Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Air Force One ~ Skillet Glazed Pork ~ National Caviar Day

Good 52º clear sunny morning. 

Yesterday we topped at 95º.

Picture of the Day .... hmmmmmmmm........ oh my!

Interesting about Air Force One....

Air Force One is the official name for the aircraft that carries the President of the United States when he’s traveling. The plane is considered to be one of the greatest symbols of the American presidency and the power of the position. The idea for a specific airplane for the president came about in 1943 after the United States Army Air Forces became concerned about the reliance on commercial airlines to transport the president. But Air Force One is much more than just a private plane. It’s a flying vault full of secrets that few presidents have opened up about, until now.

Air Force One has the capability to fly at nearly 650 miles per hour. That’s extremely fast for such a large plane. But that’s not all! It can also fly higher than most commercial planes at 45,000 feet. That’s 10,000 feet higher than the normal cruising altitude of any typical passenger airliners. Despite flying so high and so fast, Air Force One is also an incredibly smooth ride, making it a traveling experience fit for a president. 

Amazingly, Air Force One has the ability to never need to land. It can be refueled mid-flight for security reasons, so the president never has to land in an unsafe situation.

If necessary, the plane could fly forever, or at least until there was some kind of serious mechanical failure. But even then, with a plane like this, who knows? On top of mid-air refueling, Air Force One has a gas tank that can hold 3,000 gallons. That should last you for a while!

Air Force One is decked out with not one, but two restaurants. 

Here is one of the kitchens^

Okay, maybe they’re not complete restaurants, but there are two massive fully-stocked kitchens that feed the president, his staff, family, and the crew. The president and his guests can have just about anything that they want to eat as the stores are always stocked and the plane is staffed with top-rated chefs. The main kitchen can fit up to 100 people and is always full of bustling workers.

Aboard Air Force One, there are over 85 phones available for use. Why so many? As it turns out, the plane is the most secure place that the president can talk, even more so than the White House. 

The Executive Phones are particularly special, and have lights on the back that turn red when the phone line has become secure. Besides a few of these special phones, there are dozens of less-secure lines that are often used for the press and other staff.

In 1959, President Eisenhower ordered the director of Central Intelligence to install high-powered spy cameras in the wheel wells of the plane. 

These cameras were so powerful that even at that time they could read license plates from the sky. Eisenhower’s motive behind installing these cameras is still unknown.

Air Force One is large enough to be a pretty substantially sized house, except it flies thousands of feet in the air. It has three stories and is over 4,0000 square feet in area, definitely not very cramped quarters for the president and others on the plane. The president also has a large office, his own bathroom, and a massive conference room. Special guests also receive private quarters which are nothing short of what you’d find in a luxury hotel. Sure beats flying coach!

Air Force One’s color scheme is certainly eye-catching. Its distinctive paint job is largely due to President John F. Kennedy’s affinity for the color blue. Industrial designer Raymond Loewy worked alongside the president and first lady to create the unique design seen here.....

The specific shades of blue he used were a slate-blue that’s associated with the early days of America as a republic. The more modern cyan hue symbolizes the present and future. President Trump has plans to repaint Air Force One with a red and navy blue scheme.

Because one presidential plane might be too exposed to those who would do it harm, there are actually two Air Force Ones. However, only one of them is the real deal and transports the president. They fly together so that nobody can tell which one the president is in. There is also a jet called “The Gulfstream” which supposedly trails the other two planes, although the government and Air Force deny its existence.

From Mr. Food

The glaze in this flavor-packed pork dish is made with an ingredient you may have never tried before. This ingredient adds a slightly salty, Asian flair to dishes and is great for cooking with, as well as dipping into. You'll have to try our recipe for Skillet Glazed Pork to see for yourself!

 

• 1 tablespoon peanut oil
• 2 pounds pork shoulder steak, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 cups cooked white rice, warmed
• 2 scallions, cut in half and shredded lengthwise

 

1. In a large skillet over high heat, heat oil; saute pork and onion 5 minutes, or until browned. Remove mixture to a bowl.
2. Reduce heat to medium; add fish sauce, brown sugar, hot sauce, ginger, garlic, and pepper strips. Cook 2 to 3 minutes.
3. In a bowl, whisk broth and cornstarch and add to skillet. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until sauce is thickened. Return pork to skillet and cook 4 to 5 minutes, or until meat is no longer pink in center. Serve over rice and top with scallions.

 

Historically this date......

1925 – Adolf Hitler publishes his personal manifesto Mein Kampf.

1966 – Human spaceflight: Gemini 10 is launched from Cape Kennedy on a 70-hour mission that includes docking with an orbiting Agena target vehicle.

1968 – Intel is founded in Santa Clara, California.

1969 – After a party on Chappaquiddick Island, Senator Ted Kennedy from Massachusetts drives an Oldsmobile off a bridge and his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, dies.

1984 – McDonald's massacre in San Ysidro, California: in a fast-food restaurant, James Oliver Huberty opens fire, killing 21 people and injuring 19 others before being shot dead by police.

And births this date include...

1909 – Harriet Nelson, American singer and actress (d. 1994)

1913 – Red Skelton, American actor and comedian (d. 1997)

1921 – John Glenn, American astronaut and politician (d. 2016)

1939 – Dion DiMucci, American singer-songwriter (Dion and the Belmonts)

 

1940 – James Brolin, American actor

  I don't get it. I just don't get it! He's nice and she's a terminal beeeeotch!

1950 – Richard Branson, English businessman, founded Virgin Group

1967 – Vin Diesel, American actor

All I know. Nuff said. Happy Saturday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

On July 18, National Caviar Day recognizes a seafood delicacy with roe on toast. The day also raises awareness about the survival of the sturgeon.

In simple terms, caviar is Sturgeon fish eggs. There are several species of Sturgeon fish.  As a result, the caviar produced varies in colors depending on the species. Caviar is full of protein and vitamins making the delicacy a healthy meal.  

The United States led distribution at 600 tons per year until around 1900. However, due to the over-harvesting of Sturgeon fish for the caviar, the U.S. banned harvesting for a time to protect the sturgeon fish from becoming extinct. The population has never recovered sufficiently since the ban, resulting in caviar’s continued status as a luxury item. Since then, harvesting, import, and export are restricted. 

However, since sturgeon don’t reach maturity until they are between 6-25 years old, depending on the breed, establishing a farm takes time. Once they reach maturity, aquaculture needed to perfect methods for spawning. According to the North American Sturgeon and Paddlefish Society, by 2012 there were 21 sturgeon farms in the U.S. and Canada.

The day serves both as an awareness of the food source and a celebration of a delicacy.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Learn more about the ancient sturgeon and the many species. Here's a link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon