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Somewhere in Okayama, someone got the idea that tinkering with soft serve ice cream would be a good idea. And, they were right, at least in Okayama.
Vanilla ice cream topped with fried oysters.
I know I know. Texans came up with a fried food this summer too, and, even awarded it their Big Tex Choice Award at the Texas State Fair. That doesn't mean I'm going to be eating "Fried Coke" anytime soon. Nor do I see myself whipping up some fried oysters to serve with ice cream.
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2006 is seeing more than a little grousing among those who write headlines and newspaper columns this weekend, but for us, it hasn't been bad at all. In fact, 2006 has been one of our more interesting years.
One daughter had a baby and one daughter got married.
James Christian-born April 3 and Baptized May 7.
Katie and Charlie-married September 9.
The MAtH and I spent the year living in Clayton and Collinsville, sometimes simultaneously, but for now, mostly in Clayton.
The Cardinals won the World Series.
We have great neighbors both in Collinsville and Clayton.
The Clayton neighbors walk their dogs each morning and the dogs are so so happy.
I don't sew but joined a sewing circle. Where else to get all the latest local news?
In the aggravating department:
The Poplar Street Bridge resurfacing by MoDOT was a nightmare and the upcoming total reconstruction of Highway 40 through the St. Louis area will be much worse.
Glen McCoy of the Belleville News-Democrat
The two storms, one in July the other at the end of November which knocked out power to a million people on both sides of the river made life unpleasant and difficult.
Everywhere you looked in July and late November you saw scenes like this.
And this
The November election saw democrats sweep into the majority. But, John Shimkus kept his congressional seat.
Good going, John.
The MAtH got to drive a Bobcat. Has he stopped talking about that particular day? No he hasn't.
Now he's hoping to get his hands on a bulldozer.
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The end of every year brings the same old story. The story is such nonsense it makes my head swim. In a few weeks the story will change, but no one will care.
StL Today: In order to open shoppers wallets this holiday season, Merchants had to pry
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At least for newspaper folks. The headline in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch today gives that paper's view of 2006
'06 A YEAR OF FEAR
Humorist Dave Barry calls 2006, That Blasted Year
Chicago Tribune columnist Steve Chapman: 2006--not a banner year for freedom
Pajama's Media headlines--2006:A world awash in fear and fascism-the year in review
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Like Illinois, Missouri has new laws taking effect tomorrow.
The minimum wage will rise from $5.15 to $6.50
A repeal of Missouri's individual campaign contribution limits in favor of a new ban on cash aid to candidates from political parties. Individuals will have not be limited in the amount they give to candidates, although no contributions may be given during legislative sessions.
Clutch's Law: Motorists who do not properly yield will face a $1000 fine and a 6 month licence suspension. This law is supposed to protect motorcyclists and is named after John Michael (Clutch) Clubine, a cyclists who was killed when a car driver refused to yield.
Teenagers studying for a drivers license now must complete 40 hours (as opposed to 20) of behind the wheel practice including ten hours at night.
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There's still time to get some New Year's Eve and New Year's Day food in if you haven't already. The Food Network has a whole bunch of ideas for everything from appetizers to meals to desserts to breakfast to drinks. The raspberry Bellini cocktail sounds just about perfect for a New Year's breakfast. How easy can you get? Here's the recipe if you don't want to click the link.
1/2 cup raspberries rinsed
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 bottle of champagne, prosecco or any sparkling wine
Mash raspberries with the sugar until the mixture is smooth and the sugar is dissolved.
Put about a tablespoon into each champagne glass, top with champagne.
I've noticed a drink which must be this year's martini. Lemon-cello. Put a bottle in the freezer to serve as an aperitif. Some find this too lemony, others love it.
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The Parade of Roses from Pasadena, stepping off on Monday morning, takes as its theme for 2007, Our Good Nature.
HGTV, which broadcasts the parade without commercials, has a place on their website in which to vote for one of six floats they deem some of the best. The Lutheran Hour float is one of them. Please consider going there and giving them a vote. The Lutheran Hour has entered a float in the Rose Parade for 57 years and each year provides the Rose Parade committee with over 4000 volunteers who work on at least 5 floats. These volunteers, named Petal Pushers, come from all over the nation to decorate the floats.
Give 'em a vote.
Updated: The Lutheran Hour (Lutheran Laymen's League) float won the Princess Trophey.
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The execution of former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, is finished. However, the world news outlets have been keeping watch all night and probably will all day today, for something, anything, to break out in that country. Long after there was anything more to report, the news folks kept reporting and repeating, waiting for riots and bombings to light up Iraq in reaction to Hussein's death. They've so far settled for shots of joy coming from the automatic weapons of Iraqi's victimized by that man.
The most inane question heard on one of the morning news shows was this: "Does this (Saddam's hanging) send a signal to other dictators?"
I don't want to trivialize the just passing of one of the modern world's most ruthless men, but come on. Does anyone seriously believe other dictators are now shaking in their boots picturing themselves as the next to hang?
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Political Wire has posted a rumor which has been going round in a hush hush sort of way for several weeks in Missouri.
"Senator Kit Bond is planning on resigning from the senate in order to become the new president of the University of Missouri. His seat would likely stay in republican hands, however, because Missouri Gov Matt Blunt would be charged with appointing his successor. The buzz is that Blunt is actually inclined to appoint himself to the open seat, in which case Lt. Governor, Peter Kinder would succeed him as the state's governor."
DC blog, Wonkette is reporting this same rumor as well, albeit in a much more irreverent way.
Senator Bond has fallen out of the political limelight for some years now, it's difficult to even remember a time when he's been out front on much of anything. President of the University of Missouri? I hope not.
If this rumor should turn out to be true, that Bond steps down, I would encourage Governor Blunt to seriously consider appointing Ann Wagner as the senate replacement. Wagner, current embassador to Luxembourg, was a past two term co-chair of the Missouri GOP during the years when republican success was at its peak. This success was due in no small part to her leadership, a leadership sorely missed this past November. I can think of no better person to fill a possible Bond vacancy.
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German women due to give birth have been trying all sorts of things to avoid delivery until January 1. On that date, a time when a new law takes affect, new parents will benefit from generous new family subsidies, often up to tens of thousands of dollars.
Under the new Elterngeld, or "parents' money" law, parents who stay home to look after the newborn child will receive 67 per cent of their last net income tax free, or up to 1,800 - more than £1,300 - a month, for the first 12, or in some cases 14, months after the birth.
All sorts of advice on how to delay birth has made its way into German newspapers, magazines and websites these days. One woman said, "From Christmas onwards, I have been standing on my head," said expectant mother Antje Grimm. "I have heard that is one way to stop the child from becoming too overactive while not harming it."
Why you might ask? Seems there has been a steep drop off in German babies with the German birth rate at an average of 1.3 children per woman - far lower than the 2.1 children per family replacement rate needed in industrialised countries.
This low birth rate would affect the number of future workers as well as disaster to pension funds these unborn workers would contribute to.
I wonder what the birth rate is in the United States?
Thanks Ron
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