Wings, Wings and Wings...my favorite part of the chicken and turkey. A once trash-part of the chicken, in recent decades, wings have become increasingly popular. You can't go to a restaurant, bar, or pub without having wings as part of the menu. At a family function, a super bowl party, or a church event, wings will be present. They are small, which makes them great finger food. Because they are small, you can make a bunch of them, and they are relatively cheap. Although due to their popularity, the price of a pack of wings at the grocery store have gone up. That hasn't stopped Americans from eating bucket loads of wings. According to the National Chicken Council (I'm not making that up), during the most recent Super Bowl, Americans consumed over 1.25 BILLION chicken wings. 300 Million Americans...1.25 Billion Wings...YOU DO THE MATH!!!
In the last few years, wing-centric restaurants have started to pop up all over the country. In the Loudoun County, the two most popular wing-centric restaurants are Buffalo Wing Factory, a local chain. The other is Buffalo Wild Wings, which is a popular national chain. Most wing restaurants (And restaurants that serve wings) have the same cliche' variety of wings. They have Buffalo Wings, they have an Asian-inspired wing, flavored with a typically gloppy teriyaki sauce. And they always have gimmicky spicy wings that are so incredibly hot, that you have to sign a waiver explaining that you may get stomach and intestinal cancer if you eat the "NUCLEAR", "ATOMIC", or whatever crazy name they decide to give them. All served with your choice of blue cheese sauce, ranch sauce, and perhaps their own trademarked sauce. You go to one wing joint, you have gone to them all.
There is a new wing joint in town called the Wingstop. They are a national chain, headquartered in Texas, and they have locations in 34 states and Mexico. Being that it is a national chain, again, I am hesitant (I tend to stay away from most chain restaurants). But after a friend of mine highly recommended the place, I told him that I would give it a try. Checked out the menu online, and again...it had the typical cliche' wing-joint menu. Although it may be cliche', perhaps this place may be better than the others. I stopped into the Sterling (Virginia) location, which is tucked into a small strip mall, during the lunch hour. I ordered the "6 Wing Combo". You get six wings, fries and a coke for a little over $8.00. I ordered three Garlic-Parmesan flavored wings, and three "Louisiana Rub"-spiced wings to go. I went to a nearby parking lot to eat my lunch (I wanted to listen to sports radio speculate about why Jameis Winston stole crab legs. Hilarious story, but I digress). I started in on the fries, which were quite good. The seasoning was good, although I detected sugar in their spice blend, which threw me off a bit. I don't want a sugary-spiced fry, but they tasty enough. Most of the fries were fried properly, while a few weren't, but for the most I give their fries a good grade. As for the wings, the Louisiana Rub wings were excellent. The spice blend was balanced, and provided a warm heat as you ate them. As for the Garlic-Parm wings, they could have been seasoned a little more. The garlic flavor was faint for my taste. When you put something on the menu that says "garlic", I want to taste garlic. I want to vampires to flea in agony because there is so much garlic in the wings. The addition of the parmesan on the wing, gave the wing an "off-putting" smell, which would indicate they used a low quality parmesan cheese. The addition of fresh herbs to the wing, could have made these wings even better.
I wish wing joints would become more creative. That being said, the Louisina Rub wings and the fries were good. I won't get the Garlic-Parm wings again. I plan on visiting again, and trying more flavors. Although I wouldn't walk over broken glass to stop at the Wingstop, if you are hungry, and want something relatively cheap and tasty, check this place out and see how you like it. The Wingstop gets TWO WINGS OUT OF FOUR.
Click on this LINK for more information about the Wingstop.
I am sure you all remember the "Oprah's Favorite Things" episode of her popular TV talk show. This is the episode where Oprah would share her favorite things, whether it be a sweater, a particular brand of cookies, or in one case, she gave everybody a car. "Oprah's Favorite Things" reminds me of the people you see at Costco, who gather around the people who give out samples of half-cooked, processed chicken cordon bleu nuggets. The masses descend upon the table, and clear out every nugget, and then the next group of vultures sit and wait as the poor lady bakes more nuggets.
The reactions of the studio audience would be hilarious, if it wasn't so oddly disturbing. The expressions on their faces straddle between religious experience and orgasm, although some may say the two are not mutually exclusive. Their reactions remind me of the climactic scene in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" when the the Ark is opened, and the faces of the Nazis melted as a result of looking into the Ark.
Although I think the carnival surrounding "Oprah's Favorite Things" is a bit bizarre, I do appreciate the fact that when you consume a product that you truly love, you want to share it with as many people as you can. In the case of myself, when I eat at a restaurant, there are certain items on the menu that I have partaken in that are awesome. I post pics of the things that I have eaten on my Facebook page all the time, and people constantly ask me, "Where did you get that?" Well, I am now going to tell you. This is..."MARC'S FAVORITE FOOD THINGS" (Part One). LET'S GO!!!
A family favorite, Haute Dogs and Fries serves a mix of locally-made hot dogs and sausages. They also make excellent hand cut fries. I always order the Italian Sausage Sandwich, topped with red and green bell peppers and onions, with a nice coating of provolone cheese. The sausage is spicy, with a little bit of crisp from the peppers, and the creaminess of the cheese. And the New England-style hot dog buns they use is a perfect foil for the sausage. Their fries are some of the best around. Crispy on the outside and soft in the middle, as a good fry is supposed to be done. Get the fries with the chipotle mayo...it makes an excellent dipping sauce. Haute Dogs and Fries holds a special place in my family. It's one of the first places we took Alaiyah when she was baby. It is also the last restaurant that my mother ate out at before passing away in April, 2012. She ordered their "Three Piece Suit" hot dog and loved it. If you don't want to drive all the way out to Purcellville, they recently opened up an Alexandria location. When you go, give the owners, Lionel and Pam a shout out.
Being the good ole' Southern boy that I am, I thought no other chicken mattered except for fried chicken, bbq chicken, and my mother's roasted chicken. Until I started to eat Peruvian chicken. And the best Peruvian chicken around is at El Pollo Rico in Arlington, Virginia. A family-owned joint, it is not the prettiest of places. Parking is a pain in the ass, and they do not take credit cards (They do have an ATM there, in case you forget to get cash). At lunchtime and on the weekends, this place is ridiculously packed, but the chicken is worth the wait (The line actually moves pretty quickly). You get to the counter, and the person there asks what you want. You may not be able to immediately answer them, because one may be distracted by the wonder that is the multiple rotisserie charcoal ovens cooking dozens of chickens at one time. For me, I order a quarter white-meat chicken, steak fries, with some green sauce, and a ice cold can of Coca Cola. For a quarter white-meat chicken, two sides, and two sauces, not including the drink, you will pay about $6.00. A #1 at McDonalds costs as much, and doesn't taste anywhere as good as El Pollo Rico's Peruvian chicken. They also have locations in Gaithersburg and Wheaton, Maryland, and Woodbridge, Virginia. But it is something about the original Arlington location that makes this dining experience special.
Most people are used to the thick-doughed, cloyingly-over sauced tomato sauce, wrongly and "overtoppinged" (Yes, I made that up), plastic cheesed pizza. Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Papa Johns, Little Ceasars...these national chains make something that resembles pizza, but doesn't come close to what pizza really is. The birthplace of pizza is the Naples region of Italy. In Italy they take pizza so seriously, that the Italian Government actually has a designation of what pizza "is". An association called the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association (VPN) "enforces" the rules of pizza making according to the Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) status set forth the Italian Government (There are approximately 90 VPN/DOC pizzerias in the United States). To be considered D.O.C. certified, the Neopolitan pizza must fit four requirements: (1) The dough must be made with "OO" Flour, which along with water, yeast and salt makes up the dough. (2) The tomato sauce must be San Marzano tomatoes, which is a specially cultivated tomato from Italian, grown from soil that was made with the ashes from Mount Vesuvius (You know...the volcano that destroyed Pompeii), (3) The pizza has to cook in a wood fire oven, and (4) Mozzerella di Bufala can be used, in addition to a "few" other toppings. What you get is an authentic slice of Italy. A pizza that uses the best and freshest of ingredients, and the wood fire oven cooks the thin crust to perfection, with leopard-spotted char marks which gives the pizza an added flavor profile. One of the best places to get D.O.C. certified pizza is 2 Amy's Pizza located in the Cleveland Park section of Northwest Washington, D.C (About a block away from the National Cathedral). 2 Amy's has a national reputation of being one of the best pizzerias in the country, and after going several times over the years, I see why. I order the Pizza Vongole, which is a clam pizza (Something that would never been done in Italy, because seafood and cheese is frowned upon.). Fresh clams, garlic, capers, red pepper flake, parsley, and I always add pancetta to it, in order to give a "clams casino"-kind of feel to it. 2 Amy's stays crowded, the parking is inadequate, and seating is limited. However, if you go, it is worth the wait, worth the parking tickets you will receive for parking illegally, and worth eating while you're sitting against the wall.
One of my favorite places in the DC Met Area to is the Eden Center , located in the Seven Corners area of Falls Church, Virginia. The Eden Center is a Vietnamese-centric shopping center consisting of approximately 120 stores. It has been the cultural center for DC's growing Vietnamese population for three decades. Of the 120 stores, 37 of them are bakeries, delis and restaurants. I started going to the Eden Center back in the early-2000's, when I went to a restaurant called Four Sisters, which for many years has been considered the premiere Vietnamese restaurant in the DC Metro Area. A few years ago, Four Sisters moved to nearby Merrifield, Virginia, however the Lai Family who started Four Sisters, changed the space into the largest Vietnamese deli in the Eden Center, called Song Que. When you go into Song Que, the first thing you see is a "hot box" full of Chinese-influenced pork buns, which always makes me drool. In the middle of the store, there is an aisle full of fresh, pre-made Vietnamese classic dishes, and on the right, you see the hot items that you can order to eat in, or take out. What Song Que is known for is there Banh Mi sandwiches. Banh Mi actually speaks to the bread, specifically the baguette which was introduced to Vietnam by French colonialists. What the Vietnamese did was take a crusty baguette and stuff it with different kinds of meat, condiments, pickled and fresh vegetables, and herbs. Your meat choices include everything from pate', Vietnamese meatballs, ham, chicken, shredded pork, and grilled lemongrass beef. My personal favorite is the "#8", which is grilled pork. The pork marinates in fish sauce, lemongrass, palm sugar, and other Vietnamese spices, and then grilled, giving the meat a smoky flavor. The generous amount of grilled pork is topped with pickled dikon and carrots, jalopeno, fresh cucumbers, onions, cilantro, fish sauce, and Asian Butter (Which is mayo). You get an 8-inch pork/veggie filled bonanza for only $3.75. Forget Subway, Mickey D's, or any other funky fast food. Get yourself a piece of Vietnamese culture and one of the best sandwiches in the world.
Washington, D.C. is a steakhouse town. I've been to The Palm, Bobby Van's, Ruths Chris, the old Caucus Room, Morton's, Smith and Wollensky, Capital Grille and probably a few others that I can't remember. There are so many steakhouses in DC they border on cliche'. People conjure up images of wealthy businessmen, lobbyists and politicians corrupting each other over standard steakhouse fare, such as large hunks of aged beef, creamed spinach, sauteed mushrooms, scalloped potatoes, shrimp cocktails, all washed down with a bottle of red wine (You have to buy a nice cigar afterwards). Most of these steakhouses are dimly lit restaurants, appointed with dark woods, generally marketed towards men. In the last few years, however, there has been a paradigm shift in steakhouses across the country. Some of America's top chef/restauranteurs are opening up "new school" steakhouses which elevates the standard steakhouse to something really unique. In the DC Met Area, those new school steakhouses include Laurent Tourondel's formally owned BLT Steak, Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak, and Jean-George Vongerichten's J&G Steakhouse. Charlie Palmer, another one of America's great chefs/restauranteurs opened up Charlie Palmer Steak to wide acclaim in the late-2000's. Although it is a steakhouse, the bright, sleek interior would suggest something other than the classic steakhouse. The menu is also deviation from the standard steakhouse restaurant. In addition to the great steaks, it is also heavy on seafood, and draws from Italian, French and Asian influences. One of my favorite things at Charlie Palmer Steak is their bone-in cowboy cut ribeye steak. Aged for three weeks or more, this medium rare 20-ounce piece of meaty wonderfulness is AWESOME. Choose from one of their 10 different sides (I recommend the potato gnocchi) to accompany the steak, and you are off to their races. If you have room for dessert, I would highly recommend the Trio of Creme Brulee, which I think is one of the area's best dessert options.
Burrata Platter from Pupatella Neapolitan Pizzeria in Arlington, Virginia
http://www.pupatella.com/home.html
Proscuitto Arugula Pizza
Pupatella, like 2 Amys, is another one of the nation's VPN/DOC-certified pizzerias, subscribing to the strict standards by which authentic pizza is made. Unlike 2 Amy's, Pupatella is relatively new to the DC Met Area's culinary landscape. Starting out as a food truck, Pupatella soon opened up a brick and mortar location in Arlington, Virginia between Ballston Common and Falls Church. Although Pupatella is a newcomer, it has opened to wide acclaim locally and nationally, just recently being named to Eater.Com's "38 Essential Pizzerias Across America, 2014. In my opinion, Pupatella is the best pizzeria in the DC Met Area. 2 Amy's has long held that honor, but Pupatella has pulled slightly ahead. It's small, and even on an off day, it's packed, so I would suggest going early. They make many of their products in house, including the breads and cheese. All of the ingredients there are fresh, and they follow the mantra of having great ingredients, and not messing with them too much. Two of my favorite things are at Pupatella, the first being their Burrata Platter and the second being the Proscuitto Arugula pizza. The Burrata Platter is one of the best things I have eaten...PERIOD!!! Burrata is an Italian cheese delicacy. A solid mozzarella outer shell envelopes a mozzarella/cream middle. It has a soft, creamy texture, and it tastes like solid milk. At Pupatella, they make their own barrata, and the platter comes with house-made toasted bread, fresh tomatoes and arugula dressed in olive oil and lemon, and a generous amount of proscuitto. It is an expensive small plate ($19.00), and they sell out quickly. But when I tell you that this is good, this is run across the dessert over broken glass-good. As for the proscuitto arugula pizza, I have seen this kind of pizza at other pizzerias. I never really focused on it, because I wasn't sure about arugula. However, I tried it at Pupatella, and it is now my "go to" pizza. It is a combination of salty, bitter, milky and sweet. One may think of it as salad on a pizza, but it is very filling and very gratifying. I strongly recommend this pizza. I cannot recommend Pupatella enough. At least once a week, I joke with Alicia about going there to eat. To be honest, it's not really a joke...I could eat there every week. If you live within 50 miles of this place, travel there and eat some of the pizza in the country.
A plate of dumplings at China Bistro in Rockville, Maryland
No Website
There is a story about how I discovered this place. I am not sure if Alicia and I were on holiday break, or if we were playing hooky from work, but on a cloudy and rainy day in 2009, we were thinking about what to have for lunch. My wife, who is a Chinese food junkie, said that she had a taste for Cantonese-style dumplings. Most Chinese restaurants and several mainstream American restaurants sell dumplings, mainly as appetizer items. They are usually pre-made and frozen, and lack a certain punch of flavor. Alicia and I do not eat at most Chinese restaurants, because many of them are the same cliche', Americanized, unauthentic version of Cantonese cuisine that so many of us are familiar with. The few that we do go to serve great, authentic regional Chinese cuisine, but we found that the dumplings were lacking. So I had to do a quick search of restaurants in the area that serve good dumplings. I did a Google search, and one restaurant kept showing up, and that restaurant was China Bistro. China Bistro is located in Rockville, Maryland, specifically in Rockville's Chinatown section, where some of the area's best regional Chinese restaurants are located. I showed Alicia the reviews, we hopped in our car, and took the 40 minute drive to Rockville. The restaurant is located in a small strip mall off of Rockville Pike/Hungerford Drive. The parking is horrible, and that day, it was difficult to find a parking space. As we walk towards the restaurant, we see a line coming out of the door. We then remembered it was lunchtime, but still, we were surprised at the length of the line. The restaurant is small...REALLY small. Prior to the renovations that they made last year, China Bistro sat about 15-20 people in the main dining room, and then they had a smaller room right behind the cash register. Although clean, it was unattractive and nondescript. If you decide to dine there, and you have to go to the restroom, you literally have to walk through the kitchen into the back of the restaurant in order to "handle" one's business. Since the renovation, the restaurant has expanded considerably, and it is more decorative and inviting. They also built a new restroom that one did not have to go through the kitchen to access. The area near the door where the line started at was cramped, but Alicia and I settled in. I would say about 90% of the people who were ordering, were ordering dumplings to go. Some people were ordering bulk orders of dumplings in order to take home and freeze them. Alicia and I looked at each other wondering "what the hell they are putting in these dumplings?". We waited in the line for about 30 to 45 minutes. During our wait, we had the opportunity look over the menu. Despite the emphasis on dumplings, it is a full-service restaurant that serves other regional Chinese classics...some familiar, some that are not. Although this place has attracted the attention of non-Chinese persons, the menu at China Bistro was designed primarily with the Chinese consumer in mind. But of course, Alicia and I were there for the dumplings, and on their menu they had 12 different dumplings, the most expensive dumplings were $7.95 (The prices have moderately increased since then). With an order, you get a dozen dumplings, ranging from pork and dill, vegetarian, chive and shrimp, and many more. However, Alicia and I were interested in ordering "Mama's Special Dumplings" ("MSD"), which was mentioned a great deal in the reviews we read. MSD consist of pork, shrimp, chive and napa cabbage. I personally believe they have crack as a secret ingredient, but that is pure speculation at this point. Alicia and I ordered two orders of MSD, paid, and had to wait for an additional 10-15 minutes. Why so long? Because they make each and every dumpling TO ORDER. Nothing pre-made, nothing frozen. Every order is made with care and attention to detail. It's all about quality and culinary integrity. When they did have the bathroom behind the kitchen, I actually saw how they made the dumplings, and it is an awesome process. All of the ingredients are fresh, and their dumpling dough is made in-house. We then received our order, headed to our car, drove to a nearby parking lot where we decided to eat. We opened up our boxes, and steam immediately hit our faces. The smell was intoxicating. In the styrofoam containers, we see 12 really large dumplings. Most places you go, you get five or six miniature dumplings or pot stickers. Not these dumplings. These were dumplings on steroids. Alicia and I could not whip out our chopsticks out fast enough, as we proceeded to eat. We took our first bites of the dumplings, and we were beyond happy. Texture, flavor, aroma...these pillows of culinary wonderfulness were well worth the wait, and we understood why people gave such favorable reviews to China Bistro. Alicia and I ate all of our dumplings, and almost went back to order some to take home (We didn't want to deal with that line again). We did come back about a week or so later, enjoyed some more dumplings, scallion pancakes, and Mama's Special Soup, which was awesome. We have been going to China Bistro since then, inviting friends to enjoy the experience with us, and it was probably the first restaurant we took Alaiyah to after she was born. Since that time, she has also become a fan of the dumplings and soup. These dumplings are so precious to Alicia, that the mere mention of the word "dumpling" will cause her to have a pavlovian-response, and she immediately wants to head to Rockville for dumplings. Once you go to China Bistro, you will understand Alicia's reaction. I would just say...call ahead and order.
Cumin Pulled Lamb Noodles at Xi'an Famous Foods in Flushing, Queens (NYC) http://www.xianfoods.com
If you want to get this dish, you are going to have to travel 4 hours north to the Big Apple, and go to Chinatown. Not the one in Manhattan that everybody knows about, but the larger Chinatown in the Flushing section of Queens, which is not far from where my wife grew up. This is not the fake-ass, two or three block Chinatown that we have here in DC, this is a serious, real-deal Chinatown. Nobody speaks English. Most of the signs are in Cantonese or Mandarin, and all of the businesses cater to Chinese people. In the middle of Main Street in Flushing, there is the Golden Shopping Mall, which is the epicenter of the Chinese community in Flushing (Pictured Below)
The Golden Shopping Mall in Flushing, Queens (NYC)
As you can see in the picture above, this certainly doesn't look like a mall. In fact the entrance to the mall (In the center) looks like the entrance to a convenient store. But when you walk in, it is something totally different. You take a narrow stairway, almost like a stairway you have at your house. You go down about four levels, and then BOOM...you're in an underground Chinese village. You walk through a labyrinth of stores and restaurants, walking through narrow corridors going from one place to the next. We were making our way through this maze of stores, and we asked a man how to get to Xi-an Famous Foods. The man's English wasn't good, but he was able to point us in the right direction, and we ended up at Xi'an Famous Foods. I first heard about Xi'an Famous Foods on Travel Channel's "No Reservations". It has also been featured on "Bizarre Foods", as well as featured on several other food shows. Although there are several locations within NYC, this is the original location, and considered the best. The restaurant is about the size of an average American kitchen. It seats about six to ten people, and the tables and chairs are wobbly. On the wall, they have a pictoral menu of all the items they offer. Alicia and I ordered two items that each show talked about, which was the Cumin Lamb Burger and the Cumin Lamb Pulled Noodles. Ground lamb meat spiced with cumin, peppers, onions and other spices, stuffed inside a pita-like pastry. It's yummy, spicy and unrealistically cheap...only $1.50. As happy as we were with the Cumin Lamb Burger, we were anxious to try the Cumin Lamb Pulled Noodles. As soon as you order the noodles, we saw one of the women in the kitchen pull out noodle dough, and literally make the noodles right before your eyes. It involves pulling the dough and slamming the dough on the counter. Pulling the dough and slamming the dough. You wonder how this process is going to turn the dough into noodles, but the longer they do this, the noodles start to form. They then put the noodles in water for a brief period of time, take the noodles out, toss the noodles in some kind of spiced oil mixed with spiced lamb, and then served. Cost...about $5.00. We begin to eat, and once again, we had the same kind of shared reaction with good food. It was awesome. The noodles were not firm, but not mushy. The spicy oil and lamb was spicy, but it was so good you didn't give a damn about how much pain you were in. You just wanted to eat more and more. The ladies at the counter, in their broken English, asked if we liked it, and we gave them an enthusiastic thumbs up. I think being the only black people in the restaurant, and perhaps the whole mall, she was concerned about whether we liked it. It's all good though. We left satisfied, and we didn't spend that much money for a great lunch. For the cost of two-#1's at Mickey D's, you get some of the best, and most authentic Chinese food in the country.
Some people think it is a culinary icon. Others think it is overrated cliche'. To me, it is both, but that doesn't take away from its greatness. Some people say that you are not a true Washingtonian until you have a half smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl located in the U Street Corridor in NW DC. Ben's has been a giant in DC's culinary landscape since 1958, founded by Ben Ali, a Trinidadian immigrant. Ben's serves the common man, the celebrities, and even the President of the United States. The celebrity mainly associated with Ben's Chili Bowl is Bill Cosby, who has been a lifelong customer. It has been featured in movies and television shows. My mother used to go to Ben's Chili Bowl when she lived on U Street back in the 1960's. Now it has become a tourist trap, with lines snaking around the building. Ben's sells burgers, hot dogs, fries, etc., etc. Ben's is famous for their half-smokes, which is a spicy hot dog-sausage hybrid. The classic Ben's dish is a "Half-Smoke with everything", everything meaning chili, mustard and onions. You can get it with fries or potato chips. It's messy, it's not organic, in fact the half smoke exemplifies culinary incorrectness. And it is SOOOOOOO GOOD. I turned my wife onto it, and being that she is from the hot dog capital of the country (NYC), I thought she would look unfavorably on the half smoke. After trying one, she said it was the best hot dog she has ever had...HANDS DOWN. I know a lot of my DC friends who don't like Ben's, which to me speaks to a certain level of contrianism born out of the fact that it is a tourist attraction. Who cares? If it is good, it's good. When you come to DC, take the green-yellow line on the Metrorail, get off at the U Street/African American Civil War/Cardozo metro stop, walk across the street, walk into Ben's, see Big Mo (Big dude with dreadlocks), and ask him for a half smoke with everything. After you enjoy your half smoke, walk down the block to the 7-11, and buy yourself some Tums. You will need it.
And for now...that's the Marc-Up!!! We'll reconvene soon for "Marc's Favorite Food Things-Part Two"
The last time I posted was in November of 2013.It has been a long time. Family and friends encouraged me to start blogging, and I was proud to announce on my Facebook page that I was starting a blog. Unfortunately, I have not been a prolific blogger. I became lazy. Being the father of an active three-year old doesn't provide me the time that I should dedicate to blogging. And earlier this year, I started graduate school. I am taking an online graduate program with New England College, which is located in Henniker, New Hampshire. In June, 2015, I will receive my Masters of Arts in Public Policy. I have completed one class ("Environmental Policy and Politics"), and I am now taking a class entitled "Campaigns and Elections". After writing reports on alternative renewable energy sources or having online discussions on the voting behavior of the electorate, posting wasn't really on my mind. However, there are have been a number of topics that I have wanted to share. Although I enjoy my graduate studies, I need to write about something that is fun...something that speaks to my personality. I need to carve time out of my schedule to blog (Among other things). I say all of this to say that.....
I'M BACK!!!
New blog posts are forthcoming on politics, food, culture, and whatever else I want to talk about. Rakim, of Eric B. and Rakim fame, said it best in the hip-hop classic, "I Know You Got Soul", from their landmark album, "Paid In Full". He said, "It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you...". It indeed has been a long time, and I am committed to posting more frequently. Again, more posts are forthcoming.
THE REAL AMERICA!!! The one thing I cannot stand about politics are the euphemisms and cliches' politicians use to gain one's vote, or to inflame the passions of their supporters. You all have heard them before. Terms such as "bipartisan", "reach across the aisle", "Washington is bad", "liberal media", etc., etc. But there is one term that ticks me off to no end, and that is the term, "Real American". What distinguishes "Real Americans" from so-called "Fake Americans"? Although both sides of the political ideological spectrum use the term, it is those on the ideological "right" that unfortunately use the term to awaken the passions of those who arrogantly feel like they are losing "their" country. Let me clarify what the term "Real Americans" mean, from a conservative point of view. It means: (1) White, (2) Male, (3) Straight, (4) Christian, (5) Working Class or Middle Class, (6) Native Born and (7) Rural and Southern. I know what I am going to hear next. That I am some bleeding heart liberal, picking on conservatives, with no evidence to the contrary. Well...if you don't believe me, just look at almost anything that Ann Coulter ever wrote or said, or read Patrick Buchanan's ridiculously-titled book, "Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025", a book dedicated to WASP ideology and supremacy. Hannity, O'Reilly, Santorum, Gingrich, Bachmann, so on and so forth, have all put forth views that border on racial/ethnic paranoia and xenophobia. That somehow, diversity is a negative. Social justice is something to be mocked. Compassion and empathy is a sign of weakness, and that change is to be resisted at all costs. The irony of those who believe that way, are the same people who romanticize the history of immigrants coming to the United States, and how it fits into the narrative of the "American Dream". They paint a Hollywood-scripted picture of wary immigrants, in search of a better life, and that life will be realized in America (Which is fine). Immigrants from then-Palestine, Italy, France, all walking through the doors of Ellis Island, under the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, the iconic symbol of the freedom. It is a source of so-called pride, which is often used as a bumper sticker-like cliche', instead of something that is genuine. The WASP Power Structure ("WPS") in this country never has fully embraced the idea of diversity that comes as a direct result of immigration. The "WPS" in the mid-1840's looked upon the Irish who immigrated to this country, due to the potato famine, as the "White Trash of Europe". The Jewish immigrants that came through Ellis Island, were ignored by the "WPS", due to their religious affiliation, culture and economic standing. As a result, they were pushed into sections of New York City, called "ghettos". The term "ghetto" originally was applied to Jews throughout the Jewish Diaspora, who were purposely segregated to certain parts of a city. Italians were considered the "Niggers of Europe" due to their dark skin, and all were unfairly associated with La Cosa Nostra, commonly referred to as the Mafia. 100-plus years later, the same attitudes still exist. When one talks about a "Real American", most are not thinking of a person named Jaime Gonzales, Tyrone Jackson, or James Wu. It speaks to a country that is trying to hold on to some false notion of what this country is, and using political tools to preserve a culture of entitlement, instead of celebrating the idea of diversity and difference. America is changing, whether people like it or not. So we have two choices...either embrace the wonderful diversity that is the United States of America or align oneself with an faulty and archaic paradigm of what this country is supposed to be. WHY AM I WRITING THIS BLOG ENTRY? I'm glad you asked. I was inspired to write this entry based on an event, that occurred on the 26th of October. It showed me what America can be, if we embrace change, show Christian compassion, and think of people as just that...PEOPLE. I was invited to a wedding. My good friend, Velginy Hernandez ("Vel") was getting married to her now-husband, Thien. Vel and I met back in 2009. She was a fresh-faced, recent college grad who was interning for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. I was working on the committee as staffer. Vel worked hard, proved her worth to the committee, and was asked to stay on as a paid staffer in the Committee's Communications Department. Over the next two years, Vel became close to myself and my wife, Alicia. We went out to dinner with each other, and visited each other's homes. Vel asked for my advice on "life matters", which I was happy to give. And she has helped me in many ways. She became a little sister to me. A part of my family, and she embraced me in the same way. I was more than honored that she invited Alicia and I to the wedding. Her now-husband, Thien is a great guy, despite being a Dallas Cowboys fan. What does this have to do with the "Real America"?
Vel and myself at Alaiyah's Baby Shower in December, 2010
What made this day unique was the collision of race, class, gender, religion and nationality, that spoke to what America should be. Let me break it down: (1) I attended a wedding in which Vel, who is half-Vietnamese, half-Salvadorian married her now-husband, Thien who is full-Vietnamese. (2) The wedding ceremony was held at the Dahlgren Chapel on the campus of Georgetown University, a Jesuit university, which is one of the most prominent and costly universities in the world, and Vel's alma mater. (3) Alicia and I enter the chapel, and soon noticed that we were the only African Americans there. I'm a "good ole' boy" from Loudoun County, a descendent of slaves who toiled on the Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg, Virginia, and my New York City-born and bred wife who is of Jamaican-descent. We sat down, and was in awe of the stained glass, and the ornateness of the chapel. Before the wedding started, my friend, James and his wonderful wife, Ruth sat next to Alicia and I. James also worked with Vel and I on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and became a big brother-like figure to Vel. (4) James is of Lebanese and Scott-Irish descent, and his wife, Ruth is half-Philipino and half-caucasian.
James and his lovely wife, Ruth, at the wedding reception
The wedding starts. Thien's parents walk him down the aisle to the alter, so he can receive his bride. (5) Vel's father, Mr. Tran (A Vietnamese immigrant, who came to this country, worked hard, saved and invested his money, opened several businesses, and became wealthy as a result. He now runs an organization which helps out those back in Vietnam. He is a very nice, down to Earth man, who is an inspiration to me) walks Vel's stepmother down the aisle to their respective seats. The groomsmen walk the bridesmaids down the aisle to their respective places around the alter. Mr. Tran races back to the entrance of the church for the main event...the entrance of the bride. Vel walks down the aisle in all her splendor. I have to admit, I was close to tearing up. (6) Mr. Tran rejoins his wife. Two Buddhists, watch as their daughter/step-daughter and Thien have their Catholic wedding ceremony presided over by a priest. The wedding was full of Catholic ritual, that I didn't necessarily understand, being a (7) Southern Baptist, but I happily embraced it. (8) Vel's Salvadorian-born mother, Mrs. Hernandez-Colon, and Thien's Vietnamese mother light a unity candle at the alter, to celebrate the union of their families. Vows and rings were exchanged, as was saliva when Thien was told that he could kiss his bride.
You May Kiss The Bride
The two turned to the crowd, and then walked out of the chapel with their arms locked together. The reception wasn't immediately after the wedding ceremony, so Alicia and I had some time to kill. Later on that evening, (9) the reception was held at a Chinese restaurant located in Falls Church, Virginia, one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the Northern Virginia, if not the entire Commonwealth of Virginia. (10) At the reception, a more diverse crowd of individuals were there...White, African American, Jewish, Indian, etc. (11) They had a Vietnamese band playing and singing songs from African American R&B artists like Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson and Whitey Houston, and doing a good job at it. Ruth and James sat next to Alicia and I, as was other people at the table. The venue was really nice, and we had a lot of fun. Then Alicia and I had to leave early to pick up Alaiyah from my father's house. While on the road, I was telling Alicia how great of a day it was. Not just because of Vel getting married, which would have been sufficient, but how blessed we were to be part of an event where there was such a happy collision of cultures, religions, races, etc. Nobody looked at each other as black, white, rich, middle-class, Buddhist, Catholic, or Protestant...we were all equals. The day truly exemplified the American Dream.
A week later, Alicia, Alaiyah and I were invited over to Vel's parents' house for a BBQ. This wasn't our first time over at Mr. and Mrs. Tran's house, but it was the first time for a BBQ. Mrs. Tran made some great Vietnamese classic dishes, such as grilled-Lemongrass Chicken, marinated and grilled beef ribs, and rice noodles with spicy fish sauce. Mrs. Tran also made a respectable potato salad. All the while, Thien and some of Vel's relatives were watching the Redskins game, drinking beer, laughing and having a good time. Alaiyah went downstairs to play with Vel's little cousins, and was having so much fun we didn't see her until we left. Family member after family member came into the house. More food...more beer...more football. Crawfish, Shrimp, Pork Ribs...I nearly exploded. As things died down, Thien and I talked about married life, and what he should expect. At the same time, Alicia was talking to Vel about the same thing. Alicia and I talked to Vel's family, who are all awesome people. One family member was "geared up", wearing Washington Redskins swag, and wearing a Washington National's hat. There was about 20-30 people there, and Alicia, Alaiyah and I were the ONLY people not of Vietnamese descent there. But in no way, did we feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. It was truly blessed evening. If you want to know what America is about...I just told you. If you missed it, it is because you wanted to miss it. Embracing all that this country has to offer, is what America is supposed to be about. It's not about how loud you can sing Lee Greenwood's song, "I'm Proud To Be An American", how much apple pie you eat, or if you know all of the words to the "Star Spangled Banner" (The latter, all citizens should know). America is about people. People from different walks of life, co-existing together peacefully and with understanding. It is my hope that we can evolve into a society where we judge each other solely by the content of one's character, and that differences and diversity are words that will be celebrated, and not looked upon as a threat to so-called American Society. Velginy Hernandez is a REAL AMERICAN...Anh Thien Nguyen is a REAL AMERICAN...James Latoff is a REAL AMERICAN...Ruth Back is a REAL AMERICAN...Mr. and Mrs. Tran are REAL AMERICANS...myself and my wife are REAL AMERICANS. WE ARE ALL REAL AMERICANS!!! This is dedicated to Vel and Thien. Wishing you a happy and blessed marriage.
I come from a family of cooks and caterers. My grandmother, Mary Reid, was an accomplished cook, who left an indelible culinary mark on my family. Cooking is in our blood. We don't look at food as something that you simply consume. Food is a craft...it's an expression of love. It's nothing to take lightly. In my family, food is taken so seriously, that it is a form of competition, and praise does not come easily. Some of us grow our own food, and all of us are dedicated to making dishes (and components of the dishes) from scratch. We make our own vinegars, stocks, sauces, pie crusts, etc. IT'S WHAT WE DO!!! "Johnson Family Food Love" will be a category that I will include in my blog, dedicated to highlighting culinary creations of the Johnson Family. In this post, I will highlight creations made with apples. It's apple season, and we were fortunate enough to get a large amount of gala, ginger gold and honey crisp varieties of apples.These creations are courtesy of myself, my cousins, Stacee and April Johnson, and my aunt (and their mother), Faye Johnson.
We are going to start with the culinary creations of my cousin, Stacee. Stacee is passionate about food. So much so, that she grows her own food. She is creative, her execution is above board, and as a result, her food is delicious. Here is what she has done with the humble apple.
Apple Turnovers-Made with phyllo dough, instead of the often-used puff pastry. It gives the turnover a lighter feel, as well as crispy texture and flavor. The turnover is filled with caramel and apple chunks. Courtesy of Stacee Johnson (c) (2013)
Turkey Apple Sage Breakfast Sausage-Made with a combination of ginger gold and honey crisp apples, and sage that came from Stacee's garden. Breakfast sausage never tasted so good. Courtesy of Stacee Johnson (c) (2013)
With as many apples as Stacee had, she has to make apple cider. Although it took a great deal of apples to make only 3 cups of cider, it was a great way to use apples. She strained the juice, and then saved the pulp. For what, you may ask? Check out the next picture. Courtesy of Stacee Johnson (c) (2013)
To go with that terrific Turkey Apple Sage Breakfast Sausage, Stacee made Apple Cinnamon Rolls. She used the apple pulp from apple cider in the dough and used the rest of the turnover filling in the middle of the rolls along with toasted pecans and spices. We don't waste anything. She then made a glaze using Pecan Praline Balsamic Vinegar, powdered sugar, and topping the rolls with additional toasted pecans. Some turkey sausage, some apple cinnamon rolls, and a cup of coffee. Life is good!!! Courtesy of Stacee Johnson (c) (2013)
Continuing the theme of "waste not...want not", Stacee used to the leftover apple cores and skins as a base for making Apple Cider Vinegar. It will take a month or so, for it to become vinegar. I know for me, I love apple cider vinegar as a condiment for greens. Courtesy of Stacee Johnson (c) (2013)
Next up is Stacee's sister...my cousin, April. April is another one who believes in executing and taking the craft of cooking seriously. She is also very creative, recently making Strawberry-Basil Pretzel Ice Cream. Using gala apples, April was able to transform them into something that was absolutely delicious. Check it out.
Apple Yogurt Cake. Really, that is all you need to say. DROP THE MIC...EXIT STAGE LEFT!!! Courtesy of April Johnson (c) (2013)
Now we have Stacee's and April's mother...my Aunt Faye. Although many of us pay tribute to our grandmother when it comes to culinary influence, however it is evident that Stacee and April learned a great deal from their mother, who is an accomplished cook, especially when it comes to baked goods. This is what she did with her gala apples.
There are oatmeal cookies, and then there are OATMEAL COOKIES..."THIS IS NOT A GAME"-OATMEAL COOKIES. My aunt made Apple-Walnut Oatmeal Cookies drizzled with a burnt butter frosting. Burnt Butter Frosting...who does that? Oh...SHE DOES...WE DO!!! Courtesy of Faye Johnson (c) (2013)
and last, but certainly not least...
we have me. For those who see my Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/marcbjohnson), my culinary skills speaks for itself. Regarding my apple creation, the classics are the best dishes. I didn't do anything laborious or fancy. But when you do the classics, the execution has to be on point. I made a simple apple crisp, using gala apples. Generally when I make apple crisp, I use Granny Smith Apples, because they stand up to heat, and I like the tart flavor. But I used what I had, and it came out well.
A simple, yet delicious apple crisp. I toasted some oats, and combined the toasted oats with flour, ice cold butter, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt. I sauteed the apples in butter, with a combination of brown and white sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt. I cut the apples in chunks, because galas tend to break down, and I want people to eat apple crisp, not an apple sauce crisp. Put it in the oven for about 45 minutes, pull it out, let it set, and serve with vanilla ice cream. Life is good. Courtesy of Marc Johnson (c) (2013)
Again, this is WHAT WE DO. Johnson Family Food Love...Apple Edition. More food pics coming soon.
FOOD LOVE-THE FOOD TRUCK MOVEMENT IN TYSONS CORNER
Food Trucks lining Solutions Drive in Tysons Corner-October 9, 2013
One of the great perks of working in the Tysons Corner-area of McLean (Virginia) is that I am near a bustling Food Truck scene. Instead of having to choose from the flavorless and mundane (Subway, McDonalds, etc.), the food trucks provide a variety of awesome treats that I occasionally go to. Most of the food trucks in Tysons Corner, line up on Solutions Drive, right off of Greensboro Drive. Most of the customers they attract come from the nearby offices of government contractors Booz Allen Hamilton (And "NO"...I never saw Edward Snowden lining up to get a Korean taco) and SAIC. I have been going to these food trucks for the last two years, and my taste buds have been pleased. There is a great website called FoodTruck Fiesta (CLICK HERE). It posts in real time, where food trucks are in the DC Met Area, which is how I find these food trucks. Some people also subscribe to these food trucks' Twitter and Facebook pages to find out their times and locations. They usually arrive at their location(s) at 10:00-10:30 a.m. to set up, and usually start serving at 11:00 a.m. Today was a good day for eating. There was about nine or ten trucks out today, the most I have seen in awhile. Some of them are pictured above. If you work in the Tysons-area, or even Vienna, go to FoodTruck Fiesta (They also have an app), check out the offerings at Tysons and check it out. And if you can...buy me a sandwich. I'll pay you back (Wink).
The DC Sliders Food Truck. Oh YES...a sliders food truck.
On the left is the Chef on Wheels Food Truck. I went there yesterday and today...great tacos and burritos. Not authentic, but quite tasty. On the right is the El Fuego Food Truck, which serves Peruvian Fusion Cuisine.
POLITICAL COMMENTARY-WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS? TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR
"The best argument against Democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter"-Sir Winston Churchill
When there is a problem with this government....whenever the citizenry
of this country feels that they are left out of the process, they like
to remind their elected officials that the Unites States is a democracy.
Unfortunately they would be incorrect. The word "democracy" comes
from the Greek word "Demokratia". "Demos" means "people" and "Kratia"
means "power". This refers to the direct democracies of Ancient
Greek city-states where ANY citizen who wanted to be heard could be
heard, and could fully participate in the operations of government. The
principles behind this form of governing were laudable, but the execution
of this form of governance proved to be ineffective. Entire
city-states of people debating issues, with little organization, and
most citizens not having a grasp of the issues. These direct
democracies became "bitch-fests" for those who were charismatic, manipulative
and were able to inflame the passions of people for political advantage. A more effective form of
government had to be created using Democratic principles, yet operating
in an organized and more streamlined fashion. This form of government
is known as a "Representative Democracy"....or commonly referred to as a
Republic. The United States is a Democratic Republic, where the power is vested in the people, but laws are made by persons that citizens
elect to represent their interests. There is one main problem with
Republics. A Republic requires its citizens to be well-informed about
issues (community and nationwide), and have the ability to properly
"vett" candidates for public office who have the intelligence, ability
and integrity to serve them. Republics are successful, when they have a
citizenry that constantly petitions their elected officials, and holding
them accountable during their time in office. You all are probably asking yourselves, "Why is he giving us a political science lesson on democracy?". I'm getting to that.
Like everyone else, I have an opinion about the government shutdown.It is an awful situation which seriously affects the daily lives of government workers, impedes the economy of the United States, hurts the security of this country and sullies the reputation of the United States. I have friends of mine who have been furloughed because of this mess. I'm not going to get into the politics behind the budget, because that is not the subject of this blog post. I won't get into a debate about the Affordable Care Act either. I will say that certain Members of Congress are going about their business the wrong way, and they ought to be ashamed of how they are representing themselves, their constituents, and the country at large. On the issue of the budget, the debt ceiling, or any number of important issues, Members of Congress continue to make asses out of themselves, while the country has to suffer for it.
With all of that said, in the past few days, weeks, months and years, I have read the Facebook posts of friends and family frustrated by any number of issues, in addition to the budget and subsequent shutdown of the federal government. Friends and family constantly talk about how bad "the system" is, and how bad politicians are. After awhile, I get frustrated by the constant self-righteous moaning and groaning of an electorate that believes civic participation begins and ends on Election Day. The "Just Enough" Paradigm of Civic Participation has contributed greatly to the malfunction, dysfunction and decline of the American Political System. If the American People want to know what's wrong with politics today, they need to take a long look in the mirror. I am not outright blaming the citizens of this country for the current budget crisis. However, if the American People were more proactive and attentive, instead of being reactive and disinterested, then perhaps we would have a well informed electorate who would know the issues, elect the right people to represent them, and to care enough to make sure that elected official do their damn job. In the Bible, specifically in the 2nd chapter of James, it says "Faith without works is dead." As for the American People, outrage without action contributes to an ineffective government. Yelling, ranting, posting ignorant status updates, will not change the way Washington works, and is not a substitute for civic participation. Calling someone a "conservative" or a "liberal" as if they are epithets, doesn't inspire constructive dialogue. Like any Democratic Republic, politicians are merely a reflection of the people they represent. If you have dysfunctional politicians, more than likely, you have a dysfunctional electorate. If you still don't understand, let me provide you with an example.
A 25-year old kid is looking to buy his first new car. He was just hired to be a courier for a delivery company. Buying the right car and maintaining the car is key to his employment, in addition to driving it for personal use. First, he must do research on the car he wants to buy. He asks himself some questions: What's the price of the vehicle? Do I want a car or a SUV? What kind of gas mileage does this vehicle get? Does it have a reputation for being reliable? Will this vehicle make my insurance go through the proverbial roof? Will the vehicle be able to accomodate the items that I will be delivering? He is what is known as an "informed consumer". He then goes through the process of buying the vehicle. Then comes the matter of maintenance. He has to change his oil every 3,000 miles, or every 3 months. He has to make sure that his brakes work properly, and has sufficient brake fluid. He has to make sure that his wheels are aligned. The tires on the car have to be the right size, the tread can't be worn, and they have to have the right amount of air in them.This is called "preventive maintenance". By consistently maintaining his car (In a timely manner), he will save money, he won't be stressed out, and because he is not taking his car to the mechanic all the time, he will not miss time at his job. He treats his car well, thus the car treats him well. Let's take another 25-year old kid, who was also hired to work as a courier for the same delivery company. He is also looking to buy his first new car. Like his co-worker, buying the right car and maintaining his car is key to his employment, in addition to driving it for personal use. Unlike his co-worker, this young man is more concerned about the aesthetics of the vehicle, as oppose to it's cost, reliability, gas mileage, or the reputation of the vehicle. He wants an expensive sports car that has a shaky reputation and costs a fortune to maintain. His insurance will be sky-high, the gas mileage is crappy, and the vehicle will not have the room to transport the items that he is paid to deliver. All he is concerned about is how good the sound system is, and if the vehicle has chrome rims on it. To hell with the fact that Consumer Reports gave this vehicle a failing grade. Despite all of the information provided, he goes on and overpays for this expensive "statement" car. He doesn't take the time or money to maintain it. He doesn't take it to get cleaned. The front end is misaligned, which takes a wear and tear on his tires. He gets the oil changed every now and then, thus placing pressure on the transmission to do more than what is required. His car is constantly in the shop, and he is paying more in repair costs than he should. He is constantly calling his boss, requesting time off, due to problems with his vehicle. Lastly, his car note and insurance premiums are ridiculously high, and because of the high performance-nature of the car, he has to fuel his car with premium gas, which costs him $250 a month. He didn't rule the car, the car ruled him. He eventually lost his job, is in debt, and can't go to job interviews because his car remains in the shop. If he was proactive, instead of reactive, he would have a better quality of life.
Most Americans, with regards to civic participation, are like the latter car owner. They don't do their research on the issues. The electorate tend not to "vett" candidates who are running for elected office, instead voting the party line. Most people are attracted to the unqualified, unintelligent, communication-deficient, ideological candidate, instead of the sensible, intelligent, practical candidate, who happens to be an effective communicator. Because people are too lazy to do their own research, they rely on Fox News and MSNBC, and hyper-partisan websites to provide them with sometimes questionable information that play to their ideological leanings. They don't attend town hall meetings, call their Members of Congress, and/or write their elected officials. They just vote on Election Day, go home to scratch their collective asses while watching "American Idol", and the only interaction they have with the government after the election(s) is getting their drivers license at the DMV or filing their federal income tax with the IRS. Government does not operate on remote control. Government requires a citizenry that cares enough about the government to put the right people in charge to run it. Citizens need to be proactive and maintain the quality of their government by monitoring their public officials, reading the party platforms, tracking legislation, attending meetings and making your voice heard. It doesn't take a lot of time to do these things. It is your duty as an American Citizen to take "intellectual umbrage" with the government. The Greek philosopher, Plato once said that "One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." If Americans continue to be slothful in their approach to politics, then they are ensuring that inferior politicians will govern them with impunity, take them down the road of malfunction and dysfunction, and cause political paralysis.
We call politicians "idiots", "assholes" or worse. Are they? Maybe!!! Americans are demanding that Members of Congress not take salary during the shutdown. Will that help Americans feel good? Will it change the American Political Landscape No, to both questions (And by the way, regardless of how people feel about Congress, Members of Congress are essential employees, for the mere fact that Congress is essential to the operation of the Federal Government)!!! Should Americans be considered "idiots" and "assholes" because they take an inactive role in their government's activities? Should Americans have to forgo their salaries, because they are bad citizens? If Members of Congress and their staffers were polled, I wonder what the approval rating would be of the American Public?
I have heard from a few people that because of Congressional Ineffectiveness, Members of Congress should be term-limited. I always laugh when the issue of term limits come up. When someone mentions that to me, I give the same answer, "WE HAVE TERM LIMITS...THEY ARE CALLED ELECTIONS". The conspiracy theorists will say "The fix is in...elections are rigged". The 2010 mid-term Congressional Elections prove that theory wrong, when the Republicans obtained control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Many Democratic Staffers lost their jobs because of that election, including myself. If you know of an ineffective elected official, you organize, you volunteer, you donate to a responsible candidate who can replace that official. A restaurant will continue to serve the same crappy food, with the same level of crappy service until enough patrons demand change. You wouldn't ask a restaurant to stay open only for a few years, because a certain number of restaurants around the neighborhood are culinary f**k-ups. Get off of your ass and get involved. Term Limits are for the lazy and weak, who can't take enough time from their so-called busy lives and perform a duty that people have died for.
Some people genuinely do not know where to go to obtain information. Some people do not know what information is reliable. If anyone does not know what to do, please contact me. I can direct you to proper sources, explain the legislative process, how to gauge media information and instruct you how to petition your elected officials. If you don't know who your elected officials are, which a great many people don't, then I can get that information for you. A smart and active electorate can be creators of positive change in this country. We can avoid situations like the government shutdown, simply by voting in the right people, and being as smart, if not smarter than those who we chose to represent us. Stop falling for propaganda...ignore Rush, ignore Rachel, and search your own hearts as to who and what you are, and what issues you support and don't support. Just because your father was a Republican, doesn't mean you have to be. But again, the most important thing is to stay informed, maintain and act.
