Roger’s View of the World, Love and Seafood Gumbo!

Do you need Twitter-Craig?

A little known subject for study is the threat of social media on the very fabric of western civilization…. or so they tell us. This goes along with the supposed threat of video games turning our children into ninja assassins and the supposed wonders of bike helmets saving our lives when we run into a semi tractor trailer hitting us at 45 mph. There have always been folks who like to ruin what most of us call ‘fun’  … including making us wear stupid bike helmets which may help you if you run into something no larger than a bee.

Social media has been a wonderful way to communicate with others as well as following the activities of those who wish to share what they do. As a fan of sports and communication, it has been fun to follow the ‘tweets’ of SC football coach Pete Carroll or Twitter’s “Ev”… although these two energized folks make coffee nervous. The truth is that you better like what folks say if you follow them… because they might send you 13 tweets in one day! Besides, like all things …you learn to manage your world.

On a personal note, it is really nice to communicate with family and view their lives ( as they communicate with others and post photos) discretely.

So my advice to fellow Boomers, get on Facebook and slowly — in a phenomenological way — expand your universe to include that which otherwise you might miss in your busy lives. It’s worth the effort.

Let the kid in you never grow up.

Roger Freberg

PS. remember on this diet, you can have all the ‘tweets’ you want!

remembering those who make the 4th possible

Well, I am planning to have a great fourth of July… especially when it comes to food. Laura has asked me to fix something very exotic…. American Hamburgers! Oh yeah! Now, science has shown us that this interesting cuisine goes down especially well with Greek Beer so I will have plenty on-hand ( I have some left overs from my corned beef curing process).

Thanks to the men and women who make this celebration possible.

Have fun!

Roger Freberg

Mythos a fine beer from Greece

Well, it’s not a beer from Troy and although the Greeks brought the walls down with their horse, we’ve got the horse now! So, when my wife and daughters came back from a conference in Athens, they couldn’t help but tell me of the wonders… which I will now enjoy myself! Fortunately, I was able to procure a sample or two from our local BEVMO.

However, it is  corned beef curing time… so this time the beer of choice will be Greek! Yes, I don’t use water in my brine mixture… only beer!

“Yasas!”

RECIPE: making corned beef & pastrami

RECIPE: corned beef pie

Roger Freberg

I have written about this before but it is worth repeating. Few if any movies that have won an Oscar or have rave reviews by esteemed movie critics are worthy of the ticket price.

Why is this always the case?

Each critic views potential movies through a filter of their own set of social and political values that seldom are in sync with the needs and wants of the viewing public. Looking back, who can remember the commercial  flops so propped up by critics like ‘the English Patient” or “Brokeback Mountain”? As I remember it, even the first “Star Wars” was panned by movie critics Siskel & Ebert … They were so often wrong ,they became my bench mark of what NOT to see.

The obvious truth is simple. People want to be entertained ….and in troubling times, lighthearted, amusing  films that produce admiration, a smile and a good belly laugh are wanted the most. You can witness this yourself at the box office as folks vote with their feet and their scarce cash.

So, as ‘Transformers’ sets new box office heights while universally panned by the critics… I have to ask, ” do these critics just have a job-for-life, because they need new blood and a different perspective.”  So as a tribute to having a little fun, here’s a tongue-in-cheek look at the making of Transformers:

Roger Freberg

Laura selects three beautiful artichokes for Sunday's midday meal

In California,  if you spend any time here, you will experience some of the wonderful agricultural bounty of our state. Even though California is known for grapes, citrus, broccoli, strawberries, pistachios, truck farming  and more illegal cash crops than most want to talk about … we all share a love of  Artichokes .  My best and fondest memory of California and home revolve around  a meal of artichokes. As a boy, I remember going to Half moon bay to fish and stopping on the way back to buy a few wondrous artichokes for dinner… and this habit continues to this day. Only now, we walk to our local farmer’s market in San Luis Obispo to buy strawberries, white onions, pistachios ( yes, I must have my Baklava ) and artichokes!

If you are really a fan, there is even an  ‘Artichoke festival’ when the season is near and you can buy artichoke wine, artichoke flavored olive oil and every type of artichoke meal that you might imagine! It’s a lot of fun.

Personally, I love the largest of the artichokes with the biggest ‘hearts’. The preparation requires a couple of hours boiling in sea salt and lemon juice but well worth the effort.

So our midday meal on Sunday consists of artichokes, garlic butter, bread sticks, Marinara and  local wine.

The  simple pleasures in life are always the best!

bon appetite!

Roger Freberg