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Affordable films, baked with whole wheat goodness, now gluten free!

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The Irishman

The Irishman is worth every minute of viewing time.  Scorsese nails dark humor to an embattled landscape of organized crime weight, it's soldiers, and a lethal but uniquely American story.        

Some blanks in history are filled in with what feels like authenticity rather than embellishment - or at least I would like to believe so, considering Frank Sheeran's confessions, as an enforcer working for the Bufalino crime family from Charles Brandt's memoir I Heard You Paint Houses.  The film has itself over a plate at times, going so far as to include an enigmatic scene with the strange personality of Howard Hunt, and Frank Sheeran delivering a payload of what we perceive as armaments shortly before the Bay of Pigs.  

This film is a tribute to an era and its events that are obscured in omission.  What takes precedence center screen is Sheeran's relationship between Jimmy Hoffa and the Buffalino's and his eventual demise but we also visit the assassination of an American president, the Bufalino's stake in Havana, and performers with associative ties like Don Rickles.  We see a linear historical account from Frank Sheeran's perspective in a kind of hushed tone.  The Irishman vividly references what is resident to a generation’s experience in a deliberately unsensational way, right down to the mechanics of what a hit should look like on film.  It's low key and great viewing for film and history buffs who remember or know of the time it recounts.  It unfolds as never taught in school but rather handed down from people who were alive before me.  The film is a rich tapestry depicting history and woven narrative that are vital to one another considering the absence of a few bodies and the first casualty of war: truth.  And that becomes the backdrop for Scorsese’s latest composition, observing one of the most complex series of events beset in a simpler time.

De Niro's driven portrayal of Sheeran is of course fantastic, and Pacino's Hoffa is robust.  The complement of Harvey Keitel playing Angelo Bruno "the gentle don", and Joe Pesci, Russell Bufalino, makes me think they were quite possibly conceived for their roles in this film.

Martin Scorsese chose a perfect "for the record" reflection of the underworld since most of the main characters shown are either dead, or pled the fifth and it's nice to see how at least one guy tells it and claims accuracy by virtue of his direct involvement.      

Watch this movie!

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Response to Ray on Hong Kong, Trump, and Communism

Communism killed at least 10, if not 50 million before during and after the second world war. You really miss the point entirely, and never understand why I look at BBC, and other news outlets to understand more fully what is taking place. It’s not to erode freedom, or side with communism nor is it anti or pro Trump and certainly not taking away from your favorite Murdoch news. Communism was an aberration and more insidious than the very concentrated and systematic slaughter engaged in by rabid national socialists. Communism is certainly the worst ideology imaginable considering what bolshevism brought to eastern Europe and Russia preceding Germany's reaction to Poland and the murder of 58,000 ethnic Germans along the Danube and other places like Czechoslovakia, not to mention economic sanctions that weren't only crippling Germany, but decimating its people...literally. People didn't take up arms because they couldn't afford Play Stations - their very survival was at stake, as individuals and a people. Furthermore, look at what happened in Ukraine prior to WWII, and what happened to the poor Germans after they lost ...literal rape of all females daily and i mean from 8 to 80 (that was the expression used by Germans as they witnessed the 'Red Liberators' taking eastern Germany with support or at least complicity from the allies considering we did nothing about it, and that was ultimately what Deutschland was trying to avoid)

Patton wanted to kick all their asses clear into this century.  So, what I am saying is we need to be careful about everything and consider not only what we are doing and why, but what will be required in holding our position, in support of Hong Kong. You seem to believe that if I look deeper at what’s happening and why, that I'm anti-American, or anti-Trump. It's not pro or con with me - its observation and understanding meaningful challenges to this nation and others, either via proxy, nation states, or domestic, considering policies and intentions of all sides. I'm placing this in a historical context to show what's black and white and what is not.  

While Karl Marx worked backward from a conclusion, Bolsheviks murdered thousands through starvation, and people like Himmler and Hitler easily rose to power - and let’s not forget ideologically promiscuous financers and arms dealers selling loans or weapons and material, to ANY side buying. This statement may be antiquated but still bears some relevance: Historically National Socialism, and Communism had one common thread, despite linear opposition, in west and eastern Europe - both had dictatorships over central regimes by edict. That’s not supposed to be America...and I don’t believe it is.  Although I probably wouldn’t hang out with Trump, he is doing what needs to be done economically and politically and we can expect resistance and it may really affect us here more than some realize. What this country is doing is pragmatic and conducive to its economic needs.  

The irony here, is that Hong Kong is a competitor, yet strategic to our interests because of its alignment. China doesn't care about individual rights and they will now most likely be adversarial, and not only competitors. That said, i don't think the rape of Nanking was especially nice, nor Pinochet in some Chilean circles, or places like Dachau and Sorbibor. This planet has a history of enormous violence and looking at what is both noble and depraved in human existence I am uniformly inspired and terrified.  Just to set the record straight: STOP IMPLYING that I'm misinformed, or against this country or siding with communists, Ray. You are so binary as to be myopic in considering what’s happening.  All i am saying is that China will most likely react and it will be at least counter to our interests if not adversarial. And let’s not forget, Russia, who we are working tirelessly to pull away from China's orbit.

I won't apologize for looking further than Fox news to understand what's taking place and why. On violence, I'm agnostic considering only that less or none is better if possible and the plausibility of war is always present. Please get that straight.

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mmmmm…my bacon wrapped grilled Yoda bombs are ready…

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Charcoaled this and it was great

Print

5 from 5 votes

Greek Chicken Kabobs

This recipe for Greek chicken kabobs is garlic and herb marinated chicken and colorful vegetables, skewered and grilled to perfection. Serve these skewers with a creamy cucumber yogurt dip for an easy and delicious dinner!

CourseMain Course

CuisineGreek

Keywordchicken kabobs, greek chicken kabobs

Prep Time30 minutes

Cook Time10 minutes

Total Time40 minutes

Servings servings

Calories280kcal

AuthorSara Welch

INGREDIENTS

1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1 inch chunks

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

3 tablespoons of olive oil

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 red bell pepper cored, seeded and cut into 1 inch pieces

1 red onion peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces

For the yogurt sauce:

1 cup of plain Greek yogurt

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 tablespoon minced red onion

salt and pepper to taste

½ cup minced cucumber I prefer the small persian cucumbers

¼ cup minced fresh parsley

Optional garnishes: lemon wedges chopped parsley

INSTRUCTIONS

For the chicken skewers:

Combine the lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, salt, sugar, pepper and garlic, along with 1 tablespoon of water, in a bowl. Add the chicken pieces and toss to coat. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Heat a grill or grill pan over medium or preheat the broiler.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and thread the chicken pieces, red bell pepper and red onion onto 4 skewers.

If grilling, place the chicken on the grill and cook for 5 minutes on each side or until chicken is cooked through.

For broiling, broil for 8-10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

While the chicken is cooking make the sauce.

For the yogurt sauce:

Mix together the greek yogurt, olive oil, cucumber and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready for use.

Serve the chicken skewers with the yogurt sauce. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges if desired.

NUTRITION

Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 460mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g

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The local rotary club will be conducting a skyclad ritual honoring Baphomet to benefit planned parenthood Dec. 24th.   RSVP

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MBSR

This has been a good practice:

https://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/mindfulness-based-programs/mbsr-courses/about-mbsr/history-of-mbsr/

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Darn

Astros lost to the Nationals...

Since Bagwell and Biggio ended careers, I thought we’d see about decade or so before a series.  Since that estimate was close, I was really hoping we’d win.

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What?

I seriously cannot understand why this would be considered controversial:

Brenna Huckaby, the first featured amputee

The article appears below:

This had never been done before. | Brenna Huckaby via Instagram

The problem: featuring an amputee

In an attempt to feature women from all walks of life, the 2018 swimsuit issue became the first to show an amputee. The Independent says Brenna Huckaby, a snowboarder and Paralympian, was excited to have the opportunity to promote body positivity with her shoot. Huckaby lost her leg to bone cancer in 2010.

The 22-year-old says the response has been overwhelmingly positive, and many women have reached out to show their support. Even so, with any big step for Sports Illustrated, there’s guaranteed to be some backlash from those who unsubscribe.

What right do these people have?  It was her choice to pose and the composition celebrates her indomitable spirit.  Since when do people take it upon themselves to determine for others, even the very model herself, what is acceptable based on their personal taste or perception?  Everyone is so overly sensitive, biting their nails, and compulsively worried about offending someone.  

You have the right to be offended.  And let’s not forget Hollywood’s obsession with race, gender, and sexual orientation which has become an agenda.  I guess it’s an incursion to be different.  Invert being different and it’s exclusion by imposed inclusion.  Now we should reject models or the depiction of those models if they are different or outside of someone else’s definitive norm, and even call it exploitation.  What’s considered  “acceptable,” and to whom?  

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I’m hiring a Mentat to track moving averages - and balance my cheque book...

It is by will alone I set my mind in motion

It is by the juice of Sapho the thoughts acquire speed

the lips acquire stains 

the stains become a warning 

It is by will alone I set my mind in motion

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Makes you think...

https://youtu.be/UpLcnAIpVRA

https://youtu.be/v19cu2hj2Ms

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This is useful

I know some of the benefits of being aware of the present and observing what is, without clinging, attachment, or judgement.  Being deliberately present, to engage experience is the result, when I believed it was the goal...but today it’s been a bit tough..  

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Anxiety

My injury was better yesterday.  Today it’s worse.  

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Eden

Lot’s of great shorts on youtube.

https://youtu.be/nFtRCApliSQ

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THE DRIFT

https://youtu.be/f3XjJWqSNDg

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Great stuff

Love this too:

https://youtu.be/H6-N1v1REu8

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Dust

The coolest thing about this was no dialogue.

https://youtu.be/CIx0a1vcYPc