Pocket Road Atlas in attractive and durable leatherette cover. By Geico.

Pack paper maps into your earthquake kit so you can plan an escape even if your batteries run out. This was only 25¢ at Happy Dragon Thrift Shop. When all else fails, the hard copy prevails!

World of Noise No. 41 - for April Fools

Last Thursday I hosted the April 2013 edition of Doug Lynner's World of Noise on Flashback Alternatives.

This mix is upbeat rock and pop from 60s - 90s. Because frankly, everyone can use a little cheering up.

World of Noise No.41 - for April Fools by Lynnertic on Mixcloud

Tracklist

Rock OnDavid Essex

Ac-cent-tchu-ate the PositiveAretha Franklin

The People That You Wanna Phone YaThe Pipkins

Bad NewsJohnny Winter

Foxy LadyJimi Hendrix

I Want You (She's So Heavy)The Beatles

CoconutHarry Nilsson

50 Ways to Leave Your LoverPaul Simon

EndicottKid Creole And The Coconuts

Season of SilenceInvisible Zoo

Git ItWayne Fontana and The Mindbenders

Goody two shoesAdam Ant

Istanbul (Not Constantinople)They Might be Giants

Jaguar and ThunderbirdWayne Fontana and The Mindbenders

Wipe OutThe Surfaris

Gimme Dat DingThe Pimpkins

CaliforniaJoni mitchell

The Flying Saucer SongHarry Nilsson and John Lennon

Lemon chicken with olives and potatoes

Martha Stewart's September 2011 issue of Living surprised me with this recipe from the feature Easy One-Pan Dinners.

A couple of adjustments to the magazine's recipe results in a much better fusion of flavors, but keeps the process easy enough for a weeknight dinner.

• Use water instead of chicken stock
• Either pierce or slice the potatoes
• Baste the chicken while it bakes.
• Don't overcrowd the pan

This dish is new to me because I hadn't cooked with whole lemons before. Leftover pan gravy over rice or a baked potato makes a quick and satisfying lunch.

Scrapbooked Recipe (PDF)

Vietnamese Hot Pot Dinner

I found this in the Happy Dragon's free magazine bin. The recipes were torn out, but can still be found at the Vegetarian Times' website.

The January 2010 edition of Vegetarian Times featured a Vietnamese Hot Pot Dinner.

Spicy Tofu Lettuce Wraps
Vietnamese Hot Pot (pictured, with dippers and garnishes)
Coconut-Mango Sundaes
Three Delicious Dips:

• Sweet Chile Mayonnaise
• Pineapple Miso Sambal
• Lime and Peanut Sauce

Happy JuneTeenth

Slavery was enforced for two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on Jan 1, 1863, until Union Major-General Granger assumed the office of Governor of Texas.

The Union Army, rode into Galveston, Texas on June 18, 1865. On his first day in office, June 19, General Granger issued five General Orders. General Orders, No. 3 is what finally freed Texas Slaves.

Galveston's early Juneteenth celebrations emphasized stylish dress. From Emerge Preoria:

Dress was also an important element in early Juneteenth customs and is often still taken seriously, particularly by the direct descendants who can make the connection to this tradition's roots. During slavery there were laws on the books in many areas that prohibited or limited the dressing of the enslaved. During the initial days of the emancipation celebrations, there are accounts of former slaves tossing their ragged garments into the creeks and rivers to adorn clothing taken from the plantations belonging to their former 'masters'.

This is the text of General Orders, No. 3.

Headquarters, District of Texas
Galveston, Texas, June 19, 1865

General Orders, No. 3

The people are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them, becomes that between employer and hired labor. The Freedmen are advised to remain at their present homes, and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts; and that they will not be supported in idleness either there ro elsewhere.

By order of
Major-General Granger
F. W. Emery, Maj. & A. . G.

Treadmill

A note from a telephone conversation.

My mom wore out her treadmill. True story. How many people can say that?

Occam's Razor as engraving tool