News, Entertainment, Enlightenment
If you want to journey to the center of the Earth start at one of the poles. It would be just a 3,950 mile trip which is 13 miles shorter than if you start at Equator.
Potato rosti is a simple but surprisingly delicious dish that is perfect for Lent providing you choose the butter option rather than pork fat.
Frankly the butter is better despite the pork fat being considered the 8th most nutritious food. We tried them both.
Boil three medium sized russet potatoes in well-salted water for about 15 minutes then let them cool in the fridge overnight.
Peel then grate them.
In an 8-inch pan, melt 4tablespoons of butter over low heat. Slowly stir in the potatoes and a teaspoon of salt. Cook them for about two minutes turning frequently. Gently mold them into a pancake — don’t press hard — that would hold its shape. Add two tablespoons of hot water and a little bit more butter, cover and cook for 12 or 13 minutes. Flip onto a plate — you know how to do that right– and enjoy with sour cream, or cream cheese or smoke salmon or what hits your fancy.
Named for or after? What is the difference between “named for George Washington” and “named after George Washington”? Nothing really, although the Brits seem to use “named after” exclusively.
Wuhan Flu Thoughts And Observations — We have been asked to express our view on the Wuhan flu so here goes.
In the historical sense we don’t think it is going to be that bad.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Trump administration’s point man on fighting the disease, estimates the mortality rate at 1 percent which is about 10 times worse than the typical flu.
Obviously, we should take it seriously.
On the other hand, this is not the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic or the various cholera pandemics or typhus or even the Spanish Flu which had a mortality rate of between 2 and 3 percent and also hit Philadelphia rather hard.
The Wuhan flu is very dangerous for old people so we are keeping our old people in and staying in ourselves for their sake.
If we were on our own, however, we would catch a plane and check out Disney World were lines would be short and deals would be expected. Actually, if they are still doing cruises we would go on one assuming the deals are what we think they are.
We think the economy is obviously going to be hurt as there are those who, like us, are obliged to avoid going out and the stock market is suffer accordingly.
In the long term, though, we will be fine unless the government screws things up.
Actually, our biggest fear is the Deep State not letting “a serious crisis go to waste” and pull stuff as they did after 9/11 such as the TSA and Patriot Act.
One more observation: The death rate on the Diamond Princess where 3700 people were stuck with the Wuhan flu for a month was about 1 percent (corrected).
Don’t be afraid and enjoy life.
It is the almond that is considered the most nutritious food. Bet you weren’t expecting that. Scientist give it 97 out of a possible 100. In eighth place is pork fat with a score of 73 which is well ahead of kale (31st), fresh spinach (45th) and coho salmon (54th). Yum. Bet you weren’t expecting that either.
Those silly scientists ought to know, though, that it is the McDonald’s double cheeseburger that is the most nutritious food in history.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car is named after the USS Enterprise. No, not the starship but the World War II aircraft carrier from which company founder Jack Taylor flew F6F Hellcat fighter planes. Of course, the starship is named for the legendary World War II vessel too.
Yes Miranda, Earth is not a perfect circle. Its circumference is 95 miles longer at the Equator (24,901 miles) than it is around the poles (24,860) miles.
Ed Hunter Explains Grit
By Kate Rainey
Ed Hunter, a certified Career and Executive Coach, will lead an interactive presentation titled “True Grit: Resilience in Times of Change” on April 7 from 7 -8:30 p.m., at Media Presbyterian Church’s Hassler Chapel, 30 E. Baltimore Ave., Media, PA 19063. The chapel can be accessed from Baltimore Avenue, to the left of the main door, or around back on EastFranklin Street. All are welcome, without regard to religious affiliation.
Change is with us constantly. It’s guaranteed in all aspects of life. We can’t control the changes in our lives, but we do have some control over how those changes affect us. Whether you feel fear or excitement, anxiety or hopeful anticipation… you have choices!
At this program, you will partake in a discussion about how change can affect your career journey and wellbeing. Job loss or job change due to layoffs, firing, reorganizations, restructures, new management and adjustments to job roles can bring feelings of uncertainty and potentially…. stress, anxiety and even depression. You will come away with practical ways to not only manage, but overcome, unexpected obstacles. Re-energize yourself to take some bold steps forward with renewed confidence!
Ed Hunter is an experienced Career and Executive Coach with a private practice on the Main Line. He specializes in the exploration of meaning and purpose in career decisions. He is dedicated to helping others feel happy, healthy and whole in their career. And he loves his job!
JPCD is a joint program of Media Presbyterian Church and St. Laurence Church, Upper Darby and is affiliated with Joseph’s People, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing guidance and support to unemployed and underemployed workers.
California Homeless Coronavirus Concern
By Kevin Lynn
The novel coronavirus that first appeared in China late last year has been finding its way around the world since. Its journey highlights why a nation’s borders serve not only to protect a nation’s security, but the health and welfare of the citizens of a country. Ineffective U.S. border control for decades, as well as only cursory attention paid to internal controls that regulate entries and exits of noncitizens, has left our country vulnerable to a new pandemic.
The agencies and technologies exist to effectively regulate entry, but we choose not to utilize them. Quixotically, cities, counties and even entire states opt to declare themselves sanctuaries for illegal immigrants. The poster child for local governments providing sanctuary is Los Angeles, a city least prepared to deal with a disease outbreak.
Last year, Los Angeles had an outbreak of typhus, a disease characterized by fever, headaches, a purple rash and often delirium that typically spreads by infected mites, lice and fleas. The outbreak would have probably gone largely unreported had it not been for the disease jumping from the city’s homeless population to staff working in City Hall, blocks from Skid Row.
Conservative estimates place the number of Los Angeles County’s homeless population at 59,000. Imagine if coronavirus hits that population. Unlike typhus, which is a bacterial infection, the coronavirus can spread much more easily. The virus, which results in the disease COVID-19 in humans, can spread between people who come as close as six feet, via respiratory droplets and by exposure to infected surfaces. The Center for Disease Control states, “The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in communities.”
It is hard to walk back decades of neglect and disinterest in what should be a commonsense approach to regulating who may enter the country. But the special interests that want an inexpensive as well as pliable labor force and politicians looking to feather their nests have undermined our ability to respond effectively to the coronavirus.
The countries of Singapore and Mongolia have been shining examples of how to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. The number of new cases in both countries is falling off dramatically. In the case of Mongolia, cases have plateaued. Singapore responded immediately to the crisis. Its top-notch healthcare system allowed it to do localized testing which helped not only in early identification, but also effective tracing of potential carriers. Moreover, it was able to take the restrictive measures necessary with a citizenry that was prepared to sacrifice for the common good.
Contrast this to what is now a very balkanized California. Even with its large vulnerable populations (150,000 homeless) and recent examples of disease outbreaks, California has no localized disease testing. California’s politicians are almost giddy with delight when flouting the nation’s immigration laws, but tepid when it comes to measures that actually improve the safety, health and security of its citizens.
Likely California will handle COVID-19 in much the way it responds to everything else that requires an effective response. It will launch into delusional thinking that will have its political leaders assigning blame to everyone but themselves. The question is: How long will the citizenry put up with this?
Kevin Lynn is the Executive Director of Progressives for Immigration Reform. Contact him at klynn@pfirdc.org.