How long can North Korea hold out?

The fact that North Korea has limited or no electrical infrastructure has bothered me from time to time. You see, I just didn’t understand why. Most every other country, rich or poor, has something like an electrical grid even if it doesn’t operate on a full time basis. Not so North Korea and I think I just realized why. It’s all about control.

It was the death of Kim Jon Il and the ascension of his son that finally made it clear to me that the leadership uses the lack of electrical power as a means of control. No electricity means no television or radios. The only broadcasts come from special state run programs in select locations. Not that the average citizen could afford either a radio or a TV, mind you. Not on an average $150 a month handout from the government they can’t. The lack of money and of even decent plumbing is designed to keep the people busy. Busy trying to barely survive while the central government skims just a little off the top of each and every citizen. Labor and goods, that when added up, lends to a pretty nifty life style for the few at the top.

What we have, then, is a socialist state carried to the extreme; an entire people who are under the iron fist of a despot ruling class. A society that affords a bare sustenance living to the old while simultaneously forcing the young to work for the state. A society that I believe may now be coming apart at the seams.

Take a careful look at the pictures; both the North and the South. To the north you see extreme poverty, starvation and hopelessness. To the south, you see a vibrant and energized populace with plenty to eat. Which side would you want to live on?

Betty's Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes!

I've always had a soft spot for scalloped potatoes. The 'soft spot' is actually my stomach! (It keeps getting softer and bigger with every helping). That aside, I thought I would do a quick critique on Betty Crocker's Cheesy Scalloped potato dish that's ready in just twenty minutes!

I picked up this boxed product at the local grocery on a whim. The last time I'd eaten scalloped potatoes was over a year ago on Thanksgiving. At that time, I had made this dish from scratch to take over to a neighbors as part of a large layout of food. I seem to remember that it was quickly consumed.

This time, however, I wanted to just grab a box and cook it up in what? Only twenty minutes! Wow! (Is that like a selling point)? I was also advised on the box that I would be enjoying '100% real shin-on potatoes'! (Was there a possibility that I was going to get a substitute)? Not sure. As to the term 'skin on'! Hey, Skin on or shin off, it's no skin off my bloated nose!

Looking at the directions, I also noticed another item in the 'preparation section' that slightly bothered me. They call for 2 and ¼ cup of boiling water. Why that measly fourth of a cup? Why not adjust the ingredients slightly to allow this to be a man-sized half a cup. Another mystery of life to which I am not privy. Anyway, this is a pretty simple deal to throw together. Once it gets into a preheated oven, the timer gets sets for the twenty minutes or until done. Whichever comes first.

Even though this box cost me $1.75, and so, was quite a bit more expensive than the generic options sitting nearby. I still elected to grab for Betty, as I have become very aware that you get exactly what you pay for. Don't believe me? Then move over a couple of isles and try one of the Hormel 'Compleats' meals. That stuff costs just a buck and it's pure crap (in my modest opinion)!

As expected, this side came out and tasted near perfect! Be careful though as these taters pack a powerful calorie punch per miniscule serving! But, if you're careful you can have a nice meal like the one pictured above that comes in at 130 calories!

The Cold and Flu season is upon us!

As the year 2011 comes to a grinding close, I have begun to focus on the year ahead and what that means. What is means is the start of the cold and flu season for a lot of us! That thought occurred to me as I sat at my favorite watering hole and looked down the line of occupied bar stools. It was with a sense of growing unease that I realized most of the people there were sick! The one other guy I had thought was healthy, besides myself, had just started sneezing repeatedly. I watched him a moment and then quietly got up and moved down a few stools.

I'm pretty sure that no one there had the flu, mainly because I asked them. Each of them had the sniffles and sounded like they were congested, but all of them said no when asked about pulmonary distress. Still, colds all by themselves, can be nasty and miserable. They can also be very contagious and I wondered how many of the 'regulars' had caught this bug from each other? With that thought in mind, I quickly finished my beer and left.

As I am writing this post, the flu season has yet to have done very much damage. The Center for Disease Control or CDC shows little or no influenza activity in any of the fifty contiguous states as of December the 17th. Maybe this will be a year with little or no flu-related deaths. Time will tell. Right now, only the state of Louisiana has reported slightly elevated levels as the map above shows. Let's all hope it stays green this winter!

How long until the rhetoric coming from Iran turns to war for the US?

Let the sparing begin! Over the past few weeks exchanges between the US and Iran have ratcheted up in a series of proclamations from such officials as first, Vice President Mohamed Reza Ramitupme, and then, naval Admiral Habiboilbutt made statements as to their intent to close the Strait of Hormuz if American doesn't start towing the line. This was quickly followed by a rebuttal statement from the 5^th Fleet's Lt. Rebecca Rebarich who basically told the Iranian government that they could shove it.

Iranian media has ralso helped fan the flames by describing how Iran could move to close the strait, saying the country would use a combination of warships, submarines, speed boats, anti-ship cruise missiles, torpedoes, surface-to-sea missiles and drones to stop ships from sailing through the narrow waterway. Armadadickajad was said to be literally foaming at the mouth over the prospect of 'getting it on' with the 5^th Fleet; a force comprised of 20-plus warships, with about 1,000 people ashore and 15,000 afloat, consisting of a Carrier Battle Group, Amphibious Ready Group, combat aircraft, and other support units and ships.

The rhetoric form both sides is escalating and this author is wondering how soon war will break out and exactly what event or series of events will occur to make that happen. Check out this video from Fox News.

Disclaimer: This post by the author is solely representative of his opinions and as such may not necessarily be backed up by facts. In addition, the author has taken great liberties with the spelling of the Iranian officials names because, in point of fact, he could care less what they think!

Ohio, there's no need to frack now!

In spite of the so-called 'shale oil experts' like Phil Flynn of PFGBest, who are currently touting the feasibility of harvesting billions of gallons of oil and natural gas from states like Ohio through the use of a dangerous technique termed ‘fracking’. It is with thankfulness that the US GOVERNMENT has once again come to the rescue of an endangered economy.

It was just revealed that, for years now, the Administration has been dumping hundreds of millions of tax payer dollars into a small start up company known as ‘Solwindera’; an operation so secret that not even its location was known until recently.

Termed the ‘Solwindera Power Hat’, the company of the same name stated that this device (which is worn on the head) may solve the energy crisis. And, it will do so without having to resort to ‘dangerous and subversive oil exploration practices’ used by the greedy capitalist oil enterprises. Environmentalists everywhere were seen to be shouting with joy as news of this device broke! Gone also are the fears of 400,000 new jobs opening up across the country whose sole purpose would be to 'poison America's groundwater'.

According to a teaser poster (see picture above) put out by the company, the Solwindera is said to be able to catch energy from both the sun and the wind –AT THE SAME TIME! Heretofore unheard of in any one device, the Obama crowd is waving their hands and pointing at the Republicans. Developer and owner Danomanno Dingo remarked to one reporter that, ‘this will be a game changer both for America and my company!’ He went on to say that while the device's inner workings are proprietary, “that baby really cranks out the juice in a high wind!” When asked where all the energy went, DanOmanno hinted that it is transmitted to the ‘nation's energy grid’ via a special ‘Telsa Transmitting Antenna’ which is attached to the back of the hat.  He went on to say that once ‘hundreds of millions’ of these hats were in service, our energy crisis would be over! No response was returned when one reporter said it would make any man who wore one look like a prick.

No price  has been announced as of this post.

Merry Christmas from the Johnstons

Dear One and All!

Well, it's been a humdinger of a year for both of myself and Stella, I'll tell you that! Just getting my wife to pose for our Family Holiday picture proved to be a real challenge. She had been sipping eggnog the afternoon our neighbor came over to take this portrait, and as you can see here, she was a bit squirmy. Poor girl.

This year we had much to celebrate. Hoo Wee! Even though I was laid off from the job in August I've kept myself busy working at home. Stella really seemed to enjoy having me at the house 24/7 and gosh darn it, I was afraid I'd get in her hair! I guess those drugs she takes have helped out a lot also.

Seems our boy, Harold, manged to get himself arrested on a morals charge shortly before December and so was unable to come for our traditional Christmas dinner. Word is, he will be getting out sometime in March. We just love that boy to death, I'll tell you.

Great news came in the mail just last week. My Aunt Hedi is planning to move into Harold's old room as she has fallen on hard times due to the collapse of her business selling oven mittens on Ebay. Darn the luck. And, even though Stella has had a hard time getting along with her in the past, I'm sure the close living arrangement will change all that. (I just have to laugh, though, when I recall the way she snores at night)! Hope Stella is a sound sleeper.

Ho Boy! And are we both ever looking forward to the coming year. Stella, who is a devout Republican just barely tolerates the fact that I support President Obama to the extent we have a portrait of him over the mantle. He has been the cause of a lot of 'lively debates' so far and I expect that will continue through 2012. Ha ha!

Gosh, will you look at me. I've been rambling right along, haven't I. We hope everyone out there has a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Thanks to whoever sent us these swell Christmas sweaters. Stella just loves hers and we both plan to wear them on those extra cold days this winter.

By for now and love you all,

Conrad and Stella Johnston

Media manipulation at its best!

With decreasing frequency, I still very occasionally watch one of the 'news' programs like Fox. And it's been with particular angst that, on some broadcasts, the talking heads have made remarks concerning the leadership board for the Republican Party.

Most recently, a lady whose name I've thankfully forgotten, was remarking on how well Ron Paul was expected to do versus the likes of fellow candidates Newt Gringrich and Mitt Romney. She blathered on an on about how even thought that Ron might sweep in and win that caucus and become a front runner would make the Democratic Party 'jump for joy'.

Please! I'm wondering how this same 'news journalist' will spin her poison when Ron is still doing well come February? In a similar fashion, MSNBC is almost 'creaming in their jeans' over the idea that someone like Ron Paul could ascend to become the choice of the GOP. A man destined to go against President Obama in November. In their eyes what a slaughter that would be! (Oh yeah, as if having four more years for a modern-day Pariah to lead us futher down the road to oblivion would be a good thing)...

Well sorry, I beg to differ! I propose that Ron Paul is exactly what we need right now. (He is a doctor after all, and this country is definitely not feeling very well). In addition, he is both a Centralist and a Libertarian; a position to which both more moderate Democrats and Republicans are increasingly beginning to flock.