A nice exposition

Our Oakland correspondent sends us this link on writing skills.

A strange but satisfying book

So I've finished (mostly - still on the appendices) The Last Century of Sea Power, by H.P. Wilmott. This is a vast (507 pages), new (2009) work by a British (oh, so very British) author, published, strangely enough, by Indiana University Press. It's hugely analytical, packed with tables of things like cargo volumes, sinkings, orders of battle in wars you've never heard of -- and it's only Volume I. It's a little light on the editing -- quite a few mis-usages that can't be explained by sheer Britishness, for example. But nonetheless, exactly the kind of book I like to find.

Why? Because a) it's full of just that you-be-damned, I've got tenure, British academic attitude that, occasionally, engenders good historical analysis, b) it's really analytical (that is, the author makes a logical case for his assertions instead of just stating his opinions), and c) Wilmott is clearly out of his tiny mind, but in a good way. In the narrative, he'll set up a classically-structured paragraph, make his argument, and then -- once a chapter, at least -- leave you open-mouthed at the end. Consider this example, in which he addresses the received idea of German military excellence (with which, in case you can't tell, he is not impressed:)

"... the very fact that for so long the student was fed on a diet of German proficiency, indeed excellence, invites obvious comment. To slightly amend Oscar Wilde's famous witticism: to lose one world war may be regarded as unfortunate but to lose two smacks of carelessness. Indeed, one's own argument is that the Germans, in two world wars, may have displayed tactical quality but the evidence would seem to suggest that in both conflicts Germany was possessed of leadership that never understood the difference between war and a war, between a war and a campaign, and a campaign and a battle. Of course, it is incumbent upon all not to explain the distinction to Germans lest the bastards really do become dangerous."

With apologies to any German readers who may take offence, I laughed at that for a day or so. And anyway, any historian who thinks Jackie Fisher was not a good influence is ok in my book. (Wilmott doesn't think much of Churchill, either: "... the self-advertising charlatan ..." which, again, accords with my views.) Alas, his works don't seem to deal very much with events outside the last century; after reading this volume, I'd welcome a book by him on the US Civil War: "... that probably traitorous, certainly incompetent nineteenth century equivalent of Fabius, George McClellan ..."

Oh, well. Wonder what he'll have to say about Halsey?

Another quick dinner

Capellini with a cream sauce, wax peppers, grape tomatoes, and chopped raw squash blossoms. The side (not shown) was sautee'd summer squash and wilted purslane.

Three and a half pounds of comfort

It's been a while, but I found an unencumbered Saturday afternoon and made a lug of duck and pork sausage. I vacuum pack 'em in threes -- maybe a third of a pound per package -- and freeze 'em, leaving a small amount in the refrigerator for the next day's breakfast. And since I pull the fat off half the duck breasts that go into the force meat, there's rendered duck fat as a byproduct, meaning that aforesaid breakfast can include potatoes fried in duck fat. It don't get much better than that, as the feller says.

OH. MY. GOD!

I get it. I see what's happening. Palin is going ... to switch parties! She's going to pull a Lieberman! Nooooooooooo!

Finally putting Flikr to some use

A few snapshots from the 2009 Rolling Sculpture car show in beautiful downtown Ann Arbor.

The wonder of it all

I just don't think I'm going to say anything at all about ex-Governor Palin. What could I add? I already have such a great schadenfreude buzz going that I just feel like letting it ride.

A request from Food Gatherers ...

... to harass your elected officials. The following is from an email I got from FGs, the Ann Arbor food bank / food rescue place where we both (and some of you, too, I believe) have volunteered from time to time. If you're inclined to do so, the link in the content below is to an automated send-em'-a-message site.

On Thursday, June 11, the Michigan Senate voted to cut funding for the Food Bank Council of Michigan's Michigan Agricultural Surplus System (MASS). MASS is a partnership between Michigan food banks, the agricultural community and the Michigan Department of Agriculture that provides a means for collection and distribution of surplus Michigan-grown agricultural produce. Annually, nearly six million pounds of food are distributed to local pantries, soup kitchens and shelters that would otherwise go to waste or end up in a landfill.

A House version of the appropriations bill will be voted on in the upcoming weeks. We're asking you to please contact your State Representative and ask them to restore funding for MASS. We're making it easy for you to contact them via email. Just select the link below and follow the instructions to send a message to your Representative and the Governor. After you've sent your message, you'll have the opportunity to tell others to send a message too. We appreciate your help in spreading the word.

We need you to take action by Tuesday, June 30. Here's the link:
https://secure2.convio.net/fbcm/site/Advocacy?id=115&pagename=homepage



Thanks for your help in urging decision makers to keep funding to feed Michigan's hungry.

Let's pretend ...

... that I'm a political pundit.

"So, Jon, I have to say, isn't this just like the Republicans? I mean, here's a so-called conservative, Mark Sanford, supposedly a friend of the working guy, a populist, or so he'd like us to believe, and he does something like this!. Elliot Spitzer, a flaming liberal if there ever was one, he at least did his dirty business with good old fashioned American small business! But Sanford, he outsources it to the third world! He's taking food out of the mouths of the American sex worker! Shades of Ross Perot -- I hear a giant sucking sound! And as if that weren't bad enough, where does he choose to do his horsing around? The very country that once staged a vicious attack on our most staunch ally in the war against, um, things! What would Reagan say? Margaret Thatcher is spinning in her grave! Although, yes, I know she's not dead yet, but I mean come on! What next? Larry Craig vacationing in Venezuela? Gingrich galavanting in Guatemala? How much will the American people stand?"

And so on and so on. It's soft targets like this that make me envy Letterman.

Another dinner

Rack of lamb, orecchiette with golden beets, beet greens, and pecans.