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In the mountains of Wyoming, I came across a young couple in a lodge. Internet reception is very sparse in the region, but in the national park there's a lodge where reception is good and computers are free for use. The couple was sitting beside me at a station, frantically searching the Internet for a Hardee's location in the area. It was a serious discussion, trying to figure out where this hamburger joint was located. They even got into a heated argument over how to get there, how long it would take, etc. It was as though they were calculating the driving route to a pot of gold, when in fact this is an ordinary American fast food restaurant.
I became curious and asked the guy why they were on a quest to find a Hardee's. After all, there's tons of restaurants in the area where you can get a much better hamburger, but at a higher price. He explained the couple had been camping and hiking in the national parks of the West for the past two months, living on very little calories each day due to limited finances. So this crappy burger to them would be a real treat and delicacy. Amazing the simple things that please people.
Later that night, I started thinking about last meals. In America, the death penalty is still legal in 32 States. My home State of Virginia takes second place in the total number of executions since 1976, and Texas is the champion by a large margin. Virginia has executed a total of 110 death row inmates since 1976 and Texas 503!! I'm ambivalent about the death penalty, but I know many foreign countries view it as barbaric. Before execution, the prisoner is entitled to a "last meal," any food they desire brought to them on the eve of execution. Not surprisingly, vegetables are rarely chosen. The most common choices are meats like steak, hamburgers and chicken, combined with fries and ice-cream or pie. It's some type of morbid fascination to read about last meals, but I admit I find it interesting.
My last meal would consist only of sweets! I don't care about meat in any way. A big plate of chocolate cake, cheesecake, tiramisu and ice-cream. And maybe macaroni 'n' cheese. This is a decadent Southern dish - basically noodles covered in tons of rich cheeses. Here's a photo of the tasty dish.

What about you? If you knew life would end tomorrow, what would you choose as your last meal? And what do Russians think of the death penalty? I believe it was abolished in the country many years ago, but I could be mistaken. Perhaps life in a harsh Russian prison is punishment enough? I haven't read much about inmate living conditions or treatment in Russian prisons, but I'm very interested in criminal psychology. "The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers" sits on my book shelf, right beside poetry and travel books. Good to have diverse interests! :)
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Date: 2013-08-13 05:07 pm (UTC)Last meal ... Perhaps salted Norwegian salmon with white bread, red caviar, which I adore. Also love pasta, baked with mushrooms, ham and cheese - yummy! And my favorite cake that my mom bakes))
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Date: 2013-08-13 11:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-08-14 12:56 am (UTC)Regarding the death penalty - a think this is beyond human comprehension. I've had a few of my friends executed. Which was a sheer murder.
Talking of Russia - it is absolutely un-moral even to raise this question. In that country they had executed one thousand humans per day for the duration of many years. Can you imagine this - ONE THOUSAND HUMANS A DAY? Shot in the back of their heads. Many of these beaten to pulp before the execution, to make this execution more justifiable to the trigger men.
And all of these thousands of human beings,. summing up to millions, were executed on the sentences of the court. Called "People's Court".
One of the latest serial killers, Chickatilo by name - in the 1980s - caused the condemnation by court and execution of four or five people. This was not even a political case. This was a real murderer. But the "trash" (this is the Russian word for those who are called in America "pigs" - I, not being a Jew or Muslim, cannot call these "trash" "pigs", not insulting those animals who give us wonderful food) - found it easier to execute innocents (not necessary good people, of course) to close the case. Then with new murders the case reopened, then they convicted and executed more people, etc.
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Date: 2013-08-14 04:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2013-08-14 05:18 am (UTC)For two years only.
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Date: 2013-08-14 01:25 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2013-08-14 04:21 am (UTC)About death penalty: I guess it better to return brutal hard work punishment , in irons. No work, no food! Liberals, stop to convert prison to rest place !!!!
be consistent
Date: 2013-08-14 05:41 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2013-08-14 05:24 am (UTC)After I gave a speech in the manner of Christ, is it appropriate to talk about food? Of course yes! I do not think that it would be important for me to eat something specific. But here's some vodka would be very welcome.
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Date: 2013-08-14 01:37 pm (UTC)I'm not religious so Christ doesn't factor into my analysis of moral or life issues. :)
Vodka!! I rarely drink, but if I do it's my liquor of choice. Chilled and straight from the shot glass. :)
The Iron Lady?
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Date: 2013-08-14 03:21 pm (UTC)Stars, stripes and double-headed eagles
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Date: 2013-08-14 08:10 pm (UTC)The death penalty I say yes for proven heinous acts... But i prefer the meal ;)
Xoxoxo
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Date: 2013-08-14 08:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-08-16 02:55 am (UTC)What I'm thinking about death penalty... Probably I'm not very kind but some criminals deserve the real death. Sorry.
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Date: 2013-08-16 02:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2013-08-17 03:00 am (UTC)For corrigible people the very fact of prosecution can be real punishment; for incorrigible people it doesn't matter how harsh conditions are in prison: prison is just their home.
Re: In some moment in Russian history
Date: 2013-08-17 03:34 pm (UTC)But at that times society was "protected"
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Date: 2013-08-25 06:53 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2013-09-19 08:38 pm (UTC)as for death penalty - if anyone took someone's life, this person have to pay with its own. of course there are exceptions like self-protection and the guilt must be proved totally, but when i hear about crimes against children i have no doubts.
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Date: 2013-09-19 11:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2013-09-24 01:49 pm (UTC)As for last meal - I am not sure, I think I'd prefer some other activities instead of meal. Something like 'last sex' :)))
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Date: 2013-09-24 01:54 pm (UTC)