CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: Drew4UTk on May 25, 2018, 08:27:26 AM
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the 'sales!!!' piss me off... not that i'd accost or confront someone in business to explain my views, but..... Memorial Day is a day of observance and recognition. it isn't some excuse for some slime ball to sell things supposedly cheap and make a buck.
last year it hit me harder than ever before... stupid story:
I was burning the burgers and hotdogs on the grill for the kids and their lunch, throwing back some nice cold domestics, and with family and friends. It was a fine day. I had a cigar in my hand and a quiet moment to myself looking across the yard at everyone- children playing in the pool splashing each other, ladies laughing and talking about whatever they talk about, and the guys pestering them while they had their own discussions and while tossing horseshoes.
i didn't even link 'memorial day' to it... a random though shot through my head thinking "I wonder what Todd or Jeff would be doing right now?", and a ping of remorse- chased away because I know what they were doing right that second... they were and are looking happily down on us and prideful that we're living on- raising families they never had the opportunity to raise, enjoying company of friends and that family while we make use of the things our work has provided us... they gave up a lot so others can do this. I don't mean that in some figurative way- I mean that just as i type it- there are people alive because those guys sacrificed, literally... they died hero's, not in the general sense, but because they rushed in knowing it would save others- and they were right. That isn't to diminish the sacrifice of those who were doing their job as they were trained and for a good greater than themselves without question. Those men are hero's too, and many of them passed while doing what they had little understanding of except it was asked of them by their country- that is selflessness. it takes a certain kind, and to those men i hope you're smiling down too.
anyway, y'all have fun this year, enjoy your family and friends... remember at some point, hopefully a pause in the scuffle, that the day is a day to tip your hat at men like those two and so many more.
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Amen brother. And same to you.
Tomorrow we're having my folks and siblings over, and their families, as well as my i s c & a aggie wife's Aggie family over. Her dad is a Vietnam war vet, he was in the Aggie Corps of Cadets and then served a couple of tours in the Army. He lost a lot of friends over there, but rarely talks about it. Usually, on Memorial Day, he's willing to share a few stories, and I cherish those moments when he's willing to open up.
Anyway, on the lighter side, I'll be making a BBQ brisket, 3 racks of pork spare ribs, 1 rack of beef short ribs off the plate, and probably some sausage. I'll be up at about 5 AM to light the fire, brisket goes on at 6, ribs at noon, it'll all be done about 5 or 6. And then, we shall feast.
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I'll be having lunch on Monday with my son, who made it back safely after two tours. He was a great sniper. Probably still is. We don't talk about that stuff though. His knees are shot and his hearing is compromised, but he's of sound mind and mostly sound body.
I'll just shake his hand and tell him "thank you" and we'll move on to order lunch.
Other than having two Saturdays, it's just another weekend. But Monday is special and not at all connected with those two Saturdays. That's just a bonus.
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Memorial Friday, unofficially the first day of Summer.
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EVERY Friday is memorial, in the summer. Only one Monday is that though.
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I'll be having lunch on Monday with my son, who made it back safely after two tours. He was a great sniper. Probably still is. We don't talk about that stuff though. His knees are shot and his hearing is compromised, but he's of sound mind and mostly sound body.
That's the big thing. Enjoy your lunch with him
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Just got the message from the executive VP instituting "summer hours" starting today. That means, "take off every Friday afternoon from Memorial Day to Labor Day if you can."
Sometimes I have meetings on Friday afternoons, but not today anyway. :)
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While at times I think sports leagues are a bit over the top and borderline tacky with some of their military tributes, the ceremonies before the Indy 500 are extremely well done and often very moving. The playing of Taps and the fly-over is pretty special, particularly since you can see incoming aircraft so well from where I usually sit (Turn 1 or 2). About the only sporting event where most fans get to their seats about an hour before the beginning of the event.
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You out there for Carb Day today? I'm watching Indy Lights right now, killing time until I get to "leave work" for the day. :)
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I'm too old for carb day. :). I've been traveling all week, so I need a day in the office to catch up. Actually, I'd go to Carb Day again sometime, if it wasn't 90 degrees.
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90 degrees?
Wimp.
I won't allow myself to miss a single day at COTA for the US Grand Prix, it's just too fun. From Pit Walk on Thursday through the race and post-race entertainment on Sunday, we're out there the entire time. We even camp the entire weekend out there now, so we don't have to drive back and forth. (Really, so we don't have to curtail our enjoyment of adult beverages! ;).
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Just got the message from the executive VP instituting "summer hours" starting today. That means, "take off every Friday afternoon from Memorial Day to Labor Day if you can."
Sometimes I have meetings on Friday afternoons, but not today anyway. :)
Our office message this week restated attire expectations, especially for the "young professionals." Management doesn't want a repeat of board shirts and brotanks in the cubicles.
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In honor of those who gave the last full measure of devotion and all that have served past & present - Thank You
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In honor of those who gave the last full measure of devotion and all that have served past & present - Thank You
amen
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I know Billy Ray Cyrus is a talentless hack and total cheesedick, but I have to admit I really like his song, "Some Gave All." I might even feel the need to chop some onions sometimes, when I hear that song.
Anyway, brisket's been on the smoker since 6:00, pit's at 300, brisket is holding at 160, about a half-hour into the stall. i'd expect we'll finish the stall by about 1, get up to final doneness by about 4, and then I'll yank it and rest it for a couple hours until I'm ready to slice.
Beef short ribs have also been on since about 9:30, they'll be good to go at 5:30 I'd guess.
Pork spare ribs will go on at 1. Sausage will go on ~5.
And I'm also smoking some Brussels sprouts, I usually oven-roast them but some folks on the shag recommended smoking them, so why not? I'll let you know how it goes. :)
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Beef short ribs have also been on since about 9:30, they'll be good to go at 5:30 I'd guess.
I'm on my way.
Might not be there by 5:30. Hide some in the back until I get there, please.
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We came back to Cincy for a special Memorial Day celebration, Ohio has named a portion of I75 for my son, which would make him grin a bit. Our house just went on the market also, which is a bit wistful as well. Time marches ...
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And I'm also smoking some Brussels sprouts, I usually oven-roast them but some folks on the shag recommended smoking them, so why not? I'll let you know how it goes. :)
Hmm. Smoked Brussels? If it turns out, please post recipe / technique.
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Hmm. Smoked Brussels? If it turns out, please post recipe / technique.
Following...
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Memorial Day is somber for me, but by a transitive property (mine is not a gold star family, and I haven't lost a close friend).
Lincoln's "last full measure of devotion" quote from Gettysburg is one I've often read and like very much, but this year more than years past I've focused on the broader meaning of that paragraph.
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Lincoln honors the dead as well as any President has, but he calls on us to do more than speak their names (and I speak a few every year). He calls on us to fulfill the promise of this country in their memories: that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Without taking sides, I will say that, particularly with a spouse who is a politician, it has become clearer than ever to me that democracy is all about participation. He (and she) who participates wins. Now, more than in a long time, our democracy is in danger of being divided in large part because of a failure to participate. Voting is critical, but it is not enough. Understanding what our government's role is, how it works, and participating in the process are how we honor our nation's promise.
One of the benefits of participating with people with whom you disagree is that you remember that they are people--like you--and deserve basic human respect regardless of your disagreement. We will disagree--I would bet you don't know a single person that you agree with about everything--but we need to agree on the process, and we need to participate in it. As silly as it seems, this little collection of college football fans is a microcosm of that.
And we will never achieve perfection--there will always be problems to solve and disagreements over how to solve them. But we must try. If we don't try--and right now too many of us don't--we will lose our say and the promise our nation has made to our soldiers and the world for nearly 250 years.
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^thank you, sir. Very well said.
I would love to see, but dont expect, some of you guys participate in the skunk works... It is far too bitter and group think there. Reasonable people exist there for certain, and I respect them, but it gets too one sided and divisive without reason and some diversity.
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I have a few diverse thoughts on this day (and am WAY late to post).
I can't help but find it unfortunate that people often try to use soldiers or "the troops" as a tool in their petty bickering/ideological battles. It's unfair to the people who serve. We seem to be at a point, sometimes, where too many jump right over the soberly respecting sacrifice and hardship and get right to the self-congratulatory part of feeling good about having thought about it. I hope this day can be one where we focus on the important part. (not saying anyone here did it, but the world at large)
When I think of these folks, I think of the danger, the risk, but I also try to think of the mundane. Being a soldier is hard on all sorts of fronts. The training is grueling, sometimes isolating. I knew folks in college that dropped out because they were an hour from home. These folks cut contact with family for long stretches, have lives where the service is in essence a disruption from what most of us would consider normal life. Simply put, being a soldier is something that would test my own limits and that I would be quite bad at, and from that simple point these folks deserve respect simply for doing it.
It's also worth considering the military as a social institution (regardless about one's larger feelings about it). What college does now, provide many with a bridge from high school to adulthood that helps ensure 20-year-old idiocy doesn't mess everything up, was once more commonly held by the military. I recall talking to one high school kid who played sports and asking if he'd play in college. He said nope, gonna enlist, at least until a small school offered. I don't know if he ever made it to school, but I checked in last week and he's in uniform. (this is not to say that veteran issues are not huge and under focused on)
I know, kind of all over the place, but that's what I got. I only have once service member in the family. He came home from three wars, then died before I could meet him because of his own lifestyle. He was the sort of man to drop out of high school, spend a year as a fry cook and then lie about his age to enlist.
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Lots of good points and thoughts being made, thanks to all for sharing.
The smoked Brussels sprouts were good. For preparation I halved them, put them in a bowl with some olive oil and salt and pepper, tossed them, and then made an aluminum foil boat and put it in the smoker, and tossed them with tongs every 15 minutes or so. They probably did about an hour at around 300, was really going by feel to see when they were tender enough to pull. Turned out very tasty, definitely got some smoke flavor from the oak but it wasn't overpowering.
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I would love to see, but dont expect, some of you guys participate in the skunk works... It is far too bitter and group think there. Reasonable people exist there for certain, and I respect them, but it gets too one sided and divisive without reason and some diversity.
Huh,ya lost me - do you mean like where they developed the U-2 and SR 71 sort of like area 51?
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I would love to see, but dont expect, some of you guys participate in the skunk works... It is far too bitter and group think there. Reasonable people exist there for certain, and I respect them, but it gets too one sided and divisive without reason and some diversity.
The signal to noise ratio down there is just too low. High volume of posts but low engagement therein. And most of the posts are at the superficial "cable news soundbite/outrage of the moment" level, which is really not interesting to discuss most of the time anyway.
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"small minds discuss people; average minds discuss events; great minds discuss ideas."
I've seen it happen down there and in their prior iteration- where an idea is presented and thoroughly discussed... yet, by the same people who can discuss events and people... it's all about how they are approached. There are some sharp folks down there for certain. As it is, though, there isn't enough challenge there to keep them engaging- the 'opposition' is pretty weak. @CatsbyAZ (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1532) swings by from time to time, as does @BrownCounty (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1582) , but i think they are humored more than not, and the residents there take their presence as trolls or interlopers before giving them an opportunity to present themselves.
it's been a while since there has been a good debate with conflicting opinions presented evenly weighed. I miss that. the purpose of Elanor Roosevelt's quote (well, paraphrase) above is because that board is an exercise of demonstrating a person will respond to the environment they're in at least as much as to what their natural inclinations are. "when in Rome" maybe?
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by the way, @bwarbiany (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=19) , the bar and cooking pit are coming along.
the bar is under the cover of a steel building (the awning across the back of it) and allows a pass through between it and the cooking pit. I did something i wasn't so sure about when i used 4x4x8 douglas firs for the bar surface... I pinched 6 together for the bar, and 4 together for the serving area of the pit. I ran a planer down the unions, and used a drum sander to smooth the surface out starting with 36 grit, then 80, and finishing with 120... it's almost ready for the epoxy now, which will add about a 1/8" 'glass' appearing surface on it.. . I'm thinking about embedding some of my old Marine Corps challenge coins in it.
i dressed both the bar and the cooking pit with fence boards... I'll end up staining them like the privacy fence in effort to tie it all together.
one thing i did i don't like is the regular propane grill (two burner, small) and the griddle have been left free standing on a little platform.. it looks okay, but is functional... I made a concrete pad 30"x 30" to sit the ecoque on... it is kinda the focus area of the pit. if you're standing in front of the serving area you'll be facing the ecoque.
i've got to put a roof over the pit and integrate it into the bar... the bar has four posts close to the inner portion of the surface. I have one 4x4 inside, a 4x4 between the posts, and 4 4x4's to the edge.. behind the bar the taps will be the focal point with the tv above it.
it gets hot down here in the summer... for that i've got 4 9" stainless fans that will mount about seats at the bar, and a ceiling fan over the server. the cooking pit will also have a ceiling fan (and lights) as well as having an 8" evacuation fan and ducts. the stove pipe out of the ecoque will penetrate the roof, i hope.
i've still got to build a 12'x12' deck in front of the bar outside the awning/covered area, where i'm going to put a 6' round table and umbrella i've had for some time. this will go quickly- i don't expect it to take more than a day to complete start to finish... more like maybe four hours, actually. it's literally a platform only high enough off the ground to be level.
i'm getting closer....lots of work done and lots more to go... tonight i plan on wiring it... kegerator, drink fridge, ice maker, ceiling fan/fans/lights, and electric smoker (will be used as a food warmer) all hoping 60a on a dedicated 8 breaker box is enough for it.. pulling off a 200a box i just had installed. i also have to pour the concrete counters for the pit's prep area and the bar's prep area.
I have less than a week to complete this...
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We're nearing 100 every day now. I'm pretty much done with my outdoor projects until October or so. Now it's time to just swim in the pool, or take the boat to the lake.
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perfect golf/beer drinking weather here
82 degrees, mostly sunny, a bit of a breeze
it's good to be in the outdoors
FORE!!!
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Oh I don't mind playing outdoors when it's at or near 100.
But the outside projects are done until Fall.
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beautiful night on the course last night
think I'll do it again tonight!
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Fore!
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We've lost the little golfer swing emoji or whatever y'all call it.
(https://emojipedia-us.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/60/google/56/golfer_1f3cc.png)
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If you come through Cincy on I75, you may see the sign denoting a two mile stretch just south of I275 as a memorial highway under my son's name, and Lima Co. 3/25.
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I've seen it happen down there and in their prior iteration- where an idea is presented and thoroughly discussed... yet, by the same people who can discuss events and people... it's all about how they are approached. There are some sharp folks down there for certain. As it is, though, there isn't enough challenge there to keep them engaging- the 'opposition' is pretty weak. @CatsbyAZ (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1532) swings by from time to time, as does @BrownCounty (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1582) , but i think they are humored more than not, and the residents there take their presence as trolls or interlopers before giving them an opportunity to present themselves.
Not saying the guys down there aren't sharp, but it's still a cesspool.
Nobody is debating anything. They're just playing "gotcha" or talking right past each other. It's left v right talking points being spouted at each other. Personal attacks, deliberately altering quotes from the opposite side to deride people, etc.
I understand that the reason for having a separate debate forum is to allow people to debate without it rolling over into the conference boards and polluting the conference boards with politics. But it seems like here on the B1G board, we can go OT and be civil while down there in Area-51 they can't be civil regardless of being in their own playpen.
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I just don't have time for people that align solely with party platforms, or worse yet political personalities, rather than issues. I see that a lot down there, same as every other political forum I've ever observed, and it's a total beating. No thanks.
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I think for some/many, it is easier to adhere to your party no matter what, similar to how we adhere to a team. You do not need to think, you find out whatever your leaders say and parrot it.
It is also far easier to criticize than to defend.
I also think both parties benefit when the electorate is divided and angry.
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The dangerous parts to me are three fold
1.) People only want to listen to things that confirm their beliefs, and instantly discredit anything that doesn't.
2.) The nationalization of both parties, really starting with Newts Deal with America, has led to homogeneous candidates. It's hard not to support straight party when everyone in a party looks the same. A Democrat won a special election here recently, and liberals lamented he wasn't a "real" liberal because he supported gas drilling and was pro life. But he was also very pro union and anti Trump tax cuts. To me, that's a good thing. Not his positions necessarily, but that he looked what like a rust belt Democrat should look like. Why should a rural Western PA Dem look like an NYC or Cali Dem? Likewise shouldn't an NYC Republican be more of a libertarian than an Alabama Repiblican? If candidates within parties differed we could find common ground across the aisle. Since they don't, it's almost impossible, because the parties are universally opposed on every issue.
3.) Most "news" is just opinion now. So instead of taking in the news and formulating one's own opinions, people simply pick the pundits they tend to agree with and just regurgitate their opinions.