HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021!

 

Boy! Are we happy to see 2020 end!

And we are happy for the New Year 2021!

via GIPHY

via GIPHY

"Be there, will be wild!"

 

Soon-to-be EX-PRESIDENT Trump is encouraging his enablers/cultists (those who don't believe in American democracy and will not accept the will of the American people) to come to DC and be "wild."

Trump tweeted:

“Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!,” 

Mr. Trump tweeted earlier this month in an appeal to his supporters to come to the capital to buttress his campaign to overturn the election results. He followed up Sunday, 

“See you in Washington, DC, on January 6th. Don’t miss it. Information to follow!” 

And again on Wednesday, “JANUARY SIXTH, SEE YOU IN DC!”

*********************

Thanks, Donnie, for the one last super-spreader event before you ride off into the ignominious sunset.

The big question, though, is just what the hell are you going to do with yourself after January 20?

Most former presidents get busy writing their memoirs, but since you're pretty much illiterate, that's likely not on the agenda. Lots of former presidents establish charitable foundations -- but, oh right, you can't do that because you and your children defrauded the last one you set up. 

So why not throw a little riot for a few hundred of your nearest, dearest, and most rabid enablers/cultists? 

Your relevance is dropping like a rock, but you might as well fleece them while you still can. 

Anyway, it's over. It's over just like it was the other sixty-odd times you lost. 

 Now go away, will you? 

 The adults in the People's House have work to do.

General George Washington and Smallpox at the Siege of Boston

America's Founding Father, George Washington, used quarantining (prohibition against congregating) during the smallpox outbreak in Boston during the siege of my city in the Revolutionary War.

The writer in the post below this one, apparently had no knowledge about American history when he urged Americans during the COVID-19 plague to ignore prohibitions against congregating and mask wearing.

As a commenter to that post said, General Washington would have kicked that person's posterior to the moon and probably would have had him shot for gross insubordination, encouraging the spread of the smallpox disease during a war.

Smallpox during the siege of Boston:

General Washington took extreme care to protect his army fromsmallpox during the lengthy Boston campaign. His cautious moves, designed to limit the exposure of his troops upon occupying the city, spoke volumes about his concern regarding the potential effects of smallpox on his troops. 

Washington’s policies of containment and inoculation developed as a response to the impact that smallpox epidemics had had on his ability to wage war. Much of his early military strategizing and administrative effort was put toward solving the problems smallpox caused for his troops and ensuring a healthy, reliable military force capable of fighting effectively. Only Washington’s vigilance in segregating (quarantining) those infected with the disease and his use of selective inoculation prevented a disastrous epidemic of smallpox among the troops and militia outside Boston during the siege. 

Illustrating the extreme susceptibility of Continentals to the disease, British writer John Haygarth wrote in 1793 that, “When General Washington inoculated his New England Army, there were scarcely men enough free from the disease, or not liable to take it, to keep guard at the different hospitals.”115 Washington was forced to maintain a nine-month siege as a result of British attempts to introduce smallpox among American troops, and the smallpox epidemic in the city, precluded an attack. 

Washington was cautious when confronted with the possibility of biological warfare, altered his military strategy to accommodate the threat, and succeeded in protecting his army outside Boston from the devastating consequences of an epidemic during the first year of the war. 

Efforts to contain smallpox led eventually to the selective use of inoculation during this campaign. Although an effective preventive medical procedure, inoculation was not without danger to the army and civilian population.

*******************

Apparently more than one anti-masker and anti-social distancing Trumpublican is unaware of his country's own history. And that guy, Rep. Jim Jordan, serves in the U.S. House!

Dr. Tara C. Smith

@aetiology

They would likely approve. Washington used variolation & isolation to protect his soldiers. Quarantine was common due to outbreaks of smallpox, measles, yellow fever, and more. They understood the seriousness of infectious disease & the nascent science behind its control.

Rep. Jim Jordan

@Jim_Jordan

60 million Americans are subject to a stay at home order or curfew. 11 million are right here in Ohio. What would the Founders say?

Trumpublicans eating their own.

 

Here's what happens when dumb-ass, hoax-believing Trumpublicans ignore how serious COVID-19 is:

The report below explains how a Massachusetts GOP leader went to a White House party, discarded his mask, contracted COVID, almost had to be put on a ventilator, and spread the virus to his loved ones when he returned home from DC.

MAGA!

Massachusetts GOP leader says he likely got covid-19 at a White House Hanukkah party: ‘I’m paying the price

Here are some paranoid comments found on far right Trumpublican blogs still claiming COVID-19 is nothing but a Deep State conspiracy to take away Trumpublicans' freedumbs!

This person believes safe practices to avoid getting and spreading COVID-19 is an oppression of his liberty and freedoms! Selfish willful ignorance is too mild a description of this guys stupidity.

This is the very reason COVID-19 is raging across America -- misguided idiots thinking like this:

1)  We have limited opportunity to express our opposition on a daily basis. 

2)  One is to not conform to the best of our abilities. 

3)  The virus is real. The use of the virus is an oppression of our liberty and freedoms and most importantly, our rights. 

4)  Are you told not to congregate? Congregate! 

5)  Are you told to wear a mask which has no proven efficacy? Take it off! 

6)  Be willing to be seen not bowing to the oppression. 

7)  This will encourage others or bring you scorn or both. 

8)  If you let the scorn of others dictate to you, you are not exactly Valley Forge material.

*****************

Got that? Congregate and spread the virus! Do it for your freedumbs! To hell with your fellow Americans!

Take off that mask so you can spread it to your vulnerable relatives and friends! That's REAL freedumb! Freedom to infect and kill your fellow Americans!

I swear that some sort of mental derangement has taken hold of these people. What other explanation is there for anyone to advocate death for their fellow Americans by spreading a lethal disease?

WaPo:

"...Fauci, who accepted Biden’s invitation to play an expanded role in his administration, expressed hope that by 'showing leadership from the top,' Biden could make an impact — comments that appeared to be implicit criticism of President Trump, who has said little publicly about the crisis since Election Day. 

 'What he’s saying is that let’s take at least 100 days and everybody, every single person, put aside this nonsense of making masks be a political statement or not,' Fauci said of Biden. 'We know what works. We know social distancing works. We know avoiding congregant settings works. For goodness sakes, let’s all do it, and you will see that curve will come down.' ”

****************

IOW, ignore the irrational Trumpers who believe their freedumbs and liberties depend upon making their fellow Americans deadly sick. 

The shameful legacy Trump leaves behind.

 

Among the convicted felons and murderers Trump pardoned, was the monster who murdered this child:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

Democrats have always wished their fellow Americans "Merry Christmas." 

A SOUTHERN ITALIAN CHRISTMAS EVE

 Buon Natale!

Growing up in a southern Italian family, I participated each Christmas Eve (La Vigilia di Natale) in the tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes.  I've never been able to find definitively where the tradition started or why seven fishes.  Here are some suggestions:



The Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church -- baptism, penance, Holy Eucharist, confirmation, marriage, holy orders and the sacrament of Extreme Unction.



The seven sins of the world -- pride, envy, anger, gluttony, sloth, lust and greed.


The seven days it took Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem.


Some say it's the seven hills of Rome, some say it's the seven winds of Italy, or the Seven Wonders of the World.

Another theory is that seven is a number representing perfection: the traditional Biblical number for divinity is three, and for Earth is four, and the combination of these numbers, seven, represents God on Earth, or Jesus Christ.

I have no idea why seven fishes were used, but it doesn't matter, since the idea of the feast was to carry on a tradition that was started somewhere in the obscure past and to celebrate a holiday in a manner that Italians know best--with lots of incredibly delicious food. 


My childhood memories are of my mother, grandmother (nonna) and aunts all working in the kitchen while the men smoked cigars, talked politics, and played cards in the parlor. [Beh!] 

One aunt made her famous ricotta filled ravioli.  Nonna made the dolci:  biscotti di regina, struffoli, pizzelle, pizza dolce, casatelli.   My mother, aunts and older cousins cracked steamed lobsters, picked the succulent meat from the knuckles, claws, 
and tails and put it into a marinara sauce that was ladled over piping hot bowls of linguini or fettucini. [We kids got to suck the little juicy bits of lobster meat from the legs, which were discarded because there wasn't enough meat in them to bother with.] I remember sweet, tender razor clams, stuffed with anchovy, parsley, and garlic flavored bread crumbs;  baccala--salted cod--made into a heavenly dish with hard-boiled eggs, floating in a savory sauce along with little salty green capers and bright red pimentoes.  The table was loaded with platters of lightly fried smelts, delicate sweet slender fish dredged in flour, sauted in olive oil, and served with cold lemon wedges; spicy, plump mussels in marinara sauce; scungilli salad; and my favorite, delicately battered and fried calamari.  One Christmas Eve, my mother prepared eel, which was surprisingly delicious--it tasted like chicken.

After everyone's bellies were filled, the uncles took out their musical instruments--violins, guitars, the older sisters and cousins played the piano, and we sang traditional Italian Christmas songs. [One of my childhood favorites was "Tu scendi dalle stelle." I just called it "Bambino."]  Finally, it was time for midnight Mass.  We all left the house and walked to church.  When we returned, we opened our gifts, played more music, ate more dolci and fell into bed by 2 am, exhausted, full, and happy.  Christmas day we all gathered again for our Christmas dinner--lasagna (in those days lasagna was made only for special occasions), followed by a meat course--roast beef or turkey, verdure (vegetables), salad, fruit, nuts, roasted chestnuts.  And later in the day, dolci--cannoli, pizza dolce, baba rum, and for the adults, caffe correcto (espresso coffee with a shot of sambuca in it).

I continued the tradition of cooking the seven fishes on December 24 when my children were at home, but now that they're living all over the country, it isn't as easy to do so with all of them so far away and on their own schedules.  But here is a feast of seven fishes meal I've made since then and am happy to share with everyone:


Feast of the Seven Fishes



Mussels with orzo (serves two)


2 lbs. mussels, cleaned and scrubbed
4 Tablespoons good fruity olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, sliced thin
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium stalk of celery, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
4 plum tomatoes, diced with skin and seeds
1 cup good burgundy wine
2 Tablespoons of minced fresh herbs (basil, mint, oregano, thyme, parsley, tarragon)
12 pitted black olives, sliced in half
1 tspn. anise seeds, crushed
salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste
3 Tablespoons minced parsley
1/4 pound of orzo


Boil water for orzo. Put orzo in water and cook until just tender (al dente).


Wash and scrub mussels and set aside. In a large, deep saute pan, saute the next 4 ingredients in olive oil until golden and tender, add plum tomatoes, and simmer for 1-2 minutes. Add wine and simmer until alcohol evaporates. Place mussels in pan, turn up heat and cook just till the shells open. Remove from heat. Stir in herbs, olives, anise seeds, salt and pepper. Add orzo to pan and stir so that the little rice-shaped pasta gets into the opened mussel shells. Place in deep pasta bowls and sprinkle with minced parsley. Serve immediately






Smelts with lemon (serves 2)


1/2 dozen smelts
3/4 cup flour
salt, pepper
4 Tablespoons olive oil
lemon wedges
1 Tablespoon minced parsley


Go to your local fishmonger and select the freshest smelts. Their eyes must glisten like the newly fallen snow. No cloudiness in the eyes. Ever.


Take the smelts home. Take a pair of scissors and snip off their heads, then run the scissors down the front of the fish and degut them. Very easy.


Wash and dry the smelts. Put the flour on a platter and generously season with salt and pepper. Roll the smelts into the seasoned flour and set aside. Place olive oil in saute pan and heat. Saute the smelts over gentle heat until they take on a golden color. Do not overcook. Place on a platter and squeeze some lemon on them. Serve with more lemon wedges and garnish with minced parsley.






Lobster meat with fresh tomatoes and linguini (serves 2)


1/2 lb. lobster meat (buy shelled at fishmonger or cook your own)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
3 cloves of garlic, sliced
1 medium onion, minced
1/2 cup torn basil leaves
1 Tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
3 plum tomatoes, diced, with skin and seeds.
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tablespoon minced parsley


In a medium saute pan, saute the onion and garlic until soft and golden in the combination butter and olive oil. Add the diced plum tomatoes. Simmer for 2/3 minutes. Stir in basil and thyme leaves, salt and pepper to taste. Stir in lobster meat and heat through. Serve over linguini. Sprinkle with minced parsley.






Shrimp Scampi (serves 2)


3/4 lb. shrimp, shelled and deveined
3 Tablespoons olive oil
5 oz. of shitake mushrooms, sliced
3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, minced
1/2 dozen cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 oz. good quality feta or goat cheese
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 Tablespoons combination minced fresh herbs (basil, thyme, mint, tarragon, parsley)


In a medium saute pan, saute the garlic and onion in olive oil until tender, add the mushrooms and simmer for 1-2 minutes, add the white wine and simmer until alcohol burns off. Add the tomatoes, lemon juice and lemon zest. Add shrimp and saute just until they turn pink, do not over cook. Remove from heat. Serve in shallow bowls. Sprinkle cheese and parsley just before serving.






Crabmeat and scallop stuffed filet of sole (serves 2)

2 good sized filets of sole pieces (approx. 1/2 lb. in total weight
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup crab meat
3 large scallops, cut in pieces
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
salt and pepper, red pepper flakes to taste
1 teaspoon crushed cumin seeds
2 Tablespoons minced fresh herb combination (basil, thyme, parsley, tarragon, cilantro)
1 Tablespoon toasted pignole nuts
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
Lemon wedges


Place the olive oil and butter in saute pan. Add the scallops and cook to tender, add crab meat and heat through. Remove from heat. Stir in breadcrumbs, salt and pepper, cumin seeds, pignole nuts and herbs. Take the two sole filets and spoon mixture evenly on each filet. Carefully roll up the filets and place in glass baking pan. Dot with butter and squeeze lemon on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with minced herbs and serve with lemon wedges.



Pass the Alka-Seltzer and have a Happy Holiday, however you celebrate!

HAPPY FESTIVUS! -- DECEMBER 23, 2020

 

FESTIVUS

I wonder...

if the right wing bloggers and news sites will cover this. We all know how quick they are to report on any disturbances caused by Antifa or BLMers and how quick they are to label them thugs and "Commies."

Here's what happened in Oregon today:

Armed Protesters Break Into Oregon State Capitol Building, Break Windows, Assault Journalists, Hit Police With Chemical Agent

"According to the Oregon State Police and multiple media reports, a group of armed protesters broke windows and stormed the capitol while the state legislature was in session on Monday. Legislators were debating Covid-19 restrictions and related public assistance in closed session. 

The only people permitted inside the building were members of the Salem Police Department and the Oregon State Police as well as lawmakers, staff and reporters. The protesters, many with flak jackets, military helmets and some carrying long guns with multiple magazines, entered the capitol building at about 8:30 am. 

According to Salem PD, “at least one of the protesters used chemical agents on the police…OSP [Oregon State Police] used inert pepper ball, while dealing with these protestors.” 

 At 10:30 police had gathered in sufficient numbers to push the crowd out of the building. It was then that “another individual used bear spray against police officers,” according to an OSP statement. “He was arrested on multiple charges including trespassing and assaulting a police officer."

Nick Knudsen 

@NickKnudsenUS

Right wing thugs intimidated and threatened journalist

@_Brian_ICT

- for trying to cover their unlawful assembly at the Capitol in Salem, Oregon today. They tried to storm the Capitol with pistols and rifles in protest of COVID-19 restrictions.

Nick Knudsen 

@NickKnudsenUS

·

22h

Just before their violent physical assaults on journalists, the right wing extremists literally tried to kick in the door of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.