Offal Times, Ctd - Cited by Sharpy News.
By Patrick Appel
A reader writes:
Though I’m sure it’s makes for a more lurid tale of GreatDepression woe, I would think that a more likely cause for the stronguptick (over the last *five years* no less) in offal consumption wouldbe a revived interest in nose-to-tail consumption. Fergus Hendersonand his ilk have brought attention back to classic British offaldishes, and have attempted to renew the enjoyment of the whole animalas environmental mindfulness and thrift.
So I’d say this is just a case where thoughtful consumption happensto dovetail nicely with economic realities, rather than a scary "mygod, no one can afford steaks anymore" harbinger.
Another reader :
It’s too bad that it takes tough economic times for people to recognizethe value of offal. The cheapest cuts of meat often prove to be thejuiciest, most tender part of the animal when prepared properly. Toooften we throw away the undesirable parts because of social taboos orjust plain ignorance. Our ancestors knew the importance of using theentire animal. As a child, I used to look in wonder at the head cheeseat the supermarket. My mother would tell me how disgusting it was andfor years, I believed this was true. Fast forward twenty years and Iam a chef, and making head cheese has proved to be not only satisfyingin it’s preparation, but it’s delicious. Not everyone is anadventurous eater, but I have found that if someone does not know whatthey are eating, they are more inclined to enjoy it. I have cookedkidneys and heart before, had friends try it, and they loved it. Uponhearing that what they ate was an organ, they were immediately repulsedand said that it was disgusting. Where does this aversion to varietymeats come from? Are we too good for anything but tenderloin? Offalis not awful, it is quite "wondoffal."
As someone who once accidentally ordered trippa (tripe aka cow stomach) at a restraunt in Rome, I can testify that eating all parts of the animal isn’t for everyone. This post from a few months ago by a food-blogger sums up pretty well how I feel about the dish:
This? Was disgusting. Absolutely, positively the worst thing I have ever eaten in my life.
And I was surprised and really bummed. In some part of my twisted little mind, I really did have high expectations for this dish. I kind of wanted it to be excellent, so that I could amaze, astonish, and horrify my friends by ordering tripe when we went out. I wanted to be The Girl Who Is Not Afraid To Order Tripe And In Fact It Makes Her Even Cooler And All The More Sexy Because She Enjoys It. Alas, it was not meant to be.
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NY-03: Potential GOP Vacancy As Pete King Eyes Senate Run - Democratic Source
New York’s third congressional district is one of the few remaining congressional districts represented by a Republican that nevertheless tends to lean more Democratic than the nation as a whole in presidential elections. GOP Congressman Peter King is actually quite popular in the Long Island-based district, winning last month with 64 percent of the vote. But the district might not be in Republican hands much longer, with King potentially looking to run for Senate this cycle.
Republican Congressman Peter King, who was a visible and outspoken supporter of Rudy Giuliani during the 2008 campaign, said he’s interested in running for Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat when it comes up in 2010.“I am seriously considering the race for Hillary Clinton’s seat,” King told AP. “I’m very serious about it.”
On potentially running against Caroline Kennedy, King, 64, said, “Obviously it would be a challenge to run against Caroline Kennedy. She has the name identification and for all I know she’s a wonderful person. But this is not an anti-Kennedy campaign. “Nothing in life is easy. If anything, that makes the adrenaline pump a little harder.”
King would be one of the more formidable candidates the Republicans could put up for Senate in 2010 — but that doesn’t mean that he would have much of a shot at victory, particularly given the sorry state of the GOP in New York state these days. What’s more, without him running for reelection, the Republicans’ hopes of holding NY-3 aren’t great or even moderately good.
Now it’s certainly true that New York is slated to lose seats in the upcoming round of redistricting, and with the Democrats now controlling the trifecta and likely maintaining that power position through the redistricting process it is very possible that the days of the GOP holding this district, or a similarly drawn district, were already numbered. That said, this news could be beginning of the story that ends with the Republicans holding no seats in New York state in the not-too-distant future.
Tags: House 2010, Senate 2010, NY-Sen, NY-03, Peter King, Long Island (all tags)
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Oregon church decides to stop participating in discrimination - Cited by Sharpy News
For too long, churches have participated in the denial of civil rights to same gender loving citizens by our willingness to sign marriage licenses for heterosexual couples while gay and lesbian couples were denied this legal right. At First Congregational United Church of Christ we will no longer sign marriage licenses for anyone until we are able to sign marriage licenses for everyone.
We will continue to celebrate the beautiful sacrament of marriage for all couples who wish their love and their spiritual union to be blessed by the church. And we will continue to fight for justice for same gender loving people as part of our call to follow the radical Jesus who leaves no one out.
(from the text of a full-page ad in this Friday’s Medford Mail Tribune, reprinted in Just Out)
The pastoral staff of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Ashland, Oregon, has unanimously pledged to stop signing marriage licenses for couples who are married in the church. Sure, they’ll perform the religious ceremony, but the newlyweds will need to go to a justice of the peace or a judge.
After prayerful discernment, the Rev. Pam Shepherd realized that by signing wedding licenses for opposite-sex couples, she was tacitly acknowledging the legitimacy of a system that does not yet allow such licenses to be issued to same sex couples.
“Every time I sign a license, it’s like I’m saying, ‘OK,’ but it’s not OK,” she said.
But is it OK? A few of my thoughts, plus room for your own, of course, inside…
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Stoning Blitzen - Political News
Pastor Steven L. Anderson
Faithful Word Baptist Church
Dear Pastor Anderson,
I’ve been a huge fan of you work for quite awhile. Your sermon on the sin of peeing while sitting and the essay in which you accuse male gynecologists of being perverts are two of the finest examples of biblical scholarship I’ve ever seen.
But perhaps your greatest accomplishment is the way you’ve shepherded your flock. One congregant, Brother Matthew Stucky, serves as a living example of the good work you’re doing. The sermon he gave in your stead while you were in Norway, “Purge Out the Liberals” was about as good a sermon as a god-fearing man could hear anywhere. I particularly liked the part where he called Gomer Pyle a “faggot.”
I’m also very impressed with Brother Stucky’s blog. I don’t think anyone has made a better case for Santa’s reindeer being The Gay than he does, here:
Santa’s queer reindeer:
Take a look at the names of the 8 reindeer.
Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donder, Prancer and Vixen.The person who originally came up with these names probably did not have this intent. They probably originally had some of the reindeer as male & some as female. However, the animated movie that was made in 1964 had a different idea. In the movie all 8 of these reindeer were male reindeer. Take a look at those names again. Male reindeer named Dancer, Prancer, Vixen & Cupid?!?!?!
[...]
I think from these names we know Vixen, Dancer, Prancer & Cupid are queer reindeer.
Let’s go back to the story from the animated movie with Rudolph. Rudolph gets shy around girls & his nose turns red. As a result, the other reindeer won’t let him play any reindeer games. That sounds sick, perverted & homosexual. Basically Rudolph like girls because he is straight & as a result they don’t let him participate in their homosexual games.
[...]
According to the Bible homosexuality should be punishable by death. I would be overjoyed if every single queer in the entire world died today. The Bible makes it clear they are reprobates who are past the point of salvation. The Bible also makes it clear they are rapists & very wicked people. They have no chance to get saved and no saved person could ever become a queer. Therefore, I would be overjoyed if they all died tonight & our government would actually follow what the Bible states. The death penalty should be enacted for the queers.
Now that’s what I call a powerful Christian sermon.
Heterosexually yours,
Gen. JC Christian, patriot
You have been banned from Faithful Word Baptist Church Listeners
Sorry, patriotboy, you can not access Faithful Word Baptist Church Listeners as you have been banned. If you think you’ve been banned in error, you can contact the administrator.
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When Will Sexism Matter - Cited by Sharpy News?
Corrente links to Dee Dee Myers on the Favreau incident. The part I really liked:
[T]here is a larger issue at stake. At what point does sexist behavior get taken seriously?
Indeed, that is a question we have been asking for the past many years.
Speaking for me only
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Creative Responses To Rick Warren - Democratic Source
Driving Equality is hosting a Rick-A-Thon to turn Rick Warren’s anti-equality stance into positive change for LGBT people. Every second that Warren stands at the podium, he will be raising money to advance LGBT civil rights. ( Pledge Online)
Rick Warren, a staunch opponent of equal rights for LGBT people, has used his pulpit to spread lies about LGBT families and to raise money for anti-gay legislation, such as proposition 8, which stripped equal marriage rights away from same-sex couples. When Warren takes the stage on Inauguration Day, however, he will be raising thousands of dollars to advance LGBT equality across the country.
On January 20, 2009, President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in as our next president. Many of us look forward to this day as a moment of new hope, new direction, and positive change.
Unfortunately, many of us also view this day with mixed feelings. Many Americans are upset with Barack Obama’s decision to have controversial conservative minister Rick Warren deliver the invocation for the inaugural ceremony.
Over the years, Mr. Warren has supported the idea of criminalizing reproductive choice, he has advocated for the assassination of foreign leaders who oppose the policy positions of the American government, and most recently, he gave support to California’s controversial Proposition 8, which outlawed marriage equality for gay and lesbian citizens of that state. He has, in the past, compared gay marriage to incest, child abuse, polygamy, and rape (video here).
As an act of protest against the appearance of Rick Warren at the inauguration, we ask our fellow progressive bloggers that on January 20, 2009, you post your own alternative invocation.
You know, I might just do that.
Also, what Martin Marty said (below the fold).
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U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Lesbian Mom’s Rights - Cited by Sharpy News
Good news: The U.S. Supreme Court today declined to hear the case of “ex-lesbian” biological mom Lisa Miller, letting stand a ruling that Virginia must enforce a Vermont court order awarding child-visitation rights to Miller’s former civil-union partner Janet Jenkins. Newsweek covered the case this week just before the decision, in “Mrs. Kramer vs. Mrs. Kramer”. (It’s not a bad article, even though the legally married lesbians I know would never use the title “Mrs.”)
The case is quite the legal tangle, involving interstate jurisdictions and a major right-wing legal advocacy group. Mostly, though, it is about six-year-old Isabella, whom the courts have finally decided should have both moms in her life. She and Jenkins have not seen each other since spring. (Miller is in contempt of court for not following visitation schedules.)
Few things annoy me more than a lesbian mom who splits from her partner and then sues for custody on the basis that the ex’s sexual orientation makes her unfit to parent. Miller isn’t the only one, and she likely won’t be the last. At least in this case, the courts seem to have kept both law and the best interests of the child in mind.
(Crossposted at Mombian. Thanks to Jeremy for the tip.)
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Where Few Conservatives Have Gone Before - Political News
The Honorable Steven M. Berman
Mayor, Gilbert, AZ
Dear Mayor Berman,
As you are no doubt aware, one of of our nation’s finest Republicans was arrested recently in your city and charged with drunk driving. His name is Charles Barkley. Yes, that Charles Barkley, the retired basketball player.
On numerous occasions, Mr. Barkley has stated a desire to run for governor in Georgia. A DUI conviction could harm his chances for success. That’s why I’m asking you to intervene in his case by appearing before the court as a character witness for him.
Mr. Barkley has an excellent excuse for driving while intoxicated. As he told the officers who arrested him, he was on an important mission, the kind of mission few Republican men are blessed to receive; he was going to put his “little Republican” in a lady’s mouth, or as he put it, “I was going to drive around the corner to get a blow job.”
Unfortunately, the police officers failed to understand the significance of this event, how rarely such an opportunity occurs for the average conservative man–it’s just another example of the sad, sorry plight of the white, Christian male in this country today. You know what I mean. You’re a conservative Republican too.
Please do what you can to help Mr. Barkley.
Heterosexually yours,
Gen. JC Christian, patriot
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Sen. Larry Craig Guilty Plea to Stand - Cited by Sharpy News
In other news, the Minnesota Court of Appeals has denied Sen. Larry Craig's attempt to reverse his guilty plea in the bathroom solicitation case. On the entrapment issue:
They cited a precedent ruling that said entrapment “exists only where the criminal intent originates in the enforcement officials of the government rather than in the mind of the accused.”….”Here, the complaint clearly indicates that the criminal intent originated in the mind of appellant, not in the officer.”
More…
“A government may constitutionally prohibit such speech if there is 'a showing that substantial privacy interests are being invaded in an essentially intolerable manner.' ” they said, citing a previous case.
“Offensive speech may be prohibited as intrusive when the 'captive' audience cannot avoid the speech. … A person using a restroom stall is such a 'captive' audience with substantial privacy interests that would be intolerably invaded even by communications less potentially offensive than sexual solicitations.
“Thus, even if appellant's foot-tapping and the movement of his foot towards the undercover officer's stall are considered 'speech,' they would be intrusive speech directed at a captive audience, and the government may prohibit them.”
CNN notes the Senate Ethics Committee letter of admonition to Craig:
The committee also criticized Craig for using more than $200,000 from campaign funds to pay legal fees related to his case and for flashing his Senate business card at the officer who arrested him. The letter said that move could be seen as an improper attempt to receive “special and favorable treatment.”
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Bible, Constitution, Whatever It Takes - Democratic Source
by Chris Bodenner
Evangelical leaders are up in arms over Newsweek’s cover story examining "the religious case for gay marriage":
In addition to contesting Newsweek’s specific scriptural arguments, some social conservatives took issue with the basic premise of the magazine’s story: that conservative opposition to same-sex marriage is based on specific biblical instructions. "I see it as an attempt to caricature and reduce to a cartoon the social conservative belief in the efficacy of traditional marriage, and try to reduce it to some formulaic, scriptural literalism," said Ralph Reed…. "There’s more of a practical, sociological foundation for why we seek to affirm marriage…."
Richard Land takes the same tack:
“The arguments that are used are often not biblical arguments. They aresecular arguments, arguing about marriage as being a civic and a socialinstitution, and that societies have a right to define marriage,” Landsaid. Broadening the definition of marriage could “shatter” the socialrole married couples have traditionally played, he said.
I’m with editor Jon Meacham:
"Let the letters and emails come. History and demographics are on the side of those who favor inclusion over exclusion."
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