That's part of the problem - there's almost nothing left after you get the fur off them, which is why they are such a delicacy. Not to mention that what they eat goes right into all that fur, making them really expensive to maintain. ;)
As a member of sci-fi fandom I am offended by: 1) politicizing ethnic food 2) the ignorance about the essence of fandom as a philosophy of respect for and delight in diversity, the antithesis of racism.
"Beam me up, Scotty. There's no intelligent life down here."
When most geeks think of a run for the border, they're not thinking of politics. They probably wore IDICs to the event and didn't give a thought to politics.
Ok, anybody who thinks it was racist because they DIDN'T serve Chinese food? There is no right answer in the political correctness Olympics. Someone will always be offended. The Eagles sang it pretty well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H-Y7MAA...
What a bunch of liberal wimps now run our so-called institutions of learning! What could be more fun than a sci-fi gathering with good Mexican food! Isn't it racist to say Mexican food is not good enough for a sci-fi event? It is time we let people stand up for themselves, If they don't want a certain food, boycott the event. Stop thinking everything is about them and their feelings, and teach them something to help them get a good job. Fire the PC police at the college and say don't like it, help plan the event. PC should stand for pander to collectivism! I grew up in the Southwest, and we all got along fine, everyone said what they thought, and we were friends. Yes, we ate tacos, along with Swedish and Italian - together!
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Obviously, the college staff must be subjected to the Klingon discommendation ceremony. What utter balderdash. Working for a leftist college must immediately lower one's IQ and the drop becomes more dramatic the longer the tenure or the higher the position.
Another fine example of "Political Correctness" run amok in our society. Come on people, we need to reestablish a baseline for the occasional collision between disparate ideological thinking. Aliens and Sci-Fi is a ridiculous connection at best and at worse it undermines the tenants of diversity that our country is founded on. If this keeps up we'll need syntactic specialists to monitor every piece of the written or spoken word to ensure that we have not slighted some ethnic, religious or ideological group. I have several black friends that we invite over on for cookouts. Should I stop serving watermelon as a fruit? We are smarter and better than this and it's time we put a stop to it.
Santa Cruz?? This is the UC campus whose mascot is the banana slug... which should be enough warning to normal people. And someone got up in arms about this (likely someone who has too much time on their hands to think up bonkers stuff like this to make a name for themselves as an activist and potential political type)... and wrote a letter, and they caved to appear like they're "progressive" and "politically correct" and "Fully racially-activist"??
Cesar Chavez, who was somewhat local to there, would be either very very proud, very, very disgusted, or wouldn't give a whit. I would probably say the latter...
Hate saying it, but I really am not surprised. They have, indeed, learned the lessons from their socilaist masters well...
The shock was to read the contorted gymnastics being applied to the English language by the school apologist. I say, bear witness here, the implosion of Mexican Culture, and the voices of alarm is it's vanguard. This intelligentsia has 'learned' that morality can be eaten. "Morality" is not an act of thought anymore, and of "racism" connecting race with intelligence, but is all now an act of eating. Eating is now a moral and racism issue, There is moral eating and immoral eating. And this vanguard is here to stop the digestion of Mexican culture and Mexican Morality. 'Mexican food is the soul, body and mind of Mexico so don't eat us you cannibals'. 'We are not aliens but jumpin beans. We are all jumpin beans really'. This particular vanguard is what 'moral cannibals of inferiority' look, speak, and sound like, and what happens when you subvert your mind, reason and philosophy. Your whole "Philosophy of Life" gone ... down the digestive tract. Of course you would be left screaming. But in a sense, they are right, they too bear witness- to the afterglow of what was once Mexican Culture. They know what has taken its place ... "WESTERN CIVILIZATION", but only implicitly, and they hate every moment of it. They find it hard to swallow but swallow they do! All that they once held dear is only but a meal or two, a dish or two, a snack or two. A Philosophy of ingredients. Oh, to have a Philosophy, and to eat it too. But Western Civilization will not be consumed, it sticks in the throat awhile. It will not go down. It sticks in the mind, an idea. It is indestructible, indigestible. Reason Absolute and Western Civilization..
I'm confused. They were just applauding the notion that alien life would be found in the next few years. Not it's insulting? Shows what a college degree is worth these days. Then I remembered. Along with government and media educators are the main proponents of racism. they were only feeding the frenzy.
This political correctness stuff has gone too far. Mexican food is easier to serve buffet style. Prob why they did it !! What's easier than street tacos and fajitas. Prepare in advance and people combine the ingredients the way they want. Maybe the people that complained want silent green instead...
That PC letter from an actual college "Office of Diversity" was a hoot. I suppose a satirical story called "Illegal Aliens From Mars" who say "Si, si, we come in peace, muchachos!" would automatically be considered racist by all the pinheads in charge of things these days. I raised my eyebrows at that part about being inoffensive to "undocumented students." Isn't the very concept of having an "undocumented student" a bit dangerous in this day and age? How do you know when an "undocumented student" you know next to nothing about wants to strap C4 to him or herself, give you a hug and whisper ""Buenas noches" and then "Allah Akbar" in your ear. Kiss your burrito adiois! Back in the 70s when my youngest little brother was a college student and a member of a science fiction club, he invited me to a science fiction convention that took place in an off-campus hotel that had a big room for such events. Some medieval club whose king was the best fighter with a dull broadsword was in charge of the food and entertainment. (There were some sword and sorcery fantasy people included at the convention). Those swords were used more like clubs. While we watched the king beat the hell out of one of his knights, a babe dressed like a lady of the court served me a plate of very typical but dull medieval feast food. It screamed for some seasoning. I would have loved to have some insensitive for spicy illegal space alien food instead. Beam me up, Senor Scotty!
Back then, you were lucky that period food was edible and an offer of home-made mead or beer was more of a test of courage than simple hospitality (though it would have been well intentioned).
Nowadays, the food would be delicious and the mead or beer better than almost anything you can buy. The SCA has come a long way in 40 years.
I have fought in many Crown tourneys, but never gotten further than semi-finals.
Wow! This is a big surprise. I never imagined meeting one of you guys in the Gulch. I did not remember "SCA." So I just looked it up. Yes, that's who those dressed-up people were way back when. I think this made my day.
It is a lot of fun. But full of geeky liberals...with occasional quiet Randists scattered amongst them. Nice folk, altogether.
I am just back from a business trip where I guested with such an individual. A visit to the Midwestern office; plus armor. (Did not get a chance to joust, though I arrived a day early to do so: storm came through.) I did get to a fighting practice one evening...evidently I surprised the folk there a bit.
Migod... who woulda thought. We are taking objectivism by melee... one piece of mail at a time.
(If ya have to ask, you'll never know...)
Problem was, for me, it got too expensive. Still do some illumination, and (of course) pound on hot steel... but haven't been to an event in years; not even sure if I have any garb or not...
And yes... believe it or not... there are more objectivist and conservative SCAdians than one would suspect...
Pounding on hot metal is a lot of fun; cold metal work is fun too. I used to do armoring as a hobby, but I was destroying my hands pounding and planishing - and the fighting is the important part to me. So I have stopped most of the metalwork to spare the hands as much as possible.
Now, with the company and my new home (only an acre, but still amazing as to how much work it takes) I go to few events. I still attend weekly fighting practice, though.
Never tried my hand at fighting - don't know why not, just never tripped my trigger, so to speak. Fun to watch, especially someone carrying your favor, however...
I loved the arts, however... ended up (in a rather convoluted fashion) pointing me in the direction of Russian Iconography, which is like Illumination on Steroids...
Do good? No way, you're forever marked as "one of them" (maybe that should be "one of us"... heh heh heh...) At least you didn't say you've been doing Burning Man since Baker Beach...
I have posted pics on a new thread (with khalling's wise advice on doing so).
Fighting is not a thing to do unless your heart really leaps at the thought. Too much sweat and bruise for dabbling. I never liked doing artsy stuff...but I have found myself drawn into doing it repeatedly in the SCA. Yeah - fun too.
I have tons of pics. I have been hesitant to mention anything about this hobby until now because I wanted to be sure that everyone knew me first and foremost as a mature and serious adult.
If you haven't seen what's in the link, it's very funny until it starts to get old. At whatever that point proves to be for you, feel free to put it out of its misery.
"I'm a racist if I eat a burrito while watching a Star Trek re-run?" If that's true, I need to be sent to that "cultural competence training" class they're sending the staff to.
I couldn't even have fun with a Star Trek: TNG food replicator around here without having people attempt to take me seriously instead of trying to be a wise guy.
GOOD! I used to love Mexican food, especially when I lived in California where there were Mexican restaurants on every other street corner. Some chains, some mom & pop stores (The Best). The spicier the better. But now, it just gives me heartburn. Since I can't enjoy it any longer, I'm upset that other people can. It's unfair! If I can't have it, no one should! Close them all up, and make the owners all apologize, especially to me!
I’ve had the same response talking about speaking Mexican. My Mexican friends from the racetrack say it is different than Spanish. Some people think it’s insulting to say you are speaking Mexican and you should say Spanish as if that were more acceptable. Oh contraire, how insulting is that to Mexicans? “They don’t need no stinking Spanish.” And they don’t need “no stinking college looking out for them.”
Of course they should apologise for nasty disgusting mexican rubbish disguised as something edible. But not because it's racist. That's almost as disgusting as having to eat the nasty rubbish.
you should come visit me. fish (whatever is local and fresh) Vera Cruz (poached in white wine, garlic, green olives, herbs, tomatoes and onions) stuffed papa rellenos, avocados stuffed with shrimp ceviche salad...yum
Thanks, I'd love to. The avo with ceviche sounds delish. How about I use the local fresh fish, shrimp, crab and make bouilllabaisse with garlic rouille in return? With some icy cold margaritas? (You have saffron or should I pack some?)
Our difference is in the definition of "good." ;^) I walk into a mexican restaurant and the smell alone usually makes me want to run for the door. Same for "health" food restaurants. I always have a bag of trail mix or almonds in the backpack when I go to places where I know I will be otherwise a prisoner of the owner's choice. Eat what you enjoy ;^)
Okay, Jan, here's the story and as they say: "Life is to short for bad wine". I'll bring the good stuff and Freedom and you can fight over tacos and enchiladas...
Good wine - Always welcome. I will treat you to the entree of your choice! (But while life is too short for bad wine, it is quite long enough for cheap wine).
I think I have some in the basement from the early 90s but no guarantees on how it has aged. (Saving the magnum of Groth cab for the first dinner in the real Gulch.)
YMMV... "it all depends"... and such... There may be some current threshold in the $5-15 range, but it's still all a matter of taste...
One thing I DID learn in a few score years of wine sampling (and drinking...) "the first sip will NOT tell you if you'll like the wine; usually the Second Sip will..."
Then except for a few value priced wines that I tasted at the vineyard before buying, I have bought "cheap" red wines for immediate consumption or cooking. In my experience, price isn't a very reliable measure to judge what will age well except the stratosphere of price of a few vineyards (French, mostly, but a very few American and Australian.) As you said YMMV ;^)
So very sick and tired of all these people who have an ax to grind about nothing! Unhappy in the U.S.? You are always FREE to return to your country of origin!
so when is it proper to serve Mexican food? Or where since We now know Sci Fi fans cannot possibly be eating it because they really like good affordable food.
Tellurian Tacos
Bajoran Burritos
Klingon Quesadias
Romulan Rice
...clearly this is insulting to all the non-terrestrial races.
You would be complimenting an Italian.
They would be proud of your choice.
(As long as you used authentic and fresh ingredients!)
Where would we be (culinarily) if someone hadn't separated eggs into yolks and whites ?
Brilliant!
1) politicizing ethnic food
2) the ignorance about the essence of fandom as a philosophy of respect for and delight in diversity, the antithesis of racism.
"Beam me up, Scotty. There's no intelligent life down here."
There is no right answer in the political correctness Olympics. Someone will always be offended. The Eagles sang it pretty well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H-Y7MAA...
It is time we let people stand up for themselves, If they don't want a certain food, boycott the event. Stop thinking everything is about them and their feelings, and teach them something to help them get a good job. Fire the PC police at the college and say don't like it, help plan the event. PC should stand for pander to collectivism! I grew up in the Southwest, and we all got along fine, everyone said what they thought, and we were friends. Yes, we ate tacos, along with Swedish and Italian - together!
I would agree.
Love that Star Trek reference.
Damn right!
Keep serving that watermelon!
Cesar Chavez, who was somewhat local to there, would be either very very proud, very, very disgusted, or wouldn't give a whit. I would probably say the latter...
Hate saying it, but I really am not surprised. They have, indeed, learned the lessons from their socilaist masters well...
Jan
'She concludes her letter, writing, “I care about the individuals in our community and I want everyone to feel respected, included, and affirmed.'
Unless, of course, you're white.
Great piece!
I think you should send this to the school and the local paper.
Great movie, too...
There are plenty of potential menus that everyone likes.
My guess is that the planners thought they were being super nice guys by advocating a minority fare.
They didn’t notice the connotation of aliens until some race-baiting, offence seeking jerks glommed on to it.
I suppose a satirical story called "Illegal Aliens From Mars" who say "Si, si, we come in peace, muchachos!" would automatically be considered racist by all the pinheads in charge of things these days.
I raised my eyebrows at that part about being inoffensive to "undocumented students."
Isn't the very concept of having an "undocumented student" a bit dangerous in this day and age?
How do you know when an "undocumented student" you know next to nothing about wants to strap C4 to him or herself, give you a hug and whisper ""Buenas noches" and then "Allah Akbar" in your ear.
Kiss your burrito adiois!
Back in the 70s when my youngest little brother was a college student and a member of a science fiction club, he invited me to a science fiction convention that took place in an off-campus hotel that had a big room for such events.
Some medieval club whose king was the best fighter with a dull broadsword was in charge of the food and entertainment. (There were some sword and sorcery fantasy people included at the convention).
Those swords were used more like clubs. While we watched the king beat the hell out of one of his knights, a babe dressed like a lady of the court served me a plate of very typical but dull medieval feast food. It screamed for some seasoning.
I would have loved to have some insensitive for spicy illegal space alien food instead. Beam me up, Senor Scotty!
Nowadays, the food would be delicious and the mead or beer better than almost anything you can buy. The SCA has come a long way in 40 years.
I have fought in many Crown tourneys, but never gotten further than semi-finals.
Jan
I never imagined meeting one of you guys in the Gulch. I did not remember "SCA."
So I just looked it up. Yes, that's who those dressed-up people were way back when.
I think this made my day.
http://sca.org/
I am just back from a business trip where I guested with such an individual. A visit to the Midwestern office; plus armor. (Did not get a chance to joust, though I arrived a day early to do so: storm came through.) I did get to a fighting practice one evening...evidently I surprised the folk there a bit.
Jan
(If ya have to ask, you'll never know...)
Problem was, for me, it got too expensive. Still do some illumination, and (of course) pound on hot steel... but haven't been to an event in years; not even sure if I have any garb or not...
And yes... believe it or not... there are more objectivist and conservative SCAdians than one would suspect...
Now, with the company and my new home (only an acre, but still amazing as to how much work it takes) I go to few events. I still attend weekly fighting practice, though.
Did you fight? What kingdom are you in?
Jan (Eichling)
Never tried my hand at fighting - don't know why not, just never tripped my trigger, so to speak. Fun to watch, especially someone carrying your favor, however...
I loved the arts, however... ended up (in a rather convoluted fashion) pointing me in the direction of Russian Iconography, which is like Illumination on Steroids...
Do good? No way, you're forever marked as "one of them" (maybe that should be "one of us"... heh heh heh...) At least you didn't say you've been doing Burning Man since Baker Beach...
Fighting is not a thing to do unless your heart really leaps at the thought. Too much sweat and bruise for dabbling. I never liked doing artsy stuff...but I have found myself drawn into doing it repeatedly in the SCA. Yeah - fun too.
Jan
I wrote a Complete Anachronist on Russian Mythology once, back in the 1980's. Interesting folklore.
Jan
Did I do good?
Jan
We can always depend on you for a heartfelt belly laugh!!!
I particularly love the first part of your comment...
thanks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV2ViNJF...
I've gotta get out of here...
If that's true, I need to be sent to that "cultural competence training" class they're sending the staff to.
That kind of stupidity is required on campus and Resistance Is Futile!
I used to love Mexican food, especially when I lived in California where there were Mexican restaurants on every other street corner. Some chains, some mom & pop stores (The Best). The spicier the better. But now, it just gives me heartburn. Since I can't enjoy it any longer, I'm upset that other people can. It's unfair! If I can't have it, no one should! Close them all up, and make the owners all apologize, especially to me!
Amen!!! (Without religious overtones)
(Edited for clarity)
( without religious overtones)
But not because it's racist. That's almost as disgusting as having to eat the nasty rubbish.
How about I use the local fresh fish, shrimp, crab and make bouilllabaisse with garlic rouille in return?
With some icy cold margaritas? (You have saffron or should I pack some?)
Jan
I walk into a mexican restaurant and the smell alone usually makes me want to run for the door. Same for "health" food restaurants.
I always have a bag of trail mix or almonds in the backpack when I go to places where I know I will be otherwise a prisoner of the owner's choice.
Eat what you enjoy ;^)
Jan
Jan, brings only the finest 'cheap wine'
"Life is to short for bad wine".
I'll bring the good stuff and Freedom and you can fight over tacos and enchiladas...
Jan
Put the whites on your salads.
[27 years' experience in CA...]
Enjoy!
... except for many Ports... they tend to just keep getting better and better. :)
One thing I DID learn in a few score years of wine sampling (and drinking...) "the first sip will NOT tell you if you'll like the wine; usually the Second Sip will..."
Just my 'rule of tongue.'
:)
If so, I know this joke about Mexican food...
Jan
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