POLENTA

Enjoyed a quiet dinner last night at Roostica. Not very hungry. Ordered meatballs and polenta.

Polenta is cornmeal. Used by some with Italian cooking.

I rarely saw polenta back home in Utica. Definitely not a dish my family cooked.

I was confronted with polenta big time during my several trips to Courmayeur. One of the most beautiful places in the world. Courmayeur is a small village consisting of Swiss type chalets. Striking!

Courmayeur is located in northern Italy. A handful of miles from France and Switzerland. In the Aosta Valley. The village sits at the foot of Mont Blanc. Part of the Alps. The highest peak in Europe.

The area is the home of polenta. Every meal in every restaurant was accompanied with a large bowl of polenta. I tasted. Did not like. In fact, hated it.

Bobby Mongelli opens Roostica. He serves polenta. Generally comes with three meatballs in sauce. Resting on a bed of polenta.

I love it! Don’t know why in one place and not the other.

Did my blog talk radio show last night. Saudi Arabia prominent in my comments.

One of the Saudi issues began with the 28 pages of the 9/11 Commission Report that have never been released. Purported to deal with Saudi Arabia’s involvement in financing and otherwise being involved with the attack.

Victims and families have brought law suits against those deemed to be responsible for 9/11. U.S. law prohibits Saudi Arabia from being named in the lawsuits.

Recently, Congress announced it intended to pass a bill permitting law suits against Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia went crazy. Such lawsuits would involve prying into their involvement. It would also result in Saudi assets in the U.S. being frozen.

The Saudis are not our friends.They have always used us.

The Saudis retaliated to the news by announcing that if such occurred, it would dump all U.S. securities it holds immediately on the open market. U.S. Treasuries. Saudi Arabia is the third largest holder of the securities world wide.

Such would result in economic chaos. For the United States. Destruction of our financial systems.

I was disappointed to learn this morning that the President’s office announced late yesterday that Obama would veto any such bill were it to come before him.

I am disappointed in Obama. He blinked. The Saudis will squeeze us even harder the next time. They have our number!

Looks like Trump and Clinton. Disgraceful!

The Mosquito Control District has gone a step further in an attempt to calm Key Haven residents. It was announced a yes/no vote will take place on August 30 as part of primary elections the same day.

A report indicates gas prices have gone up almost 25 percent since mid February. The biggest short term rise since 2009. My Shell station has gone from $1.99 to $2.37 a gallon during that time.

Why?

The Saudis? They gave us $4 a gallon gasoline.

This day or April 21 in 1898, President McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war against Spain. The primary reason the sinking of the Battleship Maine February 15. Congress declared war on April 25.

Historians mention either the 20th or 21st as the date for the request.

A question. Why did it take two months for McKinley to ask for the declaration of war following the sinking of the Maine?

Today, wednesday. Screw off day for me! Nothing to research or write today, except for this blog.

Enjoy your day! I will mine.