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.
The USA has countless burger joints, not including the big chains. God knows how many burgers I have had.
Louis' Lunch in New Haven claims to be the first burger joint - the hamburger sandwich, still on white toast because it started before burger buns in 1895.
Mrs. BD did a raod trip with her pal a year or two ago, and both swear that the best burger they have had in life were at Ed's in Hattiesburg. They swear it's worth a trip.
I like thinner burgers that you can fit in your mouth. Smashed and crispy. That means it's hard to cook them med. rare, but whatever. Gotta be a skillet, not a barbie.
“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”
Lawfare Against Trump Is Running Out of Gas. Prosecutors are discovering that the more they seek to rush to judgment before the election and gag Trump from speaking publicly about these proceedings, the more he rises in the polls.
Ad hominem sets in when policy discussions fail to persuade. I am old enuf to remember Nixon/Hitler, Reagan/Hitler, and Bush/Hitler.
One quote:
Public services paid by taxes exist for people who live here, not just anyone who makes his way into the country by violating its laws. A job market is structured by rules and regulations, not just an endless supply of desperate laborers prepared to work longer for less. A national culture is sustained by common memories, ideals, laws and a language — which newcomers should honor, adopt and learn as a requirement of entry. It isn’t just a giant arrival gate for anyone and everyone who wants to take advantage of American abundance and generosity.
One more:
It said something about the self-deluded state of Western politics when Trump came on the scene that his assertion of the obvious was treated as a moral scandal, at least by the stratum of society that had the least to lose from mass migration. To millions of other Americans, his message, however crudely he may have expressed it, sounded like plain common sense.
Fun to make if you have the time. I need it for a big beef (boeuf?) Bourguignon tonite. Mrs. BD does not approve of watery supermarket beef broth.
I start with a bunch of bones (oxtail and whatever else cheap they have with bones in, esp bones with marrow, and a little meat on them too) from the supermarket, and roast them until pleasantly browned. Venison fine too if you have the bones. Roasted bones are what make a good broth but they have to be cut or cracked.
Throw them into a big pot with about a bucket of water, a quartered unpeeled onion, a quartered unpeeled carrot, a couple of garlic cloves, some parsley and thyme, maybe one stick of celery, a bunch of pepper and salt, and simmer on low around 4 or more hours. A French chef friend recommends 8 hrs but come on.
Strain it out, and there you go. When it's cooled, it is gelatinous. Even a dumb guy can do it. Sure, you can freeze any extra. It is a base for all sorts of good things.
My Mom used to make this when we were young. She'd never had any real Italian food in her life at that point except spaghetti and meatballs (not Italian either); she thought Tetrazzine was an Italian dish.
A pal of mine cooks a big dinner of venison Stroganoff for friends each late winter because it is such a good use of his venison scraps, shoulder, etc. He probably makes a gallon of it, then served on pappardelle. The thin strips are tender.
Dr. Anthony Fauci Cannot ‘Recall’ Much About COVID Origins, Pandemic Responses. Fauci, who can’t remember the origins of the “6 feet” rule of social distancing, now says the lab leak origin is credible.
Moms show their love for their families by cooking, especially those gooey, bland, rib-sticking comfort foods in the winter. They make everybody feel loved, and they're all in Fanny Farmer's cookbook if you have one around.
Mommys of America winter foods are cheap and easy to make. Cheaper than McDonald's, but probably less "healthy" than McDonald's. Whatever "healthy" means.
Here's a classic Mommys of America dish, Creamed Chicken with Peas, best (I think) on top of white rice but it works on toast, mashed taters, and egg noodles. Lots of ground pepper on top.
For one extra Mom point, serve it on Basmati rice. For two extra points, on a brioche. For three extra Mom points, use the pheasant Dad shot instead of chicken because she deserves it for marrying a guy who goes out and shoots the family's food.
Got any favorite Mommys of America dishes? This is first of a sentimental, anti-gourmet, re-posted series.
Having been raised a New England Yankee, I was raised on lots of Clam Chowder. On Cape Cod, we kids would be sent out with a clam rake and a couple of buckets, and return covered with mud with buckets of big quahogs. I've had lots of good Clam Chowders, and a few which were inedible. The best Cod Chowder I've had was on Grand Manan Island. Forgot to get their recipe, but it was thick.
I suspect that CHAUDRON, CHAUDRÉE, CAULDRON, CHOWDER - and Chowda - are the same word. Technically, it seems to mean a seafood soup or stew which includes potatoes and some cream or milk.
Mrs. BD recently made a chowder with haddock - a Frenchy version - Seafood Chowder. She included chunks of lobster.
Why and Where the Working Class Turned Right - A new book documents the lost (and pro-Democratic) world of Pennsylvania steelworkers and how it became Republican.
Yes, I love Black Bean Soup. I used to dump it on a pile of (white) rice, but now I like a glob of mashed taters in the middle of the bowl.
Everybody has their own recipe, but I just wing it. What's wrong with this recipe is that it's too low on the beans and garlic, and has no jalapenos. Furthermore, I prefer to just mash a bunch of the beans and leave some intact. I think of it as a meal more than a soup.
Oh, also, I can't eat cilantro. Most can, but not me.
Lunges are a functional calisthenic. Legs, core, and some cardio. I do walking lunges with kettlebells because my trainer boss makes me, but on my own I just do body-weight walking lunges until it hurts. With the kettlebells it's much more difficult, more strength-oriented, and it is a bitch.
The muscle groups challenged with lunges are similar to those of squats, but best to incorporate both in a conditioning program.
North America has two species of Kinglets. I had a Ruby-Crowned flitting around shrubs this morning. I've rarely seen that ruby crown though. It takes sharp eyes to notice them even though they are not uncommon, especially in winter. Maybe you need to be curious about birds to see them.
Our two Kinglet species have quite different habits. Tiny birds, but impressive egg-layers.
Ultra-Large Structure Discovered in Distant Space
The USA has countless burger joints, not including the big chains. God knows how many burgers I have had.
Another American adaptation/bastardization of an Italian recipe. 
A pal of mine cooks a big dinner of venison Stroganoff for friends each late winter because it is such a good use of his venison scraps, shoulder, etc. He probably makes a gallon of it, then served on pappardelle. The thin strips are tender. 
Moms show their love for their families by cooking, especially those gooey, bland, rib-sticking comfort foods in the winter. They make everybody feel loved, and they're all in Fanny Farmer's cookbook if you have one around.