Homemade Beef Stew

This afternoon, my wonderful wife made this delicious beef stew.

March 23, 2025, at home

Today Is ...

I sometimes make Chia-Coconut Pudding. I do like it, the slimy, yet crunchy consistency notwithstanding. It's all in the name of health. (See link below.)

The ingredients that I use are: whole black chia seeds, organic unsweetened shredded / dehydrated coconut, unsweetened almond milk, real maple syrup, pure vanilla extract, ground nutmeg, and ground cinnamon. Mix everything in a large bowl and put it in the refrigerator, covered, for at least 4 or 5 hours, but overnight is better.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds

March 23, 2025, at home

One of my favorite snacks is Doritos nacho corn chips dipped in chocolate pudding. When I was in sixth grade (1972-73; age 11 or 12), I first ate it in the cafeteria of Bayview Elementary School (West Islip, Long Island, New York) in an attempt to make two girls disgusted. They didn't care all that much, and I discovered that I really like it. I have eaten it many times over the years.

March 23, 2025, at home

I do not really like tamales that much. I gravitate toward chimichangas and burritos.

March 23, 2025, at home

Melba toast is OK, but it is a bit too plain for me.

March 23, 2025, at home

Chinese Grand Prix

I am watching live coverage of the second race of the 2025 Formula 1 racing season on March 23, 2025. The Chinese Grand Prix is being broadcast on ESPN from a feed from Sky Sports F1. The 56-lap race started at 3 p.m. local time (3 a.m. Eastern Time in the United States).

Below is a diagram of Shanghai International Circuit (capacity: 30,000) in the Jiading District in Shanghai, China. Each circuit (track) around the world has a different configuration, therefore a different dynamic, regarding turns and elevation fluctuations.

This season's 24-race schedule is as follows: Australia, China, Japan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Miami (U.S.), Italy, Monaco, Spain, Canada, Austria, Great Britain, Belgium, Hungary, The Netherlands, Italy (different circuit), Azerbaijan, Singapore, Austin (U.S.), Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas (U.S.), Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. 

Before each race, there are two days of practice/qualifying. The races run every week or every other week from March into December, with a month-long summer break.

In Formula 1 racing, there are 20 (male) drivers, with ZERO drivers from the United States.

There are 10 teams (with two drivers on each team), so not only do drivers compete against their rivals, but they also compete against their teammates. There are two championships: one for the drivers and one for the constructor teams.

The 10 constructors are Alpine, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Haas, Kick Sauber, McClaren, Mercedes, Racing Bulls, Red Bull Racing, and Williams.

This season, as with last season, there are three races in the United States. In fairly recent years, there were no drivers from the United States and no races in the United States.

Formula 1 racing is the only sport that I actively follow. I have been a fan for decades. I watched my first F1 race decades ago on television at the home of one of my many Austrian cousins while on vacation in Austria.

Aileen Santos

Prostate Cancer Rising

1 in 6 men will have prostate cancer in his lifetime compared to 1 in 8 women who will have breast cancer in her lifetime. Yes, prostate cancer is more deadly than breast cancer. Federal funding for breast cancer research is 600 percent HIGHER than federal funding for prostate cancer research. That's SIX TIMES HIGHER !!! (That makes me sad.)

"Prostate cancer risk increases by 45% among men who share one troubling behavior"

According to the article: "Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths, according to UC San Francisco (UCSF)."

https://www.foxnews.com/health/prostate-cancer-risk-increases-45-among-men-share-behavior

March 23, 2025, at home

Goofing Off With Crêpes

For me, this is every day.

March 22, 2025, at home

I don't think that I have ever eaten a Bavarian-style crêpe, at least not on purpose. I have made crêpes at home, but I don't remember if I let the batter sit for a bit or if I made them immediately.

The main difference between the Bavarian variation and the classic French crêpe is that the batter is used right away, rather than letting it rest before using. With the French variation, resting the batter allows the flour to fully absorb the liquid and gives the gluten time to relax. It makes the French crêpe more tender.

March 22, 2025, at home

R.I.P. George Foreman

R.I.P. George Edward Foreman (January 10, 1949 – March 21, 2025) ... Is that the Nassau Coliseum in the background?

March 21, 2025, at home

An Absolute Truth

He is absolutely correct.

March 21, 2025, at home.

Today Is ...

In the United States, fathers (and men) have few rights. Family courts award mothers total custody of the children in 92 percent of child-custody cases. I would like to see that at least a little more equal. Also, studies have shown that single fathers are far more successful than single mothers in raising children. (I have been a Men's Rights Activist since the early 1990s, when I was in my early 30s.) 80 percent of divorces are initiated by women, 90 percent by university-educated women.

March 21, 2025, at home

From 1992 to 1996, I was a reporter, writer, editor, and researcher for a weekly, international magazine on the financial and technical aspects of the chemical industry from an industrial perspective. The magazine, titled "Chemical Marketing Reporter," was based in New York City.

While working there, I attended a perfume symposium in New York City with hundreds of representatives from perfume companies. That was one of my favorite assignments because I was one of the very few men who were there. The symposium was more about the final product, meaning the perfumes in the bottles. For my purposes, I needed information about the bulk ingredients used to make the final product.

Trivia: The price of sandalwood oil is partially based on the mortality rate in India. Funeral pyres are made of sandalwood, so more deaths means less sandalwood for processing, meaning less sandalwood oil, meaning higher prices. Fewer deaths mean low prices for sandalwood oil.

I started as the "Oils, Fats, and Waxes Editor" (great title) and then made a lateral move to "Flavors and Fragrances Editor." I was then promoted to "Heavy and Agriculture Chemicals Editor" and was again promoted to "Market Research Editor."

While I was there, I wrote about an array of chemicals, including: plastics including polyethylene terephthalate (for making soda bottles); pigments including titanium dioxide (for use in paints and soft drink mixes; pharmaceuticals like bulk penicillin; petrochemicals like benzene, xylene, and toluene; plus carnauba wax; castor oil; grease (both yellow AND white); sandalwood oil; menthol; and even fertilizers/explosives like ammonium nitrate.

March 21, 2025, at home

While I really dislike the taste and the texture of strawberries, I do sometimes force myself to eat them because they are healthy, as per my cardiothoracic surgeon.

March 21, 2025, at home

I do like baguettes with butter.

March 21, 2025, at home

I almost forgot to post this. (not really ... just a joke)

March 21, 2025, at home

Ravioli & Flour

I absolutely love ravioli. I have been eating them since I was a young kid in the 1960s.

March 20, 2025, at home

Liberal Mentality

I don't understand the liberal mentality. I want everyone to succeed. (03.29.25)

Birthday: Wolfgang Ambros

Happy 73rd Birthday (March 19, 2025) to my second-most favorite Austrian pop singer-songwriter and guitarist: Wolfgang Ambros. He released his first album in 1972, and he is still releasing albums and performing concerts.

I became a fan of Ambros in the early 1980s at about the same time I became a fan of Rainhard Fendrich, my favorite Austrian pop singer-songwriter and guitarist. I have many of Ambros' CDs. I have 49 of Fendrich's CDs. (I was on one of my seven journeys to Austria to visit my many Austrian cousins and to go skiing in the Austrian Alps with them.)

I attended a concert by Fendrich in Vienna, Austria, on October 30, 1997, with about 16,000 other fans. Ambros was a surprise guest that evening. He joined Fendrich on stage to sing one song with him.

Here is a link to (probably) my favorite Ambros song: "Du Verstehst Mi Ned." It was released in 1984. It's definitely my favorite Ambros music video. The ending is funny. (There is a bit of dialogue before the song begins.)

Aileen Santos

https://youtu.be/RZF7sCBHKmE?si=rAexHkSsY-tKHBsZ

Happy St. Joseph's Day

Happy St. Joseph's Day !!! (March 19, 2025)

Wearing red on this day is an Italian tradition, so I am wearing a red shirt, as I have done for many decades every year, but with the addition this year of my red MAGA hat. (I am 1/2 Italian, as well as 1/8 Austrian, 1/8 Swiss, and 1/4 Portuguese.)

Aileen Santos

Repost Of A Tradition

For us Italians, today is St. Joseph's Day (March 19, 2025). Two days ago on St. Patrick's Day, I created and uploaded a video onto my YouTube channel about my decades-long tradition regarding these two observances. I posted the link to the video on St. Patrick's Day, so here it is again on St. Joseph's Day. (length:5'59")

My Decades-Long Tradition (March 17, 2025)

https://youtu.be/TEIysFsWNeo?si=OSEZvpoC94LzWkad

Follow along as I explain my decades-long personal tradition, and then ask yourself, as I do now: Why do I make my life so complicated, especially in regard to the color of my garments?

I am once again following my own decades-long, personal tradition of wearing the color purple on St. Patrick's Day today (March 17, 2025). I have been doing this since my age was in single digits in the late 1960s because I am half Italian. (I am also Austrian, Swiss, and Portuguese.)

Purple is the color of the Italians. I am a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Delta, which is a national, Italian-heritage, social-service fraternity, at colleges and universities in mostly the northeastern section of the United States. I became a member in the early 1980s, when I was studying for my undergraduate degree at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. I was soon elected as a member of the fraternity's local Executive Board, specifically as "Recording Secretary." Our fraternity colors are purple and white, with the white carnation as our fraternity flower.

When I started my tradition in the late 1960s, around seven or eight years old, it was slightly before I had discovered that we Italians have our own celebratory day, St. Joseph's Day, which is two days later on March 19 every year.

After all of these decades, I continue to keep my purple tradition alive, as you can see in this video from today, as I continue to convalescence at home.

However, we Italians wear red on St. Joseph's Day, which I will be doing in two days. Before I knew about the red, I wore purple on both days.

As an aside, do not wear the color orange on St. Patrick's Day, that is, unless you want to offend the Irish Catholics. Orange is the color of the Protestants. And, of course, wearing green on either day was really never an option for me due to my contrarian nature.

Aileen Santos

Today Is ...

I particularly like Chicken Piccata.

March 19, 2025, at home

In recent years, I have become rather intimate with many hospital nurses (on a professional basis).

March 19, 2025, at home

I don't particularly like caramel. Chocolate, I like.

March 19, 2025, at home

Homemade Pizza

My wonderful wife made this homemade pizza this evening.

March 18, 2025, at home

Aileen Santos

Today Is ...

I do have a slight connection to biodiesel fuel. From 1992 to 1996, I was a reporter, writer, editor, and researcher for a weekly, international magazine on the financial and technical aspects of the chemical industry. We were based in New York City.

I have written about and researched such topics as agriculture chemicals, petrochemicals (aromatics and aliphatics), pharmaceuticals, flavors, fragrances, plastics, paints, coatings, oils, fats, waxes, and more.

During that time, many of my articles that I wrote on biodiesel fuel and natural industrial lubricants were cited in reports by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Also, a university student cited one of my biodiesel fuel articles in his master's thesis.

Here are the citations of my three articles that appeared in a USDA report released in November 1996:

Santos, William. “Rapeseed Oil Supplies Fall as China Expands Purchases.” Chemical Marketing Reporter. Schnell Publishing Company, New York, New York, February 20, 1995, p. 10.

Santos, William. “Oils, Fats, and Waxes Market Briefs.” Chemical Marketing Reporter. Schnell Publishing Company, New York, New York, May 22, 1995, p. 10.

Santos, William. “Crambe Oil Makes Moves Into Rapeseed Oil Territory.” Chemical Marketing Reporter. Schnell Publishing Company, New York, New York, April 1, 1996, p. 10.

March 18, 2025, at home

I am 64 years old, and I am still waiting to outgrow my adolescent awkwardness (and clumsiness).

March 18, 2025, at home

I like Sloppy Joes, and I have eaten one fairly recently.

March 18, 2025, at home

I don't think that I have ever eaten lacy oatmeal cookies. I have eaten chocolate-dipped lacy cookies.

March 18, 2025, at home

Thank you !!!

March 18, 2025, at home

Paddy, Not Patty

March 17, 2025, at home

Video: Purple & Red

I created and uploaded a video onto my YouTube channel about one of my decades-long traditions. (length:5'59")

My Decades-Long Tradition (March 17, 2025)

https://youtu.be/TEIysFsWNeo?si=OSEZvpoC94LzWkad

Follow along as I explain my decades-long personal tradition, and then ask yourself, as I do now: Why do I make my life so complicated, especially in regard to the color of my garments?

I am once again following my own decades-long, personal tradition of wearing the color purple on St. Patrick's Day today (March 17, 2025). I have been doing this since my age was in single digits in the late 1960s because I am half Italian. (I am also Austrian, Swiss, and Portuguese.)

Purple is the color of the Italians. I am a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Delta, which is a national, Italian-heritage, social-service fraternity, at colleges and universities in mostly the northeastern section of the United States. I became a member in the early 1980s, when I was studying for my undergraduate degree at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. I was soon elected as a member of the fraternity's local Executive Board, specifically as "Recording Secretary." Our fraternity colors are purple and white, with the white carnation as our fraternity flower.

When I started my tradition in the late 1960s, around seven or eight years old, it was slightly before I had discovered that we Italians have our own celebratory day, St. Joseph's Day, which is two days later on March 19 every year.

After all of these decades, I continue to keep my purple tradition alive, as you can see in this video from today, as I continue to convalescence at home.

However, we Italians wear red on St. Joseph's Day, which I will be doing in two days. Before I knew about the red, I wore purple on both days.

As an aside, do not wear the color orange on St. Patrick's Day, that is, unless you want to offend the Irish Catholics. Orange is the color of the Protestants. And, of course, wearing green on either day was really never an option for me due to my contrarian nature.

Corned Beef & Cabbage

My wonderful wife made corned beef; cabbage and carrots; and mashed potatoes yesterday in celebration of St. Patrick's Day today (March 17, 2025). I enjoyed it for lunch today.

Price Of Malibu Rum

The price of Malibu Rum may increase. It's made in Canada.

(03.16.25)

Today Is ...

I have a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in Columbia back in the later 1980s, so I learned about FOIA. I was a journalist from 1982 to 2017, but I never had the opportunity to use it.

March 16, 2025, at home

I occasionally enjoy artichoke hearts on pizza. Eating artichoke can improve liver function.

March 16, 2025, at home

This could potentially be rather dangerous. I wonder if anyone ever used that as an excuse in a court of law. Probably. Yesterday was National Everything You Think Is Wrong Day.

March 16, 2025, at home

Australian Grand Prix

YEAH !!! The first race of the 2025 racing season is today !!!

I am watching live coverage of the first race of the 2025 Formula 1 racing season on March 16, 2025. The Australian Grand Prix is being broadcast on ESPN from a feed from Sky Sports F1. The 58-lap race started at 3 p.m. local time (12 a.m. midnight, Eastern Time in the United States).

Below is a diagram of the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit (capacity: 46,000) located around Albert Park Lake in the suburb of Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia. Each circuit (track) around the world has a different configuration, therefore a different dynamic, regarding turns and elevation fluctuations.

This season's 24-race schedule is as follows: Australia, China, Japan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Miami (U.S.), Italy, Monaco, Spain, Canada, Austria, Great Britain, Belgium, Hungary, The Netherlands, Italy (different circuit), Azerbaijan, Singapore, Austin (U.S.), Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas (U.S.), Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.

Before each race, there are two days of practice/qualifying. The races run every week or every other week from March into December, with a month-long summer break.

In Formula 1 racing, there are 20 (male) drivers, with ZERO drivers from the United States.

There are 10 teams (with two drivers on each team), so not only do drivers compete against their rivals, but they also compete against their teammates. There are two championships: one for the drivers and one for the constructor teams.

The 10 constructors are Alpine, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Haas, Kick Sauber, McClaren, Mercedes, Racing Bulls, Red Bull Racing, and Williams.

This season, as with last season, there are three races in the United States. In fairly recent years, there were no drivers from the United States and no races in the United States.

Formula 1 racing is the only sport that I actively follow. I have been a fan for decades. I watched my first F1 race decades ago on television at the home of one of my many Austrian cousins while on vacation in Austria.

F1 Racing Has Begun

I am quite elated that the Formula 1 racing season has begun. Here is the schedule for the 2025 season, with the dates and the circuit (track) configurations.

This season's 24-race schedule is as follows: Australia, China, Japan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Miami (U.S.), Italy, Monaco, Spain, Canada, Austria, Great Britain, Belgium, Hungary, The Netherlands, Italy (different circuit), Azerbaijan, Singapore, Austin (U.S.), Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas (U.S.), Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.

F1 is the only sport that I actively follow.

March 15, 2025, at home

Aileen Santos

Pears Hélène

I haven't ever eaten this dessert.

March 15, 2025, at home

Wrong

Today (March 15, 2025) is Everything You Think Is Wrong Day. One of my favorite "Weird Al" Yankovic songs is "Everything You Know Is Wrong." I particularly like this animated video.

https://youtu.be/KThlYHfIVa8?si=NiIi2O-OG8AnI0A_