Sometimes we need to stop.

I see trees of green
Red roses too
Bob Thiele and George David Weiss

A perfect fall day, just before lunch. Last year I would have left the laboratory and driven to the fitness center where my running gear–shoes and shorts, water bottle and hat–were stashed. I would have popped in my earphones, dialed up a Pandora playlist, and charged through 3 miles, mind consumed with pace and breathing and knees. Back to the fitness center, a quick shower, and an afternoon of prostate slides.

But that was last year, and this of course is not. COVID has zapped the fitness center and seems to have zapped much of my energy as well. My runs this year have been rarer than real birthday parties, and even using my home elliptical has felt like a burden. But today I felt good, the sun was shining and I decided to go for a walk.

And how nice it was to talk a walk in the quiet residential neighborhood just a block south of the lab. Without headphones clogging my ears, without being concerned about how fast or how far I could go, I was able to look around and enjoy the world before me.

Things I might normally not notice; the man and his son, helmets pulled low over their faces, pedaling their bikes in the street, playing hooky from their virtual career and virtual classroom; the woman teaching her virtual classroom from a card table in her garage; the cardboard boxes stacked next to recycling bins pointing to homeowners who have succumbed to Amazon Fever.

A man walks his dog; a maintenance man uses a propane tank for fuel as he fiddles with a structure in the park. The grass is green, the sky a pure blue with gently floating wisps of white clouds. For a moment there is no COVID, there are no politics–the bitterness and hatred have been banished by the light and colors of the fall.

If I was running I wouldn’t slow down to even see the roses, today I want to stop and smell them. No, it won’t change the world, but sometimes we don’t have to.

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The cover of restaurateur Mee McCormick’s newest cookbook, “My Pinewood Kitchen-A Southern Culinary Cure,” promises “130+ crazy delicious, gluten-free recipes to reduce inflammation & make your gut happy.” As it turns out, the book delivers a lot  more.

McCormick, who runs Pinewood Kitchen & Mercantile in Pinewood, Tennessee with her husband Lee and their daughters Bella and Lola, suffered from lifelong digestive problems serious enough to make a complete change in her dietary regimen a must. To make it happen, she developed a two-pronged game plan. 

My Pinewood Kitchen

Research was the obvious first step, followed, in this case, by the development of  easy-to-use recipes designed to implement the necessary changes. “My Kitchen Cure,” her first cookbook, features gut-friendly adaptations of the classic recipes she studied during her tenure  at a professional culinary program. Her second book, “My Pinewood Kitchen,” also provides recipes, along with an overview of the current research on gut issues and the story of Pinewood Kitchen & Mercantile, the restaurant she and her husband own in rural Tennessee. Located an hour’s drive from Nashville, the restaurant is adjacent to the family’s Pinewood Farm.

Since I’m neither a dietician nor a doctor, it’s hard for me to judge the accuracy of the information concerning food-related dietary issues. On the other hand, I do have a variety of digestive issues, and I found her information both interesting and helpful. 

McCormick’s recipes incorporate a lot of the newish-or repositioned- ingredients popular with  a substantial segment of consumers. Think gluten-free flour, cashew sour cream, hijiki seaweed, and coconut bacon, for example. While the jury is still out on some of the newbies, her recipes, along with the photos of the finished dishes, are compelling, whatever the verdict.

Chicken Piccata

I used thin cut breasts to make the recipe, which eliminated the need to pound the meat to a uniform thickness. And since I don’t have a gluten issue, I used unbleached flour in lieu of a gluten-free option. Easy enough for even a novice cook, the finished dish was a thumbs-up, four star success,

Chicken Piccata

3 tablespoons 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend (or almond flour)

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (if meat free, use grilled portobello mushrooms or roasted cauliflower florets and skip the directions for cooking the chicken)

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon vegan butter, grass-fed butter or ghee

2 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 cup organic chicken or vegetable broth

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon drained capers

1. In a shallow dish, combine the flour, sea salt, and black pepper. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the mixture; set aside.
2. Pound the chicken to 1/2-inch thickness between sheets of parchment paper with the flat side of a meat mallet or a rolling pin. Coat the chicken with the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
3. In. a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil and butter. Add the chicken, cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until no longer pink in the center. Transfer to a serving platter; cover loosely with foil.
4. Add the garlic to the same skillet; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add the reserved tablespoon of the mixture; cook and stir for one minute. Add the broth and lemon juice; cook 2 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Stir in the parsley and capers until blended. Spoon the sauce over the chicken.

Note: The book does contain recipes for both chicken and vegetable broth.

Mee McCormick, “My Pinewood Kitchen-A Southern Culinary Cure,” Health Communications Inc. $26.95. Photos courtesy of the author and publisher.

Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri State announced Tuesday that their football game has been pushed back a week because of positive COVID-19 tests.

“We recently had some positive cases and paused workouts with an abundance of caution,” said SEMO Director of Athletics Brady Barke said in a statement posted on the athletic department website. “We want to make sure our student-athletes are safe in every opportunity they have to compete.”

SEMO did not reveal an exact number instead stating “some positive COVID cases” as the reason for the game being moved from its original Oct. 23 date.

The game — the only one that SIU will play this fall — is now scheduled for Oct. 30 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale. Start time is 6 p.m.

According to the SIU athletics website, seating capacity for the game will be limited to 20 percent, based upon a plan approved by the campus Emergency Operations Center and with guidance from the state of Illinois and Jackson County Health Department.

Due to the attendance restrictions, SIU Director of Athletics Liz Jarnigan said ticketing will be modified to include season-ticket holders, SIU students and player families only.

Safety measures will include socially-distanced, assigned seating. Tailgating will not be permitted, and fans will be required to wear a mask or facial covering upon entering the stadium. It can be removed while eating or drinking. Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the stadium.

SIU head coach Nick Hill addressed the media Tuesday afternoon. He said that SIU has seen only one positive in its latest round of testing.

“Both sides agreeing to the date,” Hill said when asked how the game’s change came about. “Obviously you see around college athletics, you see around pro football, you see around every sport. We’re tested every single week making sure that position groups and your team have full strength.

“Everybody’s got to be ready to play. Like I told our team, there are no 1s, 2s and 3s. Everybody’s a one.”

Hill, the former Saluki quarterback, and SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz are longtime friends as well as current rivals.  Matukewicz spent seven seasons at SIU.  As Salukis’ linebackers coach and run-game coordinator, he was a key part in three Missouri Valley Football Conference championships (2003-2005) and five NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff berths (2003-2007). 

“We’re in constant communication with SEMO, making sure that that date is the right date (to play),” Hill said.

Hill said that SIU tests its players and staff each week.

“I think today is my 11th test,” Hill said. “Our numbers are good. We want both sides to remain healthy and be at full strength when we play the game.”

This year marks the 88th meeting for SEMO and SIU in a series that dates back to 1909 when the teams crossed the Mississippi River by boat to play. The game is now known as the “War for the Wheel” in reference to the ship’s wheel trophy which goes to the winner.

President Roosevelt has been kidnapped, a steam machine from the past has returned, and agents are turning into weird steam punk zombies! And it’s up to you to save it all! Beep Games and Tripetoy’s Bartlow’s Dread Machine is an old tiny arcade rail shooter brought back to live and made two player co-op!

Very few of us are old enough to remember the old shooter arcade game where you would shoot at targets that popped up in front of you along a rail – with a real gun to boot! Maybe you seen them at carnivals? Either way, Beep Games along with Tripetoy brought it alive on the PC for you and amped it up a bit. You can pick between famous characters like Annie Oakley and Nikoli Tesla. As the character you move along a rail with the arrow or WASD keys and shoot at different villians with the mouse. Enemies like to come at you from all angles around the rails and sometimes even pop out from shrubs and doorways. Enemies start out simply swinging their arms at you but eventually upgrade to weapons and other shootable things. I highly recommend moving rather than standing still when shooting to avoid being beaten up by the swinging arm enemies. You can also click the right mouse button to deflect bullets which is very helpful. There are difficulty levels as well, but i felt like easy was pretty hard on its own. Anyway try the other levels if you want a REAL challenge!

Bartlow’s Dread Machine can also be played two player couch co-op! Meaning that you can play it with the person next to you rather than having to be online. I miss the old co-op couch games don’t you? The levels vary a bit too as you move on, moving from side view to top down, and even to the real old timey shooting where the targets are in front of you as you shoot. You also eventually switch from shooting to flying a plane and navigating a boat as well – while shooting.

As you kill the deranged agents, they drop money bags which you have to zoom around and collect, while still be attacked by other enemies. They disappear as well so it can at times be rather difficult to collect the bags in time. There are also special places on the board to get more ammo, and health, which you will need since both run out fast! Checkpoints are scattered about as well which are real nice for when you kick the bucket. Moving around on the rails takes getting use to as it can be kinda tricky to go into the middle rails, the character tends to zoom past it instead of stop at the intersection. Fortunately you only have to move past items and checkpoints to activate them.

Once you manage to collect all the monies, you can use it to buy new stuff! There are new weapons, new clothes and costumes, and even new hats! You can also buy some extra bullets and healing items that can be used once by hitting the middle mouse button.

I loved the old fashion style shooting action and the fact that you can buy new gear and weapons. Also the cute tin look of the characters added to the old arcade look. But the moving around was a bit annoying and took a while to get used to, especially having to zoom after money before it disappeared. I give it 3 ½ outta 5 baby dragons.

Bartlow’s Dread Machine is out now and available on steam for only $14.99! You can check out more info here Steam. Now go and save Roosevelt!

Killing two birds with one stone is a common expression, but you rarely – if ever – hear about the kind of masterful stroke that can kill THREE birds with just one stone.

Killing two birds with one stone is the result of an action that accomplishes two different things at the same time or solves two problems with one single action.

On a personal level, it’s usually achieved when I’m able to run an errand for myself while executing the honey do list.

In his new book, Trust, Pete Buttigieg outlines the erosion of trust, both here in America and around the world.  The trust we have lost here is both in our institutions and in each other.

On the world stage, nations that once relied on the leadership and support of the United States no longer feel that we are a reliable partner in any sense of the word.

Since 2017, all we have done internationally is withdraw from agreements and treaties and engage in no-win trade wars.

Sean Conley is a Doctor of Osteopathy (whatever that means) who was recruited onto the President’s medical team by Ronny Jackson, Trump’s previous personal physician.

Jackson, as you may remember was kicked out of the White House in 2018 for passing out happy pills on Air Force One and is now running to represent Texas’s 13th congressional district in the U.S. House.

Intentionally or not, Conley took on the mantle of Destroyer of Trust.  In one fell swoop, Conley chipped away at the credibility of doctors, the military and our government.

Conley is a doctor (of sorts), a Navy officer and, as Physician to the President, part of the administration. He is also the guy who prescribed hydroxychloroquine for Donald Trump and I will let that information stand on its own.

Conley lead a phalanx of masked doctors to a podium in front of Walter Reed Hospital on Saturday for reasons that became immediately unclear.  He seemed to be trying out for Kayleigh McEnany’s job.

Conley was both evasive and dishonest and we’ll leave it at that.  I’ve burdened you enough this week.

I have to say, though, that it was decidedly unscientific for Conley to say that he lied to steer the course of illness.  It’s unlikely that even the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine has a course in verbally steering illness.

In just a few press briefings, Conley chipped away at the medical community, the military and our ever crumbling government institutions.

It’s a good thing Trump decided to helicopter back home Monday.  Who knows how much damage Conley could have done with a couple more pressers?

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Jeff Berkowitz: So, George Floyd is not dangerous [at that point]. He’s on the ground and he’s hand-cuffed. Leave the guy alone. Go out and smoke a cigarette, have a donut!

John Anthony: Really?

Berkowitz: What’s he gonna do? Jump up and start slugging you with his handcuffs on?

Anthony” He has a violent history…You don’t know this as a cop when you are responding to…

Berkowitz:  He’s on the ground. He’s handcuffed.

Anthony: Handcuffs mean nothing…

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John Anthony: America’s not a racist country. We have racists in our country…[But] There’s  no way a racist country elects a black person as  President of these United States- twice. 

*****

Show host Berkowitz takes a fresh look with former police officer and 560 AM Radio-The Answer (“Black and Right”) personality John Anthony on  six well-publicized, police involved deaths of blacks.

The “Public Affairs,” TV show airs tonight in Chicago on Cable Ch. 21 (CAN TV) at 9:03 pm.

The show also airs  tonight at 8:30 pm in 25 Chicago Metro north and northwest suburbs on 

—Comcast Cable Ch. 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette and on

–Comcast Cable Ch. 35 in  Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling. 

Berkowitz and Anthony focus on the facts surrounding these incidents,  as we know them, and the facts are all too often ignored by the mainstream media and protestors at rallies.

****************************

The incidents discussed involve Laquan McDonald, Tamar Rice, George Floyd, Rashard Brooks, Breonna Taylor and Michael Brown.

One by one and collectively, Berkowitz and Anthony debate and discuss whether these are examples of systemic racism or of  unfortunate, occasional racist acts. Or, were the police actions appropriate or mis-judgments in the heat of the moment having little to do with race.

What are the larger implications of these cases for society? Can we generalize as to their meaning?  Symbolism or substance?

Also discussed is the BLM organization- their motives and apparent guiding principles, or lack thereof, so to speak.

Finally, Berkowitz and Anthony discuss briefly the Cook County State’s Attorney race between incumbent Democrat Kim Foxx and her Republican challenger Pat O’Brien.

You can also watch, 24/7, the show featuring former police officer, former legislator and current 560 AM Radio, Saturday afternoon talk show host (1-3 pm) John Anthony.