Speak Up Now

2025-08-28T19:33:00.000-04:00

2024-02-23T08:14:00.000-05:00

CONEY RECIPE

Coney dogs, those delicious hot dogs smothered in meat sauce, are a true American classic. There are many variations, but here's a recipe that combines some of the best elements for a truly great one:

Ingredients:

For the sauce:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf

For the assembly:

8 hot dog buns
8 hot dogs (all-beef recommended)
Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Diced yellow onion (optional)
Yellow mustard (optional)

Instructions:

Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper (if using), Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
Assemble the coney dogs: While the sauce simmers, heat the hot dog buns according to your preference (steaming, grilling, or toasting). Cook the hot dogs in your preferred method (boiling, grilling, or pan-frying).
Place a hot dog in each bun and top generously with the hot meat sauce. Add optional toppings like shredded cheese, diced onion, and a squirt of yellow mustard.
Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips:

You can adjust the spices to your taste. For a spicier sauce, add more cayenne pepper or chili flakes. For a sweeter sauce, add more brown sugar.
For a thicker sauce, simmer for a longer time or add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water).
If you don't have diced tomatoes, you can use crushed tomatoes or tomato puree.
For a richer flavor, use ground beef with a higher fat content (80/20).
Get creative with your toppings! Other options include chopped pickles, relish, sauerkraut, or hot sauce.

With this recipe and some customization, you're sure to create coney dogs that are both classic and delicious. Enjoy!

Camping in a minivan RV

2018-12-08T19:22:00.001-05:00

Using our minivan as a camper has been a remarkable experience.

GM LAYOFF

2018-11-28T15:09:00.001-05:00

General Motors recent announcement of its plan to close 5 plants and layoff the employees may be necessary to realign their manufacturing capabilities. I believe there are easy solutions to the economic consequences of this planed action.

1. Re-train for free any employee wanting to get a new job. This would be funded by GM, the union, and the unemployment insurance, collectively. Up to a maximum of two years.

2. Use the closed facilities for the coming tech wave of car, software, assembly operations. Or, convert the facilities to locally useful functions, like schools, small “walking communities” with condo living quarters and local businesses on site.

3. For those employees wanting to transfer (move) to a different GM factory, fund the relocation.

So, that's my basic solution anyway.

2016-02-19T10:13:00.001-05:00

Today's digital cameras take very detailed images of what ever we chose to point and shoot. Each picture is protected by our laws as a personal creation by its taker, unless the taker formally releases it into the public domain.. Few would argue that.

But who owns that picture after it has been heavily edited? Pictures are hundreds of images rapped into one. Today's editing software makes available to us methods to make the original image into hundreds of created images from an original picture.

Same digital information, very different images. Each image creates a different feeling. The single image on the left can be edited into hundreds of new and exotic images, who owns the edited images?

AQUAPONIC PROPAGATION SYSTEM

2015-03-28T18:11:00.003-04:00

APS

The propagation table is a wood box on legs, lined

with plastic to hold water. The totes below hold water

fish, a biofilter, and a small pump to operate the

filter and deliver water to the growing area. A float switch

turns the pump solenoid on/off to auto fill the

grow bed when needed. If the plants need additional

fertilizer I can add it through time release granules

(organic) in the container media. This system does

not recirculate grow bed water back to the fish tank.

I have several versions of this system that combine

the advantages of using cold blooded

animal poop (fish, worms,frogs,etc.) as an organic

fertilizer in my grow systems.

I hope this helps and encourages you to build and try

your own techniques.

Good home grown food is our objective. And a few flowers

for the soul doesn't hurt.

PS. In addition to the garden veggies, I grow goldfish

and catfish in my systems.

Buy Local

2014-02-11T17:51:00.002-05:00

Local is better! Why? It takes 1500 calories of petrochemical energy to get 1 calorie of food energy to The East Coast from California. Clearly, that is the definition of 'not sustainable'. Buy local, get great food, support your local growers and help the environment, all at the same time! Look for local sources for natural foods and organic packaged and prepared foods as well. Make the effort, it's better .

Lifestyle changes as We Age

2013-10-16T14:13:00.001-04:00

I wanted to know what I could do to improve my lifestyle as I get older and I found this informative summary written by the Mayo Clinic staff. It is worth a good read.

You know that aging will likely cause you to develop wrinkles and gray hair. But do you know how the aging process will affect your teeth, heart and sexuality? Find out what kind of changes you can expect in your body as you continue aging — and what you can do to promote good health at any age.

Your cardiovascular system

What's happening
As you age, your heart rate becomes slightly slower and your heart might become bigger. Your blood vessels and your arteries also become stiffer, causing your heart to work harder to pump blood through them. This can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension) and other cardiovascular problems.

What you can do
To promote heart health:

Include physical activity in your daily routine. Try walking, swimming or other activities you enjoy. Regular moderate physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight, lower blood pressure and lessen the extent of arterial stiffening.
Eat a healthy diet. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods and lean sources of protein, such as fish. Limit foods high in saturated fat and sodium. A healthy diet can help you keep your heart and arteries healthy.
Don't smoke. Smoking contributes to the hardening of your arteries and increases your blood pressure and heart rate. If you smoke or use other tobacco products, ask your doctor to help you quit.
Manage stress. Stress can take a toll on your heart. Take steps to reduce stress — or learn to deal with stress in healthy ways.

Your bones, joints and muscles

What's happening
With age, bones tend to shrink in size and density — which weakens them and makes them more susceptible to fracture. You might even become a bit shorter. Muscles generally lose strength and flexibility, and you might become less coordinated or have trouble balancing.

What you can do
To promote bone, joint and muscle health:

Get adequate amounts of calcium. For adults ages 19 to 50 and men ages 51 to 70, the Institute of Medicine recommends 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium a day. The recommendation increases to 1,200 mg a day for women age 51 and older and men age 71 and older. Dietary sources of calcium include diary products, almonds, broccoli, kale, canned salmon with bones, sardines and soy products, such as tofu. If you find it difficult to get enough calcium from your diet, ask your doctor about calcium supplements.
Get adequate amounts of vitamin D. For adults ages 19 to 70, the Institute of Medicine recommends 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day. The recommendation increases to 800 IU a day for adults age 71 and older. Although many people get adequate amounts of vitamin D from sunlight, this might not be a good source for everyone. Other sources of vitamin D include oily fish, such as tuna and sardines, egg yolks, fortified milk, and vitamin D supplements.
Include physical activity in your daily routine. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, tennis and climbing stairs, and strength training can help you build strong bones and slow bone loss.
Avoid substance abuse. Avoid smoking and don't drink more than two alcoholic drinks a day.

Your digestive system

What's happening
Constipation is more common in older adults. Many factors can contribute to constipation, including a low-fiber diet, not drinking enough fluids and lack of exercise. Medications — such as diuretics and iron supplements — and certain medical conditions — such as diabetes and irritable bowel syndrome — also might contribute to constipation.

What you can do
To prevent constipation:

Eat a healthy diet. Make sure your diet includes high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Limit meats that are high in fat, dairy products and sweets, which might cause constipation. Drink plenty of water and other fluids.
Include physical activity in your daily routine. Regular physical activity can help prevent constipation and is important for your overall health.
Don't ignore the urge to have a bowel movement. Holding in a bowel movement for too long can cause constipation.

Your bladder and urinary tract

What's happening
Loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence) is common with aging. Medical conditions, such as diabetes, might contribute to incontinence — as can menopause, for women, and an enlarged prostate, for men.

What you can do
To promote bladder and urinary tract health:

Go to the bathroom regularly. Consider urinating on a regular schedule, such as every hour. Slowly, extend the amount of time between your bathroom trips.
Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, lose excess pounds.
Don't smoke. If you smoke or use other tobacco products, ask your doctor to help you quit.
Do Kegel exercises. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles, hold the contraction for five seconds, and then relax for five seconds. Try it four or five times in a row. Work up to keeping the muscles contracted for 10 seconds at a time, relaxing for 10 seconds between contractions.

Your memory

What's happening
Memory tends to becomes less efficient with age. It might take longer to learn new things or remember familiar words or names.

What you can do
To keep your memory sharp:

Eat a healthy diet. A heart healthy diet might benefit your brain. Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Choose low-fat protein sources, such as fish, lean meat and skinless poultry. What you drink counts, too. Too much alcohol can lead to confusion and memory loss.
Include physical activity in your daily routine. Physical activity increases blood flow to your whole body, including your brain. This might help keep your memory sharp.
Stay mentally active. Mentally stimulating activities help keep your brain in shape — and might keep memory loss at bay. Do crossword puzzles. Take alternate routes when driving. Learn to play a musical instrument.
Be social. Social interaction helps ward off depression and stress, which can contribute to memory loss. Look for opportunities to get together with loved ones, friends and others.

If you're concerned about memory loss, consult your doctor.

Your eyes and ears

What's happening
With age, you might have difficulty focusing on objects that are close up. You might become more sensitive to glare and have trouble adapting to different levels of light. Aging also can affect your eye's lens, causing clouded vision (cataracts).

Your hearing also might dim. You might have difficulty hearing high frequencies or following a conversation in a crowded room.

What you can do
To promote eye and ear health:

Schedule regular checkups. Follow your doctor's advice about glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and other corrective devices.
Take precautions. Wear sunglasses or a wide-brimmed hat when you're outdoors, and use earplugs when you're around loud machinery or other loud noises.

Your teeth

What's happening
Your gums might pull back (recede) from your teeth. Certain medications, such as those that treat allergies, asthma, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, can also cause dry mouth. As a result, your teeth and gums might become slightly more vulnerable to decay and infection.

What you can do
To promote oral health:

Brush and floss. Brush your teeth twice a day and clean between your teeth — using regular dental floss or an interdental cleaner — once a day.
Schedule regular checkups. Visit your dentist or dental hygienist for regular dental checkups.

Your skin

What's happening
With age, your skin thins and becomes less elastic and more fragile. You might notice that you bruise more easily. Decreased production of natural oils might make your skin drier. Wrinkles, age spots and small growths called skin tags are more common.

What you can do
To promote healthy skin:

Be gentle. Bathe in warm — not hot — water. Use mild soap and moisturizer.
Take precautions. When you're outdoors, use sunscreen and wear protective clothing. Check your skin regularly and report changes to your doctor.
Don't smoke. If you smoke or use other tobacco products, ask your doctor to help you quit. Smoking contributes to skin damage, such as wrinkling.

Your weight

What's happening
Maintaining a healthy weight is more difficult as you get older. As you get older, your muscle mass decreases and body fat takes its place. Since fat tissue burns fewer calories than does muscle, you need fewer calories to maintain your current weight.

What you can do
To prevent unwanted weight gain:

Include physical activity in your daily routine. Regular moderate physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight.
Eat a healthy diet. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods and lean sources of protein, such as fish. Limit sugar and foods high in saturated fat.
Watch your portion sizes. You might not need as many calories as you used to.

Your sexuality

What's happening
With age, sexual needs, patterns and performance might change. Illness or medication might affect your ability to enjoy sex. For women, vaginal dryness can make sex uncomfortable. For men, impotence might become a concern. It might take longer to get an erection, and erections might not be as firm as they used to be.

What you can do
To promote your sexual health:

Share your needs and concerns with your partner. You might experiment with different positions or sexual activities.
Talk to your doctor. He or she might offer specific treatment suggestions — such as estrogen cream for vaginal dryness or oral medication for erectile dysfunction.

Remember, it's never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle. You can't stop the aging process, but you might be able to minimize its impact by making healthy choices.

Earth Day Sale and Celebration

2013-04-13T12:53:00.004-04:00

Large multifamily garage sale and Earth Day Celebration.
Plan a fun day at our home, affectionately known as the PSC Retreat on Saturday April 20th.
147 Madison 5442 (the old Ray log cabin), Combs. From Combs take 295 north to 5395, left on 5395 to, 5440 turn left on 5440 to private drive 5442 left up drive, bear right to house.

Gardening merchandise including more than 300 plants, hand painted plant pots, SeedCookies, and much more.
Quilts, hand made rugs and hats, caps and much more by Bill & Mary's Long Arm Quilting.
Original artworks by Lori S, wall deco, hand crafted bird houses, etc.
Cloths, tools, furniture, books, and many many other household items.
Window air conditioner, old trunk, cell phones including an iPhone, Dell laptop computer, electric motors, etc.
You can bring items you wish to sell or trade if you like. If you need more info please contact Ron Christian at 386 212-6965.
We will have a hands on seed bomb/ball/cookie making setup for the kids to make deer resistant wild flower seed balls that they can take home and plant.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, April 20th.
Starts at 9:00 am

Ron and Paula

Unions - A New Job

2013-01-31T16:10:00.001-05:00

The adversarial relationship between management and workers that currently exists, must end. Unions are good for the work force. They have an opportunity to play a new role in helping their members achieve job security.
The jobs of tomorrow require new employee skills and more employee versatility.
Maybe the Unions can reinvent them selfs by becoming an educational organization devoted to expanding employee skills and work security. Funding could come from unemployment insurance programs and Union dues. Employees displaced by market or technology, would be schooled through their Union in skill areas where jobs do exist.

Fact or Farce

2013-01-29T12:41:00.001-05:00

All Politicians Today: Now the election is over, lets show the American people we can do our jobs passing immigration reform. (Farce--just a ploy to get votes by the Republicans and a thank you I told you I would by the Democrats.)
Keep a close eye on this legislation. It may hurt the majority for years to come.

Do you have a Fact or Farce you will share? Post a comment.

An Open Letter to My Government

2013-01-22T18:20:00.001-05:00

Quit wasting time on debt ceiling and short term spending cuts.

Instead, please, spend your work time on issues that matter in this economy.

A national commitment to energy independence is needed now.

The people's will and our available technologies can be mobilized to make this great nation a fully sustainable energy independent country.

Also our economy can be improved quickly by providing work skills education for all. A properly skilled work force will bring excellent jobs to all Americans. Work skills education must be a prerequisite to unemployment compensation and to school grants programs.

Reforming our job skills education system, linking it to the unemployment insurance program and education funding programs will bring both government and business together to keep people employed doing the work required to keep this country great.

If you can't find a non partisan way to achieve what is necessary to keep America great, 'we the people' do not want you in our government. 'We the people" will not allow our elected Representatives to destroy this great nation. FOCUS PEOPLE, get it done now --- A National Commitment. "We the people"will do our part, just ask.

America Moving Forward

2013-01-14T16:10:00.001-05:00

Can we agree that American needs to move forward?
We must move beyond the silly political agendas of today and toward making our country the very best place for us and our future generations to live, work and play. Clearly our most pressing issues as a nation are:
*Energy independence
*Reform the education system
*Nutritional sustainability
*Renegotiate the interest pay out on the national debt held by foreign owners
We as citizens must demand that our government establish a national call to action, making accomplishment of the above our national goal. We must ,as citizens, do our part.

Aquaponic Gardening for Profit and Food: Plant ID's for your Landscape Plants

2013-01-09T10:43:00.001-05:00

Aquaponic Gardening for Profit and Food: Plant ID's for your Landscape Plants: To create natural plant markers for your landscape plants, write the names of plants, using a permanent marker, on the flat faces of landsca...

Flood Insurance Funding = Emergency Sandy Funding

2013-01-05T09:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday the emergency funding bill for flood damages caused by super storm Sandy was passed by Congress. That was a good thing, but the press says it is to pay flood insurance claims. FEMA flood insurance is funded by flood policy premiums. What is going on here? Anyone know?

Focus Our Resources Now or Become a Thrid World Country Tomorrow

2013-01-02T11:07:00.000-05:00

We must focus on solving these three problems in the not to distant future in order to insure a sustainable and productive lifestyle for all citizens in the US. * Educational Opportunity * * Energy Independence * * Water and Food Sustainability *

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2012-12-27T09:31:00.000-05:00

Have a blessed year!

Tell Me My Kids Will Eat Tomorrow

2012-11-08T10:19:00.000-05:00

Paula and I watched two disturbing videos last night about the food industry. They paint a dark future for the human race.
Growing world population (9 billion by 2040), vast corporate farms being controlled by a very limited number of corporations (only 6 worldwide), land and water resource limitations being reached around the world, no world food reserve(less than a month), GMO's needed to keep production efficiency high, and a world population being keep in the dark about the fragility and limitations of our food supply, --------
all seemingly unsolvable problems.
Looks like "starvation and sterilization" will be in our future! Tell me it's not so?

Pulling It All Together for the Human Experience: Page One

2012-10-25T09:18:00.000-04:00

An incomplete preliminary outline of human needs for providing a sustainable, convenient, informed, affordable and fulfilling lifestyle in America today.
Location:
Food and Water:
Security:
Personal Productivity(Work)
Educational Systems
Technology Availability:
Amenities:
Societal and Religious Diversity:
Representative Government:

Please contribute anything that is important to you.

Living Within Your Means

2012-09-18T13:40:00.000-04:00

1. Always strive to live on 4% less than your income. One of the best ways to start living truly within your means is to pretend that your means are smaller than they are. Immediately put 4% of your earning into a saving account, (or use it to pay down your interest bearing debt). For example, if your gross earnings are $4000 per month, you put $160.00 per month into savings and pretend that you don’t have access to it. This allows you to create an emergency fund while learning to live within your real means.
2. Make payments to yourself ever time you pay a bill. By this I mean, every time you make a rent, car payment, utility, credit card or any regular payment take just 5% of the amount of the payment and put it into a saving account.
3. Pay cash for everything. It is really, really tough for people to live within their means when they have easy access to loans through their credit card companies. It is so simple to just swipe that card and forget that you won't have the money to pay for it when the bill comes due. Paying cash for everything eliminates this problem. If you must use a card, use a debit card. Otherwise, just pay cash and save that 15% + interest rate.
4. Avoid impulse spending. Plan your expenditures with 30-day lists to prevent impulse spending. One of the methods for reducing your spending is to delay all impulse purchases for thirty days after the day that you decide that you want to make the purchase. You can still purchase your regular items (such as groceries). However, when you see something that you want, make a note of it on your calendar. Wait thirty days, if you still really want it, it probably has a place in your life and can be worked into your budget. In most cases, you won’t even want the item after thirty days have passed.
5.. Don’t buy anything that you can make yourself. The DIY revolution is huge because it saves money. Even those people who don’t consider themselves the DIY type can implement this rule. For example, you can certainly make your own meals. Before every purchase, stop and ask yourself if you need it or if can make make it for less. This not only saves money, it uses your time more effectively. Always remember TIME is your most valuable asset.

Invest in Land for Your Retirement

2012-09-15T16:36:00.001-04:00

This is a bit of a commercial, but I wanted to introduce what I think is one of the best retirement investments available today, farmland and timberland purchased through your IRA.

Management of Your Money+/Assets-- Before and After Retirement

2012-08-30T20:02:00.001-04:00

Money+ Management Rules Before Retirement
1. Spend Less Than You Earn. (Make This Your Highest Money Management Priority).
2. Find, Work and Enjoy Your Passions.
3. Don't Waste Your Time. It's Your Most Important Asset.
4. Plan Ahead Every Time You Spend.
5. Eliminate Debt.
6. Keep Track of Expendatures DAILY.
7 Make Saving and Investmenting a Part of Your Lifestyle.
8. Take Care of Your Stuff, Replacements Waste Money.
9. Do It Yourself.
10.Learn Something Everyday.
11.Give Without Strings or Regrets.
12. Build Real Friendships and Relationships.
13. Talk Honestly About Money.
14. Be Honest With Yourself About Your Money.

Money+ Management Rules After Retirement
1. Spend Less Than Your Retirement Income.
2. Enjoy Your Passions.
3. Take Care of Yourself, Replacements Are Not an Option.
4. Ignore Rules 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
10. Learn Something Everyday.
11. Give Without Strings or Regrets.
12. Maintain Your Friends and Relationships.
13. Bounce Your Last Check.

An Invitation to Become a Guest Blogger

2012-08-14T09:21:00.000-04:00

It's time to expand this blog. Rants and/or raves, publish what is on your mind? What is your passion?
Speak Up Now
Here's how:
Send an email request or an article to: captainronc@gmail.com. and I will respond.

Free Will = Great Opportunity

2012-08-11T14:36:00.001-04:00

I belief that each person is individually responsible for their impact on the planet. You have "free will". You decide your path in life.
Everyone must find ways to provide themselves with food, shelter, and social interaction. These things are essential. Finding ways to provide these essentials will lead each person on a personal journey throughout their lifetime.
The choices made on that journey have great impact not only on other people but more broadly on our planet.
I belief each of us can and must make responsible planet friendly decisions about the implementation of the lifestyle we choose to live during that journey.
Let me make it clear I am not talking about a lifestyle of deprivation, but one in which you know you are in harmony with the planet and all life on it. Not a religion. Not a philosophy. More of a methodology!

Humans Aside

2012-08-08T14:36:00.000-04:00

It's raining here on the mountain! First time in 9 weeks. Our rain water collection systems are working hard, filling the aquaponics pond and the rainwater tank to capacity. Thank you God.

Makes me humble. The earth really does not need us humans to support its amazing ecosystem. We must learn to live within its bounds.