AUGUST 2024
Wednesday 2024.8.28
Better Late than Never
This week I saw something on Vine that I wished I had back on the first of this month — a portable jump starter for a car. If I had one of these when my car's battery was dead, I could have quickly started my car and made my appointment rather than walking, falling, dislocating my shoulder and ending up in the hospital.
Needless to say, I immediately ordered it. The device can be charged with a common USB-C cable (included). It is small enough to keep in the glove compartment of the car. It includes an air pump for inflating a tire, if necessary.
I have a full-size battery charger, which I used after my fall. It must be plugged into an electrical outlet, which means using an extension cord as well. This little jump starter can be used anywhere.
I told a friend about it. He told me he and his wife have one. When their car's battery was old and needed replacing, they used it to jump start their car to go buy a new battery.
Shed Purge
It's time for a major purge. There are things that I want, but I have no place to store them. The shed is convenient. It's safe. The door locks. It's built like a house, not one of those flimsy aluminum sheds sold at hardware stores. I have racks of stainless steel shelves inside. And they're all full.
I wanted to get a food dehydrator, but I've resisted them for years because I don't have a garden or orchard. Wouldn't it be fun to make apple chips? But first, you've got to have an apple tree. And, even more important (for me) is: I need a place to store it when I'm not using it.
I love Salmon Jerky. Besides being delicious to munch on (so much better than potato chips or crackers), it's healthy. One web site says it can be snacked on everyday.
I can make it in the oven, of course, but that seems a little inconvenient, and there are only two racks in my oven. When I saw a dehydrator on Vine, I ordered it.
It looks well made. The shell and door frame are steel, not plastic. The racks are stainless steel. There seems to be the right amount of settings, including temperature. Web sites say the best temperature at which to dehydrate salmon is 145°F (63°C). So, I can see Salmon Jerky in my future.
Good Friends
You might remember I really enjoyed watching the last three seasons of Only Murders in the Building. Then Disney bought Hulu and imposed strict limitations on the sharing of login IDs. I was shut out — and I won't pay for Hulu just to watch one show.
A friend notified me about the release of the first episode of season four. He suggested I might find it posted in the newsgroups. I searched and found it. Even better, it was uploaded in both 1080p and 2160p, and commercial-free. I watched it twice in the same evening. Each season usually has ten episodes. Hopefully the future episodes will be posted as well. I love that show.
Although my Blu-ray player doesn't play 2160p videos, I can watch them by attaching my laptop computer to my home theater system's auxiliary port.
And, Finally, an Experiment
As mentioned in Sunday's blog post, I ordered a Keurig coffee maker from Vine. I wish I hadn't. It's too big. There isn't enough room for it in my little mobile home kitchen. I wanted it because it is supposed to make iced coffee too.
I think I have a better idea. I have plenty of plastic heat-seal pouches safe for food. What if I were to make a cup of coffee, pour it into a pouch and seal it? Let cool, then refrigerate for consumption later in the day when a mug of iced coffee would be refreshing. This morning I made two cups. One was sealed in a pouch. The second was my morning cup of brew. This afternoon when the day heats up and I want some iced coffee, I'll finish my experiment.
Sunday 2024.8.25
Wednesday's DNC
After the Wednesday evening program of the Democratic National Convention I began to feel relief. I'll admit it. I was worried about the future of this great nation if Trump should win a second term in the White House. And I was worried that he had a good chance of winning if Joe Biden remained in the race. Biden's stepping aside changed everything.
Thursday's DNC
After listening to Kamala Harris' acceptance speech, I felt even more relief. And I was pleased to see so many Republicans coming forward to support Harris. Where was Pence? Trump incited a mob against him. However, being such a devoutly religious man, he probably stayed home and read his Bible; although, I'm sure he watched the convention with more interest than he might have had in the Republican National Convention. Actually, I'm only guessing.
I really do believe Kamala Harris will win this election. Trump will continue to trumpet to his base, whining about the 2020 election being stolen from him, and his base will believe him, even though he admits privately he lost fairly. Read the books. I have.
I believed Biden could win re-election. The race would be close, but I was confident he could squeak by and win a second term. I think there are enough voters who can see that Trump is not good for this nation. However, I also worried that the race would be so close that Trump would challenge every state's count and drag the election through the courts for months. With Harris now the nominee, I suspect the margin will be wide enough to discourage the GOP from most challenges.
I'm not naive enough to believe Harris will be a great president. With a divided Congress, half of which is hell-bent on making sure she'll fail, it is difficult for any president to succeed. Will Mitch McConnell pledge to do all he can to make sure Harris is a one-term president? But I do believe our country will be safe with Harris and Walz at the wheel.
I knew almost nothing about Tim Walz before this convention. After his speech on Wednesday evening, I felt like I'd known him for years. I began to remember many of the teachers — Miss Binliss, Mrs. Piccolo, Mr. Barr, Dr. Carlin, Mr. Lundy, Dr. Benoit, to name only a few — I had when I was in school.
I'm not sure what Walz will do. The position is secondary and the VP doesn't attract much attention.
What's Next?
Campaigning. Harris will enjoy a positive bump in the polls during the days following the convention. Then the hard work of building her base will continue through September and October. The national polls will be meaningless, as they were in 2016. Back then, they said Clinton would win the race. She won the national vote, but not the Electoral College. Those are the votes that really matter, especially among the swing states.
Harris supposedly is gaining campaign funds at a rate of three times the revenue Trump is getting. She'll probably spend most of it in the seven swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. A win in Florida would be a big plus, as it is the home state of Trump. So, reasonably, there are really only seven or eight polls to watch.
News
One thing I wanted to mention this past week is that I watched the convention on MSNBC. I get most of my news from CNN. I like that they make room for the conservative Republican voice on their discussion panels. Most often I see Scott Jennings. He is not as offensive as some MAGA speakers, but his comments sometimes spur objections from the left-leaning members of the panel. Jennings definitely supports Donald Trump.
I chose MSNBC because during the uplifting convention I didn't want to hear any negativity from the conservatives. Now that the convention is over, I'm back to watching CNN.
A Gift
I blogged about the incident several months ago. A neighbor, Marge, was struck by a car while crossing the street and pronounced dead at the scene. Her mobile home, too old and run down to sell, was purchased by the park owner, who is having it towed away and replaced with a new one.
Marge was living in this trailer park when I moved in about 25 years ago. She had a little statue in her yard that I always liked. It is soooo politically incorrect. It was a little black man that once held a lantern. On Thursday afternoon I went outside to check on the tomato plants and there was the statue in my driveway.
I did some research. They are called lawn jockeys because they are dressed in jockey clothing. I found a photo of several of them.
One of the jockeys looks a lot like mine and it gives me some ideas on how I'd like to paint it after a do a little patch work. I don't know how the owner or manager knew I wanted it, but I'm thankful to someone.
Impulse Shopping
I don't succumb to it often, but it does happen, especially when something is almost free. This week I was tempted by a Keurig coffee maker on Vine that not only makes hot coffee, it also makes iced coffee. I like iced coffee in summer. I ordered it.
I should have checked the size first. It's a behemoth! I'm still trying to find a way to work it into my kitchen. And if I can't fit it in, I'll find another home for it.
Wednesday 2024.8.21
DNC
I saw more of the Democratic National Convention than I had wanted to. I watched from start to finish on Monday evening. Most of the speeches were, well, campaign speeches — a lot of promise with little hope for fulfillment.
I watched because I wanted to hear what Biden would say. Most of his speech was like a State of the Union Address, full of his accomplishments. The line that struck me the most was toward the end when he said he was too old to continue for another term. That must have been a difficult statement for him to make. One can't help admiring him for saying it.
I kept my laptop computer open and in my lap in case there were any lines worth noting. Two caught my attention during Monday's broadcast, but I didn't note who spoke them.
"It's your choice. A prosecutor or a felon."
"We have him on the run now."
That second one is true for now. Harris has momentum. If she hopes to win the election in November, she needs to keep the momentum going. Candidates always enjoy a bump in the polls after their convention. Trump was enjoying his bump when Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Harris. That took some of the wind out of Trump's sails.
The economy seems to be the issue most important with the electorate. Trump's advisors have been trying to keep him focused on the economy in his rallies, but he can't stop himself from deviating into personal attacks on Biden and Harris. If Harris hopes to win, she needs not only to concentrate her speeches on the economy, but she must offer some concrete policy proposals that can be achieved.
Tuesday's convention was marred by the roll call vote. It's an important part of the proceedings and is required by the rules, but I had to mute the sound. The music was too loud. Besides, the vote was only ceremonial anyway because she was officially nominated on August 6 to avoid a potential conflict with some archaic Ohio law. Quoting PBS:
Ohio’s deadline to file for the general election ballot was Aug. 7. Although the deadline had been modified in previous presidential election years to accommodate late-summer conventions of both parties, this year state Republicans initially planned to enforce the existing deadline, with one GOP lawmaker calling the scheduling bind ”a Democratic problem.”
In other words, more Republican shenanigans to interfere with a Democratic process.
The highlight of yesterday evening for me was the speech my Michelle Obama. She is a gifted speaker. It was a rousing speech. She was followed by her husband and he gave a good speech too, but Michelle's was better.
A few afterthoughts at the end of the evening:
I've wondered what the MAGA enthusiasts see in Trump that makes them want to support him. Yes, he got a few things done in his term. He lowered taxes for the wealthiest Americans. He raised tariffs on some imported goods, and tanked our economy, to name a few.
It's undeniable that his is entertaining. He makes politics a lot less boring. But entertainment doesn't solve the problems of a nation. The slow and boring grinding gears of government does.
Considering the power Trump continues to hold over the Republican party, a win by Harris might be another nail in his coffin. It could begin the end of his despotism over the party. Future history books might mark this election as the beginning of the end of the MAGA era.
I'll be watching again this evening and I'll be writing more notes.
Football
College football season starts on Saturday. The NFL is beginning its season too. I've been clearing shows off my DVR, making room for new recordings. Most of the saved programs are episodes of Saturday Night Live, The Curse of Oak Island and Penn & Teller. During the summer when most of TV is reruns, I might as well choose the reruns I want to watch, and clean up my DVR's memory at the same time .
The Tomato Chronicles
I harvested another tomato yesterday. The plants are limping along. It seems impossible that last year's plants were taller than I am as the end of August approached. I wish I knew the problem this year. New soil and new plants didn't make any difference. Global warming? Maybe the plants were watered more often last year. It's something to consider.
Sunday 2024.8.18
Vine
I haven't said much about the Amazon Vine Voices program in a while. I have a few updates.
I completed my requirements for this six-month evaluation period, which ends around November 15th. I still occasionally request items, but only if I have a genuine need for them. As I've said in other blog posts, I can always use paper towels and disposable gloves.
Expensive items are sometimes a temptation because they're free (or almost free), but I resist those. I ordered so many LEGO-like building kits in the past, Vine recommends several of them everyday. There was a potentially good car kit, more than 2,000 pieces and around $140, but I built enough kits to be satisfied for a while. And I still have an unbuilt military tank new in box to build someday when I feel like it — maybe on a rainy day this winter.
Another temptation is charcoal briquettes. I like to cook on the grill. I often see boxes of coconut fiber cubes that I can use in my little barbecue grill. However, those must be grabbed quickly before they disappear. I missed two boxes yesterday. It wasn't a disappointment. I have three boxes in the shed and I still have the two bags of briquettes I bought from Costco.
Some items go so quickly, it's best not to read the product description first. Just click to order immediately. Then read the product description and, if necessary, cancel the order.
The most expensive items I requested recently are two polycarbonate plastic chair mats. A few years ago I bought two mats from Costco and I never liked them. They move, even though made with spikes in the bottom, and one of them is now cracking. At the time, I left negative reviews.
The new mats were a bit of concern. The web site displayed an expensive mat, $165, but when I clicked the request button, a cheaper one, $110, was displayed. Bait and switch? I ordered it anyway. Then the expensive one was displayed again and it was available to order; so, I ordered that one too. One has been shipped, but not the other one, so far. I hope I get both. I have two desks in my home office and two office chairs. Without mats, the carpeting would eventually be damaged. I need two floor mats.
Yesterday evening I used the pizza board and mezzaluna I got from Vine.
Dislocated Shoulder
I continue to heal. I'm a bit impatient. It has been only 17 days since my fall. I probably won't be fully recovered until the end of September, or maybe well into October. I might have played too much pool yesterday morning. My arm was sore during the afternoon.
The Convention
Tomorrow the Democratic National Convention begins in Chicago. I remember seeing on TV the 1968 Chicago convention and the bloody riots in the streets. The city is doing a lot to ensure this convention will be relatively peaceful.
CNN is beginning its coverage this evening — a kind of pre-convention hype, I guess. Something to increase the advertisement revenue?
I'm not sure how much of this convention I will actually watch. I'd rather play a game on my VR headset. However, there will definitely be way too much news coverage. Therefore, I'll pick up bits of information that might be worth blogging about.
More Politics
I listened to Trump's speech at the Bedminster Golf Club on August 15th. One point I noted was that he played the "socialist" card. Wasn't Bernie Sanders supposed to be a socialist? The news has been reporting Trump's attempt to pin a useful label on Kamala Harris. Maybe "socialist" is it.
Politico reported yesterday: "Trump can't find a Harris nickname that sticks." I think socialist might be a good one. Use it enough times and maybe it will gain traction. Is she a socialist? No. Of course not. But that doesn't matter to Trump.
Trump spoke at a rally yesterday in Wilkes-Barre, PA, where he toggled between economic policies and insults of Harris and Biden. He seemed angry. Someone on CNN commented on Trump's apparent disappointment about Biden's withdrawal from the race. "Trump was on a glide path to victory." Not anymore.
Wednesday 2024.8.14
Anniversary
On August 14th, 2010 I wrote and published my first blog. I don't think I've continued any hobby or pastime for 14 years. Every Sunday and Wednesday since that humble beginning I have published my blog on this web site.
In my first blog I wrote about my Uncle Charlie, a marine biologist in Alaska, and my love of Salmon Jerky. I didn't have a recipe for it on this web site, but I later added it along with a video on YouTube. It has been quite a while since I made it. I really need to make jerky again.
I added another anniversary to my calendar this month. For August 1st I added a mention of my accidental fall that resulted in a dislocated shoulder. A year from now, if I'm still writing this blog, I'll have something to say about it.
Healing
As for now, I continue to heal. I continue to feel a little better each day. It has been only two weeks, but I can do most light things with my right arm. I still can't cut my hair because I can't reach up to the top of my head.
Yesterday I played two rounds of mini golf with friends. I won one game and lost the other. During the evening I played a few games of pool. I think it helps with the healing process and it's more entertaining than physical therapy.
Sleeping is getting easier because I can now, finally, sleep on my right side. It's not completely comfortable, but it helps.
As for my sprained back, that is almost completely healed now. I feel a little stiff when getting out of a chair, but otherwise I'm walking around normally. No need for the rolling walker.
Politics
There was a time a few years ago when I thought Trump was getting too much media attention. I believed it was interfering with more important news. Now, with Kamala Harris starting to gain popularity in the polls, the media can't help but report the latest Trump headlines.
There have been so many notable tidbits, I started writing some down. Here are a few:
From USA Today:
Since Vice President Kamala Harris rose to the top of the Democratic presidential ticket last month, Trump’s reelection campaign has been flailing. His childish attacks against her aren’t working. His racist comments about her mixed-race heritage have repelled all but his most loyal supporters. His vice presidential pick, JD Vance, becomes less likable every time he speaks.
From CNN:
He thought he could easily coast through this election. Now he is realizing he will likely lose the race.
Trump is already laying down the groundwork for a multitude of challenges to the outcome of the election. He will claim that this election was stolen from him, again.
Republicans are already engaging in shenanigans.
From George Conway:
"He is not just running for president, he is running from prison."
My opinion:
The Trump campaign's files were hacked. They claim it was Iran. If interference was coming from Russia, as it was in 2016, Trump certainly wouldn't claim it. Putin is his pal.
And a Big Thank You
This web site rarely receives any donations for its maintenance. Yesterday I received two. Thanks for the generosity. I really appreciate it.
And I haven't pointed it out in a while, but this web site is totally free to use. Look around. There are no ads and never any cookies. Browse with confidence.
Sunday 2024.8.11
Lots of little things today:
When it Rains…
No, not more weather. More pain.
I was dressing myself after my morning shower and when I stood up I pulled a muscle in my lower back. I didn't wait to see how bad it would get. I immediately took my rolling walker out of the closet where I store it.
I can understand why it happened. After injuring my shoulder, I've been trying to move more carefully. That probably puts a little more stress on muscles that I don't normally use very much. The stress evidently built up until the muscle was sprained.
So now there are two recoveries in progress. The shoulder will take longer, but the sprained back will slow me down for only a few days. In fact, yesterday I was able to move around my home most of the time without using the walker.
Virtual Reality
I'm thankful I have my Meta Quest 3 virtual reality headset. It gives me something to do while I am healing. With a sore back it isn't easy to stand while putting a golf ball. Thankfully, I can play mini golf while sitting. It's an adjustment, but I do okay. Using the virtual pool table is a little more difficult because it definitely requires standing.
Movies
With all this convalescence going on, I thought it might be a good time get caught up on some of the movies I have on disc, but never watched. One of them is God Bless America. Although well rated on IMDb.com, I thought it was awful. Lots of gratuitous violence.
I have a Blu-ray player that plays movies in MKV format. That format is popular for movies exchanged on the internet. I works excellent for high-definition films, like 1080p, and can include subtitles. As an experiment this week (and something to keep my mind off my injuries) I tried burning a few movies to a blank Blu-ray disc. The player handles them well. I don't know that I would use discs to archive all my movies. I have usable portable hard disc drives on a shelf in my office. They work well enough.
Sleep
Sleep has been the biggest issue lately. I can't find a comfortable position in bed. However, as I continue to heal I am finally sleeping through most of the night.
Hair
I really need to cut my hair. It's getting in my face and that annoys me. However, with my shoulder the way it is, I can't reach up high enough. A haircut will be a good milestone along my path to recovery.
The Tomato Chronicles
The tomato plants have been neglected since my fall. I wasn't able to do much, not even watering them. Today I'll try to throw some water on them and maybe keep them alive. I'd like the two indeterminate plants to survive the winter to see how they do in the spring. Here in SoCal frost is rarely an issue.
I might move one of the soil monitor sensors back outside to track the temperature during the winter, especially if there are forecasts of possible frost. If I lose the plants, oh well. I can buy more in February.
And Maybe Some More Politics
The race is heating up. It never pays to assume anything when it comes to politics. I often recall the 2016 race when many of us believed Hillary Clinton would win.
This time, it's easy to be optimistic about Harris and Walz. They are slowly pulling ahead of Trump in the polls. I don't trust polls. They were wrong in 2016. However, the positivity in the Democrats is palpable, while the negativity in the GOP seems just as obvious.
Trump is doing all he can to portray Harris and Walz as dangerous liberals who will import violent criminals to murder parents and steal their children for sex trafficking. Maybe I'm exaggerating too much, but I'm sure the fringe blogs are saying something similar.
And I'm looking forward to reading some of the books that might be published next year to describe the race. I haven't been doing as much reading as I formerly did. I really need to return my attention to my books. I love to read.
Wednesday 2024.8.7
Sling Free
Sunday was the first day I went all day without wearing the sling stabilizing my arm. I didn't move my arm much; I kept it close to my side. It had been only three days since my accident. However, I was able to use my arm for small tasks that didn't require much movement, heavy lifting, or exertion. My arm is still stiff and if I do too much I feel some pain. It's a challenge, for example, to lift a half-gallon of milk off the top shelf of the refrigerator.
I did some research online. How long does it take to recover from a dislocated shoulder? I found this:
You can stop wearing the sling after a few days, but it takes about 12 to 16 weeks to completely recover from a dislocated shoulder. You'll usually be able to resume most activities within two weeks. You should avoid heavy living and sports involving shoulder movements for between six weeks and three months.
That feels right so far. At my age, now 73, recovery might take a little longer, but I feel like I am already making normal progress. Every day gets a little better. I can see the difference in the ways I am able to use my right arm. I still have a long way to go, but I see some improvements.
When I was in the hospital the doctor showed me the x-ray of my shoulder, as if to confirm that it really was dislocated. I knew it when I tried to get up off the road.
It was interesting to see, however, how far the top of the humerus bone was from the shoulder socket. And I'm surprised I felt so little pain.
The doctor also showed me the follow-up x-ray that was taken after he restored my shoulder. I especially liked that image because my shoulder looked normal again. I knew I was going to be okay.
I later saw on My Chart that he saw no fractures or tissue damage. That was probably why I felt so little pain.
Earthquake
Around 9:00 yesterday evening my phone alerted me — "Earthquake detected." A few seconds later my home started shaking. It wasn't enough to cause any damage, but it's always a little frightening. The quake was located about 60 miles away where it was rated at 5.2 on the US Geological Survey web site.
More Politics
I like Kamala Harris' pick of Tim Walz as a running mate. He has a good biography that would appeal to Midwestern voters — 24 years in the military, 12 years in Congress, a high school teacher and a football coach.
I liked Josh Shapiro. I thought he might guarantee she would win Pennsylvania. However, I also saw him as a potential liability. He's Jewish and a lot of people in the USA are angry at Israel because of how they are attacking Hamas in Gaza. I saw the possibility of protests at Harris' campaign rallies. Walz is a good choice.
I was concerned about the drop in the stock market over the weekend, thinking that might have a negative impact on the Harris campaign. On Tuesday the market recovered some of its losses and the DOW looked even better this morning. Investors were jittery because the jobs report was lower than expected, but there was no cause for panic. Other economic indicators look good.
The Republicans are already seeking ways to tarnish the Harris/Walz ticket, tagging them as dangerous liberal extremists. There are, of course, plenty of MAGA republicans who will believe those insults. However, as I've said before, Trump doesn't have enough MAGA devotees to win the election.
Sunday 2024.8.4
Department of Motor Vehicles
As mentioned in Wednesday's blog post, I was required to report to the DMV to take an eye test and do a written test. It's a law in California. Anyone over the age of 70 has to do it. I wasn't concerned about the eye test, but I worried about the written test. So, I prepared by practicing the possible test questions during July.
Then things went wildly wrong. My car wouldn't start because of a dead battery. I decided to walk. I tripped and fell, dislocating my right shoulder. I knew it was dislocated. I couldn't use my right hand. My arm flopped around like a dead fish. I kept going.
I told the people at the DMV I needed to reschedule because my arm was hanging useless at my side. Thankfully, my doctor's office is in the same building. I went there next.
After doing a cursory examination, he called for an ambulance to transport me to the hospital. No sirens.
At the hospital they likewise did an examination, including x-rays. Yep. Dislocated. The doctor gave me the option of having it snapped back in without anesthesia or go under general. I chose the latter. I preferred to be out and my insurance pays for everything. I pay only a $65 copay.
By the middle of the afternoon they fastened a stabilizer sling around my arm and told me I could go home. No car; so, they called for a Lyft.
By the evening I was writing this blog before going to bed. There was hardly any pain, unless I tried to move my arm too much.
The doctor wanted me to see an orthopedic surgeon, but I am choosing not to. It's just another doctor wanting a piece of my insurance benefits. You already know I call it the Billable Procedures Treadmill. They get you on and it's not easy to get off. The orthopedist would probably order more x-rays and then set me up for six months of unnecessary physical therapy plus return visits. I just need to rest and heal.
Thursday night was no fun. I couldn't find a comfortable position in bed. I was awake most of the night. Friday night was better.
Trying to do everything with my left hand is tedious. I can use my right hand, but sudden movements of my right arm can be a little painful.
Friday morning was the first time I looked at my face. A few people told me it was a little bloody. I joked, saying, "You should see the other guy," before telling them what really happened.
My face did hit the pavement, but not really hard — just enough the cause a few scrapes. I also have an abrasion on my right knee, right elbow and hand. It all happened too quickly to recall the details of the event. One second I'm walking and the next second I'm lying on the pavement with no use of my right arm.
The bruise on the elbow tells the story. When I fell my right elbow hit the ground first, pushing my humerus bone up and therefore pushing the ball joint out of my shoulder socket.
The lesson learned: I really need to be careful when walking in new shoes. I'm used to going barefoot all the time. Shoes change things, and that's what happened. I caught the edge of my shoe on the curb and fell.
So, okay, getting old isn't fun. I should be fine in a week or two. I'm already using both hands to do some things, like work at my computer. I was able to connect a battery charger to my car's battery and let it charge overnight and then disconnect it the next day and put everything away. Speaking of which, when I was hanging the extension cord in my shed I saw my two lawn sprinklers. What lawn? I tossed those in the recycling bin.
Another Tortilla Alternative
I enjoy the benefits of having friends who cook. We exchange ideas and occasionally they are genius.
As a person with type 2 diabetes, I am supposed to limit my intake of carbohydrates. The body easily converts carbs into blood sugar. Proteins can be converted into carbs too, but that process is not as easy.
I've made chaffles many times, and they are good, but you can't use them as wraps the way you can with a well-made tortilla.
A friend sent me a store advertisement for egg white tortilla alternatives. I had to do some research. I found one web site that uses only processed liquid egg whites and unflavored protein powder. I don't have the liquid, but I have plenty of eggs.
I found that two egg whites and 1 tablespoon of protein powder, well blended, makes a very usable tortilla. It's substantial enough to be handled without tearing and it has nearly the right amount of chewiness to pass for a flour tortilla. I made two for Chicken Flautas. They worked well and the flautas were delicious.
Some Politics
I read recently that Trump is frustrated with the media attention Kamala Harris is receiving. A few days ago The New York Times reported, "Trump and his allies adapt to a new role: fighting for attention." Trump needs the attention, for several reasons.
He doesn't have much to offer on policies. He has some, but certainly not as many as Harris and the Democrats. Trump can win an election based on media attention. In 2016 he was getting the lion's share of attention while Hillary Clinton was almost ignored by the media, unless there was something sensational, like her emails.
Trump needs the popularity. Politics and government — let's be honest — is crashingly boring. Trump makes it entertaining. His MAGA followers listen to every speech to hear what outrageous claims he'll make next. Some of them might believe him. Others might enjoy the conspiracy theories. Racial comments might appeal to some in the MAGA crowd, but they will probably drive away many independent voters.
And Trump needs the White House. He's a convicted felon. There are too many indictments hanging over his head. The presidency would keep him out of court and out of prison. If he loses in November, he'll probably spend the rest of his life appealing convictions and fighting indictments. So far, his followers are willing to give him money to cover his legal fees, but that support won't last forever. As time passes, he will become more and more old news and all but the most ardent followers will lose interest in him.
When I listen to him speak, which isn't very often, he sounds frightened and angry. Biden was an easy target. The president performed poorly in their debate and it was clear his age was becoming an issue. Trump and his allies were probably confident they would win this next election. It was all but guaranteed. Then Harris became the presumptive candidate and all the confidence evaporated like so much steam.
Seriously, what has Trump got that would help him defeat Harris? Not much. He has his base, but that is not enough. His base has been shrinking. He needs to win independent voters in the swing states. Harris, however, has been slowly gaining an advantage over Trump in the polls. Many voters who previously said they would vote for a third-party candidate are now shifting their vote to Harris. I planned not to vote at all. I didn't like either candidate. I plan to vote for Harris.