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User: ChefNeal
Outspoken Podcasting Chef, Sustainability Advocate and Farmer.

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Home » August 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
The times they are a changin. . .

The world is a scary place. Not that it hasn't always been. Or is it I'm just getting older? Climbing the hill to 40, am I really becoming that old codger saying, "in my day. . .". That's what it feels like.

Does every successive generation feel this way? Was I too young 6 years ago to feel this way--to experience the changing of the century? Or is it that this past century's change is only coming about now? Or is that an artificial construct to measure historical change? I don't know.  The 20th century saw dramatic change--the end of the horse as transportation, the death of the artisan and crafts in favor of machines, globally involved wars, mass-transportation. Are the changes of today this significant? Are they are scary to us as the change from the 1800's to the 1900's was for previous generations? Are the feeling I have symptomatic of a fear of change, or is the world really, truely as fucked up as I fear it is?

How can we make the best of our lives faced with global warming, terrorism, pandemic and the Bush economy? The changes which need to take place need to happen now. Tomorrow is too late. Yet the government, corporations and vast swathes of the population want the status quo, they're willing to allow things to continue as they are with the head-in-the-sand hope they will go away if we "phase in" allowable alternatives. Too little, too late.

We are at war. Not against a hyperbolic terrorist element, but against ourselves, technology, and the future. Time is not on our side. The New World Order, the totalitarian American State, microchipping of people, plants and animals is here. By the time the rest of the country wakes up, it will be too late. The US is being sold out while its citizens sleep infront of the TV. We are becoming slaves and no one seems to care.

Or am I just paranoid. An un-employed, dilusional malcontent? Someone who listens to too much coffeeshop talk and reads too much into what isn't in the press. I used to be ashamed to call myself and American. Perhaps, if I were abroad I still would be. But now it's the only thing I have to cling to. And by "American" I don't mean the new-patriotism. The NSA, Homeland Security, Freedom Frie eating, Flag waving, Constitution shredding slave of the state, afraid of shadows; willing to give up rights for a sense of security. By "American" I mean a freedom fighting, constituion abiding, constitutionally protected citizen of the Free World; ready to stand up for my rights and the rights of others; wanting to be left alone to do my thing while I leave others alone. A beauraucracy hating, Yankee patriot defending my "homeland" from attack. This is after all, why countless men and women have given their lives for the past 300 years. My childhood heros were the Revolutionaries of 1776, the Underground railroad operators, MLK, JFK, Henry V, Churchill. 

So why, in a country which guarantees us "freedom of religion", do we have a far-right, God-driven president dictating what happens? Why are elections swayed by a "moral-majority"? Why do we have a liberal left over-reacting to this right leaving no moderate position? Live and let live. My security is my own business. I've never asked the government to create an army to protect me. I don't remember asking for the state, "national" guard to fight to defend our rights abroad. I will abide by the laws of the land when they are just and fair. I will allow the law to protect me, as only it can. But I will not go quietly as we are sold into slavery--either to governments or technology.

Refuse to be chipped.
Refuse to allow your animals to be chipped.
Don't vote for incumbents.
Remain Free.

posted by: ChefNeal at August 29, 2006 08:22 | link | comments (3) |
freedom, change, slavery, declaration of independance, 1776

Thursday, August 03, 2006
Shopping Day

In many ways I could get used to this. Nipping off to the mainland once a week. Coffee and internet--alone in the crowd--before I head off on a frantic day of shopping and visiting with my suppliers. The personal, human connection to food we as a society rarely get, and I usually don't get in my island solitude working away on the land and looking after my 6 lovelies every day.

It can all be very relaxing for a time. But ask me in 8 hours whether I am relaxed or if I am tired and worn out. It's not so much physically draining as mentally taxing. Following a two page shopping list, stopping at perhaps 10 different places, spending $$$$ on food and stuff and all worrying about keeping it fresh, unsquashed and safe on the return trip home, several hours away.

As a bit of a confession, and something I didn't put in my latest podcast. . . .I screwed up big time last week. After a long day of shopping and filling up two huge ice chests with ingredients, food and ice, at my last stop I thought I plopped everything needed chilled into the last remaining space in one of them. The station wagon was sagging on its springs and the interior was packed. I missed the fact that a $15 lump of organic pork shoulder was in a different bag from the rest of the cold ingredients I bought at the co-op. I was racing to get back to the ferry to get in line so I could catch it and not have to wait a further 4 hours to get home.
At the ferry landing, once I parked my car, I crashed and had a small nap. Once on board the ferry I relaxed and read for the hour long trip home. By the time I ate dinner and unpacked the wagon it was 9:30 pm. I launched into preparing a pate for which I had bought the pork shoulder. Lo and behold it wasn't with the stuff in the cooler. . . .I slit open the vac-pack and woof! did it reek. It was minging. I drained the vile liquid and washed it off thinking it might, hopefully be something else. I sniffed and snorted and cut it almost all the way up before realizing it was spoilt beyond use.
I fed it to the dog, who ate it raw and didn't seem to have any problems, and I had to use a pork shoulder I had in the freezer, but the lesson won't go missed. Pay more attention in this hot weather to all you buy. Hot car and perishables don't mix, especially for 3 hours. I still can't believe I was stupid enough to let it happen and forgot to get it in the cooler. But there you have it, mental taxation, heat and fatigue do funny things.

And speaking of funny things. There is a mirage phenomenon which happens out here on the water. The ferry is sliding by some small islands now, and in the haze in the distance it looks like the islands are linked by land bridges just at the horizon--pure mirage. It is wild and welcome as it only happens in weather like this--crystal clear, bright, full blue sky and slightly chilly, before the sun climbs too high in the sky.

posted by: ChefNeal at August 03, 2006 07:53 | link | comments |
mainland, food idiot