We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
As you may know, cassoulet is basically French baked beans with meat. The real original of hot dogs and baked beans. It is country home cookin, but it can be great stuff. Dutch oven cooking. Crock pot? Why not, as long as the meats are browned first, but it will not brown the top.
It's a good way to cook some wild game meat, especially the less-tender parts.
Any meat, but not beef - strong red meat is too strong for cassoulet. We have, over time, used various mixes of duck, snow goose, chukar, venison, chicken, pork, wild boar, and pheasant which we have killed. Mix the meats - it adds to the flavor. There should be some source of pig fat or duck fat in it. Some venison sausage, or any sausage, because it is a necessary traditional ingredient. The meat-to-bean ratio is supposed to be fairly high - 30% - but I like beans and prefer a lower ratio. I think every village in southern France has its own recipe and method. I figure roughly one hunk of sausage and one hunk of meat per person.
A few tips about Cassoulet:
1. Make it at least the day before. Like beef stew, it improves overnight. 2. Serve with salad, toasted garlic bread with a pile of stinky and gooey cheeses on the side, and then fruit for dessert. And a Cote Rotie or Cotes du Rhone. 3. You need to use large white beans, ideally French haricot beans. Use the canned beans, don't bother with dried beans. 4. Make sure you push the bread crumbs down into the surface of the mixture when baking. 5. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top when done - it looks better that way.
To avoid pantry moths, keep food sealed. They are disgusting. For wool moths (I've had lots of problems with them), the solution for my closets - too late for some items - is pesticide spray. Set the thing off in a closet, and close ithe door. It works.
5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.'
5:22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire.
5:23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
5:24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
5:25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.
5:26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
5:27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
5:28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
5:30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
5:31 "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
5:32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
5:33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.'
5:34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
5:35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
5:36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
5:37 Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
There's a football game on Sunday, so I guess nothing else is going on in the world. I'll offer this outake of Dylan's Not Dark Yet. I think it is followed by the final version:
We've mentioned this common issue several times in the past, but I learned some cool new info from my office IT guy today.
First, I learned you can live-stream almost any radio station in the world from Tune In for $8/month. 100,000 radio stations. Sheesh. All I need is WQXR.
My main discovery is that SONOS makes a gizmo which will connect with your old sound systems. It's called SONOS Port. I do have two pairs of ridiculously fine speakers so I have to try this thing. I am giving a try just with a SONOS ONE speaker with the SONOS system, and am not impressed. Yeah, it's WiFi, and it's fine for background music but not for listening carefully. I like to listen attentively and, preferably, to be able to see the musicians in a real venue. How do people compose this stuff? Special brains, deserving of attention.
I like my CDs. Large collection.
Nothing against live music - we go to some at least once/weekend in winter - but I need to listen to pieces of music a bit before I hear them live. Nothing substitutes for live. My brain is slow to get the gist of adult music. Takes me time. Then, when it's live, I really start to get what's in it. A trip to a different world.
When I was young, I liked to focus on music with a little weed. Have not done for many decades, but it somehow opened my ears. (That's the only good it did for me. Otherwise, it's the stupid and lazy drug.)
Our musician readers can tell that I am borderline musically retarded, but it is important to me. I only hear pop music in the gym. Yes, Van Morrison is good for the gym. OK - Dylan is in a different category. Lots of his songs are hymns, of sorts.
Biden's Claims About Universal Pre-K Are Malarkey. During the State of the Union, Biden claimed that "children who go to preschool are nearly 50 percent more likely to finish high school and go on to earn a two- or four-year degree," but evidence in favor of universal pre-k programs is lacking.
This entitled, infantilized, woe-is-me, the-world-is-against-me mindset is tragic and destructive. It is why "Squad" members AOC, Cori Bush, and Rashida Tlaib ranted, raved, whined, and cried after Republicans ousted Ilhan Omar from her seat on the House Intelligence Committee. "Islamophobia," they cried! "Racism!" Misogyny! An attack on women of color! Etc., etc. They did not mention that the other two congresspersons removed from the committee were Eric Swalwell and Adam Schiff, both white males. Never mind that two thirds of those taken off the committee for security reasons were white (heterosexual) non-Islamic males. "Racism!" "Islamophobia!" "Sexism!"
That's overly broad. It depends on goals and on what you do. What is success anyway? Needless to say, people do not like to work with obnoxious a-holes.
I don't know how doctors can actually participate in these things. But, putting legalities aside, I don't know how doctors can do abortions either - much less "late-term" abortions.
My libertarian side bumps into a cement wall when it comes to kids.
With or without kidney beans? The classic is chunks of beef, but it's all fine with me as long as it is hot enough, has some sour cream, and chopped scallions or red onions on top.
If it's too mild, just put some hot sauce on the table or a bowl of chopped jalapenos.
Not A Single Student Is Proficient In Reading Or Math
Who was 
Nuclear power mounts a comeback
With or without kidney beans? The classic is chunks of beef, but it's all fine with me as long as it is hot enough, has some sour cream, and chopped scallions or red onions on top.