Nukes and Nachos
WWIII. As a nation we have to come to grips with the fact that we could have been the ones to start it. Our Commander unsubstantiated rhetoric heated the tensions between us and Iran to the point that a moderate size international incident could have set the wheels in motion for yet another war under the guise of preventing WMD. Just for one second think about how much credibility we have lost because our President insisted that Iran had nukes when it turns out they don't, and he STILL insists they are a threat after it's clear they are not. The only solace to take is that the government agencies that comprise the National Security Estimate weren't cowed by this administration insistence that a country had WMD when the facts didn't support it.
Help settle a friendly disagreement I had with a colleague at work. Monday's is our staff meeting and it happens over lunch. I brought items to make nachos. I assembled all the ingredients and before I put it in the microwave I added salsa. Amy was incredulous. "You're putting salsa on your nachos before you heat them up?" Now I would agree with her when it comes to something like sour cream. Sour cream completely changes once it's heated. Salsa, however, just increases in temperature. I would even go so far as to say that warm to hot salsa has more true flavor to it than salsa that is cold.
How do you handle the salsa portion of your homemade nachos. Do you:
- Assemble all necessary ingredients and nuke them all at once.
- Assemble all necessary ingredients but leave salsa off until after you have melted the cheese in the microwave.
- Assemble all necessary ingredients, microwave them, and individually dip each chip into a bowl of salsa (for sake of discussion you are the only person using the salsa bowl, so double dipping or contamination doesn't factor in).
10 comments:
Iran is dangerous to us and every other nation in the world. They have publicly stated that Israel should be wiped off the map.
Jason,
I love how you seamlessly weave two important topics (foreign policy and nachos) together into one succinct post. Impressive. Which is more dangerous, bad nachos or bad intelligence?
-Russ
The nachos thing....I gotta agree with your co worker. That's kind of gross...doesn't it make your chips all soggy???
As far as the Iran thing...I do not put much credibilty into what W. says anymore. However, I put much credibilty into what my dad (a nuclear physicist who works for a labratory that builds devices that detect nuclear activity)says. My dad told me a few months ago that Iran is a threat. More than Iraq (duh) and possibly even more than North Korea. So, as little credibility as W has, the Iran leader guy (don't know his name) has less in my book.
Clarifying. Iran is not an existential threat. That is they do not posses the weapons that could eradicate an entire nation upon their use. They still have the potential to be this major threat, but it's clear that having them grow into this Islamo-radical nuclearized state is less likely the more we use "stick and carrot" diplomacy.
Taken from Fred Kaplan's article in Slate:
"In short, a full reading of the NIE—at least the unclassified version—leads to three conclusions. First, Iran poses no nuclear threat now or in the next few years. Second, it may develop nuclear weapons at some point; work has been halted but not dismantled, and long-term intentions are unclear. Finally, Iran's decisions are influenced by external pressures; they are less likely to develop a bomb if pressures exist—and, by implication, they may be more likely to do so if the pressure is dropped."
It's the last part, "Iran's decisions are influenced by external pressure" that is the most unsettling. What country will follow the lead of the US now that our Presidents inflammatory pronouncements of yet another radical islamic country with WMD have been discredited. It definitely doesn't help that he knew the jist of this report in August, but continued to ramp up the tensions all through the fall. Russia, China, and Europe have to feel so played by this that they are likely to overcorrect and lift all sanctions against Iran. Which in turn can make them even more dangerous.
I do take solace in the fact that the Defense Department, State Department, and intelligence agencies are all on record as discouraging a preemptive war against Iran.
Erin, great to hear from you. How would NK be more of a threat when they actually have nuclear weapons and delivery devices that could easily reach Japan?
As far as salsa making chips soggy, it just depends on your layering. I don't think anyone would disagree with me that you must put a foundational layer of cheese before any other toppings are added. That melted section provides a "sog prevention" barrier. Then add your other toppings with a final layer of cheese. The last item is the salsa.
Russ, bad intelligence is probably more dangerous, but darn it if a bad plate of nachos can send your whole day down the drain.
Robyn already agreed with me, by the way, so I'm ahead 3 to 1. I love blog polls :)
Alright, Jason. Here's the deal. I'm an idiot. I really don't know anything right now. I have been wrapped up in my own little world and was completely unaware that Bush was pushing for war against Iran. (Bush is not a happy topic here in Canada and I like to pretend I'm Canadian when the topic comes up...which it does...often.) All I know is that Iran does have potential to be a threat. I don't know enough about nuclear stuff to know how long it takes to build a bomb that would knock out a whole nation. (So, my dad is smart but I am not. At least not when it comes to nuclear physics.)
As far as NK- I'm not sure I understand your question??
As far as the nacho thing- you must spend a lot more time making nachos than me. Because you apparently know so much more than me on all topics, I concede. There probably is a perfect way to "layer" so that your chips don't get soggy. I guess I just don't eat nachos enough.
If you make it through this terribly long and boring comment, would ya tell Alison I said "hello!!"
Not boring at all.
Your dad is easily smarter than both of us.
I was referencing your comment that he said Iran was more of a threat than North Korea. NK has nukes and Iran doesn't, as of now. There fore I think NK is a bigger threat. Not really important though.
I am sure it's tough to be there and feel the weight of the criticism the world has for the US. However you are the kind of person that makes me proud to be an American so you can change peoples minds.
Yes I make Nachos a lot. Had some today as a matter of fact. Perhaps you should invite all your Canadians over, serve several margaritas, and them tell them your from USA!
i do know nachos, so i'll respond to that... my dad makes nachos like clockwork around 10pm several nights a week and i think microwaving them at all is crazy. i prefer his method of putting them on foil on a cookie sheet in the oven on broil for approximately 2-3 minutes, perfection! i think it's great that nachos are a father/child tradition in your home too. please tell allison i say hello!
Salsa, in all its uses, should be warm (or room temp at the very least). You have to release the flavor from hibernation! Nachos practically prove this rule all on their own. Cold salsa on your nachos? Not only does it numb the flavor of the salsa but you also run the risk of too much chill in your nacho bite and THAT is gross.
Perhaps subduing the nacho is a Cal-mex strategy?! :)Keep it real bro
Annalee, your dad is completely correct in his technique. I only pull that out for "company nachos" when people are coming over, and I want to impress.
KEEPING IT REAL SIS!
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