Aged beef

Slow food, and oft used phrase means many things to many people. If you take care and used sound, well established practices ageing meat adds depth and flavor.

Tonight it is a dry aged rib-eye, the first corn from the garden, a cabrese salad, sesame chili oil and sesame seed crusted fried shrimp and pom frites, oh and some more green beans ;-)!

Sue's Seafood

Mad props to the best fishmonger in the area. No one comes close. Sue takes her fish seriously and it shows. I ate my PEI oysters as a late afternoon snack with my favorite mignonette. This is dinner; with Sue providing the seafood, and the garden providing the veg. Happy times indeed. From left to right, pasta pesto (you will have to get used to this it is a family favorite, and with a garden full of basil...) just below that is a house made poblano mayonnaise, to the right of that is a cuke salad with the leftover mignonette and extra shallots. Diver scallops dressed with evoo s+p and fire roasted, gulf shrimp with crushed garlic and butter, corn on the cob, sliced bell peppers,sweet and hot italian sausage, toasted italian bread.

My idea of a diet - Breakfast

You want to loose wieght - cut back on sat fats, sugar, and exercise more. Plain and simple. But you still need to eat enough to keep your body's engine running.

Two poached eggs on dry toast with a 7oz glass of tomato juice and PEET's French Roast coffee - black.

Dinner for MRB? And a beer?

Nope. But I will try again. Also tip of the hat to my wife's industry. Lots of guys would love to have a wife who appreciates the big game and a cold beer. How about a wife who makes the beer? I am a VERY lucky man. Pictured is just the wort, the stout is much better looking!!! It will be ready for kick off in 4 weeks. See you here?

Dinner is/was cream of fire roasted garden onion soup, garden salad, green beans from the garden, diver scallops, thin sliced chicken breast sandi's on scala bread. Oh and leftover mac salad from the last post.

Southern Style

Okay, the sald is not very southern, Aruglua with radishes from the garden, green beans from the garden too - served raw, some raw green bell peppers for Sammy, smothered chicken, and macaroni salad! mmm mmm good, bring on the wetnaps!

Sunday dinner

Need to put out a complete meal on the first day of the week, soup, salad and an entree. Soup: Lobster bisque. Salad: Green leaf with veggies from the garden. Main: Thin sliced rib eye James Beard style (flash cooked in a salted red hot cast iron skillet), with Cabrese salad, broiled russet potatoes with herbs d' provance.

Fried food today

This blog is supposed to be about food right? So here we have today's dinner:

From left to right, (I am going to skip the "fried" designation, please take that as a given.) pickles, jalapenos, onions, green beans, jumbo shrimp in a tempura batter. Then it is bay scallops and cod in seasoned rice flour (not battered just dredged. Spring rolls next before the double dredged adobo chicken legs. On the plate it is sweet potato fries. The movie I took of the crackling rice noodles is in the wrong format to upload here, I may edit and post it, I may not.

For sauces, it is thai sweet chili, texas pete, tartar, and tabasco!

Mr. David Brooks

Once again David Brooks says what is on my mind. Only he sounds smarter than me. Truth be told, he has been one of the strongest influences on my thinking throughout my adult life. He is also my Facebook friend. I have 'poked' him.

500,000 dead mothers.

How can it be? Who would stand for this? Year after year, women dying in childbirth. One half million lives snuffed out. It is unacceptable. It must stop NOW.

Turn it up!!! T-Rex 20th Century Boy.

I want to be your boi!!!

"What then must we do?"

Tolstoy and Billy, both asking a question with only one and a million answers at the same time. The English say it a little differently "Let us begin as we mean to go on." In my crude way I would say "Just stand up and be a man."

There are days when I find it very difficult to stand up. I am far from certain anyone is noticing if I do or not. What then is the point?

Well the point is as always to just keep doing it, there is only the reward of doing just and good deeds to keep. We will take nothing with us only leave behind the efforts of our days. What have I done? If I want a legacy I had better work hard at being good.

About F@@king time!

James Pindel has finaly launched his own online political newsletter!

Sign up now!!!


http://nhpoliticalreport.com/

About Us
Demand for state political news is growing while local media organizations scale back on coverage. This site aims to fill the gap.

NHPoliticalReport.com delivers New Hampshire political information to opinion leaders and provides an advertising platform for advertisers who want to reach this audience in a cost-efficient way. The site is modeled after successful local political news subscription websites in about a dozen other states. Like those established sites, NHPoliticalReport.com will eventually require a subscription for those seeking what aims to be the most dynamic and most in-depth political news service of its kind.

There are big plans in the works and these plans will be implemented during a free trial period. During this time all information can be accessed after signing up for a free user account. When the subscription wall is implemented each registered user can seamlessly convert their user accounts to a subscription account.

The site's owner is James Pindell. Like his previous products PoliticsNH.com, The Boston Globe's "Primary Source" blog, and PolitickerNH.com, NHPoliticalReport.com will produce more political news content per day that most of other local media combined and build a powerful community advertisers want to reach.



Go James!!!

Monday Morning - turn it up!

nuff said.

ONE on NH Chronicle/shameless self promotion

Several weeks ago Tiffany Eddy from WMUR's NH Chronicle came to the house and interviewed me regarding my volunteer efforts for ONE. The result is very good indeed. The piece focuses on the efforts of three Granite Staters and is quite moving.




I am so very proud of my family and our work with ONE. There is still much to do but we are committed to seeing it through to the end.

Unfortunate Milestone

S**t. This is not good news people. Mugabe must go. Now.

The government estimates the necessary rehabilitation of water and sanitation infrastructure will take years

Stephen Omollo
IFRCS

Be More inclusive!

Change GOP Change!!!

I can not believe what I am hearing lately. It is as if no one that is setting policy is good at math. My party seems not to value my opinion if it is not in lockstep with the "base". Why should I be a part of this party? After a good four decades maybe it IS time for a change.

There is no chance we can defeat POTUS in 2012. Not unless we have a miracle and the party bosses (Rush and Dick), have outlawed miracles.

I have never had more respect for anyone in public service than I have for Colin Powell.

“Jack was as conservative as anybody,” Mr. Powell said. “And Jack also was a man who believed in inclusiveness, reaching out to minorities, reaching out to the poor, sharing the wealth. Which became a bad term last fall, but sharing the wealth of the country not only with the rich, but with those who are least advantaged in our society. It’s that kind of Jack Kemp Republicanism that I like, and I would like to see the party move more in that kind of a direction.” Colin L. Powell

always whistle...

My 'son'day sermon.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1loyjm4SOa0


Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (from Monty Python)
Listen: LoFi | Download | Send-Card | Chords
From: A Faire To Remember
words and music by Eric Idle

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...

And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life...

If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.

And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life...

For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow.

So always look on the bright side of death
Just before you draw your terminal breath

Life's a piece of shit
When you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.
You'll see it's all a show
Keep 'em laughing as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.

And always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the right side of life...
(Come on guys, cheer up!)
Always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the bright side of life...
(Worse things happen at sea, you know.)
Always look on the bright side of life...
(I mean - what have you got to lose?)
(You know, you come from nothing - you're going back to nothing.
What have you lost? Nothing!)
Always look on the right side of life...

Bono and me.

It is not often you get to be in good company it seems. So often the bureaucrats seem to have the day.

Then like the quote from Tin Cup goes "you hit a shot and it rings like a tuning fork in your loins..." Last Friday was one of those exceptions that prove the rule. (Am I mixing in to much hyperbole?) Is that too pompous? Using parentheses to self critique myself now. dammit.

Here is the reason I am so flustered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86OcXWSkgfM

Kinda cool when a superstar does your soundtrack...

I tried to start a list of people who made this happen. Some of them do not know how much I know they helped me. Starting to sound confused again, but it is simple. I am nothing without my friends and family.

Pakistan

Secretary of State Clinton used some modern language today! Hooray!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8058252.stm

One of our guiding principles is that this should be more than just the delivery of supplies.

Mrs. Clinton

Bloggin from the bberry. This is cool. The world is my platform.

CCYL Superstar advocate!

Early this week my friend and fellow advocate for the worlds poorest CCYL attended a panel that included Jeffrey Sachs http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/1804 Well known for her thoughtful and intelligent analysis of the challenges facing the worlds poorest CCYL wanted to have the best question she could ready if she got the chance to ask it.



Her blog has the transcripts of the results...

http://endpoverty-ccyl.blogspot.com/2009/05/sachs-ending-poverty-not-possible-wo.htmlpossible-wo.html



As you can see a great question often elicits a better answer.

I appreciated his analysis linking the issue to what's happening in Darfur and Somalia.

CCYL

NH Chronicle

Friday May 15th the nightly news program, New Hampshire Chronicle will be airing a special on the One Vote '08 campaign and ONE!

http://www.one.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=984&id=951-4072416-NKLt2qx&t=2

Tune in or attend a watch party!!!

See you there!

I should have written this...

A few days ago Drew Cline wrote in his blog about a NY Times story re "harsh interrogation techniques" -

http://www.unionleader.com/blogs/cline/?p=1494

Time is always in favor of the truth. I for one am glad that all the stories about a single minded administration and blind loyalty were overblown.

With full approval from a Congress only too eager to appear as 'tough as nails when they need to be'.

Only they do not play the lying game very well...

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/05/13/stewart_grills_pelosi_over_knowledge_of_waterboarding_.html

Thanks to Jon Stewart, his brilliant production team, and sense of timing for putting together (again) a truly biting piece and exposing our clothe less leaders.

And Governor Venturas take on this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoqmH49VBC0&feature=player_embedded

Todd and the wildlife update

Todd's days are numbered, he got two more hens this week. Bought a havaheart trap and a .22 rifle. Either way he has got to go. He was looking great but now has mange and is on the prowl during daylight hours as well. This can only mean he is not healthy and therefore has become more than just a nuisance.

The redtailed hawk still circles overhead and is a constant threat but seems more interested in the snakes and vermin that live in the surrounding fields.

Our newest friend the Ring Necked Pheasant roo seems to have settled in (no idea where he came from but come he did), and we hope will attract some hens of his own.

Busy week, done.

Cinco, Full Moon Madness, and Mothers day. Now the rest of life can continue.

POTUS Obama gets his props re program the W started, and rightfully so...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/budget-continues-to-increase-global-aids-funding-2009-05-08.html

gotta make The Globe my FB friend!

Senator Gregg hears from ONE!

The over 10,000 ONE members here in the Granite State earned a tremendous amount of goodwill during the 2008 Presidential Campaign.

On Wednesday morning some of them visited Senator Judd Gregg's office at Pease Tradeport in Portsmouth NH.

Today the buzz started...

http://www.nowhampshire.com/2009/05/07/one-campaign-calls-on-senator-gregg/

and...

http://www.one.org/blog/2009/05/08/calling-on-senator-gregg/

I expect our relationship with the Senator will grow in strength and become
a major force for
good in the world!

Post Cinco post

The annual celebration over the victory over the French at the Battle of Pueblo behind us, we can now focus on the warmer weather ahead while we think of sunnier climes abroad. The crowd at the 'raunt was big and loud, but well behaved.

Somehow we lost a hen yesterday, just dead in the corner of the coop when I went out for eggs in the morning. She was one of the older ones (over tres anos), but it was still a surprise. Spanish lessons coming along slowly.

To me, today was much more exciting...

South Sudan

Proof that for every cloud there is a silver lining. Here is a story about progress in an area of unforgivable suffering.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8022772.stm

"But the launch of these ambulance motorbikes in South Sudan is a serious attempt to tackle some of the world's highest rates of women dying in pregnancy.
A woman has a one-in-six chance of dying during pregnancy during the course of her lifetime in this underdeveloped region scarred by two decades of war, according to the United Nations.
A 15-year-old girl is more likely to die in childbirth than to complete school."

Somalia

I read the news today, oh boy...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8020548.stm

Not good news for those wishing for a speedy peaceful solution to this quagmire. Secy. of Defense Robert Gates spoke recently at the U.S. Marine Corps War College in Quantico VA where he spoke forcefully about the need to provide positive redirection for the young men of Somalia. "There is no purely military solution" he said.

If we do not dramitcaly scale up our efforts in the region the Marines will be called upon again, and our nations most precious treasure will be spent.

These are difficult times yes, but we have the resources to overcome them. We can not loose focus on where we want to be when we do.

worth reposting...

http://www.thenextright.com/jon-henke/the-zombie-party-spends-a-weekend-at-bernies

henke rules again!

Table 114 tonight

Knocking back a Tom Collins now.

Dinner:

Ground turkey in black bean sauce with sliced garlic cloves and green beans. Should be long beans (and ground pork) but this IS Dover and we had ground turkey on hand...

Work with what you got. Be thankful. I am.

Taqueria and autographs ;-)

Catch the live show Monday though Friday @ Tio Juan's Margaritas 23 Members Way Dover NH 03820. From 4-6ish pm, I serve up the tastiest tacos this side of the Rio Grande. My comal is hot, my food is fresh and my jokes are stale. To wash them down well... the place is called Margaritas.

The patio is open!

Sen. Judd Gregg and smart fiscal conservatism

At 10am on Wednesday morning myself, and other ONE Campaign volunteers will be meeting at the Portsmouth NH office of Senator Judd Gregg. We hope to express to his Project Director Tom Prasol that innovative programs like the Millennium Challenge Corporation which rewards poor but well governed nations with grants for infrastructure development are both the morally AND fiscally responsible.

Teaching a man to fish is all well and good, but if that man can catch more than he can eat before it goes bad what then? Perhaps if he could make some ice or freeze the fish he could have time to get it to market... after that the possibilities are endless.

That is kind of how the MCC works.

The country in question might say "we need to develop a modern port facility".

After meeting the prerequisites for transparency and accountability a grant might be offered. If that project succeeds, and further expansion of that facility is needed it is possible that the country could reapply using their already proven track record to tackle corruption and possibly enter another "compact".

Recently i wrote an op-ed that appeared in the New Hampshire Union Leader http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Michael+Castaldo%3A+Even+now%2C+we+must+continue+giving+to+the+world's+poor&articleId=f6e0b380-f07e-4be0-b1d1-3900fe978cb3 in which i use logic and credible backing to make the case for smart diplomacy. This is fiscal conservatism. To act in any other way is to be penny wise and dollar foolish.

Part of the reason I have had success in promoting the central tenets of the ONE Campaign is that I have always tried to be respectful and well mannered when meeting with my elected officials and their representatives. If you join with me I will expect no less of you. That does not mean we will be wallflowers. So on Wednesday let the voices of the poorest billion be heard loud and clear here in the Granite State!

If you can not make it please call after our meeting and let them know how you feel!!!


Senator Judd Gregg

Portsmouth, NH Office:
16 Pease Boulevard
Portsmouth, NH 03801

Main: (603) 431-2171

First

In keeping with the concept of 'keeping it simple' this first post will be just that. I hope to bring you some joy and insight into my world and its pleasures as time goes by.