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United States, North Carolina, Carrboro, English, Paul, Male, 56-60, All Music, All Food.

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Thursday, October 10, 2002

Does Andy Rooney have the right to be a curmudgeon now that he's an old fart? Ah, freedom of speech. What about those people you know, about whom it is said they "do not suffer fools lightly"? Answer: Neither age nor presumed self-importance give you the right to be an asshole. Nor does any amendment in the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment only says what the government can't do about it. It doesn't mean you must contain your revulsion. In fact, it means you can voice it! Just don't voice it in such a way that you become an asshole too. Nobody likes an asshole, no matter how well they disguise it in faint praise. An asshole is an asshole is an asshole - and it don't smell like Gertrude Stein. Rights have equivalent responsibilities. Newton III: Every action has an equal but opposite reaction.. To recognize that is not Republican voodoo-word "political correctness". It is the simple observation that, like a rose, an asshole by any other name smells the same. Trust your senses, not the spin. Like collegiate underwear, the "sniff test" will suffice. When some "commentator" takes the bullet for verbal indiscretion, he is paying the price for the right of free speech - as long as it's not the government inflicting the penalty. If you inflict it, it is your right AND responsibility. Andy crossed the line and "curmudgeon" is no excuse. Maybe he can achieve redemption by future sensitivity, but his past reputation his nothing to do with it. There are way too many people abusing free speech because their ratings soar when other assholes tune them in. Don't be intimidated by them. let 'em know they need to shut the hell up - and you don't need the Supreme Court and cruise missiles to make that happen. Shut up, Andy, "misogynist" is just another politically-correct expression.  If somebody says it to be polite, keep in mind what they're really thinking. Now, back to the pizza sauce. It smells pretty good. 8:58:48 PM    comment []

The VillaWare food strainer arrived today from Lehman's. Dreading the effort, but still anticipating the result, I found a place on my counter where it could be clamped to accomodate both the extract and discard bowls. In less than an hour after picking up the box outside my door, I had about 12 quarts of tomato sauce in a stockpot. Only about 3 cups of seeds and peels to discard, and they were thoroughly wrung dry. Breakdown and cleanup was a breeze and though most of the components appear dishwasher safe, a hand washing went very quickly as well. I'm bringing the sauce up to boil very slowly (the thought of putting it in a 200 degree oven crossed my mind, I might still do that) after having added garlic, oregano, basil, and tiny amounts of rosemary and thyme. I'm sticking with my early decision to pressure can it after it's properly simmered because I don't want to add lemon juice. This is the first time I've made bulk pizza sauce, here's how the big boys do it. 5:01:46 PM    comment []