Saturday Morning

The NY Times runs a shocking story on the cell phone geo-location data gathered and sold by private companies.

The private companies gather their data from smartphone apps that have activated location sharing (eg, that is how your smartphone can tell you the weather where you are without any need for the user to update or refresh the screen.)

A key wrinkle - these companies have data on millions of people and it is available to anyone the collectors consider to be credible. This is quite different from the police getting a warrant to look at records from a cell phone company.

The data is nominally 'anonymized' but the Times reports it is a trivial exercise to figure out a user's name - a typical phone will have a pretty obvious home at night and place of employment during the day.

As a bit of a warning to anyone The Resistance might feel a need to target, the Times includes this:

One search turned up more than a dozen people visiting the Playboy Mansion, some overnight. Without much effort we spotted visitors to the estates of Johnny Depp, Tiger Woods and Arnold Schwarzenegger, connecting the devices’ owners to the residences indefinitely.

...

The data set is large enough that it surely points to scandal and crime but our purpose wasn’t to dig up dirt. We wanted to document the risk of underregulated surveillance.

Uh huh. What I'm reading is, they want use this dataset to *launch* an inquiry - maybe no intrepid reporter is running down those Playboy Mansion visitors hoping to find a Republican congressman or judge. But if the Times had unconfirmed rumors that a congressman (Republican, of course) was spotted at the Mansion, would they turn to this dataset for confirmation? Hmm... You can only imagine how low my confidence is as the Times weighs privacy rights against the public need to know.

Comments

[Threadkiller]

They can't allow themselves to grant that he is obviously smarter and shrewder than they are so they continue to impale themselves on hopeless suicide missions he goads them into or they concoct themselves....

....while they stay out of jail and continue to drain the treasury.

[MissMarple2]

Lee Smith
@LeeSmithDC
·
Dec 21
Useful reminder—Hunter Biden resigned from Burisma board same day his father Joe announced his run for president, April 25

[Threadkiller]

CH, the interview with Nunes that Rocco posted has an interesting bit on Ryan. Apparently in September of 2016, all the Russia-Russia crap made it from the intelligence community to the gang of 8 where the Dems hoped the dupe republicans would sign off just like any other briefing. Instead Ryan and McConnell called Bullshit and gummed up the works for the hoaxers.

This doesn't change my opinion that Ryan is scum; it tells that the scam was so poorly contrived that even he couldn't sign on to it.

[clarice]

CH, I'm fervently wishing your grand kids don't leave leggos all over the floor for you to step on with bare feet. (If you see a big amazon box with a drum set and 100 lbs of Play Do in it on your doorstep, I've no idea who sent it.)Smooches

[MissMarple2]

Andy Puzder
@AndyPuzder
·
9m
It’s all but impossible to look at this chart and conclude anything other than that ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ ‘s tax cuts have unequivocally benefitted working class Americans. It’s the kind of benefit that wins elections.

[Threadkiller]

Another tidbit from that interview is towards the middle of it. Nunes is explaining how long before Mueller arrived on the scene his committee had already destroyed the russian collusion narrative. On Mueller's 1st day he said "OK, where are all them thar Russians we are gonna prosecute?" To which Nunes said "Sorry, Bob, there are no Russians.

Bongino then asks, "what the hell was Mueller doing that whole time??" To which, Nunes ungracefully sidestepped answering.

That presents several 4D possibilities..

[Threadkiller]

The Nunes interview is at this link:
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2019/12/21/dan-bongino-interviews-devin-nunes-about-all-things-spygate/#more-179167

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Lego Introduces New Sharper Bricks That Instantly Kill You When You Step On Them

[Captain Hate]

The grandkids already helped Grandpa Claus decorate the tree. Is it Thursday yet?

[MissMarple2]

Ignatz,

Hilarious! Hahaha! I well-remember those Legos from both of my kids and my grandkids!

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

More news you can use;
Hasbro Introduces Time-Saving Pack Of Hardened, Premixed Ugly Brown Play-Doh

Report: Every Last Ounce Of Play-Doh Gifted On Christmas Already Dried Up And Stuck To Carpet

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--....while they stay out of jail and continue to drain the treasury--

I much prefer them in jail and not draining the treasury, but if the costs of their avoidance is they commit political suicide which assists in a political realignment leaving them a rump party, I consider that an excellent trade off. That may or may not happen, but that is even a possibility is fairly shocking considering how recently we were under the thrall of the Obama regency.
The US can survive them out of jail and with their ill gotten gains intact. It can't survive a continuation of the politics of the last 50-100 years.

[clarice]

HEH..The Christmas gifts that really leave an impression.

[Manuel Transmission]

There is a soft veneer over the Angle/Saxon/Norseman/Visigoth /Frankish/Roman/Greek lunatic ferocity, but it is skin deep, IMO. The EU itself can be seen as a preemptive safeguard against those dormant but not extinct tendencies.

I am not so sanguine about this. I’m working on the theory (not entirely original) that the European wars over the last millennium have selectively removed the berserker gene that my Viking forebears certainly had. There appears to be too many instances where young healthy men stand by while young ladies are raped in front of them. Even without guns the skandahoviens generally carry hunting knives that could easily slit a throat.

[Jane]

Fired Former FBI Director Andrew McCabe made the decision to put what is likely the infamous pee-pee garbage story from the dossier into reports that was shared with the press based on a directive from President Obama.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/12/huge-exclusive-fired-fbi-director-andrew-mccabe-added-the-bogus-pee-pee-story-to-garbage-russia-collusion-report-based-on-obamas-directive/

Just imagine being so self-absorbed as Obama. Simply amazing.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Possibly, MT, but has the gene pool truly changed that much from 75 years ago, when European butchery reached a level possibly never before seen? Or has it been a cultural veneer of sanctimonious 'never again' progism that denies and covers the same old core of human nature, rather than heralding a different one?
After all, the Serbs are Europeans and they had no problem slashing thousands of muslim throats twenty years ago, not a millenium.

[Tonto]

Captain, My Captain:

How wonderful to have a child with such real skills on speed dial (if necessary). Plus ... she seems so calm. Beginning to suspect that your nom de guerre is One Big Bluff (in the real world)! Also, don't believe for a sec that you're looking forward to Thursday.

[MissMarple2]

Manuel Transmission,

My dad was half Dane and half Highland Scot. My mother was half French and half German, from the Alsace-Lorraine area.

My sisters and I sure were a fierce and brawling group of girls. NO one on our block tangled with us. We were really good at lobbing green apples! HA!

When my baby brother came along at the tail end, we taught him how to fight. Since my mom was a schoolteacher, she used to get ticked off at us and blamed my dad's gene pool. LOL!

[MissMarple2]

I love how our side makes such good memes.

[Narciso]

Re the bahamas i went there many moons ago in october, the first day we couldnt disembark because storms so mimosas all around.

[Narciso]

Eastern europeans still have that warrior spirit, harpers attributed orbans ferocity to the huns well if the galosh fits.

[Another Bob]

Did FBI respond to Collyer’s order for information on other cases that FBI might have queered?

[Narciso]

We noted this some time again

https://mobile.twitter.com/pspoole/status/1208523608437542914

[Narciso]

Yes i think capt a loveable fuzzball over all.

[Jim Eagle]

If you are adverse to stepping on random pieces of Legos then you want to stay away from its store in Rockefeller Plaza where the sell pieces by the pound individually.

Sort of like an ammo store.

[Another Bob]

“ many moons ago in october”

Yeah, gotta avoid cruising in hurricane season.

[Narciso]

It was more overcast than stormy, casino royale depicted that part well

[JohnH]

Paraphrased from Scott Adams

With Pelosi sitting on the articles of impeachment they are halfway to where they belong.

[Narciso]

A pound of legos those are some big blocks,

[Narciso]

If palpatine had a sister:

https://mobile.twitter.com/JimHansonDC/status/1208767288574390273

[MissMarple2]

Narciso,

In my part of the world, she would be dubbed a nerdette.

[Narciso]

Soneone had the stale fruitcake

https://www.hoover.org/research/syrian-front

[Narciso]

I think all those responsible for the rise of skywalker be thrown in the sarlaac pit, its a good start.

[Narciso]

One is reminded they wanted a muellermas last year, they got coal in their stocking

[Narciso]

It looks like the fellow behind the arrival and blade runner 2049 is going to take a crack at dune,

[Narciso]

But timothy chalamet as paul atreides, rebecca ferguson as lady jessica?

[MissMarple2]

Good Morning Patriots!🇺🇸
Kevin: Excuse me. Where’s the lobby?
Trump: Down the hall and to the left.
Kevin: Thanks!#Christmas #ARIELSARMY 🌿
Have a blessed Sunday!🙏🏽
pic.twitter.com/Adr3CTUn1a

— TONYA {K}🌸 (@TBeansprout) December 22, 2019

Film clip at link with the Best President Ever!

I wonder how many movies he had cameos in?

[MissMarple2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=tJrBdF4LZWw&feature=emb_logo

Horowitz Report & Testimony Provide Historic Condemnation of FBI’s Surveillance Actions—Jeff Carlson

An Epoch Times interview. One hour.

[Threadkiller]

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2019/12/22/house-judiciary-committee-court-deadline-tomorrow-dc-appellate-case-for-mueller-grand-jury-evidence/#more-179184

Sundance is all in on his suspicion. We will find out tomorrow.

[Rocco]

Bah, Christmas decorations...thread clutter!

[Robin, eff 'em all]

We were invited to a Hanukkah dinner tonight - a first for me. Everyone is busy so we do potlucks and we're bringing a protein dish. I decided on a Moroccan chicken tagine dish that I can do in my dutch oven for two reasons: new spice mix (ras el hanout) and preserved lemons. It smells divine.

https://www.thespruceeats.com/chicken-tagine-with-preserved-lemons-olives-2394715

[MissMarple2]

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a25728221/terrapower-china-bill-gates-trump/

Bill Gates's Experimental Nuclear Power Plant Halts Construction in China
=====================================
Gates blames the Trump Administration's aggressive stance and bad relationship with China.

I say: GOOD! I do not want Gates funding nuclear power in CHINA! Good grief!

[Robin, eff 'em all]

Oh, my thinking is that Obama inherited the spy mechanisms from Clinton once she lost the nomination. Why else would he name her Secretary of State? The Clintons enriched themselves by having a lot of insiders working for them during the Bush years, biding their time until Hillary could run for office in 2008 and keeping all the puzzle pieces nicely arranged.

Perhaps what we really need to do is review the Patriot Act and who the biggest cheerleaders were at the time.

[clarice]

Long but brilliant:https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/12/article/can-china-learn-from-jewish-history/

[clarice]

Robin Moroccan chicken tagine is a wonderful dish. I'm sure everyone will love it,

[Manuel Transmission]

Iggy,

I was thinking more in terms of the warriors being killed off and non-warriors breeding the next generation, particularly the WWI Western Europe soldiers, then a repeat a generation later. I think the eastern males mostly fumed under the thumb of the Soviets, by comparison maybe leaving them with an even higher sense of berserker state of mind. If we saw yellow vesters wander off into the odd banlieue and slitting a few throats, I’d be taking heart.

[Buckeye]

The latest news in the Buckeye household is that

1) Buckeyette got a big promotion, and

2) She is moving back to Columbus!

The position reports to her former boss who is here, and she likes him much more than the nasty witch she reports to now.

Better all the way around.

[henry]

MT, I would expect a reversion to the mean after one or two generations (the pair of world wars). Thus the excessive feminization of schooling as prophylactic first in Europe, now here.

[Manuel Transmission]

MM,

In a related aspect, I think us Mericanz, never had the losses to the extent that the Euros had, in addition to our 2A rights, so we may only be suffering the soyboy problem. Now that I think about it, soy may be chemical castration. :(

[MissMarple2]

Can China learn from Jewish History? They should:

[MissMarple2]

MT,

My grandpa taught government at the High school, and when my dad and uncle went there, he sponsored the Sportsman's Club, where guys brought rifles or shotguns to school and then they went hunting after classes ended!

Back in the 30's and 40's the high school drew from a largely rural area, so there were plenty of rabbits, pheasant, and quail to hunt. I told my daughter this and she thought I was making it up until she looked it up on line. HA!

[Jane]

What do people think Don McGahn has?

[Threadkiller]

DawsonSField
‏
@DawsonSField
Dec 20
More
DawsonSField Retweeted Wayne Sida
Bingo! Why do people think Comey is dirty? Because Brennan told the lies that convinced them of that. That BRennan's allies at FBI helped frame their boss as their fall guy. Having no idea that the alliance of Trump, Giuliani, Comey & Mueller was strong enough to defeat them!

https://twitter.com/MyBrothers111/status/1208107781968056328

[Manuel Transmission]

Henry,
Maybe so. We certainly don’t have anything like the Depression to foster the Greatest Generation, so the schools and the soy take the lead.

[Threadkiller]

The rest of his comments on that twit stream are a hoot.

[Threadkiller]

McGahn is supposed to know where the "obstruction of justice" body is buried from the Mueller days.

[Captain Hate]

The rest of his comments on that twit stream are a hoot.

Unbelievable.

[clarice]

I don't think that case is going any further than the stupid claim for GJ transcripts will go.

[Narciso]

Lol, stephen wright droll, hes cereal?

[Narciso]

Congrats buckeye.

[matt - deplore me if you must]

We need a common language that does away with all of the confusion surrounding sexuality and naughty bits. Shemales and He-Shes should be the preferred lauguage when discussing the gender of those who are not cisgender? And WTF is a cisgender anyway? The lesbians call us breeders and worse. Shouldn't we be called the normally gendered?

And Pope Che has stepped into the pontifical dog poop again with his comments on adapting the Church to a post-Christian West. What does that even mean? The Church is God's, not his. The Word is God's, not his. Either you believe the Word or not.

And for my Jewish friends,

May you all have a Chag Chanukah Samayach, a happy Hanukkah holiday, and may the light of God soon radiate throughout the world and bring us peace. As the words said over and over during every prayer service wishes;

Oseh Shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu ve’al kol yisrael, ve’imru amen.

[Captain Hate]

I don't think the Stasi was as bad as the current crew of Congress critters. Thanks again, Paul Ryan.

[Captain Hate]

Yes, good news for the Buckeye household.

[MissMarple2]

Captain Hate,

Agree. They are horrible. There are only about 10 in both houses that I find trustworthy.

[MissMarple2]

Buckeye,

That is wonderful! A promotion, moving to her home town, and a boss she likes!

Merry, merry Christmas!

[Captain Hate]

Someone in the Horde suggested we start calling trustworthy pols GOP-T.

[MissMarple2]

Ted Cruz sumerizes the FBI’s abuse of power against President Trump. pic.twitter.com/3MqR09T5UI

— Red Nation Rising (@RedNationRising) December 22, 2019

Link goes to video of Ted Cruz explaining the FBI's illegal doctoring of evidence to Maria Bartiromo.

[henry]

Buckeye, great news for your daughter!

[clarice]

Thanks, Matt, and Buckeye gets the best holiday gift of all.

[Narciso]

And meadows is retiring, the replacement for desantis has been ok.

[JM Hanes]

Looks like yesterday was a good day to be on the road, so I won't even try to play catch-up ball.

Ignatz:

Re birther 4-D, I think it's entirely possible that the birther thing is what originally set Obama off wrt to Trump. Otherwise, Trump seems like just the kind of celebrity Obama would be interested in cultivating. In fact, many folks suggested that the blatant animus Obama displayed during the White House Correspondent's dinner may have been the tipping point in Trump's decision to run for President for real in 2016, instead of his usual quadrennial grandstanding. Even if Trump didn't actually win the nomination (when it became imperative to take him down), he had the resources to destroy Obama.

It was Chicago gansta government from the get go. Irony oozes from every pore of Holder's so-called anti-gerrymandering mission. Obama won his first election by customizing his very own voting district in the back room of Chicago political establishment. I don't doubt that Obama was spying in one way or another on enemies both real and imagined. I've wondered how he managed to so thoroughly politicize the Executive Branch on his own, and I think Robin's comment on the Clinton/Obama combine merits some exploration. There was clearly no love lost between the them, but the Clinton connections could have been as useful to Obama as his power to derail Trump's election would have been to them.

[MissMarple2]

Eddie Murphy reminding everyone what real comedic talent looks like https://t.co/fBU0ALYibU

— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) December 22, 2019

Link goes to an NBC Tweet with a 4-minute video of Mister Robinson's World.

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
7m
Crazy Nancy wants to dictate terms on the Impeachment Hoax to the Republican Majority Senate, but striped away all Due Process, no lawyers or witnesses, on the Democrat Majority House. The Dems just wish it would all end. Their case is dead, their poll numbers are horrendous!

[MissMarple2]

Melania and I send our warmest wishes to Jewish people in the United States, Israel, and across the world as you commence the 8-day celebration of Hanukkah. https://t.co/WgQyO9qxSs

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2019

Link goes to a Presidential Statement on Hanukkah on the White House site.

[MissMarple2]

https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-gives-federal-workers-a-christmas-present-they-havent-gotten-since-1935/

Christmas Eve as a holiday!

[Jim Eagle]

And meadows is retiring, the replacement for desantis has been ok.

Narc,

Waltz is the first Green Beret elected to Congress, so for me he is more than okay.

[MissMarple2]

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2019/12/help-im-being-held-prisoner.php

This has the full story of the British Christmas card with the plea for help from someone held prisoner in a Chinese prison which uses forced labor.

[D]

Clarice: Excellent”Pieces”!
You have done it again.
JOM is once again a delightful place to drop by and engage in fun conversation.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all who post here.Robin:
Please give us the details of your Jewish dinner.
I have always wanted to attend one.Your entree sounds delicious.
Marlene:I continue to pray for your mom’s rehab success and also for the Momto2 family.
Did Darby get the part in the play?
CH: Enjoy those grandchildren and hug them close.

[Narciso]

Shalom matt one cannot properly appreciatr christianity without the foundation of the old testament.

[D]

I hope we hear from Caro and her now not so new husband.
Last night’s Saturday Night Live was the best one they have had in years.
Buckwheat, Gumby and Mr Robinson all made an appearance.
He said on Jimmy Fallon’s show that he is back to doing stand-up in the comedy clubs.

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

"Someone in the Horde suggested we start calling trustworthy pols GOP-T."

What, BOTH of them?
I kid...

[MissMarple2]

https://newrightnetwork.com/2019/12/love-trumps-hate-standing-strong-against-antisemitism.html/

This is an article by a gal who experienced anti-Semitism as a child, and why it stopped (thanks to the sisters at the convent and the parish priest).

[clarice]

Here's my favorite recipe for Moroccan chicken in case anyone cares to try it:A while ago I misplaced this recipe and asked if Cooter had it. This afternoon I remembered I'd emailed it to someone and retrieved it from my files. I'm posting it again just in case anyone wants it or I lose it again.

6 portions
Note: Harissa and preserved lemons are available in Middle Eastern grocery stores. If you search online you can also find recipes for making them..This dish is good with instant couscous .

5 lb chicken legs (smaller ones are tastier)
4 sliced onions
6 minced garlic cloves
4 lg peeled, seeded and sliced tomatoes(If they're not in season use equivalent amount of good qualty canned tomatoes)
1 piece fresh ginger (about 1" by 2" or to taste)
4 handfuls of rinsed Kalamata olives
1 bunch cilantro,chopped
6 preserved lemons, quartered

MARINADE
1 cup olive oil
1 soup spoon ground paprika
1 soup spoon tumeric
salt, ground pepper
2 pinches cayenne pepper
4 pistils saffron

Marinade chicken overnight. Saute in marinade until golden. Reserve. In marinade remaining in saute pan saute onion, garlic. When golden add tomatoes and saute for a few minutes longer.Add ginger and simmer for ten minutes.
Put chicken and onion mixture in cook pot. Simmer covered for 20 minutes.(You can refrigerate at this point and heat through when ready). Add coriander, olives and lemons simmer until heated through and serve.

Serve with couscous(instant is great...and you can stir into it sauted veggies if you like) and a dish of harissa, allowing diners to mix in as much as they like of this hot pepper condiment.

[MissMarple2]

thebradfordfile™
@thebradfordfile
·
59m
I can’t wait to hear Rachel Maddow report President Trump has imposed sanctions which have stopped the construction of Russia’s gas pipeline to Europe.

WORST. PUTIN. STOOGE. EVER.

[MissMarple2]

Boris Johnson @BorisJohnson special #Hanukkah blessing to the Jews of Britain and all over the world. Thanks God and to the people of England, it was not @jeremycorbyn pic.twitter.com/cHgWZycaXp

— Adam Milstein (@AdamMilstein) December 22, 2019

Video at the link.

[Captain Hate]

maryrose, the grandkids have been on excellent behavior. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[matt - deplore me if you must]

Last night's festa was incredible. I took it upon me tome lasagna as the centerpiece. My mother's was famous in at least 8 states, so the burden of achievement was high.

One of the beauties of where I live is that we have ethnic markets all across the county. So it was down to the H Mart (Korean) for the cephalopods and shrimp; Their fruits and veggies re also very fresh.

There is a great Italian deli with incredible cannoli and other delights, but they cheat on the sausage. half the size of the other place I go to so ended upheaving to airlift some sweet Italian to get the balance right. The lasagna was a hit!

But even better was the seafood. You have to pound calamari and octopus to soften them. I went by Sur La Table to get a meat hammer (she got it in the divorce) and the line was out the door.

So I substituted with a rubber mallet from the garage wrapped in an oversized baggie, which worked out fine. I got my Australian future SiL to do the barbie and the results were sublime. It is amazing what EVOO, a pinch of hot Italian peppers, fresh lemon juice and a little salt can do. KIS.

Roasted carrots and an incredible Christmas themed salad and we were good to go. It's amazing what mixed greens, mozzarella balls, Acieto di Modena and EVOO can do.

Finished it all off with the aforementioned cannoli (drop the gun, pick up the cannoli) and a couple of superb grappas for the guests.

A labor of love.

The good news is that I stopped by the ritzy Bristol Farms market and they actually had the Feltman's original Coney Island hot dogs (they pre-data Nathan's by 40 years), so I am now set for New Year's Day football as well.

I do not want to set foot in a store for at least 2 weeks. The traffic was insane.

[Robin, eff 'em all]

Mmmmmm Clarice - that sounds amazing! My husband now wants to do a Thai dish this way. The house smells amazing.

[Robin, eff 'em all]

Everything is AMAZING! LOL

[Jim Eagle]

For Autophiles, another reason to go to Indiana and visit MM.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/what_was_the_long_island_automotive_museum

We had one at one time in Southampton. Henry Austin Clark, jr. was a neighbor on Toylsome Lane and S. Main St. He was always driving some antique up the street from time to time.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/what_was_the_long_island_automotive_museum

[Jim Eagle]

Sorry about that but the first link should have been:

https://automobilemuseum.org

[matt - deplore me if you must]

The ex got the Tagine as well, so now I am going to find on When you say soup, you mean tsp, right?e on Amazon and make this! One of my absolute favorites.

When you say soup you mean tsp, right?

[matt - deplore me if you must]

I think the grappa made me do it. Grammar issues today.

[Robin, eff 'em all]

JMH,

It's never made sense to me that the vitriol between the Obamas and Clintons was put to bed so easily once Obama won the nomination.

Some reminders of the Patriot Act:

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2015/06/02/author-of-original-patriot-act-n2006936

Look who shows up in the picture on the History link:

https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/patriot-act

The Clintons had a lot of friends in the deep state. Once they realized that Hillary couldn't beat Obama, they would have wanted a way to co-opt the "outsider." Remember, he presented himself as an agent of change in the way Washington does business, despite the dirty underpinnings of his Chicago past. I'd say that opposition research probably dug up some really useful stuff that the Clintons decided would be far more useful to them if she was in his cabinet.

It's probably crazy, but no more crazy than the golden showers story. I still can't believe that the Trump hotels didn't come up with a cocktail for that.

[DrJ]

matt,

One item that amazes me is how the American culinary scene has changed.

When I was young there essentially was no "ethnic" food -- not in the grocery stores or as restaurants. We had a single Chinese one, and the Greek ran the steak house. No Mexican, no Thai, and not really any good German/Northern European fare.

Now I live in a dinky town, and the diversity and richness of foods we can get is amazing. The cheese, bread, seafood, wine and all the rest are outstanding, and nothing like what I grew up with.

I learned today that the Sacramento delta is one of the major US producers of caviar. One produces 15 tons per year.

[JM Hanes]

That's a lot of caviar, DrJ!

[Momto2]

I'm copying and pasting all of these great recipe ideas. Here's one I'll share (another chicken dish!)

Chicken Drumsticks, Ethiopian Style

You can do this with chicken wings or thighs, too, but don't use breasts — they will dry out.
Prep time: 10 minutesCook time: 2 hoursYield: Serves 6-8
INGREDIENTS
3-4 pounds chicken legs, thighs or wings
2 Tbsp melted butter (or ghee)
Salt
Lemons or limes for serving
Spice Mix:
2 Tbsp sweet paprika
1 Tbsp hot paprika, or 1-2 teaspoons cayenne
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon ground fenugreek
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
METHOD
1 Preheat oven to 325°.
2 Coat the drumsticks in the melted butter, then sprinkle with salt.
3 Spice the chicken: Mix all the spices together in a small bowl. In a large bowl, mix half of the spice mix with the chicken.
4 Place chicken in foil: Then arrange the drumsticks in a casserole dish lined with enough foil to make a package; you will be cooking these legs covered for most of the time.
Sprinkle more of the spice mix over the drumsticks. You can use all of the spice mix, or stop whenever you want. The more mix, the spicier the chicken.
Fold over the foil to seal up the drumsticks.
5 Bake: Bake at 325°F for 90 minutes. At 90 minutes, open up the foil packet to let the chicken continue to cook uncovered. Continue cooking for at least another 15 minutes, and as long as you like.
I like the meat to almost fall off the bone on my drumsticks, so I cook uncovered for another 30-45 minutes.
6 Serve: To serve, baste with a little of the sauce that forms at the bottom of the pan, and use the rest to flavor some cauliflower rice or flatbread.
Squeeze some lemon or lime juice over the chicken right before you serve it.
A green salad is a good side dish, too.

Mixing up the spices takes a while so I usually double or triple the amounts and save the remainder for the next time I prepare this dish.

[clarice]

True, Dr J--I see this everywhere.
And Matt, around here H Mart has the best produce, except it's quite a hike to get there I don't go as often as I'd like to.

[matt - deplore me if you must]

I had heard that they are doing a very good job with Sacramento delta caviar. There are other places coming on line as well,. There was a writeup somewhere about English caviar. As if!

When I went to college in NYC my dad would roll through a few times per year. I was already down with the cheap ethnic food; Indian, Ukrainian, etc, and so I would try to find something exotic.

There was an incredible Spanish place in the Village and an incredible Japanese place in the East 50's. At the time no one knew what sushi was, but I had already developed a hankering.

As our country grew more diverse, the restaurants followed. One of the real advantages of a multiethnic culture.

[James D.]

Why do I go on about not trusting the police? Stuff like this is why:

https://www.fox10tv.com/news/mobile_county/wanted-man-was-already-in-jail-when-agents-raided-his/article_a650cf04-22bd-11ea-9246-0bbf3725f06f.html

They sent a SWAT team into a home to arrest a guy who was already
In jail because the very people who conducted the raid HAD ARRESTED HIM THE DAY BEFORE.

That’s so far past inexcusable that I don’t know the words.