From The “WTF Were They Thinking” Department

I mean, there are lots of cool and neat places in the world to hike that not located on the Iraq/Iran border

(CNN) — Swiss diplomats are trying to meet with three American hikers being held in Iran, the Swiss Embassy in Tehran said Monday.

Ahmed Awa, on the border of Iraq and Iran, is where police saw and warned the American hikers Friday.

The embassy would not say whether Iranian authorities had responded to their request or if diplomats had met the Americans.

Four American friends — seasoned travelers — were hiking through Iraq’s Kurdistan region last week before three of them crossed the unmarked border with Iran, where Iranian authorities detained them.

Of course, since one of them is a self-described “teacher-activist-writer from California currently based in the Middle East” I’m sure they’ll have no problems with the Peaceful Authorities whose guests they currently are.

The three are Shane Bauer, who “graduated with honors from UC Berkeley with a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies;” Joshua Fattal also is a UC Berkeley grad “with passionate committment to the environment and human rights” (hey, that’s a direct copy from the Philly.com website) who “most recently worked and lived at Aprovecho Research Center in Cottage Grove, Ore. The nonprofit facility is located on a 40-acre ranch and is focused on sustainable living skills, sustainable forestry and organic gardening;” Sarah Shourd is “an teacher-activist-writer from California currently based in the Middle East. She loves fresh broccoli, Zapatistas and anyone who can change her mind.”

Really, I hope for the best for these, well, idiots, and that they survive their introduction to the real world.

“We, as a Nation, Have Got to Ask Ourselves What the Hell is Going On?”

You ain’t just whistling Dixie!

Must-See Video

Conservatives need to get their friggin’ act together. As the folks who loudly proclaim their love of liberty and the Constitution you’d think they’d agree to disagree on lots of issues whilst agreeing on larger, more Constitutionally based goals. But no, the asshats keep coming up with ideological purity and litmus tests in some stupid-assed attempt to out-rabid the Nutroots.

They deserve to lose; I sure don’t want to follow any of them.

(video via Allah)

My Kind of Luck

exactly.

…Police say the bullet hit 53-year-old Janifer Bliss in the lower left leg. She was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

Bliss was sitting on the toilet in a hotel bathroom when a woman in the next stall accidentally let her handgun slip out of her waist holster. The weapon discharged when it hit the ground.

I always figured that was where I’d be when the BIG ONE (aka: THE California Earthquake That ENDS IT ALL) hit. Or a tornado twistered through here. The End of Days arrives and me?

On the throne.

Gloomy, Lazy Sort of Sunday Got You Down?

“Why you asking, Mom?”

Well, your uncle Bingley’s off to the wilds and he usually handles the weekend bloody beef porn, so I thought…wellllll…


“What, Mom? Whatcha thinkin’? WHAT?!?!?!”

I thought, schmaybe, we could handle the bloody beef thing for him!


“PUHLEEZ!! Don’t you toy with my emotions!!!!”

Ozzie, would I ever do that? I say, “Let’s make a potroast!”
First you take a big, ol’ hunka beef…and, oddly enough, I have one right here.

Liberally salt and pepper EVERY square inch of him. Then put together some other stuff we need, like onions, garlic, potatoes, couple cloves (yes, CLOVES)…

…and a bouquet garni with a healthy-size rosemary sprig, lotsa thyme, a bayleaf or two and some peppercorns, all tied up neat in a cheesecloth pouch…


…and standing ready with the liquids. The oven’s heating up at 350°.
(Meanwhile, that roast is browning up GOOD on all sides. And I mean GOOD.)


(This is how I make sure the sides get done.)
I lift him out for a bit so I can drain the rendered fat off and put some lovely olive/canola oil in. Then back he goes into the oval oven and the aromatics get scattered all about…

…and worked down to the heat and added oil so some of the rawness cooks off. It’s not exactly an easy thing ~ especially when you go a tad overboard on the size of the roast to begin with ~ but keep them moving, then add a couple tablespoons of flour and repeat.

Scatter the potatoes and add another good pinch of salt and several good grinds of pepper.

My incomparable major dad, sommelier par excellence, suddenly presents me with his pick for tonight.

Oh, LOVELY!!!

Time to fill the pot halfway with the red wine, stir around and scrape yummies off the bottom as much possible. Then top off to the roast’s upper edge with beef broth (Only if it’s as large [4.5 lbs] as this one. If it’s a 2 pounder or thereabouts, watch for the roast to float a tad and call it quits.), add the bouquet garni and give the sides a gentle stir.

Bring to a boil, cover and pop in the oven for 2 hours for a 2-3 lb one. This one we’re giving at least 3-3 1/2 to work it’s magic.

“You will NOT believe the smell that fills the house.”

“Makes me swoon.”

Well, thank you, Oz!

My very unscientific test for doneness is a long-tined dinner fork twisted in the center of the roast. If a piece pulls out easily or, even better, the chunk falls apart completely…um…DONE!

Gently remove Monsieur le Boeuf (be careful because he SHOULD be falling apart), then pull the veggies out with a slotted spoon. Left in the dutch oven will be a rich, silky, beautiful gravy for slathering every last thing on your plate. Slurpable!

If you’ll excuse us…

I Think This Is QUITE the Most BEAUTIFUL Arleigh-Burke Class Destroyer

…I’ve ever seen.

The USS Jason Dunham, my fellow Americans.

In a solemn ceremony punctuated by talk of courage, service and sacrifice, the mother of a Marine corporal on Saturday christened a warship honoring her son, who died after covering an exploding grenade to protect his comrades in Iraq.

After composing herself and taking a deep breath, Deb Dunham smashed a bottle of champagne over the bow of the 510-foot warship Jason Dunham, then held the bottle aloft to the cheers of hundreds.

We’re cheering here in Pensacola, too, ma’am. God bless you and that brave Marine you raised.

Semper Fi, Corporal.

We love you, son.

A CLASSIC Cheap Shot

But a keeper!

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