Richard Anthony Grotto

Today, this post memorializes the alphageek’s Father-in-Law, Richard Anthony Grotto. He told me to call him what the ladies in shipping called him, Big Dick. For the remainder of this article, that is exactly who I will be talking about.

I am honored that Big Dick is the second most prolific author on this web site. Of any family member, Big Dick was the most supportive and interested in the activities appearing on this web site. I am going to share some of those thoughts of Big Dick with you here.

As I looked for the articles I wanted to use, I noticed several discussions about Manhattans. I did not really drink Manhattans when I first met Big Dick. Over time, as I came to appreciate Bourbon Whiskey more, I began to experiment with Manhattans and to enjoy the simple recipe that Big Dick uses. I thought I would pass along this amazingly complex mastery of a Manhattan.

• Rye Whiskey

• Sweet Vermouth

• Lemon Twist from a fresh lemon

• A glass full of ice

Carefully pour some of the rye into the glass. Next pour in a little sweet vermouth and taste until you like the drink. Twish the lemon into the drink and place the twist in the drink. Enjoy. I never saw Big Dick measure anything in this drink.

During research for this memorial, I stumbled across how a Big Dick Manhattan is made during a post of mine, in his own words:

Close, but no Cigar, Get a nine ounce "rocks" glass, put in 4 to 5 ice cubes. Cover the cubes with your favorite rye - or bourbon - (I prefer rye) and let it "sit for 2 to 3 minutes.
After there has been a proper amount of "melding" - not melting - add the good Italian sweet vermouth - Gallo or Stock - would be fine. Lemon twist - NO BITTERS - please. That's the way I'd do it. Just Sayin' Dick Grotto.

I guess I was close, but anybody who knows Big Dick likes his words better than my description because of the natural flow.

On another occasion, we made a Manhattan using bianco vermouth. Here is Big Dick’s suggestion on how to prepare this variation on his classic above:

"Just wanted to share this with both of you. I'm on my 3rd Bourbon Manhattan with Bianco Vermouth, 2 last Sunday and one today. I'm getting to like this combo! But you have to make it at least equal parts or heavier on the Bianco Vermouth + 6 to 8 ice cubes in a rocks glass that will accommodate at least 6 or more ounces."

In addition to enjoying Manhattans, Big Dick loved to play to the camera. From my review of 36th Vote Barreled Manhattan. The only memorable part of the review is the image below.

mrsag, Big Dick, his lovely wife and I all went to tour the Belmont Distillery. When we went, the explosion in the popularity of whiskey had not yet occurred, so we got to meet Chuck Miller himself. You can read all about the encounter here. Of course, Big Dick got the featured image. Who knew that Chuck Miller would become a whiskkey celebrity?

Playing to the camera.

I think this sums up his contributions. As I created this article, it is clear that I will miss his contributions to the site. I will miss his sense of humor, so here is a memory I have always enjoyed.

I went into the freezer and noticed there were ice storage containers labeled yes and no. I asked Big Dick which one I was supposed to use. He told me to take ice out of either one. I could tell by the look on his family’s faces that I had just been given an honor none of them had: permission to break the system.

Finally, I continue to appreciate Big Dick talking to me as a fellow engineering professional every time we talked. The respect he showed me always moved me to try to be a better engineer so I could earn that respect. Thanks Big Dick.

Hey, Big Dick how you doing?

“How am I doing? I’m gonna tell you haw I’m doing:
I’m raising the roof - I’m bringing down the House- I’m kocking ‘em dead- I’m taking names, and I’m kicking ass!
Other than that - not too bad!
How about yourself, You doing OK?”

— Big Dick AKA Uncle Roc AKA Richard Anthony Grotto

Now if only I could find the material for that Archbishop Desmond Tutu part of this memorial…

You Really Want Some Thoughts?

For some reason or another, people seem to have a passing interesting in what I thought about the Star Trek Beyond movie. Rather than clog up facebook with a bunch of useless nonsense, I am going to create my own material here because both of my readers demanded it.

So a little background is in order first. 

I have seen every episode of ST:TOS many times. That means many times before I was 10 years old. I still watch them from time to time and enjoy the mix of adventure, exploration and action. I actually watched the ST:TAS when it first came out. Some were good, some not so good but it had our friends so I watched. I enjoyed the one constant: Captain and Crew could be counted on to do what is right and pay for the consequences later.

Then along came ST:TNG. I watched and liked some of it, but other parts not so much. The show had too much leading by committee, too much Troi (why isn't the ships counselor working for/with the ships Doctor?) and too much Wesley. 

The came Deep Space Nine and the rest of them. I had pretty much punched out. Characters now were just watered down. They hid behind the Prime Directive to avoid the tough questions in life. Ho, hum Prime Directive so I will let 10 billion people die. Not my fault.

So, with all of this in mind, here is the bottom line review of Beyond up front: Easily the best of the three movies in the new universe.

I have accepted that Star Trek will now be just an action/adventure franchise. It needs to be to appeal to a wider audience. I miss the sense of exploration and of having to make decisions on your own, for the first time. To face the hard questions in life. The franchise appeared burdened by the past in the first two movies. I know to tell old stories a new way is difficult, and in some cases in the previous two movies, it just fell down. This movie talked less about the past, and it made for a better movie. It did not feel burdened by its roots. Instead, it is just a great action movie with our new friends loosely based on old friends. For the entire movie the Captain and Crew never lose sight of doing what is right.

Still, there are a few tweaks I would make.

The transporter: either the thing works or not. It needs to be consistent. One minute they can't beam down and the next minute they beam across the universe. If you could beam across the universe, you don't need a starship.

Making phone calls across the universe. Too much instantaneous communication will be a plot problem later.

The Enterprise makes a port call. A Constitution class ship making a port call is a big deal. It would have been nice to see some of the civilians at least stop and look at her making the port call.

If you miss that sense of old Star Trek, there are some things you can do. I highly recommend that you search on Star Trekk II or Star Trek New Voyages. Watch the one with Apollo from the original series. There are other series on youtube as well. Some are better than others. Give some of them a try.

RIP

If you think anyone that call himself the alphageek was influenced by Mr. Spock, you would be right. It seems right to pay respects in a subtle way, as inspired by Leonard Nimoy.

Perhaps only someone portraying a half-human half-alien could teach us something about what it is to be human.

Take a moment to listen to Captain Kirk pay respects to Mr. Spock. This just feels right.