Centerfield

Jon if you're looking for great BBQ, you should make the trip up to Llano for Cooper's. It's unmatched as far as I'm concerned. I go fly-fishing on the Llano once or twice a year and besides the natural beauty, the BBQ makes the trip down from DFW completely worth it.

I've created the new veggie garden, currently have 3 tomato plants, two peppers, squash, herbs and at Brian's suggestion, swiss chard. I have my doubts about it doing very well in the Texas heat but I'll try just about anything once. Also have a blackberry to plant as well as cukes and beans.

I can understand why the Democrats in Congress would like to score political points by forcing a timetable to leave Iraq on the President. Pushing for it tends to keeps their base happy, too. And I can understand why the President would like to score political points by making them back off doing so. Making arguments for it keeps his base happy, too. Either one may be a low probability outcome, but what's to lose by trying, right?

But why does anybody else think either thing will happen? Is not this a much more likely scenario: The Democrats agree, in conference, on a war funding bill which includes the timetable, and it gets passed. The President signs it to get the money. Then the President issues a signing statement saying that he will interpret the timetable "consistent with his authority as Commander in Chief" -- i.e., he will feel free to ignore it. And he does.

I can see how it might end up in court. But by the time a final decision is made, it will be late 2008 or 2009. Oh well, maybe we will get a new Marbury v. Madison out of it on the topic of signing statements.

Where does County Line come in, Jon? I only give 'em a 6, but I'm from hard-core Q country, and even a 6 is decent.

Here are my ratings so far:

BBQ Briskets
------------
Ratings 1-10, JUST about briskets

Salt Lick 10
Donn's BBQ 8
County Line 7
Ruby's 7
Sam's BBQ 6.5
Green Mesquite 4

Actually, now that I think about it, I realize I want to give the Austin County Line *briskets* a 6. Their ribs are pretty good (e.g., 7) by local standards, since most local places concentrate more on briskets than ribs, of course.

There's a place here called Artz Rib House, but I haven't been there since 2000, so I can't remember it well enough to judge, or if the ribs were better than the brisket.

This is the military view which contradicts the Democrat's claims.

However, this and this seem to indicate our allies are a bit dense and that Iran is a serious player in Iraqi affairs. There have already been fire fights between Iranian and coalition forces in Iraq.

Syria is also a player with the UN declaring arms are pouring over the Syrian border into Lebanon and Iraq. Pelosi's vist is what kind of signal?

This is a a large part of the divided West.

EU must wake up.

This points to the links between Iraq and Iran. With Sadr increasing the pressure from Iran and the Saudis recently calling the US occupation of Iraq, illegal, it appears we are building to a head. The political tactics played now will have to stand the test of time. And time is not something Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and even other hot spots have, before the strategies denied will make many a political sound bite look silly, dangerous and lacking in a sound understanding of the global forces at work.

Just my take on the news.......

I make a killer Red Curry BBQ chicken dish. When/if I visit Texas, BBQ will be high on the list....

Don't ask me. I'm still in mourning over the Jayhawks losing to the Bruins in the Elite Eight.

Well, I'm lucky enough to live at the geographical crossover line between fine ribs and fine brisket. Texas is real brisket country, so I must check out Salt Lick next trip!

Ribs are tricky, but the best KC dry-smoke ribs are second to none. Brisket in Kansas/Missouri goes from chancy to about an 8, tops. That's restaurants. If you know the right folks, 7 or 8 is just passingly good. :-)

I will accept your judgement and avoid Green Mesquite.

Slow weekend around these parts. It's not Hill Country BBQ (and I stand by Cooper's being some of the best, period) but if you're ever in the DFW area, Holy Smokes on Hillcrest just north of Northwest Highway is excellent.

If you're ever in the sticks around here, Big Daddy's Roadhouse in Lavon is pretty good. Though watch out for tornadoes this time of year, we had to hunker down during one Friday night. Four cats in one bathroom with my wife, me and the dog in the other one. Now that's my idea of a fun Friday night.