Bud Talkinghorn: The Israeli withdrawal from Gaza--What will it mean to the Palestinians? CAFTA-China, Nuclear Power Hopes? Rieu -&- Tiger

Heads up and purely personal

Still, someone might enjoy this as much as I did.

I know a few great cooks. Last weekend I was invited for a deep fried turkey. I would never in my wildest dreams have deep fried a turkey because it made me think of deep fried chicken of the breaded variety and about that, enough said.

It was the best turkey meal I have ever eaten. The wife is a superb cook whose roasted turkey dinners with all the trimmings are simply outstanding. Still, this is a man's job and it was excellently prepared by the husband out on the deck . . . aided by a glass of wine to ease the pain of jumping up to take the temperature of the bird. It turned out brown even on the inside. The temperature gauge is stuck into the meat and the whole thing takes less than an hour. The deep cooker is approximately $50 and available with temperature gauge and a rack into which you place the turkey -- available at places like your local co-op store. The salads and all the rest were heavenly. Great job folks!

PS: Another invitation??? I'll do more preserves for another deep fried turkey dinner . . . just let me have those bones for soup.

Happy weekend to all. I know; tomorrow is Friday but I feel an early start coming on. NJC




CAFTA's Covert Opponent: China by John J. Tkacik, Jr., WebMemo #778, June 28, 2005

In the Multi Fiber Arrangement world of quota-free trade in yarns, fabrics, and finished textiles, the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) represents a direct threat to China’s growing power—indeed, its near-monopoly—in world textile production. If passed, CAFTA would enhance the competitiveness of Central American factories that pay higher wages than China and predominantly use U.S. cotton. But if CAFTA fails, U.S. cotton exports to Central America will come to an end, while U.S. imports of Chinese textiles—with little or no U.S. content—soar. [. . . . ]

Nuclear power rallies Deirdre Gregg, Aug. 14, 05

Engineer Jim Miller hasn't worked on siting a nuclear power plant in decades. But today the CEO of engineering-and-earth-sciences firm GeoEngineers Inc. sees a bright future for the nuclear industry. [. . . . ]

Lengthy and perhaps worth checking.

Caution: Miller should just make sure that none of those lads seeking the elusive virgins work on the nuclear projects. To save humanity, would some virgin please offer herself up? Calm down girl, only jesting.




Men, Women love Andre Rieu -- Check here or here . Thanks to RK who told me that women simply swoon over Rieu in concerts, classical but of the popular variety, and in the Netherlands. What would I know? Nada.




The Israeli withdrawal from Gaza--What will it mean to the Palestinians?

The fabric of Israel is being torn by the forced evacuation of Israeli settlers from their enclaves in Gaza. If this move would appease their Palestinian enemies, it might be worth it; however there is little chance of that happening. Rather, Hamas and the other terrorist factions have trumpeted the removal as a sign of weakness. Mahmoud Abbas has done nothing to discourage this idea. Actually, that doesn't make much difference because Abbas is a lame duck leader, who has almost no control of events in Gaza. If it were simply Hamas and its bandit brethern, there might be some hope of the Palestinian Authority coming to some compromise position with them. The monkey wrench in the works is the numerous well-armed clan militias.

Over the years there are media reports of these powerful clans flexing their muscles. A while back there was a clan invasion of a PA police station and the freeing of their members. Other reports told of their smuggling rings and extortions; nevertheless, they were seen as bit players. However, according to a senior Middle east analyst, Jim Lederman, the clans are a major force. They receive funding from Iran and the Hezbollah; while some are obstensibly members of the PA, their allegiance is always to their tribal leaders. These clans have set up virtual fiefdoms and are in constant conflict with each other. The PA rarely dares to confront them. These groups also have designs on the Israeli settlements. The Abu Samhadana clan for instance has announced an ancestoral claim over most of the land that the Israelis are evacuating. Fatah also has said it will set up a "popular army" to contest the PA police in these areas. All this is a recipe for anarchy in Gaza. The Israeli decision to demolish the settlers' houses was probably made to eliminate a crazed land grab by all these factions. What happens in Gaza after the withdrawal will probably determine anymore evacuations from the West Bank. The future of Gaza looks very bleak indeed.

© Bud Talkinghorn



The Thames by Jonathan Schmeer

I am reading (and enjoying immensely) The Thames, by Jonathan Schmeer who uses the Thames to showcase various epochs of London. Example: Ann Boleyn came to meet Henry V111 in a small flotilla so Henry thought it appropriate to have her end her days that way. He convinced her that he had set up a huge waterborne gala for her. She set off in spendid pageantry only to see herself conveyed to The Tower of London, where the executioner was already sharpening his ax. She asked for and got one more day before death. She used that time to practice arranging her head on a make-shift chopping block in her cell. You don't want to look awkward at the end. That is the sort of engaging detail the author employs. He has a whole chapter on Turner and his paintings of the Thames to illustrate the rapidly changing historical periods. Note to self: If I complain too much about my lot, I should just read this book again--because it was sheer Hell during most of these eras past. In 1816 the Thames was so polluted with raw sewage--dead animals, dust, rotting vegetation, and chemical run-off from the thousand tanneries--that ships couldn't navigate through it. And it was the main drinking and bathing water source for London. I don't remember when I stopped reading fiction and moved on to non-fiction but Serpentine by Tom Thompson [Check Amazon books NJC] certainly showed that no work of fiction could match the real exploits human beings such as Charles Sobhraj.

© Bud Talkinghorn



Watching TSN's coverage of the PGA tournament is a giant Tiger-fest.

Of course, watching Tiger dominate with superb play is exciting. Some of his famous shots--that trip over the water in the Canadian Open is indelibly etched in my mind. There are over a hundred other golfers who are producing magnificent shots; however, we don't get to see them. Woods might be way over par, but the camera is always on him. They even had footage of his past PGA wins. This is being written during the endless ads, and now they are reviewing Tiger's entire last six horrible or great holes. Then the commentators spend four minutes talking about what is going through Tiger's head. He is having a meltdown, OK? Give me a break!

I know America loves a winner, but the coverage should respect Wood's competitors. More complaints: Why don't they show on the crawl more often, the scores of all the players? Everybody has their favourites, (mine was Greg Norman) so we want to know how they are doing. This deification of Tiger is getting tedious. Surely, when he is not leading or even close, they can highlight some more deserving golfer(s).

Day two. We get to see Tiger play well, although flubbing the two par fives. This pilgrimage continues far after he ground to an even par finish. No, now we have to replay the highlights of Tiger's struggle, then the the nauseating psychobabble of the announcers, who try to explain all the reasons that Tiger isn't leading the tournment. This homage you think is finally coming to an end when Tiger is interviewed. But lo and behold, there is a review of Tiger's round yesterday. Even when they do get around to the players who are still on the course, we get actual commentary like, "Well, I see that Billy Bob has put it in the same left, downhill spot as Tiger". Billy Bob makes a slam dunk birdie from there, but we don't get to see it, because we have to see Michelson on the driving range. Now we will watch Michelson every hole and be subject to some psuedo-analysis of Phil's "will to win". But it is only mid round, so there will undoubtedly be time to wedge Tiger talk into the program. Maybe their entire Michelson coverage will be a running commentary on how Phil handled the hole verus Tiger's course management. Enough!

© Bud Talkinghorn--I forgot to mention the "tree limb incident". By some invisible hand, it happened to occur when Tiger was there. Good for another two or three Tiger mentions.

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