The End of Camelot

If I remember correctly I was in the 9th Grade in Wilmington, NC when the news came across the loudspeakers. It was biology class, my favorite, but it and school was cancelled for the rest of the day. November 22, 1963 will always be one of those dates for my generation that will mark great moments in our lives, The moon landing, Challenger and 9/11/01 are others.

It always makes me wonder how different our lives might be today if John Kennedy were to have finished his stint as president. I am pretty sure the world would be a different and better place today. Little did I imagine that someday I would be looking back 50 odd years at this. It is very strange indeed to look back at Camelot in the light of today's presidential politics and frankly kind of embarrassing.

RIP Chef Paul Prudhomme

Chef Paul Prudhomme dies. He brought Cajun food to the world's attention back in the 1980’s.  He changed the way Americans eat and definitely for the better. I was lucky enough to meet and spend some time with him in 1988 while he was touring and promoting his spice blends. I was also lucky to get his original 1984 cookbook, Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana Kitchen autographed by both him and his wife. You can be jealous if you want. That book and his later The Prudhomme Family Cookbook are two must have cookbooks if you seriously want to learn about Cajun and Creole food and cooking. The second book is more a collection of traditional Cajun recipes that he collected from his friends and relatives. You might not want to cook from it but it explains the roots of Cajun food very well.

I've got to figure out what recipe I'm going to cook in his honor this weekend.

A Friend Is Gone

I am so sad to report that a good friend has passed. Trace Browne died yesterday. Known to to the others that sometimes visit here as the "T" part of "MandT" or as part of "Adjitadiaries" Trace is survived by his partner Michael. This is doubly sad as Trace and Michael were just "officially" married on June 16th after twenty years together. Our heart is with Michael.
Namaste

Trace Browne  b. June 7, 1951    d. July 10, 2014

May the Goddess Guard Him. May Trace Find His Way to the Summerlands. May His Friends and Family Know Peace.

Judy Rodgers - Thanks

Unless you are a foodie like me it is likely you have never heard of the late Judy Rodgers, chef at the famous Zuni Cafe in San Francisco. I was lucky enough to eat there only once and it was memorable but more importantly it is people like Judy, who not only love food and cooking but truly cared about the food in its entirety.
The following is an excerpt from an interview done in 2004 (h/t Michael Ruhlman) that expresses how Judy considered food and cooking. It really resonates with me. Judy passed away Monday from cancer at the age of 57.

This from a 2004 conversation, before she became ill with cancer, says it all:

That’s what we’re up against, that it’s perceived as a triumph that you can get strawberries in January as opposed to a catastrophe. Not all choice is good. Even if the January strawberry tastes OK, even if you have a really good strawberry that’s organic, I still know you turned down other things for that to happen.

A lot of our culinary habits in this country developed after refrigeration and freezing and certain technologies were inexpensive, whereas most other old world countries’ culinary traditions evolved before you had all those things. And so you had dried apples—not to put in your Cheerios, you had dried apples so you had something to eat.

That’s something I can do is try to make the menu, as much as I can, reflect a lot of the natural rhythms of this part of the world and reflect that this used to be the way you would eat before you could cheat.

There are a lot of reason not to buy Chilean blueberries. Let’s do nuts or chocolate or dried fruit for dessert. Part of not getting tired of food and cooking is not having every option every day, it’s responding to your constraints.  You don’t have that much to work with, so you have to be more resourceful.  If I were in St. Louis, I’d have a different palate of flavors to play with. I’d probably be more aggressive about putting stuff up myself during the season.

And guess what?  That’s what culinary tradition is, making the harvest season last all year long. My God, the most unique holiday we have is Thanksgiving, it should be something that if you really ponder what Thanksgiving is all about, you would really understand food. But people think it’s about gluttony, as opposed to truly revering your great harvest celebration, and now put stuff up so you don’t starve over the winter. But people don’t think about it that way—here, it’s the beginning of the eating season.

Judy Rodgers, 1956–2013
NYTimes.com obituary by Eric Asimov

RIP - George McGovern

George McGovern, the United States senator who won the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 1972 as an opponent of the war in Vietnam and a champion of liberal causes, and who was then trounced by President Richard M. Nixon in the general election, died early Sunday in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was 90.

My vote for Senator McGovern was my first ever vote in a presidential election...and  yes I've been a "bleeding-heart" liberal since way back. Here is what McGovern had to say about being labeled a "bleeding-heart" liberal:

During my years in Congress and for the four decades since, I've been labeled a 'bleeding-heart liberal.' It was not meant as a compliment, but I gladly accept it. My heart does sometimes bleed for those who are hurting in my own country and abroad. A bleeding-heart liberal, by definition, is someone who shows enormous sympathy towards others, especially the least fortunate. Well, we ought to be stirred, even to tears, by society's ills. And sympathy is the first step toward action. Empathy is born out of the old biblical injunction "Love the neighbor as thyself."
—George S. McGovern, What It Means to Be a Democrat (2011).

They don't make many like him and I am proud to have voted for him. It's really too bad Nixon won because who knows where we would be today if McGovern had prevailed.

John Lennon

John Lennon would have been 72 years old today. His murder in New York way back on December 8th, 1980 was/is one of the so-called time markers in my life. The world has been a lesser place since he left. It is only appropriate that the lyrics for "Imagine" get remembered today as well.

"Imagine"Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

In The Dust Forever

The loss of Neil Armstrong is a great loss for mankind but his footprints in the dust on the moon will be there forever. Maybe some day another man or woman will be able to put their footprint in the dust beside his and replant the flag next to the marker left by Armstrong and Aldrin. That is, if we are lucky.

RIP, Andy Griffith

Wow, a huge piece of my life has just passed. I have always loved Andy since I first saw him in No Time for Sergeants or  maybe it was his famous football monologue. And yes, I spent many a happy half hour in front of the TV watching Andy in Mayberry. He was something special and I'm going to be sad that he is no longer with us.
I am very sure that the Goddess has welcomed him to the Summerland by now. Thanks for the memories and life lessons Andy.

Dragon's Loss

Fantasy author Anne McCaffrey passed away yesterday.

She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award.

I was a huge fan of her work and cherish the time I spent with her wonderful fiction. I've read all the Pern books numerous times and most of her other works multiple times as well. I would be hard pressed not to call her my favorite.

May the Goddess watch over her and she find her way to the Summerlands.

Thanks Steve

As usual I am a little late to the game but I just wanted to put in my two cents worth on the passing of Steven Jobs. I was reminded this morning at the gym as I threw my Android phone in the bag put the earphones on and fired up my IPod Touch just how much of an impact Mr. Jobs has had. If not for Jobs and his vision and dedication to getting it right would we even have the Android phone or even a Windows PC? I wonder if left to their own devices would Mr. Gates and the boys at IBM ever have moved us off DOS and would we still be typing cryptic shit on a keyboard? Who knows but Apple sure set the standards for UI on both the personal computer and then the IPod, IPhone and now the IPad.
Most people take all of the new stuff like touch screens, apps, and all that for granted but all of it we owe to Steve Jobs either directly or indirectly. Who can even imagine a PC without a mouse?
Happy Trails Steve.

RIP Joe Bageant

Updated below.

The world has lost a great one. One of the great writers and a damn fine socialist to boot. After reading his first book Deer Hunting with Jesus I knew I had found a kindred spirit. It didn't hurt that he hailed from the same neck of hillbilly hills that I did. Bye Joe and if you run into Molly Ivins wherever you are give her a big hug.

After a vibrant life, Joe Bageant died yesterday following a four-month struggle with cancer. He was 64. Joe is survived by his wife, Barbara, his three children, Timothy, Patrick and Elizabeth, and thousands of friends and admirers. He is also survived by his work and ideas.

According to Joe's wishes, he will be cremated. His family will hold a private memorial service.

I just got home from the part time/full time job and decided that I needed to have a stiff drink and toast Joe. When I read Deer Hunting With Jesus" I identified intellectually with a lot he had to say but at the time I was still doing the 6 figure gig and the resonance was truly intellectual. Now that I have been to the punching the clock thing for barely over minimum wage lot more of Joe's thinking is a bit more emotionally resonant. So, here's to you Joe and thanks for the kick in the head.

RIP, Elizabeth Edwards

Dead at 61. A fine lady who faced a lot of undeserved tribulation in her life. The world is a lesser place without her.

Update: According to CNN the planned protest of the funeral by the cretins from the Westboro Baptist Church fizzled. The five idiots who did show up should have been run out of town on a rail.

Monday, Monday

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Happy belated Mother's Day to all that are such. Turned cool last night and it was only 54 here in the Northern burbs of Atlanta this morning.

We lost a great one over the weekend. Lena Horne passed away at age 92. She was one magical lady. RIP.

Not looking good on the Gulf Coast oil spill this morning. Oil is still gushing and the westerly winds are sending the slick toward Florida and white beaches of the pan handle and Alabama shores. Oysters are going to be in short supply for a long, long time.

Things are looking up for the markets this morning after the EU decided to get serious about supporting the Euro and giving Greece a leg up. The DOW is up over 250 points this morning which is nothing but good news.

Al Gore had some painful things to say about the oil spill in the Gulf and other things. The painful part is his affirming that in spite of the damage being done by the spill in the Gulf and our continued insistence that we need more and more oil and coal, regardless of the cost, that nothing will change. We will continue to use more and more oil and coal, we will continue to poison our planet and ourselves and continue to spend money we don't have on foreign energy. Very depressing.

The Prez should nominate Elena Kagan to the Supremes this morning. Not much of a paper trail on her as she has never been on the bench. From what I can see she should be fairly liberal but not in every way.

Well, it should be an interesting week.

Memphis BBQ Pioneer Charlie Vergos RIP

Those of you you have been coming here for any length of time know I am a BBQ fanatic and pride myself on the ability to turn out great BBQ. When it comes to BBQ I lean toward Eastern North Carolina for my pulled pork but when it comes to ribs I am a Memphis boy. Charlie Vergos who opened the famous Rendevous BBQ in Memphis in 1948 is known as the originator of the Memphis dry rub, a must for a great BBQ pork rib. Not to take anything away from Mr. Vergos but I didn't consider the Rendezvous the best BBQ place in Memphis but it was definitely a place to visit and experience, and all the great BBQ in Memphis owes Charlie a debt for coming up with the dry rub which defines Memphis BBQ today.

Mr. Vergos, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Greece, opened the Rendezvous in 1948, selling ham and cheese sandwiches and beer. His signature pork ribs, charcoal-grilled, basted with vinegar and sprinkled with what has come to be known, in popular parlance, as dry rub, came later, around 1954 or 1955.
When barbecue obsessives talk about the dry rub style, often referenced as the Memphis style, they’re talking about the style that Mr. Vergos forged, by sprinkling ribs with his variation on a Greek seasoning mix.

Miep Gies, Who Helped Hide Anne Frank, Dies at 100

If you are ever in Amsterdam the Anne Frank Museum is a must. You can only get a sense of what the Frank family must have gone through and the effort it must have been for people like Miep Gies to sacrifice already limited food and supplies, not to mention the personal danger during the war to protect them by being there.
The Guardian:

The office secretary who defied the Nazi occupiers of the Netherlands to help hide Anne Frank and her family for two years has died, the Anne Frank Museum announced today.

Miep Gies, who was 100, saved the teenager's diary. Her website reported that she died on Monday after a brief illness. Maatje Mostar, an Anne Frank museum spokeswoman, confirmed the report but gave no further details.

Gies was the last survivor of the few non-Jews who supplied food, books and company at the secret annexe, above an Amsterdam canal warehouse, where Anne, her parents, her sister and four other Jews hid for 25 months during the second world war.

RIP Senator Edward Kennedy

Senator Edward Kennedy died late last night at the age of 77. He was the greatest legislator of his generation, and surely one of the giants of Senatorial history. It will be impossible to measure the impact Kennedy has had on the American people and the people of the world.

The White House issued a statement from President Obama this morning.

"Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy.

"For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts.

"I valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've profited as President from his encouragement and wisdom.

"An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time."

In the New York Times report on Kennedy's passing, John Broder wrote, "[H]e was more than a legislator. He was a living legend."

Exactly one year ago today, Kennedy delivered his last and memorable national address at the Democratic National Convention. Even though weakened by his illness Kennedy still inspired:

"There is a new wave of change all around us, and if we set our compass true, we will reach our destination -- not merely victory for our party, but renewal for our nation. And this November, the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans. So with Barack Obama, and for you and for me, our country will be committed to his cause. The work begins anew. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on."

The irreplaceable Ted Kennedy will be missed but his legacy can live on in the cause which he championed through his whole career. It is time for the Ted Kennedy Healthy America Act that will insure no American wants for proper and affordable health care.

RIP Les Paul, 1915 - 2009

Les Paul passed away today. You can't say enough about the man who invented the solid body electric guitar and multitrack recording. He wasn't only an inventor but one of the great guitarists. He earned 36 gold records and 11 No. 1 pop hits, including "Vaya Con Dios," "How High the Moon," "Nola" and "Lover." His contribution to music is absolutely huge. Pete Townsend of The Who, Steve Howe of Yes, jazz great Al DiMeola and Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page all used the Gibson Les Paul which Gibson guitars started making way back in 1952.

RIP - Walter Cronkite

He talked to me during the civil rights movement.

He talked me through the space race.

He talked me through the moon landing.

He talked me through the Vietnam war.

He talked me through the assassination of John Kennedy.

He talked me through Richard Nixon.

He talked me through most of my life and I trusted him.

Television news has been going down hill ever since he left.

Walter Cronkite...the most trusted man in America has died. Here is the story from the CBS News :

Walter Cronkite, who personified television journalism for more than a generation as anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News,” has died Friday night in his New York home following a long illness, surrounded by family. He was 92.

Known for his steady and straightforward delivery, his trim moustache, and his iconic sign-off line -”That’s the way it is” – Cronkite dominated the television news industry during one of the most volatile periods of American history. He broke the news of the Kennedy assassination, reported extensively on Vietnam and Civil Rights and Watergate, and seemed to be the very embodiment of TV journalism.
…

Walter Leland Cronkite was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on November 4, 1916, the only child of a dentist father and homemaker mother. When he was still young, his family moved to Texas. One day, he read an article in “Boys Life” magazine about the adventures of reporters working around the world – and young Cronkite was hooked. He began working on his high school newspaper and yearbook and, in 1933, he entered the University of Texas at Austin to study political science, economic and journalism. He never graduated. He took a part time job at the Houston Post, left college to do what he loved: report.

Not A Day Like Any Other

This is not a day like any other. Today two icons left the building. Both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died today and both had a significant impact on society as it is today. RIP to both. You can argue all day about who was more important but the reality is that they are two different icons. I doubt there is a man my age(60 plus or minus 5 or 10 years) that didn't pause before the famous poster of Farrah. Likewise, there are few who would argue that Michael Jackson didn't change pop music for all time. "Thriller" was the largest selling album of all time and it did make a difference. I was never a fan but I respect the changes he brought to the music world.

David Carradine RIP

CNN and others are reporting that David Carradine has been found dead in his Bangkok hotel room. Unconfirmed reports are that it was a suicide.

This is very strange news for me. In the early seventies David's character on the TV series "Kung Fu" had a pretty profound effect on my spirit and somehow the thought of suicide doesn't connect. I know was well as the next person that David Carradine was not Kwai Chang Caine just like I know Leonard Nimoy was not Spock but somehow the mental connection with the actor and character just presents some irreconncilable issues. I think I will just remember the David Carradine who made an impression on a struggling psyche and not the David Carradine who was so troubled that he considered taking his own life.

Peace be with you Grasshopper.