Satan and Yoga

 

Politics, picnics, and chips, by Hal Brown

Previous posts in right column.

April 25, 2022

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These are the best tasting potato chips I have ever eaten, at least since I left New York where as a kid we always had Wise Potato Chip which I didn't see for sale in Michigan or Oregon. The company still exists (website) and has quite a few varieties in addition to the standard unflavored which I grew up eating.

 Here's the Boulder Canyon company website. I got them from New Seasons.

Yesterday was a sunny Sunday with the temperature hitting the low 70's. It  began with a picnic at nearby Sellwood park. I'd never been there before. Unlike Molalla State Park and Willamette Park in West Linn which are favorite places to grab a table next to the river there are no riverside tables at Sellwood Park. In fact you can't even see the river from the park. 

Instead you can get a decent view of downtown Portland's taller buildings.

Still, it is pleasant place to go for a picnic. Although it was quite crowded it was possible to find a fairly isolated table (below).

There was good political news for a change yesterday. 

This came when the results of the French presidential election were announced and the pro-Putin anti-immigration nationalist Marine Le Pen suffered a major defeat. While it is disturbing that she got about 40% of the vote indicating how many voters in France share her views this isn't all that different than the numbers who share the views of Trump and his minions here. 

Here's E.J. Dionne, Jr from the Wash Post (subscription)

Excerpt:

The robust victory of France’s middle-of-the-road President Emmanuel Macron in Sunday’s election is good news for the Western alliance on behalf of Ukraine and bad news for Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Macron’s reelection is also a triumph for the European Union and a setback for those who would weaken it or break it up.

And the defeat of far-right leader Marine Le Pen dealt an important blow to nationalist forces in Europe focused on limiting immigration and marginalizing immigrants, particularly Muslims. It was thus a victory for democracy as well.

The size of Macron’s margin — projected at 59 percent to Le Pen’s 41 percent — was more comfortable than many of his supporters expected even two weeks ago, when Macron and Le Pen advanced to the decisive round.

It reflected Macron’s success in making the dangers of a Le Pen presidency more salient to key voter groups than their frustrations with inflation, their sense that he is out of touch, and a conviction among progressives that while he promised five years ago to be neither right nor left, he governed more from the center-right. To woo the left, Macron softened his stance on economic questions, notably his proposals to raise the eligibility age for social security. 

His conclusion: None of this, however, should detract from Macron’s extraordinary achievement. A loner who broke with the major parties and, from scratch, built a novel coalition of the center managed to win a decisive reelection in a time of deep discontent and uncertainty. He prevailed in a nation that has not looked kindly on incumbents for decades.

And through his victory, he saved Europe from political catastrophe.

My illustration is probably wishful thinking. Would it be that her fate could be the same as that of the Wicked Witch.

Too bad we don't have a Dorothy to set her on fire when she was attempting to use a torch to burn the Straw Man. We need a Dorothy to destroy, as the witch calls it "her beautiful legacy".... which is of course was to be legacy of evil.

Watch video.

Milwaukie Cafe and Bottle Shop, fitover eyeglasses - Hal Brown

 April 23, 2022

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Previous editions archive in right column

I was at the eye doctor in nearby Milwaukie buying Jonathan Paul fitover sun glasses. I saw similar glasses made by Cocoon advertised online and decided to replace my cheap clip-on sun blockers. These are best bought in-person since you can try them on, see how they look, and get advice from expert opticians like those at my local EyeHealth Northwest Optical Shop. (By the way, I am letting my beard grow out.)

These fit over prescription glasses. They come with a lanyard so you can hang them from your neck when not using them.

Since it was noon I thought I'd ask for a recommendation of a nearby restaurant and the opticians sad that the best place for lunch was the Milwaukie Cafe and Bottle Shop. 

It is located in an easy to miss small building while you are driving about a mile past Providence Milwaukie Hospital and my doctors office on SE 32nd Avenue. 

If you decide to go there watch for this store as it is right across the street and the restaurant (next to a dog grooming place) easy to miss:

Here's the menu, click below to enlarge, (which is also on their website here). The restaurant is open only for breakfast and lunch (hours 7:30AM to 2:30 PM).

Assuming you are coming from the direction of the hospital you won't see the mural until you park in the lot (which is in serious need of paving since there's a gaping pothole in it) across the street.

Here are some photos of the interior. Note the signs which show that the owners are progressive.

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The food was tasty and the staff was friendly. You order at the counter and a server brings the food to your table, which you bus for yourself. 

The opticians recommended the brisket which I planned to have but they were out of it so I ordered slow cooked pork shoulder with a fried egg on polenta. It was very good as was my companion's veggie bowl.

Below is the art on the wall which is for sale:

Quiz for the day

You don't have to be exact in identifying this to win. Can you tell basically what it is. Click photo to find out.

Coming attraction:

While on the subject of Jewish delis.....