The Malcontent

Finally, WIRED covers the stories that really matter.

All hail Gina Lynn, 21st century sex fiend, even if she is getting her kink on at Starbucks.

The Goverment pulls an Emily Litella regarding the Hamdi case (Oh, enemy combatant? Um…ne-v-er-miiiiind.), and legal goddess Dahlia Lithwick brings it in Slate.

…but it sure doesn’t look healthy.

Um….in case everyone in government has forgotten, the relevant text is: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

As Thomas Jefferson said to David Humphreys in 1789: “There are rights which it is useless to surrender to the government and which governments have yet always been found to invade. These are the rights of thinking and publishing our thoughts by speaking or writing; the right of free commerce; the right of personal freedom.”

It doesn’t pay to ignore the counsel of Thomas Jefferson, who also noted this: “Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.”

Naughty, naughty, G-Men.

‘Cause out on the edge of darkness,

there rides a peace train.

Oh, peace train, take this country

come take me home again.

Maybe at least Maine will get a new tourism slogan out of this.

“Maine: Enjoy our airports, because the First Amendment doesn’t apply to British Subjects.”

And the new slogan for United?

“United: Where we’re still getting the hang of passenger screening (but don’t worry, because it can’t possibly keep you safe anyway).”

but I think this is what makes Lance Armstrong wake up in a cold sweat.

Fight the hell out of it Tyler, but if you’re guilty–well, now’s the time to speak up.

OK, after a failure to engage in vigorous blogging over the past week or so, The Malcontent really felt a need to bring vital sustenance to the blogosphere. Thus, the wednesday food section on Tuesday.

Discovery of the week: Lowrey’s microwavable pork rinds.

The bag looks like microwave popcorn, but inside it’s all pig.

After singing the praises of Fergus Henderson, I really didn’t think I could get away with avoiding trying this product (after chancing upon it at our local Big Box Retail store–in its Hot and Spicy formulation). Apparently Atkins fever has skyrocketed the popularity of low-carb snacks like beef jerky and pork rinds. Here, the innovation is hot pork rinds, right from your microwave, whenever you want. (I love that the package says chicharrones on it.)

Having had pork rinds fried to order several years back at a folklife festival, I at least had a basis for comparison (plus a few dozen bags from the Qwik-E-Marts over the course of a lifetime). I assumed this would be a foul, greasy terrifying mess–rancidity was to be my watchword. The product isn’t refrigerated, not canned, not even vacuum-sealed.

Verdict: they are terrific. Crunchy, light, porky, not greasy in the slightest. There is a great bacon-y smell. Not actually very spicy, but good enough. You microwave them for a couple of minutes.

In my case, they continued to make crackling and popping sounds for at least 10 minutes after I dumped them out of their (very hot) bag. I found this to be a very rewarding part of the experience. At 88 cents a bag, it’s filthy food fun on a budget.

Only side effect: I have suddenly developed a desire to see NASCAR.

…so give her a break, you free speech hating jerks.

Laura Bush, hatchet (wo)man for her husband, gets a little taste of dissent (and apparently, doesn’t like it).

Thanks to Galactichero for posting this to MSD. It’s the kind of item I had to share.

Well I don’t care about history.

Cause that’s not where I wanna be

I just wanna have some kicks

I just wanna get some chicks

Rock, rock, rock, rock ‘n’ roll high school

Goodbye, John Cummings. Thank you.

It occurs to us here at The Malcontent Test Kitchen that we should have a Wednesday Food component, just like the newspapers. (Plus, The Malcontent knows from food.)

So, let it be known that Fergus Henderson remains one of The Malcontent’s inspirations regarding food. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

Why Fergus Henderson? Not just for his straight-forward approach to cooking and his willingness to use every bit, but also because he speaks so highly of lunch (“Lunch should be joy unbounding“), which, as anyone who looks at my profile will know, is among my obsessions.

Head cheese, anyone? I mean, it’s good enough for Mario.

I feel like I’ve read this somewhere before……