You know, I think part of it is the romantic appeal of a ‘lost cause.’ People never have to face what it would have been like if the confederacy had won the war and ceded from the union. Because that didn’t happen. They can dream of a never-really-existed past where they sat on a front porch sipping sweet tea while…

Oh, that sounds terrific. I don’t drink a lot of bourbon, but I live in Kentucky, and people here are always giving you bourbon as a gift. I have three unopened bottles of Woodford Reserve in my pantry. Ice cream would put some to good use.

Me too, Carl. It’s ice cream all the way. (If only because I’ve used sous vide to make pork loin and duck confit, and they were both terrific, as you would expect.)

Yeah...he had a lot of support. He really looked out-of-it...totally dazed. I’m a die-hard Blues fan, but you never want to see a player on any team injured, and possibly concussed.

Eek! I’m afraid! Those puppy-dog eyes are killing me!

Absolutely. I bet this guy has no idea how he sounds to others. If he sounds anything at all like this when talking to women, of course they’re going to run the other direction!

Ok. That’ll work.

But the dog gets away, right? And goes home to his dinner and loving family? Right?

She stuck her finger in the baby food? She might have saved you all some time and chucked it straight into the trash.

It’s hard to understand why someone wouldn’t have the decency to help you out in a situation like that. It would also get you off the plane faster so they can clean it, or do whatever they need to do after deboarding.

I can’t imagine being the only adult traveling with two very young children. I guess it’s not surprising that she was so stressed she just couldn’t stop crying.

It’s very upsetting when a person ‘in charge’ tells you one thing, then another person ‘in charge’ acts like you’re lying and trying to take advantage somehow. It makes you feel like a kid who hears yes from dad and no from mom.

No doubt. He might as well have taken his dick out of his pants and waved it like saber. The crew was trying to deal with the issue when this guy has to put his two cents in. If I were the woman sitting with him (wife, sister, whatever) Tony and I would be having a serious talk when we got to our destination.

No, I don’t have one, but I might just have to get one. I always try that ‘create a little whirlpool in the water’ technique and I always think it should work, but it never does.

Low heat and constant stirring/scraping with silicone spatula.

Lower the heat. I always keep a cup of water by the stove when I’m cooking. Splash a little water in the pan whenever things start going too fast.

Just a suggestion, buy your spices at a place (like Penzey’s) that sells spices in small quantities. Some of their jars are 1/2 to 1/3 the size of jars you buy in the grocery store. It’s cheaper, saves space, and you’ll stand a chance of using up a jar before the next election.

No idea. I made fish tacos recently and I could smell fish for days and days and days.

I often cheat and microwave my potatoes for a few minutes (4 or 5 maybe) until they’re about half cooked. I preheat the oven while they’re cooking, then brush with olive oil, sprinkle with s&p. They will be hot going in and will cook in about half the time (maybe less) but you still get a nice texture inside and…

What kind of thermometer are you using? You don’t have to spend a ton, but do look for a decent one.