Is it just me or does social media seem to have an overabundance of grievance?
Since
the beginning of this year I have endeavored to be a better person.
Not a Mother Theresa - just better. And as a consequence I truthfully
don't have very many grievances. I have opinions; but that's not the
same as full-blown grievance.
As
a public service and in the interest of spreading positivity on the
interweb here are some recent trail camera photos from our woods.
It’s True, Limburger Cheese Contains the Same Bacteria as Feet
Surface-ripened, aged, and famously malodorous Limburger is a 19th-century northern European cheese that was
traditionally layered between slices of dark bread with raw onions and
horseradish (or mustard) and washed down with a frosty beer.
When the sandwich-beer combo came to Green County, Wisconsin, with
Swiss and German immigrants, tavern-goers went for it in such a big way
that it wasn’t until decades later, when saloons closed during
Prohibition, that Limburger sales declined.
America’s lone-remaining Limburger cheese factory is in–you guessed
it–Wisconsin! Chalet Cheese Co-op still makes and distributes more than a
million pounds of the stinky cheese annually, and you can order an
authentic Limburger sandwich at Baumgartner's Cheese Store and Tavern in Monroe.
This recipe is more about method than anything else. And because there are only two ingredients the simplicity of this recipe is the key to its astonishing success.
First, let's talk about the key player. The bird. In my humble opinion it is the chicken thigh that rules the Fried Chicken Realm. Bone-in and skin-on. They are ridiculously inexpensive, plentiful in large family-sized packages and are endowed with the perfect ratio of flesh, skin and fat. Bone-in resists over-cooking and imparts its own essence that is the pathway to real flavor,
To prep you thighs pat them dry with paper towels and place skin side up in your sink. Anoint them liberally with fresh-cracked sea salt.
Next, take your skillet and set it over a cold burner. Place your thighs in the skillet skin side down with no heat at all. More fresh-cracked sea salt on the skinless side facing up. Cover and turn the heat to high for five minutes then reduce to medium low. Resist looking to take a peek.
At the fifteen minute mark remover the lid and rotate your thighs - do not flip - simply rotate them, skin side down, 180 degrees. If you have too much juice, water, moisture simply remove your thighs for a moment and drain and wipe your pan. Return the thighs as they were and carry-on.
At the thirty minute mark flip your thighs. You will note that the fat has rendered and converted the skin into an obnoxiously golden state of crispiness. Turn the heat down and allow to simmer another 15 minutes. This will allow you to assemble your sides and accompaniments.
Two ingredients - chicken thighs and coarsely-ground sea salt.
If
you spend as much time as I do napping in a deer stand or turkey blind one of the
observations made during a hunter’s waking moments is that
deer and turkeys sometimes hang out together. It’s not all the
time; yet, it isn’t a rare occurrence either.
The
proximity of a flock of turkeys to one or more deer doesn’t
scare-off the whitetails and the presence of the deer doesn’t seem to bother the birds. By
all outward appearances they seem to enjoy the company of one
another. What might be the explanation for this curious wildlife behavior
and what seemingly might be a symbiotic relationship?
Wild
turkeys both see in color and their vision is incredibly advanced –
possibly three times greater than that of a human with 20/20 vision.
Since
turkey do not sport external ears their field of view is 270 degrees
and they can detect motion a hundred yards distant. Turkeys move about
in sizeable flocks resulting in dozens of vigilant eyes. Inasmuch as
turkeys will immediately begin to distance themselves from any
movement they conclude is suspicious whitetail deer place their trust
in the instincts of their turkey pals and follow.
Similarly,
it is the sniffer of a whitetail that is incredibly advanced. I’ve
been busted by a deer that winded me long before the animal ever had
an opportunity to detect my presence visually. In a group setting,
if a deer goes on high-alert as a consequence of a whiff of danger the
turkeys place their trust in the instincts of their whitetail pals
and follow.
This photo - one of about a dozen taken over a period of twenty minutes - of a whitetail doe and fawn, accompanied by a wild turkey is likely further evidence of this symbiotic relationship.
So,
if you’re driving down the road some day and you spy a flock of
turkeys keeping company with a doe and her fawns or any collection of
whitetail deer there’s an explanation other than mere coincidence.
Some biologists have concluded that each
species trusts the other’s best sense for their mutually-assured
security.
Recent travel to visit with family found us in Mobile Alabama for a week with an opportunity to become temporary Mobilians and soak-up the history, food and ambiance of this coastal city. A boat ride of the delta estuary provided an opportunity to take-in the waterfront, port facilities and Austal Shipyard up-close and personal. Including this:
The SS United States is one of the most iconic ocean liners in American history. Designed during World War II and launched in the early 1950s, the ship represented American technological prowess and style.
The genesis for this ship began in the 1930s with naval architect William Francis Gibbs. He envisioned a fast, fireproof, and militarily convertible ocean liner that would showcase American maritime innovation. During World War II, seventy percent of all naval vessels were built to Gibbs and Cox designs. This included everything from Liberty ships, to destroyers, escort carriers and amphibious assault vessels. This contribution to the war effort strengthened his reputation and bolstered support for his ambitious passenger liner.
In 1950, the U.S. government—through the Maritime Commission—partnered with United States Lines to co-finance the construction of the ship with the understanding that it could be used as a troop carrier in wartime. The government contributed $50 million and the United States Lines contributed $28 million; adjusted for inflation - $928 million in today's dollars. Construction began at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Virginia. The ship featured extensive use of aluminum and fireproof materials making her both lightweight and safe. She was designed to carry almost 2,000 passengers in luxury and over 15,000 troops in an emergency.
The SS United States was launched on June 23, 1951, and entered service on July 3, 1952. Her maiden voyage was a stunning success; shattering the transatlantic speed record crossing the Atlantic in 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes—earning the coveted Blue Riband. Her return voyage was even faster.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, she was considered the epitome of American luxury and efficiency at sea. She hosted presidents, celebrities, business magnates, and immigrants. Notable passengers included Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Salvador Dalí, Marilyn Monroe, and Marlon Brando. Her speed, safety, and understated elegance set her apart from rivals.
Original Place Setting
With the arrival of commercial jet travel in the late 1950s and early 1960s demand for transatlantic sea travel declined. By the late 1960s, operating costs became unsustainable and the the SS United States was withdrawn from service in November 1969 after just 17 years in operation.
Following decommissioning the ship was laid up in Virginia and later moved to Norfolk. Over time her furnishings and fittings were sold off. Multiple attempts to repurpose or redevelop the vessel occurred over the next few decades, including proposals for use as a hotel, museum, or cruise ship. None succeeded.
In 1996 she was towed to Pier 82 in Philadelphia where she would remain for nearly three decades. Although neglected her hull and superstructure remained intact thanks to her robust construction.
In 2011, the SS United States Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, purchased the ship to prevent her from being scrapped. With the help of a $5.8 million donation from philanthropist H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest, the group maintained the ship while seeking a permanent home and redevelopment plan.
Over the next decade several high-profile plans came and went including a luxury hotel conversion and a floating museum complex. Despite public support and creative proposals no financially viable solution materialized. By 2024, with mounting maintenance costs and no berth in Philadelphia, the Conservancy was forced to vacate.
Earlier this year the SS United States was towed to Mobile, Alabama, for additional environmental remediation. Okaloosa County, Florida, had purchased the ship with the intent of sinking her offshore as the world's largest artificial reef. This plan envisioned a new life for the ship as a haven for marine life and divers.
Nevertheless, preservationists launched a legal and public relations campaign to stop the plan. The New York Coalition, including investors and historic preservationists, sought to bring the ship to New York Harbor as a floating museum, hotel, and event space. Lawsuits were filed under the National Historic Preservation Act and appeals were made to political figures to intervene.
As of the publication of this post the ship's fate remains uncertain. Environmental cleanup is ongoing with a scuttling date projected for late 2025 unless legal efforts succeed in halting the plan.
Whatever the outcome SS United States leaves a legacy of accomplishment. She is a symbol of American postwar confidence, innovation, and elegance. She still holds the transatlantic speed record and remains a touchstone of maritime history through her design innovations, cultural impact and the passionate efforts of those determined to preserve her memory.
Fast Facts:
Length: 990 feet (301.8 m) - necessary to transit the Panama Canal
Beam (width): 101 feet (30.8 m)
Tonnage: ~53,330 gross tons
Top speed: Over 38 knots (44 mph / 70 km/h) – still the fastest ocean liner ever built
As the days have grown longer the hormonal levels of whitetail deer began to change.
Fawns
are born, antler growth commences as testosterone levels increase for the boy deer and for all of the
whitetails the gray winter coat with its thick guard hairs is shed and the ruddy red heat-reflecting summer coat is revealed.
The process is complete now and you cannot miss the deer highlighted against the lush green clover and alfalfa of the local farm fields.
These
daylight-influenced hormone levels occur twice a year to trigger the
spring molt and after only three months, is supplemented by the regrowth
of the extra layer of longer, stiffer, hollow hair over the softer hair
closer to the skin.
Last weekend we spent an evening out with the Garza brothers for another fine performance at the Door Community Auditorium at Gibraltar High School.
It's difficult indeed to pigeonhole this group into a specific music genre. If I had to describe it their style is a high energy fusion of Rock & roll, Texas blues and swing, funky soul, country and Tejano. Stylistically, you might catch a whiff of Santana or the Bo Deans. Our performance included an extended bluesy-funky cover of the Spencer Davis Group's I'm a Man. Good stuff.
Anyway, if you live here on the Peninsula or plan to visit you might want to check into tickets for a specific performance or two of the seasonal lineup offered by the Door Community Auditorium.
Live video was not allowed for this performance but there is always YouTube to come to the rescue.
From the 4th Annual BUG Firefighters Car and Motor Show there is a 1966 Plymouth Barracuda - easily identified by the distinctive fastback wraparound rear glass.
Based on the Valiant the Barracuda launched on April 1, 1964. The new model
used the Valiant's wheelbase, hood,
headlamp bezels, windshield, vent windows, quarter panels, doors,
A-pillar, and bumpers; the trunk and some of the glass was new. The greatest effort was put into creating
its ginormous rear window, a collaboration between Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) and Chrysler designers that created the largest ever installed on a standard production car to that time. The fold-down rear seat was a novelty at the time.
The power train was identical to the Valiant's, including two versions of Chrysler's slant-6 engine. The highest-power option for 1964 was Chrysler's all-new 273 cu in (4.5 L) V8 equipped with a two-barrel carburetor producing 180 HP. 1964 was the first for the Barracuda and also the last year for push-button control of the optional Torqueflite automatic transmission.
Later
generations, like the third generation introduced in 1970, moved to the
Chrysler E-body platform and featured more aggressive styling and muscle.
Fun Fact - The Barracuda launch beat the Ford Mustang by two weeks; it's the first
1957 Dodge Police Car was a high performance pursuit vehicle based on Dodge's standard production models but specifically equipped for law enforcement use. It was part of the Dodge lineup that featured bold, futuristic styling, a wraparound windshield, tailfins and a wide stance.
Key features included a standard 325 cu in Red Ram V8 and an optional high performance 354 cu in Hemi V8. Some models were equipped with dual, four-barrel carburetors, producing over 300 horsepower - making them one of the fastest police cars of the time.
Cars came in a classic two-tone black and white paint scheme, roof mounted red or blue emergency light, factory-installed siren and police radio and spotlight and push bars for the highway patrol version.
The 1957 model was adopted by many departments who needed high-speed pursuit capabilities. At the time Dodge was competing with Ford and Chevrolet for fleet dominance and its powerful engines and durability made it a favorite among officers.
There is nothing more elegant in its simplicity than the
radish sandwich.Hearkening back to my
childhood this was a favorite of my father and remains a summertime
indulgence of mine.It is sublime.
Ingredients:
Garden radishes – sliced thin
Two
slices of bread - rye, sourdough, whole wheat
Unsalted sweet cream butter – room temperature
Sea salt
Instructions:
Slather each slice
of bread generously with butter.
If you live in the northern hemisphere like me here's an easy night sky opportunity. That means no late night, early morning or fancy equipment.
Shortly after sunset tonight go outside and cast your gaze to the northwest horizon.
Planet Mercury will align itself with the twin stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux. Naturally, the stars will not be as bright as Mercury. And a pair of binoculars makes it easy.
Saturday evening President Trump claimed that United States strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities had been completely and totally obliterated.
Bomb damage assessment (BDA) is the process of assessing damage inflicted on a target following aerial bombing or following a strike from a stand-off weapon; this continues.
Clearly the sites Iran had been using to produce highly enriched uranium have been seriously damaged as a consequence of US bombing. The question on everyone's minds is whether Tehran's program had been decapitated or simply pushed into smaller, secretive scattered facilities. In the run up to the latest hostilities it was assumed that most, if not all, of Iran's cache of 60% enriched uranium was stashed at the bombed locations.
There are plenty of analysts who believe Iran moved much of its enriched
uranium—especially its 408 kg (~900 lb) stockpile enriched up to 60%—to
undisclosed or underground locations before the strikes on Natanz,
Fordow, and Isfahan.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access is now severely restricted following the strikes. Inspectors have no immediate access to key sites and the IAEA is presently unable to conduct comprehensive assessments to confirm damage to centrifuges and other production technology, confirm damage to actual uranium, or if it has been removed.
The strikes appear to have slowed
Iran’s nuclear program temporarily, but not destroyed it. Iran likely
relocated both enriched uranium and centrifuge assets beforehand.
Without full IAEA access, the true scope of Iran’s enriched stockpile
and hidden capabilities remains unclear. Analysts estimate Iran could produce
enough weapons-grade uranium for 6–10 bombs within weeks given its
current enriched stock and capacity. Considering that Iran has patiently proclaimed Death To America for fifty years; proliferation risks persist.
I could be wrong, but without further information, verification and diplomacy I'm unconvinced President Trump has made your and my world a safer place. And, jessus, this second rodeo has so many bright shiny objects it's enough to make the heads of us great unwashed spin faster than an enrichment centrifuge.
Note: In the early-mid 1990s The Missus and I were on a western road trip and found ourselves slightly lost while looking for Knob Noster State Park. Stumbling-upon the guard gate to Whiteman Air Force Base we asked for directions, got turned around and set straight for the campground. I actually spotted a B-2 Spirit bomber on that drive to the state park. Low on the horizon it was possible the aircraft was making an approach for landing. Distinctive in that it could be seen in thin profile during a turn; vanishing from sight on the level. It is still amazing to me these messengers of death and destruction can depart from a sleepy Missouri location, travel to the other side of the world, wreak havoc and return home in the space of a four shift workday.
We
planted this tree in the front yard twenty-one years ago. It was one
year-old bare root stock; a pencil-size twig. And for the longest time
we never thought it would amount to anything.
It's
grown into a handsome young oak tree. Further evidence of its
maturation, it is bearing a sizeable crop of acorns again. And if
history repeats itself, when they ripen they'll barely last a week as
the critters will hoover them up in short order.
The
species has been forgotten so I asked a forester pal if she might ID
the tree for me. She is confident that it is a Northern Pin Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) commonly known as a Hill's oak.
Towards the end of last month I noticed that the
tree had large numbers of catkins hanging from the branches as the
leaves of 2025 emerged from their buds.
Yes, oak trees have blossoms too.
These are one of the flowers that are produced by the tree – the male
flower to be certain.This species is monoecious – meaning that it produces both
male and female flowers. Each male flower typically has six stamens (ranges from
two to twelve) which have long spreading white filaments when the flower fully
opens. The female flowers are more
reddish-green and appear as small slender spikes in the axils of new growth.
I
gave this tree a thorough examination and
could find no flowers of the female persuasion. Not surprising inasmuch
as they are not visible to the naked eye. It is from the female
flower that acorns are formed.This species begins producing acorns around 15 to 20 years of age; give or take. Large numbers of acorns won't materialize until the tree is fifty years
of age. Which makes sense for a tree that will live 90 to 120 years of age.
As a general rule the acorns will mature in late summer and begin falling in September or October.
This tree has been producing acorns for about 6 to 7 years. From last week there is this.
From the 4th Annual BUG Firefighters Car and Motor show there were a couple of Ford Model Automobiles - the car that succeeded the iconic Model T.
The
Ford Model A was introduced on December 2, 1927, as the replacement for the
long-running Model T, which had been in production for an amazing 18 years.
The
Model A was designed to be lower and sleeker than its predecessor,
incorporating styling elements influenced by Edsel Ford. It featured a
more powerful and smoother four-cylinder engine compared to the Model T,
and included mechanical advancements like a three-speed sliding-gear
transmission, four-wheel brake system, and hydraulic shock absorbers.
The
1928 Model A was an immediate sensation upon its release, and Ford
received 400,000 orders in less than two weeks. Production remained
strong through the early years of the Great Depression, with over 1.2
million cars built in 1930.
The
Model A was produced until 1931, with production ceasing in late 1931
for passenger cars while commercial vehicle
production continued into 1932. It was replaced by a
new line of cars featuring V-8 engines in the 1932 model year.
The presence of these two automobiles at the Brussels Town Park is further evidence that Henry y
Recent travel to visit with family found us in Mobile Alabama for a week with an opportunity to become temporary Mobilians and soak-up family time, history, food and ambiance of this coastal city.
From the neighborhood Farm Market there were fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes. Big ones too.
Daughter fried-up some of her homemade smoked bacon to fashion toasted sourdough BLTs.
My own tomato plants are looking good but we're nowhere close to sandwiches....
Recent
travel to visit with family found us in Mobile Alabama for a week with
an opportunity to become temporary Mobilians and soak-up the history,
food and ambiance of this coastal city. A boat ride of the delta
estuary provided an opportunity to take-in the waterfront, port
facilities and Austal Shipyardup-close and personal; including these vessels in the shipyard for routine scheduled maintenance.
The USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE-13) is a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship of the United States Navy.
USNS Medgar Evers
USNS ships, also known as United States Naval Ships, are owned by the U.S. Navy. However, they are operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) with civilian crews. While these ships are civilian-manned, some may also have a small military complement for specific functions
Several US Navy vessels
have been named after civil rights activists, and some of these names
are currently under review for potential renaming.Ships like the USNS Harvey Milk, USNS John Lewis, USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, USNS Medgar Evers and USNS Harriet Tubmanare among those being considered for name changes.
The John Lewis-class of oilers are designed to refuel and resupply other Navy ships at sea and are specifically named after prominent civil rights leaders.The
proposed name changes are part of efforts by the Trump Administration to expunge what they believe are prior diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the military.
USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206) is the second of the John Lewis-class of underway replenishment oilers, operated by the Military Sealift Command.
USNS Harvey Milk
The
potential renaming of these ships has sparked controversy; some of these assets have been deployed for five to fifteen years with sailors and members of the public viewing this as a symbolic erasure of the contributions of these
individuals to American history and civil rights.
Moreover, renaming
a ship can be fraught. In naval tradition this practice is widely considered bad luck. This stems from
the belief that a ship has an identity and spirit, which renaming can
anger or confuse.This superstition is rooted in ancient Greek mythology, where Poseidon, the god of the sea, was thought to keep a record of all ship names in his "Ledger of the Deep".Changing a ship's name was seen as disrespecting the sea gods and risking their wrath and incurring possible misfortune at sea.
In further back-and-forth developments Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted just this past Wednesday that military veterans and active-duty troops urged the Trump administration to rename American military bases after Confederate traitors who took up arms against the government to
defend the enslavement of Black people — a move the secretary claims is
“important for morale.”
In
his testimony to the Senate Armed Services committee, Hegseth defended
the president’s decision to restore the names of several military bases
in the South that were first named in honor of Confederate generals,
despite Congress mandating their removal five years ago.
Time will tell where this all ends-up. Seems the MAGA movement itself has embraced its own version of Political Correctness and Woke.
Drama, reality television theatrics and a waste of resources. Jeesus; anybody else been to this rodeo before?
Still waiting for measurable improvement in your and my prosperity and general lot in life. And maybe make the world a safer place. Good thing I am a patient sort.....
Iris is the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow – who also happens to be the messenger of the gods.
This name can also be given in reference to the word (which derives from the same Greek/modern Latin source) for the colored part of the eye and the flower.
From our walk this morning there was this: Iris versicolor - Northern Blue Flag.
Blue Flag Irises are native wetland plants, commonly found in wet meadows, marshes, along stream banks, and near ponds and lakes.
The Deerfield (Michigan) Testicle Festival is a fundraiser for American Legion
Post 392 that’s been held every March for over two decades, started by
some folks with a great sense of humor.
They buy hundreds of pounds of Rocky Mountain Oysters—deep-fried bull
testicles—every year, a few volunteers cook them up a day or two before
the event, and they serve them on a first-come-first-serve basis.
This famous bluegrass instrumental written by Earl Scruggs in 1949 and was recorded by Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys. It's known for its fast-paced banjo picking and is widely considered a classic of American roots music. I posted on this song earlier in February and somehow it popped-up in my YouTube channel feed. So it's back
This song helped define the sound of modern
bluegrass. Its technical banjo style inspired countless musicians and is
often used in banjo competitions and bluegrass jams.
Culturally it was featured prominently in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde, which reignited interest in bluegrass music.
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