bits photos on Flickr

Aggie Ring was taking his coffee while watching the news earlier this morning and became a bit worried when the weather girl said that there is a possibility that Hurricane Matthew could hit the East Coast in a few days.

“Well, if we’re going to have a hurricane, we’re going to need lots of bacon.” said Aggie Ring. “And oh, I’m going to need to see my handmade friend “Tito” from Austin, Texas.”

Aggie Ring had me drive him the 20 miles or so over to East Brunswick, New Jersey to the Polish provisioner (butcher) and kielbasa store. Upon our arrival, Aggie Ring ordered 5 pounds of their in-house cured Polish-style bacon. He had it sliced about the thickness of two quarters.

Jersey Shore Fightin’ Aggie Ring noticed that they had just put out some in-house made fresh (raw) kielbasa, so he ordered a couple of pounds of that as well.

Just as we were about to finish up, Aggie Ring noticed a couple of pieces of dark red meat that turned out to be paprika bacon. “Give me two pounds!” Aggie Ring told the butcher lady. Unfortunately, because of the paprika, she couldn’t slice it for us. “Well,” said Aggie Ring. “We can always throw it into a pot of pinto beans if we can’t figure out what to do with it when we get back home.”

When Aggie Ring arrived home, he immediately unwrapped the bacon that they had sliced to order for us. Aggie Ring mentioned to me that there is a smell to freshly cured bacon that you just don’t get from bacon that’s been sitting in the grocery store for weeks.

Occasionally, Aggie Ring puts black pepper, or brown sugar, or a combination of other spices on his bacon before he smokes it but today Aggie Ring said, “Keep it simple. We’re just going to smoke it low and slow over hickory chips.”

The smoker would hold about two thirds of the sliced bacon so Aggie Ring cut each slice in half so they’d be easier to put on the trays and loaded all four of the trays up. Aggie Ring put the four trays into the smoker, shut the door, had a little Aggie Ring Yell Practice and yelled out, “Smoke the Hell Outta Bacon!” as he turned on the smoker that he had loaded with hickory chips.

About 90 minutes into the smoking process, Aggie Ring went out on the patio and checked his work. “Plenty of smoke still coming out of the box.” said Aggie Ring. He opened the door and checked his handiwork. “This is looking real good…” said Aggie Ring.

Aggie Ring let the bacon continue to smoke for about another hour. He normally likes it dry and crispy but wanted to only bring it to a point where most of the fat had rendered but the bacon was still soft and could be microwaved for a few seconds to heat it up without burning it.

When the delicious locally-made bacon was hickory smoked to Aggie Ring’s satisfaction, he took it out of the smoker and into the kitchen to cool before bagging it.

Once the four trays were freed up, Aggie Ring loaded them with the rest of the sliced bacon, the paprika bacon which Aggie Ring tried to slice all the same thickness, and the kielbasa. Just for experimentation purposed, Aggie Ring grabbed 3 or 4 Sherman Produce “RealSweet” onions from Reidsville, Georgia, peeled them, and cut them in half so he could throw them on one of the racks.

Aggie Ring cleaned out the coals and switched the wood chips over to applewood. When everything was in its place, Aggie Ring climbed up on the steps of the kielbasa and had another little Aggie Ring Yell Practice. “Smoke the Hell Outta Kielbasa!” Aggie Ring yelled out so loudly that even some of the local tree squirrels were startled.

Around 25 minutes into the second smoker batch, Aggie Ring pulled out the onions and took them into the kitchen to cool. “OMG! This is like sweet onion applewood candy.” Aggie Ring exclaimed as he tasted one of the onions. “We’re going to need to go to the store tomorrow and get more onions. I see a lot of culinary possibilities here.”

To make a long Aggie Ring story a little bit shorter, Aggie Ring let the kielbasa and bacon smoke about an hour longer than the first batch. When all was said and done, Aggie Ring was amazed at how the applewood smoke “caramelized” the kielbasa and made it a delicious dark brown. As soon as it was cool enough to slice, Aggie Ring sampled a few slices of the kielbasa with some Kosciusko Spicy Beer Mustard. “You know, sometimes I amaze even myself.” said Aggie Ring.

As far as the paprika bacon went, Aggie Ring liked how it turned out. “It reminds me of some of that very thick bacon you get at some of the fine steak houses.” said Aggie Ring. “However, I think I’m going to freeze this for the next pot of beans. I prefer the consistent thickness of the other bacon.”

“Well,” said Aggie Ring. “I guess several little piggies won’t be going “Wee… wee… wee… all the way home!”

#AggieRing

bits and bobs by John Ellis

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THE OLD DUN LAOGHAIRE FERRY TERMINAL [LOOKS A BIT BLEAK AT THE MOMENT]-136448 by William Murphy

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The area looks a bit bleak at present but the Dun Laoghaire Ferry Terminal is to become into a new hub for technology, marine and design businesses. The proposed Harbour Innovation Campus, will house a state-of-the-art shared innovation space for local & international companies and directly inject in the region of €20 million euro into the building and local economy over the next 10 years.

From the 19th century the town was the principal passenger port for ferries between Ireland and Britain, with a frequent service to Holyhead in Anglesey, Wales. Among the ships which operated this route were 'Banshee', 'Llewellyn', 'Ulster', 'Munster', 'Leinster', 'Connaught', 'Cambria', 'Hibernia', 'Holyhead Ferry 1', 'St. Columba' and 'Stena Cambria'.

At the beginning of the 21st century the route, operated by Stena Line's Stena Explorer ran three times daily in each direction, but competition from low-cost airlines and increasing fuel costs resulted in the service being reduced to once-daily in 2008, and becoming a seasonal (summer-only plus Christmas/New Year) from 2010. From early 2015 Stena Line concentrated their Holyhead routes on Dublin Port, and withdrew the service to Dún Laoghaire.

Heads, shoulders, knees & toes by the jimmyjames

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Missed a bit... by Ormie (O)

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1994 Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0 Turbo 4x4 Saloon by Jamie-A

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Bit of an odd spot this, quite desirable Cavalier Turbo 4x4 parked up in the car park of a boarded up pub. Note that it's sitting on the original alloys yet with no tyres on them...why would that be? Other than that it looked really clean.

On SORN according to the DVLA.

Bit'o B7 by Steven Brandist

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bits & bobs. by mariell øyre

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hjartesmil.com

bit.reflection by chipsmitmayo

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Bits of Red by David Hoffman

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Thank you for all views and comments; they are always very much appreciated.

Mid-June, east of Chase City in Mecklenburg County, Virginia--an unknown tree with red leaves and buds--something is about to happen!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. If you use this image on your web site, you need to provide a link to this photo.

Salmon a leaping! by rockwolf

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A little bit of footage to show the action! There are some gaps of inactivity... but you do see a few! :-)

Shrewsbury weir - Shropshire

Wright Cadet K31DAF (YG52CEN) by Rooty Masters © Steve Foster

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Something a bit different today (27/03/2022) and a ride out from Woking to Hounslow and back on DAF SB120 / Wright Cadet B39F K31DAF. The bus was new to Marchwood of Totton as YG52CEN in 2002 and joined the Solent Blue Line / Bluestar fleet in 2008 before passing to Wilts & Dorset in 2012. By 2016 it had found a new home with D&E Coaches of Inverness where it became S99YST. In 2019 it was with Highland Country as YG52CEN once again where as Stagecoach 39882 it ran in the red & silver livery of its previous owner.

By 2021 it had entered preservation with an owner in Harrow who re-registered the bus with its current mark. The bus was repainted in a livery scheme inspired by the privatised Northumbria firm born out of United Automobile Services in 1986. K31DAF is currently on loan to RedRoutemaster.com.

Bit by Seth DuBois

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A Halloween series I decided to do! I got in touch with two people I know who are not only good models, but great at makeup, we had a great time!

Lighting: YN-560 through Cheetah Qbox 24 camera right

www.sethdubois.com | www.facebook.com/sethduboisphotography | www.500px.com/sethdubois

Bit of Spit and Polish by uplandswolf

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A dream job for many!

Spitfire undergoing some TLC as part of the "Battle of Britain Memorial Flight" at RAF Coningsby.

Un buen padre tiene algo de madre. by Rafa Llano

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A good father has a bit of a mother

La CEPAL ha definido la paternidad masculina como la relación que los hombres establecen con sus hijas e hijos en el marco de una práctica compleja en la que intervienen factores sociales y culturales, que además se transforman a lo largo del ciclo de vida tanto del padre como de los hijos o hijas. Se trata de un fenómeno cultural, social y subjetivo que relaciona a los varones con sus hijos o hijas y su papel como padres en distintos contextos, más allá de cualquier tipo de arreglo conyugal.2

La función de reproducción es del orden biológico y la compartimos con el reino animal, pero la función paterna es del orden simbólico.3 Los animales se reproducen instintivamente pero entre ellos no existe la paternidad dado que existen especies cruzadas que se adoptan mutuamente y mismas especies que se comen a sus crías o procrean con ellas. Por ende la paternidad es una institución humana cuya función excede lo instintual de la reproducción.4

El hecho de el padre sea el agente de la procreación no es una verdad de la experiencia directa. Existieron tribus que, a pesar de tener conocimiento de que una mujer no daba a luz si no había tenido un coito unos meses antes, atribuían la paternidad a una fuente, a una piedra, o al encuentro con un espíritu en lugares apartados. La calificación del padre como procreador no depende del hecho de que el ser humano haya reconocido una cierta consecución entre acontecimientos tan diferentes como coito y parto sino que es un asunto que se sitúa en el nivel simbólico.3 Los humanos pueden conocer muy bien que es necesario que un varón se aparee con una mujer nueve meses antes del parto y sin embargo no designar a ese varón como padre, el padre designado puede ser no solo un espíritu o dios sino también un hermano de la mujer, aún sabiendo que no ha tenido relaciones sexuales con dicha mujer. La palabra engendramiento designa la procreación masculina y no debe confundirse con filiación que es de orden simbólico y jurídico. La procreación es el hecho de producir y hacer nacer un niño o niña de un varón y una mujer o de gametos masculinos y gametos femeninos. La simple constatación de la transmisión de los genes nunca fue suficiente para identificar a un padre. Para el discurso jurídico la paternidad nunca se redujo al patrimonio genético y ahora que es posible constatarlo, paradojalmente, muchos menos. La paternidad incluye una función de autoridad, de cuidado, de protección, de nominación (pues da el nombre o apellido del padre), una función económica (que incluye la manutención de los hijos y la transmisión de los bienes y del patrimonio, del latín Patri=padre y onium= recibido que significa lo recibido por línea paterna, una función social, cultural, educativa (transmisión de saberes, enseñanza de los valores morales) y afectiva.1

El varón, a diferencia de la mujer, nunca fue definido por su paternidad o su capacidad de ser padre sino por su trabajo y su posición como productor y ciudadano. El padre siempre fue incierto y la paternidad menos evidente que la maternidad, sin embargo, a pesar de que sólo existía certeza de quien era la madre, los hijos, históricamente, siempre pertenecieron al padre presunto o presupuesto.

Según Monique Schneider

La cuestión política está íntimamente urdida en la problemática sobre la que se apoya la cuestión de la paternidad.5

Todas las sociedades occidentales y orientales conocidas en todos los tiempos históricos han sido patriarcales. La paternidad siempre dependió de la voluntad del padre.6 Ha dependido históricamente del consentimiento (o no) del varón hasta la aparición de las pruebas de paternidad mediante el estudio de ADN.

Aun así, en muchos casos continúa dependiendo de la voluntad paterna: en el caso de donación de esperma por parte de un tercero el padre reconocido es el esposo de la mujer inseminada y no el donante. Es decir, quien expresó su voluntad de ser padre lo será, por el contrario el dador del espermatozoide, quien no tiene voluntad ni dona paternidad, no lo será

En el caso de una madre soltera el varón no necesita su consentimiento para reconocer al niño. En todo caso será ella quien tenga que realizar una demanda para solicitar una prueba de paternidad y demostrar que ese varón no es el padre biológico del niño.

Un varón puede reconocer como suyo un niño que no es su hijo biológico y ser considerado su padre sin incurrir en delito (no sucede lo mismo en el caso de la mujer que si inscribe un niño ajeno como propio comete un delito grave).11

Las dos funciones primordiales de la paternidad, pater y genitor, son las de la nominación y la de la transmisión de la sangre. El fundamento de la definición de paternidad está en el derecho romano.

bits and pieces by ladybumblebee

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mixed media collage on paper

Bit of behind the scenes from this morning by GFWilliams.net Automotive Photography

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Bit of behind the scenes from this morning

Bits and pieces by Rita Rodner

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365: day 163: he gives me butterflies :) by Camille :)

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fact: i am a lot taller than my babe. he is 5'4 while i am 5'7.

before, i met babe, height was a big issue for me. ever since i was young, i have been the tallest girl in class. everytime we have school performances and we needed to partner up, i always end up having a girl for a partner and me for a guy. it sucked being so tall. then high school came and i met babe. we fall in love and we were happy. yet, deep in me, i was self conscious. sometimes, i worry at night that he might not like the fact that i am so tall. he proved me wrong. even though i am this giantess, he still loves me :) it was a bit awkward when we saw our first movie together. he tried putting his arm around me, but i was too tall. so, i had to slide down i tiny bit so he can, haha!

oh, and i am happy that we met when i wasn't wearing make up yet, haha! so he does love me for me, without any add ons or anything, haha!

and nope, i am not wearing any make up on this pic either :) so i hope you guys like me for me as well :)

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Bits and Pieces by Michael Jeroutek

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Kibbles and Bits by Pat J. Byrnes

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I had a small gathering at my house last night and saw a photo opportunity with the snacks!

My Preserved Buses by Daniel

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Final Bits Of 1163s M.O.T Prep Before It Goes The 2nd Week Of January To Receive A Fresh M.O.T Finally. Then Summer 2025 It Will Be Onto Alot Of Body Work Including Rebuilding The Back Of The Bus While It Gets Ready For A Full Repaint. Can't Wait To Have This And OP81 Attending Shows And Running Days Together In My Preserved Bus Livery One Day In The Future Sometime 💪

58011 departs Greenfields Yard with (6G57) 0757 Coton Hill - Bescot Yard 17061986 by Keith Davies

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A bit of a rarity at the time, Class 58.011 departs Greenfieds Yard Shrewsbury with the Coton Hill to Bescot Yard early morning mixed freight working. This was a regular Monday - Friday working and could throw up a selection of locos ranging from class 20s 31s, 37s 45, 46,s 40s, 56s, and 58s

ORIGINAL SLIDE TAKEN WITH A CANON A1 CAMERA

Bits of Green by Sage Girl Photography

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3001old with split tubes by WRme2

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In 1973 LEGO introduced a new version of the brick. (Drawing date according to LEGO vs Tyco, introduction into sets might have been a bit later). On these bricks the mold pip moved from the short side to one of the studs. The flowrib ("centerline") in the top of the brick was no longer needed. This brick also introduced several material-saving changes. The walls were made thinner with vertical ridges to connect with the studs and the tubes were split. The date "1973" matched the 1973 oil crisis so a sudden increase in material cost might have been the driving force behind the new design.

Looking at my bricks with split tubes I have found a few versions:

- Mold X, patent pending. I found the position numbers 1,7,9,14 and 22.

- Nr 77 to 96 (I am only missing 82 and 94), patent pending and erased. Below the mmold number is a position number ranging 1 to 6. I also found a brick without numbers (void) that fits this description, so that is probably an unnumbered brick within one of these series. Early versions of this brick do not have inner ribs on the walls, later versions do. Initially there is only a small triangle in the corners, after that a rib on the long wall is added. Later a rib on the short wall is added also. These might have been a modification to improve the mold release.

- Nr 97 and 98. No patent pending. Internal rib on the long and short wall without the small corner triangle. The mold position number has two digits (found 03, 04, 05)

- Bricks with the mold number inside the center tubes. In one of the stud holes is a letter (A to G). The letter and the number do always match eachother, so there are no different letters for different mold positions. Internal rib is full length on the long and short wall without the small corner triangle. The bricks have a "center line trace" where a flowrib used to be. I found the numbers 007 (D), 008 (H), 009 (A), 012 (F), 013 (C), 015 (D), 016 (H), 031 (D).

- Bricks with the mold number inside the center tubes. In one of the stud holes is a letter (A to G). The bricks do not have the "center line trace". The letter and the number do always match eachother, so there are no different letters for different mold positions. Internal rib on the long and short wall between the outer ridges. I found the numbers 018 (B), 023 (G)

Bit generation by silvia bordin

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1-2 Chocolate Cake by Asith Mohan Mangalore

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bit.ly/2srO1RH

dai.ly/x5qk1z1

#1-2ChocolateCake

Door Into Summer by Kevin Hudkins

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A bit of a concept shot I've been thinking about...

The title's a nod to Heinlein, though I could have called it "Goldilocks"

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Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission.

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MY FIRST EVENING IN KILKENNY MAY 9 2016 [BARGAIN BOOKS]-115993 by William Murphy

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I decided to begin my ‘Streets Of Ireland 2016’ programme with a visit to Kilkenny and unfortunately I was a bit unlucky with the weather as it rained for most of my three day visit. On Monday I walked around the city centre photographing at random.

Kilkenny is a city located in south-east part of Ireland and the county town of County Kilkenny. It is on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster. The city is administered by a Borough Council and a Mayor which is a level below that of city council in the Local government of the state although the Local Government Act 2001 allows for "the continued use of the description city". The borough has a population of 8,711, but the majority of the population lives outside the borough boundary: the 2011 Irish Census gives the total population of the Borough and Environs as 24,423.

Kilkenny is a popular tourist destination. In 2009 the City of Kilkenny celebrated its 400th year since the granting of city status in 1609. Though referred to as a city, Kilkenny City is the size of a large town, most equatable in size to the town of Navan, situated on the banks of the Boyne in county Meath.

Kilkenny's heritage is evident in the city and environs including the historic buildings such as Kilkenny Castle, St. Canice's Cathedral and round tower, Rothe House, Shee Alms House, Black Abbey, St. Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny Town Hall, St. Francis Abbey, Grace's Castle, and St. John's Priory.

Kilkenny is well known for its culture with craft and design workshops, the Watergate Theatre, public gardens and museums. Annual events include Kilkenny Arts Festival,the Cat Laughs comedy festival and music at the Rhythm and Roots festival and the Source concert. It is a popular base from which to explore the surrounding towns, villages and countryside. Controversy exists at the moment around the Kilkenny Central Access Scheme which is a road proposed to be built through the city centre.

Kilkenny began with an early sixth century ecclesiastical foundation within the kingdom of Ossory. Following Norman invasion of Ireland, Kilkenny Castle and a series of walls were built to protect the burghers of what became a Norman merchant town. William Marshall, Lord of Leinster, gave Kilkenny a charter as a town in 1207. By the late thirteenth century Kilkenny was under Norman-Irish control. The Statutes of Kilkenny passed at Kilkenny in 1367, aimed to curb the decline of the Hiberno-Norman Lordship of Ireland. In 1609 King James I of England granted Kilkenny a Royal Charter giving it the status of a city. Following the Rebellion of 1641, the Irish Catholic Confederation, also known as the "Confederation of Kilkenny", was based in Kilkenny and lasted until the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1649.

Kilkenny was a famous brewing centre from the late seventeenth century. In the late twentieth century Kilkenny is a tourist and creative centre.

The Heritage Council offices are located at Church Lane. The seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossory is at St. Mary's Cathedral and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel and Ossory is at St. Canice's Cathedral. Nearby larger cities include Waterford 45 kilometres (28 mi) south-southeast, Limerick 93 kilometres (58 mi) west and Dublin 101 kilometres (63 mi) northeast.