Not a normal kinda post, but I’m not a normal kind of poster.
Anyways… I’m good at cooking. And I have a few insights to share, especially in cookware. First off, never buy that $500-600 cooking set of anything. You’ll have at least 3 pieces that you will never use. Which more than makes up for any savings you may have gotten. Please just think about what you do cook with, not what you might one day you hope cook with.
First off, you’ll need some stainless steel pots. If its just one or two of you, you don’t need a big mix of different sizes. I know this goes against your scout training, but pay attention. Go out and get 2 or 3 of those All-Clad 1 qt. try-me pots for 20$ each. Its the perfect size, and now you don’t have to constantly clean one in order to use it. All-Clad is great cookware, and you can never go wrong with it. Now, the next size up is the 1 1/2 qt or the 2 qt. The price goes up A LOT. I’d get the 2 qt, making sure that the lid still fits the 1qt pots which don’t come with lids. You don’t need a matching number of lids for everything. 1 is fine. And the 2 qt pot will handle things when you have meals together. Last pot you need? A giant pasta pot. Get whatever seems sturdy.
Now for frying pans and griddles. No, not that straight sided saute pan, unless you know you’ll use it. I had one for 4 years before I just made tomato sauce in it because I was out of pots. You’re going to want a decent size non-stick griddle first. The sides go up about 1/4 inch. That’s for eggs, sandwiches, and most quick things you will every fry up. Also pick up a few more of those 20$ small All Clad frypans. Perfect size again for a grilled cheese, a burger, a few hot dogs, etc. Its not non-stick, but for most things you don’t need non-stick.
Finally, you need a big frying pan. This is for the chicken, bacon, etc. High sides is a must now. So go out and pick up a good 10″ or 12″ Lodge cast iron pan. They’re under 20$ normally. Please get over any fears you may have about cast iron cooking. Sure its heavy and needs a little care. But you will be rewarded! You do have to season your cast iron. This is what gives it that strong black coating, and makes it naturally non-stick. I can cook fried eggs in mine now with a little grease and they slide around almost like teflon. The instructions say to give it a good bath inside and out with crisco, and bake it for an hour or so. I’ve found that this isn’t quite long enough, or the best way to get a good finish quickly.
Take your new pan, and cook a few pieces of bacon in it. When you get a good buildup of bacon grease, turn off the burner and let it cool. This will take a while because of how much heat the iron can hold. Grab a few paper towels, and spread the grease inside and out of the pan. Coat everything, even the handle. Take it outside, and put it on your grill UPSIDE DOWN. Gas grill is easy, just turn it on high. Charcoal, well, thats because you want to do things the harder, better way. Maybe wait until the next cookout. Anyways, let this roast in the higher temperatures of the grill for close to two hours if you can. After an hour, flip the pan to its normal position and throw another piece of bacon into the pan. This will be charcoal when you’re done, but the grease will splatter around nicely, making sure there is enough grease to soak into the pan. Let everything cool down, and you should be rewarded with a nice, ready to use pan. It will probably be a darker brown, you can only get the black color with use. But this pan will become one of your favorites, just ask Alton Brown (click Ci).

Story on FoxNews.com about an retirement complex that is trying to keep an old man and his wife from flying the US flag outside. The housing covenant forbids this kind of thing, you know.
I think its ridiculous. But thats not why I am posting about this. This quote is why, in the beautiful wisdom of the elderly.

The Lamps’ next-door neighbor, Grace Hansen, said she supports the couple’s display of their flag.
“I can see it out my window, and I look forward to seeing it out there every morning. It means everything’s right in the world,” she said.

“Where are the flying cars?” - time traveler from 1960 to today.
All the stuff we were promised by now. All on one website! Man, if I was a forward looking baby boomer, I’d be really disappointed at how much we had failed to build the future by now. There are no death rays, no Gyro-Destroyers, and no Robot Dogs. Well, Sony is finally starting to come out with robot dogs, but I still would prefer the real thing.

I like Google news for a quick glance of news around the world. I do love when the same story generates completely different headlines.

Genetic study shows chimps are less human
Xinhua - 50 minutes ago
SHANGHAI, May 27 (Xinhuanet) — There are more differences between a chimpanzee and a human being than once believed, according to a new genetic study.

Big Genetic Gap Lies Between Chimpanzee, Human Being - Korea Times

Small Changes Separate Man from Ape, Study Shows - Reuters

So, Asia news companies say that the differences are greater than we thought, while Europe sees a smaller difference. Interesting!

Happy Birthday to the ITPAA!!!
Do you work in technology in the US? Please visit the site. It is in your own best interest. Donate time and or money. Get involved. Don’t be the silent one. You’ll be offshored too. It’s happened to me and most of the other technology people I know.

Please read these two posts on EjectEjectEject: Part 1 and Part 2.
I have not read in recent history analysis like this about both going to war and the rights and responsibilities of the US and Americans themselves.
Thanks to Rachel Lucas to give me a new reason to go to the shootin’ range. My only issue is wasting ink on that guy. Great job Lagmonkey on the artwork. Now, see, you all have to click those links to see what I’m talking about!!!
While we’re posting links that make proper fun of asshats, please take a look at the proper answer to Ted Rall.
Anyways, its Saturday, time to go clean out the damn garage. Tomorrow is powerwash the house day…

Since I know people from work read this site…
Tech ops whooped Development in football. 7-0. Good thing we agreed to stop the slaughter at 7 TDs. That’s despite Development having twice the people to choose from, and beating us in raw tonnage. And several of us pulling midnight maintenance also.
Somehow that still doesn’t make up for all the abuse we take at the office, but it sure feels good.

Anyone know anything about BHB, or XXXBHB-BACAR-1318-I390MSCH?
Can’t find anything on the internet about it right now… Looks interesting though…

MSNBC - Can ‘Star Wars: Episode III’ be saved? I doubt it myself, considering that the latest rumour is that the long awaited scene with Ben Kenobi and Darth Vader fighting in the volcano is now supposed to be on… surfboards.
Christopher Bahn says we need to fire George Lucas and just about all the actors. Bring in a new screen writer, new cast, etc., and hope for the best. It can’t get much worse!

So, I have three of those “atomic clocks,” digital clocks that self set themselves from the atomic clock in Colorado. The radio signal goes out all over the world, these tune in and automatically set the time. Its a great idea! So why are all three clocks set differently? I’m not talking 10 minutes or anything. The total spread is less than a minute. But its still kinda weird.
I love the feature on this site that shows the google searches that led people here. It is always a source of great amusement because you can see what demented searches people enter. On todays is one called ‘Horrors of White Women’. Initially I thought it was kinda funny, but then of course it ends up its about the white supremacy movement.
Why do any companies deal with Michael Moore? Don’t they realize he will turn on anyone in order to make a buck? I can’t wait until this windbag explodes like the zeppelin he is…

Its always the little things the media does to reinforce its bias.
The press today released a story about former Oregon governor Neil Goldschmidt fooling around with a 14 year old way back in the past. Thats fine, its news, whatever.
But every single time the press does a story on a politician’s “personal failures”, I look to see if the political party is identified.
Not one single article mentioned his political party that I could find. They all talk about how he was a secretary for Pres. Carter, but thats it.
I had to search google to find an old article which finally confirmed it was a Democrat.
Contrast this to all the stories about Republicans in office who usually have the party listed in the first paragraph.

Michael Moore was in the news again. Seems “the man”, in this case, “the mouse”, wants to keep him down. Won’t distribute his propaganda film. Except M.M. (Thats Michael Moore, not Mickey Mouse) isn’t content just to lie IN his movies, now he has to lie ABOUT his movies.
Seems its all a big publicity stunt. Since the left doesn’t rely on facts and logic, they have to get riled up about perceived injustices.