Today's meal (breakfast)...

Across the street from where I blog work (heh, who said that?), there's a burger shack (it actually used to be a Tastee Freeze, before the owners went independent). Ironic, really, considering I work at a health supplement company ("Yep, our mission is to help you stay healthy... now excuse me while I run across the street for a burger combo and malt.").

Anyway, this place makes fantastic breakfast burritos. The head cook makes them the best (unsurprising, since she's worked there 40 years). Now, when my boss moved his company here from the city, he knew that having a burger joint across the street would wreak havoc with the company's health standards (not that you can get fired for being unhealthy, but we like to practice what we teach), so he asked the owners if they would consider carrying whole wheat tortillas (they have great bean and chili meat burritos, too), so at least his employees wouldn't be eating a bunch of white flour (a big no-no in our philosophy; okay by me, since white flour just tastes gummy). So, now, at least twice a week, I go across the street for breakfast (as an aside, is it a sign of being in a rut if a restaurant's staff knows what you want without asking, and expects you to come get it at a certain time?)

So, without further ado... the Egg, Potato, Cheese and Tomato Breakfast Burrito!

Breakfast Burrito
2-3 eggs
salt
pepper
1 tsp. butter
grated cheddar cheese
diced potatoes
diced tomatoes
1 whole wheat tortilla

Whisk together eggs, potatoes and cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt butter, coating pan. Scramble eggs until they are firm and the potatoes are done. Transfer to a bowl or plate. Warm the tortilla on the skillet (don't burn it, though).

Fill tortilla with eggs, top with tomatoes and roll into a burrito. Eat, while pretending to work.

Ah, campaign season...

I try to not even pay attention to this crap, and I'm already tired of it. Seriously, when even some of the hardcore anti-political, small-l libertarians (and even some of the anarchists) jump gleefully onto the bandwagon of, as Wendy McElroy said "a man [Ron Paul] who seeks a position of raw political power over their lives", it's a little disturbing.

Really, I'm just a guy who wishes, with all my heart, to be left alone to live my life as my conscience dictates. That is my moral position. As far as the academics of anarchy, though, and the eloquent philosophy, I simply crib from rely on others... Pigmaei gigantum humeris impositi plusquam ipsi gigantes vident, as Mr. Newton put it.

So, in that spirit, my (first of many, probably) anti political post will be a compilation of quotes from some of my favorite giants (all emphasis mine).

Women are human beings, and consequently have all the natural rights than any human beings can have. They have just as good a right to make laws as men have, and no better; AND THAT IS JUST NO RIGHT AT ALL. No human being, nor any number of human beings, have any right to make laws, and compel other human beings to obey them. To say that they have is to say that they are the masters and owners of those of whom they require such obedience.

The only law that any human being can rightfully be compelled to obey is simply the law of justice. And justice is not a thing that is made, or that can be unmade, or altered, by any human authority.

-- Lysander Spooner, Against Woman Suffrage

This one I have hanging on the wall of my office. I read the second paragraph at least once a week; not because I have to remind myself of what I believe, but because I don't think anyone has ever laid down on paper the principles of natural law quite so elegantly as Spooner did, particularly in that second paragraph of Against Woman Suffrage, or in Natural Law. He is, in my ever so humble opinion, one of the most important philosophers in the history of the United States.

We must not forget the central point. Your dictator might be preferable to another dictator. There are obvious differences in degree. But we are concerned not only with the relative demerits of dictators, but with the possibility that one can be a dictator and a libertarian at the same time. Can libertarians actively support and promote a benign dictator, just because he might be the best dictator available? This is a peculiar situation indeed, and it would force libertarians to support the lesser of two evils.

In short, I would not call your candidate for dictator a libertarian, because the two are incompatible. I might call him a well-intentioned dictator, but he is no libertarian. And I would oppose him, because my principles leave me no option. There is no proviso in my stand against dictators that exempts those with good intentions.

--George H. Smith, Party Dialogue

A simple and direct explanation of the reasons for consistent libertarians to abstain from the political process.

When we place voting into the framework of politics, however, a major change occurs. When we express a preference politically, we do so precisely because we intend to bind others to our will. Political voting is the legal method we have adopted and extolled for obtaining monopolies of power. Political voting is nothing more than the assumption that might makes right.

--Robert LeFevre, Abstain from Beans

"Bind others to our will"... an action entirely diametric to the philosophical tenets of libertarianism: voluntary association, non-aggression, individual liberty. Abstain from Beans is another favorite of mine; it's a short, easy read and makes a strong case, especially evident in the paragraph quoted above, for philosophical consistency in libertarians.

I don't have any particular problem with libertarians who vote... hey, some of my best friends are minarchists, really. And I do hope Dr. Paul's campaign educates some people (won't be holding my breath, though). But I'm really sick of hearing about it. That is why, horrible, unpatriotic American that I am, I will be ignoring election news as much as possible. And I will abstain from beans.

Bite me, PK...

:P

I was busy yesterday. Really busy. Incredibly busy. Super busy.

Actually, I stayed home from work and played handyman yesterday. I could've blogged, but I was too occupied with building and fixing and painting. Which, I suppose I could've blogged about. But it would have been boring.

Anyway. This week's drink is... the Whiskey Smash!

I live in the desert; my first two featured drinks have been minty and refreshing... notice a trend? What was it you once said about sunburns in February, E.? :)

Anyway, departing from my previous affair with Maker's Mark, I bought a bottle of Knob Creek when I was last at the store (It has a cork! Yes, I'm easily amused and somewhat sentimental. Sue me.). Ah, bourbon. What can I say about bourbon? Need anything be said about bourbon? I didn't think so.

So, the Whiskey Smash (from Jerry "the Professor" Thomas' Bartender's Guide or How to Mix Drinks, 1862... he called it "a julep on a small plan"). (I originally saw this at The Cocktail Chronicles... Thanks Paul.)

Whiskey Smash
(Use small bar-glass. [Old fashioned glass])
Take 1 tea-spoonful of fine white sugar.
2 tea-spoonfuls of water.
1 wine-glass (2 oz.) of whiskey.
3 or 4 sprigs of tender mint.

Put the mint in the glass, then the sugar and water [Jac's note: Simple syrup FTW!]. Mash the mint to extract the flavor, add the bourbon, and fill up the glass with shaved ice. Stir up well, and ornament with two or three fresh sprigs of mint.

Sip slowly. Laugh at people who only experience 3 month summers.

This week's meal...

I skipped two days!!! Lawda mercy! Ah, well, I've been busy.

So, this week's meal is a staple in our family; I've probably had a thousand of 'em (two within the last 24 hours). They are only made properly with my dad's chili bean recipe* (for which there isn't really a "recipe"). Anyway, it's pretty simple fair, but it contains all the food groups (carbs, fats, proteins and chili), and is very filling. And, for some reason, they're always bigger than you intend them to be.

Haystacks
Place a handful of tortilla chips on your plate (not Fritos, please... if you use Fritos, the Mexican Food Fairy will kill you in your sleep). Ladle beans onto chips and sprinkle with cheese. Top with lettuce (iceberg is best for this... it's crunchy!), tomatoes and onions. Add, to taste, salsa or hot sauce.

Try not to make a mess while eating.

*Chili Beans
(This applies to our crockpot size... YM, as they say, MV)
Rinse 5 cups of Pinto beans, cover with water and soak overnight.

In the morning, rinse again and transfer to crockpot with enough water to cover. Add, to taste (like I said, this has never been written down), chopped garlic and onion, salt, ground chili (you can buy this, or the dried red peppers to grind yourself, in any proper Mexican market) and butter.

Cook until soft (but not mushy), stirring occasionally. Add water as needed.

Talk Like a Pirate Eve...

Is upon us. T'morrow be our day, me hearties, t' talk like the buccaneers we be. Aaargh!

MxMo was certainly enjoyable yesterday... Gabriel has a nice round up, with pictures (so you can read it too, Li'l P!). Some nice looking drinks there... I swear these people are obsessive; someone help me please, before it's too late!

In other news... the TCF/TMM changeover continues, with some interesting discussions taking place, and some interesting descisions being made. I find myself alternating, at times, between feeling disturbed and flattered when a Certain group of individuals is so often mentioned as a primary cause of recent discord. And sad... there's certainly a fair bit of sadness there. O'course, there is always a certain part of me (would that be the Certain part?) that is pissed off at the thought of being a scapegoat (even if, personally, only by implication and association) for all the troubles of late. I'm not saying the CPC was a font of calming wisdom or anything, but c'mon...

And anyway, doesn't anyone realize the incredible egos most members of the CPC (not me, of course) have?!? Infamy is like catnip to these freaks... they eat it up. :P

Anyway, I've said it before: I don't know what went wrong. But I will say now that I sure as hell know that the blame (if there even is any) can't be placed on the shoulders of just a few.

Just had to get that off my chest, I guess.

Drink of the week, and MxMo...

Well, week two of the blogging thing commences. So far, I've been blogrolled (it tickles) thrice... hopefully, the peer pressure will keep the bloggin' on track.

I've been doing the cocktail thing lately (it's like chemistry sets... with booze!), so I was thinking of starting this week off with a drink (see previous references to food and drink). In my recent delvings into the world of cocktail geekery, I've stumbled upon many great cocktail blogs (Yes, blogs devoted to cocktails... it's a sick world we live in.), a few of which are listed to the right.

Sidenote: Y'know, I think I'm wired somehow to identify with subcultures... I mean, there's the whole libertarian thing, and the anarchy thing (which is a subculture within the libertarian subculture, sort of), and the CPC. And now I'm a cocktail geek. There must be something in my brain that really hates being normal.

Anyway, today happens to be a Mixology Monday, so I asked myself why, since I am now blogging, I shouldn't participate in it. And I couldn't really give myself a decent answer to dissuade me, so...

Today's MxMo, hosted by Gabriel at cocktailnerd.com, is themed Fizz!! (Two exclamation points because... fizz is exciting, I guess? I had fun, anyway.)

So, the drink of the week, and my MxMo entry is (gimme a drumroll, Kirsten)... the Mojito! Rather boring, compared to some of the other entries, but I'm no mixologist, and it's a new drink for me, so I don't care if it's boring. It's definitely a top summer drink for me now, and since I'm a desert rat, that means I'll be drinking Mojitos about 9 months out of the year. :)

It is a simple drink really, but it's a charming simplicity, rather than the vulgar simplicity of a Vodka Redbull, or whatever the kids are drinking these days. When you need to pound a nail, you grab a hammer; when it's a hundred degrees in the shade you grab a Mojito. Y'know, that kind of simplicity.

Anyway, before I start waxing too poetic about booze, I'll just post the recipe and send it up. I really do ramble, don't I?

The Mojito:
10-12 fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp sugar (I use a 1:1 simple syrup made with raw demerara sugar, plus a pinch of crystals for abrasion)
3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
1 1/2 oz. white rum (Cuban is best, but try finding that in the States... free market; what's that?)
Ice
Club soda
Sprig of mint and slice of lime for garnishment

Muddle mint leaves and sugar in a heavy-bottomed pint glass. Fill to half with ice, then add lime juice and rum; stir well. Top with ice and soda, then give it another stir or two. Rub the peel of the lime slice around the rim of the glass, then drop the lime in. Lightly pop a sprig of mint between your hands (to bring out the aroma), then place it in the drink.

Blissfully ignore the current popularity or non-popularity of the Mojito, and drink up.

Meal of the Week

Two in a day... Aren't you lucky?

Here's my first food post. I love food. Can't get enough of the stuff. So I hope to regularly have at least 1 food post and at least 1 beverage post per week. We'll see.

Last Night's Meal (Veggie Omelets and Hash Browns)
For 1 Omelet:
-2 eggs
-Teeny bit of water
-Salt and pepper to taste
-Butter
-Grated cheese
-Diced vegetables for filling (I used mushrooms, tomatoes and green chiles last night; go wild)
-Olive oil
-Small (six inch or so) flare-sided skillet

Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat and add ~1 tbsp butter and ~1 tbsp oil when hot. When butter is foamy (a little brown is okay, but don't let it burn), add vegetables and saute. Transfer to plate or bowl and keep warm.

Add a bit of water to your eggs (just a smidge; ~1 tsp will do), and whisk them until they start to foam.

Reheat skillet over medium-high heat and add a little butter (~1 tsp I think... just enough to lightly coat your skillet). When the butter is foamy, roll the pan around to coat it evenly. Pour the whisked eggs into the skillet and roll it around again to get an even layer. Cook about 30 seconds so the bottom of the eggs can set, then roll the pan around again to distribute the eggs evenly. If you've done it right, and have enough butter for lubrication, the whole omelet will slide around the pan a bit when you do this. Cook unil the egg yolks have set (not too hard) and you begin to see the cooked whites. Sprinkle some cheese onto one side of the omelet (1/3 of the circle), then add some filling, and a bit more cheese.

Here's the fun part. Using a spatula, carefully fold the filled third of the omelet in, leaving a flap on the other side. Then (again, carefully), slide the omelet onto a plate (that's where the flared sides come in handy). Then, fold the omelet again, so that the flap is down, and the filled pocket is on top. Sprinkle some more filling on top of the omelet, then some cheese.

Consume with fried taters.

For Hash Browns:
-Potatoes (left over boiled potatoes, refrigerated overnight are best)
-Butter
-Olive Oil
-Large skillet or griddle (cast iron FTW!)
-Salt and pepper to taste

Grate potatoes (skin on or off, your choice).

Pre-heat skillet over medium-high heat (deja vu). Add 2ish tbsp butter and a dollop of oil when hot. When the butter is melted and foamy, roll the pan around to coat it and then add the potatoes. Make sure you have an even layer, not too thick. Add salt and pepper. Cook until brown on the bottom, then flip 'em over (hard to do at once) and cook the other side till brown.

Consume with eggs.

This meal would go great with a stout. I hear wines are hard to pair with eggs. Fruit juice is a great breakfast standby (OJ with mine last night).

Edit to add: God, I'm verbose...

Check it out... I'm posting once a day!

That means you're really getting your money's worth here. So, to business!

Goals for this blog:
-Get Mistress K off my back (check!)
-Freak out the straights
-Freak out everyone else
-Remind Li'l P of his status as my bitch, early and often
-Provide an outlet for the Dark Rage that Consumes me

Topics this blog will cover (or will it?)
-Anarchy (politics, economics and ethics... you know the drill)
-The Family*, and Dynamics of same
-Airplanin' (flying, for those of you who aren't my 3-year-old nephew)
-Food
-Drink
-Food and drink
-Computers and Geekery
-And whatever else happens to come up... BECAUSE IT'S MY BLOG! MINE AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME! hAHAhahHAHahahAHAA

*From Kirsten: That vaguely defined set of individuals somehow affiliated with the pro-freedom movement who may or may not be properly termed libertarians or some other related term.

Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate

...And, pressing submit, he set into motion events that would forever change -- indeed, destroy -- the world as we know it.

Okay, I have a blog now. Happy, Kirsten?

This isn't the first time I've tried the blogging thing, actually. Being habitually lazy and a master procrastinator, though, they haven't lasted long. Maybe this one will.

So yeah... Jacques has a blog now. Sorry.