Civil War suicide notes, rhymes, funeral biers, attractive corpses / McDonald's Chicken McNuggets

Note: What Happened in WWII blogquiz, by Melvin.


Eric just emailed me about a certain subject: I AM NOT GIVING IN TO YOUR EVIL PLANS, DUDE! Maybe I need to rethink the day I check blogs: Thursdays it is, then! So much stuff happens on Saturdays that those things (combined with my sleep habits) make it insane!

Andrea also emailed a bunch of us something about 2007 in the form of a PowerPoint slide. I'll just view it as HTML:

"Run into 2007... with gusto!
Don't forget to chase your goals...
Meet your neighbors...
Welcome new families...
Remember to go to the dentist when needed...
Let others know how you feel, don't ever hold back...
Get closer to those you love...
Play to your heart's content….
Remember, your friends will stick with you through thick and thin...
Always leave room in your heart for others…..
And never, ever forget those who are far away from us protecting our country.
HAVE A SAFE, HEALTHY, HAPPY, AND PROSPEROUS 2007."

I can imagine that certain people might have something to say about certain lines in there... o_O


Today's Ardent Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

Edmund Ruffin (1794-1865), whom one historian describes as an "ancient and ardent secessionist," claimed credit for having fired the first shot of the Civil War. If Ruffin was an old (67) and defiant man at the start of the war, he was an old and broken man by war's end. But still fanatically defiant. In 1865, with his home, cause and country in ruins (a Federal soldier had scrawled along a wall: "This house belonged to a Ruffinly son-of-a-bitch"), Ruffin refused to accept life under Union authority. He blew his brains out, having first written a suicide note:

"I here declare my unmitigated hatred to Yankee rule -- to all political, social and business connection with the Yankees and to the Yankee race. Would that I could impress these sentiments, in their full force, on every living Southerner and bequeath them to every one yet to be born! May such sentiments be held universally in the outraged and down-trodden South, though in silence and stillness, until the now far-distant day shall arrive for just retribution for Yankee usurpation, oppression and atrocious outrages, and for deliverance and vengeance for the now ruined, subjugated and enslaved Southern States!

"... And now with my latest writing and utterance, and with what will be near my last breath, I here repeat and would willingly proclaim my unmitigated hatred to Yankee rule -- to all political, social and business connections with Yankees, and the perfidious, malignant and vile Yankee race."

Culled from: Portraits of the Civil War in Photographs, Diaries, and Letters

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And here's a lovely portrait of Edmund for you.

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Ruthless Rhyme Du Jour!

I've been reading Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes and More Ruthless Rhymes by Harry Graham, a collection of hysterical poems originally published in 1899, and I thought I'd share with you some of my favorites. Here's my personal favorite:

TENDER-HEARTEDNESS

Billy, in one of his nice new sashes,
Fell in the fire and was burnt to ashes;
Now, althoguh the room grows chilly,
I haven't the heart to poke poor Billy.

Ruthless Rhymes For Heartless Homes

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Morbid Link Du Jour!

If you are seriously, sincerely suicidal and want to make a good impression on your way to a better place, Attractive Corpse can help make your final wish a reality.

Thanks to Evonne for the link.

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Morbid Trinket Du Jour!

Those of you in the Sacramento, CA area might be interested in picking up a little trinket for your house - an antique funeral bier!

Thanks to Lisa for the link.


McDonald's Chicken McNuggets

SPECIAL TOOLS: Deep fryer

Ingredients:
vegetable oil (in fryer)
1 egg
1 cup water
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup tempura mix (or 1/3 cup flour for a total of 1 cup if tempura mix is unavailable)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon Accent
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
4 chicken breast filets, each cut into 6-7 bite sized pieces.

Cooking your McNuggets

1. Beat the egg and then combine it with 1 cup water in a small, shallow bowl. Stir.
2. Combine the flour, salt, Accent, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder in a one-gallon size ziploc bag.
3. Pound each of the breast filets with a mallet until about 1/4-inch thick. Trim each breast filet into bite sized pieces.
4. Coat each piece with the flour mixture by shaking in the ziploc bag.
5. Remove and dredge each nugget in the egg mixture, coating well. Then return each nugget to the flour / seasoning mixture. Shake to coat. Put nuggets, bag and all, in the freezer for at least an hour. Cover and refrigerate remaining egg mixture.
6. After freezing, repeat the "coating" process.
7. Preheat oven and large cookie sheet to 375°
8. Deep fry the chicken McNuggets at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until light brown and crispy. (cook only about 9 at a time.)
9. Drain on paper towels 3-5 minutes.
10. Place deep-fried nuggets on preheated cookie sheet in oven and bake another 5-7 minutes.
11. Serve with your favorite McDonald's dipping sauce.