Ok. The economy is not good. Some say that it has collapsed. And what ever is going on, you and your family are struggling. So, what advice can I give someone that is struggling? Well, I have thought about it a lot.
If you are struggling, others are as well. And many of them are doing worse than you. And hungry, desperate people do crazy things.
The first thing do not flaunt anything. Downplay your appearance and your presence. Turn into the background. Blend, and do not look anything like a prepper, or a wealthy person. Blend in.
The second thing use a bicycle. Yeah. the first thing that you need to do is stop driving your car. Start using public transportation, and get a bicycle. Not an expensive bicycle. A chunky, old, and junky bicycle. Paint it so that it looks God-awful. Make it so foul that no one wants to come near it. Make them think that touching it will give you rabies. That way, no one will attempt to steal it. Oh, for certain you will still lock it up. But it’s gonna be one desperate person who will go near it.
The third thing is to learn how to fish. This is a very important life skill. You need access to water, of course, but fishing will help put food on your table. You, as a man, might not have a job, or an income, but if you come home with some fish, at least you will be a provider.
The fourth thing is to have a garden. I do not care about the local HOA. Put them in planters or make an indoor garden in the garage or a spare room, but you need to have a garden. And learn how to garden. It’s more complicated than putting a seed in dirt. Take the time to get set up, and tend to the garden. And, do not advertise it either. Keep the kids and poachers away. I once had tomato plants behind my house and I was perplexed why I wasn’t getting any tomatoes. Then I discovered that a neighboring three year old would pick the green tomatoes and throw them down the road for fun. Don’t allow this to happen.
The fifth thing is to have solar charging. You will need to severely cut down your use of electricity. Severely. But you need a cell phone. You need to charge the batteries in your car or whatever appliances run on DC electricity. Have a solar charging system. It will enable you to access the internet, communicate, and access basic app functions.
The Sixth thing is to have a skill that you can locally market or trade for. Sewing, repairing shoes. Fixing a car, or appliances. Canning food, making bread from scratch, medical care at some level.
The Seventh thing is to network. Be a functioning member of your community. Participate and always show up when asked. It doesn’t matter what it is. You need to be part of the community. You see, in difficult times, community will provide benefit rather than trudging it out on your own.
There are many, many other things that you can do. But I believe these items are the top and easiest things that you can do to minimize the impacts of change on you and your family during difficult times of change. So no matter what your situation is, some level of implementation of these things would greatly benefit you and your family to some degree.
Today…
What is the reason behind IHOP’s use of pancake mix instead of making pancakes from scratch like other restaurants?
Have you ever made pancakes from scratch? It’s super easy, all you need for the dry ingredients is flour, sugar, baking powder and a pinch of salt. Just add eggs, milk, vanilla and oil and BOOM! Pancake mix.
Pancakes mix is stupid easy to make, for sure, but its quality and consistency are dependent on someone’s ability to accurately weigh and measure the ingredients perfectly every time. Considering that 80% of IHOP’s cooks are hung over, or still drunk, at the start of their Saturday morning shift, quality and consistency are probably out the window. Enter the premade pancake mix. All they need to do is open a bag, add the wet ingredients and BOOM!, perfect pancake mix in every IHOP from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine, and back again.
IHOP did a study and found that drunk line cooks will prepare pancakes 89.6% more accurately and consistently with a prepared mix than from bulk dry ingredients that must be measured. Actually, no, IHOP didn’t do that study. I made that up, but it sounds convincing, right? Tell me you weren’t convinced. Anyway, that’s the answer: a premade mix will be more consistent, when made by drunk or sober cooks.
Why is learning to tread water and float considered more important than being a strong swimmer when it comes to surviving in the ocean?
As a recipient of loads of water survival training and an avid fisherman who has sunk a boat and tread water in the Puget Sound for 73 minutes in 53F water, I can confidently answer this question.
Bodies of water aren’t static. There’s currents, wind, cold water and wave action, all of which work to stymie your efforts to stay alive. One can be presented with a situation where being a strong swimmer is important and you just swim to shore. That’s great and I don’t want to discourage anyone from thinking that it’s important to be a better swimmer. That said, it’s far more important to know survival strokes that preserve your energy and heat. Not drowning at sea is a marathon, not a sprint. An effort to sprint to shore against currents will likely result in heat loss, exhaustion and drowning.
I think these are better ideas:
- Have a well-maintained life preserver or float collar ON YOUR BODY every time you leave the dock. I didn’t have two seconds to grab anything when our large boat slid into the Sound and capsized.
- Have your smartphone in a waterproof case so you can call 911 after your boat capsizes. A VHF handheld can work for this as well. A two-piece phone case is cheap.
- Don’t sacrifice things that float immediately after your boat sinks. Grab that huge white cooler so it doesn’t float away. Hang on to it, because it’s much easier for SAR assets to see a big floating box rather than your bobbing head.
- As long as you have floatation, keep your clothes on. They’re preventing heat loss. Hypothermic people make bad decisions. Don’t be that guy.
I hope this is helpful. Good luck shipmate.
The 3 Abandoned Locations That Become Instant Fortresses In Collapse
Kind reminder
Lamb Tagine with Dates
(Tagine de Mouton aux Dattes — Morocco)
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless lamb shoulder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarsely-ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon saffron
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 cup whole pitted dates
- Toasted almonds
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Trim fat from lamb; cut lamb into 1 inch cubes.
- Heat oil in Dutch oven until hot. Cook and stir lamb in oil until all liquid is evaporated and lamb is brown, about 25 minutes; drain.
- Stir in onion, garlic, salt, pepper, cinnamon and saffron; cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Stir in water and honey. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until lamb is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- Stir dates into lamb mixture; simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
- Spoon onto platter. Garnish with almonds and lemon slices.
- Serve with couscous if desired.
Ip Man (2008) Movie Reaction | First Time Watching
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The Great Hunter
Written in response to: “Write a story in which a character navigates using the stars.“
Christine Hamilton
The birds started chirping a first light. Hoa gave his sleeping brother a shove, “Come on we have a big day ahead of us.”
Looking up the rocky slope, the peak was so far away. I doubt we will make it before dark. Hour after hour of trudging uphill over slippery loose rocks. Each step required his body to power down through each leg. Now and then, he would have to stop to catch his breath and look out over the valley to see how far they had travelled. Leaning on his spear he breathed heavily, he looked back along the ridge; dark clouds rolled over the crest followed by distant sounds of thunder. As he stood there the clouds grew closer, “We won’t get to the ridge before that storm hits.”
Lu who was further up the slope said, “There is a cave up a bit to our left.”
Adrenaline pushed the fatigue aside as everyone rushed to get away from the approaching storm. Looking further up the slope the craggy overhang was in sight. Large drops of cold rain started to fall as the thunder shook the hills around them. Hoa’s heart was already racing and the claps of nearby thunder made it skip a beat. With one last scramble, they burst into the cave, dropping everything on the floor. Collapsing back against the rock wall, they gasped for air. The darkness slowly crept across the entrance as the storm came over the hill.
Rain pelted down outside the cave as lightning flashes lit up the entrance. The wind howled past the opening. While the rock cave offered some insulation from the cold, it was dark. Hoa glanced down at the stick he was holding, “We don’t have a lot of firewood.”
They sorted through their small carry bag of kindling and the branches they were using to climb the slope. It was enough for a small fire suitable for light and some cooking. The storm lasted for a few hours. Sometime during the night, the last of the wood was burnt out. Lying in the darkness, Hoa couldn’t sleep, they had such a long way to travel and they hadn’t caught any food for the tribe. He made his way outside; the storm clouds had given way to a starry sky. Orion the great hunter stared down at him, calling him back to the hunt. Dawn was hours away but Hoa had a new energy, an urge to get underway.
It didn’t take much to motivate the other hunters as they couldn’t sleep either. Heading off into the darkness Lu asked, “Which way?”
“Up, the Pass is under the Great Hunter,” Hoa replied as he pointed towards the constellation Orion.
They reached the ridge in time to see the golden rays of the sun break over the crest. The Pass sprawled out below them, rocky slopes gave way to forests, a river and grasslands nestled between two mountain ranges. Finally reaching the flat ground, relieved that the trip down the mountain was easier than the climb up they decided to set up camp near the river not far from a large herd of deer.
After a quick refreshing jump into the icy river, Hoa filled up his water carrier ready for a day of hunting. Scanning the hills he looked for any sign the tribe had made it to the pass. At least the next ridge is not as high as the last.
As the late afternoon shadows crept in, Hoa blessed their catch of the afternoon. Two good-sized deer were being cleaned up and prepared for transport by the other hunters. “This should last until we are set up on the Great Plains.”
He stood there thinking about the tribe on the plains for Summer. When smells of smoke and roasting meat drifted past him. He took another sniff and it was gone. Must be my stomach imagining dinner.
“What is cooking?” Lu asked.
“Nothing, we haven’t lit the fire yet,” Hoa replied. I didn’t imagine it. His face lit up as he ran out into the clearing. Smoke wafted up through the trees further up the river. “They’re here!” He yelled out across the plain.
Finding his reserve energy, he sprinted up the river with two brothers not far behind. As he made his way through the trees his smile was beaming. The tribe was busy setting up shelters and preparing dinner. He quickly scanned the camp, “Lai,” he called out. She looked up; the arm full of firewood she had gathered hit the ground as she ran towards him.
With the tribe back together after four days, they decided to grab a couple more deer. It would be easier to carry them with more bodies doing the lifting. The tribe spent the following night at the pass before heading off the following morning. After several hours of climbing, they reached the crest. Hoa sighed with relief as mountain shadows opened up to the golden grasslands of the Great Plain. A large wandering river flanked by woodland and savanna filled with wildlife. Orion had safely led the tribe to their homeland for the Winter. And when Orion sinks below the horizon again, they will follow the deer back to the north as their ancestors had done for generations.
The End
Sir Whiskerton and the Treasure of Timeless Toys
Ah, dear reader, prepare yourself for a tale not of mystery or chaos, but of quiet discovery, tender memories, and the simple, profound magic that lies just beneath our paws. Today’s story is one of courage, curiosity, and the gentle threads that connect past to present. So, find a cozy spot, and we shall dive into Sir Whiskerton and the Treasure of Timeless Toys.
The Whisper Under the Barn
It began on a day softened by a lazy, honeyed sun. Ditto, Sir Whiskerton’s ever-echoing apprentice, was chasing a dust bunny that danced in a sunbeam when he stumbled upon a loose floorboard in the darkest corner of the barn. With a tiny creak, it gave way, revealing not dirt, but a yawning, dark space below.
A cool, damp breath of air wafted up, smelling of old wood and forgotten things. Ditto peered into the darkness, his usual bravado replaced by a tremor of fear.
“Dark!” he whispered, his voice small. “Scary!”
He scurried back to Sir Whiskerton, who was meticulously washing a single white paw on a bale of hay.
“Sir! Sir! A hole! A deep, dark hole!” Ditto chirped, tugging at the older cat’s tail.
Sir Whiskerton finished his paw, flicked it once, and turned his calm, green eyes upon his flustered apprentice. “A hole, you say? And what does a hole represent, Ditto?”
“A… fall?” Ditto guessed.
“An echo!” he tried again.
“A place to hide!”
“It represents the unknown,” Sir Whiskerton corrected gently. “And for a cat, the unknown is not something to fear. It is something to investigate. Remember this, Ditto, for it is a truth as important as any: A cat’s curiosity is its greatest superpower.”
Taking a deliberate step toward the loose board, Sir Whiskerton added, “It is the engine of all discovery. Now, let us see what this particular engine has uncovered.”
With Sir Whiskerton’s confident presence beside him, Ditto’s fear melted away, replaced by a thrilling tingle. Together, they slipped through the opening and into the cool, earthy space below.
The Chamber of Forgotten Joy
The hidden chamber was small, lit only by the sliver of light from above. And there, nestled in a old, rotting crate, was the treasure.
It was not gold or jewels, but something far more precious: a stash of forgotten toys. A wooden duck on wheels, its paint faded. A lumpy, hand-stitched teddy bear missing one button eye. A bright red fire engine, dulled by dust. A set of wooden blocks, letters worn smooth by small, eager hands.
Ditto’s eyes widened. He nudged the fire engine, and it rolled forward with a squeak. “Toys!” he breathed, his echo full of wonder.
Sir Whiskerton picked up the teddy bear with a delicate paw. “These are not just toys, Ditto. These are memories. They hold stories.”
Just then, the farmer came into the barn, his heavy boots echoing on the floorboards above. Hearing the squeak of the fire engine, he knelt down and peered through the opening, his face a mask of confusion that slowly softened into disbelief.
A Flood of Gentle Memories
Sir Whiskerton and Ditto watched from the shadows as the farmer reached down and lifted the crate out into the light. He didn’t say a word. He simply sat on the barn floor, cradling the wooden duck in his large, calloused hands.
He saw not the faded paint, but the vibrant yellow it once was. He felt not the dust, but the warmth of his father’s hands guiding his own as they pushed it across the kitchen floor. He saw the teddy bear and remembered his mother patiently sewing on its button eyes after a particularly rough adventure. The blocks spelled out his name, the letters his parents had taught him.
A single tear traced a path through the dust on his cheek, then another. He wasn’t weeping from sadness, but from a sudden, overwhelming flood of love—a love he hadn’t felt so keenly in years. He was a boy again, safe and loved, and the memory was so powerful it stole his breath.
It was at that moment that Martha, on her daily walk, happened to glance down the lane and see him through the open barn door, sitting amidst the dust, his shoulders shaking. Without a second thought, she changed her course.
She entered the barn not with a question, but with a presence. She knelt beside him, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, and said nothing. She simply waited. He looked up, his eyes red-rimmed, and showed her the duck. He didn’t need to explain. She understood.
The Disneyland of Debris
Together, in comfortable silence, the farmer and Martha gathered the toys. But instead of putting them back in the dark, they carried them to the “Disneyland of Debris”—the charmingly cluttered corner of the farmyard where old flower pots became castles and broken cartwheels became Ferris wheels.
There, they arranged the treasures. The fire engine was parked proudly by a gnarled root. The teddy bear was given a throne on a mossy stump. The blocks were stacked into a precarious, wonderful tower.
The animals, drawn by the unusual activity, gathered. The young kid goats butted the fire engine, sending it squeaking across the yard. The chicks perched on the wooden duck. Hoppity the rabbit decided the one-eyed teddy bear was a wise sage and sat at its feet for advice. Even Ditto, beaming with pride, demonstrated how his “superpower” had uncovered this new realm of play.
The farmer and Martha sat on an old, weathered bench, watching the scene. The air was filled with the squeaks of wheels, the happy bleats of goats, and the contented clucking of hens. The forgotten joy of the past had been transformed into the vibrant, living joy of the present.
They didn’t speak. They didn’t need to. They simply sat, side-by-side, watching the playful chaos in the barnyard, their own hearts feeling lighter, mended by the simple, shared act of kindness and the timeless magic of a rediscovered toy.
And so, dear reader, we leave our heroes not with a mystery solved, but with a heart restored. The farm was filled with a new, gentle joy, a silent testament to the power of curiosity, the comfort of memory, and the quiet understanding that sometimes, the greatest treasures are the ones that teach us how to play again.
The End.
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Egypt’s Forbidden Archaeological Site: Military Lockdown Hides Underground Complex
Rare photographs from a long-sealed Egyptian archaeological site are finally surfacing, revealing an enigmatic underground structure that has sparked intense debate among researchers for over a century. Just three miles from the famous Giza Pyramids lies Zawyet El Aryan, a mysterious location that has earned the nickname “Egypt’s Area 51” after the Egyptian military cordoned it off in the 1960s. The site features a massive T-shaped pit carved 100 feet deep into solid limestone, lined with enormous granite blocks and containing a sealed oval vat that once held an unknown substance, now lost to history, according to the Daily Mail.
Italian archaeologist Alessandro Barsanti first excavated the perplexing site in the early 1900s, documenting what he found with detailed photographs that remain the only comprehensive record of the complex. His images show a colossal shaft descending nearly 100 feet (30.5 meters) into natural bedrock, with smooth limestone walls and a floor covered with massive granite blocks, each measuring approximately 15 feet (4.5 meters) long and 8 feet (2.5 meters) thick, weighing up to 18,000 pounds. The mysterious structure was never completed, leaving no superstructure above ground, only the enormous excavation below.
The ramp down into the huge T-shaped excavation in solid limestone. (Public Domain)
Ancient Graffiti Hints at Cosmic Purpose
The mystery deepened when Barsanti discovered graffiti written in black and red ink on the chamber walls. One particularly intriguing inscription reads “Seba-[unknown]-Ka,” which translates to include the words “star” and “vital essence” or “life force” in ancient Egyptian. Independent researcher Derek Olsen, discussing the structure on the Matt Beall Limitless podcast, interprets this as the ancient Egyptian term for “gateway to the stars,” suggesting the structure may have served as a vessel for cosmic travel or spiritual ascension. However, mainstream Egyptologists argue the inscription more likely represents the name of a builder or important figure from that era.
At the center of one chamber sits an oval vat with a precisely fitted granite lid, which Barsanti reported contained traces of an unknown substance when first discovered. Unfortunately, whatever this material was, it has been lost over the subsequent decades. The vat measures approximately 10 feet (3 meters) long, 7 feet (2.1 meters) wide, and 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep, and was found sealed when Barsanti entered the chamber, suggesting it was intended as a closed container for something of great importance.
The sealed oval vat discovered inside the T-shaped shaft at Zawyet El Aryan. Wikimedia Commons (MONNIER Franck/Public Domain)
Military Restriction Blocks Modern Investigation
The site’s accessibility took a dramatic turn in the mid-1960s when the Egyptian military seized control of the area, establishing a restricted military zone that has blocked all modern excavations and public tours for nearly six decades. Since 1964, no archaeological work has been permitted at Zawyet El Aryan, leaving Barsanti’s century-old photographs as the sole detailed record of what lies beneath. The military installation has since expanded, with barracks and facilities built directly over parts of the original necropolis, and the ancient shaft itself reportedly being misused as a local dump.
Many Egyptologists believe the site was intended as an unfinished pyramid complex from either the 3rd or 4th Dynasties (around 2700-2530 BC). The excavation shows characteristics of early pyramid construction, yet the absence of any superstructure or burial chamber raises questions about its original purpose. Some researchers theorize it may have served as an experimental foundation or ceremonial chamber that was abandoned before completion.
Archaeologists also discovered a damaged dedication tablet bearing the name of King Djedefre, potentially linking the pyramid to this Fourth Dynasty ruler. However, the tablet’s authenticity and significance remain subjects of debate among scholars. Djedefre was the son and successor of Khufu (builder of the Great Pyramid), and his brief reign lasted only eight years, which could explain why the massive underground project was never completed.
Sketch of the large, T-shaped excavation at Zawyet El Aryan. (MONNIER Franck/ CC BY-SA 3.0)
Connections to Other Enigmatic Egyptian Sites
In a recent interview, Derek Olsen of Megalithic Marvels highlighted intriguing similarities between Zawyet El Aryan and other mysterious ancient Egyptian structures featuring massive granite installations. The Great Pyramid of Giza contains granite chambers and sarcophagi, while the Serapeum at Saqqara houses enormous granite boxes weighing up to 100 tons each. The Saqqara pyramid complex also features underground granite installations of unknown purpose. “We are seeing a theme of this huge granite floor and a lid-like structure,” Olsen noted, suggesting these features may share a common but currently unknown function.
The T-shaped structure at Zawyet El Aryan is carved directly into natural bedrock, with walls that were smoothed but never covered with stones. The chamber at the end of the shaft was never completed – only the floor received finishing work, covered with those massive granite blocks. This raises a fundamental question that Olsen and Beall discussed in the recent interview: why would ancient builders transport and install such colossal granite blocks to create a floor when the ground beneath was naturally limestone?
The restricted status of Zawyet El Aryan has turned it into one of Egypt’s most tantalizing archaeological mysteries. Unlike the nearby Giza Pyramids, which receive millions of visitors annually, this site remains completely inaccessible to researchers and the public alike. The military lockdown has effectively frozen the site in time, preventing any modern scientific investigation that could employ ground-penetrating radar, advanced dating techniques, or detailed structural analysis that might finally reveal its true purpose.
Whether Zawyet El Aryan represents an abandoned pyramid project, an experimental structure, or something else entirely remains unknown. The site’s enigmatic features – the precision-carved pit, massive granite installations, sealed vat, and cryptic inscriptions -continue to fuel speculation and debate. Without access for modern archaeological investigation, the early 20th-century photographs remain our only window into this forbidden underground complex, earning it the designation as Egypt’s very own Area 51.
Top image: Images from the time of the excavation by Alessandro Barsanti in the 1900s. Source: Public Domain
By Gary Manners
Pictures
1984 – The Last Starfighter – the final last ending scene – Alex and Maggie
Star’s End
Written in response to: “Write a story in which a character navigates using the stars.“
Paul Hellyer
In the fullness of time, one of them spoke, his voice cutting into the meditative quiet.
‘Asuma, do you think they will think us mad?’
The man who had been addressed held his peace for a few moments, perhaps considering what been said, before replying.
‘Do you think we are mad Jarius?’
Jarius ignored the question.
‘They will think us mad, Asuma; following this star to find the Jewish king. We are not Jewish my friend!’
The last one in the back of the procession had been listening, and chose this moment to enter the conversation.
‘He is more then a Jewish king Jarius. Asuma has said this. His coming heralds the dawn of a new age. He comes as much to destroy as to build.’
‘To destroy?’ Said Jarius, softly, as though hearing this for the first time.’
Asuma spoke louder, almost magisterially.
‘The world is changing Jarius. Perhaps we are the only ones to know this at our present time, but our gods are doomed. This king comes to destroy many gods, perhaps all of them.’
There was a repose, as Asuma’s words settled over the procession. And then, Jarius almost murmured, his voice grave.
‘Did not our own gods tell us how to find this king?’
Asuma sighed.
‘Through the guts of an ox, I divined our course. I spread his insides out upon our altar of stone, and saw the resting place of this star. As I breathed the ethereal smoke of the sacred incense, I heard them whisper. “Our time is coming to an end,” they told me.’
The one in the back nodded.
‘I saw this too. In a dream I saw our gods burning in a pit of fire, with the Jewish king standing over them, blazing an unearthly white’
Jarius looked down.
‘I saw nothing. I dreamt no dreams, slaughtered no oxen. It is you, my good brothers in whom I am placing my trust.’
‘Are you not magi?’ Said the third.
Again, Jarius ignored the question.
‘Tell me Dedrus, -’ for that was his name, ‘- How can you be so quick to abandon your Gods?’
Dedrus glanced at Jarius before looking down in front of his camel.
‘Perhaps if you’d had such a dream as I had, you would not be saying such things to me.’
He spoke quieter.
‘It was a truly horrible dream.’
None of them said anything for a few moments, but Jarius could tell that Dedrus was not finished.
‘And how do I feel about this you ask? To abandon the gods through which I ascended to my position as magi? To come grovelling to this king in the hope that he will spare me their same fate? Perhaps I am bitter. Perhaps I wish things could have gone on as they always did. But the signs were clear.’
Jarius stroked his beard, before once again raising his complaint.
‘I’ll tell you this Asuma. This star that you are following. I spoke of it to the grand magi, and he could not see it. Neither could the servants. I think maybe we are all mad, and that we are all sharing the same delusion.’
Asuma seemed to be hearing this for the first time.
‘Is that so? I wonder. Why are we the only ones who can see it? My divination was true and trustworthy. Never before have I failed. Is this really so Jarius?’
‘I swear it.’ Said Jarius earnestly.
Dedrus cut in.
‘The Jews have a story about a great flood that destroyed all of mankind, save for a man and his family, who was forewarned and built a boat. This Jewish king will not just destroy gods, he will destroy people as well, and he is sparing us a cruel fate.’
Jarius replied.
‘Only us? Well then he is a cruel king. Or perhaps a cruel god.’
Asuma spoke at length.
‘Are any of us worth sparing? Sometimes I think it would be better if our kind had never been born. We fight each other, betray each other, eat the bread of idleness, curse our father and mother, lie, cheat, excrete -’
Jarius cut him off.
‘But there is good in us too.’
Asuma spoke flatly.
‘I think there is too little. I have seen fools wearing crowns and wise men begging on the streets. A pack of Jackals has more honour then our kind does.’
Jarius considered his words before speaking.
‘Ah Asuma. What good is there for us to do? We do not know what is best. Is life about the pursuit of happiness? Is that how we measure the good? Or is it about the obligation of duties? To care for our parents, to produce children, to follow the king…’
Dedrus interjected.
‘We have been instructed and raised to be magi. To guide our people in truth. To seek out mysteries, to uncover what is hidden. The fulfilment of our purpose is clear.’
‘I find it all to be a miserable business.’ Said Asuma. ‘I think there is nothing better than to be happy. At the end of the day to enjoy the company of good friends, savour a fine wine, eat a hearty meal. If grovelling to this king will spare me, then I will do it.’
Jarius spoke to Dedrus. ‘You ask me if I am magi, yet listen to Asuma’s words. Are we not honourable men?’
Jarius continued.
‘As I said to you Asuma. It seems that we are the only ones who can see this star. Whether that is because this king or god is sparing us, and us alone, or whether we are all mad, I do not know.’
Asuma was now angry.
‘My divination is always true. Dedrus dreamt the same thing. We would not have travelled how ever many miles if we were not sure.’
‘What a fool believes, no wise man can refute.’ Said Jarius bitterly.
‘So why did you even follow us Jarius?’ Barked Asuma.
Jarius looked up at the sky.
‘I have always been plagued by doubt. Sometimes I doubt that even our gods exist, that I am a true magi. I am here because I want to see for myself what awaits us at stars end.’
Asuma turned his head to face Jarius.
‘Then follow, and keep your doubts to yourself.
Aliens- Combat Drop Alternate Version
Lebanese Cabbage Rolls
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 large (2 pound) head cabbage
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup rice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 cups canned tomatoes or 1 can tomato paste
Instructions
- Filling: Wash rice and drain. Add meat and 1 cup tomatoes or 1/2 can tomato paste. Add salt, pepper and spices.
- Separate cabbage leaves and drop separately in salted boiling water and cook a few minutes until limp and easy to roll. Cook all leaves, then let drain well.
- Trim leaves of heavy stems. Reserve stems and put in bottom of saucepan. On each leaf place 1 heaping tablespoon of filling and roll firmly. Place cabbage rolls neatly in rolls making several layers. Place garlic buds among leaves as you roll. Add 1 cup tomatoes and enough water to cover rolls 1/2 inch higher than the top. Place a pottery plate over cabbage so the rolls will remain firm and intact. Cover pan and cook 45 minutes to 1 hour over medium heat.
- During last 15 minutes of cooking, add the juice of the two lemons.
Attribution
St. Anthony of Padua Annual Lebanese “Mahrahan” Festival, Cincinnati, Ohio – recipe by Rose AbiRadi
Have you ever worked at a job that you couldn’t believe you actually got paid to do it?
Definitely yes. When I was 15 I worked at a restaurant/nightclub. I worked in the kitchen taking out the garbage, filling the ice containers, washing pots and pans, etc. you get the drift.
One night the manager comes to me asks if I could work the spotlight for the nightclub acts. I said sure without knowing what the acts were.
He said to just hold onto the handle of the kluge light (a big spotlight) and follow the act across the stage. DO NOT take your eyes off the acts.
Well the first act comes on stage and it’s a comedian. He walks back and forth across the stage no problem. This beats washing pots and pans. As his act finishes he asked the audience to put their hands together and welcome Fifee and her feathers. (60 years ago and I still remember it as if was yesterday)
Out comes Fifee and starts to do her vaudeville stripteases. She starts taking off her feathers as she struts across the stage. I am being PAID to watch her take them off.
This was at the time when the only way for a 15 year old to see topless woman was in National Geographic.
After her act was over Fifee comes up to me and says “Remember never take the spot off me” I remember stammering “Yes madam”
When I got home later that night my mother, who was still up with some friends and asked how did my night go? The manager had called to see if it was okay to have me work the light. So she knew about my evening.
My response had everyone laughing and sliding off the couch. I said “I don’t know, I’ve got nothing to compare it to”
So yes I’d said this was a job that I would have paid to work.