 20 years ago, it holds up well. The central theme about the book is why do some countries suck and others don't. In it he gives a simple overview of what makes markets, how currency is derived, and examines various economic systems. He visits countries, travels around and talks to regular folks.....and their finance ministers.
Uncle Peej (as I'm fond of calling him) is also a gifted writer that manages to pen statements that are astute and wildly funny. He has written other books that would serve as excellent companions to 'Eat the Rich'. Among these are 'All the Trouble in the World', 'Give War a Chance', and his most famous 'Parliament of Whores'. I feel that 'Eat the Rich' is his magnum opus.
All that stuff that our parents were yelling at us about during high school and college is right. All of the things they told us to do are the same things that nations need to do. Perhaps it is time we need to revisit these virtues. The following list is blatantly lifted from Uncle Peej's book.
1) Hard Work
2) Education
3) Responsibility
4) Property rights
5) Rule of Law
6) Democratic Government
there is only one item that I would add to the list and that is:
7) Being part of something bigger than yourself.
For many that is manifested in adhering to a faith. For others it is an adherence to a particular ethos. Merely existing within such a system doesn't impart wealth. That is reserved for those that truly believe that they are an integrated piece of a larger and greater whole.
Note that culture is not listed. People equate culture with fine arts. Having the Utah Symphony visit equatorial Africa won't lift them out of poverty. Yet clearly there are some cultures where poverty doesn't exist. It is the values espoused by the culture that impart prosperity.
As a child my father taught me some very racist notions. He told me that all races and cultures bring various things to the table and are to be studied and appreciated. There was one that is superior......the Japanese. Think about Japan then read the above list. Now picture a place, a people, a country, or any place that poverty exists. Read the list......it should be pretty obvious what their problem is!
When was the last time you saw a poor person of Japanese ancestry either here of in Japan? How about a Swede? Have you ever seen a prosperous Somali or Bolivian. Even the ones that are either pirating ships or trafficking Coke are perpetually back on their ass the moment the cash flow halts for more than a week.
Russia is a well-educated nation. In Russia, chess is a spectator sport for hells sake! It exports food. It is swimming in oil and gas, rare minerals, diamonds, and any other natural resource you can think of. Why does Russia suck? Look at the list.
China, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, India, and Iran are all the location of ancient and sustained civilizations and cultures. China and India are the only two that are getting better. The others suck and are getting suckier. Look at the list.
Cultures that derive their character from the above list thrive no matter where they exist. The reason that the Swedes and the Japanese are not poor is because they refuse to live anywhere that doesn't adhere to the list.
So back to my unkempt (and progressively smellier) self that is flopped in a recliner that even the filthiest person on earth would hesitate to sit in. How do I stack up personally on this list?
Hard Work
I work hard.......in a sense, and only at work. My wife can attest that nothing short of the prospect of sexual favors will exact any housework out of me. What I do in the Pharmacy is often fast-paced, requires constant focus, and involves being on one's feet for hours on end. Still it's not a particularly demanding job from a physical sense. I worked a number of jobs that involved getting dirty, being in temperature extremes, and lifting and moving large amounts of heavy shit. These jobs suck. The people that do them are not without dignity or worth. These jobs are quite necessary. Nonetheless these jobs suck. The reason I went to Pharmacy School is to get a job that was clean, indoors, and didn't involve heavy lifting. I had just such a job when I delivered pizza, but being a Pharmacist pays a bit better.
Education
I got through Pharmacy School, and half way through an MBA. The lion's share of my 'education' has been feeding my hobbies. I like to war-game and spend time in the wilderness. If I can either in a natural hot spring, it's even better.
Responsibility
You know what? I should probably cut my losses short by stopping right now. Suffice it to say that the list is correct. We need to adhere to it on a personal level. When this is done, we can do it within our family. When this is done, we can do it within our community. When this is done we can do it within our State. When this is done then we can do it within our country. When this is done, then (and only then) the world will change.
Right now the only changing I am going to do is stand up, shower, and put on some clean clothing in which I can appear in public.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Favorite movies
The Academy Awards will be on in a few hours. Everyone is prognosticating, keeping score, and making lists. I've no intention of watching it, unless of course my wife says something to the effect, "Honey you need to hurry in hear and see what (Salma, Penelope, Sofia etc.) is wearing.....I can't believe she isn't getting arrested for wearing something like that in public"
I have often thought about what my favorite movies are. I'll kick out a few titles and let it drop after a few minutes. Coming up with a straight up 'top ten' is impossible for me. The question was how to break it down. Certainly I could have done it by director. Certainly many of the great directors are repesented on my list. Instead I have opted to break it down by movie genre. I much prefer movies that defy easy classification as will become evident when I give reasons for why a particular movie is my favorite. Notable among the absences is fantasy and sword/sorcery type stuff. It's never been my cup of chowder.
The genre breakdown according to me is:
1) Romance
2) Dystopian future
3) War
4) Crime drama
5) Musical
6) Comedy
7)Action
8) Suspense
9) "Kid" movies
10) Western
Of course 'porn' could be an 11th category. They actually used to make movie versions of this stuff......when I was much, much younger. I'll just say it and be done with it. No explanations. 'Insatiable' with Marilyn Chambers. Based on the strength of that movie alone, I voted for her as vice-president in 2004.
I will take these in reverse order.
Western: 'Silverado'.
Memorable characters with unique motivations. It is well scripted especially in how the stories begin to intertwine and eventually collide.
Runner-up: 'Mister Majestyk'. Cliche' ridden, but the truck chase and unsuing final shootout still makes me smile.
"Kid" movies: 'Babe'
This talking pig forever ingrained in me that kindness and unconditional love can transform the lives of people......and animals.
Runner-up: Toy Story III. Admit it, you got misty eyed-when they were all headed for the incinerator. The miracle is Pixar bringing 'life' to the characters.
Suspense: No Country for Old Men.
At the heart of every good suspense movie is a bad guy. Anton Chiggurh was a really, really bad dude. Truly ruthless.
Runner-up: The Usual Suspects. A genuine 'surpise' ending. Well scripted (but needlessly heavy on the profanity) and another delicious bad guy in the form of Kayser Soza
Action: Aliens
Space critters, valiant Marines, and Sigourney Weaver alternating between nurturing and kicking ass.........wearing a wife-beater!
Runner-up: Kung Fu Hustle. It combines elements of romance, redemption, and loyalty, which I enjoy in movies. It combines camp and drama with a dash of Taoism stirred in.
Comedy: There's Something about Mary.
Several instances of comedy gold in this one. The entire cast got in on the laughs, not just one or two people. It was raunchy and sweet.
Runner-up: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
All the same reasons listed above, plus Glenn Headly actually spun me into her web. Sweet, just not too raunchy.
Musical: Little Shop of Horrors
OK....it's Broadway. Ellen Greene absolutely owned the role of Audrey. It alternated humor with horror pretty well also.
Runner-up: Rocky Horror Picture Show. A play brought to the screen. It has to be seen live of course.
Crime Drama: Godfather 1 and 2
It was one book, therefore I consider it one epic movie in two parts. It is a master class in movie making. Amost as quoatble as the Big Lebowski.......almost.
Runner-up: Lock, Stock, and two smoking barrels. Yup, Guy Ritchie was making movies before 'Sherlock Holmes'. It's all about characters and intertwining story lines.
War: Full Metal Jacket
I saw this one the day after I got back from OCS. The first half of the movie seemed like a comedy to me. Mainly because it was happening to some other guy. While I've not experienced combat, I am told that it was true to life. There's no overt 'broader message' just guys trying to survive and make sense of absurdity.
Runner-up: Platoon. Again it's all about characters. How much was I moved by this movie? One of my sons is named 'Elias' after Willem Dafoe's character.
Dystopian Future: The Matrix. Easily one of the most influential movies ever. The special effects were the things that were copied. The original idea, good script, and characters is what made this movie great.
Runner-up: AI. That's two Kubrick movies if you're counting and not the two that are considered his greatest. The question of what is living and what is not is an easier one to answer. What makes an enduring soul is difficult to answer. On an emotional lever I have never been moved so much and for so long as this one.
Romance: I am going to do the Runner-up first, the English Patient. I enjoy separate stories that are woven together. It is from a time and place that I have studied extensively, but this movie brought it to life. Well written, well acted, had the guts to have a bitter ending.
My favorite? Same era as the above, just the other end of the continent. Specifically Morocco. It is a movie of sacrifice, heartbreak, weariness, intrigue, and betrayal. Redemption, through taking a stand and doing what is best for others, is a theme that I've always had an affinity for. In sacrificing ourselves, we can change the tide. We also reclaim eternal our soul. That is why Casablanca will likely be my favorite movie forever.
I have often thought about what my favorite movies are. I'll kick out a few titles and let it drop after a few minutes. Coming up with a straight up 'top ten' is impossible for me. The question was how to break it down. Certainly I could have done it by director. Certainly many of the great directors are repesented on my list. Instead I have opted to break it down by movie genre. I much prefer movies that defy easy classification as will become evident when I give reasons for why a particular movie is my favorite. Notable among the absences is fantasy and sword/sorcery type stuff. It's never been my cup of chowder.
The genre breakdown according to me is:
1) Romance
2) Dystopian future
3) War
4) Crime drama
5) Musical
6) Comedy
7)Action
8) Suspense
9) "Kid" movies
10) Western
Of course 'porn' could be an 11th category. They actually used to make movie versions of this stuff......when I was much, much younger. I'll just say it and be done with it. No explanations. 'Insatiable' with Marilyn Chambers. Based on the strength of that movie alone, I voted for her as vice-president in 2004.
I will take these in reverse order.
Western: 'Silverado'.
Memorable characters with unique motivations. It is well scripted especially in how the stories begin to intertwine and eventually collide.
Runner-up: 'Mister Majestyk'. Cliche' ridden, but the truck chase and unsuing final shootout still makes me smile.
"Kid" movies: 'Babe'
This talking pig forever ingrained in me that kindness and unconditional love can transform the lives of people......and animals.
Runner-up: Toy Story III. Admit it, you got misty eyed-when they were all headed for the incinerator. The miracle is Pixar bringing 'life' to the characters.
Suspense: No Country for Old Men.
At the heart of every good suspense movie is a bad guy. Anton Chiggurh was a really, really bad dude. Truly ruthless.
Runner-up: The Usual Suspects. A genuine 'surpise' ending. Well scripted (but needlessly heavy on the profanity) and another delicious bad guy in the form of Kayser Soza
Action: Aliens
Space critters, valiant Marines, and Sigourney Weaver alternating between nurturing and kicking ass.........wearing a wife-beater!
Runner-up: Kung Fu Hustle. It combines elements of romance, redemption, and loyalty, which I enjoy in movies. It combines camp and drama with a dash of Taoism stirred in.
Comedy: There's Something about Mary.
Several instances of comedy gold in this one. The entire cast got in on the laughs, not just one or two people. It was raunchy and sweet.
Runner-up: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
All the same reasons listed above, plus Glenn Headly actually spun me into her web. Sweet, just not too raunchy.
Musical: Little Shop of Horrors
OK....it's Broadway. Ellen Greene absolutely owned the role of Audrey. It alternated humor with horror pretty well also.
Runner-up: Rocky Horror Picture Show. A play brought to the screen. It has to be seen live of course.
Crime Drama: Godfather 1 and 2
It was one book, therefore I consider it one epic movie in two parts. It is a master class in movie making. Amost as quoatble as the Big Lebowski.......almost.
Runner-up: Lock, Stock, and two smoking barrels. Yup, Guy Ritchie was making movies before 'Sherlock Holmes'. It's all about characters and intertwining story lines.
War: Full Metal Jacket
I saw this one the day after I got back from OCS. The first half of the movie seemed like a comedy to me. Mainly because it was happening to some other guy. While I've not experienced combat, I am told that it was true to life. There's no overt 'broader message' just guys trying to survive and make sense of absurdity.
Runner-up: Platoon. Again it's all about characters. How much was I moved by this movie? One of my sons is named 'Elias' after Willem Dafoe's character.
Dystopian Future: The Matrix. Easily one of the most influential movies ever. The special effects were the things that were copied. The original idea, good script, and characters is what made this movie great.
Runner-up: AI. That's two Kubrick movies if you're counting and not the two that are considered his greatest. The question of what is living and what is not is an easier one to answer. What makes an enduring soul is difficult to answer. On an emotional lever I have never been moved so much and for so long as this one.
Romance: I am going to do the Runner-up first, the English Patient. I enjoy separate stories that are woven together. It is from a time and place that I have studied extensively, but this movie brought it to life. Well written, well acted, had the guts to have a bitter ending.
My favorite? Same era as the above, just the other end of the continent. Specifically Morocco. It is a movie of sacrifice, heartbreak, weariness, intrigue, and betrayal. Redemption, through taking a stand and doing what is best for others, is a theme that I've always had an affinity for. In sacrificing ourselves, we can change the tide. We also reclaim eternal our soul. That is why Casablanca will likely be my favorite movie forever.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
alchemy
When one hears the word 'alchemy' the first thing that comes to mind is turning lead into gold. It can be done actually. If you take thin lead sheets and bombard them with some type of nucleus in an accelerator......ask the folks at CERN. I am sure they can tell exactly how it can be done. A broader definition of alchemy is turning dross, or something undesirable, into something desirable. If turning lead into gold were easily done, then two things would occur. First, the price of lead would immediately jump at the same time that gold would plummet Eventually the two would be very close to each other and both would continue to drop in value until they begin to approach the historic prices of lead. In the end, nobody wins.
There is such a thing as modern alchemy however. It is cooking. The end products are perishable and are intended to eventually to be turned back into dross. The most striking example of my point is carmelized onions. I hate raw onions. Oooooh, I almost forgot. I used the word 'hate' in this blog which means the search engine at my employer will block my blog. Anyway, I hate raw onions.
There have been many instances in my life where I expressed my disdain for them. My family, friends, and coworkers all could swap amusing anecdotes. There are things that can be done to the lowly onion that improve it's palatablity. The first is mincing. At Mickey D's the burgers have onion on them that is bordering on pureed. I am not sure exactly why, but for me this makes the onion edible. The second is pickling. Most pickled onions are still undesirable for me but there have been a few exceptions. Namely, the Vidalia onion relish at Pirate O's. I wouldn't be able to polish off a jar of this stuff, but mixed with cheese etc. it is good. The same can be said of the pickled onions with the smoked salmon flatbread at Epic. The high holy of onion alchemy is still the carmelized onion. Combine diced sweet onions with olive oil, and a bit of soy sauce. Reduce it down for close to an hours, stirring frequently, and browning it to the point where it is flirting with charring.......Lord have mercy. There is about two ounces of it in our fridge. If I thought I could get away with it, I'd eat it all.
There are other foods than can be converted from personally inedible into something exquisite. The raw potato. The raw tomato. Zucchini. Cranber.......nah they are just nasty no matter what.
There is such a thing as modern alchemy however. It is cooking. The end products are perishable and are intended to eventually to be turned back into dross. The most striking example of my point is carmelized onions. I hate raw onions. Oooooh, I almost forgot. I used the word 'hate' in this blog which means the search engine at my employer will block my blog. Anyway, I hate raw onions.
There have been many instances in my life where I expressed my disdain for them. My family, friends, and coworkers all could swap amusing anecdotes. There are things that can be done to the lowly onion that improve it's palatablity. The first is mincing. At Mickey D's the burgers have onion on them that is bordering on pureed. I am not sure exactly why, but for me this makes the onion edible. The second is pickling. Most pickled onions are still undesirable for me but there have been a few exceptions. Namely, the Vidalia onion relish at Pirate O's. I wouldn't be able to polish off a jar of this stuff, but mixed with cheese etc. it is good. The same can be said of the pickled onions with the smoked salmon flatbread at Epic. The high holy of onion alchemy is still the carmelized onion. Combine diced sweet onions with olive oil, and a bit of soy sauce. Reduce it down for close to an hours, stirring frequently, and browning it to the point where it is flirting with charring.......Lord have mercy. There is about two ounces of it in our fridge. If I thought I could get away with it, I'd eat it all.
There are other foods than can be converted from personally inedible into something exquisite. The raw potato. The raw tomato. Zucchini. Cranber.......nah they are just nasty no matter what.
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