Red Lavender Herbal Red Tea

I think I found the reason why this container of tea was on clearance at my local grocery store.

Their combination of mild-flavored rooibus and strong flavored lavender resulted in something that tasted like anise.

Such liquid black licorice is not everyone's cup…of tea.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

Of which several feel like déjà vu. <sigh> Such is life…

I need to go Zuma Beach more often.

So far I'm really enjoying the new DuckTales, though I still have difficulty understanding what Donald Duck is saying.

I caught several episodes of Milo Murphy's Law, which included:

--I Like Big Boats and I Cannot Lie on the marquee in front of the school,

--A reference to Laugh-In's dancing Goldie Hawn, and

--A reference to Walk This Way from Monty Python.

How have I not been watching this show before now?

You remember the Hurricane Relief telethon from a while back? My favorite musical moment was Have a Little Help performed at the Grand Ol' Opry. I'm here for a Darius Rucker-Demi Lovato-Brad Paisley-CeCe Winans concert. Imagine, if you will, a few songs after CeCe's His Eye is On the Sparrow duet with a surprise guest, Brad Paisley strolls onstage to join her for How Great Thou Art. Here. For. IT.

But seriously though,

If you bring up the violence in Chicago as a response to any thing

You best immediately follow up with 1) how it is relevant to the topic you possibly may have hijacked and 2) your solutions.

And no, declaring 'their strict gun laws don't work'

without acknowledging the effects of differing gun laws in neighboring municipalities and states

does not satisfy condition #1.

Say No to the sound bite. Say Yes to being constructive. You know my mot-to

Do the Hard Work.

I love that in the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, all of the bands have female drummers.

There's a Tremors 5. According to the TV guide, it was released in 2015 and set in South Africa. And yes, Michael Gross is in it.

At Target the other day, I noticed some of the mannequins were actual normal human woman size. And I rejoiced…until it occurred to me that what to my eyes is normal human woman size might be considered 'plus size' in their eyes. Then I was sad and mad but mostly mad.

One of these days I'm going to learn how to cook a steak to medium rare. Today is not that day.

The ice cream recipe says whipping cream + milk + other stuff. So naturally, when I use only whipping cream + other stuff, I am amazed – Amazed! – at the notion that I literally iced cream.

<Spoiler Alert!>

Happy to know I wasn’t' the only one who said, Wait – is that Azula fire? when the zombie dragon decimated The Wall on Game of Thrones.

<end Spoiler>

Remember the hurricane that devastated Houston and surrounding areas? And the one that devastated parts of Florida? Remember how you gave to support the folks there? Well, it'll take months, if not years, to rebuild. Keep giving.

Also keep in mind Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and where ever else disaster has devastated and people are in need (the fires in Montana come to mind).

Christian Fam, this means your offering for the next few months will go to helping people affected by several different calamities. If you regularly attend church, your tithe still goes there, but your offering, which is in addition to your tithe, will likely skip the building fund for a while (unless your church house has been directly affected).

If you don’t live in an affected area, look for local charities who have their feet on the ground (for example, food banks). International/Territorial giving might be a bit trickier, but I think there are stateside organizations which are collecting funds and distributing services and supplies to help the people in these places.

For situations like Vegas, you might need to start setting aside funds for the inevitable requests for help with medical bills and/or funeral expenses. A lot of people were injured; a lot of people were killed. Taking care of business is not cheap.

As always, pray first and listen to where God leads you. And as with all donations to organizations or individuals, vet everything.

There are some who are upset by those who demand more than offers of 'thoughts and prayers'. There are some who claim such critiques are calls to abandon God.

These folks have forgotten that Rev. Dr. King, along with others, did not solely pray. In addition to prayer, they acted.

If you have power and/or influence, prayer is not the only thing required of you. You are also to use the power and/or influence you have for the betterment of the people.

DC Looney Tunes Crossovers - Rankings

Have you heard? DC Looney Toons crossover comics were released this summer! Rated T for Teen, each comic starts with a DC-style story, followed by a Looney Toons-style story.

I bought 'em. I read 'em. I've got your rankings below and your synopses right here. I tried not to be spoiler-ly, but enter at your own risk.

#6 - Legion of Super-Heroes/Bugs Bunny

The lady at the comic book shop said this was an unexpected last-minute addition that caught everyone off guard.

It shows.

Despite a ridiculousness that made me giggle, the DC story was a slog to get through.

If you've read the synopsis, that's not a typo - the Looney Toons story is virtually identical to the DC one, rendering its existence questionable. Why repeat the story you just finished?

The T for Teen rating is earned by the satirization of teen angst, a style of humor that younger kids probably aren't able to grasp.

Feel free to skip this one.

# 5 - Martian Manhunter/Marvin the Martian

I found the DC story to be a little dull, perhaps because I knew how it would end. Sort of like when the lead from your favorite TV show is in mortal danger, but you know they're going to make it because they're the lead character.

The Looney Toons story is classic Marvin the Martian – though I was slightly unnerved by how Martian Manhunter was rendered. He was a bit too much like Genie from Disney's Aladdin.

Younger kids (roughly ages 10 and up) who have seen the films of the Marvel Universe (e.g. Avengers) or the DC Universe (e.g., Batman vs. Superman) should be fine with both stories.

#4 - Lobo/Road Runner

The DC story has a touch of zaniness – when the Road Runner's involved, how can it not? What hooked me was the explanation of how Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner came to be, though I was disappointed with the relative lack of explanation of why the former chases the latter.

The Loony Toons story has a comment about cartoon violence that I'm still mulling over.

An enjoyable read, this is probably best for kids roughly 12 years old and up, due to the language (not quite cussing but right on the edge) and violence.

#3 - Wonder Woman/Tasmanian Devil

The DC story transitions seamlessly into the Looney Toons one; the two tales balance each other nicely.

Unexpectedly, the Looney Toons story feels more suitable for older kids (roughly ages 14 and up) - it's ever so slightly randy. Younger kids (roughly ages 8 and up) could probably handle the DC story, particularly if they've seen a Marvel or DC movie.

#2 - Jonah Hex/Yosemite Sam

Listen. They managed to make one of my favorite Looney Toons characters completely plausible in the DC world. It's a happiness that earns the T for Teens label, though a mature 11 or 12 year old could possibly handle it.

The Looney Toons story is as zany and kid friendly as a Looney Toons story could be. Perfectly suitable for kids as young as 8 years old, particularly if they've ever seen a Looney Toons cartoon.

#1 - Batman/Elmer Fudd

The DC story has a gritty noir feel more suitable for older kids, roughly 15 years and up. It's a marvel.

The Looney Toons story is of a typical Looney Toons style suitable for ages 8 and up, if you're comfortable letting your kids watch typical Looney Tunes violence.

This comic is further proof that the last-minute Legion of Super-Heroes/Bugs Bunny was completely unnecessary. Batman/Elmer Fudd is where the fork should've been stuck.

DC Looney Tunes Crossovers - Synopses

Have you heard? DC Looney Toons crossover comics were released this summer! Rated T for Teen, each comic starts with a DC-style story, followed by a Looney Toons-style story.

I bought 'em. I read 'em. I've got your synopses below and your rankings right here. I tried not to be spoiler-ly, but enter at your own risk.

Lobo/Road Runner

Fast and Fraggy-ous – Lobo is an intergalactic bounty hunter hired by Wile E. Coyote to catch the Road Runner once and for all. In exchange, Wile E. will take on Lobo's current bounty. Neither job is as easy as advertised.

But Wait, There's More! – Lobo is still on the hook for catching the Road Runner – it's in his contract!

Martian Manhunter/Marvin the Martian

Best Intentions – Marvin wants to destroy the Earth; J'Onn wants to save it. Humans, being human, do unhelpful human things.

The (Next to the) Last Martian – J'Onn happens upon the intergalactic plane that Marvin the Martian calls home. Impressed by J'Onn's abilities, Marvin schemes to take his powers and use them to destroy the Earth.

Wonder Woman/Tasmanian Devil

The Devil You Know – Themyscira is under Circe's control. Only with the help of the Tasmanian Devil, one of the many creatures of the Labyrinth, can Wonder Woman save her people from certain destruction.

Trojan Horseplay – As Diana sings Taz the story of the Trojan War, he drifts to sleep, dreaming of his own version of the fabled events.

Jonah Hex/Yosemite Sam

Comin' in A-Shootin'! – Yosemite Sam has just found a gold nugget in a mine on the land he inherited. Word travels fast, and Sam hires the bounty hunter Jonah Hex to protect him as he mines his investment.

The Road to Bruin – Yosemite Sam offers to help Jonah Hex collect a bounty on a notoriously ferocious bear.

Batman/Elmer Fudd

Pway for Me – Elmer Fudd is hitman. Word on the street is that Bruce Wayne killed his beloved Sylvia St. Cloud, and he aims to get his revenge.

Rabbit Season – It's Rabbit Season…or is it Bat Season?

Legion of Super-Heroes/Bugs Bunny

The Imposter Superboy! – It's the 31^st century, and the only thing that can save a dying Supergirl is a rare mineral that could be found by Superboy, the Legions' inspiration. The Legion goes to the 21^st century and brings back their hero only to find he is not as he seems.

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes – It's the 31^st century, and the only thing that can save a dying Supergirl is a rare mineral that could be found by Superboy, the Legions' inspiration. The Legion goes to the 21^st century and brings back their hero only to find he is not as he seems.

Disjointed Thoughts about HBO's Confederate

HBO's announcement of the new series Confederate seemed to be an attempt to preempt Amazon's announcement of Black America, a show that will be co-created by Aaron McGruder, creator of both the comic strip and TV series Boondocks. While both are alternative histories, a stark contrast remains: Confederate envisions black Americans as modern-day slaves; Black America does not. Given this difference, no matter when it was announced, Confederate was sure to draw fire. Why would the creators of Confederate want to see black Americans as slaves? That the creators have yet to build the world described in the press release made it more difficult for them to assuage the concerns of those who find the concept troubling.

So…Confederate will take place on the eve of the Third Civil War, where the sides, same as they ever were, are "The North" and "The South". But if the Civil War ended such that the Confederacy became its own country, then wouldn't a 'Second Civil War' and 'Third Civil War' simply be wars between two neighboring countries? Or has the definition of a civil war – a war within a country – changed?

Hopefully, this will not be the case, but I'm concerned about the potential framing of "The North" as 'good' – because it's racially tolerant and accepting, and the "The South" as 'evil' – because slavery. That narrative needs to be buried. There's little doubt that racist practices such as Redlining would've existed in "The North" regardless whether the Confederacy won. To pretend otherwise would be    tiresome and unfortunate.

Shout out to Black Nerd Problems for providing a list of 7 Black Alt-History Projects that would be better than Confederate.

Per the above mentioned list:

To the folks who can - will you please make Vigilance?

Pretty please?

Siggi Icelandic Style Yogurt – A Review

I have a complicated relationship with dairy. While I regularly cook with butter, and consider ice cream to be a major food group, milk and creams can be tricky. Sometimes even the powdered stuff can incite gaseousness.

Then there's yogurt. Despite sticking to 0% milkfat, it's a once a month affair, if that. Upon venturing into the arena of concentrated dairy protein, I usually gather an assortment of Chobani Greek flavors. This time, I decided to try Siggi, an Icelandic style yogurt. I had this coupon, see.

This stuff is thick. Looking like you could stick a spoon in it and turn the container upside down kind of thick. Vigorous stirring didn't produce much slackening, either. Unexpected for 0% milkfat.

Siggi's not very sweet, regardless of whether the flavor is vanilla or a fruit such as blueberry, raspberry, or strawberry. It has the unmistakably sharp tang of plain yogurt. Most would probably be inclined to add honey or some sort of sweetening thing.

As for those fruit flavors, the fruit doesn't sit on the bottom of the container like a syrupy pie filling. It's already blended into the yogurt, tinting it an appropriate color, chunks of fruit visible. Unfortunately, I couldn't taste the fruit; for me, it was overpowered by that plain yogurt tang.

Would I buy it again?

I don't think so. I like the thickness, and while the relative lack of sweetness aligns with my efforts to reduce my sugar intake, it's not sweet enough for me. In the long run, I would overcompensate by adding too much honey or agave syrup, diminishing any healthful benefits this brand and style of yogurt may be able to bestow.

However

Siggi Vanilla + freshly diced mango + ice cubes + favored liquid blended into a smoothie?

Probable deliciousness.

This Week's Menu

Chicken Enchiladas

In my defense, I had little idea of what I was doing 

I used

chicken thighs, which I may have over-roasted;

mixed vegetables, because I need to eat more vegetables;

one bag of Mexican cheese blend, which was definitely not enough; and

one 32 oz can of enchilada sauce, which was also not enough.

Yes, they do taste a little dry. Dry, but still edible.

Cucumber Salad

I've turned to cucumber in an effort to eat more healthy snacks. Now, I don't really like cucumber, except for in a pickled cucumber salad that is common in some cuisines.

This time, instead of going for the full vinegar of the pickled version, I've gone with just enough vinegar to taste. I also add a few shakes of sweet chili sauce for a very small kick.

It's a good snack.

Sweet Potato Chips

What to do with oil leftover from frying plantain? Fry some sweet potatoes! Sweet potatoes are healthy, right? As is canola oil?

I know, you hear chips and you think thin slices. But that seemed like it would take twice as long to fry, so I went with thick cuts instead. Naturally they didn't crisp up like a thin cut would, even after a dusting of kosher salt.

Which doesn't bother me one bit.

Crème Brulee

I over-burnt the sugar. It was still delicious

Despite being short ½ a cup of heavy cream, these turned out well. One of these days I'll add Grand Marnier as Ina Garten suggests.

Egg White Quiche with Bacon and Gruyere

Taking the health out of a healthy option

Now, if you look online, an egg white quiche normally takes something like 10 egg whites. I only had 4¹. So off the bat, this quiche isn't going to be right.

But there's Veggies! And Cheese! And Bacon! And Crust! (Some of those online recipes are crust-less quiches. I'm not here for that.)

So yeah. It tastes just fine.

Bonus – From the menus of roughly the past two weeks (which I recognize may be possible repeats from even earlier):

Watermelon Granita

4 oz mason jars might be my new favorite

Some recipes call for adding a sweetener (sugar/honey/agave syrup); I didn't because watermelon is generally sweet enough and I'm kind of watching my sugar intake.

This time around I used watermelon², a bit of salt, and the zest and juice of one lime. A happy alternative to ice cream, since I'm kind of watching my sugar intake.

Mini Cheesecakes

I like mines browned and I don't mind the cracks

Homemade graham cracker crust + muffin tin + cheesecake = tasty goodness.

1. Because the Crème Brulee recipe I used required only 4 egg yolks.

2. I used a seedless individual/personal size watermelon, which I de-seeded before putting it in the blender. Because there's really no such thing as a truly seedless watermelon.

A Sales Pitch

A sales pitch I've seen here and there declares one should consider the Republican Party because it has historically cared more about civil rights in comparison to the Democratic Party.

The pitch asserts that the Democratic Party instituted Jim Crow laws and has been against civil rights for much of the 20^th century, while the Republican Party abolished slavery, instituted Reconstruction, and challenged the Democratic Party with a pro-civil rights stance at every opportunity.

There is truth in these statements. Nevertheless, in its current form, the pitch doesn't get me interested.

One reason is that the assertions I've seen present no other pro-civil rights examples outside of the abolishment of slavery and the establishment of Reconstruction. The assertions also fail to demonstrate how the legacy these two 100+ year old examples are reflected in the civil rights advocacy of today's Republican Party.

The sales pitch tells instead of shows. And to get me interested, you need to show me.

Show me where the Republican Party demanded justice for the all-black towns that were burned to the ground by white settlers during the Western expansion;

Show me where the Republican Party fought against the whites only charters of new cities and new suburbs (for example, Levittown);

Show me where the Republican Party fought for new transportation routes (subways, buses, etc.) to extend to non-white neighborhoods;

Show me where the Republican Party fought against segregation in public schools, advocating on the behalf of the students in cases like Alvarez vs. the Lemon Grove School District…

Do not mis-take me – I'm not claiming there is no value in considering the Republican Party.

I'm saying that if civil rights advocacy is the foundation of the sales pitch,

is something I should be looking for in today's Republican Party,

Bring forth the receipts.

The New Hotness

The New Hotness had six speeds, and Reverse is next to First. Which was initially disconcerting, but it turns out you have to pull up on a collar to put it into Reverse, so you can't accidentally slip into First Gear. Sort of like opening a bottle of dishwashing liquid. It's kind of fun, actually.

The New Hotness has four doors; there is no longer a need to push the front seats forward just to get to the back seats. Naturally, it's bigger than the Old Hotness.

The Old Hotness, (more properly the Old Busted Hotness, but I usually omit the Busted out of respect), was 21 years old when Leak #2 happened. When all was fixed, I was instructed to check the coolant level once a week. The guy at the car shop warned me that a breakdown was imminent. The stress of wondering when my car was going to fail me was too much.

Thus,

The New Hotness.

 

Yes, it's the Hamster Car

Leak #2

The car was making worrisome noises, and shifting was unusually difficult. Then I noticed the temperature gauge was at H.

Oh, that's not good.

I turned down a side street, parked in front of someone's house, and popped open the hood.

Oh, that's not good at all.

Is that where you put the water when the gauge is on H? Is the water spilling out? Why is the water not going where it's supposed to go?

A neighbor noticed my struggles and asked if I needed help. Looks like a crack in the radiator, he said.

Ohhhh. That's not good at ALL.

I wanted to duct tape that bad boy and drive straight to my car place. But the car manual said if the temperature doesn't drop after turning off the engine or the A/C, then the next step is to call a tow truck, so…

Meanwhile, I had parked in the sun. But across the street

The Lord had provided.

The Zoku Ice Cream Maker

It's as easy as the box claims; a recipe for vanilla ice cream is even included. The hardest part is the mixing, for you are essentially churning your own ice cream.

My first attempt was deliciously smooth and creamy.

However,

The recipe is for six servings; the bowl, for one. Six sequential nights of ice cream doesn't sound bad, but when you have to churn it yourself after the day's exhaustion, the prospect is a little less inviting.

My subsequent attempts were less smooth, but I suspect this was because I stored the ice cream base in the coldest part of my fridge, where it is not uncommon for ice crystals to form. Perhaps the base got too cold, resulting in a graininess when churned.

Nonetheless, this is product does what it claims. It would be perfect for a kids party, replete with complaining about the amount of time and elbow grease involved. Everyone would have their own bowl, stir in their own add-ins, create their own personal ice cream.

A personal bonus –this product has whet my appetite for a machine that can make the entire six serving recipe in one go. Because homemade ice cream is delicious.

Culture Fail

The hors d'oeuvre spread was impeccable, particularly the goat cheese filled filo cup topped with a bit of walnut.

It's goat cheese whipped with mascarpone, the Caterer/Restaurant Owner revealed as she handed each of us a yellow envelope. The envelope was beautifully embossed with gold lettering and an image of a rooster.

Do you live in the area? (This shin dig had folks from out of town.) Here's a little something you can use when you visit our restaurant…

Oh - Year of the Rooster! Gung hay fat choy! someone exclaimed.

Gung hay fat choy, I murmured, flipping over the envelope, eager to discover what was inside.

Yes,

In retrospect, the pause was akin to a tired sigh

Lunar New Year. Just a few gift cards…

I don't remember the rest – after determining the nature of the gift cards, I pondered whether to eat another goat cheese yummy.

(I could've easily eaten half the serving tray in under 3 minutes. Those things were delicious.)

Once home, I took the time to admire the beautiful stationary...

Ummm…that's not a Chinese language

Smack my head. Of course Chinese folks aren't the only ones who celebrate Lunar New Year. I suspected (and the Internet confirmed) the language is Vietnamese.

Instead of giving respect to a specific culture, my New Year's greeting reflected the myth that all Asians are all alike. I was horrified. 

It was a Culture Fail, if you will,

A reminder to do better next time.

Candied Lemons (& Limes)

They seem simple enough to make – simmer in simple syrup until supple, set on wax paper, dust with sugar, and let dry. I basically cribbed this recipe.

And since I had a lime, I thought, Why not use it as well?

Citrus simmering in simple syrup

Well…

The limes never got supple enough – the rind remained hard and despite the sugar, the slices were generally inedible. Granted, I did crowd the pan, so they may not have had enough room to get soft. Or perhaps limes have tougher rinds and thus would take longer to soften.

The lemons turned out better. They are a kind of sweet & tart treat – the sweet of the sugar punctuated by the tart of the lemon. I'm only able to have a few slices at a time, and I like the combination of sweet and tart.

I think this would taste good with Meyer lemons or Key limes, which I understand to be the sweeter varieties of their respective fruits. I'm thinking grapefruit would also be good.

Now what to do with the leftover lemon-lime simple syrup...

Coconut Macaroons

Traveling the custard making train requires egg yolks – and usually only egg yolks. What to do with the leftover egg whites?

This time around I tried coconut macaroons.

I don't normally choose these cookies, and I'm not big on coconut. But since I had leftover coconut to get rid of, they seemed to be a good option.

See, every once in a while I want "fancy" fruit salad – drained fruit cocktail mixed with sour cream, with mini marshmallows and sprinkle of coconut folded in. I never need an entire bag of coconut for such endeavors.

I used a version of this recipe, first beating the egg whites to soft peaks, then adding sugar and beating to stiff peaks, then adding the salt and almond extract and beating some more, and finally folding in the coconut.

Basically, this cookie is a sort of coconut meringue. When I pulled mine from the oven, they appeared to have too much meringue, or at least more meringue than coconut.

I had a hard time prying the macaroons off of the parchment paper. If I ever make them again, I'll have to remember to spray the parchment with cooking spray before adding the dollop of coconut meringue.

With burnt bottoms to boot

They taste a'ight. I find the coconut to be a bit overpowering, but this may be because I'm not coo-coo for coconut.

It would taste better dipped in chocolate. Not simply because chocolate makes many things better, but because in this case, the chocolate would both cut and compliment the coconut. A cookie version of a Mounds candy bar, now that I think about it.

Only I don't like Mounds. Or Almond Joy, for that matter. So I probably won't be making these again anytime soon.

Pots de Crème

Next stop on the custard making train: pots de crème. (Pronounced poh-de-crem – think French.)

Specifically, chocolate pots de crème, per this recipe; except I used 8oz of bittersweet chocolate instead of 9oz of whatever chocolate they had.

A tip for newbies like me: The recipe calls for heating the milk/cream/egg mixture on the stove, then pouring the hot liquid over the chocolate (which is in a blender). You may find solid-ish stuff stuck to the bottom of your pot as you pour – DO NOT SCRAPE THOSE SOLIDS INTO THE BLENDER. I am convinced I avoided adding scrambled egg to my dessert by leaving those solids in the pot.

A lick of the spatula before I put them in the fridge suggested good things to come. What I didn't expect was such a luxuriously decadent pot o' chocolate cream. It's my favorite custard yet.

Should you make chocolate pots de crème, I recommend adding a dollop of whipped the cream prior to serving, per the recipe. It would cut and complement the chocolate. I imagine some sort of hazelnut flavored whipped cream would be a lovely.

As in: Use a hand beater or a stand mixer to whip the heavy cream, some sugar, and some hazelnut-flavored something (syrup? liqueur?) into yummy goodness.

Next time I’m going to look for and use a Mexican or Mexican-style chocolate; something that has the chilies and spices already in the chocolate bar.

Creamy chocolate decadence with a little kick. That would do nicely, no?

Mmmmm. Pots o' Chocolate

A Fear

Of people who have no issue with handcuffing a 5-year old

and dragging them away from their mother.

Of people who softly smile at the number of synagogues that have been threatened or vandalized,

the desecration of cemeteries,

the mosques set aflame.

Of people whose eyes twinkled

when a person of the "wrong" ethnicity and color

was murdered in cold blood.

Of people with whom I may be Facebook Friends,

Or am cordial with at work,

Or who say Hello when I get my mail.

Of people who smile sheepishly and say Excuse me as we dance with our shopping carts in the grocery store.

Of people who smile to my face with as genuine a pleasantness as ever there was.

I do not doubt that in the not-so-distant future, I may become a victim.

I do not doubt that because of the color of my skin

or the way I wear my hair

or my name –

I may be targeted.

And my fear,

sitting fitfully just below the surface, 

is that the person doing whatever deed that could be done

Was one who smiled to my face,

as genuine a pleasantness as ever there was.

Short Takes

Sometimes your mission is to fight,

Sometimes it is to provide respite from the battle, and

Sometimes it is to do both.

**********

What are you doing?

Finding my voice.

*********

Have I mentioned? I kinda wanna see the new Power Rangers movie.

**********

But Somalia, though? Really?

**********

Just so we’re clear: The Holocaust targeted Jews and others who were found to be either undesirable or opposed to the ruling regime.

**********

That Wonder Woman movie better be good.

**********

Asian men are attractive.

**********

I love those State Farm commercials, with the same dialogue in different scenarios. Unfortunately, I now want a suede couch (or big chair).

Silences

I

There are many reasons one could be silent about matters in the news.

It could be shock,

Or fear of retaliation.

It could be an act of ignoring the situation,

Or of tolerating it.

It could be a matter of complicity and agreement with the underlying ideals.

Or it could be a matter of strategy,

The contemplation of whether a particular battle will help win the war.

II

And then there are other things to think about,

Funerals to prepare for,

School lunches to make -

Daily routines and extraordinary instances -

Life happening right now.

Our silence may be due to our need to focus on one thing at a time.

Anger: Current Top Five

I have been angry for a while, now, and it doesn't look like it'll be abating anytime soon. My current Top Five:

1.

The silence of many white Christians in response to christian white supremacy has made me distrustful and wary of most of you. Why are you not fighting this centuries old heresy? Get it together, sibs.

2.

People who have been vetted and have visas in hand are being denied entry into the United States. People who have lived here for years and simply went home to see a dying relative, to catch up with parents they hadn't seen in a decade, who live in the UK… Sure, technically it's not anti-Muslim – Christians escaping persecution and European nationals are also caught up in this madness. Nonetheless, this is not right. This is not a right thing to do. THIS  IS NOT  RIGHT.

It's not about terrorism. 9/11, Fort Hood, the Boston Marathon, San Bernardino, Orlando…none of the perpetrators of those attacks came from the countries on the list of those now denied entry into the United States.

So what's this really about?

3a.

During the Clinton and Obama administrations, Fox News and other conservative media outlets reported in the role of the opposition. Why is it suddenly a problem to have a media outlet act as 'the opposition'?

3b.

The censorship. Specific departments, websites taken down…and have you noticed that what the president calls 'fake news' is anything that puts him in a negative light? One cannot say anything critical of him or his policies. What's next – jail time for speaking ill of the president?

4.

The state government messed up the water in Flint, Michigan, tried to gaslight the residents about it, and refused to take responsibility when it was found out. The kindness of neighbors have brought free water filters to many; this is admirable. But the people who made the mess aren't moving very quickly to fix the mess, are they? Michigan state politicians: Don't you dare tell citizens to take responsibility for their actions when you are unwilling to do so yourself.

5.

Congratulations to those who favor outlawing abortion.

Are you advocating for policies that provide adequate healthcare to those who are pregnant?

Are you advocating for policies that help families with the financial challenges of child-rearing?

Are you advocating for changes to the current foster care systems that would promote the physical, emotional, and mental health of the children in these systems?

Because if you support a child's birth but not a child's life, you are not pro-life. You are driven by a different agenda.

Short Takes

I now realize I've never been able to comfortably wear 3" heels. This makes me sad.

I will watch any animated iteration of Scooby Doo. Except for the ones with Scrappy.

Take Two of trying quinoa, this time as a substitute for oatmeal. Either I'm doing it wrong or I really do find it to be disgusting.

Angelenos often walk on the wrong side of the sidewalk, like they're driving in the UK. I find this highly annoying.

Technically, it's Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Junior. My Auntie taught me that.

Of course the inaugural crowd was smaller. There's nothing historic about a white man being sworn in as President of the United States.

This Week's Menu

Roasted Eggplant & Steamed Broccoli tossed with Teriyaki Sauce

Yes, it looks awful. It is, however, edible.

Next time, I'll

--Take the skin off the eggplant,

--Add garlic to the roast,

--Use a different type of frozen broccoli, (i.e., not chopped), and

--Add chopped walnuts just before eating.

Some grated parmesan or pecorino probably would be a nice finish as well, but I'm trying to cut down on the cheese.

Greens & Yams with a bit o' Pork

This is a one pot go-to comprised of onions, sweet potatoes and greens.

This time I used mustards and white sweet potatoes. That bit of pork is some leftover fatback/salt pork (best for a pot o' beans); bacon is better, though. In either case, the onions are sautéed in the pork grease before the sweet potatoes are added.

As usual, I waited a bit too late to add the greens, so the sweet potatoes are overcooked. <sigh>

Variations on the theme include adding lentils and/or curry powder. Nor do I always add pork or meat.

Apple Salad

Granny smiths, raisins, sour cream. Something I sort of remember from childhood, in that I can't remember precisely when we ate it, but I make it the same way I think I remember it from when I was a child.

Here again, chopped walnuts would give it a nice finish. Next time,

Cappuccino Crème Brulee

I know it's hard to tell, but that custard is smoooth

So excited.

There are no scrambled eggs in my custard! (Though I didn't strain it, so I might find a small piece later.) Success with tempering whisked egg yolks with hot whipping cream!

I mostly used Ina Garten's recipe from Food Network, except instead of adding orange liqueur, I added a teaspoon of espresso powder per Mary Berry's recipe from The Great British Baking Show (aka The Great British Back Off ). I really could've used eight ramekins, but I made it work with six. Those tubs are full.

  

What I wanted to do was make a caramel, crack it up, blitz it in the blender, then sprinkle on top for torching. Alas, my caramel still needs work, so I had go with torching regular granulated sugar.

Yum