Who Knew?

High Times In Israel!
Richie, who reads the newspaper a lot more thoroughly than I, told me that Israel has had legal marijuana for the past 10 years!  We have friends in a Tel Aviv suburb and Sheila has never mentioned it.  Apparently it is a milder version of the drug; even very ill children are prescribed it.

"Salty Snacks - Make Your Own Chips, Crisps, Crackers, Pretzels, Dips and Other Savory Bites" by Cynthia Nims.  $16.95

Make your own crackers?!  The secret?  A pasta rolling machine!  Make the dough, let it rise, run chunks through the pasta rollers, cut to the desired size and bake.  I would never have thought of making crackers  - they'reare what?  $2.95 for a big box? 

I think her Salami Chips would set fire to my oven, but here's what you do:  Put parchment paper or a SilPat on a rimmed cookie sheet; lay out a single layer of salami slices and bake for about 10 minutes at 350 until the chips are evenly browned and rigid.  Transfer to paper towels and let cool. 

She recommends this dip for them - 1/4 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup mayonnaise and 2 T grainy mustard - mix together and serve with the salami slices. 

She gives recipes for all kinds of salty delicacies - Duck Fat Potato Chips (to be honest I don't get it about duck fat; I've had French fries made with it and "Meh?" was my reaction.)  Coconut Crisps with Basil and Chilis - the coconut is shaved strips of "real" coconut - you know, the hairy balls sometimes seen at the supermarket produce section?  Pickld Trout with Horseradish sauce anyone?  Popcorn with Chili-Lime butter and Cotija cheese is a riff on slices of pineapple with chile powder and lime juice. 

In retrospect, I would think that Trader Joe might try to put this book on the Banned List, if such a thing still exists.

Obituaries

Today we mourn the loss of Decency, Honor, Patriotism and Class, all of whom were killed on the freeway to Freedom when an out-of-control Chicago-bound bus crossed the divider.  The bus driver, who was smoking a large blunt, was unharmed. 

Election Update

In earlier report, forgot to mention poll watchers in every corner of the room.  There was no way our place would have what is occurring in other locations:

Obama mural, Philadelphia polling place
Obama poster, polling place Florida
Poll watcher threatened by a gun in Detroit polling place, 911 refused to respond
The election judge in a Chicago district wearing an Obama cap...

File under "cheap tricks"

A Report from a Southern California Voter

Our polling place is the hall of a Masonic Center that is on the border of Redondo and Manhattan Beachs.  Their side of the street is Manhattan; the other side is Redondo.  Once inside, we were directed to the yellow table; they to the red table.

We got the last parking space in the lot.  We did the formalities and had to stand for a couple of minutes before a booth opened up.  This was at 9:35 a.m., well after most people (that have jobs) are at work. 

The poll workers said this was the biggest voter turn-out they collectively could recall.  One woman said that people were lined up into the parking lot at 7 a.m. when our polls officially open.  They close at 7 p.m.  This is extraordinary because voters here are notorious for not showing up.  We have often been the only customers of the moment and the poll workers have had to put down their knitting, magazine or crossword puzzle to serve us. 

Everyone was in a good, but serious mood.  We had one first-time voter and he got cheered. 

                                             The die has been cast - hic jacet est. 

Some Cynics on Voting

"There is no such thing as not voting; you either do it or you vote by staying at home and tacitly double the value of the voter's vote."  David Foster Wallace

"Every election is decided by the people who show up."  Larry J. Sabato

"If pigs could vote, the man with the slop bucket would be elected swineherd every time, no matter how much slaughtering he did on the side."  Orson Scott Carol

"When I was a boy, I was told that anybody could become President.  I'm beginning to believe it."  Clarence Darrow

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Get out the vote!  Offer a ride to the polls to an elderly neighbor; tell the parents with the young family next door that you'd be happy to watch their kids while they go vote.  Nag your friends and family and co-workers to get the lead out and the vote in.

And bartenders - give customers who are carrying ballot stubs and/or wearing "I Voted" stickers a free drink!

Cats - Meet the Pandas!

To explain - yesterday Richie said, "I'm taking the car over to Sears for a new battery, you want to come?" 

Thinking quickly, I said, "Yes - they carry Land's End and I like their winter tops."  But as we passed House Slippers, I remembered I need a new pair; thus, the panda slippers above.  Not because I have special regard for pandas, but they come up over the ankles!

Halloween Head Count

We had a grand total of five (five) trick or treaters.  My sister e'd from her town, some 20 miles north of Chicago, that they had 45!    Five kids didn't use up much of the candy so it goes to Thurs. Writers this afternoon (and not directly onto my hips.) 

Still, it's better than the year our street got totally blitzed with kids -- minivans, a couple of those little shuttle buses - we were scrambling!  Apparently a grade school got the idea and the parents carried through on it with what can only be described as enthusiasm.  Manic enthusiasm.

Richie shot photos last night; I'll put them up when he's downloaded his camera.