... the recipe. I made only a quarter of the recipe. It looks complicated but it's not. Basically: mise-en-place, make the sauce, add the scallops and bake. Easy. This is the full recipe: 1/4 cup butter 1 medium green pepper finely chopped(I omitted this) 1 cup finely chopped onion 1/2 lb fresh button mushrooms (chopped if they are large) 2 Tablespoons butter 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper 2-1/2 cups half-and-half 3 Tablespoons grated parmesan 1/4 teaspoon paprika 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 lb fresh scallops (frozen works in need be) 2/3 cup dry white wine 1/2 cup fine dry breadcrumbs 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning 2 Tablespoons butter, melted Preheat oven to 450 F. Saute green pepper and onion in butter for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms for another 3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons butter and the four, salt, and lemon pepper. Cook on low heat for 3 more minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add half-an-half, cheese, paprika, and nutmeg. Bring to boil stirring constantly, reduce heat to low and cook until thick and smooth. Remove from heat, stir in scallops and wine. Spoon into scallop shells (great for first course), or ramekins, etc. Mix bread crumbs with Italian seasoning and 2 Tablespoons butter. Sprinkle over scallops. Bake at 450 F for 12 to 15 minutes. Most delectable!

It sounds easier than getting a driver's license.

It's all fun and games until the world explodes in a nuclear conflagration. They want to control the arts? Ha. It reminds me of the famous Jack Nicholas line in the movie where Nicholas' character is on the stand and the JAG attorney played by Tom Cruise keeps asking him-- "Did you order the Code Red?!" Nicholas' character finally reaches his breaking point and snaps-- "You want the truth?!; You can't handle the truth!"

I miss having one of these on the front of my car. [image: 1772667109914-img_0162.jpeg]

I guess it was a ruse. I have an idea . Let's declare war on every country and people on planet Earth except Israel. We could get the news in a single day. I know it would save me a lot of time. Does anyone know off the top of your head how many wars the US is fighting including all of the countries now involved in the Iran conflagration? I sure don't.

Thanks for your comments! By the way, the object partly seen on the left is the grand piano, still covered with moving blankets. The window recesses may be too shallow to accept Roman blinds. I will try to post a pic. Formerly we had light curtains suspended from cheap lightweight rods mounted on the side moldings. Never looked good, and the curtains themselves are torn and ratty.

[image: 1772647741619-bbffc5fa-7bf7-4ca5-8d47-bee35a7e29ca.jpeg]

Oh, I see. Our Florida flies are dormant now but they swarm in groups of hundreds in late evenings in Summer. My roommate knocked out all three of his bedroom window screens last summer for reasons I can't understand. They were rotted. He was going to replace them? Anyway, the mosquitoes (yes, ours draw blood) would swarm into the house every day. I would have 25 or 50 in my room biting me all evening and all night long. My skin especially around my shoulders, the back of my neck, my chest, my lower arms, my lower legs and my feet had so many bites my skin itched so badly it felt it was on fire, and as badly as it felt, there was never any time to heal, because it kept happening, as I said. I can laugh about it now. Well, not really laugh, but though I have a graphic memory of it, I have no memory of it actually happening, meaning how it felt physically nor the stress that was involved. The memory can be kind, forgetting the actual trauma of this kind of thing. I've lived in remote places. I don't want to do it again.

I guess they didn't think of this happening. Link to video

@CHAS His hands are much bigger than Apple's (or mine for that matter!) Also, it looks like he some flat(ish) technique peppered in there. My teacher and I have been talking about when to play with flat fingers (for example, when you want a fat melody note).... OTOH, Apple's hands are standing up, and she really grabs the keyboard. I always found it amazing and compelling to see.

@Bernard said: There is that word again: fundamentalist. From The Cradle: US troops report commanders framing Iran war as ‘God’s plan’ —— As first reported by independent journalist Jonathan Larsen, a US combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers that the war on Iran is part of “God’s divine plan,” allegedly claiming President Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus” to ignite Armageddon. The complaint, filed with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, is one of more than 110 logged within 48 hours from over 40 units across at least 30 installations. Complainants, including Christians, a Muslim, and a Jew, have requested anonymity to avoid retaliation. The Pentagon has yet to respond. According to MRFF President Mikey Weinstein, service members report “unrestricted euphoria” among segments of the chain of command portraying the assault on Iran as biblically sanctioned and tied to end-times prophecy in the Book of Revelation. One NCO wrote that such rhetoric is eroding morale and violating constitutional oaths, particularly for troops in Ready-Support status who could be deployed at any moment. The controversy unfolds as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth expands overt evangelical programming within the Pentagon, including prayer sessions and Bible studies aligned with staunch pro-Israel theology. Weinstein reports that many US commanders appear particularly enthused by the prospect of an intensely violent confrontation, emphasizing how much bloodshed they believe is necessary to align events with a fundamentalist Christian end-times narrative. This is so wrong. My mother's family through her NCO career military, Air Force, father, who served in WWII, Vietnam, and Korea, to whose house I was taken when born, and whose father and mother gave me a home from 14- 18, and a college education, knew perfectly well, and I understand perfectly well, members of the U.S. military swear an oath to the Constitution. This is Military Services 101.

Substack reported is as "just" happened. Got me

Nice pictures, Andy! Thanks! It moved to about 80 F/ 60 F here.

Bump Edit Sorry I want to re-save these links

Last April. I’ll be back in Spain in September, again in October, and yet again next April (2027).

It happens to everyone. I wonder if these are just ugly people or if some of them aren't agents provocateurs.