Category: San Luis Obispo

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CCW’s will change California for the better

Screen Shot 2014-02-26 at 6.18.18 PMCLICK on the picture  to read about the VICTORY in California regarding CCW’s

One never knows how things will shake out, but this seemed like a major step forward in California for the average law abiding citizen. Here’s how the Sheriff in San Diego released the news:

SanDiego

The Sheriff in Orange county California stated that she was going to abide by the decision immediately.

To the east in Connecticut, a little civil disobedience is taking place much to the outcry of some of the areas most liberal newspapers calling for the arrest and imprisonment of those who refuse to turn in their guns to a government that fails to respect the 2nd amendment.

Conn Air

Connecticut may have bite off more than they can chew with 300,000 gun owners and about 6,000 law enforcement . The smart thing would be for the police in Connecticut to drop the enforcement of such a poorly considered law… but then, I have never seen good judgement in anything political in the east… I am still shaking my head in wonder at the banning of 64 ounce sodas in NYC.

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Free forming your stew

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My family loves to ooh and this is no secret to those who know us well. The fact is that we even have pages where we share ideas and place our own recipes on for each to explore… the family that cooks together.. So a discussion came up on stews and the particular Swedish Lamb Stew that I have enjoyed and here is how I make it:

Vegetables are more than extenders… They add something wonderful to the party.

Basic Veggies

1 Red potato , 5 baby turnips (under 2″ in diameter), 2 bunches green onions, 2 largest sweet onions, 4 tablespoons crushed garlic, 1 bunch Kale, 1 leak, 1/2 cup Chives, 5 sliced carrots, 4 or 5 celery , 1 large Rudabaga and a very large Red potato. I will throw in about 1.4 cup of chopped parsley.

Seasonings

Salt, Black pepper, garlic powder, Thyme and Rosemary …. And towards the end, Fenugreek ( Spice of the Greeks).

Meat: 4 pounds of lamb in one to one and a half inch cubes

Thickening the sauce: various commercial powdered gravies will do

Liquids: 4-6 cups chicken broth and one bottle of Pinot Noir

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The secret of life? Bacon!

In a very hot dry pan, sear the cubes of lamb and then crisp the bacon. Save some of the bacon fat to add to butter for sautéing the veggies.

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Slow cooking is the secret of making a great stew. This results in all the veggies being tender (even the Rudabagas!) and the lamb chunks fall apart !

The Process:

I start off adding liquid the the crock pot and then the seared lamb!

In a large pan (17″), I sauté the onion then garlic and add the rest of the vegetables ( after microwaving them for about 10 minutes).

Add the Veggies to the crockpot and cook on high for 3 or more hours until everything is tender).

Add the diced potato in the last hour or so.

Thicken the sauce.

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Bon Appetite!

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book review: the donation of constantine

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It is not too often that I write a book review, especially on a book that I haven’t read yet… but I am curious to see how it plays out.

Here is how the book is being promoted:

“In the middle of the eighth century, the decaying city of Rome lies defenseless against the advance of the warmongering Lombards. The new Pope, Stephen II, appeals for help from the Eastern Emperor, but none arrives. In desperation, the Pope’s younger brother and an English nun conspire to change the course of history—at the risk of their own souls. Based on real people and actual events, this is a story of intrigue, passion, war, and the struggle for control of medieval Europe.”

A little bit about the author Simon LeVay:

“Simon LeVay is a British-born neuroscientist turned writer. He is best known for a 1991 study, published in Science, which reported on a difference in brain structure between gay and straight men. He has served on the faculties of Harvard Medical School and the Salk Institute in San Diego, but he now lives in Los Angeles. Among his 12 published books are several on sex, including a college textbook titled Human Sexuality (now in its fourth edition), and Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why: The Science of Sexual Orientation. His most recent book is a historical novel, The Donation of Constantine. Once a fanatical bicycle racer, LeVay continues to ride his bicycle, though at a more sober pace. He is intolerant of creationists, lactose, and staying indoors.

LeVay writes: “In the early 1960s, as a teenager, I was arrested and jailed briefly, along with the renowned 90-year-old philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell. (The occasion was an anti-war demonstration.) This lead to my reading Russell’s History of Western Philosophy. Only one paragraph in that long book stuck in my memory: it dealt with the mysterious 8th-century forgery known as the Donation of Constantine. Intrigue, papal politics, winter journeys, bloody battles — maybe even a hint of bodice-ripping! What a great topic for a novel, I thought. Fifty years later, I wrote it.””

Roger’s thoughts:

So now… I am going to Amazon.com to buy one for myself… I can never have too little ‘bodice ripping’ in my reading. 😉

LINK to AMAZON.COM (and book)

 

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Google Glass(es) #googleglass

It was 1984, and the first "Google Glass" appears on an Alien! (The Last Starfighter)
It was 1984, and the first “Google Glass” appears on an Alien! (The Last Starfighter)

I had the opportunity to travel with Karen to Venice (California) to get her fitted with the latest in style and technology… GOOGLE GLASS. As Karen was visiting with us, it was a short 3.5 hour trip and it was fun to see the goings on at one of Googles ‘campuses.’

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Hope everyone had a happy father’s day

My daughter drew her representation of me on my day! Thanks Karla!
My daughter drew her representation of me on my day! Thanks Karla!

Father’s Day is a special day for those of us intrigued with the art of fatherhood. It certainly isn’t for everyone’s temperament… but I can’t imagine my life without the involvement. I tend to over do it a bit on this day… and Laura is kind enough to make my favorite dessert.

 

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Laura’s wonderfully delicious Blueberry Buckle topped with McConnell’s Ice Cream from Santa Barbara… the best of both worlds!