August 31, 2012

Tonight is a Blue Moon , an event that happens about once every 2.7 years.



Sam Adams Octoberfest is the Labor Day Weekend Beer.

August 30, 2012

"Hubert Humphrey is a treacherous, gutless old ward-heeler who should be put in a goddamn bottle and sent out with the Japanese Current. The idea of Humphrey running for President again makes a mockery out of things that it would take me too long to explain or even list here. And Hubert Humphrey wouldn't understand what I was talking about anyway. He was a swine in '68 and he's worse now. If the Democratic Party nominate Humphrey again in '72, the Party will get exactly what it deserves." (p135)
Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72

August 29, 2012

Chris Christie said: "The greatest lesson Mom ever taught me, though, was this one: she told me there would be times in your life when you have to choose between being loved and being respected. She said to always pick being respected, that love without respect was always fleeting -- but that respect could grow into real, lasting love.

Now, of course, she was talking about women.

But I have learned over time that it applies just as much to leadership. In fact, I think that advice applies to America today more than ever.

I believe we have become paralyzed by our desire to be loved."



Of course, The Prince came right to mind:

"Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with. Because this is to be asserted in general of men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous, and as long as you succeed they are yours entirely; they will offer you their blood, property, life, and children, as is said above, when the need is far distant; but when it approaches they turn against you. And that prince who, relying entirely on their promises, has neglected other precautions, is ruined; because friendships that are obtained by payments, and not by greatness or nobility of mind, may indeed be earned, but they are not secured, and in time of need cannot be relied upon; and men have less scruple in offending one who is beloved than one who is feared, for love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails."
THE PRINCE by Nicolo Machiavelli

August 26, 2012

Boy, one book leads to another. Now I have to get The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant. Mark Twain was the publisher and some think the ghost-writer but more likely an editor. Nook price of the two-volume set: 99¢.

August 25, 2012

The President is a Sick Man by Matthew Algeo was my Barnes and Noble mystery coupon purchase. 20% off on top of my member's discount. Time to learn more about Grover Cleveland, our 22nd and 24th President.



Today is the first day I found White Corn. Usually called Silver Queen, it has been missing this year. It was the best Corn yet this year.



Beautiful flowers.



The Chocolate Habanero Pepper carries a massive 200,000 - 300,000 Scoville units of heat ! For comparison: 2,500 - 5,000 Scoville units for Original TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce, from McIlhenny Company. I bought one for 50 ¢, and got a buy-back pepper. That is one of the reasons I love the Greenmarket.



Will make a Heirloom, onion, and Feta Cheese salad with Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil to go with the White Corn.



Red Peppers in the sun.



The Guardian of All Things: The Epic Story of Human Memory by Michael S. Malone.

Another mystery coupon and now down from $26 list to $11.63 with tax. Memory being a pet topic of mine.  Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things.  Cicero, Marcus T.

August 24, 2012

Moonwalking With Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer was too good to pass up. I had read an excerpt before in 2011.



"Sending Muskie against Nixon would have been like sending a three-toed sloth out to seize turf from a wolverine. Big Ed was an adequate Senator—or at least he seemed like one until he started trying to explain his “mistake” on the war in Vietnam—but it was stone madness from the start to ever think about exposing him to the bloodthirsty thugs that Nixon and John Mitchell would sic on him. They would have him screeching on his knees by sundown on Labor Day."
Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail ’72.

August 23, 2012

The Republican National Convention starts next week. To prepare, I pulled this gem from my personal library. Wow, $1.95 is what it had cost me. 1972 was such a weird election but it has overtones for today. Republicans in Florida, stark choices. Also have to get Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail by Hunter S. Thompson.

August 19, 2012

Just finished Dream Team by Jack McCallum. You have to love the sections on Larry Bird. He is a wit.



Macdonald Park is across the street from the Forest Hills Greenmarket. He was a World War I veteran who died in Maine twenty years after the war. The park used to be named Thomas F. Harvey Square.



The Sunday Forest Hills version is a nice little Greenmarket. They have good stuff.



Yellow zucchinis.



BLT on Ciabatta bread is a great lunch. A little Feta Cheese and Oregeno makes it even better.



Don't know if this will work, but I will try it.



“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” Trailer.

August 18, 2012

Rainy Summer Streets. Whole Foods Picnic still has tons of free stuff.



Pennsylvania Tomatoes are the best this year.



Bulich mushrooms are some of my favorites.



Italian Plums.

August 17, 2012

The plaques were sculpted in bronze by Gregg LeFevre and were dedicated in 2002.



Flowers still a big part of the Greenmarket.



Nothing else on, so even though the Yankees are 12 and 1/2 games ahead, I'll still watch it.



End of Staycation brews are Coronas, with twists of Lime.



The Pura Vida Boat had Mako Shark at $11.99 a pound. Pan-fried with tomato, onion and garlic. A little Tequila for body. Delicious.

August 16, 2012

Their Burgers are good but their French Fries are the best.



Men in Black theme song. Just watched MIB I. Still good, crazy using Flushing Meadow Park like that.

August 15, 2012

Interesting book. The Modell's story on how to listen to your staff and the Eminem Interview were worth the price of admission.



Manhattan Bridge Construction from 1909.



"I wish you was a wishing well, so I could tie a bucket to you and sink you."



Father Duffy: When did an Irishman need a prayer in a fight?



Only forty-three years ago. Have to break out my Woodstock CD.

August 13, 2012

New location 10-43 44th Drive, LIC, NY 11101.



Great Brisket and Burnt Ends.



John Brown.

August 12, 2012

Great win USA. Still had trouble with high post pick and roll. Chris Paul gets the Game ball. Spain played with a lot of heart and grit.



Black Cherry Tomatoes.



Grape Tomatoes.



Peaches in the sun.



Game ball to Candace Parker. It was a blow-out.

August 11, 2012

Carmelo and Kevin take over 3rd Quarter. USA goes for Gold against Spain tomorrow. Today, the Women take on France.



Budweiser was on sale, my official Olympics drink. Not owned by American Company any more: now run by Belgian-Brazilian beer conglomerate Anheuser–Busch InBev.

Had to cancel all trips because of Chemotherapy complications. This will be a true Staycation. Olympics, Beer , BBQ and Books.



Go Prix Fixe until Labor day. Not as good as Restaurant Week, but still worth it.



Great solioquy from King Henry VI, part III > Act III, scene II:

GLOUCESTER: Ay, Edward will use women honourably.
Would he were wasted, marrow, bones and all,
That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring,
To cross me from the golden time I look for!
And yet, between my soul's desire and me--
The lustful Edward's title buried--
Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward,
And all the unlook'd for issue of their bodies,
To take their rooms, ere I can place myself:
A cold premeditation for my purpose!
Why, then, I do but dream on sovereignty;
Like one that stands upon a promontory,
And spies a far-off shore where he would tread,
Wishing his foot were equal with his eye,
And chides the sea that sunders him from thence,
Saying, he'll lade it dry to have his way:
So do I wish the crown, being so far off;
And so I chide the means that keeps me from it;
And so I say, I'll cut the causes off,
Flattering me with impossibilities.
My eye's too quick, my heart o'erweens too much,
Unless my hand and strength could equal them.
Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard;
What other pleasure can the world afford?
I'll make my heaven in a lady's lap,
And deck my body in gay ornaments,
And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks.
O miserable thought! and more unlikely
Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns!
Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb:
And, for I should not deal in her soft laws,
She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe,
To shrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub;
To make an envious mountain on my back,
Where sits deformity to mock my body;
To shape my legs of an unequal size;
To disproportion me in every part,
Like to a chaos, or an unlick'd bear-whelp
That carries no impression like the dam.
And am I then a man to be beloved?
O monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought!
Then, since this earth affords no joy to me,
But to command, to cheque, to o'erbear such
As are of better person than myself,
I'll make my heaven to dream upon the crown,
And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell,
Until my mis-shaped trunk that bears this head
Be round impaled with a glorious crown.
And yet I know not how to get the crown,
For many lives stand between me and home:
And I,--like one lost in a thorny wood,
That rends the thorns and is rent with the thorns,
Seeking a way and straying from the way;
Not knowing how to find the open air,
But toiling desperately to find it out,--
Torment myself to catch the English crown:
And from that torment I will free myself,
Or hew my way out with a bloody axe.
Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile,
And cry 'Content' to that which grieves my heart,
And wet my cheeks with artificial tears,
And frame my face to all occasions.
I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall;
I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk;
I'll play the orator as well as Nestor,
Deceive more slily than Ulysses could,
And, like a Sinon, take another Troy.
I can add colours to the chameleon,
Change shapes with Proteus for advantages,
And set the murderous Machiavel to school.
Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?
Tut, were it farther off, I'll pluck it down.