Which Way's the Wind Blowing?
'Q Weather this Week
June 14th is FLAG DAY - Why don't we all take some time on Thursday to consider what our flag means to us, and what we as a country stand for - because I'm a little confused. Remember when our allies were our friends and our enemy was our enemy? So where are we? Canada, France, UK...friend or foe? Russia? China? Which is it?
The flag represents the United States - here and abroad. What image are we projecting? Are we still the leader of the free world? What about Liberty and Justice for all? For all or just a privileged few?
We now impose religious beliefs on our fellow citizens in public places, over honoring their human rights guaranteed by the Constitution? As citizens we are given the right to vote - since when is it okay for us to lose that right because we didn't vote out of choice or on a schedule to some State's liking? Two recent Supreme Court decisions are astonishing in what control they potentially impose on US citizens and what basic rights they endanger. We must pay attention.
We are a Nation of Immigrants. We are One Nation, under God. What changed? We turn away those seeking asylum, and separate parents and children. Are these policies representative of the conscience of America?
I don't know the answers to all of these questions and chances are we don't all follow the same Yellow Brick Road.
But basic decency, human kindness, and doing unto others as we would have them do unto us - let's not forget these have been a litmus test for our being Americans. If we sacrifice them in the pursuit of making this country "great again," how great are we?
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Summer in the City
Meet me in the Plaza - Thursdays through Sundays - during June
Details: Click here for Website
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...Meanwhile in Singapore
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G = Graduations and sometimes Woke
It's hard not to honor our flag and ignore what it means to be an American. Our Founding Fathers gave us a pretty good road map, but somewhere a long the way, civics seems to have taken a backseat to computer science. Maybe - in spite of our political differences - we can come together over preserving what this country was meant to stand for, and what our responsibilities as citizens are.
"For the last 20 years, for reasons that are too complicated to explain in this moment, I have been journeying with the Declaration of Independence." - Danielle Allen
Please CLICK HERE to read and/or listen to this astonishing call to awaken.
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CIVICS 101
A refresher course:
We hold these truths to be self-evident.
That all men are created equal.
That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.
That among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among people, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.
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What's Cookin'?
This week's tip: Practice now and you'll be the hit of the 4th of July picnic.
Ingredients
Perfect Pie Crust:
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut each apple quarter in thirds crosswise and combine in a bowl with the zests, juices, 1/2 cup sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
Roll out half the pie dough and drape it over a 9- or 10-inch pie pan to extend about 1/2-inch over the rim. Don't stretch the dough; if it's too small, just put it back on the board and re-roll it.
Fill the pie with the apple mixture. Brush the edge of the bottom pie crust with the egg wash so the top crust will adhere. Top with the second crust and trim the edges to about 1-inch over the rim. Tuck the edge of the top crust under the edge of the bottom crust and crimp the 2 together with your fingers or a fork. Brush the entire top crust with the egg wash, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar, and cut 4 or 5 slits.
Place the pie on a sheet pan and bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, or until the crust is browned and the juices begin to bubble out. Serve warm.
Perfect Pie Crust:
Dice the butter and return it to the refrigerator while you prepare the flour mixture. Place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and shortening. Pulse 8 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse the machine until the dough begins to form a ball. Dump out on a floured board and roll into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Cut the dough in half. Roll each piece on a well-floured board into a circle, rolling from the center to the edge, turning and flouring the dough to make sure it doesn't stick to the board. Fold the dough in half, place in a pie pan, and unfold to fit the pan. Repeat with the top crust.
Tip No.2 - Watch this first: CLICK HERE
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And last but not least...
Take me out to the ball game....CLICK HERE
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Have a healthy week.