Learning about air frying

 Here's my new toaster-oven-air fryer-convection oven. Thanks to relatives who send gift certificates to me for holidays, I saved up and got this!

It actually takes longer to toast my toast in the morning than my littler one that it replaced.  But I have found baking at lower temps, and for shorter times can yield very good brownies. I won't be using the grill much (I tried pork chops) because it sets off the smoke detectors. And I was able to bake a potato faster with the convection setting.

But last evening I tried the air fryer system with a little basket which sits inside the tray (covered with foil to catch the oil spills.) I didn't do my already-cooked shrimp, which I ate slowly while waiting for the tiny potatoes to air fry, then the asparagus.  

My taste said the potatoes were great...the asparagus got dried out on the tips rather than carmelizing which I love when I roast them. I will try roasting the next batch, after finishing off this pound. One person can only eat so many asparagus a day! But the olive oil and garlic flavors and sea salt added to the asparagus did make it very tasty.

I didn't like having to stand in the kitchen watching these veggies air fry to make sure they didn't burn. That's why half the shrimp was gone by the time I finally sat down.

It's another learning experience. So far this week the photos saved into the iCloud from my phone will no longer download onto my PC laptop, so I have to send them via emails to myself and then download them...which means a permanent file, until I delete them from PC. And yesterday the external speakers that I had to add to my new TV stopped working. The red light just stares at me, and I have to use TV's awful speakers while watching the Jeopardy Masters...which fortunately I got saved on YouTube TV.  

So that's where all these devices have left me for now. 

Today's quote:

Choose to be more conscious, putting to rest words and phrases that are outmoded, insensitive, or harmful.

Just a regular Tuesday...two bits of interest in my inbox this morning

 1) 

From NPR All Things Considered, this...

"When a police officer stops a Black driver, the first 45 words said by that officer hold important clues about how their encounter is likely to go.

Car stops that result in a search, handcuffing, or arrest are nearly three times more likely to begin with the police officer issuing a command, such as "Keep your hands on the wheel" or "Turn the car off."

That's according to a new study in the 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' that examined police body-camera footage of 577 routine car stops involving Black drivers."

"... Tracey Meares, a Yale Law professor and a founding director of the Justice Collaboratory at Yale Law School, reviewed this study and says ...

"There are stark racial differences in who is stopped and who's not," says Meares, who points out that in the one-month period covered by this study, the city's police officers did 588 stops of Black drivers and only 262 stops of white drivers.

Over 15% of Black drivers experienced an escalated outcome such as a search, handcuffing, or arrest, while less than 1% of white drivers experienced one of those outcomes.

"They're not drawing any conclusions from that, but these are things we should just be paying attention to," says Meares. "It strains credulity that there are that many more traffic violations."

"... Eugenia Rho, a researcher at Virginia Tech says ... in planning this study, they had initially set out to look at patterns related to traffic stop escalation for white drivers too, but realized that it happened so infrequently for white drivers that there just weren't sufficient numbers to even include them in the analysis."

2)

"FASCISM" as defined by the WW II War Department for those fighting it...

"Beginning in 1943, the War Department published a series of pamphlets for U.S. Army personnel in the European theater of World War II. Titled Army Talks, the series was designed “to help [the personnel] become better-informed men and women and therefore better soldiers.”

On March 24, 1945, the topic for the week was “FASCISM!”

“You are away from home, separated from your families, no longer at a civilian job or at school and many of you are risking your very lives,” the pamphlet explained, “because of a thing called fascism.” But, the publication asked, what is fascism? “Fascism is not the easiest thing to identify and analyze,” it said, “nor, once in power, is it easy to destroy. It is important for our future and that of the world that as many of us as possible understand the causes and practices of fascism, in order to combat it.”

Fascism, the U.S. government document explained, “is government by the few and for the few. The objective is seizure and control of the economic, political, social, and cultural life of the state.” “The people run democratic governments, but fascist governments run the people.”

“The basic principles of democracy stand in the way of their desires; hence—democracy must go! Anyone who is not a member of their inner gang has to do what he’s told. They permit no civil liberties, no equality before the law.” “Fascism treats women as mere breeders. ‘Children, kitchen, and the church,’ was the Nazi slogan for women,” the pamphlet said.

Fascists “make their own rules and change them when they choose…. They maintain themselves in power by use of force combined with propaganda based on primitive ideas of ‘blood’ and ‘race,’ by skillful manipulation of fear and hate, and by false promise of security. The propaganda glorifies war and insists it is smart and ‘realistic’ to be pitiless and violent.”

Fascists understood that “the fundamental principle of democracy—faith in the common sense of the common people—was the direct opposite of the fascist principle of rule by the elite few,” it explained, “[s]o they fought democracy…. They played political, religious, social, and economic groups against each other and seized power while these groups struggled.”

Americans should not be fooled into thinking that fascism could not come to America, the pamphlet warned; after all, “[w]e once laughed Hitler off as a harmless little clown with a funny mustache.” And indeed, the U.S. had experienced “sorry instances of mob sadism, lynchings, vigilantism, terror, and suppression of civil liberties. We have had our hooded gangs, Black Legions, Silver Shirts, and racial and religious bigots. All of them, in the name of Americanism, have used undemocratic methods and doctrines which…can be properly identified as ‘fascist.’”

The War Department thought it was important for Americans to understand the tactics fascists would use to take power in the United States. They would try to gain power “under the guise of ‘super-patriotism’ and ‘super-Americanism.’” And they would use three techniques:

First, they would pit religious, racial, and economic groups against one another to break down national unity. Part of that effort to divide and conquer would be a “well-planned ‘hate campaign’ against minority races, religions, and other groups.”

Second, they would deny any need for international cooperation, because that would fly in the face of their insistence that their supporters were better than everyone else. “In place of international cooperation, the fascists seek to substitute a perverted sort of ultra-nationalism which tells their people that they are the only people in the world who count. With this goes hatred and suspicion toward the people of all other nations.”

Third, fascists would insist that “the world has but two choices—either fascism or communism, and they label as ‘communists’ everyone who refuses to support them.”

It is “vitally important” to learn to spot native fascists, the government said, “even though they adopt names and slogans with popular appeal, drape themselves with the American flag, and attempt to carry out their program in the name of the democracy they are trying to destroy.”

The only way to stop the rise of fascism in the United States, the document said, “is by making our democracy work and by actively cooperating to preserve world peace and security.” In the midst of the insecurity of the modern world, the hatred at the root of fascism “fulfills a triple mission.” By dividing people, it weakens democracy. “By getting men to hate rather than to think,” it prevents them “from seeking the real cause and a democratic solution to the problem.” By falsely promising prosperity, it lures people to embrace its security.

“Fascism thrives on indifference and ignorance,” it warned. Freedom requires “being alert and on guard against the infringement not only of our own freedom but the freedom of every American. If we permit discrimination, prejudice, or hate to rob anyone of his democratic rights, our own freedom and all democracy is threatened.” And if “we want to make certain that fascism does not come to America, we must make certain that it does not thrive anywhere in the world.”

Seventy-eight years after the publication of “FASCISM!” with its program for recognizing that political system and stopping it from taking over the United States, President Joe Biden today at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, honored those who gave their lives fighting to preserve democracy. “On this day, we come together again to reflect, to remember, but above all, to recommit to the future our fallen heroes fought for, …a future grounded in freedom, democracy, equality, tolerance, opportunity, and…justice.”

“[T]he truest memorial to their lives,” the president said, is to act “every day to ensure that our democracy endures, our Constitution endures, and the soul of our nation and our decency endures.”

THanks to Letters from an American, Heather Cox Richardson, dated 5.29.23

Family birthday

 Happy birthday to my first son, Marty!

So he's turning 59.

It's hard for me to believe I have a son beginning his 60th year. 

I had an idea to post photos of his father, and his grandfathers, and his great-grandfathers...so we could tell if he looks anything like any of them.

But my photo albums and processes on this laptop are completely phoey. So my good wishes aren't interested in delving into why I can't copy and paste from one file into another, nor download anything. I really like showing visuals! So I'll try again for his 60th next year.

It's what I enjoy on other people's blogs.

Here he is with his dad on left, grandpa Norm, and grandma Mary. Marty might have been around 2.

This show a different three generations, with Marty in the middle.

Will (now 28), Michael (now 37), Doug (now 83), Marty (now 59).

Will and Michael are Marty's sons. Doug is his father. This photo was taken at least two years ago, but I gave their ages as they are today. 

I think there's a likeness between all of them, but I've seen them all at their young ages (like Will and Michael.) 

Dear son...I do wish you a most enjoyable day to celebrate your birth (I was there, remember?) and many many happy returns. It's always neat to have had Mothers Day just a few weeks before yours...and some years your birthday is on Memorial Day, but at least there's almost always a long holiday weekend for you to celebrate YOUR DAY!

Today's quote:

When your real, effortless, joyful grateful nature is realized, it will not be inconsistent with the ordinary activities of life.

RAMANA MAHARSHI

Laugh a little

 One thing to keep one's sanity when considering all the insanity around one...humor.

I love that some bloggers bring cute sayings along almost weekly. What a relief. Well not that bloggers are ever part of the insanity, but I guess I'm guilty of mentioning it every now and then.

So here's what I can contribute to laughing out loud, and hope that you do too.

"Over a half-century has passed since then. But television comedians remain indebted to the pioneering brothers who sacrificed their careers in support of their belief in questioning authority with laughter and challenging power with humor and satire. " As shared on The Pete Seger group by Bob Wolpert, on FaceBook, May 23, 2023.

The intro to the 20th Reunion of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

Today's quote:

Before we set our hearts too much on anything, let us examine how happy are those who already possess it. 

-Francois, duc de La Rochefoucauld, moralist (1613-1680)

Psychics are sending me a message

 I haven't figured it out yet.

But when a NOVA show about the brain leaves me with all this stuff that may be sleight of hand, but it definitely isn't answered...there are questions about who is running the show in my head, basically. These different parts of my dear brain have names, and duties to perform, and I suppose they communication with each other.

But this show left me wondering. How did they get the word the woman chose randomly in the book, and wrote on a post-it-note, and left in the room while the rest of the show was taped, but then that exact word was found printed on white paper inside the sealed envelope that she supposedly hid on her person during the whole show?

So the next thing to knock my door of perceptions was having a haircut. And Joe (who many of my friends also deppend upon for their styles) starts by telling me of a little town (Lilly Vale) near where he lived, and he says when he was younger (I'm imagining teenager) they would drive into a cemetery and start whispering. That was ok, because I'd just mentioned a cemetery that was also near his home town in western NY. 

But then I mentioned Edgar Casey. Neither of us ever said the word Cassadaga, which I knew about from the Florida community he (Casey) started. Joe knew about him from Virginia Beach VA.  So Joe started to tell me about Carol, who was his regular hair client. And she told him he had the "gift." 

So she enrolled him in some sessions, and he was able to do some "readings with people's personal possessions." They seemed satisfied. Then one evening some of the people who had the same training, who were blind, were also in the room, and one came up to Joe and said, "You look good in that red shirt Joe." This was a blind person, who accuratly picked up some kind of vibration and knew that indeed, Joe was wearing a red shirt.

All this was being told while Joe expertly cut my hair off exactly how I wanted it but hadn't asked for it...different than the last time.

Anyway, then Carol apparently was on Johnny Carson's show one night, and told him about the blind guy who said to an unknown man, that "he looked good in a red shirt." And of course the audience were impressed that a blind man had that ability to pick up whatever red gives off...and comment about it.

Joe got a kick out of being inadvertently mentioned in a story on Johnny Carson. Of course.

But the main thing was...to me at least...that this psychic stuff needs to be considered.

I didn't ask Joe for a reading, because he had another client waiting. But he did share that the way he gives people the haircuts they want is by putting his hands on their shoulders and kind of reading them. He had done it with me before the first cut. 

I came in and said I basically hated all the things about my hair. He asked if anything was good. I said I guess I'm grateful to have any hair.

I do like my very short summer trim! (But it will grow out, sigh!)

Today's quote:

Life unfolds as it will, and the universe will wait patiently as we make our way into the unknown.

Plastic Free Day

 Today is International Plastic Free Day.

Thanks Tom for letting us know. 

June 1 will be National Gun Violence Awareness Day

Wear orange!

I just took out the trash in my plastic garbage bag (required by the collection people). I emptied all my indoor trash baskets where grocery plastic bag liners are reused as many times as possible.

I'm typing on plastic keys on my laptop. Sitting in a chair with plastic arms.

My glasses have a plastic rim and maybe even the lens.

Now how can I be plastic-free? What a great goal. Just thinking about it is so challenging. 

Thanks for the thought. Each of these items are stretching their usefulness for my life. And I can't see any way to live without them.

What can I not use? Single use plastic utensils, plastic cups or plates...not in my house anymore. 

I can certainly drink out of containers not plastic, and not use a straw (an early effort for awareness). 

Awareness is the message.

Another thought for today:

To be astonished is one of the surest ways of not growing old too quickly.

SIDONIE-GABRIELLE COLETTE

Uvalde Anniversary Poll

 

Poll: Most Americans say curbing gun violence is more important than gun rights

May 24, 20235:01 AM ET

Heard on Morning Edition

The highest percentage of Americans in a decade say they think it's more important to curb gun violence than protect gun rights, according to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll.

The finding comes a year after the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, the second-deadliest in American history. Multiple other mass shootings that have taken place in the time since that one.

But the survey of almost 1,300 adults also shows Americans' views on guns are mixed, with little consensus on what to do about gun violence.

Fewer Americans say they feel their community's schools are safe from gun violence. And while a significant majority feels the answer to mass shootings is stricter gun laws, the percentage believing the solution is more people needing to carry guns has jumped 10 points in the last four years.

6 in 10 say controlling gun violence is more important than protecting gun rights

That's the highest in 10 years and includes 4 in 10 gun owners.

In 2013, people were split on this. But Democrats and many independents have shifted since.

The survey of 1,286 adults was conducted from May 15-18 with live interviewers using mixed modalities – by phone, cell phone and landlines, text and online. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points, meaning results could be about 3 points higher or lower than reported.

SOURCE: Uvalde Anniversary Poll.

There are many more graphs and data details in the original article.

As I post this (4:45 pm, May 24, 2023) President Biden is speaking of the anniversary, and promoting better gun control.

How much plastic do you use?

The 4Ocean group posted this photo with the caption (or perhaps it was added by another FB person):

"The average person consumes  uses 9 pounds of plastic a month"

. And then what do they do with it?

Lots of comments from those who recycle and know there are also landfills full of "single use plastic."

Just remember each of consumes (and I mean it this time) a credit card's worth of micro plastics in our environment each month. Or was it week? Either way, yuk!

I've removed (donated) the nice fluffy micro-plastic soft blanket, and the coat I thought was so cuddly...not worth giving myself extra micro-fibers in my airways. (Sorry to whoever the recipients were.)

This photo was very small when I copied it...but I love the sentiment!

 Now there's a use of plastic inner-tubes to carry humans along in some water or another...at least not single use plastic, and lots of fun I'm sure!

My personal dismay is that so many of my medical needs are met with plastic devices, often engineered to be used only a few times. I manage to wash my nebulizer inhalers, as well as my CPAP headgear and hoses...in warm soapy water or vinegar water. But I do admit I hate taking the time to do so. But if I don't, I know creepy mold will find a nice damp warm place to live in them. That results in more lung problems...and I go up and down with them. So I fight against mold as well as single-use plastics!

Next job is to take the rest of the houseplants outside (thus removing another source of mold) and repot them. First have to deal with our heavy pollen which has my eyes all swollen and tearless. Dry eyes are no fun! I'm already wearing protective sunglasses that wrap around my face. Going to eye doc again today because of this. I've been using the drops she recommended, without relief. That happens.

So I hope you have a great day, Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

Today's quote:

“If humanity does not opt for integrity we are through completely. It is absolutely touch and go. Each one of us could make the difference.”

― Buckminster Fuller

Another woman who made a difference

This post on FB was under Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans.

Planning the Skinner House Book for the Voices series at Pantheacon. Seated with Selena Fox, Shirley Ranck, Margot Adler, Jerrie Hildebrand, and Starhawk. (quite a few years ago)

Shirley and Jerrie Hildebrand leading Sunday Service at CUUPS Convocation in Salem, MA 

Shirley Ranck and Jerrie Hildebrand at the UUA General Assembly 2017 in New Orleans at their book launch with Skinner House Press.

It is with deep sadness I share that Rev. Shirley Ranck passed through the veil this morning. She was with her family at the time listening to music. Shirley wrote the groundbreaking curriculum “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” and coedited and authored with me “Pagan and Earth-Centered Voice in Unitarian Universalism”. Working with Shirley over those two years were some of the most empowering ones I ever experienced and her wisdoms I hold on to daily. Her trailblazing spirit enlivened many over the years. Hail to the traveler. She is now every where and in everything.

(All the above photos and comments by Jerrie Hildebrand)

Shirley Ranck Obituary

Rev. Shirley Ann Ranck of Niles Michigan, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 14, 2023. She was born in Jersey City, NJ on October 22, 1930 to Gilbert Holmes and Ann West Bush. She grew up in a number of New Jersey suburbs of New York City.

In 1950 she married Philip Powers Page, Jr. There were two children from this marriage, sons Scott and James. The marriage ended in divorce. In 1962 she married James Gilmour Ranck. There were two children from this marriage, daughters, Christina and Laura. This marriage also ended in divorce. Shirley received her BA degree from Montclair State University in 1953 followed by a Masters of Religious Education from Drew University in 1958, an MA in Clinical Psychology from City University of New York in 1964, a PhD in Urban School Psychology from Fordham University in 1976, and a Master of Divinity from the Thomas Starr King School for the Ministry in 1978. Shirley worked for many years as a school psychologist in the Livingston, NJ public schools. After receiving her PhD, she decided on a career change and became a Unitarian Universalist minister. Most of her career was spent as an interim

minister for various Unitarian Universalist congregations around the United States and Canada.

Shirley is the author of the Cakes for the Queen of Heaven: A Ten Session Course in Feminist Thealogy, published by the Unitarian Universalist Association. She is also author of the books Cakes for the Queen of Heaven and The Grandmother Galaxy, and a number of articles for various publications. Her last published work was as co-editor of Pagan and Earth-Centered Voices in Unitarian Universalism, to which

she contributed three chapters.

Shirley is survived by her sons, Scott Page (Joy Chase) and James Page (Carole Briggs), both of Madison, WI and her daughters, Christina Ranck (Edward) Bell of Sonoma, California and Laura (Donald) Van Lue of Niles, Michigan; grandchildren, Kevin Helliwell of Niles, MI, Jackie (Matthew) Yelland of Stoughton, WI, Michael Cervantez (Megan Heuer) of San Francisco, Sarah Bell (Pio Valenzuela) of Sonoma, CA, and Camilla (Brian) Carlyon of Madison, WI; and many great grandchildren and a large extended family.

Her ashes will be interred with her parents in Brielle, New Jersey.

NOTE By Barbara R: Most of my friends and family know the Cakes for the Queen of Heaven course provided through the UU church brought me to understanding goddess cultures, and a very high respect for the Divine Feminine. Much gratitude to Shirley for authoring that curriculum!

Clarification of eco terms and a book review to help scientists communicate

 A great amount of information...I'll just give a link in case you are interested TREEHUGGER 

Eco Terms A-Z

From aeroponics to zero waste, Treehugger's comprehensive glossary of environmental words is your guide to sustainability lingo.

This page gives great links to other Treehugger articles that might also be of interest to environmental people  Guide to Sustainable Certificates. 

Beginners guide to plastic free living. and remember the list I posted recently of products using less plastic in their manufacture and shipping. Ethical Products list.

Here's a sample of the A-Z terms...on the site of course they are links.

A

• Acid Mine Drainage
• Aeroponics
• Afforestation
• Agent Orange
• Agrivoltaics
• Air Pollution
• Alternative Energy
• Alternative Fuels
• Aluminium
• Ambassador Animal
• Animal Abuse
• Animal Cruelty
• Animal Extinction
• Animal Rights
• Anthropocentrism
• Aquaponics
• Arctic Amplification
• Arctic Fires
• Atmospheric River

I include this link to another blog, Travels with Birds, about a very interesting sounding book.

Book Review - Science Communication in a Crisis: An Insider's Guide - Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group)

What struck me most was this paragraph...

Christopher Reddy has been in the public eye through several significant environmental crises and has learned from painful experience that inadequate or inefficient communication, and the denial of truth and vicious personal attacks, can exact a very heavy toll on a scientist. In this book he has offered ten themes that should be considered as part of an effective response to an environmental crisis, bearing in mind that the message needs to be tailored to the audience - not diluted or diminished, mind you, but appropriate to the people receiving it. A presentation to a homeowners' association, for example, should not be heavy on scientific jargon, accompanied by graphs and statistics. It is important for scientists to recognize that all people do not have the same levels of higher education, or education in the same field, yet they are no less part of the community with an equal stake in the outcome. No one should ever be talked down to. A scientist is also a citizen, no more, no less than a philosopher, a school teacher or a plumber. Successful outcomes benefit all equally.

And then there are plastic bags

The following are exerpts from Treehugger Newsletter, May 12, 2023, "Can Plastic Bags be Recycled?"

 Plastic grocery and retail bags are made from polyethylene, synthetic polymers made from hundreds of monomers linked together by strong chemical bonds. They are made from nonrenewable petrochemicals derived from fossil oil, natural gas, and coal.1 As a result, their manufacture releases greenhouse gases. 

Widespread recycling programs are making it easier to recycle your plastic bags, but the recycling process does have its challenges. Because plastic grocery and retail bags are generally thin and lightweight, they can clog regular recycling equipment (hence the specialty plastic bag recyclers)

The EPA reports that in 2018, about 4,200,000 tons of plastic bags, sacks, and wraps were generated in the United States. Only 10% of those were recycled.3 Commit to increasing this recycling rate by recycling your own plastic bags and reducing your environmental impact.

Plastic Bag Recycling Codes

One way community recycling programs specify what they do or do not accept for recycling is by using Resin Identification Codes (RICs), sometimes called “recycling codes.” Those are the numbers you see inside the small recycling symbol stamped on materials. 

Plastic bags generally fall under the #2 and #4 RICs. If your bag is marked with either of these numbers, you can assume its welcome in plastic bag recycling bins. 

Examples of #2 plastics include more heavy duty bags, like those you get from grocery stores and fashion retailers. Thinner bags, like plastic produce bags, are likely made from #4 plastics.

But be careful—rigid plastics like bottles and jugs are also marked with #2 and #4 RICs. Plastic bottles and jugs are often accepted in curbside recycling programs. While they technically have the same RIC as plastic bags, you shouldn’t toss your bags in with your other recyclables unless your program specifies that it accepts them.

Most major national grocery retailers accept plastic bags for recycling, often partnering with large plastic recyclers. Find these recycling bins near the store entrance marked as “plastic bag recycling” or something similar.

Experts say the best way to be sustainable is to reduce, reuse, and recycle—in that order. Saying no to plastic by bringing your own reusable bags to the store is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint because you won’t be supporting the burning of fossil fuels for plastic bag production

----------------------------------------

And locally there are efforts to reduce having plastic bags in retail shopping. Buncombe County, nearby small town of Weaverville, Asheville, and now Black Mountain are moving in this direction through grassroots petitions and information sharing. 

Vertical windmills, ancient and a new protest practice that's extremely dumb

 

 Ancient Windmills in Iran...

I love how he ends the video, providing life giving air.

====================================================

From another blogger, I read yesterday of this strange protest event in Germany, which crippled traffic for a while, was on the news, and doesn't need to be spread into the US!! Hope not any way! Thanks Iris Flavia who posted it on Tom's blog!

Today's quote:

Do not think of knocking out another person's brains because he differs in opinion from you. It would be as rational to knock yourself on the head because you differ from yourself ten years ago. 

-Horace Mann, educational reformer ( 1796-1859)