'I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.'

-- Ripley, Aliens, 1986

You Say It Best When You Say Nothing At All

"A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his table, than when his wife talks Greek."

-- Samuel Johnson

Massive Oyster Die-Off in Upper Chesapeake Thought to be Storm Related

The recent hurricane and tropical storm caused more fresh water than the oysters can tolerate into the upper region of the once oyster-rich waterway.

Read about it here.

Welcome To Electiondome 2012!

Aunty Entity: "You know the law. Two men enter, one man leaves."

Morning Glorys Keep On Keepin' On

Cast Iron Butter Ball Bread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast Iron Butter Ball Bread

 

7     cups unbleached flour

3     cups water

4     T melted unsalted butter

1.5  T salt

2     T sugar

1.5  T yeast

Whisk and dissolve salt, sugar and yeast in the water in the bowl of an electric mixer.

Add the flour, mixing constantly.

Add the melted butter along the way.

Grease a 3 quart cast iron dutch oven with Crisco.

Pour in the dough and let rise, covered with a towel.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 to 45 minutes.

Slices best after it cools to room temperature.

A New Companion of My Retreat, All Grown Up Now

BudBud

Up Yours, Denmark, With This!

And just for that, I intend to eat more of it, not less:

Denmark has introduced what’s believed to be the world’s first fat food tax, applying a surcharge to foods with more than 2.3 percent saturated fats, in an effort to combat obesity and heart disease.

Danes hoarded food before the tax went into effect Saturday, emptying grocery store shelves. Some butter lovers may even resort to stocking up during trips abroad.

The new tax of 16 kroner ($2.90) per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of saturated fat in a product will be levied on foods like butter, milk, cheese, pizza, oils and meat.

The Arable

Lo, how the arable
with barley grain

Stands thick, o'ershadow'd;
these, as modern use

Ordains, infus'd, an auburne
drink compose, Wholesome,
of deathless fame.

-- Philips

You!

'Be Happy in Your Work'

Colonel Saito, The Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957

Because I used to love her . . .

. . .  but it's all over now:

(1964, here)

'What We've Got Here Is A Failure To Communicate'

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Brian Jones: Prolific Little Devil and Founder of the 27 Club

At his best in 1964 . . .

. . . and the founder of the 27 Club, despite what they say.

Brian Jones: It's Off The Hook, October 1964

Great licks at 3:57, showing why he was the leader.

Still missing you . . .

See it here.

Update: that link is busted. Try this one at about 1:15.

God Bless All The Green Berets, Living . . . and Dead

Ballad Of The Green Berets

As Written and Performed by SSgt Barry Sadler

Fighting soldiers from the sky

Fearless men who jump and die

Men who mean just what they say

The brave men of the Green Beret

Silver wings upon their chest

These are men, America's best

One hundred men we'll test today

But only three win the Green Beret

Trained to live, off nature's land

Trained in combat, hand to hand

Men who fight by night and day

Courage deep, from the Green Beret

Silver wings upon their chest

These are men, America's best

One hundred men we'll test today

But only three win the Green Beret

Back at home a young wife waits

Her Green Beret has met his fate

He has died for those oppressed

Leaving her this last request

Put silver wings on my son's chest

Make him one of America's best

He'll be a man they'll test one day

Have him win the Green Beret

(source)

You Can't Handle The Truth

Judge Randolph: Consider yourself in Contempt!

Kaffee: Colonel Jessep, did you order the Code Red?

Judge Randolph: You don't have to answer that question!

Col. Jessep: I'll answer the question!

Col. Jessep: You want answers?

Kaffee: I think I'm entitled.

Col. Jessep: You want answers?

Kaffee: I want the truth!

Col. Jessep: You can't handle the truth!

Col. Jessep: Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.

Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red?

Col. Jessep: I did the job I...

Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red?

Col. Jessep:You're Goddamn right I did!

A Few Good Men (1992)

The Patron Saint of Mediocrities Everywhere

Mozart: [about the royal composer's position he did not get] Whom did they choose?

Salieri: Herr Zummer.

Mozart: Herr Zummer? But the man's a fool, he's a total mediocrity!

Salieri: No, no, he has yet to achieve mediocrity. ...

Your... merciful God. He destroyed His own beloved [Mozart], rather than let a mediocrity share in the smallest part of His glory.

I will speak for you, Father. I speak for all mediocrities in the world. I am their champion. I am their patron saint.

Mediocrities everywhere... I absolve you... I absolve you... I absolve you... I absolve you... I absolve you all.

Amadeus (1984)

See-gar Memories: Dannemann Cigars

Too Many Notes

Emperor Joseph II:

My dear young man, don't take it too hard.

Your work is ingenious. It's quality work.

And there are simply too many notes, that's all.

Just cut a few and it will be perfect.

Mozart:

Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?

Amadeus (1984)