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Vander Plaats: Next president must have moral courage

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

To occupy the highest office in the nation is not only a position of power but a position of moral leadership. In this critical moment, we must ask: Will those aspiring to be the next president of the United States stand up against those who seek to eradicate religious freedom?Religious violence is on the rise across the world, affecting various groups in different regions, most prominently today against Jews and Christians in the Middle East. Across the world, within the last year, some 360 million Christians have been persecuted or discriminated against for their faith, a growing number. As a leading humanitarian superpower, it falls upon the United States to take a stand for international religious freedom and democracy, which comes hand-in-hand with that freedom.A world where religious persecution goes unchallenged is a world where democracy and human rights are undermined.I have spoken with presidential candidates and emphasized the urgency of standing up for International Reli...

Surprise guests with tempting Lemon-Ginger Scones

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

Entertaining for the holidays frequently involves welcoming overnight guests. In these instances, having breakfast and brunch foods on hand can ensure that those spending the night will have something tasty to eat when they rise in the morning.Make-ahead foods, such as scones, can be ideal because they are delicious at room temperature, which means can accommodate guests who are early risers as well as those who prefer to sleep in.This recipe for “Lemon-Ginger Scones” from “Simply Scratch” (Avery) by Laurie McNamara produces refreshing flavor in a buttery scone. Serve with tea or coffee and guests will be in heaven.TAG GOES HERELemon-Ginger SconesINGREDIENTS1/2 cup cold heavy cream2 large eggs1 teaspoon organic lemon extract1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting3 tablespoons granulated sugar1 tablespoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon kosher salt3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) ice-cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes1...

Crispy Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies are slam dunkers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

In a world with thousands of chocolate chip cookie recipes, this is the one I keep coming back to. It’s perfect when I want a crispy, dunkable, comforting oatmeal chocolate chip cookie that will have me delighting in the extra chew time to work through good ol’ rolled oats, some I-don’t-know-what-you-are-but-I-like-that-you’re-there fibery bits, little hits of buttery walnuts and, of course, the requisite dark chocolate chunks. The coconut won’t make this taste like a coconut cookie — it’s there along with the ground flax and whole wheat flour to add a subtle richness, chewiness and lattice texture that will have you coming back to this recipe time and time again.Be sure to use real old fashioned rolled oats (not quick oats) for these to have the crispy texture you’re after. I prefer the richness and salty flavor of Irish butter in my baking, but feel free to substitute standard salted butter. If you want to make just one cookie sheet full and save the rest for fresh-baked cookies a...

Ambrose: The meaning of celebrating evil in America

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

“Oh, I see,” says the business manager conducting a job interview, “you were in one of those 31 or so screaming, absurdist pro-Hamas groups at Harvard. Sorry, but we neither trust nor like people who think it’s OK for terrorists to decapitate Israeli babies, rape teenage girls at a music festival, murder families in their homes and shoot sobbing children hiding in bushes after missiles introduced their arrival, all the better to get even.”The manager stared at the slowly exiting graduate for a moment, adding that this person’s idea of “truth” seemed little more than a self-rewarding, ideological, cultural, morally empty, uneducated malevolence including antisemitism afflicting Jews through the ages. While these brave, tradition-blessed, self-disciplined people are small in number, they have done enormous good for the world and are still at it, this imagined manager said by way of expressing my opinions for me through a writing trick.Some sympathizers of the Hamas celebrants have wei...

Boston gets a new theater with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

With the arrival this month of an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Boston gets its first new movie theater in years.What took so long?“We’ve been trying,” Alamo CEO Tim League explained in a phone interview. “These things just move at a bit of a glacial pace. I think we’ve been actively looking in Boston for eight years.“For us at least there’s a little bit of a COVID silver lining because theaters after a couple of years became available and we really fell in love with this location.”The Drafthouse, with 10 screens, is located at 60 Seaport Blvd. All provide dine-in service brought to seats by Alamo Drafthouse’s wait staff.  All seating is assigned. Reservations may be made in person, online or a mobile app purchase. Those under 18 cannot come in alone; they must be with an adult.What stands out about Alamo Drafthouse theaters is the full food and drink menus with all courses — appetizer, entree, dessert — and full bar options including cocktails, spirits, award-win...

Honey glazed stir-fried pork a dinner delight

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

The combination of soy sauce, honey and sherry adds a sweet glaze to this stir-fried pork tenderloin. I added Chinese noodles and broccoli florets to complete this easy meal. These noodles can be found dried in the Asian section of the market or steamed in the produce section. They only need a few minutes to cook. You can use angel hair pasta instead.I use a small amount of sherry with soy sauce. If you don’t have sherry on hand, you can buy it in small bottles or splits in a wine store. Or use unsalted chicken broth instead.You can use regular sesame oil instead of toasted sesame oil.If using dried noodles instead of fresh, boil 2 to 3 minutes longer.TAG GOES HEREHoney Glazed Stir-Fried PorkINGREDIENTS1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce1 tablespoon dry sherry1 tablespoon honey1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes3/4 pound pork tenderloin, sliced into 1/2-inch strips1/4 pound fresh or steamed Chinese noodles4 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, divided use1/4 pound broccoli florets2 cups slice...

Millard: Warrior Call focuses on those suffering after serving

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

It was a day Frank Larkin will never forget. In April 2017, his son Ryan F. Larkin, a Navy SEAL who was struggling following his return to civilian life, committed suicide in the basement of the family’s home.“He was wearing his SEAL Team 7 T-shirt, red, white, and blue board shorts, and illuminated a shadow box next to where he was,” said Larkin as he choked up while talking with DCJournal.He had just recounted how his son fought a losing battle not only inside his own head but with the Veterans Administration. “He says… ‘All they do is keep writing me prescriptions and these drugs, I don’t even feel like I’m in my own body.’ And he said to me, ‘I’m banged up inside.’”Government statistics say there were 6,146 veteran suicide deaths in 2020, almost 60% higher than non-veteran adults. The next year, 519 active-duty members of the Armed Forces took their own lives.Larkin, a former Navy SEAL and Secret Service agent who also served as the 40th U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms, used his so...

Editorial: Migrant surge on collision course with housing crisis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

As Joe Biden tackles the border/migrant crisis one bungle at a time, the unanswered question is this: “What happens next?”Gov. Maura Healey, like leaders of other states buckling under the strain of a never-ending migrant influx, is on board with Biden’s short-term solution bonanza.As the Herald reported, the Healey Administration and the White House announced a plan to help some new arrivals secure employment.During the week of Nov. 13, officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the Bay State will host a “work authorization clinic” for migrant families currently living in state-provided housing.“We are glad that the Biden-Harris Administration is hosting this clinic with us, which will help process work authorizations as efficiently as possible. Many shelter residents want to work but face significant barriers to getting their work authorizations,” Healey said.“This clinic will be critical for building on the work that our administration has already be...

Dear Abby: Family wants friendship with gay man to end

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

Dear Abby: I live in a rural community in southern Indiana. It’s an “everyone goes to church on Sunday, and everyone knows everyone” kind of place. I was employed at the local health care center here for almost four years before quitting to become a full-time caregiver and homemaker.During my time at the health care facility, I became acquainted with an elderly gentleman. We became good friends, and remain good friends to this day. I visit with him several times a week, when time allows, and we talk on the telephone.The problem is, his family doesn’t like that I am a homosexual male and that I have such a close relationship with him. He does not want me to stop visiting, nor do I want to. What can I do to make everyone relax, so he and I can still remain good friends without someone disapproving? — Unappreciated FriendDear Friend: I wish I understood exactly what the family’s objection is to your friendship with this person. Are they afraid you ar...

Concert review: Tool celebrated Halloween at Xcel Energy Center with an evening of heavy tunes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

There’s something quite appropriate about seeing long-running art metal band Tool on Halloween. Tuesday night, the foursome filled St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center with a series of lengthy, dark and heavy songs delivered with an impressive ferocity from a band that released their debut album 30 years ago.Then again, Tool is not like most bands. They exist in their own world and take exacting care on everything from their songs to their record sleeves to their live performances. They’re released a mere five albums over the past three decades, each denser and more intricate than the last.In concert, they perform under dim, or sometimes absent, spotlights, with lead singer Maynard James Keenan acting as a sort of anti-frontman who is far more comfortable hanging out in the shadows by drummer Danny Carey. Guitarist Adam Jones and bassist Justin Chancellor stand up front, but don’t do much beyond standing there and playing their instruments.But Tool makes it work and...