James Wolcott, a Vanity Fair contributing editor, writes a blog I enjoy very much.
He can be serious but usually the seriousness is moderated with a bit of humorous fun.
Over the Christmas holidays, I particularly enjoyed his take on the classic movie White Christmas but today he presents a most interesting link to a CNN transcript of their broadcast of a raw video feed of Secretary Rumsfeld’s image-building Christmas Eve trip to Mosul, Iraq.

Rummy in Mosul-A slip 'twixst tongue and lip?

In the clip (scroll down to the beginning of a long Rumsfeld clip near the transcript's end) Rummy is talking in his fragmented ad lib manner to US troops:

I think all of us have a sense if we imagine the kind of world we would face if the people who bombed the mess hall in Mosul, or the people who did the bombing in Spain, or the people who attacked the United States in New York, shot down the plane over Pennsylvania and attacked the Pentagon…

A most curious slip of the tongue that had, prior to the eagle eye of Mr. Wolcott, scampered down the memory hole.


AETCo's 6" square tile The Old Mill by Franz Frenzel

On the Art Pottery front, the January/February issue of the Journal of the American Art Pottery Association arrived in today’s mail and returned informational interest on my AAPA membership investment with a fascinating article on the Frenzel patent of intaglio and relief molded dust-pressed encaustic clay tiles by Michael Sims.
The name Frenzel has been noticed on certain almost photographic quality art tiles manufactured by the American Encaustic Tile Company of Zanesville, Ohio in the late 19th century.
These tiles are somewhat rare and have been rapidly increasing in value.

This 6” square Frenzel tile of a young girl sold January 22 on Ebay for $125.50.
This Ebay seller had not noticed the artist’s signature on the lower left corner of the tile.
Identifying an artist signature likely would have boosted the hammer price and the seller’s profit.
In my own research I have not noted a first name associated with Frenzel.
Thanks to Michael Sims and his patent office research presented in the current issue of the AAPA Journal, we now know that Franz J. Frenzel, Jr. of New York City filed an application for patient on June 1, 1885 and was granted the patient on December 15, 1885.
Congratulations and thank you Michael for some terrific research.
Copies of the January/February 2005 issue of the Journal can be had through the AAPA web page.

I also thought I’d post another easy, comforting, nourishing and warming side dish for a cozy winter’s day:

White Beans, Leek and Celery

1 15.8 oz. can Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed
2 Cloves Garlic, peeled and minced
1 Shallot, peeled and minced
1 Stalk of Celery, trimmed and chopped
1 Leek, trimmed and chopped
1 14oz. Can Chicken Broth
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ Tsp Dried Thyme
Sea Salt and White Pepper to taste

Sauté Garlic and Shallots in Olive Oil.
Add Celery and chopped Leek, stir and continue sauté.
After 3 to 4 minutes add the drained Northern Beans, the Chicken Broth and the seasonings.
Simmer, stirring occasionally 15 to 20 minutes.
The mixture will thicken as the beans absorb the broth.
Enjoy.

Photos: Reuters, AP, sean, Ebay's dove57

- posted by Sean @ 10:49 PM