Author: Jonathan Blundell

I'm a husband, father of three, blogger, podcaster, author and media geek who is hoping to live a simple life and follow The Way.

Huckabee looking better and better

The DMN says Mike Huckabee is on the rise:

Longtime Bush adviser Dan Bartlett, candidly assessing the Republican field, calls Mike Huckabee the “best candidate” but questions whether Americans would elect another president from Hope, Ark., especially one named “Huckabee.”
Mr. Huckabee certainly lags in fundraising and national polls, but quietly, even unexpectedly, the genial former Arkansas governor may be turning the GOP’s Big Four into a Big Five. He scored a triumph last weekend at the “Values Voters Summit” and got good marks from Sunday’s Fox News Channel debate.
And in the key kickoff state of Iowa, there are signs of a showing that could transform the race.

The campaign is hoping to raise $1.034 million this month, or $1 more than they did in the third quarter. They’re only $300k or so short. If KERA can raise $500k in two weeks, I know Huckabee can raise $300k.
So get out your checkbook and help him surge ahead.

While you’re filling out the contribution form, watch Huckabee’s speech at the Value Voters Summit:

Hard to believe

This just in from USA Today:

Study: More fast food means added weight

You may want to sit down for this one. According to the article:

People who eat several fast-food meals a week are significantly heavier than those who don’t eat fast food very often, according to a new study released Monday.

Amazing. Simply amazing what science can reveal these days. After all these years I guess this means my kindergarten teacher was right after all.

Chicken and Chipotle Soup

Got this recipe out of our new low carb cookbook. I thought it was great, Laurie said she liked it and would eat it again, but wouldn’t be too devastated if she didn’t have it again. I cooked it a bit different than the recipe calls for (as usual) but I enjoyed it.

According to the recipe, it evolved from the foodstalls that line the streets of Tlalpan, a suburb of Mexico City; avocado, chicken and chilies make it special.

Ingredients:

6 cups of chicken stock (a little more than 4 10.5 oz cans)
2-3 garlic cloves, finally chopped (I substituted garlic powder)
1-2 chipotle chilies, cut into very thin strips (I substituted a pepper since we couldn’t find chipotle chilies at Wal-Mart)
1 avacado
lime or lemon juice for tossing
3-5 scallions, thinly sliced
12-14 oz skinless, boneless cooked chicken breast, torn or cut into shreds or thin strips
2 tbsp chopped cilantro (we forgot to look for that)
1 lime, cut into wedges, to serve

1. Place the chicken stock in a pan with the garlic and chilies and bring to a boil
2. Cut the avocado in half lengthwise, then remove and discard the pit and skin. Dice the flesh and toss in lime juice to prevent browning (set aside)
3. Arrange the scallions, chicken, avocado and cilantro into the bottom of 4 soup bowls
4. Ladle the hot stock into the bowls and serve with lime wedges

Laurie passed on the lime wedge and added a good deal of garlic salt to her soup. I passed on the added garlic and squeezed the lime juice into my soup. Both bowls of soup had different distinct tastes (or so I thought). I guess that’s the fun of recipes. Play with them till you find something you enjoy.

‘Pull your pants up’

In case you’ve seen them, or haven’t seen them yet, new billboards are going up around town to support Dallas Deputy Mayor Dwaine Caraway‘s fashion police initiative to encourage everyone to ‘Pull your pants up.’ Dallas rapper Dooney ‘Da Priest has even gotten involved and produced a song and video to help spread the message. Maybe I need to add that to the OrangeNoiseRadio rotation.

From NPR:

Dooney says that most of the boys and young men who are saggin’ don’t know where it really comes from. But another word for saggin’ is jailin’.
“They don’t know why their pants are low … They think it’s a fad, or it’s something to do or it’s cool. And I say, ‘Well, No … it come from behind the bars.'”
Clear Channel has agreed to donate billboard space around town and Dooney designed a billboard showing him with his arms crossed, standing in front of downtown Dallas.
Dallas is not the first city to confront saggin’. Shreveport, La., Atlanta and Stratford, Conn., have discussed passing laws. But Dallas is taking a different approach, trying for the hearts and minds of its young people.
Glad folks in Dallas have time to worry about such things.

Watch the news report from Fox 4 News:

And listen to the report and song by Rapper Dooney Da’ Priest from NPR/KERA.

5ives

I haven’t done one of these in a while so I figured I’d join several together.

5ive things that rock:

5. Having my own Wiki to write about whatever I please
4. Scrubs starts back this week
3. NPR
2. Friends that let me borrow their truck while mine is in the shop
1. Watching candles burn in our new fireplace while my wife and I sit on the couch talking about what color to paint each room of the house

5ive things that suck:

5. The Iraq war
4. Amy and now Neal on The Biggest Loser
3. The Office is only 30 minutes long this week
2. Having my truck in the shop
1. AT&T Internet/DSL service

5ive songs I wish I’d written:

5. Almighty – Wayne Watson
4. One of These Mornings – Moby
3. Everything Glorious – David Crowder
2. Walk On – U2
1. Grace – U2

5ive TV shows I’d love to guest star on:

5. My Name is Earl
4. The Simpsons
3. The West Wing (might be hard since its no longer on TV)
2. Scrubs
1. The Office

5ive things I’d like to do this weekend:

5. Maybe look for a new truck
4. Frisbee Golf
3. Sleep in
2. BBQ with friends
1. Geocache somewhere new

5ive people I’m tagging to follow up with their own version of this list…

5. Thomas
4. Brandi
3. Dollye
2. Delaina
1. Eric