Texas Chili Recipe from tomlet on eBaum's WORLD

The chili recipe has three "drops" where you'll add more ingredients as it's cooking. If you add them all at once or at the wrong times, it'll make the chili bitter or too acidy. For last night, I doubled this recipe.

Brown 2 lbs. of lean ground beef, drain, and add to pot. Add one 14.5 ounce can of beef broth and one 8 ounce can of salt free tomato sauce.

Add 1 habenero pepper to the pot and bring to a boil. It doesn't have to be a large pepper, habenero is insanely hot. After it's cut or cooked, make sure not to handle the pepper with your fingers. It'll burn your fingers or the oils will stick to you and you'll hurt yourself when you touch your face. Pepper spray has nothing on habenero oil.

When pot comes to a boil, add drop one.

Drop One:

1 Tablespoon of onion powder
2 Teaspoons of garlic powder
1 Tablespoon of Chili Powder

Cover the pot and reduce heat to simmer for 1 hour.

Remove the pepper and crush the juice into the pot. I put the pepper in a strainer and crush it with a spoon. Try not to get the flesh of the pepper or the seeds in the pot. But if you get a little in, don't worry about it.

Drop Two:

2-1/2 Tablespoons light (or California) chili powder
2 Teaspoons cumin
1/4 Teaspoon black pepper
1/4 Teaspoon white pepper
1/4 Teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cube beef boullion
1/2 cube chicken boullion
1/2 Teaspoon brown sugar
1 pk Sazon Goya If you like your chili hotter, adjust the cayenne pepper. A little goes a long way.

I don't use bullion cubes, I use the "Better Than Boullion" paste.

The cubes work fine though. Continue simmering with lid on for 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes add the last drop.

Drop 3:

2 Teaspoons Mexene Chili Powder
1 Teaspon cumin
Salt to taste

Mexene chili powder is kind of hard to find here in Nevada. It's much darker and hotter than regular chili powder.

It goes in last because it gets bitter if cooked too long. Cover and continue to simmer for at least 15 minutes and no longer than 30 minutes. It's ready to serve right away, but I like to thicken it up with cornstarch to make it a little less soupy. Mix a tablespoon or two of cornstarch with cool water and stir until it's smooth. Add the mixture to the chili and simmer while stirring for a few minutes.

A Scripture for Easter Sunday

Ephesians 1:18-23 (New International Version, �2011)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Betrayal - Poem

Since I have friends experiencing what I've experienced on more than one occasion, I thought I would write a poem to express my feelings in these matters.

Betrayal

She dances a new dance
And I don't know why
She follows a new tune
And that makes me cry
Sometimes I feel like
I just want to die
Things would be simpler that way

Memories of good times
And laughter and cheer
Tackling problems
Without any fear
Suddenly vanish
And won't reappear
I just can't be happy today

I knew it would happen
It's happened before
Love shows sweet promise
Then closes the door
I don't think I will even
Try anymore
Love makes a bitter sorbet

Betrayal is certain
So it seems to be
It's happened throughout
All of history
Cite Jesus, cite Ceasar
Cite Philoctetes
It always happens that way

All I can do now
Is trudge slowly on
From life I will remain
Aptly withdrawn
As I slowly heal from
What love always spawns
And hope things get better someday


Copyright � 2011 Cal Jennings

This 'n' That

First, an update on my mom. She just called from my sister's house. They let her out of the hospital today. They said she had a mild stroke, but nothing else seems to be going on at this time. She's planning on coming back here tomorrow.

Sharon and I took the kittens out to the garden today for their first look outside. I have some video of it converting at the moment so I can edit it and upload it to YouTube.

Things have been tough as far as trying to get my birth certificate and the contents of my stolen wallet replaced. It seems you have to have one form of the ID to replace another form of the ID which is next to impossible when all your ID has been stolen. To make things stranger, the bank sent me a letter saying that the problems were a bank mistake, so the case was dropped. Someone somewhere still has my ID, so that seems to be a little unusual.

No one has served the warrant on Sharon yet for her missing her court date. No one has even attempted to do so. The up side is that at least Sharon has a driver's license and can drive me to the store when I need to go for now.

I've been finding it incredibly difficult to breathe the last several days. I've heard the same from several people, so I assume it's the pollen in the air. I'm sure the extra particulates from the fallout don't help much either.

Whether or not these are the "end times," I sometimes find myself wishing that things would end soon. The lack of humanity in the world is very disturbing. It's all I can do to try to keep a small garden growing and weeded and it's not likely to provide all that I'll need. Between the heat and my physical problems, it's a wonder I can do anything at all.

I haven't had much reason to smile lately. I hope that sooner or later something gives me cause to do so. My face could use the exercise.

Love, Hope, Peace, & Christ Is With Us All,

Cal-el

How Politicians Get Your Support

The two videos I'm about to post in this blog give examples of how politicians sway the voters and avoid the real issues. When someone asks a question, one of the most common ways to keep from addressing the issue is to give a reply that never really answers the question and most people won't want to admit that they didn't understand. "Did he say something? I'm not sure. I'd better not question it, though, or I might look stupid or offend someone. After all, the politician talked about progress, the flag, and patriotism and he's a poor man who made it big by his hard work. That stuff sounds real good." These myths have been perpetrated by politicians as long as I can remember. It was sometimes used by my relatives who were politicians, as much as I wish it weren't true.

This video shows another method that has been used in recent years as demonstrated by Lois... playing to people's fears.

We should all be familiar with this brand of politics most often used by the conservative Right, but also sometimes used by the Left. Playing to peoples' fears has become one of the most popular ways to manipulate voters. If politicians tell them that something's being done to protect them from an evil enemy, they'll give up anything, including their rights. They'll get people to vote against policies that would be for your betterment, such as health care, by shouting words and phrases like "death panels," "Communism," and "Socialism." It doesn't matter that people don't know anything about the issue or what Communism and Socialism mean. What matters is they sound scary. There are enough people who remember and believe the propaganda of the Cold War that even the mention of Communism or Socialism scares them. They scare the voters into submission getting them to give up their own bodily fluids, allow themselves to be put under camera surveillance, and allow their phones and cell phones to be tapped without cause, which seem to go against the 4th amendment.

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

Sure, these things can be used to protect people, but they can also be used, and are used, for other purposes which have nothing to do with protecting people. Why was the government allowed to do these things? Why, "for our own protection," of course.

When people are too scared to question what you do to them, you can get away with anything, and that's just what politicians want. The more they can keep voters scared of people of different religions, people with different skin color, people with different customs, or even people who wear their hair differently or dress differently than what people are accustomed to,

the easier they are to control. These are important things to consider for those who value the Constitution, freedom, and liberty. People should always consider these things before they jump on a bandwagon to fight for what a politician is telling them. Remember, in most cases, politicians are out for their own interests much more than they are for the interests of the voters. They care about getting votes, getting campaign donations, and padding their own pockets. They are often not looking out for the interests of the people who voted them into office. The best thing to do is research the facts and the voting records of the politician before deciding to cast your vote. Get information from as many sources as possible and not just sites that cater to a particular party or ideology. Don't rely on what sounds good and seems popular with the crowd, but consider the effects it will have on your life as well as the lives of others. Yes, it takes some work and you may read some things that you don't like, but it's the way to make better choices for people who will make and interpret the laws.

Texas Governor Rick Perry's Fine Improvements

We is Texuns an we uhpruve Ryan's meszurz. Are gud Govenur, Rick Perry, jus did thuh rite thing an fired a buncha teecherz an cops sos the corpruashunz kuld git thar tax brakes. Mah town alone dun laid off 125 teecherz an about 150 cops. Ah'm so proud! We iz doon are part. We don't need them commie libtard teecherz givin' are kids soshilist booklearnin. We's smart enuf! An who needz cops? Thay jes git in thuh way ov thuh profitz of are meth labs. We need ta git rid ov Soshil Sekurity an Madukare cause them people jes want handouts frum thuh govermint. We gota git rid ov Obamacare an itz deth panuls to.

Easter

The time is coming when many Christians reminisce about the story of Jesus being imprisoned, beaten, hung on the cross, and dying. They will be internalizing the pain and suffering that he went through in order to fulfill prophecy and bring us salvation. How many, though, will be remembering his teachings and actions?

Yes, Jesus went through great torture and had a very painful, humiliating death. I know that violence sells, but let's think realistically here. If you were to make a great sacrifice for your fellow man though, would you want people to concentrate on your gruesome death or would you want them to remember how you lived and your efforts to teach them how to make life better for themselves and others? Would you want your friends to continually grieve over your death or would you want them to remember back on the good that you did?

Jesus was hated because he stood up for the poor, the downtrodden, and other outcasts of society and healed them... for free. He was hated for standing up to the rich and telling it to them straight, for exposing the hypocritical religious leaders of his day, and for driving out the money changers at the temple. He had compassion for the prostitutes and adulterers whom the religious wanted to stone to death. Jesus did these things, not only because his Father sent him to do it, but also because it was the right thing to do. He was aware enough to see what really drove man and to understand the depth of suffering that those who were less fortunate went through. Sadly, many don't consider these things during this period. Some also forget that it was his resurrection, in which he defeated death, that we are to remember.

Try to think about what you would like others to remember if you had made a great sacrifice for them and try to look upon your fellow man as Jesus instructed us to do. He asked that we not be greedy, that we treat others as we would like to be treated, not how they treated you, that we have compassion for others rather than jealousy over their possessions and their mates, that we give to the poor, that you heal the sick, that we not discriminate (Gentiles), that we be tolerant of other religions (Samaritans, who were part Jew and part Gentile but had another religion, and Greeks who worshiped many gods, for instance), and that we have love for all mankind as we love ourselves. Remember, he wouldn't even let Peter defend him when the guards came to take him to prison. When you're remembering him, don't you think he would want you to remember those things rather than his painful, humiliating death? Think about it.

Love, Hope, Peace, & Christ Is With Us All,

Cal-el

Easter

The time is coming when many Christians reminisce about the story of Jesus being imprisoned, beaten, hung on the cross, and dying. They will be internalizing the pain and suffering that he went through in order to fulfill prophecy and bring us salvation. How many, though, will be remembering his teachings and actions?

Yes, Jesus went through great torture and had a very painful, humiliating death. I know that violence sells, but let's think realistically here. If you were to make a great sacrifice for your fellow man though, would you want people to concentrate on your gruesome death or would you want them to remember how you lived and your efforts to teach them how to make life better for themselves and others? Would you want your friends to continually grieve over your death or would you want them to remember back on the good that you did?

Jesus was hated because he stood up for the poor, the downtrodden, and other outcasts of society and healed them... for free. He was hated for standing up to the rich and telling it to them straight, for exposing the hypocritical religious leaders of his day, and for driving out the money changers at the temple. He had compassion for the prostitutes and adulterers whom the religious wanted to stone to death. Jesus did these things, not only because his Father sent him to do it, but also because it was the right thing to do. He was aware enough to see what really drove man and to understand the depth of suffering that those who were less fortunate went through. Sadly, many don't consider these things during this period. Some also forget that it was his resurrection, in which he defeated death, that we are to remember.

Try to think about what you would like others to remember if you had made a great sacrifice for them and try to look upon your fellow man as Jesus instructed us to do. He asked that we not be greedy, that we treat others as we would like to be treated, not how they treated you, that we have compassion for others rather than jealousy over their possessions and their mates, that we give to the poor, that you heal the sick, that we not discriminate (Gentiles), that we be tolerant of other religions (Samaritans, who were part Jew and part Gentile but had another religion, and Greeks who worshiped many gods, for instance), and that we have love for all mankind as we love ourselves. Remember, he wouldn't even let Peter defend him when the guards came to take him to prison. When you're remembering him, don't you think he would want you to remember those things rather than his painful, humiliating death? Think about it.

Love, Hope, Peace, & Christ Is With Us All,

Cal-el

Easter

The time is coming when many Christians reminisce about the story of Jesus being imprisoned, beaten, hung on the cross, and dying. They will be internalizing the pain and suffering that he went through in order to fulfill prophecy and bring us salvation. How many, though, will be remembering his teachings and actions?

Yes, Jesus went through great torture and had a very painful, humiliating death. I know that violence sells, but let's think realistically here. If you were to make a great sacrifice for your fellow man though, would you want people to concentrate on your gruesome death or would you want them to remember how you lived and your efforts to teach them how to make life better for themselves and others? Would you want your friends to continually grieve over your death or would you want them to remember back on the good that you did?

Jesus was hated because he stood up for the poor, the downtrodden, and other outcasts of society and healed them... for free. He was hated for standing up to the rich and telling it to them straight, for exposing the hypocritical religious leaders of his day, and for driving out the money changers at the temple. He had compassion for the prostitutes and adulterers whom the religious wanted to stone to death. Jesus did these things, not only because his Father sent him to do it, but also because it was the right thing to do. He was aware enough to see what really drove man and to understand the depth of suffering that those who were less fortunate went through. Sadly, many don't consider these things during this period. Some also forget that it was his resurrection, in which he defeated death, that we are to remember.

Try to think about what you would like others to remember if you had made a great sacrifice for them and try to look upon your fellow man as Jesus instructed us to do. He asked that we not be greedy, that we treat others as we would like to be treated, not how they treated you, that we have compassion for others rather than jealousy over their possessions and their mates, that we give to the poor, that you heal the sick, that we not discriminate (Gentiles), that we be tolerant of other religions (Samaritans, who were part Jew and part Gentile but had another religion, and Greeks who worshiped many gods, for instance), and that we have love for all mankind as we love ourselves. Remember, he wouldn't even let Peter defend him when the guards came to take him to prison. When you're remembering him, don't you think he would want you to remember those things rather than his painful, humiliating death? Think about it.

Love, Hope, Peace, & Christ Is With Us All,

Cal-el

Using science to question the world around you

Video from Ebaum's World

No Surprise

No Surprise

When multiple reports came out detailing the level of intervention the United States had in the so-called Arab Spring revolutions, you would think it would come as a shock. It wasn't. It's increasingly clear just how far our country has waded into the affairs of others with a policy of intervention, war, and preemption. The United States has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of any other nation, just as no other nation has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of the United States,

You would also think these reports would spark a wave of outrage across DC and Congress. The United States was financing the political opposition in Syria at the same time that the Administration was pursuing a policy of engagement with the Syrian government! Yet, throughout the halls of Congress, it's virtually a non-issue.

I will not be silent as we wade into the affairs of others without clear principles or credibility. I will not be silent as we spend trillions of dollars on war, while we continue to fail on reforms at home -- job creation, universal health care, and clean energy.

But I need your help to stay in Congress and continue our movement in Washington. Can you donate $20 and help me get the resources we need to overcome redistricting and keep our voice in Congress?

http://kucinich.us/contribute

If we don't have integrity in our dealings with other countries, there is no reason for anyone to believe anything the U.S. government will say. Reforms in Syria and other countries may be necessary but must come from within. Outside interference runs the risk of precipitating violence, inviting retaliation and even more violence.

The United States will continue to be on the wrong side of history when it continues to support anti-democratic regimes in the Arab world and support democratic movements only when they further our own interests. It seems our only solution to this self-created debacle is more money for arms and more money for war.

Our destructive and inconsistent foreign policy is contributing to war of all against all, and I will not back down until we change our foreign policy into a driver of peace not war. Please donate and help us continue this mission:

http://kucinich.us/contribute

Thanks for all that you do,


Dennis Kucinich

PS - Thank you for helping us reach our important end-of-quarter fundraising goal. We surpassed it -- raising over $100,000. And, if you didn't catch it on TV, I was on the Daily Show last week. You can catch some laughs (and my ventriloquist act) by watching here.

---

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PO Box 110475 | Cleveland | OH | 44111 | 216-252-9000

The Succubus - Creative Challenge 149

The Rules:

Post anything (i.e. a story, poem, photo or artwork) you have created using the inspiration word below.Please do not use other people's words.

If you wish to use an image that is not your own, please let us know.

Bring the link back here and post it in the comment section.

Your link must be a Multiply link. (At the discretion of the admin. all other links may be deleted.)

Leave your blog open to "everyone" so we can view it.

This week's the word: allure

I was challenged by Tim aka gileson to try the Pantoum style of poetry (which I did). If any of you are up for a double challenge this week, why don't you try one too?

Pantoum
The pantoum consists of a series of quatrains rhyming ABAB in which the second and fourth lines 
of a quatrain recur as the first and third lines in the succeeding quatrain; each quatrain introduces a 
new second rhyme as BCBC, CDCD. The first line of the series recurs as the last line of the closing 
quatrain, and third line of the poem recurs as the second line of the closing quatrain, rhyming ZAZA.

The design is simple:
 
Line 1
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4
 
Line 5 (repeat of line 2)
Line 6
Line 7 (repeat of line 4)
Line 8
 
Continue with as many stanzas as you wish, but the ending stanza then repeats the second and 
fourth lines of the previous stanza (as its first and third lines), and also repeats the third line of 
the first stanza, as its second line, and the first line of the first stanza as its fourth. So the first 
line of the poem is also the last.
 
Last stanza:

Line 2 of previous stanza
Line 3 of first stanza
Line 4 of previous stanza
Line 1 of first stanza

The Succubus

She came to me that night

Filled with much allure

Feigning a great plight

Seeking a dark cure

Filled with much allure

She wormed into my heart

Seeking a dark cure

She gave me quite a start

She wormed into my heart

Hypnotizing me

She gave me quite a start

Joining astrally

Hypnotizing me

Seductive ecstasy

Joining astrally

Midnight fantasy

Seductive ecstasy

Tied now spir'tually

Midnight fantasy

Deeper than the sea

Tied now spir'tually

We loved for many days

Deeper than the sea

In oh so many ways

We loved for many days

And then we were engaged

Deeper than the sea

I feel it all was staged

And then we were engaged

But soon I was betrayed

I feel it all was staged

A crushing price I paid

But soon I was betrayed

Feigning a great plight

A crushing price I paid

She came to me that night

Click here for more Creative Challenge entries

Copyright � 2011 Cal Jennings

Is the KKK Gay?

Saturday, April 16th, a legal citizen of Guatemalan descent was attacked and repeatedly raped by the KKK. Has the KKK gone gay? Gay or not, rape is rape and it is something which decent society should not tolerate. Whether the act was carried out against a male or a female, the crime is just as harmful and just as serious.

In a neighborhood where there are young children of mixed races, this is especially disconcerting. It is bad enough that they attacked an adult male, but the next attack could be against a child. We can't sit idly by and allow this type of vicious behavior to remain unchecked.

Here is a video report on the incident.

Males repeatedly raping a male makes me have to ask... is the KKK gay?

The First Guess: Lying About the Civil War

Keith Olbermann is now doing videos on his Fok News website. This one addresses the right's claim that slavery had nothing to do with the Civil War.

The First Guess: Lying About the Civil War

This 'n' That

Well, today was a long day for me. The detective called and needed more info on my stolen wallet. It seems the wheels of justice turn slowly here in Magnolia, but what do you expect when they laid off about 150 officers recently?

Since my wallet was stolen and had my driver's license, SS card, Medicare card, and pacemaker card in it, my birth certificate being stolen at an earlier date, I'm finding it difficult to replace them. It seems to get a driver's license, you need a SS card. To get a replacement SS card, or even to report it stolen, you need a driver's license. A strange kind of Catch-22.

SustenanceNCovering on YouTube liked my poem, "The Savior," and wants to put some music to it. I did kind of a folk version, but he's doing more of a driving rock version which seems like it may fit the mood better. Here's what he did so far.

Here's what I was doing with it.

I'm curious to see what we'll come up with in the end. I'm going to have to do a lower quality version and see if that fixes the speeding up and slowing down in the video.

My Friend's House that Exploded on Video

My friend's house in California that exploded on video.

Walker Admits Union Busting Provision 'Doesn't Save Any' Money

Why isn't this man president again?

Snowball the Piano Maestro

Snowball adjusts the stereo, obviously to perfect the recording settings, then proceeds with her performance.

Snowball the Piano Maestro

Windmills Being Shutdown Because North West Has More Electricity Than Infrastructure Can Handle

Windmills Being Shutdown Because North West Has More Electricity Than Infrastructure Can Handle

This is ludicrous. Why not shut down a gas powered plant, cut back on a nuclear plant so it's not running near tolerances, or shut down a cogen plant? Aren't we supposed to be working toward clean energy? Oh, I forgot. Corporate profits.

Is President Obama Lucy?

I imagine you've all seen Charlie Brown where Lucy pulls the ball back just before Charlie Brown kicks it, making poor Charlie Brown fall on his posterior. He did it again and again. Well, evidently, today President Obama made a speech saying that he wasn't going to renew tax cuts for the rich and wasn't going to allow Medicare and Social Security to become voucher programs... again?

Is he going to snatch away the ball from the Americans depending on the programs like Lucy did to Charlie Brown? Someone needs to go Roadhouse on his ass if he does the same crap again.

Is President Obama Lucy?

I imagine you've all seen Charlie Brown where Lucy pulls the ball back just before Charlie Brown kicks it, making poor Charlie Brown fall on his posterior. He did it again and again. Well, evidently, today President Obama made a speech saying that he wasn't going to renew tax cuts for the rich and wasn't going to allow privatization of Medicare and Social Security... again?

Is he going to snatch away the ball from the Americans depending on the programs like Lucy did to Charlie Brown? Someone needs to go Roadhouse on his ass if he does the same crap again.