Weekend open thread

| December 2, 2016

AAl38Ku

Indian Navy marine commandos demonstrate their skills during a rehearsal ahead of Navy Day celebrations in Mumbai, India, December 1, 2016.

My primary computer crapped out on me the other day, so I’m still learning to drive this new one. Knock yourselves out.

Category: Open thread

127 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Claw

First

Mick

Damn!

Lost this one by mere seconds…

Claw

Whoo-Hoo!!

28 minutes of straight F5Uing pays off.

P.S.: Yes, I’m humble, but you may now grovel at my feet.

desert

Still Bombay to me! 😉

Mick

First

Mick

Oh well, not really first.

(Shrugs shoulders, hangs head, kicks dirt…)

Toasty Coastie

3rd lol

Commissioner Wretched

As a gentleman, I shall gladly accept fourth to allow you, Toasty, to have third.

Toasty Coastie

Awww well thank you Commissioner 🙂 How about we share in the spirit of Holiday cheer and the win for Jonn, TSO et. al.?

Commissioner Wretched

Third … gonna get there one day!

fsckity fsck

John Giduck – the turd with a face!

77 11C20

fifth

A Proud Infidel®™

TOP TEN!!!

Once again the DRG can go fuck themselves. I’m still undiscovered by them, happily married, gainfully employed and donating money to TAH when I can!

GR_ATC

12th!

Hondo

This just in: according to the State Bar of California, Daniel A. Bernath IS STILL DISBARRED!

Anyone who is curious regarding why Mr. Bernath lost his license to practice law is invited to read this.

Hope it was worth it, Danni-boi. Tell us: how does it feel to be – IMO, of course – Florida’s best counterexample regarding mature, rational, adult behavior?

Hack Stone

Made the Top Ten. I would have been first, but Psaul called an emergency meeting of the board members because he can’t figure out how to update the company website since we no longer are located on Wilson Lane. He should have gotten the password from Elaine Ricci before he launched that hostile takeover of the Board of Directors.

ChipNASA

Pish, at least I’m here this Friday to post.

Hey Danny Boy, GO FLYING FUCK YOURSELF!!!!

EVEN BABIES HATE YOU!!!!


Sapper3307

17 will get you 20!

Sapper3307

Birbath still disbarred?

Silentium Est Aureum

Is a frog’s ass watertight?

SFC D

Present!

Frankie Cee "In the Clear"

Gen Mattis for SECDEF. I had felt that 2016 was my best year ever, even before reading this the other day. And Christmas isn’t even here yet.
That was better news even than reading that the non-lawyer, non-aviator, non-Honorary CPO had another case thrown out, as I have read so many times this year.

Sparks

21!!

HMCS(FMF) ret

Present and accounted for!

Dave Hardin

AW1Ed

That cracked a grin, thanks!

AnotherPat

LMAO! That was GREAT, Dave! Thank You!???

Commissioner Wretched

Hilarious! Very creative and well-executed!

MCPO NYC USN Ret.

23st!

And exactly what are they practicing in the above photo?

Sparks

They are demonstrating how to hang from a chopper for sniper practice.

Eden

23rd. SOME of us had an exam today.

Combat Historian

“Indian Navy marine commandos demonstrate their skills during a rehearsal ahead of Navy Day celebrations in Mumbai, India, December 1, 2016.”

I hope and expect that Indian SpecOps units are now much better-trained for counter-terror contingencies than they were back in 2008. I was serving at PACOM HQs at Camp Smith back in Nov 2008 when islamist terrorists attacked Bombay, and followed the developing situation on the PACOM J3 log. The Indians were neither physically nor mentally prepared and it was a total goat-screw all the way through. Hope they’re much better prepared for this now…

Tony180a

Doubtful they have improved. If you want a good show go to the disputed Kashmir border and watch the Indian and Pakistani guards version of retreat. They put on a strutting peacock show facing off against each other. At night fall it turns into a tracer light show until dawn. At reveille the peacocks on both side come out strutting and face each other until retreat. This is repeated every day.

A Proud Infidel®™

Something like this? They were goose stepping so hard I thought they were gonna shit themselves!

A Proud Infidel®™

AWW SHIT, did it again!!! Here’s another try:

Tony180a

Yep that’s it. Soon as the flags are lowered and the crowds leave the tracers start flying until dawn. Each side picks out the biggest soldiers to put on this detail.

Sparks

Sure. And if stomping the ground and ‘bustin’ a move’ won wars, they would be ruling the far east. Break dance movie producers are on their way to sign a film deal.

A Proud Infidel®™

IMHO the spookiest part of it is that BOTH sides now have Nukes!

Tony180a

Paki’s have had them for some time. I remember back in the 90’s then CG SOCCENT Brigadier General Toney was receiving a briefing in Pakistan on some combined operations. The Pakistan S2 equivalent asked BG Toney if he had any questions and he replied, “Yes, show me where your nukes are”. The look on that Pakistani officers face was priceless. To top it off before the guy soiled his britches BG Toney said, “just kidding, we already know where they are”.

just some feller

Did the announcer mention the Ministry of Silly Walks???

Skyjumper

YO! Present and unaccountable for!

Looking for help from any TAH WWII Army historians.

I’m putting together my Dad’s WWII uniform (Ike jacket)to give to my son as a surprise (he really loved his Grandpa) but I need help.

We never found his Ike jacket, which was always hanging in the attic, after my Mom passed. So, I found another jacket and am trying to bring it together with his awards, etc., on it.

He was with the 86th Chemical Mortar Bn. that landed on Utah Beach D-25 days.

His unit was always attached to other units for support. They included approx. 18 Infantry units, 4 armored units, 2nd Ranger Bn., amongst others. They served in Eastern France, Ardennes campaign, Battle of The Bulge. I found this documentation thru some of his paperwork and on the Internet.

I am looking for his Bn. patch, but have not been able to find it.
http://www.4point2.org/graphics/FLW-86th-1b.jpg

I have his original “unauthorized” patch, but it can’t be put on the uniform.

http://www.86thchemical.us/Site/Home_files/sc0043ae72.jpg

His unit served under the First, Third and Ninth Armies.

Two of my questions are, if I find the 86th Bn. patch, would that go on his right shoulder? And, what would be the correct Army patch (1st/3rd/9th) and would one of those go on his left shoulder?

I already have his PFC stripes, Chemical/U.S.Brass, awards, overseas stripes and sew-on Ruptured Duck. I also found out he qualified as “Sharpshooter” (he could whack the hell out of nails with a hammer, but wasn’t known as a “tack-driver” with a rifle–sorry, Dad 😉

In WWII, did they wear their rifle qualification badge on their uniform? I researched it quite a bit, but haven’t found a definitive answer.

Sorry about being long winded,but this has been a enjoyable & enlightening work in progress, and I would appreciate any & all help to get it right.

Thanks

Thunderstixx

I can’t help you with it, but good luck to you and thanks for keeping another of that horrible time in the forefront of our memories.
Those men deserve all the respect we as a country can give them.

Claw

I would think that (unless he served in another unit after the end of hostilities in the peacetime Army) whichever patch you end up with, it would only go on his left shoulder/sleeve.

I have seen pictures of WWII vets in their Ike jackets and yes, they were wearing their marksmanship qualification badges. My father’s Ike jacket (which was kept in a trunk) had his pinned to it.

Good Luck in your endeavor.

Claw

Skyjumper, found this little bit of info on the 86thchemical.us site under the category of Bill’s Memories:

“Fall season of 1944. First Army then assigned the battalion to Major General Leonard T. Gerow’s V (Fifth) Corps. V Corps shoulder patches were sewn onto our shirts and coats. The assignment seemed permanent. We had found a military home with V Corps.”

So maybe the V Corps patch is the one to sew on? Your call.

Graybeard

I’m not any help, but you made me think about it – and I never saw my father’s Ike jacket, if he ever had one.
Not even in his photos from the time.

MustangCryppie

I don’t remember this, but I was told that my father wore his Ike jacket until it fell apart. Sharp uniform.

OWB

Not sure how difficult it would be for me to find pics of Dad in an Ike jacket from that period, but I have one on the wall of him wearing pinks. Pretty sure he sometimes wore an Ike jacket with the long sleeved pink shirt and trousers.

Anyway, in the pic on the wall, the only thing on the shirt is a 5th Army patch on the left sleeve and his collar brass. Right sleeve is not visible. His tie is tucked into the shirt front. (Not sure if that indicates that he wore no jacket, or that it means his Ike jacket was back in his office. Or maybe even his dress jacket.)

No clue just what it all means. Dad was always super meticulous about proper wear of the uniform. That tucked in tie indicates something but I just don’t know what. This is an official pic. He’s shaking hands with a gentleman also in pink long sleeved shirt, with the 5th Army patch on his right sleeve, with his left sleeve not visible.

A pic of Ike is on the wall, but his clothing is mostly obstructed. He may be wearing a suit – it’s not really clear.

I don’t remember Dad wearing awards on his Ike jacket, but I may be confusing that with how we wore it in USAF.

Andy Kravetz

What type of helicopters are those? They aren’t Blackhawks, Hueys, or Lakotas, it seems. And they don’t look like Kiowas, Apaches, Cobras or Chinooks. You guys are all vets. Help me out.

Andy Kravetz, reporter
Peoria (Ill.) Journal Star

Combat Historian

French Alouettes, first introduced in the 1960’s,and still in wide use by many third-world military forces…

11B-Mailclerk

Alouette III

I have been in the type. Sweet ride. Very capable.

AW1Ed

NAVSEA’s ugly baby.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/gao-the-miracle-of-the-lcs-didnt-happen/article/2608619

“The Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship program is behind schedule, hundreds of millions over budget, and incapable of conducting most of the basic missions it was intended to carry out. Senators on Thursday said they wanted to know why.”

I’ve been watching this slow motion train wreck for years. This is what happens when The Good Idea Fairy overrides common sense.

A Proud Infidel®™

Wow, ships with a Bentley price tag that break down like a 70’s Fiat or a Yugo. I wonder how many people they kept bribing to keep the contract?

Sparks

For a stealth ship, it sure puts out a lot of smoke. Rings and valves guys, rings and valves.

OAE CPO USN Ret

It’s been my misfortune to have to go aboard those ships for work. I told them I needed to get up on the mast real quick to check something. I was then informed that they’d either have to rig scaffolding or order up a crane with a personnel basket “because there are no ladders installed on the mast”.

Since the days of sail there’s been some means of climbing up the mast to get work done. What idjit didn’t think to install ladders on the freakin mast? Did they think the Sailors were just going to levitate up there? Have they never heard of going aloft while underway to conduct repairs?

If you’re one of the LCS designers and you’re reading this…go choke yourself.

And if you’re the DRG and reading this…NO I didn’t not give away any secrets. You can pull up pictures of the LCS ships and see with your own eyes.

A Proud Infidel®™

Sounds like they were designed by a one-eyed lobotomized rhesus monkey on LSD in a broom closet!

Graybeard

31st?
Dadgum business meeting.

Thunderstixx

I was lucky enough to serve under Gen Schwarzkopf when he was a Full Bird Colonel in Alaska and commanded the 172’Nd Arctic Light Infantry Brigade, I was at Ft Wainwright in Fairbanks and he was at Ft Richardson in Anchorage.
He was a real true leader of men and his reputation as a hard charging leader was well deserved and earned through his exemplary leadership whether in Vietnam or Desert Storm 1.
With that I have been just chomping at the bit to find out who Trump will put in as SECDEF.
I shouldn’t tell anyone as it was a secret that he announced last night at his thank you America rally in Cincinnati, so don’t tell anyone, or I’ll have to put on my Manchu snowshoes and kill you…
Check this out from one of the men that served under General Mattis, USMC. His reputation as “Mad Dog” is also well earned.
This is a good read and only takes a minute to read it.
Oh, and I’m the Twenty Tooth yet again !!!
http://thefederalist.com/2016/12/02/served-james-mattis-heres-learned/

Sapper3307

I cant believe Donald Trump is gonna kick an unemployed family of African Americans out of government housing (1600 Pennsylvania av) again. Were is the outrage.

Eden

LOL!

A Proud Infidel®™

Donald Trump is the FIRST Billionaire in U. S. History to move into public housing being vacated by a black family!

MustangCryppie

Just reported on FoxNews Special Report that douchebag Bergdahl has requested a pardon from Obama.

Not just no, but FUCK NO!

Silentium Est Aureum

He can ask, but I don’t see it happening.

ex-OS2

Fucking work, not first.

Cocksuckers.

2/17 Air Cav

Never gets old. I laughs every time. You take it well. I really admire that about you.

Frankkie Cee "In the Clear"

For someone who is accused of being a Felon, I find it surprisingly easy to just flash my Concealed Weapons Permit, and buy the firearm of my choice. I bought one of these, and won the other in a raffle in support of a Wounded military organization:
comment image
Shooting the Henry Lever gun is both fun and very inexpensive, and by daily range time on the range here at home, I am getting pretty good. I shoot at 6inch diameter targets, and can consistently keep a shot group within 3 inches, sometimes within 2 inches as this group fell:
comment image
I also shoot my AR-15, in .223 Wylde, using either commercial .223 ammor, or mil-spec 5.56 NATO. I can shoot a good group with that too. While these are spread out a bit, considering that it is a 6 inch circle, each one is a “head shot”:
comment image
Range time, it keeps the cobwebs away. Having completed more than 75 laps around the Sun, I feel that I am still a pretty good shot.

gitarcarver

For something completely different, the US Air Force Band made it now annual “flash mob” appearance at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on November 30. They somehow managed to have veterans from the Armed Forces Retirement Home in attendance.

https://youtu.be/gr4-akvoJuU

There is also a version of the appearance for use with virtual reality (VR) goggles.

https://youtu.be/gr4-akvoJuU

Sweet!

AW1Ed

A class act, as usual. Thanks for sharing!

Sparks

Damn I missed my calling! Those band folks sure make rank!

Reb

Again, CONGRATULATIONS on your CALIFORNIA DISBARMENT BERNATH, it couldn’t of happened to a better MILITARY POSUER and thief who stole clients money and lied.

WITTLESS aka MENTALLY FUCKED UP TURD..I’VE been waiting four long years for you to COMETH my way. Truth is you can’t find me so you never LEFT FLORIDA?. As you know, I relocated to your city and state after a well earned promotion, gave my work address and you still didn’t COMETH.

I invited my buddies PROUD AND GORG over next weekend so why don’t you cometh and meet my friends and crew?

Who ever wins at Paper, Rock and Scissor (not you) gets to beat the snot out of you. A prize should be awarded to the winner. Picture of you dressed in Victoria’s Secret bra and tongs DRUNK…

Ex-PH2

And this just in: Inflation in the nation of Venezuela has now reached 368%. The bolivar is being printed in denominations of 500B and 5,000B and worth only a few U.S. cents.

This really starts to sound like Germany in the Depression.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-30/venezuelan-inflation-hits-currency-with-arrival-of-bigger-bills

People shopping for food are handing over bags of cash instead of carrying wallets.

Keep a weather eye on Europe, too. The political trend is swinging to the right. I’ve said it before and will say it again, the leftward swing has reached its peak, lost its energy and is moving in the other direction.

HMCS(FMF) ret

Don’t forget about the quality healthcare in Venezuela…

http://alfonzorachel.com/3018/3018

Ex-PH2

Ain’t socialism just GRAND? Don’t answer that.

‘a hospital wartime’ – no, it’s a hospital in Hell. It must be nice to be Maduro, up there in his safe space, insulated from it all. It almost sounds like a Soviet-era hospital.

Nucsnipe

Well the liberal media likes some veterans, at least the ones that want to be liberal snots.
http://www.kiro7.com/news/local/washington-state-veterans-leaving-to-support-standing-rock/472491702

rgr769

2,000 “veterans” are going to participate, my ass. I would like to see the DD-214’s before I would believe this. More likely, there are a handful of posers and libtard dicksteppers, like so many exposed on this site.

A Proud Infidel®™

I wonder how many are college types that consider themselves Vets because they took ROTC?

Sapper3307

News is in Bergdahl is asking for that presidential pardon.

Ex-PH2

I see a lot of snow on the weather map.

Heat up some apple cider, add a stick of cinnamon or a slice of lemon, and grab a good book.

Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Dry ingredients:
2.5 cups of flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

Wet ingredients:

3/4 cup of table sugar
3/4 cup of brown sugar (dark brown is better – more molasses)
1 cup (two sticks) of butter
2 eggs
2 tsp of really good vanilla

1 bag of good chocolate chips, the chocolater the better

Mix the wet ingredients together. If you melt the butter, beat the wet dough until it looks like satin.

Slowly add half of the dry ingredients, then add the chocolate chips and continue stirring the pot. Add the rest of the dry ingredients after the chocolate chips.

Keep your paws out of the cookie dough!

Drop heaping dessert spoonfuls on baking sheets. Bake at 375F.

Time allowed:

For really crisp cookies – 11 minutes
For crisp but not brittle cookies – 10 min
For chewy cookies – 9 min 30 seconds

Yes, you are allowed to dispose of the stray chocolate chips by eating them. Samples of completed, cooked cookies are also allowed, with an appropriate hot beverage.

A Proud Infidel®™

Mmmmm, cookies…

Any good Astrology Foecasts lately?

Ex-PH2

Foecasts, API? 😉 Is that a Freudian slip?

If you meant ‘forecasts’, I think I can come up with one.

Ex-PH2

I’m going to dig up my grandmother’s chopped apple cake recipe, which is loaded with apples, raisins and chopped nuts. I’ve made it with whole wheat flour which, of course, makes it healthy. Right? It is so good on a cold winter night!

Tony180a

Now that sounds tasty. Please share.

Ex-PH2

I will!

Ex-PH2

Okay, I found my Grandma’s chopped apple cake recipe, so here it is.

Chopped Apple Cake by

Grandma Zelie Wiley

2 cups brown sugar (light or dark)
2 cups water
1 cup shortening (butter is best)
1 cup seedless raisins
2 cups chopped apples
2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp nutmeg

Cook above ingredients together about 20 minutes then remove from heat.

Cool apple-raisin mixture and add the dry ingredients:

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup chopped English walnuts or pecans

Sift dry ingredients together, add nuts and mix thoroughly until the nuts are coated with the flour.

When the apple-raisin mix has cooled, add all the dry ingredients, mix thoroughly and bake in greased loaf pans which have been lined with waxed paper. Batter will stick without the waxed paper lining the pan, even if greased and floured.

Oven temperature: 350° F for about an hour, or until a toothpick or spaghetti strand inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and put on a cooling rack or stovetop burner trivet. Leave in loaf pan until it cools. Does not need frosting. Will keep nicely in fridge or in the freezer

Note: This can also be baked in an angel cake pan or a Bundt cake pan, but use the waxed paper to line the greased pan.

Ex-PH2

Almost forgot: there is no need to peel the apples. Just cut off the core, and chop up, not too fine. If they’re peeled, they just get mushy.

Tony180a

Ex-PH2 that cake should come with an armed guard! As soon as I showed your recipe to my wife she dispatched me to Publix. The entire house smells like cinnamon apple goodness! The Boss says thanks for a fantastic recipe!

11B-mailclerk

Ex-PH2,

For Chocolate Chip Cookies, try using whole wheat flour and for the sugar 1/2 light and 1/2 dark brown. Real butter only, and real Vanilla. I tend to go heavy on the chocolate chips. Sometimes I will add some butterscotch chips, or chopped walnuts, or some other experimental ingredient.

Ex-PH2

I use ONLY real butter and real vanilla. I’ve used whole wheat in both chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies, and liked the results.

The chocolate chips from Aldi have more per bag than the Nestle brand and cost less, and I can get 80% cacao for a modest cost at Aldi. Now that the holidays are kicking in, they will also have mint-chocolate chips and more butterscotch, too.

I’m making cornbread right now. Later.

Green Thumb

New neighbors. Same yard.

My dog is a one-trick pony.

Yet another streaming pile of Phil Monkress dropped by the driveway.

I guess I should go pick it up and all as they are new. I do not want to leave a bad impression….

Ex-PH2

Oh, just throw him a bone, GT. He’ll be fine.

2/17 Air Cav

Navy football is doing well. Very well. Doesn’t matter one whit what they did thus far this season if they don’t beat Army in two weeks. Army is no slouch this year and has the traditional two weeks off to ready for Navy. Navy, on the other hand, plays today and will have only a week–for the first time in 75 years–to ready for Army. Tradition is something the Navy has a penchant for parting with in recent years.

If you have tickets to the Army/Navy game, I really hate you. GO ARMY. BEAT NAVY.

Sparks

GO ARMY! YES!!!

AW1Ed

Go Get’em Goat- Beat Army!

*again*

ex-OS2

I was in the Navy and Army, who do I cheer for?

2/17 Air Cav

Air Force. That way you can’t lose. Of course, you can’t win either.

Claw

Navy football is kind of sucking it right now.

Down 21-0 to Temple and only a couple of minutes into the second quarter.

2/17 Air Cav

That would be the same Temple team that Army beat, I believe. I checked. Yes, same team.

Ex-PH2

This one’s for you, API. It’s from a guy in Dartmoor, UK. He does have a good track record and did predict Trump to win the US election. “Last year I predicted that in 2016-17 we would be likely to see sudden and unexpected game-changing events. This was due to the conjunction of Uranus and Eris (aka Discordia), which happens every 85 years or so. So far we have had Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as US President. Both these events were unexpected and game-changers, though their implications have yet to be seen. There is still another conjunction to go (next March), so I expect there to be more shocks to come. In particular, I expect governments to swing to the right across Europe, more than is expected. There are several elections coming up. Marine Le Pen, for example, the far-right leader in France, could be elected President in the spring. One way or the other, I expect these shocks to lead to the beginning of a wider unraveling of the EU in its present form, to the extent that Brexit will no longer seem such an anomaly. But Uranus-Eris game-changers do not come out of nowhere: they are the expression of deeper, underlying trends that reach tipping points. Like earthquakes. And they come as a shock because it can be hard for us limited humans to see beneath the status quo, to something we may not want to see. Change and uncertainty are difficult for us. And the deeper, underlying trend is described by the major transit the world has been experiencing for about 7 years now, the square from Uranus to Pluto. The last square was in the late 20s/early 30s, and look what that led to. As Ed Tamplin has pointed out, Uranus was in EXACTLY the same position when Donald Trump launched his campaign to be President in June 2015, as when Hitler was sworn in as German Chancellor. This tells us that they are the expression of similar revolutionary (Uranus) trends. The US is not in the desperate economic situation that Germany was… Read more »

Claw

Ex- That’s me waiting for the persimmons forecast. My buddy back home has it on his to-do list, but now that he retired (just this year) he has a lot on his plate in getting the farmstead up to snuff. He swears he’ll get around to it (probably the next time he gets drifted in) as soon as he can.

As soon as he gives me the word, I’ll give you the word.

Ex-PH2

Thank you, Claw. I think it has to do with the size of the ‘spoons’, but I’m not sure if the bigger size means worse or better winter.

Claw

Ex-Here’s the deal:

Spoon-Shaped: Lots of wet, heavy snow.
Fork-Shaped: Powdery, light snow and a mild winter.
Knife-Shaped: Expect to be “cut” by icy, cutting winds.

Just for shits and grins, there is a Persimmon Festival held each September (usually the third week) in Mitchell, (Lawrence County) Indiana. Lots and lots of activities and persimmon recipes to be had.

Anyway, just got the word back from my buddy. As I said before, he has three trees spread out on the old farmstead. He went out and collected three fruits (split one seed from each fruit) from each tree and the results are:

Prediction for Northwestern Indiana is: Eight spoons and one knife.

So, get the snow shovels sharpened up and prepare to do some digging, lots of snow on the way.

I’m sure that’s just what you wanted to hear. (Smile)

Ex-PH2

As a follow-up, the snow started this morning around 10:15AM and continued all day. Not sure of the total, but at least two inches, maybe more, but it was light, fluffy stuff, not tiny dense flakes. Finally quite around 9:15PM. Neighbor shoveled my sidewalk and people to south of him and across the street.

I now have a rotten cold, so I’ve made a big pot of chicken noodle soup to kill it, plus some cornbread. Staying in tomorrow.

Ex-PH2

Thank you, Claw.

I believe that coincides with the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s forecast for the general area. I will stock up on birdfood, cat food, and chocolate. The shovel sits by the door, along with a box of salt for the front steps.

Glad I checked with you!

Ex-PH2

We’re supposed to have up to two inches of snow overnight. It is to the west by several hundred miles.
I guess I should make up a big pot of soup, too.

Ex-PH2

Here is a news story about Venezuela’s economy and the inflation of the bolivar. Straight from a guy in a Home Depot store. The US dollar costs 4,000 Bolivars, meaning one U.S. cent is worth 40B.

http://www.pri.org/stories/2016-12-01/venezuelas-currency-value-depends-largely-one-guy-alabama-home-depot

This story is about the end of the relationship between Exxon-Mobil and Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A.

http://venezuelatoday.net/could-venezuelas-anti-fracking-views-have-been-the-cause-behind-the-chalmette-refinery-sale/

Ex-PH2

Here’s an additional story, re: Venezuela’s imploding currency. It is now officially worthless.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2016/12/03/congratulations-to-bolivarian-socialism-venezuelas-largest-banknote-is-now-worth-2-us-cents/#3daeac978d04

Just don’t drink anything while you’re reading the article. We may have narrowly escaped this kind of economic debacle by electing Trump, but what is happening in Venezuela now happened in Germany in the 1930s when Hitler was clawing his way to the top.

Ex-PH2

Here’s a quickly fixed dinner that only needs a couple of side dishes to go with it.

1 can of condensed Cream of Celery soup
1 can of condensed Cream of Potato soup
1 cup of milk
1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves, crushed
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 cups of cut-up vegetables, cooked if fresh, or thawed if frozen. I used frozen mixed vegs, thawed under the hot water in the sink.
2 cups of cooked, cubed chicken or turkey
1 1/2 cups water
4 tablespoons butter
4 cups of herb-seasoned boxed stuffing (unless you want to make if from scracth)

Mix the soups, mlik, thyme, black pepper, vegetables and chicken/turkey and put in a shallow baking dish.
Mix up the stuffing per box directions and spoon over the chicken/veg mixture.
Bake at 400F for 25 minutes, or until hot.
(You’ll be able to smell the thyme in the air.)

Serve this with side dishes like cut veggies and pickles and stuff. And biscuits — always have biscuits and butter on the table.

And for afters: apples baked en croute (enclosed in a pastry crust), and the pastry can be the refrigerated kind from the store if you don’t have time to fix it.
Add some vanilla ice cream to the serving plate, too.

Awfully good in the winter, filling and hearty, and I dare anyone to tell me it is not nutritious.
Cover the leftovers with foil and store in the fridge.
The casserole can be reheated if a small amount of chicken broth is added to the pan.

So good! And so easy to fix!

AW1Ed

Speaking of sides, Ex, here’s my take on the Mom-In-Law’s Veg Casserole. You’ll need:
1 bag frozen broccoli florets
2 packages frozen spinach (the ones that look like little bricks. I have no idea what the actual amount is)
1 bag Panko
S&P
2 tbls butter
2 tbls flour
2 cups warmed milk (microwave it gently)
Melting cheese. I like shredded Cheddar or Jack, but if pasteurized processed cheese food is what you have, use that. Or call me and I send you some Cheddar or grated Jack.
Lube up a baking dish with spray or whatever and preheat the oven to 350.
In a sauce pot over low heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and stir. Let it go for a couple minutes to cook the flour a bit. Add about half the warmed milk, stir. When it gets back to temp add half of what’s left, again stir. Repeat with the last of the milk. It should have thickened up and can easily coat the back of a spoon. Add S&P. Add some grated nutmeg and congrats, you’ve just made a Béchamel sauce. If you don’t, no big deal. Now add the cheese a bit at a time, allowing it to melt before adding the next batch, stirring. Wash rinse repeat until desired level of cheesiness is achieved. Remove from heat.
Put thawed veg in the baking dish- you did thaw the veg, right?
Pour cheese sauce over the veg, top with a layer of Panko.
Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until bubbling and the Panko is golden brown, done!

This normally pops up around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but really isn’t hard to do, and will be a winner at any time.

Ex-PH2

Oh, the cheese! The cheese!

I didn’t realize it was that easy to make a bechamel. Now I know.

Thanks! I just always called it cheese sauce. Make the roux of butter and flour, add milk or 1/2 & 1/2, stir thoroughly, then add the grated cheese, any flavor.

I have been holding off using the Transylvanian cheese until I could get to making a quiche. But this – ? Mac & cheese w/mixed vegs in a heartbeat!

AW1Ed

You are more than welcome. And yes, this is the base for a kick-ass Mac&Cheese, enjoy!

Slather some over a baked tater, top with crumbled bacon, yum!

Ex-PH2

A ladleful of it over boiled red potatoes, quartered and cooked, will also work!

AW1Ed

Dentist in latest Tomah VA scandal resigns.

http://www.wkow.com/story/33858848/2016/12/Satu
rday/dentist-in-latest-tomah-va-scandal-resigns

“TOMAH (WKOW) — The dentist under investigation in the most recent Tomah VA scandal has resigned. The dentist, who has not yet been named, submitted his resignation papers Friday, Dec. 2, just days ahead of a meeting of the VA’s Review Board on Monday, Dec. 5.”

A Proud Infidel®™

One down, a shitpot more to go.

Friend S. Wilkins
Skippy

To all here on the WOT on TAH I’m making my bi annual trip via vehicle ?
To BFE Virginia this year should be pulling out around Dec 20th if anyone
Would like to grap a coffee (I don’t drink beer) or shoot da shit e-mail me via Jonn
Should be traveling through Texas Arkansas Tennessee then North Carolina
The reason for me driving and not flying is simple I have to much hardware inside me,
and flying is a nightmare. Hope all are doing well

Pineywoods NCO

All is well…going via I-20 in any stretch?

Skippy

Maybe did that the last time 20 to 30 to 40 through Tennessee then north to Virginia will probably do it again I have a buddy down in gatesville to say hi to
I’m not doing blizzard road again through Kansas Lol. Talk about white knuckle driving ??

A Proud Infidel®™

Try doing it in a semi truck with crosswinds, BTDT.

Skippy

Did that with a buddy of mine down I-25 in Wyoming!!!! During a HELL of a wind
Storm
I got sick twice never again… the Trailer,
I swear was halfway in the hammer lane
And the cab was shaking back and forth.. I’ve landed in 130s doing combat dives
That were smoother then that ride in a 18 wheeler ???

AW1Ed

“Dirty” Harry Reid is fiving his farewell speech this Thursday. It just keeps getting better and better!

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/jasonhopkins/2016/12/04/buhbye-harry-reid-giving-farewell-address-thursday-n2254666?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl&newsletterad=

“The date is finally set. The retiring Harry Reid will be giving his farewell address on Thursday.”

So long, asshole.

Ex-PH2

Fairytales do come true. They can happen to you.

A Proud Infidel®™

A GOOD RIDDANCE to ratshit Reid.

Pineywoods NCO

113th…no biggie.

Good to see Daniel get put in his place by the courts (again). I am beginning to think he suffers from severe dementia, compounded by an extreme case of stupidity.

Now again, (sigh) where’s Dennis, the cheese master, the lie master, the man with at least 7 ex-wives and more expired professional licenses then Daniel has working brain cells. He still has in almost four years never shown me the proof that he lost all his records in a non-existent flood in the high part of Irving, Texas and has lentil peas for balls in coming back through East Texas to get his jelly from Jefferson. IMO, Dennis is not only a liar, a cheese eater and a lousy bald-headed excuse for a man, but he is a coward to face those who will shoot (not physically for we do not want to waste bullets, but effectively in many other ways) him down in an instant.

And then there is this shithead still in active status and wanting a presidential pardon for his cowardly actions seven years ago and is facing his day in court. Bowe, I will say this in the words of a fellow active duty Soldier I know, “STFU & GFY, YWLSOS.”

Finally, GFY to the lady who missed out on her chance to run the country, her husband, and to everyone still whining about her not becoming the President, after eight years of being “first bitch” and the next sixteen being a disgrace to the country.

Pineywoods 6 out.

Ex-PH2

It is snowing now. I am not happy.

Sapper3307

DD-214 checks in effect for this Standing Rock thing. Lots of Scout snipers and ranger types showing up.

Skippy

God help them ??

A Proud Infidel®™

I wonder how many of them were some of the Sparkle Ponies from that Wildlife Area standoff, the ones that got sent a 55 gal drum of lube, dildos and Bags of Dicks®™?

NormanS

Way beyond first. I just spent a couple of weeks wading through the Phillip Monkress/Paul Wickre threads. So much like spammers, they are. I actually had a couple of spammers threatening me with “lawsuites” (as one noted spammer misspelled the word).