Administrativia

2 1/2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 2 eggs 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup orange juice 3/4 cups vegetable or canola oil grated peel of 1 orange 1/2 cup chopped pecans Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Beat eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add milk, orange juice, vegetable oil and orange peel. Add flour mixture to the egg mixture, mix well. Stir in chopped pecans. Pour in a greased 9" loaf pan. Bake for 40-50 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Can be served as is, or with a simple powder sugar glaze made with orange juice instead of water or milk.

The search for the 'God particle' is back on, now that the Large Hadron Collider is back online ... and astronauts made the final spacewalk for the Shuttle Atlantis (unless there is a change in the program and additional flights are added)... Israel is making noises about being serious partners in the Middle East peace process... The boy in Florida who was set on fire in a dispute over a video game is recovering -- and we wish him well. Lion club triplets debut at the Ohio Zoo. Those of us in the States will have to wait until December for last weekend's latest Dr. Who adventure (and even longer for the next installment when The Master returns). TCU continues its quest for the first perfect season in 70 years ... here's hoping that A&M beats UT on Thursday... it's about the only time you'll hear me rooting for the Aggies. And most of the U.S. pauses on Thursday to reflect and give thanks... (and watch football and get ready for Black Friday). Here'

It never ceases to amaze me that so-called "charities" are willing to shaft the constiuencies that they serve just because they -- as recipients of public monies -- are not allowed to discriminate. If you want to narrowly focus your charitable activities based on your religious or other convictions, you are free to do so: just don't take government money. It's that simple.

A different view of my blog thanks to Wordle .

Seeing what happened in Maine , over and over and over again... From fierce advocacy to tepid timidity, it's painfully clear that this President and the Democratic Party apparatus are simply not going to follow through on promises of GLBT equality. I think it's time to stop giving to the DNC, DHCC, DSCC and that includes GOTV efforts -- and focus our money and time only on those candidates that not just ask for our support but prove that they are worthy.

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, 2 cups all-purpose flour 5 ounces high quality, unsweetened dark chocolate 1/4 cup instant espresso powder (can use instant coffee) 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 cup bourbon whiskey + 1-2 shots more for final garnish 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2 cups sugar 3 large eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup powdered sugar for garnish Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour one large bundt pan (10 cup capacity), or two 8- or 9-inch loaf pans. Melt chocolate in a microwave oven or in a double boiler over simmering water. Let cool. In a large measuring cup (2 cup or larger), combine espresso mix, cocoa powder and 3/4 - 1 cup boiling water -- total mixture should come up to the 1 cup line. Mix until powders dissolve. Stir in whiskey and salt; let cool. In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter until fluffy. Add sugar and beat until well combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition. Beat in

Note: You can skip the vinegar step if you don't care for the "tang"... 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and sliced diagonally about 1/8"thick 1/2 cup white wine vinegar 1/4 cup butter, melted Coarse-ground sea salt Preheat oven to 500°F. In a large bowl, toss potatoes in the vinegar. Allow to soak for about 5 minutes. Pat the potatoes dry between paper towels and arrange them in one layer in 2 buttered cookie sheets pans. Brush the potatoes with the melted butter. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Transfer to a plate lined with parchment, sprinkle with the sea salt (to taste).