I’m doing another little mini-weight loss — I gained about five back, and want to be at fighting weight before the holidays ramp up — so I’m doing the mindfulness thing. Record everything you eat, but enjoy everything you eat. No mindless gobbling. Savor. Think. Slow down. You know the drill.
Which is how I came to be slicing up a Cortland apple at midmorning, just fortifying the blood sugar a bit, and thinking, Fall is the prelude to winter and kind of a slut with all its showiness, but the apples? They make everything OK. A good firm Michigan apple in October is one of those best-things-in-life-are-free deals that you should really savor. So I did.
To be sure, I’m sort of a pain about them. I’ve reached the point where even Honeycrisp, which seems to have rocketed to No. 1 with a bullet all over the country, seems insipid to me. From growers and sellers, I demand to know flavor profile, relative tart-to-sweet ratios. Don’t bore me with all that jazz about what’s a good baking vs. sauce apple. Is it good to eat? If so, it’ll be fine however I use them.
So it was I picked up a half-peck of Northern Spies, the legendary pie apple, on Saturday. Staff meeting Thursday. They start at mid-morning and inevitably run long, which means by the end we’re all dying of hunger and agreeing to anything, just to bring things to a stop and get the lunch hour underway. This time, I’m bringing Teddie’s apple cake. We will fortify ourselves with fruit.
And that’s how I like them apples.
Little bit o’ bloggage today:
Yes, it’s Robert Reich, but you gotta admit the guy has a point:
A non-profit group devoted to voting rights decides it won’t launch a campaign against big money in politics for fear of alienating wealthy donors.
A Washington think-tank releases a study on inequality that fails to mention the role big corporations and Wall Street have played in weakening the nation’s labor and antitrust laws, presumably because the think tank doesn’t want to antagonize its corporate and Wall Street donors.
A major university shapes research and courses around economic topics of interest to its biggest donors, notably avoiding any mention of the increasing power of large corporations and Wall Street on the economy.
It’s bad enough big money is buying off politicians. It’s also buying off nonprofits that used to be sources of investigation, information, and social change, from criticizing big money.
This is an issue the nonprofit world deals with, and thinks about, often. It bears watching. But hey, it’s early in the week, so let’s go straight to DATELINE FLORIDA:
Two years ago, Augustus Sol Invictus walked from central Florida to the Mojave Desert and spent a week fasting and praying, at times thinking he wouldn’t survive. In a pagan ritual to give thanks when he returned home, he killed a goat and drank its blood.
Now that he’s a candidate for U.S. Senate, the story is coming back to bite him.
The chairman of the Libertarian Party of Florida has resigned to call attention to Invictus’ candidacy in hopes that other party leaders will denounce him. Adrian Wyllie, who was the Libertarian candidate for governor last year, says Invictus wants to lead a civil war, is trying to recruit neo-Nazis to the party and brutally and sadistically dismembered a goat.
It’s an awkward situation for the small party that’s trying to gain clout.
I love that last line. Awkward.
Finally, one for you music nerds, via Roy’s Twitter, a lost piece by Lester Bangs, on Brian Eno. It’s amazing how much time even talented guys spend chasing women.
Happy Tuesday, all.
basset said on October 6, 2015 at 5:57 am
never did care for Bangs much, too show-offy, but this piece is interesting. and good to see Eno appears to be human. (how does he pronounce his name, anyway – en-no or ee-no?)
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Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on October 6, 2015 at 6:50 am
EE. No?
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ROGirl said on October 6, 2015 at 7:00 am
This article, written after Newtown, is a good counter-point to the “we need more guns to prevent more mass shootings” argument. And the link to the 2nd amendment article is worthwhile too.
http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-simple-truth-about-gun-control?intcid=mod-most-popular
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alex said on October 6, 2015 at 7:21 am
Thanks, ROGirl. It’s still as fresh as if it were written yesterday.
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Sue said on October 6, 2015 at 7:34 am
David C, how was Weston’s last weekend? We’ve been thinking of going there. I thought there was another antique apple orchard in Oconomowoc but when I websearched this year I couldn’t find it. I wonder if they’ve closed.
We went to Armstrong’s last year, near Campbellsport, isn’t that closer to you? They have apple wine, although that wasn’t the reason we chose them. Ok, yes it was.
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beb said on October 6, 2015 at 8:16 am
What’s with this “Yes, it’s Robert Reich, but…” stuff. Reich is the best economics reporter this side of Paul Krugman.
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coozledad said on October 6, 2015 at 8:24 am
The only reason to spend hours rehearsing music in a room full of guys attached to guitars is that at some point it will lead to talking to women. Otherwise it’s just aimless torture. It rarely leads to money, anyway.
I think I know what Eno meant about women with ocular problems. They seem remote and slightly less definable. Then you get to know them, and they just happen to have ocular problems.
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coozledad said on October 6, 2015 at 9:54 am
More of Reagan’s legacy:
http://gawker.com/11-year-old-accused-of-murdering-an-8-year-old-who-woul-1734909175?discussion_truncation=0&utm_expid=66866090-56.xSggy8zmSwG3vMsivr7rOg.1&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fgawker.com%2F11-year-old-accused-of-murdering-an-8-year-old-who-woul-1734909175%3Fdiscussion_truncation%3D0
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Deborah said on October 6, 2015 at 9:58 am
Sue, what does apple wine taste like? Is it sweet?
We bought some apples (Jonathans) at the farmers market and Little bird chopped some up and roasted them with butternut squash, purple potatoes and shallots. It was pretty and tasty too.
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brian stouder said on October 6, 2015 at 10:21 am
Cooz – good God.
The travesty will only deepen, as that little boy’s life spirals into the weeds.
Mom and dad need to be arrested and tried for murder, or at least criminal negligence
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Bitter Scribe said on October 6, 2015 at 10:29 am
Wasn’t the Libertarian Party hijacked by Pat Buchanan for a time? Maybe those people should start paying a little more attention to who’s hanging out with them.
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Sue said on October 6, 2015 at 10:33 am
Here you go, Deborah:
http://www.armstrongapples.com/winery/
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Suzanne said on October 6, 2015 at 10:41 am
Interesting. Pretty much what I assumed all along.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/05/the-shady-group-that-played-pope-francis.html?source=socialflow&via=twitter_page&account=thedailybeast&medium=twitter
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Minnie said on October 6, 2015 at 11:51 am
Give me a Winesap or nothing. It’s got to be small, crisp, tart, and juicy.
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Hattie said on October 6, 2015 at 12:44 pm
I was just watching a video about elks in Estes Park in the fall during rutting season. Their behavior seemed so familiar, somehow. Except humans do it all year around.
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Deborah said on October 6, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Little Bird has a friend who works at the community college in Philadelphia that was on lock down because of a guy seen with a gun. The lockdown is lifted now. LB got a blow by blow about it on Facebook from her friend.
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Joe k said on October 6, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Typing while giving a pint of my good conservative blood. Hope it goes in a liberal.
I challenge you all to do your part and give a pint.
Cheers
Pilot Joe
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Brandon said on October 6, 2015 at 2:09 pm
Bitter Scribe said on October 6, 2015 at 10:29 am
Wasn’t the Libertarian Party hijacked by Pat Buchanan for a time? Maybe those people should start paying a little more attention to who’s hanging out with them.
It was the Reform Party.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Party_of_the_United_States_of_America
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Dian Planck said on October 6, 2015 at 2:32 pm
Hello Nancy,
I have been a long time lurker at your site here. I have loved your writing ever since I first read your column at the News-Sentinel. Yes, THAT long ago.
I met you in 1991 and we had lunch to discuss me moving to UCLA in CA to take a certificate program in screenwriting. My picture made it into the article; I was sitting on the tailgate of my truck sorting CD’s to take, if that helps at all.
At least a dozen times I’ve thought of something relevant to add; either to your blog or the folks who respond. I know several are from Fort Wayne, as am I. They seem to be bright, decent and kind. Y’all have led me, through the years, to quite a number of websites and articles of interest. Plus, Prospero was, well, really interesting.
Mostly, I like that the group here is in my ‘Goldilocks zone’ not too big, not too small. Just my kind of people, too.
Bright blessings,
Dian (dee ahn)
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nancy said on October 6, 2015 at 2:35 pm
I absolutely remember you! You were going to write a script about true love and destiny, and it was titled “The (Something) Heart.” Great to have you send up a flare after all these years. Welcome.
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brian stouder said on October 6, 2015 at 2:47 pm
Welcome to the bright-side, Dian!
Are you still a California girl?
I loved spending a week in San Diego; a very beautiful corner of the world.
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Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on October 6, 2015 at 2:56 pm
13 gallons, Joe; working on 14!
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brian stouder said on October 6, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Well, as an apheresis fella, I think I’ve racked about 50 donations – and it might be a pint each time….but they must have extracted and returned some multiple of that from me (whole blood outbound, and somewhat reduced blood, back) –
So, we have (perforated) skin in the game, too
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Judybusy said on October 6, 2015 at 3:55 pm
Welcome, Dian! I’m glad you like it around here.
As for fall fruits, we picked up some Concord grapes in a small Wisconsin town this weekend. All the little art towns were having a art crawl, and so we stopped in a few on our way back from a B and B stay. He was selling squash and grapes from the back of his pick-up. They are so, so intensely flavored.
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LAMary said on October 6, 2015 at 4:14 pm
I don’t get the nice selection of apples here. MacIntosh, Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith and Honeycrisp. I miss all the nice apples we had back east. On the other hand, we’re still getting peaches and they are pretty good.
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Sue said on October 6, 2015 at 4:18 pm
Ben Carson’s answer to whether he would visit victim’s families in Oregon:
“Probably not. I mean, I would probably have so many things on my agenda that I would go to the next one.”
Dude. Even Scott Walker wouldn’t have said that.
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brian stouder said on October 6, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Sue, you gave me my laugh-of-the-day!
Probably not. I mean, I would probably have so many things on my agenda that I would go to the next one.”
So – he’s not even president of his neighborhood association yet (let alone President of the United States) and he already knows he’ll be too busy for the next mass shooting, but not the one after that??!!
Saturday Night Live couldn’t have written a better go-to-hell answer for the uncaring boob
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coozledad said on October 6, 2015 at 5:14 pm
I don’t know what shithouse they’re running to be President of, but whatever it is, I hope the Chinese bomb the living fuck out of it:
http://wonkette.com/594623/bobby-jindal-demands-apology-from-oregon-shooters-father-for-not-loving-guns-enough
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alex said on October 6, 2015 at 5:18 pm
On our way to trying another interesting venue this evening:
http://www.fatherjohnsbrewery.net
My partner is playing the music for a wedding there this weekend and tonight he’s rehearsing.
Dexter, this is in your neighborhood, so if you’d like to meet up, we’ll be there about a quarter past six.
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basset said on October 6, 2015 at 5:31 pm
Jie, just got my Red Cross text yesterday saying I was eligible to donate again – I’m at about 12 or so gallons here, started in fall 73 at IU.
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David C. said on October 6, 2015 at 5:42 pm
Sue, Weston’s went great. We picked up some Spitzenbergs (my fave), Cox’s Orange Pippins, and a few of this and that. I should have written them down, but I didn’t
I don’t know why anyone bothers with honeycrisp apples. To me, they’re like red delicious (the most misnamed apple ever) they’re sweet, but nothing else. I suppose that’s perfect for a nation weaned on Cap’n Crunch.
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Jolene said on October 6, 2015 at 5:47 pm
My contempt for Ben Carson is boundless, but, to be fair, he was asked whether he would visit a town after an incident like this if the people had said they didn’t want him to come. The question was asked in this way because the publisher of the Roseburg paper has said, at least twice in news reports, that Obama will not be welcome there. (See my post re this on yesterday’s thread.)
Apparently, Obama had been scheduled to take a four-day trip to the West Coast and has said that he will meet privately with the affected families while he is there.
This publisher seems to think that he speaks for the whole community. I do not doubt that there are many who share his views, but I still think it’s likely that the people who have lost loved ones would welcome a quiet expression of sympathy from their president.
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Jolene said on October 6, 2015 at 5:52 pm
You know, there was a time when Red Delicious apples were delicious. When I was a kid (roughly a thousand years ago), we kept a big box of them in our chilly basement throughout the winter, and they were always crisp and refreshing. They were always sweet, so might not have appealed to people who liked a tangier apple, but they were not at all the mealy mush that they typically are now. Like tomatoes, they have been spoiled by their growers.
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Deborah said on October 6, 2015 at 7:07 pm
I was surprised when I tasted a red delicious apple at the Farmers market, it was good. Red delicious apples had been devalued for me from all the years of buying them in grocery stores and they were always so mealy and tasteless. Having a fresh one seems to have made a lot of difference. Or maybe the ones they sell in mainstream grocery stores are bred for shipping and color not taste?
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alex said on October 6, 2015 at 7:31 pm
OMFG!
Dunno what kind of apples were in the apple walnut salad here but they were divine. So was their charcuterie board. So was their lobster mac which is made with orzo not mac. Best little brew house in Bumfuck!
You have to leave the relative cosmopolis of Fort Mundane if you want an exceptional dining experience.
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Deborah said on October 6, 2015 at 8:11 pm
Ooohhhh, apple walnut salad sounds fantastic about now. Thanks for reminding me.
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Charlotte said on October 6, 2015 at 9:30 pm
I have two “Yellow Transparent” apple trees in my yard that are both dying, and refusing to die. I don’t love the variety — they’re sweet, and early, but mushy. So last winter I bought a bunch of scions from Fedco and tried grafting — at which I was woefully bad. But will try again this winter. They’re sending up new shoots, and might as well graft onto an existing root system …
No fruit here this year. Every cherry tree in town died last fall when we had a 60F >-10F in 24 hours.
In other sad news, Jim Harrison’s lovely, funny, kind wife Linda, a woman who did not suffer fools, and who raised two beautiful daughters (and who briefly went to Stephens College with my mom) died rather unexpectedly last weekend. It’s a terrible blow. She will be missed …
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Deborah said on October 6, 2015 at 10:12 pm
The Bartlett pear tree we planted a couple of weeks ago doesn’t seem like it’s going to make it, the leaves have turned black around the edges and are all shriveled up. I bought it at a reputable nursery. Maybe I watered it too much? I wish I knew what I was doing when it comes to gardening. I’m such a novice, it’s embarrassing.
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Minnie said on October 6, 2015 at 11:13 pm
There’s a wealth of gardening information in libraries and online, Deborah. A good place to start is with your Extension Agent, who will know what varieties are best in your area. When I began gardening, I called ours nearly every day for a year. The volunteers, usually Master Gardeners, were always kind and helpful. Just keep in mind that plants are living things with specific needs. Don’t give up. You’ll always lose some, but more will thrive.
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Sherri said on October 6, 2015 at 11:24 pm
Never be fooled by a politician’s “hale fellow, well met” demeanor.
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/joe-biden-beau-2016-214459
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