Fast Food Prevails!

Most fast food is not super-good for us, but it's cheap, provides a certain degree of nourishment and down-right delicious!

For example, a burger provides nourishment because it contains an abundance of nutrients; leaning more heavily toward the starch/fat end of the spectrum. But despite the high fat and carb content, it still is quite nourishing and, let's face it, tastes pretty darned good! Reduce the fat content and the taste is also reduced - dramatically! Can you even imagine removing that delicious greasy-fat from a Jack-in-the-box 2 for $.99 deep-fried taco? How about that Jack's Ultimate grease-dripping Cheese Burger? Micky D's Quarter-pounder with cheese? No way dude! By the way, Micky D's cooks-up the best french -fries and Jack produces the best curly-fries.

Despite the present hard times; a weak economy coupled with a lousy job market caused, in part, by an abundant supply of crappy, special-interest politicians, the fast food business will most likely remain a success.
Of course, the main reason it will remain a success is that most fast food tastes GREAT!
My favorite is a Dick's Deluxe burger coupled with a REAL strawberry ice cream shake. Can't handle Dick's fries though, real, hand-cut potatoes but much too limp and greasy for my taste. I believe, after having a little fry-cook experience, that the oil temp is probably too low for erect, sturdy, less greasy fries. We lovingly refer to them as "Limp Dick's fries".

But since I mentioned Dick's Drive-in Restaurant, and they are local establishments - let's use Dick's as a prime example of success; I borrow the following brief history from Wikipedia:

"Founders Dick Spady, H. Warren Ghormley, and Dr. B. O. A. Thomas opened the first Dick's in 1954 in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood, on N.E. 45th Street close to the University of Washington. In 1955, a second Dick's was opened in Seattle's Capitol Hill district. This was followed by a third in 1960 in the Ballard neighborhood, a 4th in 1963 in Lake City, a fifth in Queen Anne in 1974. In September 2010, it was announced that Dick's was planning on opening a new sixth location in Seattle and that an online poll on their website would determine the new location. After a few weeks of polling, North Seattle won the right for a new Dick's Drive-In. On October 15, 2010, Dick's officials announced the new location to be in Edmonds on the corner of Hwy 99 and 220th St. All but the Queen Anne location are without customer seating. The Queen Anne location has indoor tables and no drive-in. The restaurants only accept cash; there are no ways to use electronic forms of payment.

The simple menu has changed little over time. It features fast-food staples such as hand-cut french fries, and individually made milkshakes. Dick's is particularly well known for the "Dick's Special," which includes lettuce, mayonnaise, and chopped pickles; and the "Dick's Deluxe," a quarter-pound version of the Special, with cheese. These burgers were added in 1971. Cashiers do not accept variations on the burger's preparation, or omissions such as asking for the burger without lettuce, but will serve the Deluxe without cheese.

For several years Dick's has promoted benefits offered to employees such as 401K, medical coverage, and a college tuition scholarship."

End of history.

I would like to mention here, perhaps adding to the history of Dick's Restaurant, that Dick's serves a wide range of customers, ranging from the poorest among us (that would probably include me) to one of the richest people in the world - Bill Gates, Jr. At least that is what is reputed to be true.

Also, over the past 30 years that I have visited Dick's for an occasional "Dick's deluxe and a strawberry shake", I have noticed they obviously do not discriminate in either clientele or employment opportunities.

So, in very deep recession, despite pending competition from four (4) other major fast food establishments in very close proximity - a new, modern Dick's drive-in Restaurant is being built. New people are hired, trained, etc. Rather telling, I would say, about the popularity of fast food even in the most troubled times.

I recently discovered (quite by accident) a diet that works well for me and that I know will stay with me. Six months ago I weighed 220 pounds - today I weigh 175. Pretty easy math on that one.... But that's another story. The point for this post is that, part of the "diet" concerns drastically reducing the consumption of what we refer to as fast or "junk" foods. But, I said
"reducing" not eliminating. So, here's a couple of photos of my favorites - "Dick's Deluxe"; two pure beef patties, one slice of cheese, a generous glob of mayo mixed with lettuce and pickles and a pure white bun and a real ice cream strawberry shake - yummy to the power of 10 !! Click on that Dick's Deluxe photo on the left - can't you almost taste the goodness!
By the way, if you want ketchup or onions, it will cost you 5 cents a small cup - darned good way to cut waste!

So here's the wrap: I have been told that the owners of the business are conservative and I don't doubt that - but these folks are true conservatives - unlike the group in congress and the senate making the most feeble attempt running our great country via special interest groups. I'm talking about so-called conservative democrats too. These Dick's partners may even realize that Reagan was actually a lousy president and maybe republicans shouldn't continuously use him as a pattern.
True conservatives know how to run a business effectively, these guys obviously have that know-how and truly know and practice the bottom line: Businesses are made most effective by how it's employees handle the product and conduct themselves. A happy worker is more than pleased to do a better than average job and they are made happy by being treated fairly. I am sure that the employees of Dick's drive-in restaurants feel like part of a family by the way they are treated - fair wages, excellent benefits, a chance for promotions and higher education - I wonder if I am too old for an interview?

Indicators of stupidity

Marks of Stupidity.

We've all seen them - these actions/statements that are a true sign of stupidity; here are a few:

1. One who expresses they "just can't wait" until the next Nicolas Cage movie or Sarah Palin book.

2. Paying $5.00 plus for a pack of cigarettes.

3. People who still smoke - despite the price and health risk.

4. Folks who obviously feel it is their right not to use turn signals.

5. Believing Dick Cheney's book is non-fiction.

6. Thinking torture is a good thing.

7. Believing Water-boarding is code for "Dude - let's go surfing!"

8. Paying $4.00 plus for a cup of coffee (Seattle people will pay anything...).

9. Thinking veggie pizza is good for you.

10. Going on hiking expeditions in Iran (or anywhere in the Middle East).

11. Choosing Sarah Palin as a running mate.

12. John McCain's contribution to American politics; Joe the plumber and Sarah Palin. Thanks John - yeah, thanks a lot.

13. Saying "Why should we demonize (tax} the people who have already achieved the American Dream?" (Chris Christie)

14. "What's wrong with porking-out?" (Chris Christie?)

15. Saying "The poor is getting richer faster than the rich." (Rand Paul)

16. Voting for either of the above 3...

17. Religions are cults ..... except for mine, of course...

18. The Pope dresses like a flamer ... even though he promotes discrimination against them.

19. Religion does not instill discrimination?

20. "Hey - I see Jesus in my tortilla!"

21. Ann Coulter saying someone else is "unfair"...

Does religion discriminate?

Religious advice, political persuasion, discrimination ..... or all-of-the-above?










This sign is posted in front of a church in my neighborhood.

It makes me sad.

Health care reform or bust!

Me, as a young Arizona republican, at the first health care reform rally ever (under FDR).

My Newest Hydroponics experiment

I posted this on my facebook page but thought I'd pass it around here as well. This basil is growing like gangbusters - and it's organic!

Two Reasons to drink Beer from a Glass

Here's looking at you!

I discovered an excellent beer in Austin Texas a couple of weeks ago while visiting my daughter and her family. It's Fireman's 4, a blond ale with a very mild, tart, flavor; very pleasant to my taste buds. However, I was drinking straight from the bottle, which I already knew was a no-no.

Why is it a No-no? The one reason I already knew was that the beer always tastes much better when drinking from a glass. If you doubt me, just try it, I am sure you will agree.

You see, when you drink beer, wine - or actually anything - from a glass your nose comes in to play; your sense of smell takes in the aroma which adds to the flavor when you take a mouthful of delicious beer. Your taste buds react with your sense of smell when drinking or eating , hopefully creating a pleasant taste sensation.

I knew a fellow in the navy who had no sense of smell. The poor bastard nearly poisoned himself several times because, without realizing, he would occasionally eat rotten food or drink spoiled milk, etc.. If there was no visual problem; mold, greenish meat, veggies that actually looked bad - he would generally ingest it. Luckily, he was married and his wife alerted him to most nasty uneatable things. The one benefit to his lack of smelling ability was that he stayed slender. Can you imagine? Ice cream tasting like just something cold - pizza tasting like crusty paste, prime rib tasting like lean, unflavored, hamburger meat, etc. I would rather be a taste-loving fatty!

In Austin I discovered reason number 2 to drink out of a glass: As I mentioned, I had been drinking beer from the bottle and, at the same time, munching on beer nuts. Jesus, I love beer nuts! You get that salty, sweet, roasted peanut flavor combination that is almost a sexual thing to me. I know - that's weird....

Anyhow, I swallowed a mouthful of chewed-up beer nuts then took in a big mouthful of that delicious beer. I always savor the beer in my mouth for a few seconds before I swallow to get more beer flavor satisfaction. This time, however, there was something soft, yet somehow crunchy feeling, in my mouth with the cool beer. I first thought it was a lone beer nut that escaped my usually thorough chewing and swallowing, but, as I moved the thing around the inside of my mouth with my tongue, I soon realized it was something other than a beer nut.

As it played out, the item in my mouth was a thoroughly drowned bee. I was quite sure that the bee did not enter the beer while I had been drinking it because - since I don't spend much time drinking a single beer - if it would had entered the bottle while I was drinking it would surely have still been alive. No, this bee came with the beer, all bottled up and totally dead, when it entered my unsuspecting mouth. I felt sure that being totally dead was a good thing since, if it would have still been alive, my tongue would probably have become much larger than the inside of my mouth. I don't even want to think about it...

So, anyhow, when you drink beer - drink it from a glass - preferably a clear glass so you don't have to worry about swallowing something weird or even dangerous like a scorpion or black widow.

Will I drink Fireman's beer again? Yes, it is a wonderful tasting beer - but, next time, I will do it properly.

Cutting root propagation

This is the easiest, fastest and most convenient way to clone plants from cuttings.




More to come....