Nah B, I ain't lettin' go of the chocolate just yet.

Anyway, my little bro married a muslim last year and started converting. I don't know how he did it - he loved the bacon more than me.

Was never into 'pork' much (Jewish family) but I always loved smoked honey ham (yum). So some years ago I raised my own pig. Had it slaughtered locally, and smoked by an old timer, the old fashioned way.

Got about 130 lbs of 'finished product'.
Well... I thought I didn't really like pork but... HOLLY GOD! Lean and mean! a Chine roast to die for.

Pork all the way though. Couldn't go the rest of my life without my dad's chili verde.

Coincidentally, I finally made a batch of my own last week that I think was identical to his. It's really not that tough a dish, but I could just never make it like him.

We will have to coordinate who brings what side dishes. Will can bring the 'finished product' for after the feast. They grow it good down south.

At the Western Beef in Mott Haven (3rd Ave & 140th St), I bought (on three separate occasions) a huge pork roast for two cents each ... just because whoever labeled them priced them at two cents. Only one cashier caught this and asked the manager, and the manager waved his hand and said, "Sure, let him have it. He's lucky!"

Seriously, I am not making this up.

Alex is a wondeful writer, although right now, I'd take a poor writer if he could find something about the 2008 Yankees.

It is most probably the even encroaching senility, but there seems to be less discussion about the Yankees this year then im years past.

Jim Dean, I miss ya.

Alex you inspired me: Braciole with a Caprese salad and lots of hot crispy bread for the game. A very big smile.

If it ever came to that, I would have a hard time giving up the swine. Pernil, bacon, pork chops, ribs, chicharrones, pork fried rice... Yep, it'd be very difficult.

Of course, we're talking here about real pork - pork with fat in it, not "the other white meat." Those lean, dry, leathery things they sell as pork chops now are a shonda. I went to the Minnesota State Fair a few years ago, and the days of the fat prize pig are gone; they judge them on leanness now. (The food at the State Fair is awesome - the specialty is deep-fried anything on a stick.)

Unfortunately, the decision was made for me a few months ago by diabetes. I still get to taste chocolate, I suppose - a little bit, rarely. And this just after I discovered the array of high-end chocolate at the Harlem Fairway - intense stuff.

With Hanley, Tulo and a few others, and Jeter's progressively poor fielding, is he still an 'elite' SS? His contract is up after 2010. Will he have any value as a SS by then? While we signed the elderly Mo and Po, will Derek be worth keeping after 2010?
Does a guy like Jeter retire at 37?

If they Yankees do NOT move Jetes to 1B soon, and we sign Tex or another BFOG 1Bman, it's 4 more years at SS. Now, 1B is open. Should this get serious consideration?

With ARod signed for 10 years, will this have an emotional impact on Jeter? Would he 'refuse' to give up SS when ARod did? Will he be happy to walk after 2010?

I will cross my fingers and hope Mo is Mo in 2008, but will he still be a closer in 2009? With Joba starting, do we have ANY BP in 2009? Is Mo developing another pitch? How long can he be effective with 'just' the cutter? Are there any BP studs coming up for FA in 2009?

The Steinettes will want Cashman back. Could he possible leave his beloved Yankees?

It's a walk year for Giambi. Will he retire after 2008? With he play in 2008 with renewed passion, looking for a 1 or 2 year 'Pettitte' type deal?

Does anyone actually think Po can play 1st base? (Not me, I think he will make Piazza look graceful).

Does Melky have any future with the Yankess?

There has been talk of trading Matsui even though he has a No-Trade clause. Would his sense of 'honor' allow him to refuse a trade?

Is Phil still the stud we thought we were getting in 2006?

Is IPK for real as a #3 or at least #4?

The Yankees haven't made a big trade/aquisition in years. Does 1B already have 'Teixeira' written on it?

Will Posada ever be able to make it to 2nd base again?

Will a few years in LA kill Torre's reputation?

Does it take a tough man to make a tender pig?

Quick recap: Jeter's not moving from SS in the foreseeable future. 1b is definitely a problem. Posada can't move to 1b because if you don't have a catcher, you're going to have a lot of passed balls. Matsui won't accept a trade. No way to know if Santana or Texeira reach FA, and no way to know what they'll be worth in a year. Ditto Hughes, Rivera, Melky, Kennedy, Torre.

11 That damn Cash ruined that BUC debate for us this year :}

14 Good effort in starting some debate. Here's a few -
I don't see Po doing that well at 1B - but Piazza sets a standard of crap that is hard for anyone to surpass.
Yes on Phil.
I think Tex is someone the Yanks would spend money on. Do you think Miranda is a real possibility though?

18 I don't know if we should sign both, either or neither to a long term deal; I'd sooner sign Robbie and lock him up until his early 30's than Wang but I wouldn't cry if they did a Mets move and signed both. I suppose keeping guys working year to year for a new deal has some attractiveness to a deep pocket owner as well so I'd understand if they didn't do it. Well ... I guess I'm done with that one.