The Christmas Letter 2012 (As Edited By Family)

Soooo... for those of you who do not appear on my wife's Christmas Card List (this is normally because we don't get a card for you but otherwise is through my omission) we present the edited Christmas card for 2012.  The unedited version was destroyed by progressives who are turning our country into a socialist state.

Well, it has been a good year to be a Becker.  Let’s do it in reverse order.  Mike and Sandy who are enjoying their time as “empty nesters” took Lily and Lola and entered them in the Westchester Kennel Club show.  The dogs did fabulously, with Lily biting several other dogs and Lola, who never stopped her sobbing whine, was given a Blue Ribbon just for leaving.  It was an awesome experience for the dogs and we have high hopes for next year.

Laura is in the midst of her 2nd year at Valparaiso, in what she hopes to be a 4-7 year plan.  She has majored (in no particular order) in Communications, Room Mate Abnormal Psych, Education, Communications, Bread Company Consumption and Business... and Communications... again.  She is currently Facebook official with a nice young man named Jon.  She worked up at Camp Arcadia this summer and worked in the Kitchen and as a server with remarkably little drama.  We are most proud.

Pat GRADUATED! from Truman with a degree in Psych.  It was approximately 117 in Kirksville on the day of the graduation.  The graduation speaker had expertise in human trafficking.  It was a hoot.  After making us very proud Pat decided to think really hard and upset his parents in ways we had not yet imagined and he has proceeded to Lawrence, Kansas to get his masters In Social Work.  A Jayhawk!  Imagine our family shame. He and Kyle have been together for going on 4 years.  Sadly, they both love Lawrence, Kansas.  Maybe it is the liberal politics of Kansas, who knows? Rock Chalk?  You never think it will happen in your family.

JON AND LYDIA GOT MARRIED!  Jon did the nicest thing he could have done for his parents by marrying the beautiful Lydia Schaftenaar and making her Lydia Becker. The setting (Camp Arcadia’s Chapel on the Beach), ceremony,  day and the weekend were all perfect and it was a storybook wedding that even I cannot be cynical or snarky about.  We  are so grateful for the many family and friends who traveled a long way to celebrate with us. Jon and Lydia purchased a house in Shrewsbury and are raising our grandcat, Henry David Thoreau ,and granddog, Schafly.  Henry is evil. Schafly is adorable. The Schaftenaars have graciously allowed us their daughter’s continued presence here and we are hoping they will be frequent visitors.  We couldn’t feel luckier that God brought our families together.

Sadly the first paragraph was a lie and Sandy and I continue in our jobs.  My life has been really tied up in a call committee for a new Pastor at our church (going on two years and people are starting to think that I am the problem) and Sandy really just works a lot during a big chunk of the year.  But is was a great year for us. Perhaps the best ever and as I said at the beginning, a good year to be a Becker. Tragedies touched several families we love this year humbling us and making us ever more grateful for the friends and family who never fail to be there for us and share our sorrows and our joys, but this year a lot more joys.  We go into 2013 feeling blessed with all of you by our sides.

Wishing you a blessed Christmas and 2013!

The Becker family,
Mike, Sandy, Jon,Lydia, Pat and Laura

Any Limits On 2nd Amendment? Not Today

Soooo.... Guns.  Sandyhook, Aurora, Portland, Milwaukee, Jackson.  According to the Nation 88  people died in mass shootings but I cannot tell you how they define that.  http://www.thenation.com/blog/171774/fifteen-us-mass-shootings-happened-2012-84-dead#
But so what?  300 million guns in arguably the safest country in the world. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_gun_owners_are_there_in_the_United_States_of_America
Were number one!  Once again we are exceptional Americans.  Exceptionally frightened Americans.  I have no answers and no pearls of wisdom.  We cannot put 300 million guns back in the bottle.  We cannot take back the assault weapons (whatever that means) that have already been sold.  We cannot reinstate the mental health funding which is the first thing cut at every budget impasse.  We cannot remove with the stroke of a pen the violence in videos, movies , games and TV that Hollywood enshrines.

But we should think about it.  And we should be ashamed.  Not just for Newtown but for the people killing each other in Chicago without headline or national comment.  I don’t promote any answers but the one thing that has to be clear is that removing funding for mental illness along with dramatically increasing the availability and number of guns makes things like Newtown a natural result.  We reap what we sew.  The chickens do indeed come home to roost.

So, think about it.  Think about the 2nd Amendment that called for well regulated militia. And what had become of it with high powered weapons available for every household.  Are there ANY limits to the 2nd Amendment as currently interpreted?  If so, what are they?

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.-2nd Amendment of The United States Constitution

Under our current interpretation of this language, what would it not allow? Below is my idea for a movie, or more likely a Saturday night live skit.  I did it on December 3rd, well in advance of Newtown.  It could be funny... and really, really sad.  

***
Mohammed, Aarif, Abdul and Hamdan are in Tehran working on the Iraqi nuclear bomb project.  They are constantly beset by poor working conditions, unreasonable Mullah’s, and UN Nuclear Inspectors.  They cannot get work done.  They cannot build the bomb for Islam.  They are denied the working materials they need and have constant saboteurs (Israeli and American provocateurs) who are constantly undermining their work.  It is a disaster where they have to work each day and the dream of better labs and equipment and materials.

They have a conversation about where they could go to make the bomb for the Jihad.  They consider Afghanistan and immediately disregard it after disparaging comments regarding camels and thieves.  They consider briefly North Korea and then they make disparaging comments about the food and the little dictator that runs the place.  

They go home and in their cramped apartment are watching Al Jazeera’s coverage of the American Election and see the NRA shouting about the second amendment and the right to bear arms...they see southern Senators talking about standing their ground and every man’s right to defend themselves.  Then they see the Republicans on the floor of the house decrying bans on automatic weapon sales and speaking about it being a violation of rights for Americans not to have their own mortars and tanks and bombs.  An idea is borne.

They move to America and with funding from their government open a new nuclear research program at Millsaps or some other small piece of shit southern college.  They start to build their bomb and they defend it against all objectors as they build the bomb.  When people express concern Wayne La Pierre of the NRA goes on meet the press and suggests that every American ought to have access to nuclear technology.  Boeing announces a partnership with Colt to start research to introduce tactical nukes to “defend” your home.  They are defended as they make their bomb and they and others, state that every American should be entitled to have a nuclear bomb.  Why shouldn’t an American citizen be entitled to a nuclear bomb?  It is right there in the Constitution!  During a press interview Hamdan gets carried away shouting “Alluah Akbar” and then catching himself in the dead silence that ensues screams “I mean DON’T TREAD ON ME” to raucous applause.  Fade out to a mushroom cloud over Birmingham.

I don’t know how it ends.  It might be funny.

***

Think about how you should react to gun violence. With fear?  As a Christian... I ask you to find something in the New Testament or something in what Christ said that justifies shooting another human being... Show me where Jesus tells us to “stand our ground”. There are no easy answers or quick fixes but thoughtful Americans should be thinking about these questions.

Best Becker Music 2012

I cannot necessarily vouch for the excellence of this list. I really loved the top three. The fact is that there is so much music available now that finding a meaningful filter to pick the good stuff is hard. But, here it is and to the extent meaningful, my favorite CD is a local band it rocks rather than twangs. Enjoy or don't. Peace.
1. Sleepy Kitty: Infinity City. new, bold, outstanding, St. Louis.  Great vocals, crunchy guitars, Lou Fest, Cherokee Street, graphic art and prints, clever lyrics, break up songs, life lessons, cover of “She Was Just 17”, St. Louis references, smart, pretty, funky, I like it, looping and tricks, but solid tricks, I listened at least 50 times to every song, Dykula, buy it, NOW! What is next?

2. Mountain Goats: Transcendental Youth.  Cry for Judas, deep introspective, three minute songs, John Darnielle, Smart, sad, dark, joyous, raucous, Harlem Shuffle, some guys are just too talented and tortured, an album like a live Twitter feed... that doesn’t make it right.  “Do every stupid thing that makes you feel alive.”, I love this music, will buy everything he makes. Tortured, brilliant, sad, tortured, brilliant.

3. Elizabth Cook: Gospel Plow. EP, just as advertised, some Gospel Music, for Christians. or not, listen, cry, br grateful, but don’t mock it, beautiful voice, her husband Tim Carrolls sweet alt guitar, picking her spots and he references and her Gospel, but smile, daughter of lounge singers, she might have a place for Jesus, or not, but you must listen. This is shit that will just make you smile and if your lucky...think and maybe think about God.

4. Counting Crows: Underwater Sunshine.  Adam Durvitz, August and nothing too much thereafter, epic voice, our generations Sinatra, inturpreting other peoples work, brilliant selections, Madonna, Gram Parsons, The Faces, Bob Dylan.  Brilliant and charming and touching and... to quote “Ooh Lah Lah”, “I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger.” Buy this just to smile, feel a little much needed joy. He can sing and they play so tight.

5. Joe Pug:  The Great Despiser. Religious, but not, seems like he keeps making the same album, but a great album each time, writes like Dylan, mewls like Dylan, does not need my approvel, searching and making me search, asking questions observations with hooks, interested to see if he breaks out of this mold but this might be enough.  Become a fan.

6. Steve Earle: I’ll Never Get Out Of Here Alive. Buy him, just out of respect, heroin addict, recovered, brilliant, political, SIRIUS DJ, New York, Nashville, there and back again, over and over again, plays with the best sideman or at least the coolest, thinks about every word and so should you.

7. Neil Young and Crazy Horse: Psychodelic Pill.  The man, the myth, the legend, with the Horse, raucous again, best since “Ragged Glory”, tapping on 70’s door and can still kick that door down, seems unafraid, familiar territory that rocks, 7 minute songs that do not seem 7 minutes, don’t sppok the horse and you don’t need to be high to rock... but it might help.

8. James Iha: Look To The Sky. Smart Pop, unexpected, Smashing Pumpkins Guitarist, disappeared, etheral, Fountains of Wayne like, the good stuff though, lacking crunchy guitars, painfully tuneful

9. Tame Impala: Lonerism.  Beatleseque, Australian, compter effects noodler, Radiohead, pretty, sometimes raucous, often pleasant, (hate that), sometimes relentlessly pleasant, (intriguing), ultimately I don’t know but...

10. Rhett Miller: The Dreamer.  Old 97s, pretty boy, whips is hair, covered great american songs last year, solo stuff all tend to sound the same, this good, slightly over produced, but he can write, worth it for the line “You were not like the rest, till you left.” from the song “Lost Without You”.  That kind of brilliance deserves to be bought and treasured.  I’m just saying ya’ll.

Everyone Loved Them:
Japandroids
Shins
Fiona Apple
Dirty Projectors
Mumford... again
Lumineers
Beach House
Alabama Shakes

Whiskey In The WInter Review

Sooooo.... I have friends.  Not many friends and not good friends but friends never the less.  These friends are sometimes very nice people.  Sometimes they like to drink... perhaps that is why they are my friends...who knows.  The main thing is that I sometimes like to do things with friends.  So a couple of months ago I am reading that fabulously shabby and only occasionally marginally useful Riverfront Times.  But I read it all the time.  I read it every week.  There are sometimes good reviews and it is a nice place to get concert listings but mainly it is a place to look at adds and see if there are no restaurants opening or advertising that you have not heard of.  Sometimes their are events being publicised and thus it was that i saw an add for “Whiskey In The Winter”.

It led me to the website http://www.whiskeyinthewinter.com/

I forwarded it to my wife expecting her to shoot it down and instead it was met with hearty approval.  I forwarded to my friend and he immediately was in with his lovely wife as well.  So tickets were purchased and on December 1, 2012 we were picked up by our friends and headed to down to The Hyatt (the Old Adams Mark Downtown.

Surprisingly the even was sold out.  There were people all over the place and it was an eclectic mix of folks from middle aged men with their girlfriends and second wives to old couples (like us) to a lot of pretty single people, and some people who are just serious bourbon drinkers.  You walk into the main ballroom on the 2nd or 3rd floor (whatever) and you just see tables set out in rows and at each one is a different distiller or producer and each one has 3,4 or 5 different products which you can sample.  Some serve a swallow, some pour a slug and they will give you as much or as little ice as you require.

So we went to the first table and started.  And then we went to another and sampled, just a little.  Then we went out to the buffet which was ample and somewhat opulent with gumbo, carved meat and potatoes and various sides and a lot a choice to drink some girly fruity bourbon drinks in case you have brought someone with a less serious addiction than you might have.  It was a nice spread and there were a few tables to sit down at if you waited and poached.  They did have some bag pipers which people love... and I hate.

Then we went back.  I could wax poetic about all the bourbons but when you have a few the tatses go pretty numb pretty quick.  There was scotch too (though not as much) and some locally distilled spirits as well (Four Square) but more than anything else there was bourbon.  Rows and rows of bourbon.  Kentucky sour mash and rye and canadian and small batch and big producer.  I got to taste several that I had never heard of and my big discovery of the night was Willet out of Bardstown.

We had a designated driver but we had over served ourselves.  Next year we stay at the hotel and we hope to see you there.

Concert Review: James Mc Murtry @ The Duck Room

Sooooo I went to see James Mc Murtry at he Duck Room last week. It was a school night but I love this guy. I believe him to be the greatest living and performing American singer/songwriter. I could be wrong, I have been before but I kind of doubt it. I mean Dylan is alive and performing and without question has a more comprehensive body of work but for at least the last yen years and perhaps the last 20 the shows have more often then not been incomprehensible and sucked more than a little. Mc Murtry is of course the son of American treasure Larry Mc Murtry (noted book collector and sometimes author, wrote"Lonesome Dove" and what not).  Mc Murtry has only been recording since 1987 or so.   His first CD was produced by John Cougar Mellencamp and had a lot of his band but it was sparsely produced and brilliant...but I digress.  

Unlike Dylan Mc Murtry is still putting out quality new material and performing tight shows.  He plays every Wednesday at midnight at the Continental Club in Austin when he is not on the road and what that means is that he is always honing his chops. Always performing, always working. He has had a resurgence over the last couple of years.  Outlaw Country on SIRIUS keeps him in solid rotation (her should have his own show' in fact they should broadcast him live from the Continental Club every Wednesday night) and "Choctaw Bingo" which he claims celebrates "the north Texas Sutheast Oklahoma methamphetamine industry" is really just a celebration of a fucked up white trash family reunion at their whacked out old uncle Slaben's place. But folks love it and it is a great sing along meh also recorded a song called "We can't make it here anymore" which has become an anthem of sorters for  the problems and opportunities in our post neo con enconomy.  It is biting, and sad and true. More overlooked are his brilliant ballads "Carlos and Rita"  and "Lights of Cheyenne". He is a BRILLIANT writer.   He has an authentic voice and never forget, he plays guitar like a rock star.  

So I went to see him.  I thought it was. A early show with opener at 8 and Mc Murtry at 9:00 but as is well documented, I am, of course, an idiot.  I showed up at 8:15 figuring I would miss part of the opener, a band called “The Five And Dimers”.  I was going to go with my wife because it was an early show but than another friend wanted to go and then it got late and so my wife decided not to go and then the friend decided not to go, which left me going by myself which suited me... just fine.  So I got there and of course had not bought a ticket and of course it was sold out.  I had not anticipated that so many people in St. Louis shared my excellent taste.  The Duck room has capacity of 350 so perhaps it was not that remarkable and was just bad planning because as stated immediately above and reaffirmed here, I am an idiot.  I stood around and there were several people waiting for tickets but I persevered.  Ultimately another person who like me (when I buy tickets0 bought more than he needed and I paid face value and got into the show.  

Unfortunately the show was not the show yet.  Doors were at 8, opener at 9, Mc Murtry at 10.  Ooops.  Did I mention it was a school night.  I got my spot centered on the stage, about 10 feet back.  They had set up tables in front which seemed a little stupid but... BEATLE Bob was there!  I had just had a discussion the week before about whether or not he was dead but apparently not.  the Five and Dimers came on prompltly as i sucked down a Stag and was trying to be removed but the band sounded really good.  It was a little Byrdsy, Burrito Brothers sounds with a nice violin and understated banjo and a decent singer guitarist.  They were really surprisingly good and I will need to devote a little time to their catalogue.  Tey got done at the crack of 9:50 and then we waited about 25 minutes for Mc Murtry and company to set up.

He came on at 10:15 and and he was accompanied by Darren Hess and Ronnie Johnson which is really all the band he ever needs.  He was playing loud using both of his electrics as he tore into “Turtle Bayou” and “Hurricane Season” and got the crowd going.  Really going.  A packed house swaying clapping and yelping and Mc Murtry playing a little bit to the crowd and a lot for himself. He has been doing this for so long and these guys are so tight together and it is nice to see someone at the height of his game.  He might be tired.  he might even be bored but you get the feeling he plays every night with fear and arrogance.  He respects his aurdience as much as they respect him and this Duck Room crowd was a little chatty once you got twenty feet from the stage.  I never understand why people come to a show like that and talk all the way through it but...shit happens.

He brought the house down with “Choctaw Bingo” and then sent the boys off and did some solo numbers where he showcased a little sweet acoustic guitar.  The band came back, the crowd amped uop and beatle Bob danced and danced with every drunken girl at the front of the stage.  Everything the guy does is so nuanced, whether it is the way he plays, sings or stares at the crowd.  He turned 50 last march and he has some hard miles put on that face and maybe on his soul as well but there is something there that sees and can channel a portion of America that lies just out of your headlights or just around the corner but there, and real and haunting and sometimes even joyful,  It was a serious performance and even after seeing him 10 times he is a wonder to watch. Don’t miss him the next time he comes to town.  And remember to buy a ticket prior to the show.

If you want to find out more or listen NPR covers him pretty well

http://www.npr.org/templates/search/index.php?&sort=match&searchinput=mcmurtry

This is the day....

Sooooo... the election is over. Democrats are still talking like idiots about a mandate they don’t have in a divided country. Some Republicans are soul searching like Austin Powers looking for his mojo but many have made up their minds that the “takers” won and that it is all about Republicans (makers) and Democrats (takers). The facts unfortunately do not bear this out as the solid Republican South (minus the great nation of Texas) represent the biggest block of “takers” from the Federal Government. This election, surprisingly was not “about the economy stupid”. If it was in our weak recovery, likely soon to slide back into recession, would have tanked Obama and the Democrats. This election was about tolderance. Tolerance of immigrants (illegals too), tolerance of gays (we dont know that we need same sex marriage but we do not believe in a homosexual agenda to undermine our values) and an ackowledgment that for most of us, even if we believe life begins at conception, that abortion is a very difficult, heartbreaking, soul wrenching problem which does not lend itself to simple answers in a broken world. Economically our country might be swirling in the toilet (although I don’t think that is a foregone conclusion) but this time, tolerance won. Individual rights won. Arguably America won because it stepped back from demonization of those we dont agree with and sent a message...a “mandate” to our leaders to get their shit together and walk us back from the precipice. If it can be done.

Right now they are again failing us miserably. Obama has doubled down on increased taxes for those who make over 250k. Although this makes sense to me I think we all forget that we still live in aprogressive tax system. We will not tax everything they make at that higher rate, just the amounts they are making over 250k. Republicans demand entitlement cuts but there is no one who believes we can cut our way out of this defecit. The main thing they cannot do is give ANY ground. The main thing we need out of Washington is certainty. If we are going to be taxed more, TELL US! If we are going to not get social security till we are 70...TELL US! It will all suck but at least we can plan for it and try and do our best. But they won’t. They will not do it becaus we have a broken political class that we have made scred of their own shadows. These margianalized people who we have elected do not have the courage of their convictions and the ones that do are frankly so crazy on the right or the left that I wish they did not.. So what is going to happen is another round of can kicking. Debt cieling raised. Sequester delayed, each side getting a bone of compromise out of the other with a promise to do something way out in the future and we will remain uncertain and continue to have to find our way in the darkness.

Which we can do. If we have the courage of our convictions. If we work hard. We can take care of our families and ourselves. Meet our needs. Take care of those who God throws into our poath who need our care, worship as we please and speak as we please and be blessed even as these idiots drive the ship into the rocks. I decry the Republican visage of “the exceptional American”. I decry it, not because I don’t believe it in my arrogant heart, but because these people who trumpet American Exceptionalism are the ones that are so afraid. they cannnot do anything because the government. they are uncertain because of the government. they cannot sleep at night because of the government. they are worried for their childrens futures BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT! What is exceptional about fear? What I see on FOX news are “Exceptionally Afraid” Americans. What I hear when I listen to Glenn Beck is a man who makes money off of that fear. It sickens me.

 

We are all blessed to live in the greatest country God has put on earth at the greatest time ever to be an American. We are the most powerful Country with the most natural resources in the world. The best combination of soil, water, timber, oil and gas on the planet. We can leave a legacy for our children and granchildren of peace, stability, wealth, strength and kindness if we all just work and take care of ourselves, our families, our churches, synagogues and masques. If we take care of people like we are all taught to do it. We will be great, our children will thrive.

We are responsible for our families and out values. Not the government. We are responsable for our finances. Not the government. If they take more of our bread, exceptional Americans figure out a way to bake more bread. Who are we? We are going to find out. It is going to be hard and it is going to be great. Who are we? Get to work and stop bitching. Who are we? Stop pointing the fingers at other. Who are we? Bake the bread. Enjoy your family and love your neighbor and get to work.

 

Psalm 118: 24 “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Ruminations

 Happy Sunday.  I am a fallen Republican.  The party lost me somewhere at the end of Clinton’s first term when my young, yuppie, successful professional friends and their wives were all on the porch at the country club and one of the woman was crying about how the re-election of Clinton would literally be the death of us, economically and certainly morally.  As people joined the conversation agreeing heartily with her sentiments I realized that these people did not have a clue about how the rest of the country felt, the direction (inexorably) the country was going towards multiculturalism and how good they, themselves had it.  They were tone deaf.  Some of those people is now a local or regional muckity muck in the Republican party.  The Newt Gingrich contract with America followed by the neo-con (W Bush) takeover cemented their beliefs that they were “right” in the most morally righteous sense and inexorable.

My Christianity (and I do not say this sanctimoniously because “MY” Christianity is DEEPLY flawed) took me in a different direction.  I believe there is a role for government in caring for the voiceless.  I know my church tries but is inadequate to the task.  I know Republicans give more than Democrats and that is awesome but I believe most of that is given from plenty which diminishes the awesomeness somewhat.  The Democrats have always left me squeamish.  I am against abortion (which from my point of view also mandates being against Capital punishment). I believe in allowing Gays to have ALL legal rights accorded to the rest of us.  I think Ronald reagan handled it the “right” way and that we need to make everyone who is here today an American wholesale, ignore their braking of our laws and ackowledged the poverty and hopelessness that brought them here and ackowledge that they are making us a greater America, as every wave of immigrants has made us a greater America. We do need (I think) to secure our borders but I am NOT building a border fence along our 3500 mile border with Canada.  I do not understand why we have been unable to secure our southern borders and would like to have it explained to me.   I believe the wealthy should pay more taxes because no one benefits from our great countries systems more than them, they have proven it.  I will not work any less hard if I am being taxed at a marginally greater rate.  The very idea that people would do that seems asinine coming from a group that trumpets American exceptionalism.  The idea that these exceptional Americans are uncertain and afraid and are hoarding their cash does not sound very exceptional to me.

Anyway, you have probably stopped reading.  Sorry.   I voted for Obama.  I am not proud of the fact.  He disappointed me in that in his first term he had a mandate to call us to something greater but instead was the flip side of the same coin and it saddened me.  We march on now into a murky, difficult future.  Let’s do it boldly.  Let’s hope President Obama can be better and smarter. He is off to a bad start.  His first speech was not a hand being reached accross the aisle but a scolding “send me the bill I want, I have a pen”.  What a bunch of crap.  What a tone deaf message.  He is like a dog with a bone.  The Republican leadership needs to save face.  They deserve a chance to react rationally without being bullied and Obama is blowing it, AND he does not have a strong enough position to win.  

Let’s hope the Republican leadership realizes that if they can assist in a recovery, they can assume the mantle again in 2016 with a fine man who is not defined by traditional marriage, the right to life and illegal immigration.  George Bush ruined compassionate conservatism and that is a shame because ultimately empowering individuals to succeed is the most compassionate thing.  But if we cannot figure out how to do that, Jesus told us to take care of them if we can.  The government provides one way of doing that however imperfectly. Government is not inherently evil, only inherently stupid.  It can be fixed.

God’s peace and thanks for stirring my brain.  Sorry about the diatribe.  There is much to be said for being the loyal opposition.  The Republicans have lost that.  People like you have the power to bring it back and I would be happy to come back home to the party of Lincoln.  I pray for change but America remains the greatest country in the world and we are blessed beyond our comprehension.

There's Got To Be A Morning After

Soooooo.... the Diner Review was conspicuously silent on this years election.  In 2008 I had to have 20 posts or more related to politics, the election, Obama, Mc Cain, Palin... it all seemed like high drama.  This year it just seems... or seemed...silly.  It still does.  6 billion spent so we can have the same general people in place as before.  A prospect of more ideology, more doctrine, more purity of political purpose and more gridlock.  I could of voted for either of them for President.  Part of me definitely wanted someone else to blame and wanted a new shot at something different.  Our President powerfully disappointed me in his first term.  Yes, he inherited an economy that had fallen off the cliff, and a world economy that was just about to go.  Hard for us to be healthy in a much touted global economy when the globe is not so healthy itself.  But still, he disappointed.  He was elected the first time with a real mandate for real change, and he failed us.  he might have tried to be the opposite of George Bush which was welcome but he was the opposite side of the same coin.  He had an opportunity to lead us in a bold new direction and redirect the conversation about what it means to be the greatest country in the world and the responsibility that comes with it.  Not to live in a million dollar house and drive a hundred thousand dollar car and provide your children’s every whim, but to be a leader of the world based on our famed Judeo-Christian beliefs.

But he screwed the pooch.

He stimulused us in an old fashion way feeding the Democratic pork and running up more debt. He failed to regulate seriously his friends in the banks and “too big to fail” is now policy whether we admit it or not.  People are still focused on themselves and their things and getting rich.  Class warfare became the re-election theme and it worked.  The Democrats ran a really good guy, a religious guy with respectable values and a history of success.  But he was wooden, and he was so damn rich and ultimately 51% could not relate or did not want to relate.

So we are now in worse need than we were 4 years ago.  We spent our way down the road and doubled and tripled up on the debt.  The world economy is still teetering on the edge.  We still have an un-swallowed rat of housing debt rolling and roiling through the snakes stomach and the student loan bubble is about to burst.  There are some positive things but they all pale in front the mountain of debt.

So.... fortunately for the President I have it all mapped out.  here is a way to really make a difference and make things happen.  To be the aspirational leader you were orginally elected to be when each of us pinned our hopes and dreams on your Muslim, not born here, community activist ass.

1. Ask (tell) Harry read and Nacny Pelosi that they must step down from leadership.  They have been divisive and are spectacularly unsuccessful.  They taunted when they were in control and skulked and connived when things didnt go their way.  they are polarizing and they represent the old way that brought us here.  Be polite, throw them a nice party and get them out of the way.  The Republicans have the same problem but Boehner is a human being.  The little guy, Eric Cantor should be fired to as being a divisive, smug little prick but HE is not your problem.  Pelosi and Reed are.  Do the right thing.

2. Go to Mitt Romney and apologize for the ugliness of the campaign and the tactics of attack you used to beat him.  Mean it when you apologize.  You should be embarrassed.  You demeaned your office and the country when you allowed your dogs to go after him.  Hire him in a job that is scheduled to disappear at the end of your presidency as (and I know everyone hates the word) Tsar oe Czar of the balanced budget.  Bring back Simpson and Bowles as his Lieutenants.  The orders are simple.  Do as little damage as possible while right sizing entitlements and the military. Put Colin Powell and Petraus on the committee also to assist in getting the military what they need and not what they want.  Taxes will have to be raised through a new tax code.  Give this group carte blanche and support their recommendations.  

3. Be humble and go to Israel.  Sit down with their jack ass Prime Minister who treated you like a school child and tell him that you will commit 100% of Americas military might and financial stability to an Israel that agrees to a two State solution, NOW.  If needed bomb Iraq and send troops in to find and destroy suspected atomic sites.  Then leave.  If Israel balks explain to the American people the bargain you offered and put it to a vote to stand by them with a deal to guaranty their peace, or let them stand alone.  Explain to the Palestinians that they must control their own people and then when rockets fall on Israel that we will support Israel to massively retaliate totally out of proportion to every attack.  Move the Blue Helmets from the UN in between and finance them.  Tell Israel that it is their business where their capital is but it cannot be on Palestinian ground or interfere with their right to visit their holy sites.

4. Leave Afghanistan and make clear to them and Pakistan that the world is sick to death of them.  Make clear our support is behind India and that we will assist the Russians, Chinese and Indians in dealing with their countries if terrorists are harbored there.  Pakistan is the real problem because they have the bomb and are moving towards extremism.  We must have a new UN Security Council resolution wherein everyone agrees that if Pakistan or it’s cousin South Korea use a nuclear bomb that their country will be annihilated.

Part 4 might be a bridge too far.  Shit, Part 3 likely is as well.  Israel is in an untenable position long term.  Not just Iran but the whole Muslim community when they speak frankly speaks of their extermination.  I am not sure the situation can be salvaged but it certainly cannot be done without significant give and take.  Anyway, how about 1 and 2.  Do it for me.

Sugar Fire: The Diner Review

Soooo...occasionally something new happens that is really outstanding on the St. Louis food scene. We see pretty many new places and we see many places that suck.  Many places that don't last.  But occasionally there is a gift and occasionally it is discovered by Kevin. Naturally the fact that Kevin discovered it is a reason to dislike and disdain since he loads all of recommendations with pretense but occasionally he finds a place that just absolutely kills it and this is the case with Sugar Fire.

By this time, if you have the misfortune of reading this you know that I am not a cheerleader.  Even when I gush I find something to criticize in some petty, meaningless and annoying way.  Alas, I come not to bury Sugar Fire but to praise the shit out of it.  I am so sick of Bar-B-Q places in this town.  I love Lester's, I love Pappys and I love Bogarts. They are all relatively new and they have upped the game in this town but how many shitty Bar-B-Q places have I tolerated in the past 5 years. Every place is extolled. Every place is revoltionary.  Every place ultimately disappoints.  The three mentioned above are exceptions.  They are well run and have high quality control.  They both have the same faux exclusive rule that they only cook so much each day and when they are out, they are OUT!  It annoys me.

So Kevin said “Sugar Fire”.  I asked “where”?  He told me it was on Olive at Price in a strip mall and i was incredulous and then I remembered that Dickeys was formerly there.  Dickeys is classic mass market, crappy BBQ.  Nothing wrong with it, nothing right with it.  It is generic and inoffensive with hot sauces to mask banality of the product.  I love good BBQ sauce but it is there to complement good meat, not to makle up for lack excellence.  So I gave it a try by myself one Saturday after a grumpy visit to the licence bureau.  I had the misfortune of wearing an orange shirt and it looks ALOT like a mug shot with me wearing an orange St. Louis County Jail jumpsuit.  
I have now been to Sugar Fire 5 times.  This is not out of an obligation to do a diligent job.  I like passing judgment on a place with one trip.  No, it is because I keep having to go back, again and again and again because it is SO DAMN GOOD!  The first time I had the brisket.  I do not love brisket.  It is bland, often dry and without sauce can often be inedible. Sugar Fire’s brisket is a symphony for the mouth.  Nice charring but nothing dry.  I have no idea what they rub or season it with or how they cook it so moist but it is without fault.  They serve them on a thin roll that is somewhat like a kaisar roll but excellent for the sandwich.  The next time I went back and I had...brisket. I think they have 5 types of sauce.  I don’t like carolina, I don’t like vinnegar, I don’t like horseradish but they have them all.  They also have three normal BBQ sauces and I found them all very good.  The third time I went I had a brisket philly cheese steak.  It had carmelized red onions on it on a nice french loaf.  It too was unstoppable.  The next time... I had the brisket.  Today I finally branched out and got the burger which was touted to me with cheese and house smoked bacon.  When you order the pull a 3rd pound of ground sirloin out and throw it on the griddle. Takes about 4 minutes.  It too was perfect and bacon was flavorful but is a little chewy for the sandwich.  (See, I always find something to bitch about...but that is it!)

So they put out good meat. they also advertise excellent smoked salmon and pulled pork which I will eventually get to.  I also tried their chicken biscuit which is smoked chicken which is then breaded and fied and put on a biscuit.  I took it home and put it in the fridge and that was a mistake as it seemed kind of baseball like.  next time I will try it fresh.

So all the good meat entrees make it interesting. Very interesting.  But what makes it awesome and a must go are the sides.  They have excellent fresh fries lightly seasoned which I have gotten every time but as we all know, anyone can do that.  What makes them different is that they have specials every day  (Brisket Philly Cheese Steak, fried bone in pork chop etc...).  There are great but what is really, really great are the other sides beside the fries.  theyu are always changing and they have greens (I don’t eat them but authentic people love em).  They always have a couple types of slaw (yawn again) but then they will sometimes have fresh cornbread doctored up, I have gotten garlic cheese grits and today I had green chili cheese pork which was like a little bowl of soup.  The sides change every day.  They are always creative. They always have 5 or 6 and it makes a meal a delectable treat.

They brew their own tea.  Regular and white trash sweet.  They have a soft drink dispenser you hit first but you can also pick up some odd bottles of soda as well as... wait for it.... BEER!  They have fresh cookines and also a wide array of deserts which i will likely never get to.  Bottom line... I cannot say enough good things about this place.  If I could get a franchise I would do it tomorrow.  One of these downtown, one in Chesterfield and one in Webster Kirkwood. I do not know how they do the quality control.  All the guys making the food seem to love what they do and seem to love making people, talking about the food with the patrons and giving the place a good vibe.  The location is a little inauthentic (whatever that means) and the parking lot at Price and Olive is a tragedy of stupidity but those are small prices to pay.

Go there.  Eat.  Come back and thank me and by extension, thank Kevin.

http://sugarfiresmokehouse.com/

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