Potpourri

Hey, rather than attempt to reflect, I will direct your attention to three items of considerable interest [to me]:

Can a tiger change its stripes? No, but Jupiter can...

Where do NRA lifers like to go for coffee? Starbucks!

How out of your way did you go last time you were lost? This guy can top it! So long, and thanks for all the krill...

Bon Appetit (sorry I had to order out though, for these tidbits)

Remembering the Alamo...

So, during a bit of down time this afternoon I had a chance to visit the Alamo (which incidentally means "Cottonwood" in Spanish. Being fluent, it was nothing I hadn't known already)

While I was there, I was struck by a plaque engraved with the final letter of the commanding officer, Col. Travis [emphasis added]:

To The People of Texas and
All Americans In The World --
February 24, 1836

Fellow citizens & compatriots --
I am beseiged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna -- I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man -- The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken -- I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls -- I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & every thing dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch -- The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country --

VICTORY OR DEATH

William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt.

The visit to the Alamo was certainly an inspiring one, because it reminded me of the length the people of Texas went to preserve the liberties that only God could grant them (and no one could take away). Hundreds walled themselves within the old mission, knowing that their certain deaths (barring divine, or foreign, intervention) were necessary to spur other Texans into action. Interestingly, joining the Texans were Americans from the North, South, and West, along with Europeans from Wales, Britain, Ireland, and even Denmark (not to mention native Tejanos)!

Now, the more historically educated out there could point out the complications in the overall relationship between Texas and the rest of Mexico, especially the colonists' refusal to obey Mexican antislavery laws. However, I am reminded of Solzhenitsyn's famous remark:

"If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”

As great and important as the fight for political liberty is, it pales in comparison to the freedom we can gain from virtue, which, like political rights and liberties, is rendered plausible only in light of the Uncreated Light. All the more reason to remember the Alamo, for they with all their failings they were not gods (or demigods) but, in the tender compassion of our God, they may yet be Saints (with their many sins washed away).

Interestingly, most of them were Catholic (being required to convert in order to move to Texas). The remains of Davy Crocket and Jim Bowie (pronounced Booey) are located in the back of the San Fernando Cathedral, which I saw with delight.

I think I'll leave you with the noble words of Davy Crockett:

You can all go to hell…I’m going to Texas.

NewSpeak isn't Found Solely on Airstrip One...

but is also setting up a booth at the Shanghai World Expo. Now, as an engineer, I'll be the first to admit that this looks awesome. However, when it comes to the rationale behind it:

The baby’s “mother” is Spanish film director, Isabel Coixet, who picked this theme both because of the passion China and Spain share for children, and as a way of showing that our actions have consequences on our children.[Italics added]

What kind of passion do China and Spain share regarding children? Let's look at the numbers, courtesy of the CIA World Factbook:

Spain
Population growth rate: 0.072% (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 193

Birth rate (per 1,000 population): 9.72 (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 198

China
Population growth rate: 0.655% (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 148

Birth rate (per 1,000 population): 14 (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 151

They certainly do have much in common, thanks especially to recent developments in Spain.

I am not trying to directly compare mandatory sterilizations and abortions with the "pro-choice" position. However, the bottom line is they spring from the same ethos, one that regards humans not as a gift but as an economic burden. Declining birthrates seem to challenge rather than confirm prosperity, however. So, in that light, Spain and China have all too much in common, particularly when it comes to dismissing opposition with Orwellian Double Speak.

Potent Quotables

Came across this article from the Guardian. If you know me well you'll know that the probability of quoting someone else's line approaches one as time approaches infinity. Here's my favorite snippet:

Me and my friends could have entire dialogues consisting of nothing but apposite quotes. And the thing is, it will still make sense as a proper conversation. These aren't just random lines blurted into the ether between us; the best one is identified and selected, completely fit for purpose, in a millisecond, by some super-computer of the mind.


Indeed, sometimes you don't even need a quote but just the suggestion of one. The other day I was chatting to someone on the phone and threw in a line which sounded like something from Predator, but wasn't – I had got the line wrong. But he was so in tune with the "language" of action movies that he replied back with a Predator quote; he still got the reference and replied to it.


And I find it interesting that quoting isn't recognised as being a large part of the modern demotic. I once got a reply from a literary agent, who'd read a novel I had written, in which she said the dialogue wasn't believable because the (Irish) characters at times spoke like they were in an American movie.


But that was the whole point. The dialogue was real, because that's how those people would speak: in between their formal and informal language, their local slang and Irish idioms, their Hiberno-English and Queen's English, would be a flood of quotes from (mainly) US movies and TV shows.

Has anyone out there seen any serious work dedicated to this? I can't say I have, and yet it seems to be the mainstay of many. Nor is it a modern phenomenon; today's paeans to popculture remind me, quite often, of the devotionals penned by the saints. Not in terms of quality, of course, but because both go to great lengths to reference authorities (be they spiritual or temporal).

Gotta have my pops...

I don't mean to duck out on actually writing anything, but I think this is an interesting article from the man who (aptly) describes himself as "the world's smartest human being."

Though, I think I will add something that may whet your appetite. You may remember my post detailing the worst movie of all time, and I just felt the need to share that I will be attending Friday's installment of Tommy Wiseau's "Love is Blind" Tour. In case you don't feel like reading my previous post, Tommy is the genius behind this truly irreplaceable work.

Photos to follow.

EDIT: Error in embedding the link. Enjoy!

Canada on track to be the first country...

to implement the prime directive.

A double swing to my sister (or, as they say in my native spanish, "mi hermana") for digging this up.

Could you imagine? I guess after fighting the Gorn, Kirk should be able to handle some hand shaking and ribbon cutting...



What's next, getting Chekhov inaugurated as Putin's new puppet...er...President?

James Doohan endorsing a Whole Foods line of frozen haggis dinners, for the industrious scotsman and his hardworking housewife?

George Takei endorsing a high definition television?

Clogged in the Pipeline...a tribute to Deep Fried Oreos!

Sorry to keep you waiting with bated breath, but I was in Boston last week, away from access to any of the amenities of the 21st century.

Seriously, the walk from my hotel to the nearest drug store was 15 minutes!

But, Boston was a beautiful town...from what little of it I was able to see. Turns out they have this place called McDonald's that sells a Krustyburger with Cheese, but they don't call it a Krustyburger with Cheese. Instead, they call it a "Quarter Pounder with Cheese." (!)

But I digress. After scarfing down far too many deep fried oreos on Saturday, I have resolved to provide you with a sweeping survey of this confection's venerable history.

It all goes back to the 1990's, when a Brooklynite came up with the idea of deep frying candy bars. This may have been influenced by the Deep Fried Mars bar, which is an ancient Scottish dessert that was introduced circa A.D. 1995. However, some sweetner scholars disagree, and propose a 4 source hypothesis to the problem.

What is known is that deep fried candy bars were sold at state fairs in the Midwest (where else?) starting in the late 90's. Within a year, this grew to include twinkies (as requested by Hostess). The introduction of deep frying frozen oreos has gone unrecorded (I guess those blessed enough to see this weren't wise enough to write it down). However, they have been a staple at New York City Fairs ever since, where I go through them like Bugs Bunny goes through carrots.

If you're in the market for anything deep fried, it is important to watch and verify that it is being prepared correctly. The whole point of deep frying an oreo, twinkie, or Mars bar is to remove the excess moisture. Meanwhile, the sugars will carmelize, and the whole confection should soften, but like any chemical reaction this takes time. If you see a vendor scooping the oreos out within a minute or two, ask him to put them back in. A crunchy deep fried oreo is only an overpriced ordinary oreo offering an outer envelope of oil. When it comes to deep frying a sandwich cookie, buyer beware.

And, this is why a deep fried oreo is amazing-it's soft, but not gooey. It's transformed, but still shares the essential properties of an untouched oreo.

If I were you, I would grab one while I can, because it looks as though street fairs might become a little less frequent in the Big Apple.

Bon Appetit!