A Romantic Dinner For Two

Today is the birthday of French writer and diplomat Vicomte François-René de Chateaubriand, (1768–1848), considered the founder of Romanticism in French literature. While his political and literary fame is impressive, the name Chateaubriand is much better known to me as the romantic filet mignon dinner for two that I've enjoyed many times in countless restaurants.

The Chateaubriand steak is a recipe of a particular thick cut from the tenderloin, which, according to Larousse Gastronomique, was created by his personal chef, Montmireil. Vicomte François-René de Chateaubriand, served Napoleon as an ambassador and Louis XVIII as Secretary of State for two years. An alternative spelling of the statesman-author's name is 'Châteaubriant', and some maintain that the term refers to the quality of the cattle bred around the town of Châteaubriant in the Loire-Atlantique, France

Although the sirloin is the more flavorful, the most tender part of the cow is the tenderloin. Chateaubriand is usually only offered as a serving for two, as there is only enough meat in the center of the average fillet for two portions. Served medium rare with a very nice red Bordeaux wine and usually accompanied by sauteed potatos and Bearnaise sauce, it is a quite elegant dish that is thoroughly delightful.

Do you like chocolate? Well, I've got a site where you can get a free chocolate coupon every Friday through September. Better yet, it's from Mars, the makers of M&Ms, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way and Dove bars. The first 250,000 people to register each Friday is mailed a coupon. It works! I've already received two coupons. Here's the link: www.realchocolate.com

The Cat's Ass Trophy (Cat Award): Phillip Garrido, the scumbag who kidnapped Jaycee Lee Dugard, was nominated by my pals Lisa and Linda. My pal, Frances, nominated Roger Stephens of Stone Mountain, Ga., who became irritated with a little 2 year old girl, who was crying in a Wal-Mart store and slapped her.

Obviously, animals like Garrido are a shoo-in for the CAT Award and deservedly so. Assholes like Roger Stephens are reprehensible as well because striking and possibly injuring a two year old child is unforgivable. The Cat Award goes to Phillip Garrido and Roger Stephens.

Additionally, The Stevie Wonder Award (new) goes to the California Parole Board for their foresight in releasing Garrido after serving less than 11 years of a 50-year sentence for the rape of Katherine Callaway Hall in 1976, and the California parole officers assigned to look after and monitor Garrido's whereabouts and actions.

This Date In History: 1781; Spanish colonists found a settlement in southern California known as El Pueblo Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula, later shortened to Los Angeles. Update #1: 1850; California became a state. The people had no electricity. The state had no money. Almost everyone spoke Spanish. There were gunfights in the streets. Update #2 2009; Nothing has changed since then except that in 1850, the women had real boobs and the men didn't hold hands. 1870; French emperor Napoleon III is overthrown and France is proclaimed a republic. 1939; Canada and South Africa join World War II, declaring war on Germany.

Picture Of The Day: The Swine Flu, aka H1N1 or R2D2 or something to that effect, is back in the news. It appears that the government is beginning to administer trial vaccinations without taking the proper time frame usually used to assure the vaccine's safety.

On April 26th, 2009, the federal government issued a national public health emergency for the H1N1 virus. Federal legislation, which was passed after the September 11, 2001 disaster, gives immunity to pharmaceutical manufacturers and allows them to "fast track" the swine flu vaccine and allows them to add unlicensed components in the vaccine. Some of these unlicensed components have been shown to cause auto-immunity in animals.

Personally, I think you ought to forget swine flu. You should be more worried about the Obama death panels.

Birthdays: Francois Auguste René, Vicomte de Chateaubriand, a French writer, politician and diplomat. He is considered the founder of Romanticism in French literature 1768, Anton Bruckner, Austrian composer 1824, Daniel Burnham, American architect 1846, Antonin Artaud, French poet and dramatist 1896, Richard Wright, American author 1908.

Printable Things I Never Told You: 1) This week, I've tried to keep my rants and raves under control and stay away from commentary on the many stupid thoughts and actions of the many assholes that always seem to be in the headlines. My patience is running thin though and you can look forward to next week because there are just some things that I cannot allow to pass without questions and comments. 2) Never take a large dose of laxatives when you have a bad cough. 3) Other than Michael Meyers, I've never heard of anyone who has taken so long to die as Michael Jackson. They finally entombed him yesterday. 4) My friend's cousin was visiting from Georgia. I asked him for some driving tips while driving in the mountains. He told me, "Always dim your headlights for approaching vehicles even if the gun is loaded and the deer is in sight." 5) In the Afghanistan elections, the two opposing sides are both claiming fraud and causing a big scandal. The loser of the Afghanistan presidential election, a man named Abdullah Abdullah, is claiming that the winner, Hamid Karzai, artificially inflated his number of votes. In response, Karzai is claiming that Abdullah Abdullah artificially inflated his number of Abdullahs.....and that's five !

The AREA51 Retirement Home Bar and Grill: An elderly man was headed home in his car one evening, swerving and weaving on the road, when he was stopped by a policeman. The policeman asked, "Have you been drinking tonight, sir?" The man replied, "Well, I may have had a scotch or two. Why do you ask?" The policeman said, "Sir, your wife fell out of the car about a mile back." The old man replied, "Thank goodness, for a while there, I thought I'd gone deaf."

The Hits Just Keep On Coming:

A middle aged woman has a heart attack and is taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she has a near death experience. During that experience she sees God and asks if this is it. God says no and explains that she has another 30 years to live.

Upon her recovery she decides to just stay in the hospital and have a face lift, liposuction, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, etc. She even has someone come in and change her hair color. She figures since she's got another 30 years she might as well make the most of it.

She walks out of the hospital after the last operation and is killed by an ambulance. She arrives in front of God and complains, "I thought you said I had another 30 years! God replies, "Sorry, I didn't recognize you."

Three doctors went to heaven, and were awaiting their turn with St. Peter to plead their case to enter the pearly gates. The first doctor said, "I worked in an emergency room. We tried our best to help patients, but occasionally we did lose one. I think I deserve to go to heaven." St. Peter looks at his file and admits her to heaven.

The second doctor says, "I worked in an operating room. It's a very high stress environment and we do our best. Sometimes the patients are too sick and we lose them, but overall we try very hard." St. Peter looks at his file and admits her to heaven.

The third nurse says, "I was the admission doctor for an HMO." St. Peter looks at his file. He pulls out a calculator and starts punching away at it furiously, constantly going back to the doctor's file. After a few minutes St. Peter looks up, smiles, and says, "Congratulations! You've been admitted to heaven.... for five days!

That's it for today my little dixie cups. Remember, everyone seems normal until you get to know them. It's Friday and AREA 51 is beckoning. Have a great weekend and more on Monday.

Stay Tuned !