Funny thing

[bruce massey]

I came across a site, Alaska Prisoners Web Site. On it was a thing called Tony's Blog. I popped in thinking I might know the guy. I do.

One of his entries stated he was listening to Rahsaan, Aces Back to Back and another was his listening to Mingus' Devils Blues.

The cat is doing hard time and he baked for me. I found him to be a good guy. I installed a stereo in the kitchen and played what I wanted. Tony became interested in jazz and I gave him a starter kit of CD's.

They seem to be doing him some good.

Just kind of funny to see how an act of kindness still lingers......

[Gary Sisco]

Good that he's allowed to have music. I have a friend doing hard time in the federal system (21 years so far) and another who was paroled last year after 20. Neither was allowed music or anything to play it on. Both were allowed television.

I'd have found a way to commit suicide.

[Monte Smith]

Interesting and funny thing, indeed, Bruce.

Gary: you've often spoken of this friend of yours. I assume you mean the fellow that did time in Leavenworth, who you call a political prisoner (sometimes you say that he is in the American gulag). I'm curious as to who this fellow is, how you know him, and what his alleged crimes/the facts as you them are.

Don't answer more than you feel appropriate.

[GoodSpeak]

Nah.

Gary calls the public school system and their teachers the American gulag.


The bastard sons of bitches, f**king jerk wads....what right do they have to teach anything, huh?


I think we need to privatize the school system so Gary's beloved corporations can make it all better.


Then all will be just hunky-dory and all will be right with the world....and the third party fring-ies will have something else to bitch about.






Psssh.

[Pete C]

I think we need to privatize the school system so Gary's beloved corporations can make it all better.

Did somebody say something?

[GoodSpeak]

I'd have found a way to commit suicide.

Hm.


Yet another give-up?

[GoodSpeak]

Did somebody say something?

On a regular basis I hear this bullshit from Gary.

This would be my opportunity to do a little get-back.



And yeah...I liked it.












Sue me.

[Monte Smith]

Goody's got an interesting point here. Perhaps Gary is just a little too gung-ho corporate America. He did start the "Black Friday" thread asking if everyone did their patriotic duty of going out and buying stuff to fill the corporate coffers.

Ahem...that's pretty dick suckity of the Man.

[bostontricky]

Next thing you know, we'll hear how the influence of the asparagus lobby is influencing education today...

[GoodSpeak]

Goody's got an interesting point here. Perhaps Gary is just a little too gung-ho corporate America. He did start the "Black Friday" thread asking if everyone did their patriotic duty of going out and buying stuff to fill the corporate coffers.

Ahem...that's pretty dick suckity of the Man.

Sarcasm, Monte...ever hear of it?

Tell you what, let me help you out here, huh?

sar·casm n.

1. A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.
2. A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.
3. Witty language used to convey insults or scorn; "he used sarcasm to upset his opponent"; "irony is wasted on the stupid"; "Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own"--Johathan Swift




Psssh.

[GoodSpeak]

Next thing you know, we'll hear how the influence of the asparagus lobby is influencing education today...

You got a problem with asparagas now?


I am certain it's the teacher's fault



Just ask Gary.















sheesh

[Scott Dolan]

Next thing you know, we'll hear how the influence of the asparagus lobby is influencing education today...

Well, I don't know a great deal about asparagus, other than I'm a sucker for it.

BUT, I have noticed over the years you can never get a perfect batch of it. You know, like if you buy it frozen, there's always those impossible to chew pieces that will be scattered throughout?

It always seemed a bit random to me when I was younger............

[bluenoter]

BUT, I have noticed over the years you can never get a perfect batch of it. You know, like if you buy it frozen, there's always those impossible to chew pieces that will be scattered throughout?

I'm far from being a food elitist (especially in comparison with other JC posters), but one must buy asparagus fresh, and preferably in season (spring). Then one snaps off (or cuts off) the tough end of the stalk.

[Scott Dolan]

You ever stabbed yourself in the finger with one of those bad boys?


Some scars never heal, Rita.

[bluenoter]

You ever stabbed yourself in the finger with one of those bad boys?

No, but I've got an asparagus fern that grabs me regularly.

[GoodSpeak]

Well, I don't know a great deal about asparagus, other than I'm a sucker for it.

BUT, I have noticed over the years you can never get a perfect batch of it. You know, like if you buy it frozen, there's always those impossible to chew pieces that will be scattered throughout?

It always seemed a bit random to me when I was younger............

We BBQ it.

Try it this way:

Put the asparagas in a baking dish.

Drizzle some Extra Virgin olive oil over the top.

Then pour balsamic vinegar over the top with chopped fresh garlic and parsley and let it marinade for about an hour, stirring every once in a while.

Place a vegetable rack on your BBQ and roast for a few minutes on each side.


I absolutely guarantee you'll change your mind about asparagas.



No kidding

[Scott Dolan]

No, but I've got an asparagus fern that grabs me regularly.

Those look great. I had quite a few in hangin pots when we lived in Florida. Do you have to bring them in during the winter? I haven't had any since we moved here.

[bluenoter]

I don't know; mine lives indoors permanently.

[Scott Dolan]

Ah, makes sense since I've never found them here. Not even at our favorite nursery.


My boss always gets a kick out of the fact that almost every house plant he tells me about I say, "oh yeah, those things grew wild in Florida".


But, scallions grow wild here which completely flips me out!

[patricia]

I'm far from being a food elitist (especially in comparison with other JC posters), but one must buy asparagus fresh, and preferably in season (spring). Then one snaps off (or cuts off) the tough end of the stalk.

Only fresh is worth eating. For everything there is a season and for asparagus it's spring.
Asparagus should always be snapped off at the first point from the bottom that it snaps off naturally. Don't cut them.
Interestingly, it's not necessarily the part where it starts to change from green. It's quite often still tough where it's still green.
Sometimes you'll find that the stalks that you end up with are not all the same length, so if their being the same length is important, then cut off the longer ones and save the ends for stir-fry the next day.
Then, steam the stalks for about five minutes. Asparagus, above all, should still be bright green and slightly crisp. If it's limp, it's over-cooked.
There are asparagus cookers out there that look just like the old-style coffee perculator pots, with a rack with handles to lift them out. The ends are in about 2 in. water and the steam rises to cook the more tender top part.

[Scott Dolan]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm................

[bluenoter]

Then, steam the stalks for about five minutes.

Or less (depending on the quantity of stalks, whether they're loose or bundled, etc.)! Isn't it asparagus that one is supposed to steam only as long as it takes to recite the alphabet or the Lord's Prayer or something?

[Scott Dolan]

Ms. Giada made some kind of stuffed asparagus contraption on her show this morning.

I'm not quite sure what it was all about, but I found the show very fascinating.

[Ron Thorne]

Who knew that Bruce's thread about an Alaskan prisoner who got turned on to jazz in a kitchen in Juneau would morph into an asparagus primer?

Yep, snapping at the first joint from the bottom is the trick, as Patricia wisely stated. Asparagus can also be easily and beautifully cooked in a simple Chinese bamboo steamer over an appropriate size pot or wok.

I love it!

[bluenoter]

Yep, snapping at the first joint from the bottom is the trick, as Patricia wisely stated.

Then one snaps off (or cuts off) the tough end of the stalk.

What am I, snapped liver?

[Ron Thorne]

What am I, snapped liver?

I don't like liver, but I like you.

More importantly, you offered the dreaded option of cutting asparagus. Tsk, tsk.

[Scott Dolan]

Ms. Giada made some kind of stuffed asparagus contraption on her show this morning.

I'm not quite sure what it was all about, but I found the show very fascinating.

Oopz!!!



Make that stuffed artichokes.

It would be pretty tough to stuff asparagus.

[bluenoter]

I don't like liver, but I like you.

More importantly, you offered the dreaded option of cutting asparagus. Tsk, tsk.

I like you too, Father Thorne. And if I wanted to be ridiculously stubborn and argumentative, I'd point out that Patricia also mentioned cutting as an option--to even out the length of the stalks in the bunch.

Make that stuffed artichokes.

It would be pretty tough to stuff asparagus.

I was wondering about that, but I wasn't going to say anything.

[bruce massey]

Back to corporate America...

The aforementioned inmate is doing time in a prison for profit in Florence AZ. The state of Alaska has a contract with a group down there and apparently we have about 800 inmates doing time. This makes it very difficult for family visits and Native Alaskans just wither in that heat.

Private prisons are not a good idea!

[Ron Thorne]

Back to corporate America...

The aforementioned inmate is doing time in a prison for profit in Florence AZ. The state of Alaska has a contract with a group down there and apparently we have about 800 inmates doing time. This makes it very difficult for family visits and Native Alaskans just wither in that heat.

Private prisons are not a good idea!

Agreed, Bruce.

Nor is it a good idea for Gov. Murkowski to attempt to hoodwink Alaskans into believing that a primary motive for obtaining his private jet was to provide a finer delivery mode for prisoners to said prison.