East of Phoenix, AZ, the Superstition Mountains dominate the skyline. The legendary Lost Dutchman Mine just may be somewhere up in them thar hills. We woke up this morning and saw these scenic mountains. Click image to enlarge.
Saguaro Solar Eclipse
We’re back in the land of the Saguaro Cactii. Tonight, we’re near Phoenix, AZ. After we set up camp, I walked around the RV Park taking pictures of some of the plants and birds. I liked this one that I snapped just as the sun was directly behind. Click to enlarge.
California’s Gasoline Ripoff
Just across the border in Arizona, you can save 17 percent – or more on gasoline. I bet the folks living in Blythe, CA, drive to Ehrenberg, AZ, to top off the old tank.
Brainless Health Care Reformist Gergen Gets Sniped
Via The Corner:
In Monday night’s senatorial debate in Massachusetts, David Gergen, the moderator, looked straight at Scott Brown, the Republican nominee, and asked him this question:
GERGEN: You said you’re for health-care reform, just not this bill. We know from the Clinton experience that if this bill fails, it could well be another 15 years before we see health-care reform efforts in Washington. Are you willing under those circumstances to say, I’m going to be the person, I’m going to sit in Teddy Kennedy’s seat and I’m going to be the person who’s going to block it for another 15 years?
Brown, in what I call his ‘Nashua moment,’ responded with what’s become the remark that’s defining this race:
BROWN: Well, with all due respect, it’s not the Kennedy’s seat, and it’s not the Democrats’ seat, it’s the people’s seat. And they have the chance to send somebody down there who is an independent voter, and an independent thinker, and going to look out for the best interests of the people of Massachusetts. And the way that this bill is configured, I’d like to send it back to the drawing board because I believe people should have insurance — [just not] this particular bill because it’s not good for the entire country.
I heard Brown in an interview last week with Sean Hannity. I am impressed with this guy. He seems to be self confident and is clearly his own man, refusing to be stereotyped as having this or that kind of political leanings. California could use a couple folks like this to run against the two batty democrats currently occupying the California people’s Senate seats.
Global Warming Strikes Europe, Northeast America
A satellite image shows a snow-covered Britain; record snowfall and cold weather wreaks havoc with the European Continent, Northeastern U.S. and Canada.
Via SpaceWeather.com:
ISLAND SNOW
Last week when NASA’s Terra satellite orbited over Europe, it saw something very unusual. The normally temperate British Isles were completely covered by snow. From an altitude of 420 miles, Terra’s MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) camera snapped the picture to the right.
It’s not only Britain. Heavy snowfall and record-low temperatures have spread across Europe, closing schools, paralyzing airports, and downing power lines. Much of North America and parts of Asia are experiencing the same brutal cold.
The cause of the phenomenon could be the Arctic Oscillation (AO). The AO is a seesawing strengthening and weakening of semi-permanent areas of low and high atmospheric pressure in the Arctic and the mid-latitudes. One consequence of the oscillation’s negative phase is cold, snowy weather in Eurasia and North America during the winter months. The extreme negative dip of the Arctic Oscillation Index in December 2009 was the lowest monthly value observed for the past six decades. [more]
Asian Lilies
The centerpiece for today’s Sunday dinner will be these Asian lilies: Sumatra (dark red), Broadway (blush) and white Stargazers. Appropriate for our Chinese-style steamed breast of chicken and steamed veggies with saffron rice.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Weekend Cuisine
Today, Damsel and I prepared this sumptuous Italian mozzarella-stuffed meatballs served over angel hair pasta and topped off with Damsel’s killer Marinara sauce.
I prepared the ground meat from lean pork loin and beef round tip. I carefully trimmed the meats and blended the two together through the grinder.
Damsel added the herbs, spices and homemade Italian-style breadcrumbs. She stuffed each of the meatballs with ciliegine – a cherry tomato-sized ball of mozzarella cheese.
Oh yeah, this was excellent. Click image to enlarge. Do not drool on your keyboards.