Loosely Speaking

By Ciel - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Everything Else

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Artichokes on sale

They are rarely only 2/$3, so I got two big ones and brought them home. I cut each one in half, and removed--cut and yanked--the thorny and thistley bits from inside, then put them face up on the cast iron pan with some dribbles of olive oil and sprinklings of salt on each one. I added some water to the pan, and then covered it all, and put it in the oven at 350F for an hour. A dribbling of Italian dressing is a very tasty and spicier alternative. I'm sure there are other sauces that would work,... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, March 31, 2014

Puppy Mills and Cockatiel Bondage

throughout the country breed pedigreed animals for the sole purpose of profitting from puppy sales. It is not uncommon that these breeding animals are treated like some kind of machine, neglected beyond belief, with such callous cruelty, it defies the understanding of the normal heart and mind. Recently, a truck-load of dogs, rabbits and three cockatiels arrived in Gaithersburg, Maryland, under the protection of the Washington DC Humane Society. Abhorrent as the puppy mills are, and I guarantee... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, March 24, 2014

COSMOS

Last night, I finally had the chance to see the new edition of COSMOS with Neil DeGrasse Tyson in the driver's seat. I'm impressed! It is a visually beautiful show, with one exception I don't much care for, and Dr DeGrasse Tyson is a masterful guide and host. He is a champion of Science, akin to Bill Nye, and is doing his utmost to show the beauties and wonders of what science studies, and what science has accomplished by way of explaining the mysteries of the Cosmos--You know: where we keep our... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Another self-appointed Hall Monitor

Not quite 40 years ago, I got on a bus in Seattle, and took a seat near the front. At the next stop, a young mother boarded with her toddler, and they took the seat ahead of me. I noticed that the little boy did a sort of double-take as he climbed the steps and looked at the driver. Suddenly, as the bus began to move, the little boy burst into tears. His mother clearly hadn't seen it coming, and asked little Petey whatever was the matter? He pointed to the driver and wailed, "It's a girl!" It... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

A friend shared this with me...

http://blog.petflow.com/i-cant-believe-how-funny-this-is-i-am-in-tears-make-sure-your-sound-is-turned-on/ Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

The Whole Story

The point is, we never know it. I've been reading another book about England's Elizabeth I, this one by David Starkey, published in 2001. One of my previous favorites is Elizabeth Jenkins' ELIZABETH THE GREAT, published in 1958, which seems to have been the main source-book for Masterpiece Theater's ELIZABETH R. Jenkins was clearly a fan of Elizabeth, and was working from material that has since been augmented by new interpretations and readings of that material. Starkey makes frequent... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Horses on the menu

A few months back, a ban was lifted, and it became legal again in the US to slaughter horses for meat. Not everyone was happy with this. Today, I read that Congress has legislated to de-fund federal horse meat inspection: No money for the horse meat inspectors, so no inspectors. The very practical argue that meat is meat, that horse meat is healthier than beef, and is consumed in many parts of the world. Horse meat was eaten in the US during WW2, my mother remembers; and there are too many wild... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

The cost of entertainment

I just watched a movie about a guy who comes back from war and drops off the grid. He doesn't have a cell phone or a car or an address. What he does have, is a strong sense of justice, and the capabilities to enforce justice, as he sees it. This lone wolf is real pretty, too. He has no trouble getting girls. The movie audiences like him. Heck, they love him! What's not to love about this Batman-style vigilante? After all, he may be a loose semi-automatic, but he is on our side! Doesn't that make... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Responding to Kabu's comment

I have met a few online friends face to face, and it has varied between all right, to oh my, let me think about this! to oh no, get out of my car! The first was a long layover meet-up at an airport--she and I went out for a lunch and had a great chat. The second, a friend for a couple of years through sharing writing and common interests, was planned as a week at his and his partner's house while attending a conference. That was too intense, as it turned out, and afterwards, it was several weeks... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Half a bottle

CCT brought up, in previous "comments" that we get careless when we communicate by electronics, like being under the influence of half a bottle of wine. It got me thinking about how we do communicate differently when we are not looking someone in the face. There is the 'anonymity' factor--that people say mean, stupid, provocative and/or rude things, for instance, that they would never say in person, because no one can hold them responsible for it. There's also an 'invisibility' factor, that all... Sign in to see full entry.

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