Kinkikali

November Revolution

Since 2001, national politics has become progressively more contentious and complex.  The coming mid-term elections are already described in “line in the sand” terms.  Unfortunately there is no national consensus—just groups of hell for leather and bunker mentality interests.  Trust exists only within “the tribe”.

And there is zero patience.  So the Democrats get the proverbial boot.  Republicans take over, but then what?  Will they stand by their promises or will hopes be burst like plenty of recent bubbles.

Voters will stew knowing nothing has changed in the positive direction.  There are vague alternatives–but again can bravado translate to practical solutions.  Our troubles, especially financial, are too deep and widespread.  It has taken decades to degrade the low and middle class.  They are stripped of all but defiance and anger.

This leads to long term questions about democracy competency. 

Unfortunately institutions in America are pretty well sullied and younger generations are none to pleased with current and especially future state of affairs.  There are some ok folks running for office, but the prospects don’t look good.  Many candidates are so virulently “anti-government” that one wonders why they are running for something they hate.

Since severe financial disruptions has left so much in the air, now would be the time to deep think how to re-arrange the things we once considered permanent, before they are thrust upon us by those who find elections no longer enough to sustain democracy.

Duly Noted

Earlier this year, before the Gulf Spill, the petroleum industry ran a TV commercial that awed the viewer with deep sea drilling potential.  It was all glamorous stuff with a single primary well having multiple “tentacles” running along the seabed to other wells. Then came Earth Day and an explosion and the rest is floating in its long voyage to the Gulf Stream and beyond.  That commercial strangely has dropped out of sight. Just shows that sexy sales pitches often end up in oily ditches.

Continuing Decline

Despite more good news on the economic front, bad news just comes in bigger mobs.  Recent notes, the Ginger House, a local restaurant with sushi service, is dropping its sushi.  This regressives sushi to Peterborough and Concord, a bummer.

Irving Oil/Shaw’s is cutting back on their groceries for gas.  It used to be $50 in groceries got you $.10 off per gallon at the pump.  Now it is $.05.

Monkey Business

The recent Gulf Coast disaster brought up the spector of monkey business.  Remember a few years back, the mere threat of a potential hurricane in the Gulf sent oil prices spiking.  Then a few weeks ago,  a rig explodes, burns, and sinks in the Gulf.  And the prices just sail on unchanged.

The economy, like politics, has become a crap shoot.  Reasoning does not necessarily apply. So many principals and assumptions to which we have anchored our beliefs on seem to have become just so unstable.

April 1st

On or about November 1st of each year I plug in the heat tape to keep the water inflow pipe from freezing during the winter.  Each April 1st I unplug the thing–having spent electricity and money for my Cardboard Castle (being polite).  Not only does my electricity bill drop, but I go on to the most welcome Lava Lamp Mode. 

I have a cheap lava lamp that is better quality then the house it resides in.  It stays off all during the long, cold winter.  Last night I turned the sucker on.  The furnace off, the heat tape unplugged, but the lava lamp bright and all right, I enjoyed, no savored, the start of warm days ahead.

The lava lamp relighting tied with the last of the ice off Emerald Lake.  Four tiny pathetic “piles” of snow remain at Wooglin.  None is left on Melody Lane.  And to add the glee, PSNH is scheduled to take down a tree that has been a bother since the day I purchased my little piece of…

Spring is here and most welcome.  Please stay warm weather.  Global warming is most welcome too.

Firestarters

The recent healthcare debate was fiery.  There was a vocal conservative side of politics that kept calling for stopping the democratic monster at “any and all costs”.  Media commentaters fed off the this and added fuel to the flames.  Then the “masses” got involved stoking politicans and commentaters.  Pretty soon the firestorm built—feeding off each other in frenzy.

Now there is a lull.

Some are calling for “pulling back from radicalism”.  But I have heard few of the commenataters step back and APOLOGIZE for encouraging “any cost”.  It is nice to be impassioned, committed to one’s cause.  But commentaters have RESPONSIBILITIES (Bulldog and Jack).

Back in 2001 the conservative movement was all out for blood “to avenge” Chandra Levy.  All summer that was the focus.  Then while the Republicans were setting the grill up for Congressman Condit a few dozen Arabs decided the friendly sky.  What was worse than witchhunting for the people’s visit was how quickly Chandra Levy was dropped as Golden Victim on 9/12.

Wars start because of emotions run wild.  Genocides are perpetrated because moderate thought gets left in the gutter–dead.  Word has it that the Rwanda genocides were in a large part because of local media firebranding.

“At all costs”, political revenge, holier than thou attitude…nice paved highways to hell folks.  It just seems the two sides of political aisle are raising the stakes—at great cost to country and dignity.  Meanwhile the masses simmer in their discontent. Slippery slopes people.  If you hate your fellow Americans than you hate your “enemies” than we all fall down.

Cash-out

The difficult times we are in manifest themselves in many ways.  One noticeable example of desperate times and the people caught within is the proliferation in media advertising of “sell gold for money”.  Not that it is illegal or immoral to pawn away your savings—there is an ongoing demand for suchstuff.  But what if the recovery is not.  Blowing the last of your assets means more critical mass of desperate and demoralized.  Our leaders tell us NOW is NOT the time to panic.  So be it.  But cashing out is one step shy of giving up followed by getting even.  And pray it does not come to that.  Otherwise I won’t wait for the “go ahead” on panic.

Male Displacement

In the 1970’s and 1980s women began joining the workforce in greater numbers.  This was great as they had been left out for long decades.  And to today they have made fine and genuine contribution to the workforce.

The numbers in the work force (of both male and female) has expanded decade by decade. (A congressional staffer told me in 2005 that total numbers were down–but I doubted it–as unemployment was low).

Yet bit by bit, little by little males are being marginalized.  There are simply fewer jobs than those that want to work.  And this brings up that the cost of progress is in lives changed negatively.

Long term this is another imbalance to destabilize an already polarized public.  Hopefully a recovered economy will bring all who want to work back into the work force in full.

Sushi Train “The Track”

As stated in another post, Midori was the first, original, and best sushi bar in NH.  But Midori is long gone, but many, oh so many, have come yo fill the gaps.  Here are some with commentary:

Odd Fellow Building (Nashua):  Home to a slew of in/out restaurants from 1991 to 1995.

You You (Nashua): Right by the Nashua Mall, this “fancy pants” place had more emo to it then worth relating now.

Dynamite (Hudson): A favorite of a friend, but decidedly “iffy” to me–more support for the “ugly get worse service” principle.

Kobe (Manchester): A short lived place with niddle of the road service and quality.

Taipei & Tokyo (Bedford, Portsmouth):  Introduced by the worldly Rapsis family, T & T is another middle of the road restaurant with nice locations and plenty of parking.

Sakurabana (Portsmouth): Diana, a college friend, brought me to this place when visiting her.  Very quaint location with heavy oriental decor.

Yuki (Manchester, Goffstown):  Pricey and sterile, but quality nonetheless.  Never had good mutual karma with them.

Moritomo (Concord): Replacing Week’s restauant, the Moritomo has staked claim when they were the only game in town.  Small and yet thorough–their Simka Roll is heavan with tobiko.

Red Apple (Concord): Under many names at different times, they have a sushi buffet which I have veered away from due to health reasons.  An acquaintance once commented about seeiing rats there—more like a reason to ditch a potential date. Both Moritomo and Green Apple went sushi about the same time.

Beijing & Tokyo (Concord): Around 2007 B & T set up shop in downtown Concord.  Best described a blue collar sushi bar they showed some top rate customer service during the dark days of 2007. (Also delivery came with two guys not one, delivering).

Thousand Crane (Manchester/Nashua):  When I went to work for Vision Title & Closing, LLC in 2003, I was thrilled beyond reason to find a Japanese restauant (Thousand Crane) across the street and Margaritas restaurant downstairs.  For four years T-Crane was “the place”. Following the Midori-Moritomo line T-Crane became the next “sushi home” in conjunction with Sara (see below).

Sara (Goffstown):  No longer with us, but introduced by the ubiquitous Rapsis family, this Korean-Japanese restaurant was on the way home and thus a “sushi home”.  In addition to quality sushi at excellent price, the banchan (extras) were reminiscent of the Midori.

Chen Yang Li (Bedford, Nashua, Concord): Rated as one the best Chinese restaurants in NH, CYL has high standings for the Japanese side of the menu. Had a Christmas party very recently there, nothing but good things to dsy for James and his gang. Oh, pricey, muy pricey for tuxedo service. Also THE PLACE for Manchester area sushi when Manchester had their sushi ban.

Lee & Mt. Fuji(Peterborough): Now just a few years old, this stylish retro-industrial decored restauant overlooking the falls at the Boiler House puts out a breathtaking beautiful product–pricey and far afield–the place is not to be missed, at least once.

Ichiban(Concord): This national franchise moved in to the classic landmark “Cat in the Fiddle” restaurant.  Like Tokyo Joe in Nashua and Shogun in Manchester, Ichiban does sushi.  Its trade is in teppanyaki–the grill before your eyes technique.  Whereas Moritomo has a modest four tables, Ichiban has dozens.  Ichiban does have a quiet room without the song and dance of teppanyaki.

Ginger House (Antrim): A lament of living in Hillsborough has been the distance to sushi restauants.  Ginger House opemed in November of 2009, not next door, but at the town next door.  In many ways, Ginger House is the typical rural Chinese chop joint—yet it has sushi and sashimi—and a motivated, cheery staff, bubbling with enthussiasm.  Ginger House has made the penetration to the deep rural and for that alone they get applause.

Comeback Coalition

Back in the early 1990’s when the US economy was plugged like a backed-up toilet, there was in NH an organization known as the Comeback Coalition.  They were led by businesses that urged we consumers to purchase our way out of recession.  Like a flock of spasy cheerleaders they played the positive card game.  I’d love a job with them–if they are hiring.  Odds are they are not.  Nope even now “good news” comes coated with dumpster drippings.  Less bad is good. Speculative minutia becomes the trend.  And wishful vocalizing become “honest to God” truth.  Come on back Comeback Coalition.  You are desperately needed, if not cordially unwanted.