[Le Petit Chef]

"The French restaurant 'Le Petit Chef' (The Little Chef) came up with an original way to entertain guests while waiting for their order by using an overhead projector on the ceiling.  The animation is on the table and your plate.  There is a small chef who appears on your plate...."   

Bon Appétit!   

 

 

 

 

 

[Ronco]

The ultimate Ronco product:  

 

 

 

[The Border]

Well... it seems the President acknowledges there's a problem with the border:  

 

Border Crisis

[Do you reckon there’ll be much of a celebration?]

I plan on celebrating~!!   

[Banks watching gun purchases?]

Wot @sassnetguy50 sez.  

 

These codes have been around for a loooong time, presumably for such innocent reasons as tracking purchases for cardholder rewards.  Codes could be easily added to the tables.  

 

 

Quote

 

What are merchant category codes?

Merchant category codes became a requirement for businesses in 2004, per the IRS, which created them. In short, they are:

• Four-digit numbers that classify a business by what it sells or the service it provides. If the merchant sells or provides more than one thing, its code is typically based on the item or service that makes up the majority of the business (see below for exceptions).

• Assigned to a business by the payment networks — Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover — when that business sets up a credit card payment system. Card-issuing banks have no control over how these codes are assigned and can't change them.

• Generally standardized. A business with a home furniture store MCC typically registers as a home furniture store whether you're using a Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Discover.

How do MCCs work?

Purchases are automatically categorized by the MCC of a store when they're reported to your credit card issuer, which uses these codes to determine whether you get additional rewards.

Say you're shopping at a candy store, which according to the IRS list above would have an MCC of 5441, for "candy, nut and confectionery stores." If you buy something there with a card that offers bonus rewards in that category of spending, your card issuer will grant you those extra rewards based on that MCC.

 

 

 

[Veterans Day]

1 hour ago, Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 said:

Also cause for reflection: NYTimes reports today that 99% of US WWII vets are now deceased.

 

I'm proud and feel honored to have known a bunch of 'em while they were still here.    

[Glad he was going the other way]

The boy has (or had) his priorities.     

[Throat Singing]

Kinda grows on ya.  

[How Many Of Your Dads Were Vets?]

My dad was a Merchant Mariner.  I was raised by an uncle, who had been Coast Guard - PBY flight engineer and R4D crew chief.  Uncle Bob had some good stories!

 

Bob had his A & P certificate, and was a career aircraft mechanic.  After retiring, he worked for the then Confederate Air Force, until the CAF changed their name and moved to Midland, Texas.

 

  Uncle Bob on the left.

[Moods]

Hm.  I just figgered those were just the olives from his last two martinis.  

[No more, please!!!]

17 hours ago, Silver Creek Jack said:

Just read a news headline on Fox that the Brandon admin. Is considering shutting down another pipeline, didn’t read which one ,made me sick to think about it. Doesn’t seem to be an end to this madness.

 

Correct.  "Line 5," in Michigan.  Currently carries upwards of half a million barrels of oil a day.

 

Seems Governor Gretchen Whitmer (wonder if she's related to Gavin Newsom?) wants to shut it down; the Brandon administration is "studying the issue."

 

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/11/08/white-house-confirms-reviewing-impact-line-5-shutdown/6342914001/

 

 

 

Quote

 

Enbridge Inc., which owns and operates Line 5 beneath the Straits of Mackinac, says on its website the pipeline "is a critical source of 540,000 barrels per day of propane and crude oil supply for Michigan and surrounding areas, and its shutdown would lead to a serious disruption of the energy market."

 

Last month, the government of Canada invoked a 1977 treaty that it says would prevent Michigan or the U.S. from interrupting operation of the pipeline, drawing the White House into the dispute. The action came after after court filings indicated mediation talks between the state and Line 5 owner Enbridge over the future of Line 5 are largely at a dead end.

 

 

 

[How to put a plastic bag in a dustbin]

He's gonna be kinda uncomfortable sleeping on that couch tonight - it looks to be a mite short.  

[Visiting greater Austin, TX. Any recommendations?]

2 minutes ago, Tex Jones, SASS 2263 said:

San Antonio:  The Alamo, River Walk.

Fredericksburg: Plenty of German restaurants, Cimarron Firearms.

Lots more stuff to do.

 

Yup... I'd take San Antone over Austin.  And don't forget The Alamo!

 

But if ya pick Austin, you could get a picture with Stevie Ray's statue.  

 

                    

 

 

[Fueling a TESLA.]

I think those fellas laughing in the car behind her are Russian...  

 

 

 

[Puzzle]

Simple puzzle.  

 

 

 

[Fueling a TESLA.]

How could someone NOT know...?     

[Friday Humor - jump in and add some]

The Wedding Dress

A woman married three times walked into a bridal shop one day and told the sales clerk that she was looking for a wedding gown for her fourth wedding. "Of course, madam," replied the sales clerk, "exactly what type and color dress are you looking for?"

The bride to be said: "A long frilly white dress with a veil." The sales clerk hesitated a bit, then said, "Please don't take this the wrong way, but gowns of that nature are considered more appropriate for brides who are being married the first time - for those who are a bit more innocent, if you know what I mean? Perhaps ivory or sky blue would be nice?"

"Well," replied the customer, a little peeved at the clerk's directness, "I can assure you that a white gown would be quite appropriate. Believe it or not, despite all my marriages, I remain as innocent as any first-time bride.

You see, my first husband was so excited about our wedding, he died as we were checking into our hotel.

My second husband and I got into such a terrible fight in the Limo on our way to our honeymoon that we had that wedding annulled Immediately and never spoke to each other again."

"What about your third husband?" asked the sales clerk.

"That one was a Democrat," said the woman, "and every night for four years, he just sat on the edge of the bed and told me how good it was going to be."

 

 

[Cheerleaders]

2 hours ago, Alpo said:

And back before they allowed girls in the service academies, the cheerleaders were guys.

 

Rah rah rah. Sissy boom bah!

And before anybody jumps down my throat oh, that was a joke.

 

 

 

Rabble Rousers  

 

 

Quote

 

During Branch Week at West Point, the Rabble Rousers received a visit from Maj. Gen. Mark Toy, commanding general for the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division. Toy was one of the first male Rabble Rousers in 1986, and now 31 years into his own military career, he said he is still reaping the benefits of his two years on the team.

 

"Little did I know that back in the days as a cadet, things I was doing trying to get the Corps to be enthusiastic about their team would be some of the things I would need to do as a leader in the Army," Toy said. "You are a constant cheerleader trying to encourage your Soldiers to do well, find their passion and execute the mission. It was a good hand-in-hand readiness training for Army life."

 

 

 

 

 

 

[I knew I had CRS, but damn]

Darned upstart youngsters ain't go no idea what "CRS" is....    

 

They'll learn!!         

[Cheerleaders]

So I just watched the Army - Air Force game.  Actually, a darned good bout; Army won in overtime.

 

Anyway, as the excitement mounted toward the end of the game, it occurred to me that, just like with any other colleges, both teams had cheerleaders.  Which gave rise to the wondering, are service academy cheerleaders professionals?  Borrowed from other schools?  Or can they they actually be cadets??

 

So I looked it up - they ARE cadets!  I had never ever considered such a possibility.  

 

Pretty cool, imagining them as future officers, engineers, pilots, even combat leaders....   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Here comes the Canadian invasion.]

Well... at least they're a polite bunch.   

[Past meets Present....]

1 minute ago, Alpo said:

Only if you use a copper ball.

 

Actually... copper is only mandated for hunting.  Believe it or not, lead-based personal defense ammunition is perfectly legal.  

 

For now.  

[I knew I had CRS, but damn]

I hates to tell ya this, Alps... but it don't get no better with age.     

[Past meets Present....]

California legal...?      

[If invited to a thanksgiving dinner….]

For sure a bottle of wine.  I've been known to bring a Weber cooked turkey, pies, and a favorite - pumpkin soup.  Folks are always surprised at that one... and everyone wants the recipe.  

 

So here it is!  

 

 

Quote

 

PUMPKIN SOUP

6 cups chicken stock

1 1/2 teaspoons salt  (I sometimes forget the salt… )

4 cups pumpkin puree (cooked pumpkin. Baked, steamed, nuked, even canned ~ it’s all good)

1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley

1 cup chopped onion

1 chopped shallot

1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

1+ clove garlic, minced  (I think I used about the equivalent of 2 and a bit more…)

5 whole black peppercorns

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream  (Oops… I've used a bit over a cup – Darn! And Yum!!)  

 

Directions

Heat stock, salt, pumpkin, onion, shallot, thyme, garlic, and peppercorns. Oh heck… put it all in the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes uncovered.

 

Puree the soup in small batches (1 cup at a time) using a food processor or blender. Or do like I did and do it all in the pot using an immersion blender – MUCH easier!!

 

Bring to a boil again. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for another 30 minutes, uncovered. Stir in heavy cream. Pour into soup bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. (I sometimes don’t bother with the foliage)

 

 

A bunch of years ago when one year I found myself flush and foolish, I bought myself a Staub five quart, cast iron "cocotte" to cook it in.  And a set if miniature ceramic versions for serving.  Fun!