The Best Reason For Breaking Our Dependence On Foreign Oil

This is a Saudi woman after having been lashed 50 times for the mistake of being raped.

A streamer on CNN this morning tells us a 75 year old widow in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to 40 lashes and four months in jail for having bread brought to her house. That in itself was not her crime, but the fact that it was delivered by two young men to whom she was not related. If her appeal is denied what are her chances of surviving?

I have never been an isolationist and I understand we do not understand many cultures other than those of the civilized western world, but to maintain relations with barbarians for the sake of - what? - is insane. Countries who employ "religious police" to enforce an ideology defy comprehension.

I'm sorry. This is the 21st century. There is no excuse, especially under the guise of "religion" or "Islamic law", to tolerate such behavior. We've found, over the past eight years, that not only do we not understand them, we cannot change them. It's time we stop trying.

Instead of trying to bring Islamic terror mongers to heel by bribing war lords, perhaps it's time to isolate them. Truly isolate them. Left to their own devices perhaps they will destroy one another. Without the West's money and trade they have little to sustain themselves. You can't grow enough food stuffs in the desert to feed entire nations. Western countries have oil reserves; Canada does - we have our own. We might consider mending bridges with the Venezuela's of the world. While their leadership is unsavory, it hasn't yet fallen to the depths of the Islamic countries.

If we still can't quell the urge to "change" the world, let's help the poor African nations that are being systematically starved and slain into oblivion. What? They don't have any oil?

We haven't been able to bring human rights to China, obviously not to the women in Islamic countries and for that I am truly sick because we can't get them out. Nor, however, do we have to enable those who oppress them and that is exactly what we are doing.

Perhaps our efforts would be better spent helping to overthrow two bit dictators like Mumgabi in Zimbabwe! What? They have no oil??

Seeing women being lashed for the sport of men is a deplorable reality. Seeing children with flies thick on open sores barely covering skeletal little bodies that are starving is an equally deplorable reality.

One is ethnic cleansing. One is called religion. If the latter be true it doesn't take much to see why so many are beginning to question if, indeed, there is a God.

"Food" for Thought

Do you ever get tired of hearing about all the studies being done which, if we don't take them to heart, we'll find ourselves in an early grave? One making the rounds regards women and alcohol. How drinking at all spells doom, offsetting the one that says red wine is good for the heart.

Another current one is about how coffee may help deter skin cancers. The creme de la creme made the headlines last night. Which diet is the best for you? The one that works! Go figure!

Some metabolisms do better with high carb, some with low carb. I am told blood type can play a role as well as ethnic background. Some of us are just more prone to chunkiness than others. I cannot, however, argue with the calorie count as long as the type of calorie is left open for discussion.

I know myself that I do better on a high protein regime. Of course. That's because I love breads and pastas. I also know, even though the hype tells me I can eat all I want, that isn't true. Calories do count. I also know that after I've lost some excess I tend to get careless. I usually start adding in larger portions. I am not a bird, after all. Then comes the bad stuff with the good intention of making up for it the next day; then the next and so on. You get the picture. That's why my annual ritual is to go on the South Beach induction for the first two weeks in January. I get really bad during the holidays. Figuring that lasts from left over Halloween candy through New Years, even if I've held my own all year up to that point - it's blown. It's no mystery.

Contrary to competing studies, exercise also plays a role. It helps keep things in check. At the very least it maintains a degree of muscle mass and cardiovascular health. This can be particularly crucial if you believe in the adage you are what you eat.

You could suffer the same fate of that of a young Russian who was offered a tidy sum of money to satisfy his appetite with a couple of female friends. He succumbed from a heart attack after earning his fee. To assure his success he consumed an entire bottle of Viagra. This is definitely a case where he should have paid attention to the studies. The "exercise" lasted twelve hours. If I recall correctly, the ads advise calling your doctor after four. Talk about "blues" in the night!

Build A Better Burg(er) And They Will Come!

Every once in awhile the little town we share a zip code with grabs my attention. I've mentioned before I have a fondness for Rathdrum, Idaho. With the larger nearby towns of Post Falls and Hayden ever encroaching on it's boundaries, they remain staunchly independent while searching for an identity.

I think it may be right under their nose and they have yet to recognize it! It has the potential of becoming the foodie capital of northern Idaho. Not high tone cuisine, mind you, but good stick to the ribs fair. Like great Mexican and Burgers. Yep. Burgers.

First there was
Burger Heaven which has been a favorite of mine since we got here eight years ago. My fellow blogger turned restaurant critic gave it very high marks and I totally agree.

Then came the Salsa Chic who decided Rathdrum was the ideal location for her manufacturing facility and eatery. She's gone from selling her salsa at the local farm markets to national exposure on the likes of the Today Show . Again, deservedly so.

Just this last week I read that another great burger place from Coeur d'Alene, Longboard Burgers, is also opening up in Rathdrum. My bud from Get Out North Idaho gave it rave reviews too.

Now the kids have gotten into the act. Seven years young Charlie Beckett entered Red Robin's "The Next Gourmet Burger Kid's Recipe Contest" and walked off with first place. He's off to visit Jay Leno and his creation, the "Holy-Peno Burger" will be featured on Red Robin's menu for a month this summer with 50 cents from each sale going to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

How great is that?

I've been reading where a group of Rathdrum's Main Street merchants have been meeting to discuss a direction for their town. Well, here it is! You've a pretty good start right here! Take a look at the Food Channel's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives to see what kind of traffic these places can generate when they're really good! Hey, run with it!

Ah, this post has warmed my heart. Maybe it's the season, but it's kind of nice to have some bragging rights for the ole zip code!