Sunday, August 31, 2008

Running the Kraut Gauntlet

In case you were wondering, I'm still alive and feel fine except for a mild sore throat I got from Oscar...or he got from me. Eating the rotting cabbage seems to have had no ill effects on me.

As for the sauerkraut-making specifics, I used a plastic tupperware bowl. I mixed two teaspoons of salt with each pound of shredded cabbage and let it sit for a few hours. The salt drew a surprising amount of water out of the cabbage. Then, just to be safe I mixed two teaspoons of salt into a half cup of water and poured it over the cabbage to make sure it was completely submerged under brine. I added more salt just for good measure. Then I took a small plate and pressed the cabbage down to keep it submerged and to keep as much oxygen out of it as possible (the plate almost touches the sides of the tupperware, forming a kind of seal), and then sealed the plastic lid.

The stuff I found about how to make cabbage says I need to have a loosely fitting top, rather than a completely sealed top for some reason, probably to allow fermentation gasses to escape.

One guy I read about (who provided a video) simply used a five gallon bucket, a whole buttload of cabbage and a plate on top of the cabbage and salt to lightly seal it off and hold it below the brine. Others used mason jars with the flat lids sitting on the top.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Sauerkraut

Okay. I ate a forkful of the sauerkraut. Not bad. I'll let ya know if I'm sick tomorrow.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Time to Stand Behind Obama

Well. The Democratic National Convention is currently under way, which means It's On. The quadrennial American revolution is in full force, and it's time to stand behind our Guy. There are a whole lot of people out there who, for whatever reason, want our country to look like 19th century London with laissez faire capitalism and the superstition of theocracy in full force, with money pooling up in a few families, building the dynasties America wanted to banish from rule. These folks have the notion that the free market is a panacea, the cure all for every problem, when it's more of an organic system leading to efficiency rather than a specific preferred goal. These folks are going to throw their full, short sighted support behind John McCain. Until the dust settles, those of us who want Barack Obama to be our president need to push back in the opposite direction and throw our full support behind him.

For those Greens out there who think the Democratic party doesn't uphold your values, and think both parties are the same, it's your own damn fault. You've abandoned us. You've withdrawn your imput rather than help us to guide the Democrat's direction. So screw you few assholes if you're not going to come along.

Most of us are in it to change things, and form a party and country to our will. From now until after the election, Obama can do no wrong for those of us who want him to win.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

For God's Sake, Don't Just Stand There! PUNCH HIM!!!!

Obama...

...Obama...

Look. I recognize and appreciate your attempt to make a civil bid for the White House. But let's be clear about something...from a historical standpoint where poisoned food and daggers to the back have been the norm for people trying to seize power, slanderous Television Ads ARE civil.

You're vying for one of the most POWERFUL OFFICES in the HISTORY of the WORLD. This is no time for civility. This needs to be a savage, all out, ball cracking fight. And if that doesn't get you out on the dance floor, think of Poor Eric over here who has to wait four years for a good presidential slug fest, and right now all I"m getting is a punching bag.

For GOD'S SAKE...DO something. Get out there and HIT McCAIN, that doddering, crazy, angry old man, in the sack! George Bush's campaign humiliated his whole family on the National stage and he goes crawling back to him like a beaten housefrau. There's PLENTY to attack on this guy. Just HIT HIM! HIT HIM HARD and don't let him get back up. Start NOW.