FlaSoxxJim

Very weird feeling to have been actually cheering for Detroit. Fock Minny.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 6, 2009 -> 11:25 PM) If that is the case, there shouldn't be a parks department, since it all pays homage to the United States of America, who has pretty much been oppressing someone since day one. I wasn't taking a shot at the entirety of Christianity, I was responding specifically to Tex suggesting that he was essentially incapable of taking offense at the site of a symbol. I posited the swastika as a particularly offensive symbol he might not have considered, and then extended the argument to suggest that a crucifix could be similarly seen as a symbol of an oppressive entity to some people. Of course, you are correct in your assertion that our nation has some dodgy history and plenty to be ashamed of — as do a great many nations.

Nothing from the Chicago boozers about the availability of maraschino liqueur? Anyway, I'm driving myself crazy trying to tweak a cocktail to really make it sing, and it keeps eluding me. The source cocktail is a ca. 1962 drink called Pieces of Eight from a long-defunct Marina Del Rey, CA restaurant of the same name. From Beachbum Berry's Grog Log recipe, it's amost an excellent light and crisp cocktail with lots of fresh citrus juice, passionfruit syrup, and light rum. Mixed to specs it doesn't quite come together, being simultaneously too tart and too syrupy with not quite enough rum flavor to hold it together. A couple iterations yesterday (*hic!) had me adding a small amount of dark Jamaican rum to cover some middle ground, while further iterations this evening (*HIC!!) have me cutting the citrus (liem and lemon juce) and the passionfruit syrup, and adding a splash of Kamora coffee liqueur. Better now, but still not quite there.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 6, 2009 -> 09:56 PM) Fascinating use of the word "Edit" there. Great Gobs of creativity on the part of the Milkman there, yes.

Casilla gets it done, Twins go on, Tigers go home.

QUOTE (Pants Rowland @ Oct 6, 2009 -> 05:24 PM) Total travesty. Uh-oh.

Take a look at my new toy, it'll blow your head in two Oh Boy! Truth Hits Everybody. Truth Hits Everyone. Oh, oh, oh.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 6, 2009 -> 03:51 PM) Flaxx is foiled again, and he would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for us pesky kids. Get bent, Indiana Boy!

Don't drown in it. Egad!

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Oct 6, 2009 -> 01:50 PM) But would ya'll consider those sites mentioned religious, as well? I mean, it is a crucifix. The things you have all mentioned that have been there prior to being a nat'l monument are not necessarily a religious object. Although the Native American relics can be and probably should be considered religious. I really don't have a side in this debate. I don't think that was stated as part of the issue you initially brought up, i.e., that the monument (religious or otherwise) was originally erected without the landowner's consent.

Oddly enough, we seem to be cruising through this go 'round rather briskly.

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Oct 6, 2009 -> 01:13 PM) I'm not trying to be a jerk, but could you give me an example? How about any number of historic shipwrecks that are given protected historic status? None of the captains "owned" the seabed the ships were sunk on? Or, (probably a better example because it does occur in our parks system) what about the remnants of the earliest mining camps born out of the California Gold Rush? Prospectors flocked there and set up camps on federal land without government permission. Although the legality of the existence of these sites is at issue, do you doubt the cultural significance of preserving these sites when they are found?

Life's a Long Song.

I resolve to call her up a thousand times a day. And ask her if she'll marry me in some old fashioned way.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 6, 2009 -> 12:51 PM) I don't think its about believing, or not believing, at all. Its about history, and respect. The National Park Service has a duty to, among other things, protect historically significant artifacts within their jurisdiction. This, to me, clearly fits into it. Agreed. I've been to the sites of former churches within national parks. I appreciate that there is signage interpreting the history of the site. I think it would be great if some of those old structures were still standing (and I bet some are in the parks system), and in that case preserving the structures is preserving history and not giving any one religion preferential treatment.

QUOTE (Tex @ Oct 6, 2009 -> 12:47 PM) While it probably was not intended, the irreverent comment does lead to something. If you do not believe, than this simply is two sticks forming something akin to a trail marker. Presumably, if you are a believer, it means something more. Can't both people simply look upon this for what they believe and allow the other to exist? I walk path various symbols of other religions, civil groups, societies, etc and do not feel offended or threatened. That is a separate discussion — which symbols offend which groups. Jumping immediately to the extreme example: Could you walk past a swastika and remain unoffended? If not, is it because of the history of inhuman brutality represented by that symbol? By extension, could you not understand if the descendants of those many ethnic and religious groups who suffered centuries of subjugation at the hands of Christians didn't get all warm and fuzzy on viewing the most sacred symbol of their historic oppressors?

Flowers are nothing more than the dolled up gonads placed on public display by exhibitionist plants.

A quick and very important question for you drinking Chicagoans: Do Chicago liquor stores carry maraschino liqueur?? Luxardo is the most common brand but there are a couple others (Maraska, Giffard, Stock are ones I know of) that make it to the US. The stuff does not get to Florida. Period. My folks are coming down from Chicago in a few weeks to do the snowbird thing, and I'll have the Old Man pick me up a bottle if I can confirm its availability. Thanks!

Barbaro's story still makes me sad.

Still enjoy a Green Bay loss no matter who is handing it to them.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 5, 2009 -> 10:58 PM) Or not, if the Packers D has anything left. Packers Hate aside, it will be a cool stat to have Favre as the only QB to notch wins against every team in the NFL.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 5, 2009 -> 10:10 PM) The really interesting part is that if things happen to where they have to take down the monument, it will make people think twice about donations like this to the Parks Department. Why would you donate when the possibility that they could come along later and destroy your work? I don't pretend to know the legal aspects of this case, but that hit me pretty quickly. I sort of think things like this can pretty easily get lost if you are talking about a 1.6 million acre land grant.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 5, 2009 -> 10:52 PM) Did mythbusters do pretty much exactly that? Yep, which is partly where my original, marginally informed, bias likely came from. I was genuinely surprised that I could taste enough difference between two vodkas that I could say I preferred one to the other. Thrown into a mixed drink though, I think anybody would be hard-pressed to tell much of a difference.

Now watch this drive!