Chasms of Denial

Yesterday marked the 6 month anniversary of the worst environmental disaster in the history of our addiction to oil. Interesting how quickly I forgot about this disaster. I remember vague terms like, top kill, top hat, corexit, dispersant, dead, ravaged, economy, Cajun, and culture, but these terms would quickly fade as I went about my daily routine. Until yesterday.

Terry - friend, hero, activist, author, inspiration, instructor - has just published a compelling piece about the Gulf oil spill in Orion Magazine, The Gulf Between Us. I feel Terry provides us with a view of the Gulf we have not seen before - first by giving a voice to those who are living in Ground Zero, and secondly, making the argument that we are All in this together.

I've read it and feel an overwhelming urge to share it. Please take a look at it if you haven't already, then forward it on to your friends, loved ones - everyone.

Area Cats Discover Rare New Tatum

21 June 2010, Sugarhouse SLC - In a backyard enclosure some have called "Jurassic Park" due to the ancient lineage of its residents a new discovery has been made. Amidst five run of the mill chickens is a bold chicken who goes by the name of Bobsled Meatloaf Tatum, Esq. Some have claimed that this chicken bears a striking resemblance to one Steve Tatum. Genetic tests have not yet confirmed or denied this allegation.

Loud meowing was heard this morning near the enclosure as area cats are mystified by the forcefield that is emitted from this chicken. Some cats claim fowl play.

Resident anthropologist Alex Porpora was quoted as saying "I'm no paleontologist, but the resembalence is striking."

When reporters tried to get comment from Bobsled Meatloaf Tatum, she was silent with the exception of some soft clucking. The other chickens, Double-Down, Bebop, Rocksteady, Peepsquatch and Kevin Bowflex were unavailable for comment as they were eating grapes, pecking at poop and running around their enclosure.

Some in the neighborhood are skeptical of the rare new Tatum. SLC resident Bill Stadwiser reportedly said "Rare new Tatum? I'd say it'd be better well done. Or blackened. Maybe with some barbeque sauce."



The proprietors of A & B Farms in the fabled "Jurassic Park" enclosure





The Tatum chicken, noted for its chill behavior is in the back.

Lost Generation

Brilliant video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA

Interesting Discussion Topic for Story's Class Tonight

Utah lawmakers looking to develop coal deposits in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_14377307

UPDATE: The Cove

Relevant for all of you who participated in Terry's class last semester or have been following this issue/film.

http://www.thewrap.com/article/cove-finally-be-seen-japan-14012

Enjoy

cheesy olive-y bread-y recipe

Hey Y’all!

Many of you have asked me about ‘the’ bread, so I decided to dedicate my first blog ever to revealing my cheesy olive-y bread-y recipe for all to see.

These instructions are merely suggestions… Please do make it your own and figure out ways to kick it up a notch.

Ingredient list for Cheesy Olive-y Rosemary-y Deliciousness Bread… makes 2 loafs:

Flour - 4.5ish cups (all purpose unbleached white 2.5ish cups and whole wheat 2ish cups)

Eggs -2

Salt – tbspoon-ish

Olive oil – a skosh

Black olives – apx 1 cup chopped

Crushed rosemary – to taste (2 tbspoons?)

Water (1.5 cups @ warm apx 100 degrees F)

2 packages dry active yeast (4.5 tsp.)

Sugar – 2 tbspoons.

Shredded cheddar cheese (I recommend Tillamook and obviously the more the better)

Time: 15 minutes of ‘work’ over 1.5ish hours elapsed from start to finish.

Directions:

1. Wash hands, roll up sleeves, put on your bread-baking/dancing shoes
2. Warm the water in the microwave or on a stove. Transfer to mixing bowl.
3. add yeast packets… mix well and let sit 5 minutes to activate (dice olives during this time)
4. After 5 minutes, add eggs, sugar, salt, rosemary, and olive oil. Stir well with a fork-like object and break up the egg yokes.
5. Slowly add flour to mixture as well as olives (so they distribute evenly). Mix well with forkish-like implement at first and then with clean hands as the dough solidifies. Have a friend/spouse/helper monkey add more flour as needed. Finished dough should be firmish/squishy, easily moldable and not especially sticky. Mix thoroughly and make sure you touch it with your (clean) hands to get the feel.
6. Leave dough in bowl, cover with a clean towel and set aside in a warm place until dough doubles in size (roughly ½ hour at 100 degrees F).
7. As dough-rising nears completion, preheat oven to 350 degrees F and get the cheese from the fridge. Grease your baking sheets/bread pans with a generous, but not silly amount of olive oil.
8. Fun part: Punch the risen dough down and knead it for a while. Divide the dough into two equal parts and play with it some more. Shape it how you wish, but longer and thinner formations means that it will bake more thoroughly. Work some shredded cheese into the dough, but try to keep it centered in the dough as it tends to adhere to the baking sheets during cooking. (Cutting the dough into three rolled segments and braiding it is an advanced technique worth trying out later).
9. Place dough on/in oiled baking sheet/bread pan and drizzle olive oil / sprinkle cheese over/on the top. Place in oven on center rack and bake at 350 for 25 – 30 minutes (until crust is golden brown). Feel free to add more cheese to the top half way through. Bake until the outside of the bread turns into a golden brown color, the cheese bubbles a bit and your home is filled with the delicious fragrance of bready goodness.
10. Carefully remove the bread from the oven and let cool a few minutes before transferring to a cutting board and serving. Turning the oven off is the important last step that I always forget.
11. Add some salted butter to the top of a slice of bread and be prepared for your tongue to freak out and demand more.

All the best and enjoy!

BS!

If you have not heard...

I assume most of you are privy to this information and basking in the absurdity as I am. But for those of you who haven't yet heard, our wonderful HoR has come up with a fabulous joint resolution that I believe deserves some attention.

Read it here, post your comments and enjoy!
http://le.utah.gov/~2010/bills/hbillint/hjr012.pdf