A few weeks ago I posted "Sonic Boom" where I wrote about the Endeavours' landing at the alternate landing site, Edwards Air Force Base, in California.
Guess how the space shuttle Endeavour got back to Florida?
That's right. You aviation buffs know that it rides on the back of a 747. More specifically, a modified Boeing 747 that NASA uses to transport the vehicles. NASA actually has two of these aircraft. One is a 747-100 model, while the other is a short range 747-100SR. These aircraft are called Shuttle Carrier Aircraft or (SCA's).
Once when I was traveling, I saw one of these planes in flight with a Shuttle attached. I just happend to look out the window and see it. This was pre-digital cameras and camera phones so I didn't have anything available to capture the moment. I believe it was the Space Shuttle Columbia that I saw but I can't remember for sure. I meant to go home and research the process and event but I never got around to it. Here's what it looked like in the air.
(compliments of Wikipedia.com)
I remember thinking to myself. That must be a really cool job. Short of being an actual shuttle pilot, wouldn't it be cool to fly the shuttle around?
Here are some short videos of the the SCA taking off and landing:
Thanksgiving was less than two weeks ago and yet today I found myself reminiscing. There I was thinking about a pecan pie baked at my house by a relative on Thanksgiving day. I generally don't consider myself to be an expert on pecan pies or baking .... that crown may be worn by Miki at MikisMorsels; (take a look at these cookies) but I've had my share of pecan pies. All different sizes, shapes, styles, and flavors.
For a while, I was hooked on a chocolate bourbon pecan pie. An old girlfriend used to bake me one every few months or so. I'm not sure I've ever had one quite as good as hers. (That's a secret!) A slice of her pie warmed and topped with a scoop of coffee ice cream and I was in dream land. Thank goodness for an active lifestyle and good genes from my parents because I'm sure each one of those pie events was worth about 1000 calories or so. And the sugar! Wow! I'm sure there were days when I managed to double-up and consume more than my fair quota. Anyway, I digress. So this relative bakes up a storm and puts together two fabulous pies. One sweet potato pie and one pecan pie. Both pies enhanced with rum. I found the rum to be quite appealing and a great compliment to each of the pies.
So today while I was remembering the great taste of the pecan pie nearly two weeks ago I tried to decide what was so special about this cousin's pie and think if I should invite her over and ask her to experiment with a chocolate bourbon recipe.
That's when it hit me........
I'd completely forgotten to celebrate Repeal Day!
I've been so busy the past few days with social engagements that I completely forgot to celebrate the end of prohibition. That's right you lushes!
December 5, 2008 marked the 75 Th anniversary of the end of prohibition in the United States. I'm sure somewhere around the country at some dark and lonely bar there were true professionals celebrating this special day. I'm certain that at least one glass of spirits was raised in recognition of the legislation that repealed prohibition. In the history of the United States, Prohibition was the period from 1920 to 1933, during which the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol for consumption was banned nationally as mandated in the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
There were legal exceptions of course. Like this medical prescription for liquor.
I stared off into space and questioned -
"Could I have convinced a doctor to write a prescription for chocolate bourbon pecan pie?"
Imagine this, you live in a crime filled neighborhood. Each night you make the rounds and lock your doors and windows and sleep with a handgun next to your bed just in case an unexpected visitor calls.
It's particularly difficult for you to sleep tonight. You're stressed out because you've just lost your job. Your boss says business is slow and he can't afford to keep you on any longer. You know that your wife's salary and your temporary unemployment pay will not be enough to cover your rent and other bills. You're unskilled and there are thousands, like you, looking for work. You lie in bed contemplating the prospects of finding a job in the next few weeks and conclude they are pretty grim. Your chest tightens. You lay still fighting back the tears when suddenly you hear a noise in your hallway. You stealthily reach for your weapon and point it towards your bedroom door. The door creaks open and there in the soft light you can make out the image of your 5 year old daughter. "Daddy I'm hungry." Your brief moment of relief after learning that it's not an unwelcome burglar is swept away when you remember that there's no food in the house. Instantly you're overcome with shame and sadness. You point the gun to your temple and for a second, you consider the short road out of this nightmare. You decide that you lack the courage for that route and instead look at your baseball hat and hooded jacket on a chair next to the bed. You consider donning both and walking down to the local 24 hour convenience store with gun in hand and helping yourself to some milk and bread. The image of you being handcuffed and taken off to jail or lying dead on a cold floor while the owner stands over you with a shotgun halts this fantasy. Instead, you comfort your child as best as you can and manage to get her to fall asleep again. You lay awake all night and stare at the ceiling trying your best not to wake your wife. The occasional tear rolls down the side of your face and into your ear. Morning comes far too quickly but you saunter out of bed with a plan. It's a quick fix and short term option but the only solution you can come up with. You get dressed, tuck your pistol into your waist band and walk down to the local Los Angeles County Sheriffs station where you find the "Gifts for Guns" program. Humbly, you turn in your weapon for a $100.00 gift card to the local grocery store. You think to yourself - This just might buy enough food to last us through the Christmas holiday!
This is a sobering fictional story (created by Intrepid) that's probably not too far from the truth for some people. This year, The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department allowed residents to anonymously relinquish firearms in return for $100 gift cards for Ralph's supermarkets, Target department stores or Best Buy electronics stores. Turning in assault rifles yields double that amount. This annual program started in 2005 after a spike in killings in the city of Los Angeles. In years past, Target and Best Buy cards were the preferred choice, with residents wanting presents for the holidays.
According to Sgt. Byron Woods of the L.A. Sheriff's department - "This year, most asked for the supermarket cards. People just don't have the money to buy the food these days."
Deputies expected to collect about 1,000 weapons this year. Authorities said 590 guns and two hand grenades were handed in during the last weekend in November, more than the total collected in any year and eclipsing last year's 387 guns. Woods said most of the residents who turned in weapons were "family people." "One guy said he had just got laid off from his job," Woods said. "He turned in five guns and said it would really help him to put food on the family's table." Gun owners dropped their weapons off at a local grocery store parking lot. Deputies checked the weapons to see if they had been used in crimes, then destroyed them.
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"A Christmas Story" has to be one of my favorite all time Christmas movies. In a pinch, I'll toss it in there with some of my other classic favorites like:
All of these movies are special to me in some unique way. I still remember watching "A Christmas Story" for the very first time and reflecting back on my own experiences with my first BB gun. I really enjoyed the way in which the story is narrated and the overt and sublime humor. When I think of the movie, I can't help but think about some of the signature lines like: "You'll shoot your eye out." and " I Double Dog Dare Ya!" Yeah, it's a good one for me. Silly - of course! A bit of adult humor? You bet! But sentimentally good.
I was thinking about this movie again just the other day. Not only because it's seasonal and it's that time of year. But also because I overheard some young kids talking about curse words and their "made up" names for some of the common words. Here's what I heard:
Son of a Business man
Mother Trucker
Kiss my Astronaut
Go to Help
Holy Ship
Okay, that's about all I can remember. I'm sure you guys/gals with dirty minds can figure out the intended word or phrase. I know it's a bit juvenile but their conversation did catch my wondering ear. And it reminded me of this clip from "A Christmas Story."
Boxing fans may have seen the last appearance of Oscar De La Hoya, AKA the "Golden Boy," in the ring as a fighter. Tonight, as millions looked on to what was touted as the biggest fight this year, two gladiators stepped into the ring to see who was top. Unfortunately, tonight's fight proved to be a disappointment for Oscar de la Hoya as he fell victim to the relentless Manny Pacquiao.
Manny Pacquiao, who jumped up two weight classes and weighed in at 142 pounds was too much for the aging de la Hoya who stepped off the scale at 145 pounds.
According to the Los Angeles Times-
After eight rounds of taking a barrage of punches from the stocky, supposedly undersized Pacquiao, De La Hoya (who failed to answer the bell for the 9Th round) walked across the ring to Pacquiao. But not to box. To congratulate Pacquiao on being the better man, the better fighter, the new No. 1 kid on the block. De La Hoya then told Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, who had predicted all this,
"You were right, Freddie. I don't have it anymore."
A touching end to what has been a glorious boxing career for the Golden Boy who has proved once again that great boxers never quit when they're young and healthy. They must fight until they convince themselves and their fans that they can't win anymore! We'll be seeing a lot more of Oscar but outside of the ring. Thanks for the years of boxing entertainment!
Yesterday I was enjoying a casual afternoon at home when I was startled by what seemed to be three big booms. Boom! Boom! Boom!
The first one louder and stronger than the second two. My first thought was - Oh no, it's an earthquake. I quickly erased that thought when the house didn't shake too much afterwards.
My second thought - The Space shuttle must have landed at the alternate landing field at Edwards Air Force Base, roughly 65 miles from here.
I turned on the television and sure enough, the Space Shuttle Endeavour ( pictured above) has returned from a 16-day space station assembly mission. It was diverted from a planned Florida landing by low clouds and high winds at the Kennedy Space Center.
For many people today, it must seem like just yesterday when space flight was merely a fantasy. Today's children are born into an environment where space travel must seem to be an inevitability and not the illusion or fairytale dream of children of the past.
I'm curious.......
Will the bloggers of the future post about their travels throughout the Galaxy? Just something to ponder!
I couldn't make it through the entire movie "Rent" and I never saw the broadway production but I love this opening. Enjoy!
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So let's see... You've read my post - What's the Best tasting Turkey?, picked out a good brand ,and cooked it to perfection. Now you're staring at this delicious masterpiece and you're here because you don't want to ruin the work-of-art by ripping it and slashing it like Freddy Krueger would.
You're in luck, I've pinched two videos from Youtube to illustrate the process. The first video is longer and more detailed. If you're in a rush, (people are waiting at the table and you've run off on a "Bathroom run") you might want to jump down to the bottom video. It's shorter. If you've got time, please enjoy them both at your leisure. Keep in mind, you can tell your guests that the turkey needs about 15 - 20 minutes for the juices to settle before carving and then you can sneak to your computer for a quick review before you're actually put on the spot.
If you're nominated to do the carving, these are my humble suggestions:
Find a good place to work. Preferably away from view. That way your guests won't see you using your fingers.
Invest in a really sharp knife.
Keep your fingers out of the way of the blade when carving.
Don't panic. Once you learn the basic strokes, the rest is fairly simple.
Is it possible that "Perks" are becoming a new currency?
I don't suppose that "Perks" per se will ever replace the US dollar, the Euro, the Yen, or any other major currency as a trading vehicle but the folks over at trendwatching.com are predicting a growing trend of increasing value in the perk department. They've even coined a term "Perkonomics." (follow this link to see the report) I tend to agree with them and thought I'd throw this out at you. As we continue to weather this credit crunch and suffer the fall out in the economy, some tangible and intangible things will increase in value. Specifically, programs that save time or generate convenience, status, or opportunity, will demand more value in the marketplace.
For instance, look around at the thousands of programs that are available and offered to us daily. Everything from a punch card at your local coffee/ice cream shop to frequent flier miles or reward points for your credit cards. A few years ago, these solicitations reached the nuisance level in my home but as the economy continues to contract, these programs will gain momentum and more programs will evolve as merchants compete more fiercely for our business. As a consumer, I offer - now is the time to use these items. Sign up for the programs that make sense to you. Cash in your points on old programs and realize some of the benefits of good patronage. Take a weekend get away. Splurge and pamper yourself and your family. Use your points to upgrade a class in your airline travel. By all means, use them before you lose them.
From a business standpoint, now is the time to be creative and find a clever perk program to offer your customers. Keep in mind that it will become increasingly more difficult to attract new business and generate growth. As the customer holds on ever more tightly to their hard earned currency, they'll be shopping for more and more value. If you can offer them something with a unique and perceivable value, you'll win and they'll win!
I was a bit bored today. The stock market was up and I felt like a Turkey for buying during a rally so with no real drama in the world I started to surf aimlessly. Well, not quite. I was sort of looking for an answer to a question. The question was - Who makes the best tasting turkey? I figured with Thanksgiving only three days away it might be useful information.
Age old Turkey wisdom - Buy High/Sell Low!
Here's what I found. I'll keep it brief for those who want a quick answer > The heritage breeds, with names like Narragansett and Bourbon Red, are supposed to be much more flavorful. The birds have a longer growing period than commercial turkeys; as a result, they have an extra layer of fat. They also have a higher proportion of dark meat. And since they are more agile, they get more exercise than even free-range commercial birds, and so they're said to have a firmer texture and a gamier taste.
By contrast, (according to an L.A. Times article) the supermarket breed — called Broadbreasted White — suffers in comparison, heritage turkey fans say, because it's been bred to yield as much white meat as possible (hence its name). Because of all that tinkering with nature, a Broadbreasted White is so top-heavy that it can't mate; it must be artificially inseminated. This is true even for organic and free-range turkeys. And in fact, free-range Broadbreasted Whites are so unsteady on their feet that they don't "range" much at all.
Well that's the short version. Clearly there are some other issues to contend with like availability and price. Some of these birds can be quite expensive and require weeks/months to order. And for some of us the taste isn't quite that important. It may be more about the quantity and the capabilities of the chef. I know when I'm cooking or grilling, it helps to have an edge!
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November 22, 2008 marked the 45 Th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Today, for a few minutes, I contemplated the event and the motivation behind this horrific act. I wondered, what exactly did someone find so threatening or offensive about JFK that they felt compelled to orchestrate this act of violence?
Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with the murder of John F. Kennedy and he was murdered two days later by Jack Ruby before he could be put on trial. This left the assassination shrouded in mystery. In an interesting turn of events, the House Select Committee on Assassinations declared in 1979 that there was more likely a conspiracy that included Oswald. This further muddied the waters. It's not my intent to launch you into a nest of conspiracy theories but only to highlight a man and a book ......... (many of you know me well enough to know how my curiosity works -so leave me a comment if you have any ideas on the conspiracy issue)
John F. Kennedy wrote Profiles in Courage while recovering from a back injury in 1955. In this book he chronicles acts of astounding personal and political courage. This is perhaps a book that should sit on a shelf in the homes of all Americans. And in consideration of the upcoming political and economic challenges we will face in the next few years, it might be well worth the read!
That was my response last month when I learned there was a huge candy store named M&M World smack in the middle of Times Square.
Yes, while driving up to my hotel in New York last month we drove by this:
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Theater District
1600 Broadway(between 48th St & 49th St)
New York, NY 10019(212) 295-3850
I marveled at how this place seemed to take up the entire corner of the block and span at least three floors. I thought, "there's no way there is that much M & M junk for sale."
I was wrong again.
M & M World was filled with more M & M paraphernalia than you could ever imagine. Books, key chains, glasses, mugs, pajamas, underwear, socks, hats, jackets, Tee shirts, shot glasses, pens, pencils, doormats, plates, stationary, combs, ....... on to infinity!
Aren't these little guys/gals adorable?
Well, I wasn't to be denied. After all, I came there for the chocolate. So I found my way to the dispensers.
There were M & M's of every color and flavor. So I grabbed my bag and went to work. A little bit of these and a little bit of those. A few of these ..... and more of those.......
I was sure to load up on the peanut M&M's (my favorite) and the dark chocolate ones. I threw in a few almond M&M's and mint flavored for kicks. I tried to avoid the green ones just in case what they say about them is true.
I giggled when the lady next to me seemed to miss her bag and dribbled a barrage of M & M over the lip of the bag. They clinked and wobbled down this little grate and into a hole - disappearing from sight. I couldn't help but wonder.... "What happens to those lost M & M's?"
Do they just throw them away? Or do the employees get to eat them at night before they go home? Or maybe someone is responsible for separating them and putting them back in the dispensers for resale.... Yuck! I hope not! I quickly erased that thought from my mind.
So I gathered my purchases and bid farewell to the M &M Dudes.
I couldn't help but notice another candy store across the street. Chocolate even..... That's another day and another adventure.
For now, I'll just sit back and enjoy my M & M's. Wait a second. What would the fantastical Jane Turley do? Let me call her and get her perspective on eating chocolate..........
She referred me to this video for the true meaning of Chocolate!
