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Final OS...

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Posted by zardoz on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 8:15 PM

So who, exactly, is this Bergie guy anyway? 

Mischief Whistling

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Posted by edblysard on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 7:52 PM

If you take Beano first, it isn't as bad as you think....

erikem

 Just how well do readers digest anyway??? (As opposed to digestion of non-readers...)

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Posted by bubbajustin on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 7:41 PM
Dearest Bergie, Although I have not had time to meet you, I'm sure youre' a really good guy. I hae many dreams for my future , but the biggest one is to become a locomotive engineer. I hope that you fufill youre' dreams elsewhere. I hope that we may meet in the future! Sinceraly, Justin S.

The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.

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Posted by kolechovski on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:07 PM

I still don't get it...why's he leaving? What did I miss?  Who will compete with Mike Yuhas in the photo shoots?  I know Mike can win them now, but having no opposition doesn't really mean he'll have a meaningful victory...

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Posted by Steam Is King on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 3:37 AM

Thanks for making this a warm place for kibitzing, Erik. I'm sure your upcoming move is the recipe for success.

Chico

I love the smell of coal smoke in the morning! I am allergic to people who think they are funny, but are not. No, we can't. Or shouldn't, anyway.
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Posted by erikem on Monday, April 27, 2009 9:59 PM

 Just how well do readers digest anyway??? (As opposed to digestion of non-readers...)

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Posted by espeefoamer on Monday, April 27, 2009 4:03 PM

You will be missed on this forum.Good luck on your new position.

Owned by Readers Digest,huh.Does this mean you will be in charge of removing several ingredients from each recipe?

Drop in sometimes,and enter the photo contest and keep us up to date as to what you're doing.

Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, April 27, 2009 3:46 PM

Don't think you'll have a chance to starve over there. (Virtual Diner here, real thing there in the test kitchen?)

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by Bergie on Monday, April 27, 2009 11:18 AM

mersenne6
  Manager of the Reader's Digest Forum????  Now that has the potential of being curious in the extreme.  The last time I looked at Reader's Digest I noted everything they printed was abridged so I assume you will be responsible for abridging posts to their forum

 

No, not Reader's Digest. Taste of Home, a magazine and Web site owned by Reader's Digest Association.

Laugh 

Bergie

Erik Bergstrom
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Posted by Kenfolk on Sunday, April 26, 2009 8:27 PM

 Erik--

 Thanks for all you've done here, and best wishes  for your new venture!

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Posted by KayBee on Sunday, April 26, 2009 6:35 PM

Erik,

 Take care and God Bless.

I expect we will continue to see your enigmatic avatar occasionally!

 

Kirk "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Sir Arthur Clarke
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Posted by Bergie on Sunday, April 26, 2009 5:27 PM

erikem
You wouldn't be talking about glögg by any chance???

 

Yep! I told the story about my parent's making it from scratch one Christmas and the fireball that ensued.

(Long story short, to burn off some of the alcohol you have one person both a match next to the pot's lid and a second person slowly lifts the lid. When the varpors/steam from the concoction hit the flame from the match a fireball shots toward the ceiling. To think, our people drink that stuff!)

You just made me add some additional items to the list of things I need to try. Thanks!

Erik

Erik Bergstrom
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Posted by Bergie on Sunday, April 26, 2009 5:16 PM

zardoz
I would venture a guess that those forums will not get as politically "charged" as they sometimes do here.

 

Actually, up to thise point they've let people talk about whatever they want. We'll see what we decide to do in the future. I've long believed that people who join a forum about their passion and find friends who share their passtion (in this case railroading or cooking), shouldn't let a personal beliefe that's really no one else's business get in the way of their friendship. People will take cheap shots for our moderation of those topics, but I can sleep pretty well at night knowing that most anyone can join in the discussion here and not feel threatened by a good ol' boys network.

Erik

Erik Bergstrom
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Posted by Bergie on Sunday, April 26, 2009 5:11 PM

pcarrell

Erik,

As everyone else has already said so well, you will be missed greatly.  But for me, I'll also miss the occasional shout out to say hey, if for no other reason then to just break the monotony of the day to day grind, or to just be the one Email where someone DOESN'T complain about something.  Yeah, you'll definately be missed!

Philip

 

Philip, you have no idea how much those e-mails meant to me some days.

As for you, I'll miss your forum signature animation. It's one of the best I've ever seen.

Thanks again,
Erik

Erik Bergstrom
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Posted by Bergie on Sunday, April 26, 2009 5:09 PM

dknelson

Remember Bergie this means that railfanning trips, digital cameras, and the like will no longer be tax deductible after May 4.  But maybe all your groceries and a new stove will be!

Dave Nelson

PS Bergie: Galesburg RR Days is June 26-27 and there will be private cars on the Sandburg

 

I'll keep writing for the magazines so I can keep those tax deductions in place. Smile

I'm planning on going to Galesburg Railroad Days. Before last week, I was going to be there in the Trains tent with Tom Danneman. Now I might just drive down and meet up with Tom and whoever he takes with him.

Keep in touch, Dave.

Bergie

 

Erik Bergstrom
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Posted by ARTHILL on Sunday, April 26, 2009 4:57 PM

Good Luck. I also will miss you.
If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/ Art
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Posted by trainfan1221 on Sunday, April 26, 2009 12:50 PM

I have seen Taste of Home magazine, didn't realize it had that much going on, but I guess so.  Good luck, sounds like you will have all clear signals ahead.

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Posted by AntonioFP45 on Sunday, April 26, 2009 10:18 AM

 Brother Bergie,

You will be greatly missed.  Thank you for the encouraging emails as well.  But at the same time, I get the feeling that you will still be a member and we'll be fortunate enough that you will still make posts.

May all go well in your new position.  

 

 

 

 

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


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Posted by last mountain & eastern hogger on Sunday, April 26, 2009 1:28 AM

Sigh  Bergie, you are one good Dude and have always acted in a honorable fashion.

I have always enjoyed your comments and interventions and believe you always took the high road.

I for one want to thank you for all you have done to make this forum a safe haven and comfortable place to hang out.

You will indeed be missed,

May the worms and viruses never find your puter.   Best wishes always,

Johnboy out...............................

from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North.. 

We have met the enemy,  and he is us............ (Pogo)

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Posted by pcarrell on Saturday, April 25, 2009 11:22 PM

Erik,

As everyone else has already said so well, you will be missed greatly.  But for me, I'll also miss the occasional shout out to say hey, if for no other reason then to just break the monotony of the day to day grind, or to just be the one Email where someone DOESN'T complain about something.  Yeah, you'll definately be missed!

Philip

Philip
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Posted by Poppa_Zit on Saturday, April 25, 2009 10:48 PM

edblysard
So, if your not brave enough to drink this, you can use it to de-grease your locomotive?

I had to double-filter it, but it ran my snowblower all winter.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. They are not entitled, however, to their own facts." No we can't. Charter Member J-CASS (Jaded Cynical Ascerbic Sarcastic Skeptics) Notary Sojac & Retired Foo Fighter "Where there's foo, there's fire."
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Posted by larak on Saturday, April 25, 2009 10:39 PM

Best of luck, you will obviously be missed.

Or to make a pun of it "bye bye Bergie"

 

The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open.  www.stremy.net

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Posted by twhite on Saturday, April 25, 2009 10:01 PM


Bergie: 

I'll miss you, you're one of the Genuine Good Guys.  You've always been a lot of help to me when I've had some problems with software, and you've done it with patience and good humor--sometimes when I didn't deserve it. Blush

Don't be a stranger. 

And--oh, BTW, please, PLEASE don't tell those Reader's Digest cooks that Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup is the end-all and be-all of seasoning shortcuts, okay? Tongue

Seriously, my best wishes to you. 

Tom Bow

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Posted by Geared Steam on Saturday, April 25, 2009 9:23 PM

 Good luck Bergie. hope you the best.

 

 

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

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Posted by jchnhtfd on Saturday, April 25, 2009 7:41 PM

Bergie -- it's been a lovely ride. I'm going to miss you; we all will. Enjoy your next trip!
Jamie
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Posted by SteamFreak on Saturday, April 25, 2009 7:13 PM

 I have a Swedish friend who served Glögg at a Christmas party two years ago. It's like drinkable furniture polish. Dead

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Posted by edblysard on Saturday, April 25, 2009 7:02 PM

So, if your not brave enough to drink this, you can use it to de-grease your locomotive?

Poppa_Zit

Bergie --

Take this with you (remember, Glögg is best guzzled by those with full beards, using the beard to filter out the lumps):

Swedish Glögg
Makes about 1 gallon
1.5 litre bottle of inexpensive dry red wine
1.5 litre bottle of inexpensive American port
1 bottle of inexpensive brandy or aquavit
10 inches of stick cinnamon
1 Tablespoon cardamom seeds
2 dozen whole cloves
Peel of one orange
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup blanched almonds
2 cups sugar
Garnish with the peel of another orange

Notes
There is no need to invest in expensive wine or brandy because the spices are going to preempt any innate complexity of a fine wine, but don't use anything too cheap. Remember, the sum will be no better than the parts. Do not use an aluminum or copper pot since these metals interact chemically with the wine and brandy and impart a metallic taste. Use stainless steel or porcelain.

Cardamom comes in three forms: pods, seeds, and powder. Do not use powder. If you can only find the pods (the look like orange seeds), take about 2 dozen and pop them open to extract the seeds. Cardamom seeds may be hard to find, so you may need to order them from a spice specialist like Penzeys.com.

Assembly
Pour the red wine and port into a covered stainless steel or porcelain kettle. Add the cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, orange peel, raisins, and almonds. Warm gently, but do not boil. Boiling will burn off the alcohol.

Put the sugar in a pan and soak it with half the bottle of brandy. Warm the sugar and brandy slurry over a low flame. The sugar will melt and bubble until it becomes a clear golden syrup of caramelized sugar. If you wish, you can speed up the process a bit and create quite a show by flaming the brandy. Flaming will create a 2 foot high blue flame, so be sure there is nothing above the stove that can catch on fire. Then, stand back and light the brandy. Turn out the kitchen lights and watch it burn! This caramelization is crucial to developing complexity.

Add the caramelized sugar to the spiced wine mix. Cover and let it mull for an hour. Just before serving, strain to remove the spices, and add brandy to taste (about 1/2 pint). You can serve it immediately, or let it age for a month or two. If you are going to age it, make sure the bottle is filled as high as possible and sealed tight.

To serve glögg, warm it gently over a low flame or in a crockpot, and serve it in a mug. Garnish it with a fresh orange peel, twisted over the mug to release the oils.

You can easily tailor the recipe to your own tastes by changing the sweetness, potency, or other ingredients. Try brown sugar if you wish. Or Southern Comfort instead of brandy. The orange peel garnish, however, is essential to the fragrance.

Drink while seated and give your car keys to a friend.

 

 

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Posted by Medina1128 on Saturday, April 25, 2009 5:18 PM

Erik, I'd like to take the opportunity to wish you the best. But... who's gonna get custody of me?!?!

 Marlon

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Posted by bogp40 on Saturday, April 25, 2009 5:09 PM

Eric (Bergie),

It has been a pleasure, having you on this Forum. Quite an excellent job of keeping all these "kids" in line.  You will be missed.

I wish you luck and happiness in you future endevors.

 

Modeling B&O- Chessie  Bob K.  www.ssmrc.org

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