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Not sure what all of this is, but it looks damned good.

Find the unnecessary word in this one!

Man dead following fatal crash in Eau Claire County

Pretty mouthy judge, but a fun read (AP excerpt):



SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Rod Blagojevich, the ex-governor and ex-con who often dusted off ancient and sometimes puzzling quotations to emphasize his positions, found himself at the other end Thursday when a federal judge dismissed his lawsuit attempting to return to public life by quoting Dr. Seuss: ''Just go.''

The Chicago Democrat, impeached and removed from office by the General Assembly in 2009, then sentenced to federal prison for political crimes, filed suit in federal court to reverse a ban accompanying his impeachment that prohibits his return to public office.

On Thursday, in a colorful, 10-page smackdown dismissing the action from Chicago, U.S. District Court Judge Steven Seeger debunked the former governor's claims issue by issue, then relied on Dr. Seuss' 1972 book, ''Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!'' to suggest what Blagojevich should do:

''The time has come. The time has come. The time is now. Just Go. Go. GO! I don't care how. You can go by foot. You can go by cow. Marvin K. Mooney, will you please go now!''

Mark Vargas, a Blagojevich spokesperson, said the ruling was no surprise.

''The people should be able to decide who they want or don't want to represent them,'' Vargas wrote on X, formerly Twitter, ''not federal judges or establishment politicians who are afraid of governors who fight for the people.''

He did not say whether Blagojevich, 67, would take further action.

As Illinois governor from 2003 to 2009, Blagojevich was fond of quoting Greek philosophers, Roman statesmen and the Bible (particularly John 8:32: ''The truth will set you free.'')

He was impeached and removed from office in 2009, then convicted of 17 counts of corruption in 2011, including attempting to sell or trade for political gain the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama upon his election as president. He served eight years behind bars of a 14-year sentence before his sentence was commuted by then-President Donald Trump in 2020. The Illinois Supreme Court also revoked his law license.

Blagojevich, who routinely joked while governor that he had received a ''C'' in constitutional law at Pepperdine University Law School, filed the lawsuit in 2021, representing himself. Accompanied by a gaggle of news reporters, cameras and microphones outside the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago, the always impeccably coifed Blagojevich declared, ''I'm back.''

The federal civil rights complaint sought to reverse the state Senate's impeachment ban on his holding office again, arguing the ban violates the Constitution's Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments and the First Amendment's protection of the people's fundamental right to vote. ''And by that,'' Seeger explained, ''Blagojevich apparently means the fundamental right to vote for him.''

''The complaint is riddled with problems," Seeger began. "If the problems were fish in a barrel, the complaint contains an entire school of tuna. It is a target-rich environment. The complaint is an Issue-Spotting Wonderland.''

First off, Seeger said that civil rights complaints must be filed against a person, which neither the state of Illinois nor its General Assembly is.

Next, Seeger discussed at length why a federal court cannot intervene in a legislative impeachment proceeding because of the Constitution's separation-of-powers provision. The judge then pointed out that even if the impeachment ban was reversed, Illinois state law still prevents a convicted felon from holding ''an office of honor, trust or profit.''

The Sixth Amendment, Seeger wrote, applies to criminal trials, not civil trials: impeachment ''took away his job, not his liberty,'' he said.

Further, Blagojevich can't sue to protect the rights of voters. They need to speak for themselves, Seeger said, and ''no voter is here hoping to cast a vote for Blagojevich.''

Finally, the judge said, Blagojevich might not even have a reason to proceed because when he filed the lawsuit, he said he might want to run again, but hadn't decided. Seeger noted that a legal claim is not ''ripe'' if it depends on ''contingent future events that may not occur.''

''The case started with a megaphone, but it ends with a whimper,'' Seeger concluded. "Sometimes cases in the federal courthouse attract publicity. But the courthouse is no place for a publicity stunt."

Not sure what your point is, Mike. I'm familiar with their website -- it's where I learned of that shrimp dish today. But I live nowhere near the two remaining full-service locations, alas.

I'm practically in tears, just back from looking forward to trying that beguiling dish, only to find the place locked up, with a sign on the door reading CLOSED PERMANENTLY.

Dammit.



I was a pretty frequent patron, as their quality was consistently high.

Really cramped, but cheap:

Former casket factory on St. Paul's University Avenue gets new life as affordable housing

The story that went with that recipe contained the detail that "smothered" in English translates to "étouffée" in French.

I've eaten my share of the latter but never knew until today that it meant the former.

I love my job.

Edited this today, sounds fantastic. (Star Tribune excerpt.)




Maple Mustard Smothered Pork Chops
Serves 4.

A comfort food classic, this version has a just a hint of sweet and sour thanks to the addition of Dijon mustard and maple syrup. This recipe must be made in advance. From Meredith Deeds.
1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c., plus 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
4 (1-in. thick) bone-in pork chops
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 tsp. black pepper
3 c. chicken stock
2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 tbsp. pure maple syrup
2 tbsp. chopped parsley
Mashed potatoes, buttered noodles or rice, for serving
Directions
Mix 3 cups water, sugar and 1/3 cup salt together in a large bowl until dissolved. Place pork chops in brine mixture, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours. Remove chops from brine and pat dry with paper towels.
Dredge the chops in the flour, shaking off the excess. Reserve the leftover flour.
Heat the oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven set over medium heat. Add the pork chops and cook until they are browned, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Add the onions, garlic, pepper and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are softened and lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
Add 2 tablespoons of reserved dredging flour to the onions and cook, stirring for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the stock, mustard and maple syrup, stirring and scraping the pan well, until the mixture has come to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
Return chops and any accumulated liquid to the pot and bring to back a simmer. Cook undisturbed until sauce has reached gravy consistency and a thermometer inserted into thickest portion of pork registers 140 degrees, about 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Let rest 10 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve with mashed potatoes, rice or buttered noodles.
Meredith Deeds is a cookbook author and food writer from Edina. Reach her at meredithdeeds@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram at @meredithdeeds.

I must have misheard the guy on the radio. Google tells me the equinox lands at 10:06 p.m.Tuesday in these parts.

Mr. Hammond regrets the error.