Blog Posts by R.M. Dolin
A curated collection of poems, essays, short stories, and novel excerpts presented in reverse chronological order, i.e., first post presented last in this list.
What Wind Wants, January 20, 2023
I wish the world didn’t need men like me
who have done the things I’ve done,
seen the things I’ve seen.
Unfortunately, it does and the chaos of current
conflicts cascading across countries and continents
bears that out. Some believe hell has a special place
waiting for me, but I like to think God gets me
because he made me.
READ POEM
Fight for You, December 26, 2023
Our love is sacred enough
to fight for. The future we once dreamed
is profound enough
to fight for. You are
the one pure thing
worth fighting for.
READ POEM
The Finality of Forever
A hawk circles in downward spirals casting
long shadows on the quiet forest floor, heightening fears
that call out the value of retracing
the finality of forever.
You scurry from beneath a fallen log whose
once lush branches have turned to dust, seeking
refuge in a rock you seldom flee even though
it’s stale and empty and bare.
READ POEM
Say It Ain’t So – Redux, December 7, 2023
Chapter 22 from the R.M. Dolin novel “The Dangling Conversation.” Worried her and Henry are finished and not sure what how she feels about Diego suddenly being back in her life, Isabelle leans on Kyle only to discover the darkness he’s been reticent to confront has found him. This is a revamped version of the previously posted chapter. READ CHAPTER
Roubaix Challenge, December 4, 2023
Snow’s mostly melted,
at least enough to get my bike back out on
the road. The steady sun’s welcoming
in the way tired bones yearn to relive
times when suffering seemed so essential.
Belgium lies beyond the unseen edge of
my horizon even as Roubaix’s
“Hell of the North,” challenges me to
push past fifty kilometers, allowed
to stop only because my feet are cold
and hands went numb long before that last descent.
READ POEM
Where You Are, December 1, 2023
The air I breathe no longer moves,
frozen by the very same sky creating
rings around the full moon who casts
lost shadows on still falling snow with a clarity
that causes me to remember
the way your eyes reveal
a faraway light of forever
while your touch betrays
the fire of long-ago passions.
READ POEM
Don’t Look Out Your Window, November 12, 2023
Don’t look out your window to watch
the world on fire. Don’t invest a second understanding
what it means to be someone else. Don’t act
as if you care,
don’t talk as if you have solutions.
Not if when you refuse to look out your widow
to see the world on fire and understand
what it means to be someone else. READ POEM
Poems, Prayers, and Promises, November 10, 2023
Darkness stealthy encroaches on tentative whispers
whose deafening silence foreshadows
the extent to which this night,
like countless nights before,
and even more demonic ones to come,
will not end well.
READ POEM
Cries of the Innocent, November 8, 2023
Oligarchs and megalomaniacs,
the world at war on the whims of a few.
Leaders shrouded in virtue as they
shield themselves in others,
deaf to the cries of the innocent.
Planets spin on a predictable axis,
as do politicians and movements,
and even clergy; they always have,
they always will…….
READ POEM
Sacrifices to Achieve Objectives – The End Doesn’t Necessarily Justify the Means, November 8, 2023
As a future Army Ranger officer-in-training, I was intentionally put in a lose-lose situation during an exercise that taught me a valuable life-lesson about sacrifice in the face of achieving objectives, the expendability of human lives in times of conflict, and how the end does not necessarily justify the means. Lessons that not only profoundly shaped my world view on right and wrong and the need to take a stand even when it’s against prevailing pressures, but lessons that have relevance in the current Israel-Palestine conflict. READ ESSAY
She Is Wind, November 7, 2023
Stoically trudging toward the barren late day field
November wind rips through well-worn clothes,
burning my face and numbing my fingers.
The distant horizon falsely holds
a promise of warmth wrapped in a lie
that seems so necessary.
She is wind tormenting memories….
READ POEM
Say It Ain’t So, October 26, 2023
Chapter 22 from the R.M. Dolin novel, “The Dangling Conversation.” Believing her and Henry are finished and not sure what to do, Mandy draws Wes into explaining why he feels Nadia no longer loves him and what he intends to do. This is the original draft chapter, notice the main charters had different names then. READ CHAPTER
The Curious Case of the Overweight Carryon, October 12, 2023
Short Story: While on a multi-city European adventure, I have a bizarre encounter with Air France that points to the absurd and illogical extent some airlines will go to extort extra fees from unsuspecting passengers. READ STORY
Attending The Paris EV Technology Demonstration Day, September 20, 2023
I recently attended an Electric Vehicle (EV) Technology Demonstration day in Paris. The event showcased a myriad of small software technology companies providing services to EVs. I was focused on services for EV fleets, in particular, fleet delivery and management technologies. READ ESSAY
The Greater Fool Theory, August 2, 2023
Chapter 12 from the R.M. Dolin novel, “The Dangling Conversation.” Unsure what it means, Isabelle is upset that Henry’s invited her to a special event. Kyle relates a moment from his relationship with Nadia when he invited her to his cabin in the mountains. READ CHAPTER
Dillon’s Dichotomy, July 17, 2023
Chapter 17 from the R.M. Dolin novel, “The Dangling Conversation.” Ten years ago, at the formally prestigious Los Alamos National Laboratory, a prominent intellectual named Dillon steps outside the carefully curated nuclear weapons narrative, requiring a fantastic and well-choreographed story be fabricated to destroy him. Kyle relates how history repeats itself as the exact same thing is currently being done to destroy him. READ CHAPTER Based on actual events READ HISTORY
A Dream that Dies, April 22, 2023
Chapter 13 from the R.M. Dolin novel, “The Dangling Conversation.” A dream that dies is worse than death, because in the end, you’re left languishing in the aftermath. But the pen is mightier than the sword and within every injustice, lies a story demanding to be told. This is the lesson Kyle attempts to teach Isabelle as he shares a dark secret. READ CHAPTER
Henry’s Hesitation, April 16, 2023
Chapter 12 from the R.M. Dolin novel, “The Dangling Conversation.” Isabelle struggles to work through what it means that Henry just said “I Love You,” while sensing he’s not all in. Kyle attempts to explain Henry’s hesitation by telling a story from when he was ten and on a profound adventure that shaped the rest of his life. READ CHAPTER
Evaluating the Renault Megane EV, April 4, 2023
As part of an engineering consulting team, I recently had the opportunity to participate in the evaluation of the Renault Megane Electric Vehicle (EV), and along the way, experience the French EV infrastructure as we journeyed along the coasts of Normandy and Britannia. READ ESSAY
The Madmen of Moscow, January 12, 2023
Short Story: Mikhail’s in mourning as he writes to his wife, Elena, on the eve of their first wedding anniversary. It’s been an anguished year since the Ukrainian War of Independence started and the totality is magnified by the death of his dear friend, Dimitry. If I’ve properly presented the story, you’ll be unable to discern which side of this tragic conflict Mikhail and Elena align. READ STORY
Calculus of Causation, December 29, 2022
Chapter 9 from the R.M. Dolin novel, “The Dangling Conversation.” Isabelle defends her decision to get divorced, as Kyle describes the structure of his “Calculus for Love,” which bins the two people in a relationship as either Poets or Novelists. In Kyle’s math, Poets are people of passion who define love in terms of physical intimacy, while Novelists are sully realists believing love should transcend the physical. READ CHAPTER, ORIGINAL VERSION
Reasoning with Unreasonable People – A Disappointing American Express Platinum Card Experience, December 20, 2022
This latest installment in my travel misadventures series relates an encounter I had with the American Express Platinum card travel service regarding a reservation from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Paris, France. How my American Express “Customer Advocate” chose to resolve the situation is disappointing to say the least . . . and also what motivates my earlier luxury credit card comparative study . . . READ ESSAY
Choosing a Luxury Credit Card – A Comparative Study, December 17, 2022
A disappointing interaction with an American Express Platinum card travel service “Customer Advocate” causes me to consider other luxury credit cards in this quickly crowding market. A comparative study of luxury credit card offerings concludes that American Express no longer provides an optimal return on investment, and spoiler alert, better luxury cards exist. If you want to know which luxury credit card is best for at least my spending and travel profile, follow the science and READ ESSAY
Sounds of Silence, December 7, 2022
Chapter 5 from the R.M. Dolin novel, “The Dangling Conversation.” The Dangling Conversation is a series of short stories presented as conversations between Kyle and Isabelle, two strangers sharing park bench philosophies. While each character’s dialog seems unrelated, their thoughts and emotions feed off each other in a way that connects their context. READ CHAPTER, ORIGINAL VERSION
Hyatt Place Paris – A Misadventure’s Tale, November 12, 2022
At the end of a motorcycle tour through southern France and Italy, I spend two nights at the Hyatt Place Paris hotel and have a very bizarre interaction with hotel managers that leads to writing this review and not recommending the Hyatt Place Paris for future travelers. . READ ESSAY
How Are You Happy, July 17, 2022
Chapter 3 from the R.M. Dolin novel, “The Dangling Conversation.” A story of park bench philosophies shared between an old man and young woman. Wes reminisces about a love he refuses to realize is forever lost, while Mandy tries coming to terms with a love that was supposed to last forever. Together they explore the challenges and barriers of surviving love and happiness through separate conversations that are seemingly unconnected. READ CHAPTER, ORIGINAL VERSION
Nine Hundred, April 30, 2022
Nine-hundred times I replay our last good-bye.
That last kiss before you climb out of bed.
That farewell hug at the train station
as you stand uncertain, about to board.
That final wave,
my desperate plea to the train
that disappears down uncaring tracks
converging at the coldness of forever.
READ POEM
At the Risk of Revolution, February 25, 2022
Every man has his moment, and in that moment, he learns the mettle of his manhood. As people stand to be counted, we often discover its women leading the way. While the free world watches like timid mice cornered by a crazed alley cat, the peaceful people of Ukraine hold on against the savagery of an immoral Russian army. Meanwhile, an anonymous group of international hackers, known mostly for their anarchists exploits, have rallied to the cause of freedom by declaring war on Russia. . . READ ESSAY
Emmett’s Fix-it Shop: It’s Time to Wake the Woke, February 6, 2022
Something I’ve come to look forward to whenever I visit my Dad, is ending our day together watching episodes of the 1960’s classic comedy, ” The Andy Griffith Show.” The humor is fun, family friendly, and harkens back to an idyllic time when every problem has a solution. The ensemble cast includes a diverse cross-section of small town characters, including one rather gruff guy called Emmett, who runs a fix-it shop. Fix-it shops have gone the way of the dinosaur, but back in the day, every town had one. Lately I’ve been wondering if Emmett may be a metaphor for the profound misdirection of our ailing civilization? READ ESSAY
Missile Crisis 2.0, January 29, 2022
Most Americans incorrectly assume that the The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, started when the Soviet Union (i.e, Russia) attempted to place nuclear weapons in Cuba. While that is perhaps the short answer to a very complex problem from an American perspective, what triggered the Russian aggression was the United States deploying nuclear missiles in Turkey and Italy, that were within striking distance of the Soviet Union. READ ESSAY
Supreme Court Math, January 29, 2022
Under pressure from aggressively abusive liberals, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer this week announced his retirement. President Biden quickly issued a statement saying his pick as a replacement would be a black female, while seeming to dismiss the goal of finding the best justice to protect our constitution and serve the nation. President Biden’s assertion is that the Supreme Court should represent a cross section of our country, which seems noble. So let’s assume this assertion, and because liberals like identity politics, do the math. READ ESSAY
Why Nations Wage War, January 22, 2022
In times of war, sacrifices must sometimes be made . . . and to save a presidency, nation’s must sometimes be sacrificed.
A tale as old as time, and sadly not our nation’s first. Wars are fought for many reasons, although in my lifetime, I can only think of one that was likely just. So what is the purpose of war? There is of course the propaganda we’re feed, but what are the real underlying reasons? A review of wars going back to the Greeks would reveal one primary reason nation’s wage war, which not surprisingly is the same reason individuals do evil, to get more stuff. America, for the last eighty years, is one of the few countries that doesn’t wage war to acquire more stuff, we have other reasons. READ ESSAY
Charcuterie: Canadian Bacon, January 3, 2022
Canadian Bacon is , or perhaps is not, bacon depending on how much brand loyalty you have. While traditional bacon is made of meat from pork bellies, Canadian bacon is from a pork loin. Traditional bacon is cold cured, while Canadian bacon is hot cured. Normal bacon is mostly fat, while Canadian bacon has little fat; so you decide. Canadian bacon is a salt cured pork loin soaked in a spice brine for five days. It’s then hot smoked for a few hours and is then ready to eat. At least that’s the American version of Canadian Bacon, and while we Yanks may not have invented this non-bacon bacon, we certainly don’t have any qualms about helping our neighbors to the north improve on their recipe.
Canadian bacon is actually only called that in America, the Canadian’s call it “peameal bacon,” which is a name so obviously in need of rebranding, so you’re welcome Canada, your southern neighbors always have your back. The origins of Canadian bacon probably date back to the early to mid 1800’s when there as a shortage of pork in England, and the Brits needed meat to go with all those potatoes they were confiscating from the Irish. So, the Brits started importing cured pork from their loyal colony that had yet to break away like those damn rebel Yanks to the south. A distinction between American Canadian bacon and Canadian peameal bacon is that the Canadians don’t smoke or hot cure the meat, they just brine it and then cook the semi-cured meat before eating. The reason Canadians call their bacon peameal is that after the brine process is complete, they roll the pork loin in corn meal. So you’re probably wondering, why not call their bacon cornmeal bacon? Well, like any good historical conundrum, there’s a story….back in the day, there was not much maze growing in the provenances, keep in mind, corn is a southwestern American crop. So what the Canadians did, because they have a lot of time to think about stuff in those long winters of isolation, is they dried and crushed peas into a meal and coated the pork loin in that to help preserve it….at least that’s the story they’re standing behind. READ MORE, CULINARY PAGE
December 25, 2021
Charcuterie: Cold Smoking Considerations
For thousands of years, smoking perishable foods has been a method for extending shelf life as smoke contains antibacterial preservatives. Today food is smoked as much for flavor as for preservation and the two primary methods are hot and cold smoking. Cold smoking infuses smoke flavor in the absence of heat and is primarily used in foods that don’t need to be cooked, like cheese, cured fish or salami. It’s also used to impart a smoky character to foods that will be cooked, like marinated meat or sauteed vegetables. Cold smoking does not heat the smoking chamber, so the challenge becomes how to burn the wood chips without generating heat. The answer, which Occam would find a stroke of genius, is that you don’t.
The trick to cold smoking food is to burn your wood somewhere else and duct the smoke into your smoke chamber. Initially I was going to build a cold smoking chamber because I thought it would make a nice woodworking project. In doing research, I found a lot of people doing a lot of things wrong, such as using plywood or OSB for a smoker box. You don’t want to use processed wood for a smoker box, unless you’re into poisoning your body with chemicals because processed wood contains formaldehyde and other nasty shit. I also know from my days running a distillery that you should avoid pine as the sap has nasty toxins, which is why wine and spirits barrels are never made from pine. Likewise, you want to avoid using galvanized metal as a liner because it too can release toxins when warm or in contact with meat.
If you plan on making a smoking chamber, think about the woods that have for centuries been used to store food, like oak, hickory, maple, alder, cherry, etc. Using hardwood is expensive, but so is a trip to the hospital with food poisoning. In reading about early American smoke houses, I found that cedar was often used. At first, I thought it was a matter of availability, but then realized it’s about cedar’s aroma and how it is a bug resistant wood. Redwood is heat resistant and good against bugs, which is why it was a popular siding. Redwood holds up well to weather, which is why it’s used for decking and in saunas. It is not particularly strong, but a smokehouse doesn’t need to be uber structural. As with anything in life, the solution to any challenge is observable if you take the time to logically observe.
While building a wood smokehouse remains on by “to do” list, I have for now modified my hot smoker to do double duty as a cold smoker. The advantages are that it is insulated, has heavy duty racks, is already seasoned, is sealed from insects and rodents, and has good natural air flow. The disadvantage, as my Sous Chef here constantly points out, is that the smoker could be bigger. But, as I remind him, life is, if nothing else, about compromise. READ MORE, CULINARY PAGE
Charcuterie: Cold Smoked Salmon, December 25, 2021
Cold smoked foods are either already cooked, are intended to be cooked, or are in the process of being cured. This cold smoked salmon recipe is for fresh fish that is cured with a Kosher salt and brown sugar rub. The reason Kosher salt is used in cold curing recipes is that it is coarse grained and has no added iodine like table salt. Kosher salt is also a low cost salt, which is good since you use a lot. Cold smoked salmon is a partially cured meat, which means after smoking you need to keep it refrigerated or frozen. The good news is that it will last for weeks in the refrigerator and indefinitely in the freezer.
At this point I’m sure you saying to yourself, “I’ve seen smoked salmon that is not refrigerated?” All I can say is yes it is possible, with the right combination of chemicals and flavor destroying techniques but both sort of defeat the purpose of eating salmon in the first place. This recipe provides you a chemical-free way of making smoked salmon for a fraction of the price you’d pay in the store. Another important recommendation is don’t cheap out and buy farm raised salmon, not only is it not healthy (wrong omega fats), it’s dyed, and here’s the show stopper, farm raised salmon is literally feed chicken shit. Wild salmon is naturally pink because of their diet of shrimp. If shrimp turns wild salmon pink, imagine what chicken shit does to farm raised salmon.
The farm raised fish industry has devised all kinds of ways to deceive you, for example, labeling their fish as Pacific Salomon or Atlantic salmon, or ocean salmon. If you think about it, salmon are not native to the Atlantic, so an Atlantic salmon is obviously farm raised. You are looking for “Wild Caught” salmon. The two ways you’ll know is first, wild caught salmon has a rich red color and stronger fiber that frame raised can’t match, and second is the price, which can be from 25% to 75% higher than farm raised salmon. READ MORE, CULINARY PAGE
Charcuterie: The Meat Curing Process, December 23, 2021
Charcuterie is a broad term used to define turning fresh meat into meat that is preserved in a process called curing. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where you still have neighborhood deli’s making sausage, the butcher would be a Charcuterie. For centuries, charcuterie was an art form and butchers were known for their specialty sausages just as chefs today are known for their cuisine.
When I was working on my PhD at Purdue University, I would routinely fly through Chicago when going and returning from West Lafayette. I always planned my itinerary for a long layover at O’hare, for two reasons; one was to buy handmade Perogies from the ladies at the nearby Ukrainian Orthodox church, and the other was to visit a Polish deli on Chicago’s North Harlem Avenue that made the best Krakowska. The only problem was that no matter how carefully I wrapped the Krakowska, my overhead compartment always reeked of garlic by time we landed.
On one trip between Chicago and Albuquerque, I was carrying two kilos of Krakowska and wasn’t paying attention when the cabin steward helped an elderly woman put her expensive fur coat in the overhead beside my backpack. When we landed and opened the overhead, the plane filled with the smell of garlic and passengers were less than hesitant to express disapproval. As I profusely apologized to the elderly woman while tentatively handing her the expensive garlic infused fur coat, she gave my arm a tender squeeze, smiled fondly, and said in a thick Polish accent, “it reminds me of Krakow as a small girl.” These days I have to drive all the way to Denver to find the fine art of charcuterie still being practiced, and the best places there are the Russian delis. If you’re ever in Denver, I recommend the M&I International Market to get your homemade salami and gourmet dessert fixes. Read More, CULINARY PAGE
The Logic of the Logically Irrational, December 18, 2021
I listened with a bizarre mixture of despair, disbelief, and disillusionment as President Biden, along side his most trusted confidant, Anthony Facui, laid out their assertion that the Omicron strain of COVID would kill us all by spring. To be precise, Biden didn’t say we’d all be dead by spring, just those of us who won’t get the COVID boaster. However, if you follow the logic that’s been promoted throughout this political pandemic, COVID is coming for us all. READ MORE
Cuisine: Meat Processing Equipment Review, December 14, 2021
In French cooking there’s an expression called “Mise en Place”, which translates to “setting up”. The principle of Mise en Place is to measure and prepare all your ingredients prior to starting. That works in a fully established kitchen, but for our journey into the fascinating world of Charcuterie (i.e., cured meats), we must start by stepping back and reviewing all the equipment we need just to get started with preparing cured meats. Read More
Note: if you are familiar with this device, you know it has a common name, unfortunately, the thought police who monitor web postings have decided the name is offensive and prohibit its use. It took me weeks to figure out the reason I couldn’t post this blog is because I was using a word that has been banned. I don’t know what that word means in Hindu, but the internet monitors that greedy media moguls hire for pennies per hour to monitor us, must find it extremely offensive……believe it or not, the word is “m i x e r” CULINARY PAGE
First Snow, October 16, 2021
I think of Paris,
like I always do when life
forcefully has me in retreat.
It’s odd I’ve been there
so many times, but never in autumn.
I imagine Versailles in the afternoon
as parks and gardens
ready themselves for winter.
Snow came early here,
it didn’t stick
but nonetheless impressed
we have a long season
to look forward to. READ POEM
Desert Rain, September 27, 2021
It’s going to rain,
no big deal for most, but
special still the same. The smell of a
desperate desert, the way evaporating air
draws you into your hoodie consoled by
careful sips of hot coffee.
I built a second floor patio to remind me
of Paris. . . It overlooks the
mountains where I watch clouds heavy with worry
wrap their way toward me. I integrate with
the solitude, causing me to reflect on
my journey to right now. . .
on how humble it is to watch wind, accepting
I’ll never see her, and she’ll never understand
what it means to be me.
READ POEM
Kyle From Kabyle, September 7, 2021
Short Story: Kyle is on a bike ride from Barcelona to Milan when he gets caught in a fierce Mediterranean storm in the mountains between Genoa and Milan Italy. In the mountains, isolated, cold, and exhausted, he comes face to face with fate, at least the part of fate he’s been riding to escape. This is a short story about how tragedy and loss can impact someone’s life, even when they bury it so deep they can pretend it’s forgotten. READ STORY
This is the birth of the Kyle character in “The Dangling Conversation,” novel.
I Weep for The World, August 26, 2021
I weep for my nation as it stumbles,
losing slivers of its soul
as politicians practice personal power
over protecting people.
I weep for a country cascading in chaos,
where you fear the brutality of your enemy
even as who your enemy is
grows more uncertain every day.
I weep for the children who sleep alone
not knowing their parents,
as I weep for parents who will never again
know their children.
I weep for armies sworn to protect,
whose leaders were socially promoted
to profound levels of incompetence
leaving soldiers isolated and vulnerable.
I weep for a world growing desperately dark,
where the hopefulness of humanity
steamrolls toward a catastrophic cliff.
A world that can end hunger yet won’t.
A world that would end violence if it were only expedient.
A world that could stop suffering but has become indifferent.
I weep for my world.
Dominic and Denali – A story of love and loss but not Lost Love, March 17, 2021
Short Story: While certainly not a player, Dominic knew the instant he saw Denali fate was forever his friend. Of all the nursing and liberal arts students attending his Statistics for Non-Believers seminars, Denali stood out; trying so hard to understand concepts her brain simply was not wired to comprehend. Dominic appreciated that Denali never cried during tutoring sessions; he doesn’t know what to do with crying undergrads. READ STORY
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