Valentine’s Day/Weekend Open thread

| February 14, 2014

Sparks wants a place to give you all some candy and flowers, so here you go for a slow news afternoon;

The Washington Times says that background checks don’t stop many firearms purchases. Well, yeah, because why would a criminal who knows he can’t buy a gun bother going through background checks?

The Washington Post reports that the Obama Administration will allow banks to do business with pot sellers.

Shotgun Joe Bite Me says that there is no longer a Republican Party. But, then, he’s been wrong on every other issue since the beginning of time.

The FAA blocked your flower deliveries by drone, says Fox News.

Pinto Nag sends a link to NBC News which reports that 70 people were murdered by thugs with machetes in the Congo.

ohio sends a link from the Daily Mail reporting the death of Ralph Waite, of The Waltons fame, who was also a Marine after WWII.

Ex-PH2 celebrates the NBC News link regarding pizza coming to MREs.

And finally, someone sent us a picture of Kenneth Boyle in an OIF cap – you know anther one of those wars he didn’t go to;

Boyles

Category: Administrative

180 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Green Thumb

@101.

I thought it was good.

But the level of “play” I received versus what I was hoping for dictated mediocre. Know what I mean?

So today, I am going to turn it into a soup of some sort and try again!

MCPO NYC USN Ret.

Update:

No monkey sex.

I watched Olympics. I am in big trouble.

Sparks

@98 AW1 Tim thanks brother! I like it over about anything.

@101 Ex I thought he drunk gettin’ it on with the truck was too funny. Some people just can’t hold their liquor can they?

Sparks

@103 Master Chief, better to be in a little trouble than in a lot of trouble. This too shall pass. (pun intended)

Joe Williams

I have my Baby Girl with me again Today. She is being real needy and demanding. By the way,she is a 150 lb German stock Rotilier. Actually, my Gransons’s dog. They claim she is mine because she always heads for my house when they let her outside. I am dogsitting while they go to Sand Springs to work on the new Williams FOB. Baby Girl will be needing new training to not chase the Deer that bed in the front yard.Baby Girl is down from 165 and on a diet. This cloud be cause of her whining. Joe

AW1 Tim

Brownwolf:

here’s one to start with. The Girl Scouts can deny all they want to, but their own leadership says the opposite when out of the office.

And I take great umbrage with your comments vis-a-vis “Tim, it sounds like that old song and dance of “organizations” trying to re-enslave women to the kitchen and housework by disenempowering them at every turn by striping them of their independence.”

T%he Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts used to be the great way for our youth, outside of the family, to learn about becoming a wholesome, productive citizen of these United States. To revere God, to support our Constitution and values, and the social foundations of our great nation. Now they have been usurped by the beta-males and feminazis of the left and turned into another of their social-engineering petri dishes.

http://www.honestgirlscouts.com/

Ex-PH2

@Sparks, but why was he spanking the truck? At least the secret squirrels called the po-po on him. (Sorry, I can’t stop laughing.)

Green Thumb, I make gravy with the broth from my pot roast, and once it’s simmering nicely, I put slices of the roast into the gravy to ‘warm up’. That way, it’s no longer cold and stiff, but fork tender and awash in gravy. Finishing off mine tonight. There’s no such thing as too much gravy.

Clairatt

@103 ya gotta plan better. I did my duty till about 1 am then got up at 530 to watch USA Russia hockey. Thinking about anap now!

Sparks

@108 Ex wow now I am hungry AGAIN! Gravy made with pot roast leavins’, now that’s cooking at its best. I can’t stop laughing about the drunk either. Of all the ways to “spank that thang”, that there are, why oh why the metal grill of a truck! Now that’s DRUNK! The only thing better would have been if he had cut the crap out if his you know what on the metal. Now that would have poetic for him when the police and EMTs dealt with him.

Green Thumb

@106.

That’s a big girl!

Sparks

@107 AW1 Tim I do agree with you that the Boy/Girl Scouts of America are first and foremost, children. Children are not the population we want to foist any social experiments on. They are too young and too impressionable. They are to be protected. At least that is how I was raised to believe. When the young girl or boy comes of age, they can make their own decisions about their lives. Until then I see nothing wrong with keeping programs like the Scouts centered around, wholesome, patriotic and civic minded service agendas. Teach them respect for our country, for their elders, whom they often serve and good life skills. Whether it be tying knots, camping, serving their community or what have you. Those things will serve them well their whole lives and promote better citizenship. As I said, then, when they are no longer minors in the Scouts, let them decide their life’s course on their own. Not as a byproduct of any conservative or liberal, political agendas shoved at them while trying to just learn how tie a darned knot in a rope. Good citizenship and good lessons of respect for our country and others is not political on either side. It is simply good civic duty. Building good character, period, is the phrase that comes to mind.

Sparks

I would like to add some clarity, though it may not be needed to my post #112. It is just important to me so please have patience and endure my post. In my mind, children are innocent and therefore requiring of our protection from many things. They are, by and large, blank slates. Slates which are easily and sometimes indelibly marked. A child involved in Scouts, 4-H or any activity tells me there are parent(s) behind the scene who are involved in their kids life. Though it is not guaranteed, children of involved parents have a much higher rate of success than those without involved parents. I think that is an obvious point. So, to me it is the job of involved parents to teach all things sexual to their child. Sex, sexuality, gender choice, homosexuality are things which should not be left to any entity outside the family. My opinion. Especially not left to organizations whose functions, charters and long standing reputations are not equipped to address these things. I realize in the very, real world, kids learn about sex in myriad ways. Always have and always will. I did. Thus the vast amount of misinformation most kids believe about all things sexual. I just believe that as many, many good, quality things a kid can be taught in Scouting, 4-H or what have you, there should be not time left for any “lessons” regarding sexual matters. I know to some I may sound prudish. If I do, so be it. I simply believe as I stated before that of all the social experiments we endure in our society today and even in our military currently, it is a simple thing to just leave the kids out of them. There will plenty of time in their lives to deal with these issues. For goodness sake, please let them be kids, while they are still enjoying the youth they have. I am old now. How I wish I had that youth back, knowing only a fifth of what I know know. I would be a better man today. Thank you… Read more »

Sparks

@113 Jonn Haven’t seen it pop up yet. I guess you’re still working on it.

Sparks

Sorry for my posts folks. We were having a great weekend open thread and I am afraid I killed it. My apologies.

Brownwolf

Tim,

What the leadership (or members) of an organization does/do on his/her own time outside an organization, in most cases, does/do not perpetuate the organization as a whole to that person’s beliefs/ideals.

Tim, those quoted comments were not directed at you personally – they are in general when I hear/see/read when someone/something tries to disenfranchise an organization with a historical background. Apologies – if there was a perceived miscommunication on my part, not my intention.

I performed a background check on your suggested website, honestgirlscouts.com, on who.is, and the historical backlogs present that the website was started/owned by an organization called The Universe. Of recent, they (The Universe) masked their identity. Also, the original video mysteriously disapperead. But you can find fragments/portions on youtube and elsewhere.

Here are some articles on what started the Girl Scout cookie boycott, I included conservative and liberal versions, your choice on which one you want to pick:

If you lean right;

http://www.drudgereportarchives.net/Article.php?ID=131851&R=4&

If you lean left;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/11/girl-scout-cookie-boycott-transgender_n_1199260.html

I looked at the video by “Taylor” and in my opinion, she sounds like a snooby 14-year old Girl Scout “Special Little Snowflake” who will bloosom into one of those Westboro Baptist whackos who will one day protest my funeral and yours just because we served in the military. Again, the previous sentence is my opinion.

Here is a video with Taylor: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlU-jDrmLn0&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DZlU-jDrmLn0

Again, it is not my intention to ruffle any feathers but there are always more than two sides to any story that need to be heard. In conclusion, if Satan showed up to my door selling Girl Scout cookies – I’ll sell my soul for another bite of those Girl Scout cookies. 😉

Ex-PH2

We are either going to discuss gravy or the next phony SEAL, right?

I used a bottom round roast, but because it’s a cheap cut of meat, it doesn’t do well in the oven. If I put it in the crock pot with stock or broth – stock has more flavor – and seasonings and onions, then it cooks up nice and tender and maybe even has a little flavor, but I think you have to poke it and infuse the seasonings into it. Chuck roast is better.

My mother used to cook those in the oven until they were burnt on the outside and dried out, stringy meat under the crust. And she never made gravy because the pan drippings were charcoal.

All those onions in the bottom of the pot go into the gravy. Mashed praties and gravy, with pencil-thin green beans, carrots and tomatoes and pepper strips on the side, and strawberries for dessert. And then I can finish off my latest Regency romance, where Napleon loses to Wellington and Lord Lynton saves the family farm, goes home to tell his wife and runs into his old girlfriend who is still obssessed with him, even though she’s married to Lord Rockhill, the Duke of Arleagh.

Sparks

@118 Awe Ex- Now I’m starving again. You’re killin’ me softly with your song, here. Not a lot of folks know how to make a really good roast. With gravy and onions, mashed potatoes, those thin green beans and carrots! Man I wish I could cook better.

3/17 air cav

EX-PH2……if your into slow cooking, check out the Ninja cooker. It’s the bomb. Has a built in stovetop for browning ect. Bought mine at Cosco, about a hundred bucks.

Speaking of Cosco, it takes a lot to become a member just ask Bernie Bernath.

Toasty Coastie

@118 Ex-PH2

Here’s a new twist on Pot Roast you might like…

Roast of your choice
2 cups beef stock.
1 onion sliced
1 back of raddishes sliced
2 Turnips sliced
4 Sweet potatoes washed, peeled and sliced
3 Celery stems chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 Bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Season roast with garlic, onion, rosemary and thyme, salt and pepper.

Put stock into crock pot and set to high and add the roast and veggies.

Cook for 4 hours.
Let rest in juice 30 minutes..
Remove everything and make gravy out of stock.

Enjoy!

Toasty Coastie

*Back of raddishes should be 1 bag**

Sparks

@121 TC sounds good. Thanks. Again, welcome to the fold!

Toasty Coastie

@123 Sparks

Thank you and thank you…made myself hungry with that one lol…guess I will have to peel my sorry butt of the heating pad and go start one…

Marine_7002

While on the subject of recipes, this one for eggs sounds interesting:

https://www.yahoo.com/food/eggs-a-whole-new-way-76646116890.html

This appeals to me, given that I’m basically a lazy SOB in the kitchen and it looks like a quick and easy way to do eggs.

Sparks

@125 Marine_7002 Thanks. I WILL try that one. I too am an, easy as I can do it guy, in the kitchen.

Toasty Coastie

Spicy Tortellini anyone? I’ve got a whole pot to share… 🙂

Sparks

@127 TC I have a friend who’s wife is from Guatemala. She makes taquitos and home made tomatilla sauce, which I gather is labor intensive. They are stuffed with shredded chicken and they are SOOO good with the sauce and sour cream. I saw your food Tortellini and it made me think of those. She has to pare boil the tomatillas and then peal them by hand and puree in the blender and then slow simmer for a long, long time. But they are worth it. Her husband eats good all the time, anyway.

Ex-PH2

Turnips, yes, as long as they are small enough to have intense flavor. It replaces the need for salt. I use red potatoes, scrubbed thoroughly and quartered if they’re too big, but only for the last two hours. And two to four heaping dessert spoonfuls of minced garlic instead of garlic cloves. Also, I found that Weber’s mesquite steak seasoning for grilling plus a few dashes of chili powder bump up the flavor a lot. Less salt, more flavor.

But really, chuck roast is the best cut for this. Round roast tends to not have much flavor in it. I may try marinating the next round roast in teriyaki/soy before I crock it.

Yes, I want the Ninja cooker, but Nesco has one that is similar and costs less. I may get that next month. Ace is the place for that.

Ex-PH2

Also, if you’re going to make beef bourgignon, use a brisket instead of a regular roast. And don’t use a cabernet for it. Use burgundy. Cabernet is WAY too heavy for that dish.

Ex-PH2

Speaking of trucks and cars, this is from a funny e-mail Shep sent me:

I had a bad night, couldn’t sleep. I made my morning coffee with Red Bull instead of water. I was halfway to work before I realized I’d forgotten my car.

Sparks

@131 Ex Please thank Shep for that! LMAO

Enigma4you

I just had beef wellington, OMG it was great. Now I am watching a John Wayne Movie, Packing my pipe with BLWB (Burly light without bite) and sipping on a glass of Famous Grouse Black.

Some days its good to be me

Common Sense

You guys will appreciate this little Valentine.

My Air Guard daughter is on TDY at Nellis while her Army Guard husband is at AIT at Ft Lee. She posted on his Facebook: “We Go Together Like Guns and Ammo”. He responded with “You are the 338 lapua round to my 1700 yard taliban head shot”

What a romantic!

Really, I couldn’t have chosen anyone better for her, he’s a great guy.

Green Thumb

“We are either going to discuss gravy or the next phony SEAL, right?”

Both.

Ever wonder what Phildo is doing in three in the morning on a Saturday night?

Wiping his mouth.

Sparks

@135 Green Thumb…love ya brother. Phildo slurpin’ gravy like a pig outa the trough at 3 in the morning…now that’s a mental picture sight to behold! 😀

Green Thumb

@136.

That was the Lady Ex’s phrase.

But I could say something along the lines of “Commander Phil Monkress, CEO and President of All Point Logistics, is all about meaty johnsons in his mighty loose two-hole”.

But I refrained.

But it might be the truth.

Especially considering how he sticks it to the taxpayers and misleads Congress.

Green Thumb

Bottom line, Sparks: We need a new Phildo thread.

Sparks

@138 Green Thumb I gotta agree on a new Phildo da Dildo thread.

Laughing Wolf

A change of topic, with a request for assistance. If anyone has experience with legal and proper criminal background checks (for employment or service as a volunteer)I would love to talk with you Laughingwolfone at gmail. Can tell I’m getting old, dealing with IRS paperwork is now taking three times as much coffee as it did before, not just double. 🙂

Also, what would you think of a charity that has a rather, er, strong policy in regards Stolen Valor? Hoping the lawyers will let it stand, or even make it stronger.

NHSparky

The only APL thread I want to see is the one where Phildo and/or Psulie-boi and most of the remaining execs are doing the perp walk.

Toasty Coastie

@128 Sparks
I’ve never made taquitos and home made tomatilla sauce, so I can’t speak to how hard or easy it may be, nor have I had it before..it sound fantastic though…is there any way you could get/share the recipe?

I do make a lovely Ropa Vieja with yellow rice that has to cook all day and has a very nice zig to it..

Man, I wish you guys were here, would so love to cook for you all! 😀

Toasty Coastie

@129 Ex-PH2~
I love your idea…will incorporate next time I make it…I use very little salt most of the time, but I like your idea of using Steak Seasoning as a replacement. I also will on occasion put rutabagas and beets in it as well…just depends on what I find at the Farmer’s Market. 🙂

Green Thumb

@142.

“Tomatilla sauce”.

I grow them, make it and can it; (SM) style recipe.

Good stuff.

Old school; Cuernavaca region.

Green Thumb

Also, Twisted Sister rocks!

Ex-PH2

What I know about salsa tomatilla requires the use of a molcajete and a tejolote to reduce the tomatilla to a proper pulp. But I’ve probably seen ‘Como Agua Para Chocolate’ too many times and I’d like to make quail with rose petal sauce, which requires the use of pitaya. That used to be hard to get, but no longer.

Comino will nicely reduce the acidity of tomatoes and increase the tex-mex flavor of any tomato-based dish. So I make tortilla soup as the tomato base for chili con carne, with no beans or beef, just the tomatoes, comino and el ajo and lime – lots of lime.

Green Thumb

@146.

Soak before you boil in the husk.

clamsgotlegs

@134 Common Sense

That was the best Valentine evah! 🙂

Sparks

@142 TC I will try to find the recipe today.

@148 clamsgotlegs I have to agree, for a holiday I usually don’t pay a lot of mind to, it was especially nice this year. Sounds like yours was as well. Love your Barbra Streisand “evah” by the way. You ever live up north where they talk like that?

Uh oh, I gotta make a run…be back soon. If you don’t hear from me in 30 minutes…call MI-6.

Twist

Sparks, on what topic did the clamsgotlegs discussion go one? I’m on staff duty and have nothing better to do.

Enigma4you

@149 Called MI-6, they of course said they had never heard of you. I then called Papa Johns, they were very concerned and said they would start a search ASAP. I hope you are found soon