Cannonball, ND -- 2021

 

Most folks remember Cannonball, ND as the site of those messy, violent DAPL "protest" camps.  I'm sure I told you that most of the anarchists were out-of-state folks.  That's proven by the fact that the Tribal Chairman during the riots, Archambault, was voted out of office by nearly 2 to 1.  They have voter ID (;>)  and his tribal members resoundingly voted for another candidate.

Anyway, during the tumult, Jane Fonda flew in and left the same day, Jesse Jackson flew in - got a fire started on that bridge - and then left.  A lot of the "protestors"actually spent another couple months there.  But - here's what Cannonball's annual powwow looks like now.  Lots of little kids with their regalia, holding hands with their parents or staying very close to their grandparents or a big sister.  Look at that little girl at   7:18 through 7:35.  I've never seen a sweeter face.  Her hair was freshly washed and braided beautifully.

Look at that soldier right after the 1 minute mark.  I don't know military garb, so don't know his branch of service - but "Hanoi Jane" is not highly regarded by any of them.  What a fierce, alert countenance.   

Grand Entrance Cannonball, ND 2021 Pow wow

Grand Entrance Cannonball, ND 2021 Pow wow

Toward the end of the video you'll see that the powwow grounds are completely circled in big, beautiful American flags.  

That's Cannonball now.  That was Cannonball before Jane's plane.

Recipe: Rice -- July 25, 2021

 How to cook rice in Turkey: link here.

 Recipe from a reader of the blog:

A long-time friend, native New Mexican, taught me her cooking method.  It resembles what you saw him do.

Serves 4 as a side dish

Heavy saucepan with a tight lid

Medium heat

Melt butter with oil.  Total ~ 2 tablespoons  (I'm lavish with the butter)

Pour 1 1/2 Cups of rice into pan.  Stir it until its the color of my hair (:>)... dishwater blonde.

Remove the pan from the burner, dump in 3 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of Knoor's chicken boullion powder.  Stir and cover immediately.

Place back on low heat and steam for 18 minutes.  No peeking.

.........

That's for long grain white rice.  Any other rice will use less water.  If you aren't looking for a savory rice, then use salt instead of the Knoor's.  And, you'll use less salt... maybe 1 teaspoon.

This is what works in an arid climate at 1 mile elevation.  If you're faced with watery rice after cooking, just stir it and let it set.  If it's too dry, add a little more water next time.  A lot depends on the variety of rice and how old it is.  I tend to like my rice a little more dense - other folks prefer fluffy.

.........

Parching the rice seems to make a big difference.  It looks like he gets less color on his - and you can experiement.

.........

I use the Knorr's boullion powder in lots of other dishes.  It lasts forever.  So, when I make red chile for enchiladas, it's Knorr's instead of salt.  If I'm cooking frozen vegetables, ditto.  

.........

My Iranian friend taught me how to make saffron rice.  It has a glorious golden crust and you can unmold the whole kettle.  It's delicious and a show stopper.  You need a specific type of rice cooker for it.  The crust is called tadig.

 

Sukuk -- July 13, 2021

 

Rereading "sukuk" definition - the M's are allergic to being paid interest - so you're right about that not looking like a bond.... But, it may be a distinction without a difference.

For instance, Treasury Bills do not pay interest - they produce yield.

If you buy a $10,000 TBill at 98.25, you'd pay $9,825.  Then, as long as you hold the Bill to maturity, you get paid $10,000.  The difference, $1,075, is commonly (but erroneously) referred to as interest.  Of course, those yields are a thing of the past.  So - I don't know how the sukuk compensates for the time value of money.  Again, with the middle man, it's easy to imagine some contrived liquidation and repurchase of the position - producing something that functioned as interest, but wasn't called interest.  

I did a number of shopping center financings with an Egyptian Muslim fellow - Houstonian.  He came over here for college, married a Yank and they've lived happily and prosperously ever after.  His original gig was with an oil company, but he decided to get into real estate and has excelled in that.  Anyway, if I ever run across him again , he'd gladly explain the whole deal to me.  There may be a couple more folks that I could tap,...

He and his wife supported one of the most interesting charitable endeavors I've ever heard of.  That'd be a good excuse to see if I could get ahold of him...hmmm...

Dun Horses -- July 13, 2021

 

Ah, yes.  The dun rabbithole.  Hang on to your hat, sir.  Keep your hands and feet inside the conveyance.

Thanks for your confidence.  Your paycheck's safe.  (:>)

Very little difference between a dun and a buckskin - at least to the casual observer.  

The easy way to remember is that a dun has a dorsal stripe.  "D" for dun and dorsal.

https://cowgirlmagazine.com/buckskin-dun/

I've never really cared for dun horses - I've always imagined them to look a little coarse.  Not just the colorway, but a lot of times their body is too short. (Shoulder to butt - I like to see a little more stretch)  They're built a little more like a zebra than a racehorse.  They have a reputation as a sturdy horse -capable of handling themselves - less likely to damage their feet and legs - but, they're just not my deal.

A purebred Arabian can never be dun - no dorsal stripe.

Nor can a purebred Thoroughbred have a dorsal stripe.

http://www.whitehorseproductions.com/creamdilutiontbs.html

........

Quarter Horses can be registered with a true dun = dorsal stripe.

.............

In the movie "Dances with Wolves" Costner rides a dun or buckskin - can't remember which.  But, that's a huge error in any event.  That horse was (fake) branded with  "US" on his shoulder to make it look like Costner had kept on riding his Arny horse.  Impossible.  The cavalry horses were one of two colors 1. Sorrel (red) or 2,  Bay (brown).  The Army only mounted their troops on geldings on one of those two colors.  If they were using horses to pull a load (cannon or casket), they would buy a gray gelding, but if it wasn't a horse in a harness it was either sorrel or bay. 

So, right away, I knew that the movie was just as Hollywood as most westerns are - so aggravating.

And, don't get me started on the horses in "Man from Snowy River"

...............

Most folks equate "dun" with that yellowy-beige body color.  However, what distinguishes dun is that dorsal stripe.  There are some less common dun colors - much less common than that yellow dun:

There are red dun horses that almost look sorrel - and their stripe isn't black, so it's easily missed on a saddled horse (e.g.parade, rodeo).  I've actually seen a couple red dun horses that I liked - and a couple dark blue duns that I liked, but I've never liked one of the yellow dun horses - and I've seen a bunch of them

There are blue dun horses that are actually sort of a bluish gray color - their dorsal stripe is black

There are claybank duns - dorsal stripe is dark, but their mane and tail are nearly white

One of my Iowa cousins raised grullas.  They're really a dun horse with a coat the color of used dishwater.  (You can tell I don't like duns - ha!)  He had a beautiful farm and could have picked anything to putter with - but that color was rather unusual, so he got into it.  Really a nice guy.  They have visited me several times.  

https://horseracingsense.com/dun-horses-colors-markings/

All About Dun Horses: Colors, Markings and More

All About Dun Horses: Colors, Markings and More Dun horses have a dilution gene that causes their base coat to lighten, but doesn't affect the color of its poin...

That baby pictured above is a red dun.  That fringy "Mohawk" mane is common in colts - it'll grow into something long and shiny, and drape down like it should.  Babies look like they're growing out a bad barbershop crewcut.

........................

And, we've returned to our station.  Please check your seat and surrounding area for any personal belongings.  Thanks for visiting "Rabbit Hole Express".

................

Good grief - corporate trust and dorsal stripes.  But, you haven't kicked me off the island, yet (;>)

L.

Chart Of The Day -- Covid-19 Vaccinations -- July 12, 2021

Johnson & Johnson's vaccine has more trouble...that's not particularly surprising.  What's slightly more interesting is that the FDA is actually going to have to issue a mea culpa.  

But, here's what I found incredible - look at that chart of US vaccine ordered vs. administered.  First time I've seen this.  Warning - Blonde math ensues - Warning:

Top two slots - there's been 320 million doses administered.....

but 1.3 Billion ordered....(;>)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9781291/FDA-announce-new-warning-J-J-vaccine-reports-link-rare-autoimmune-disease.html

.......................

Now, we see why Biden wants door-to-door persuasion.

I may have to have this laminated to carry with me.  The front side will be this chart.  The reverse will say "Follow the money"

Accordion Music -- July 11, 2021

If one wants to follow along, start here. 

Don't ask how this all got started. I made this observation when replying to a reader:

Over the last six months, I've noted that one can tell various accordion "dialects." I first noted it when I heard a Scottish accordion player....others:

• German polkas
• Italian
• Greek/Hebrew
• Tex-Mex (German-Spanish)
• Dakota (Welk, Floren - but I assume theirs would be grouped with Germans)
  

And I'm sure there are a lot more examples.

The reader replied:

A huge subset of what is known as Tex-Mex is actually "Czech-Mex." Until the Czechs arrived with accordions, Tex-Mex would have just had guitars, violins and brass [for a big group].  So, the sound went south from Texas.

My favorite polka was known as the Jesse Polka.  It wasn't commonly played in ND.  You'd most likely hear the Beerbarrel Polka, or the Clarinet Polka.  It's a tougher song to play.    

Jesse Polka

Jesse Polka

Imagine my surprise to come to NM and hear it done by the conjunto groups - turns out it was written by a Mexican - 

And it was Pancho Villa's favorite polka, too!!! - So, that sound obviously spread north

Jesusita en Chihuahua

Jesusita en Chihuahua "Jesusita en Chihuahua" came to be known by some as the "J.C. Polka" for short, and over time this developed int...

Jesusita en Chihuahua

Jesusita en Chihuahua

It's a challenging piece, so musicians use it as sort of a rite of passage - here's an incredible guitar version

09 Steve Kaufman - The Jesse Polka

09 Steve Kaufman - The Jesse Polka

Here's something that looks like a family band.  Maybe Mennonite?

Well, it turns out Dad's a pharmacist in eastern Washington state.  8 or 10 kids and Mom stays home.  

Jesse Polka

Jesse Polka

If you're ever at a bar/restaurant and the mariachi group strolls around taking requests - ask for this - with a smile.  You'll get instant "props" - most gringos ask for something like Cielito Lindo.

TFBN

L.

Conjunto San Antonio Jambalaya YouTube

CLR’s Anna Wells — Update Coming Soon But Taking A Nap First — July 6, 2021

The Fourth Of July -- 2021 -- From A Reader

The following is a piece of a much longer note from a reader. This excerpt is almost poetic. A prose poem. 

As I shopped for groceries for the 4th, I marveled at how well stocked my Smith's store is (Kroger owned). 

We live in a land of boundless plenty. 

Probably the biggest hit of our meal was Jalapeno cornbread.  I preheat a twelve0inch iron skillet, add half a stick of butter and it instantly browns.  Quickly shove in the batter and the dark grease bubbles up over the top of the cornbread.  Then it gets finished in an oven.  I serve it in wedges and leave it in the fry pan.  The crust is unbelievably crisp and the batter has a small can of cream corn in it, so there's moist surprises. 

Anyway, since I have refrigerated air, it doesn't bother me to bake bread in the middle of the summer.  If it hadn't been 95 degrees in the shade, I could do the same thing with a covered Dutch oven on my grill - but, a hot cook is a cranky cook - ha!

It's funny because I've reconciled myself to committing a menu "No-No."  

When I do brisket, I always make Jalapeno cornbread and Green Chile cheese grits.  

I shouldn't serve corn twice - but we don't want to give up either dish.  

Buns aren't as good with smoked meat as that cornbread (and I make Blue Ribbon Dunn county buns).  And I've tried baked beans, mac&cheese, tater salad etc. - all fine - and all can appear as side dishes, but nobody wants to skip those grits.  

I never make them unless I'm going to smoke meat - I never have plain grits, but oh baby, do those grits taste good.  A friend of mine has a fastidious millennial daughter-in-law.  When Laura told her the menu, she said her DIL moaned at the mention of those grits.  So - there's coleslaw and fruit and other fresh things available - but the moist beef, crisp cornbread and cheesy grits are prominent on everybody's "must have."  We just need to haul some hay bales or dig a few post holes to justify eating that food - ha!

Anyway, there were several comments made about how good that hot cornbread is.  I couldn't resist giving credit to the Bakken (;>).  

Huge American fridge and freezer, a pickup to haul groceries home, an A/C that never skips a beat, any liquor that anyone wants to drink whether they're outside in plain sight or in the privacy of my home, limitless ice, etc. etc. etc.   

I could not have said it better.