Separation of Powers

Since we have been discussing Presidents (and perhaps precedents?) today, how about a little history? We have recently been hearing a lot of talk about one branch of the government having too much or too little power. Wisely, the founding fathers tried to keep this all in balance by having a separation of powers; a system of checks and balances.

The doctrine of the separation of powers was described by Montesquieu in his L’esprit des Lois in 1748. He said that a nation’s liberty depended on the separation of the three types of power, legislative, judicial and executive with each having their own separate institution. Originally, President Madison, during the framing of the Bill of Rights, wanted to include an amendment spelling out the separation of powers. This amendment was rejected by the Congress, however, because the separation of powers is implied in the Constitution by the enumeration of each branch’s powers. So what we have today is a system not designed to maximize efficiency but to maximize freedom.

Popcorn

For most people trying to lose weight, the choice for snacking is either raw vegetables or popcorn. As a salt/starch eater, I’d pick popcorn every time. According to America’s Test Kitchen, the best microwave popcorn you can buy is Newman’s Own Butter. Of course, I never buy the full butter type. But I can’t stand the no-butter or natural types. I find that “light” is a good compromise.

Once while visiting Sarah at USC, we had to make the best of a poor hors d’oeuvres situation. All she had was popcorn and hummus. Well, desperation being the mother of invention in this case, we popped the kernels and carefully dipped one at a time in the hummus. (Spicy hummus worked the best.) Our new hors d’oeuvres accomplished three things: it made the popcorn more glamorous; it made for a filling and nutritious snack; and it really slowed us down what with all the individual dipping. Try it!

SPARE CHANGE

TODAY’S WORRY

In the vicinity of Las Vegas, there are billboards which read, “Bob Won $2 Million!” and “Koichi Won $1.2 Million!” Soon there should be a new one reading, “Mary Won 320 Quarters!” Yes, it’s true. On a slot machine named Prize Pig! (apt I thought), I played a quarter and got back 320. I am no gambler. The idea of losing money is just too horrible for me to imagine. I don’t play the lottery. But on our travels, if we are passing through Nevada, we will play a few slots with a limit of spending $20. So after losing about $10 on Haywire! and Let it Roll!, John wanted to try Haywire Deluxe! which was situated next to Prize Pig! So I stuck in a quarter or two, and two Prize Pigs and one wallowing in mud showed up and the machine went nuts. This is the most excitement I have ever had in a casino. Hopefully, I won’t become a compulsive gambler. But I won enough to pay for dinner! Ka-ching!

parlay

In keeping with our general theme of betting, today’s word is –

parlay -To bet (an original wager and its winnings) on a subsequent event or to maneuver (an asset) to great advantage. (dictionary.com)

So if I had taken my 320 quarters and put all of it on black on the roulette wheel I would have parlayed my bet.

Gold Strike Hotel & Gambling Hall, Jean, NV

For $19.95 a night, this was a surprisingly good experience. The rooms are good size and clean. The casino has low wager tables ($2) and also penny and nickel slots. The biggest downside was the fact that the beds are really, really hard and the showerhead is really low.

We ate at The Steakhouse which is their better restaurant. At The Steakhouse we were met by a supercilious maitre d’ in a tuxedo. This put us at an immediate disadvantage since I was wearing jeans and John had on his hiking pants. But we soldiered on and took a table. The menu had steaks, chops and seafood. One of the entrees was hockey pucks (scallops) in a wine, lemon butter sauce. I, of course, asked for them cooked medium rare so they wouldn’t resemble hockey pucks. The waiter actually told me that they cook all their seafood thoroughly so that the patrons wouldn’t get sick. So we were not off to a good start. But after checking in the kitchen, he discovered from the chef that it was possible not to have them overdone. Both John and I had our meal cooked exactly as we had asked. John had a medium rare veal chop and I had soft, lovely scallops. Except for the fact that everything was very glistening (covered in butter), it was a very good meal at a reasonable price. (My winnings covered it!)

VALENTINE’S DAY

TODAY’S NON-WORRY

In a couple of days, John and I are going to take a long road trip. We’ll be in the car for probably 12 hours. We’ve made this trip many times before so there really isn’t anything new to see. But, we don’t turn on the radio or play tunes or tapes. We sit and talk. There’s always some new aspect to the scenery, “oh, look, what do you think they’re growing over there?” or “Are the rusted hulks of school busses still sitting beside Route 58?” Sometimes we make dumb jokes and sometimes we talk about serious world issues. Sometimes we just sit quietly next to each other. What has this got to do with Valentine’s Day? I guess when you find your perfect someone, just being with him is never boring and makes for a perfect day.

St. Valentine

When so many of our holidays seem to be created by Hallmark to sell cards, this one goes back to ancient times to a celebration of Juno, the patroness of marriage and women. Her special day was February 14. So there was a pagan festival early on concerned with love. As the Christian religion took hold in Europe, the church officials wanted to do away with the pagan aspects of the festival. They gave the day a saint’s name. According to the History Channel this is why they chose St. Valentine.

“One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first ‘valentine’ greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor’s daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed ‘From your Valentine,’ an expression that is still in use today.”

Heart Healthy

This year for Valentine’s Day I am cooking a heart healthy meal. Really, what could be more caring? I would like to imagine us doddering off into our old age (many years from now, of course) with the best possible health. Today seems like an excellent day to start. So I am making the “Pan-Asian Menu for Winter Entertaining” from Jack Bishop’s A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen. We will be having Gingered Carrot Soup, Curried Lentils with Caramelized Onions, Basmati Rice Pilaf, and Wilted Spinach Salad with Japanese Flavors. I’ll cut down on the fat in the recipes and use light coconut milk in the curry. Hopefully, it won’t affect the flavor. Since I am not the world’s best cook, I really hope this comes out well.

MY OPINION

TODAY’S WORRY

I often wonder why I just can’t keep my mouth shut. Someone says something. It’s not what I think. I know that this is a strongly held opinion on their part. Then the pressure inside my head starts building and, shazaam, out of my mouth comes my opinion. Almost always it is antithetic to their opinion. I guess that’s why I need to say it. It’s not so much that I think that their opinion will be changed; it’s more that I can’t let the moment go by without them knowing that my opinion is different. I guess I think if I just remain silent and pass up the opportunity to object, I will be tacitly supporting a position that I disagree with. Why can’t I let someone else just bask in the glow of their presumed rightness? I don’t know. My life would be more harmonious if I could do this. But I can’t.