Old Fashioned Creamy Potato Soup

By

-

March 2, 2024

Ingredients:

4 medium potatoes
1 medium onion
2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp butter
4 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup of heavy cream
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Chives for garnish (optional)
Grated cheese for garnish
Bacon bits for garnish

Directions:

Peel and dice the potatoes into small cubes. Set them aside.
In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
Add the diced onion and minced garlic.
Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and aromatic.
Toss the diced potatoes into the pot, stirring to combine with the sautéed aromatics.
Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth, ensuring the potatoes are fully submerged.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
Reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer until the potatoes are tender and can be easily pierced with a fork.
Using an immersion blender, carefully blend the soup until smooth and creamy.
Alternatively, transfer the soup to a countertop blender and blend in batches, then return the mixture to the pot.
Pour in the heavy cream, stirring to incorporate it into the soup.
Continue simmering for a few more minutes to meld the flavors.
Season the soup with salt and black pepper, adjusting the amounts to your taste preferences.
Ladle the creamy potato soup into bowls.
Garnish with chopped chives, grated cheese, and bacon bits for added flavor and visual appeal.

A Point to Ponder

By

Alan

-

February 29, 2024

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip.

You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read it straight through, and you’ll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies.

Awards tarnish.

Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money … or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.

sourced: Weird and Amazing Stuff

Richard Stonefield – Leguan

By

Alan

-

February 29, 2024

Richard Stonefield is a Hungarian electronic musician, born in Budapest May 19, 1977. He specializes in the fields of Psychill – Chillgressive – Chill Out – Ambient – Chillstep – Chilltrap – Trance.

This piece called Leguan is from Richard’s “Sand in the Wind” album release:

Keep up with Richard Stonefield:

https://richardstonefield.bandcamp.com/album/cloudfields-24-bit

https://www.facebook.com/richardstonefieldmusic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA2eYL7Qd9NdOCleKanwqjA

Note:

His music seems to delve into atmospheric and possibly experimental soundscapes, given the track names and album titles like “Stardust Adventure” from an earlier release in 2021. This suggests an interest in creating immersive, perhaps narrative-driven music that might evoke feelings of exploration, wonder, or introspection.

The themes in his music (like “Sanctum” or “Wormhole”) could imply an interest or inspiration from science fiction or theoretical physics, suggesting a potential for his music to be used in media like films or video games that explore similar themes.

Given the release platforms like Bandcamp, Richard Stonefield likely appeals to an audience interested in niche genres of music where listeners seek out unique auditory experiences rather than mainstream hits. His work might be appreciated in communities that value DIY ethics, ambient music, or those with a penchant for space and science fiction.

Richard Stonefield’s work under Astropilot Music might indicate a focus on space-themed or electronic ambient music, aligning with the aesthetic of exploring or piloting through cosmic landscapes, which is a common theme in electronic music.

If you’re looking for Richard’s music, you’d find it on platforms like Bandcamp, where he often shares his work directly with fans, offering high-quality audio formats and sometimes exclusive content. His approach to music seems to align with creators who value depth, atmosphere, and possibly the exploration of existential or cosmic themes through sound.

Frederick Hubbard Gwynne

By

Alan

-

February 26, 2024

Frederick Hubbard Gwynne — Petty Officer Third Class Fred Gwynne of the US Navy: Veteran of The Battle of Saipan and the Battle of Tinian.

Frederick Hubbard Gwynne was born in New York City on July 10, 1926. Fred enlisted in the US Navy and in 1944 he served as a Radioman Third Class on a submarine chaser in the Pacific Theater. A veteran of both the Battle of Saipan and the Battle of Tinian, Gwynne was honorably discharged in 1948 with the rank of Petty Officer Third Class.

According to the Veterans Administration: “After the war, Fred attended Harvard University. An aspiring painter, Gwynne drew cartoons for the “The Harvard Lampoon,” and later became president of the publication. Upon graduation in 1951, he returned to New York and worked several jobs, such as creating commercial artwork and copywriting at the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency.

Gwynne’s first big break came in 1961 when he was cast in the role of police officer Francis Muldoon on the comedy series “Car 54, Where Are You?” The show aired until 1963; the following year, he was cast as Herman Munster in the popular syndication favorite “The Munsters.”

A regular on Broadway – Fred was cast as Big Daddy in the 1974 Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”. His final on-screen role was that of Judge Chamberlain Haller in the 1992 film “My Cousin Vinny,” the end of an acting career that spanned 42 years.” – VA News October 13, 2022.

Petty Officer Third Class Fred Gwynne passed away on July 2, 1993 at the age of 66 years old. He lies in rest at Sandy Mount United Methodist Church Cemetery in Finksburg, Maryland. Lest We Forget.

Artificial Intelligence as a tool for oppression and deception

By

Aimee

-

February 26, 2024

Artificial Intelligence can be used as a tool for oppression and deception — Annual reporting by the non-profit organization Freedom House shows that internet freedom has been declining globally for 13 consecutive years. What’s new about the report’s latest installment, “The Repressive Power of Artificial Intelligence,” is in its title. AI has been used by governments all over the world to restrict freedom of speech and abuse opposition.

This oppression is both direct and indirect. Directly, AI models supercharge the detection and removal of prohibited speech online. Dissenting opinions cannot spread when they are shut off so quickly. AI-based facial recognition can also help identify protesters, making it unsafe for them to have any of their images shared on social media.

Indirectly, AI advances oppressive goals by spreading misinformation. Two factors play an important role here. First, chatbots and other AI-based tools enable automation that cost-effectively distributes large volumes of false information across platforms. Secondly, AI tools can generate fake images, videos, and audio content that distort reality. These fabrications promote general distrust in publicly available information even when identified as fake. Distrust, in turn, makes people incapable of coordinated action.

Read the full report on Freedom on the Net 2023