General Discussion, Thursday, December 1, 2016

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Stella

scotland_mountains_winter_lake

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175 Responses to General Discussion, Thursday, December 1, 2016

  1. MaryfromMarin says:
    December 1, 2016 at 12:15 am

    I like the falling snow, stella. Forgot to mention that yesterday…

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply
  2. czarowniczy says:
    December 1, 2016 at 12:45 am

    Speaking of thongs falling out of the blue, I just got a ‘like’ from a post I made on CTH in March of 2012. Was that a burp from the Utah Center doing a data reconciliation, some strange bubble in the inscrutable WP OS or is someone stalking my com-posts?

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply
  3. MaryfromMarin says:
    December 1, 2016 at 12:49 am

    .[backing away slowly…]

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  4. ImpeachEmAll says:
    December 1, 2016 at 2:17 am

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  5. ImpeachEmAll says:
    December 1, 2016 at 2:20 am

    Time to put a log on the
    fire at the old farm house.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply
  6. ImpeachEmAll says:
    December 1, 2016 at 2:47 am

    Tea Time…

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply
  7. ImpeachEmAll says:
    December 1, 2016 at 3:18 am

    Liked by 7 people

    Reply
  8. ImpeachEmAll says:
    December 1, 2016 at 3:22 am

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  9. WeeWeed says:
    December 1, 2016 at 7:38 am

    And in other news, weekend-at-Fidel’s continues…… Mornin’ kids!

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply
  10. nyetneetot says:
    December 1, 2016 at 7:42 am

    Mornin’ stella! (Smiter of those that ought to be smote) 😎 🍸 (Long Island Iced Tea)
    Mornin’ WeeWeed! (Master Mixologist Extrodinare) 😎 🍸 (Old Fashioned)
    Mornin’ Menagerie! 😎 |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| (Jack Daniels – Single Barrel )
    Mornin’ Ad rem! (Queen Felis catus) 🐱 🍸 (Flaming Lamborghini)
    Mornin’ Sharon! 😎 🍸 (earthquake)
    Mornin’ ytz4mee! 😎 🍸 (cosmopolitan)
    Mornin’ waltzingmtilda! 🙂 🍸 (white wine and perrier)
    Mornin’ partyzantski! 🙂 |_| (Tom Collins)
    Mornin’ texan59! 🙂 |_| (Black & Tan)
    Mornin’ ZurichMike! 🙂 🍸 (fuzzy navel)
    Mornin’ Col.(R) Ken! (hand salute) 🙂 |_| (Boilermaker)
    Mornin’ Czarina! 🙂 🍸 (Lynchburg Lemonade)
    Mornin’ czarowniczy! 🙂 |_| (Wild Turkey Rare Breed)
    Mornin’ letjusticeprevail2014! 🙂 |_| (Irish Car Bomb)
    Mornin’ Patriot1783-ctdar! (aka “ctdar”) 🙂 🍸 (grasshopper)
    Mornin’ tessa50! 🙂 🍸 (flaming volcano)
    Mornin’ waltzingmtilda! 🙂 🍸 (sidecar)
    Mornin’ varsityward! 🙂 |_| (Godfather)
    Mornin’ MaryfromMarin! 😀 |_| (Mortlach)
    Mornin’ Wooly Phlox! (aka “taqiyyologist”) 🙂 |_| (Roy Rogers)
    Mornin’ Howie! 🙂 |_| (Classic Daiquiri)
    Mornin’ TwoLaine! 🙂 |_| (Gin & Tonic)
    Mornin’ Sha! 🙂 🍸 (Lemon Drop)
    Mornin’ BigMamaTEA! 🙂 🍸 (Harvey Wallbanger)
    Mornin’ cetera5! (aka “Cetera”) 🙂 |_| (Blackberry wine)
    Mornin’ The Tundra PA! 🙂 🍸 (bailey irish cream on the rocks)
    Mornin’ lovely! 🙂 |_| (Backdraft)
    Mornin’ michellc! 🙂 🍸 (Salty dog)
    Mornin’ auscitizenmom! 🙂 🍸 (Kiss on the Lips)
    Mornin’ Margaret-Ann! 🙂 🍸 (White Russian)
    Mornin’ Auntie Lib! 🙂 🍸 (Tom and Jerry)
    Mornin’ holly100! 🙂 🍸 (Jack & Coke)
    Mornin’ Pam! 🙂 (Not even water)
    Mornin’ Ms.Tee! 🙂 🍸 (Mojito)
    Mornin’ koolkosherkitchen! 🙂 🍸 (Cuba Libre)
    Mornin’ ImpeachEmAll 🙂 |_| (Flaming Dr. Pepper)
    Mornin’ Monroe! 🙂 |_| (Stinger)
    Mornin’ Les! 🙂 |_| (Rusty Nail)
    Mornin’ shiloh1973! 🙂 |_| (Jack Daniels)
    Mornin’ TexasRanger! 🙂 |_| (Whiskey Smash)
    Mornin’ Ziiggii! 🙂 |_| (B52)
    Mornin’ oldiadguy! 🙂 |_| (Rum & Coke)
    Mornin’ smiley! (“stuck in spambucket”) 🙂 🍸 (Spanish coffee)
    Mornin’ derk! (“Stellars”) 🙂 🍸 (Mudslide)
    Mornin’ Jacqueline Taylor Robson 🙂 🍸 (Shirley Temple)
    Mornin’ facebkwallflower! 🙂 |_| (Night Train Express)
    Mornin’ Ms. Cindy! (aka “Ms Cynlynn” aka “ms cynlynn”) 🙂 🍸 (1970 ducru beaucaillou)
    Mornin’ sandandsea2015! 🙂 🍸 (1961 Château Montrose)
    Mornin’ amwick! 🙂 🍸 (Blue motorcycle)
    Mornin’ hocuspocus13! 🙂 🍸 (1970 Chateau Latour)
    Mornin’ Sloth1963! 🙂 🍸 (1971 Moulin Touchais)
    Mornin’ MTeresa! (Ex-lurker) 🙂 |_| (Albanian Raki Moskat)
    Mornin’ Rhea Salacia Volans! 🙂 |_| (Hot Buttered Rum)
    Mornin’ joshua! 🙂 |_| (Hot Buttered Rum)
    Mornin’ whiners and complainers! 😛 (No drink for you!)
    Mornin’ to people posting that I missed. 😳
    Mornin’ to all you lurkers! 😕

    Also just in case someday; mornin’ to Elvis Chupacabra, F.D.R. in Hell and sundance! :mrgreen:

    Breakfast!

    NEW and IMPROVED breakfast with extra bacon for ZurichMike!

    Apple Coffee Cake with Crumble Topping and Brown Sugar Glaze!

    Liked by 9 people

    Reply
  11. nyetneetot says:
    December 1, 2016 at 8:22 am

    stella, will there be a Christmas lights thread or should the daily thread be used?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. stella says:
    December 1, 2016 at 8:35 am

    Good morning, everyone!

    Two Trump events today, with Live Feed; the first is in Indianapolis at 2:00 PM, and the second in Cincinnati with coverage beginning at 6:00 pm, which is the first ‘Thank You America’ rally.

    Overcast here with rain and some snow showers. Overall icky.

    I suppose I should start pre-Christmas cleaning, and decorating, but my heart isn’t in it yet. I haven’t sent out cards, and have only purchased a few gifts. Well, that isn’t what the Holiday is about anyway, is it? Here is a little poem that my mother wrote to my daughter for Christmas, 1973, when DD was five years old:

    Do you know the joy of Christmas?
    Do you love the story read
    Of Jesus little baby
    Who had no cradle bed?

    I hope that Christmas has a glow;
    A sparkle and a shine
    That you’ll remember all your life
    As I remember mine.

    Liked by 11 people

    Reply
    • amwick says:
      December 1, 2016 at 9:00 am

      That was so sweet… and loving.

      Liked by 6 people

      Reply
    • lovely says:
      December 1, 2016 at 9:42 am

      Such a rich childhood that you and your mom gave to your children with your gift of a words!

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply
    • Pam says:
      December 1, 2016 at 9:42 am

      Hey…don’t worry about the “shoulds.” Do it when you feel like it.

      Love the poem.

      I used to get the most enormous satisfaction and happiness out of decorating and buying gifts for Christmas. It was always my favorite holiday. I went all out every year. I got to the point where I had two trees, and I would even decorate in bathrooms. When my children were little, there were years when I went into debt with gifts (I know..not a very good idea). Now, it’s been several years that there are no decorations in my house. I can’t physically do it, and I discovered that my husband and older-now children (when they were still home) just weren’t that motivated. I never got upset with them because I understand it was my thing but not everyone is like me. I won’t lie and say it’s not a little sad for me at times, but surprisingly I have found that I don’t dwell on it and any “sads” are very few and fleeting. Something good has come from this — I have time to concentrate on the basics, on little baby Jesus. It’s all good.

      Liked by 6 people

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      • shiloh1973 says:
        December 1, 2016 at 10:57 am

        I gave all my Christmas decorations to a dear friend a few years ago. She had young children and very little money. Both kids came running to hug me a couple of days later. They still hug me every time they see me now. Best Christmas ever.

        Liked by 7 people

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      • joshua says:
        December 1, 2016 at 2:53 pm

        grown children sorta take the magic making urges away….but I have always been the Xmas magic maker, likely a function of OCD…but now, my wife loves the idea, but no one gets the urge….and I know that I will do some decoration as she will overdo herself doing, and then be too tired for enjoying….Christmas for me is smells, tastes, laughter, lights and candles, ornaments and the family history behind the age old ornaments….I miss a real tree, but with dogs and allergies…make do with an artificial one….my Mother was the magic maker when I grew up, so the how to do was passed on through me….but now I understand how grown ups experience TIRED and WEARY…..but, I gotta soldier on to hear the laughing and silly that comes with family…..I keep watching for a future magic maker in the bunch….but they never had to do without like my Mother did, so she knew how much magic means to little ones…even my grandkids are adults now…and they don’t have kids yet like all that generation that are “waiting” until they have all their own STUFF collected…I guess.

        well, maybe everyone on this forum can share laughs and magic….I see that there is PLENTY of spirit and feisty amongst the denisons. Happy Holidays….going to a business party Friday…lots of food and stuffed shirts…will be fun, but rather have my shoes off and in front of the fireplace.

        Liked by 4 people

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        • amwick says:
          December 1, 2016 at 5:04 pm

          Sometimes you don’ t have to make magic. It floats on by and so grab a tiny piece. The sad thing is when people get too old to see it. Hmmmmm. Lots and lots around this time of year.

          Liked by 3 people

          Reply
  13. derk says:
    December 1, 2016 at 8:56 am

    Morning Stella and all,
    Even my man Scott Adams, whom I lauded yesterday, does not get it. Article here still insisting that the President to be uses persuasion instead of facts.

    http://blog.dilbert.com/post/153865618451/the-idea-you-are-least-likely-to-believe

    Think someone else has been persuaded, or actually, deluded.
    Have a great day out there in your Stellar worlds y’all!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • amwick says:
      December 1, 2016 at 9:12 am

      I kinda liked the article… My take on the thing was a kind of “damn the torpedoes(facts) full speed ahead.” That and “keep your eye on the prize!” At the end, Scott calls himself a persuader too. It’s all good.

      Liked by 2 people

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      • derk says:
        December 1, 2016 at 9:33 am

        Ok, but what I hear is that facts don’t matter, that Mr. Trump ignores them actually, but uses the power of “master persuasion”.
        Fact is, people are sick and tired of the ways as they are, force fed amongst others: Political Correctness, Global Warming. Islam is a religion of peace, Obamacare, little Juan in Mexico has every right to be here, government cares about its citizens etc.
        These are the facts and didn’t take persuasion, just someone to acknowledge them, and actually do something about them.

        Liked by 1 person

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        • amwick says:
          December 1, 2016 at 10:28 am

          Looking at it that way would be a bit upsetting.. But, I think the whole discussion hinges on Mr. Adams def of master of persuasion. Just me.

          Liked by 2 people

          Reply
        • Cetera says:
          December 1, 2016 at 10:45 am

          Facts mostly don’t matter to a great many people (read: libs). They are the audience Adams has been directly preaching to for most of the past 1.5 years.

          To be fair, there is a large number on the right that don’t care about facts either. I have a brother who is one. He’s highly educated, well off, and thinks that anything he hasn’t witnessed personally is part of a conspiracy theory that will never happen. Facts don’t matter, research doesn’t matter. Only what affects him directly matters.

          He may yet come around, as he’s finally realized exactly what Obamacare has done to his insurance coverage, as there isn’t any Obamacare plan left in his state, and everything else is completely unaffordable, even for him.

          I would guess, that at best, there is a group of about 20-30% of this nation to whom facts truly matter, and who use reason as a primary decision-making engine. Humanity isn’t built for that. (Its even less, much less, world wide.) That’s why democracy can’t and doesn’t work, and why we have a republic, to try and shore up enough bastions of reason amidst a sea of emotionality.

          Liked by 1 person

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        • czarowniczy says:
          December 1, 2016 at 11:24 am

          But he’s right. If the ‘experts’ know the facts why waste time trying to get the largely ill-educated public edjumakated to those facts when it is easier to just persuade them to move in a particular direction? Yo, thirsty horse, follow me to the water. A savings of time and energy.

          Liked by 5 people

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          • joshua says:
            December 1, 2016 at 3:34 pm

            Scott makes a great deal of fluff out of what ALL good Salesmen have known since they got their first commission check. When you have them convinced….stop selling and start writing up the order. Closing counts…selling is showmanship coupled with listening and responding to what the potential customer WANTS….Trump gets it….journalists, liberals, politicians NEVER will Get It….

            Liked by 2 people

            Reply
  14. derk says:
    December 1, 2016 at 9:06 am

    Don’t know if you all have seen this, New Yorker from Staten Island, making the rounds on the webs. Good rant, f bombs included. Artwork amazing.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  15. derk says:
    December 1, 2016 at 9:45 am

    Ok, last then off to the goldmine.

    http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2016-11-30.html#read_more

    The moment Trump said “Wall”, I was all in. As Ann says here, if he does a Lucy and pulls the ball back, for whatever reason that may be, adios amigo.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. Cetera says:
    December 1, 2016 at 10:47 am

    Happy December, family!

    Liked by 8 people

    Reply
  17. stella says:
    December 1, 2016 at 2:31 pm

    A Detroit story (video at link):

    Fellow K-9 Cops Pay Tribute to Fallen Officer

    http://dennismichaellynch.com/ellow-k-9-cops-pay-tribute-to-fallen-officer/

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • amwick says:
      December 1, 2016 at 2:52 pm

      That was very touching.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
    • czarowniczy says:
      December 1, 2016 at 3:48 pm

      To really appreciate a working police dog you have to work with one. This isn’t Fido in the living room barking at the mailman, it’s four furry feet watching your butt at 2 AM in the projects when your partner’s half a block away. Your ‘pet’ is now your lifeline.

      Z commercial.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
      • WeeWeed says:
        December 1, 2016 at 5:25 pm

        I think of Z when I see them. And wonder what would happen to my stupid a$$ should I (not thinking) instinctively reach to pet/kiss head…… some of us just love all beasts…..

        Like

        Reply
        • czarowniczy says:
          December 1, 2016 at 6:14 pm

          Depends upon their training. There’s a national standard but, sadly, some departments skimp and thevdog gets some basic police training but that’s about it. Dog also benefits from living as part of the officer’s family.
          Then wevhave the officer…we havebmore than ona a****le officer who’s killed his fog through pure idiotness like leaving it in a locked car, summertime, windows up. Best to ask officer if you can pet the dog.

          Liked by 2 people

          Reply
          • WeeWeed says:
            December 1, 2016 at 6:46 pm

            They’re all so alert and beautiful – I can’t handle a GSD because of my size/weight/age but I’ve always loved them.
            I knew a giant one, named Palladin, years and years ago. Monster dog, hated everybody. Was my BIL’s pet. Don let him in the house, we were all sitting on the floor being servile like Don instructed and the dog promptly bit through DH’s hand. Me? I took off…..
            Did I mention Don’s an a$$???? We never blamed the dog. Something was wrong, there – poor dog would bark, growl, and jump at the windows trying to get to people, for gawdsake.

            Liked by 2 people

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            • czarowniczy says:
              December 1, 2016 at 7:40 pm

              GSDs are bossy and somewhat independent, you don’t take and maintain command and thry’ll try to take it. They need structure and if they don’t get it they make it but if you set down the chain of command and glue it in place they’ll follow. They’ll also test you at every turn to see if that structure is still there.
              I’m betting your BIL was an absentee GSD owner, sounds like when the GSD announced his territory by barking no one corrected him, leaving him to believe he owned the house and his people lived in his house. I hsd a big problem with Z and the car/truck, he loved to ride and he’d take up the entire back or most of the front. When I was in the vehicle I could call the shots but if he were in and I were out he’d launch himself into a pants-soiling warning the you were too close. 140 pounds of toothed attitude in a car/truck suddenly appearing at throat height can be worrisome.
              You’ll note that more departments have Belgian shepherds than German Shepherds. I believe that’s because Belgians are more tractable than GSDs making it easier for less hardcore handlers to deal with them.

              Liked by 2 people

              Reply
  18. amwick says:
    December 1, 2016 at 2:43 pm

    ?????????????

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  19. joshua says:
    December 1, 2016 at 2:54 pm

    Fruitcake…..why does it get such a bad rap…..I LIKE FRUITCAKE.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  21. stella says:
    December 1, 2016 at 6:03 pm

    Lemon Buttercream

    Ingredients
    1/2 cup (about 3 large eggs) egg whites
    1 cup granulated sugar
    1 pound unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
    1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
    1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

    Directions
    In a large stainless-steel bowl** placed over a pot filled with 1 inch of simmering water, place the egg whites and sugar. Use a whisk to beat the mixture until it is very hot to the touch (about 160 degrees F).
    Remove from heat and, using a mixer set on high speed, immediately begin whipping the mixture until it is cool, thick, and glossy and has tripled in volume — about 5 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to medium and add the butter — about a quarter cup at a time — allowing 5 to 10 seconds in between each addition. Add the lemon zest and lemon juice and continue to beat until smooth and fluffy.

    ** I use my mixer bowl. That way I can move it directly from the stove to the stand mixer. This recipe really needs a stand mixer, although I suppose you could do it with a hand mixer.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • stella says:
      December 1, 2016 at 6:10 pm

      This is what they call a swiss meringue buttercream. One thing – it isn’t the best choice if the weather is hot.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
    • stella says:
      December 1, 2016 at 6:15 pm

      This is also a delicious frosting – I’ve used it on a white cake. A friend of mine (who is a caterer) adapted it to a cake roll for parties. Actually, it’s good on anything (if you like mango):

      Mango Buttercream Frosting
      Ingredients
      4 whole Ripe Mangoes
      1 cup Sugar
      6 whole Egg Yolks, Beaten
      3 Tablespoons Orange Liqueur Or Brandy
      2 cups Unsalted Butter, Softened
      Preparation Instructions
      Peel, seed, and cut up the mangoes. Put about 1/3 of the mango in a blender or food processor. Process until smooth. Repeat with the remainder of the mango, 1/3 at a time. There should be about 1-1/2 cups of puree. Place in a large heavy saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until reduced to about 1 cup. Remove from heat.
      Stir one cup of sugar into the mango puree in the saucepan. Cook over medium heat until bubbly. Remove from heat. Gradually stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks. Return all of the egg yolk mixture to the saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil; reduce heat and cook and stir for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the liqueur, and cool to room temperature.
      In a large mixing bowl, beat the 2 cups of butter with an electric mixer (now is the time for your Kitchen-Aid!) on medium to high speed until fluffy. Add the cooled mango mixture to the beaten butter. Beat until combined. Reserve 3/4 cup of the buttercream.
      Frost your cake or cake roll as usual. Put the 3/4 reserved buttercream in a decorator bag with a large star tip, and pipe stars on top of your cake.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
    • nyetneetot says:
      December 1, 2016 at 8:32 pm

      Wah 😦 I’m on a diet. 😦

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  22. Wooly Phlox says:
    December 1, 2016 at 6:16 pm

    I heard this in ’97, nearly 20 years ago. I can’t believe I found it.

    Like

    Reply
  23. Wooly Phlox says:
    December 1, 2016 at 6:25 pm

    Worked 33 hours in the last three days.

    Learned a lot. I can’t believe I was intimidated by some roux.

    After today I can make a cream soup. Any cream soup. Chowder? No problem.

    Never thought work would get fun. We open a new restaurant/bar tomorrow, and also cater off-site for a hundred-person dinner. Tomorrow will be a good day, too.

    I’m just a dishwasher.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  24. ImpeachEmAll says:
    December 1, 2016 at 6:54 pm

    There seems to be few whose elevator does not go to the top floor.

    Like

    Reply
  25. ImpeachEmAll says:
    December 1, 2016 at 7:19 pm

    Trump gives Ford and Carrier cause to pause.

    POTUS dumbfounded as to how accomplished.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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