How to make your own granola

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Liquids: mix together maple syrup, honey, olive oil (EVOO), vanilla extract, and cinnamon powder. Microwave 30 seconds to liquify the honey and then whisk.

Dry ingredients: old-fashioned oats, sliced almonds, walnut and pecan pieces, sunflower seeds, pepitas, and sesame seeds. 3 parts oats to one part sliced almonds; other ingredients as desired. Chia seeds, flaxseeds, and buckwheat kernels work great, too!

To make:

  1. Mix wet and dry ingredients.
  2. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  3. Bake at 300° F (about 150° C) for 10 minutes.
  4. Remove from oven to stir the mixture.
  5. Bake at 300° F (about 150° C) for another 10 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and let cool.
  7. Once cooled, transfer the granola to a container.
  8. Add raisins or other dry fruit as desired.

I use granola to top yoghurt and ice cream. I also eat it with milk as morning cereal, sometime soaking it in milk overnight for overnight oats or muesli.

RIP AJ Crimson

Cold Cream 'n' Roses

I am stunned and saddened to learn that makeup artist and brand founder AJ Crimson passed away. He was only 27 years old. The cause of death has not been revealed.

AJ Crimson

I had the pleasure of interviewing AJ Crimson for the Cold Cream ‘n’ Roses blog:

Part 1 – An interview with makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur A.J. Crimson, Part 1

Part 2 – An interview with makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur A.J. Crimson, Part 2

Red-letter day: February 9, 1964

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The Beatles’ US debut on The Ed Sullivan Show

On February 9, 1964, The Beatles made their U.S. debut on the Ed Sullivan TV show – and popular music hasn’t been the same since!

My parents, brother, and I were attending a dance performance – was it the Tamburitzans from Duquesne University? 🤔 Who knows? 🤷 All I was thinking about was getting home in time to see The Beatles. I overheard someone else mention The Beatles as we left the hall. I remember the buzz and excitement in anticipation of the event.

Even today, hearing the opening chords of I Wanna Hold Your Hand fills me with happiness. 🥰

What are your favorite Beatles memories?

#MusicMondays The Libertines #playlist

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Thanks to my interest in Syd Barrett, I’m expanding my music horizons to include other British musicians. Lately, I got interested in Pete Doherty, someone who is also English in his orientation, has poetic sensibility, and is renowned for his drug use: for Syd, it was LSD and cannabis and later Mandrax (Quaalude); for Pete, it was heroin and cocaine. Pete claims he’s been clean since 2019.

I’ve had fun watching videos featuring Pete Doherty and his band The Libertines. As I learned, Pete Doherty was co-frontman of The Libertines: the other co-frontman being Carl Barât. Bassist John Hassall and drummer Gary Powell rounded out the Libertines. Pete and Carl have had a tumultuous friendship: Carl kicked Pete out of The Libertines for his drug use and Pete burgled Carl’s home.

The Libertines (L to R): John Hassall, Carl Barât, Gary Powell, and Pete Doherty

The interplay between Pete Doherty and Carl Barât is fascinating to watch: it almost borders on homoeroticism.

Pete Doherty and Caral Barat of The Libertines performs on stage at British Summer Time Festival at Hyde Park
Pete Doherty (left) and Carl Barât (right)

Here for your viewing (and listening) pleasure is a playlist that I assembled of videos featuring The Libertines:

Trust the #scientism

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Scientism is “excessive belief in the power of scientific knowledge and techniques.” Dr. Fauci is arrogant enough to say that if you doubt him, you doubt science.

“Just days after Washington, D.C. imposed a COVID-19 vaccine passport edict, street art depicting the authoritarian rules began popping up on the downtown streets, and Leftists simply can’t handle it.”

Here’s my favorite:

Trust the #scientism

Taft, V., 2022. Street artists on both coasts take aim at COVID authoritarianism and the lefties can’t cope. pjmedia.com. Available at: https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/victoria-taft/2022/01/17/street-artists-on-both-coasts-take-aim-at-covid-authoritarianism-and-the-lefties-cant-cope-n1550184 [Accessed January 17, 2022].

How low can AOC go?

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez complained that another Representative called her a bitch and yet another representative made her the object of a video, but she casts sexual aspersions on Republicans.

It’s immature and puerile, and it’s time to knock it off.

AOC and boyfriend in Miami

Still life with espresso con panna, crumpled Glad Wrap, and half-eaten biscotti

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If you follow my blog (ha-ha), you’ll know that I have a laser focus on the late Syd Barrett, formerly of Pink Floyd. When I sat down to enjoy my espresso con panna and biscotti at Caffe Amouri, I found this poster for a Pink Floyd concert at Fillmore East, post-Syd but pre-Dark Side of the Moon. What a coincidence.

Where is Caffe Amouri?

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