Monday, December 2, 2013

Genealogy Update

My grandfather, Daniel Mahoney, has always posed a bit of a problem in shaking out the family tree.  There are records of:

  • his death (1936-09-01) in Erie, PA
  • his marriage to Valentine Barber.
  • rumors his military service in WW1.
Still, I had been unable to find more... until this evening.

I found a picture of his tombstone here.


Note the military unit: 12th Engineers, Company C.  So, a bit of poking around and I find a site with a complete roster of the 12th Engineers in WW1.  Oddly, not one Mahoney in the battalion... but here I found a reference to Daniel R. Mahaney, Company C, of 722 Rosedale Ave, Erie, PA. 
So, now I have an alternate spelling and address to work.  

Let me know if you find any further leads.

Monday, November 25, 2013

PC Security Stuff

So, one of the younger bears has taken up the CyberPatriot thing.  It's really a pretty good talent
identification and development project in the IS world.  It is also good experience developing security skills and awareness.  If you don't have a clue on computer security peruse the powerpoints on the above site.

In that theme, here are a few resources Windows and Linux:

Security configuration guides from No Such Agency.  Look at the archived guides too.

Security configuration guides from CIS.  Login required.

Command line for lots of platforms


Windows:  The problem with windows is that they practice security through obscurity:  each flavor of windows has different methods to achieve the same goals.  

Securing W7 from Microsoft.  
Securing W7 from NIST.  (Wow!  A little difference in the level of detail!)
Securing W8 from NIST

Master Control Panel or "godmode"  make a folder on your desktop named God Mode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}  Other special modes  or here 

Is anyone else curious that the only Windows security guides are by (or derived directly from) Microsoft or DHS?  Just makes me wonder....


Linux:  Most of the approaches for one flavor of linux will translate to the others.  The main differences are in the package management tools: yum, apt-get, pkgtool...



Securing Slackware:  Keep it patched and minimize services.  Reminds me: "If you want to learn RedHat, use RedHat.  If you want to learn linux, use Slackware."  

Linux security references: this is an encyclopedic collection of links

---

Any other recommendations?

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Biscotti

Twice-baked Cookies (Biscotti)
[from Lowfat International Cuisine by Jane Rubey.
Anything in brackets is my addition. S.M.]

2 cups whole, unsalted, unblanched almonds, toasted*
½ cup butter
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs
3 cups whole wheat flour, very finely ground
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. anise seeds, finely crushed [and orange peel ½ tsp.]
8 ozs. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (optional)

Preheat oven to 325°.  In a large mixer bowl, cream butter and sugar together.  Add eggs and beat until smooth.  Sift flour, baking powder and salt together. [The salt may be instead crushed with the anise and orange peel.]  Chop almonds somewhat coarsely.  Add sifted dry ingredients along with seeds and almonds to batter.  Mix briefly until the dough pulls together.  Divide dough into three equal parts.  On a greased sheet, pat each third into a strip 3" x 8", about 1" high.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Carefully remove each strip to a cutting board and cut, somewhat diagonally, into ½" slices.  Turn each slice onto its side and return to baking sheet.  Continue baking another 15 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool on a rack.
To coat with chocolate: melt chocolate over hot, not boiling, water; take care not to splash any water into chocolate.  Dip one end, about ¼ to 1/3 of the cookie, into chocolate.  Spread evenly and remove excess with small spatula.  Place on waxed paper or parchment-lined cookie sheet and refrigerate to harden.  Remove from paper and store in a tight container in a cool place.

*To Toast Nuts:  spread nuts in a single layer on a large baking sheet (or glass dish for microwave).  Place in 375° oven for 5 to 10 minutes (or in microwave at full power for several minutes).  Watch closely, turning several times to prevent scorching.  When properly toasted, nuts will give off a rich aroma and be lightly browned.  If toasting unblanched almonds, break open a nut and look for a lightly browned interior.

[Switch walnuts in place of almonds and some of the flour with cocoa powder for a tasty variation.  Another variation is to simply add craisins.  This will decrease shelf life by only a little.]

Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Necessity for Spiritual Food

I have lots of calorie-driven family and friends. I have learned that once they reach their "I need food to remain a nice person" point, they really need to eat some food. Otherwise, life will be unpleasant for everyone around them until they do get food. This can be applied to spiritual matters, as I realized this evening.
I was spending a bit of time reading the Bible and thinking about what I read. A while after I had finished reading and had taken my crocheting up again, I observed that in the short time between reading and thinking on the Bible and that moment, my outlook had altered for the better. I was a bit more energized and felt a bit more able to function in a decent and motivated manner. I seemed more able to focus on things. I began to think about what made the difference.
Why did I seem spiritually and emotionally energized after reading the Bible? I discerned that it was because I had just taken in spiritual food. Before I had read the Bible, I had been unknowingly starving for spiritual food and consequently very spiritually weak. When I took in some healthy, nourishing spiritual food, my spirit received energy and was able to function better. It was like the moment when a very hungry person has gotten some food. They savour it and then are able to get up from the table with renewed vigour to go about the tasks of the day.
If a Christian does not take in spiritual food on a regular basis, he will not be able to function spiritually. He will be spiritually starving himself. This is the reason it is so important that a Christian must be consistent about reading the Bible and communing with God. If he isn't, he will not be able to stand in a spiritual fight. He will be knocked over, easily overcome, and it will be difficult or nearly impossible to get up again. It would be easier for him to give up and die.
Tonight, the importance of reading the Bible frequently has been impressed on my mind. I knew before that reading the Bible was important and that it was spiritual food, but the implications of that have been made clear to me. Without consistent spiritual food intake, one will grow weak and unable to fight, causing him to lose and eventually die if not properly nursed back to health on nourishing, sustaining spiritual food, just as it is with physical food.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Understanding Daniel's prophecies

I just finished reading Daniel for the first time. I knew when I read the prophecies that Daniel was given of the end that many people have "interpreted" them so that they know what the end will be like and how long it will be and just exactly what those prophecies mean. But, even Daniel didn't understand the prophecies he gave. I know that we are to understand all that we can of God's word with the Spirit's help but...should we really try to understand those prophecies? Acknowledge them them as part of God's holy word, yes, but try to interpret them? Daniel was told to seal up the book of prophecy because those things were not going to happen until the end. Jesus again spoke of the abomination of desolation and told us more about it. Should we simply acknowledge it and live our lives so that our love for God won't grow cold, so that we will "know our God" and "stand firm and take action"(Dan. 11:32)? I know that on my own I can't begin to fathom what exactly those prophecies mean, but I can understand that there will be a great amount of extreme wickedness and strife. We as people who carry God's name need to be ready to withstand the attacks that we inevitably get and to "stand firm and take action." I am not entirely sure what to do with those prophecies in Daniel, or any prophecies of "the end times."

Monday, July 29, 2013

A question of faith

The church must express itself in faith, for "the just shall live by faith."
Where do we put our trust?  
What do we rely on in times of trouble? What about the good times?
 
I know I sometimes turn to distractions--I punch a pillow, watch a film, read a book, do some study, listen to chatter, chatter away myself, immerse myself in music, work, sleep (or try to do these things) rather than waiting in silence on God. 
But none of that really helps in the long run. So, where do we put our faith?
How do we show our faith?
 
Ultimately, I know my faith rests in God; may my life reflect that more and more. 
 
 

This is taken from the beginning of a different, longer post that can be found here


Saturday, June 8, 2013

The Bok choy stir fry meal

Today was my first venture into working with bok choy. The result was pretty decent. Good even.


         I followed my brother Jonathan's advice along with the confirmation of a friend who is a fantastic cook. The advice? He uses bok choy in stir fries and sweet and sour soups and such things. Stir fry sounded good, and I just happened to find a basic stir fry that called for green beans (of which we have waaay too many).

Thank you, Allrecipes!

INGREDIENTS:
1 teaspoon peanut oil
3 tablespoons minced shallots
2 carrots, sliced diagonally
1 cup fresh green beans, cut into 1 inch
pieces
1 cup chopped bok choy
1/3 cup low sodium, low fat vegetable
broth
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
DIRECTIONS:
1.Heat the oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Add the shallots and saute for 3 minutes. Add the carrots and stir fry for 3 minutes. Add the green beans and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add the bok choy and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add the broth and simmer for 2 minutes. Add the soy sauce and serve.        
         It's a nice base. I didn't exactly follow it. or measure anything really. I chopped stuff up and threw it into the skillet. 
first, I thinly sliced half a medium onion. no shallots.
minced some ginger and garlic. because flavor!
sliced three carrots thinly
cut a bunch of green beans into approx. one inch lengths
cut the stems off the bok choy and chopped them into 1 in pieces
chopped the leaves 
sliced 3/4 of a red bell pepper
and minced two jalapenos


finished stir fry
        I heated a skillet and added some light olive oil and some sesame oil (flavor!!!) commenced to add garlic and ginger. after 30 seconds or so, added the onion and sauteed for roundabouts two min. Then added carrots and stir fried for 3-4 minutes then added green beans when I felt like it, I added the bell pepper. probably after five minutes. almost immediately after that, I added the bok choy stems. gave it 3-5 min and added the leaves. when they wilted I poured in chicken broth (enough to look good) and simmered it for about 5 min to 10 min. splashed in some silver swan and stirred it to mingle the soy sauce and served in a bowl with garnish.

         To go with that I fixed some bean thread noodles. 5 minutes in boiling water. drained. rinsed in cold water and immediately upon placing in a bowl tossed it with some sesame oil to keep it from clumping into a mass of scary bean-stuff that no one is sure what to do with. 



noodle success!!!
         All in all, it was a good pretty meal, that is, until I started serving it up. There was a massive blank spot on the table and on each plate that I served. No meat! We sat and ate. people complimented it. It was happy and light. Then the youngest two asked for second servings. I knew then that this would not be enough for Dad. The chicken that never was fixed was crying out, "I told you so!!!" My food conscience was burning because I had the thought that chicken would be good with this. Mom eventually came the the rescue of the nice, but unbalanced meal and appeased every stomach that craved meat with the leftover carne asada from the previous day. Every stomach lived happily ever after until the next meal when they would feast *spoiler alert* on BLTs. 

OH! I almost forgot, for dessert we had fresh strawberries and whipped cream. they were fantastic!


Good day, all!

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Arming bears?

A slight misprint in my research paper would yield "the right to keep and arm bears." That's a constitutional right, isn't it?

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Man Bites Dog

So... the question is how do you get reliable news?

My answer is "multiple sources".  Biblically, this would correspond to the principle of two or three witnesses.  Below is my usual scanlist with caveats.
---
DrudgeReport  for the frothy edge of the news.  There tends to be a bit of dishonesty in the headlines posted.  There is a lot that is taken out of context for the apparent purpose of sensationalism.  Still Drudge does a good job at covering edge issues.

BBC world service for historically solid source.  They provide largely reliable reporting except they editorially push the climate change hysteria and homosexual politics.  CNN/NPR/CBC/Christian Science Monitor largely occupy the same center-left ideological space.  Deustche Welle was once useful for a eurocentric view, but they are now completely overcome with the progressive mind set.

Google News is another good aggregator, but with left of center blinders.

WorldMag is a very good news source from a reformed christian viewpoint.  Really these folks do very good reporting and often beat the mainstream at quality and depth of coverage.

Slashdot - news for nerds/stuff that matters.  The tagline says it all.

Al Jazeera English provides a "second world" viewpoint.  They cover events in countries that never make BBC/CNN/NPR.  At least they aren't poisoned with climate change nonsense and sexual politics.

First Things is a journal concerned with faith in the public square.  They are one of the few sources that actually has a diversity of viewpoints expressed on a focus issue.  The articles go deeper than the bumpersticker news cycle.

Volokh Conspiracy - a legal blog that has some of the most insightful commentary from a libertarian viewpoint.  
---
In listing all of these news and analysis sources I have probably disclosed my prejudices and blindspots.

What are your sources of news and why?  Help fill in what is missing.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Approximate Chow-chow Recipe

This is the chow-chow recipe (or at least a close approximate) that we made a while back.

1 pint red bell peppers
1 pint green bell peppers
1 quart cabbage
1 pint white onions
4 cups sugar
1 quart white vinegar
1 hot pepper
5 tablespoons salt
2 teaspoons celery seed
5 teaspoons mustard seed
   (Those last two we did not have.)
Curry-ish seasonings (We added.)

Chop up all vegetables. Mix with all other ingredients. Let stand eight hours. Put in jars. Keep cool.

Note: Do not heat vinegar!

Friday, April 12, 2013

A Nation is Born :)

 

The People's Democratic Republic of Ursi

Motto: Quidam ursi sunt magis par quam alii

Anthem: Forward March  (Kindly ignore the video.  Maybe...)

Soliciting further ideas for consideration at the First National Sleuth

Monday, April 8, 2013

Fort Monroe

If you get a chance, visit Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia.  Truly an extraordinary historical site. 
The base closed down in 2011, so the dirt is open to the public.  There us a museum in the casemates, the fortified wall surrounding.  

Friday, March 29, 2013

Catullus / Good Friday


Odi et amo. Quare id faciam fortasse requiris.
     Nescio, sed fieri sentio, et excrucior.

I hate and I love.
Perhaps you ask how so?
I don’t know,
but I feel it in agony.


***

This expresses my emotional state well.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Monopoly Haikus

Haikus made during
A monopoly game played
Yesterday. Great fun!

Yesterday, the Papa, Stephanie, Sarah, Esther, Emily, Elizabeth, Joshua, and Lydia played Monopoly.  One of them began to think that haikus would be a delightful idea.  A notebook was gotten.  A few haikus were written and then more were added.  These are the haikus, written by Sarah, Papa, Emily, Elizabeth, Stephanie, and Esther.

In Monopoly
We race around the square board
finding little land.

A squeek and a squak
As people land and dice rolls--
Is it a happy landing?

Out of water, huh.
But I do not wish to leave,
This game is too fast.

Vermont Avenue
Connecticut Avenue
Oriental, too.

A six dollars, please,
She said so very loudly,
Pass the money now!

First rent, second rent,
She is a happy camper
So Stephanie says.

Killing the banker--
They tried to put me away.
How dare they do that!

Plink! Hammer! Pound! Saw!
The houses are going up
In Park Place Boardwalk.

Oui, how loud, ugh, oh
On the Marvin I should be
It's better than jail.

Congratulations!
You inherit one hundred.
Good fortune is yours.

ROCKY TOP! They sing
How painful it is to me!
Simply pay me the rent!!

She certainly is
as sane as the rest of us.
It's assuring. Right?

Welcome to Park Place.
Instead of money, I'll take,
If you can't, your land.

Just fresh out of jail,
Please let it be a bright ten--
Ah! Joy! Free Parking!

Hotels on my land,
Enough money to last a bit,
Life in my favour.

So many Haikus;
They have covered two pages,
Were made in this game.

The game has gone on
Some are gaining great power
Some are fast fading.

Sleepy, exhausted.
Why am I not in my bed?
Just Monotony.

I would hate to go
And miss the end of the game,
But I require sleep.

The ninja turtle
On the napkin is standing
While the game moves on.

We laughed together.
Friends, we are exhausted, now.
Friends, we part tonight.
      Dice rattles loudly
People fill the air with noise
The chatter more loud.

Three? Really? She sighs.
The number is not happy;
I wish another.

I just played my turn,
Will I be back soon enough
If I go right now?

Boardwalk and Park Place--
These two make a lovely pair,
If yourself owns them.

Having her first rent
A happy camper is she
though small the rent is.

This game is crazy.
The Mahoney family
is fun to play with.

Popcorn on the stove
Makes much more of a racket
Than these trades and deals.

Whenever we land
On Rocky Top Tennessee,
We must sing the song.

Ya! This is so fun!
I'm glad we play together
This monopoly.

Evil landowners
Grasp at rents so greedily
Occupy answers!

Welcome! come right in!
There is a breakfast for you,
Thank you for your gold:)

Ah, the temptation
Good for me, not for others
I will wait for now :(

Let the waltz play on--
It is Strauss so beautiful--
As the game moves on.

A lovely evening
Of Strauss and Monopoly.
How lovely the scene!

Eating rainbows? What!?
How can we eat innocents
Barbariously?

Interesting times
When one chooses to divest
of his property.

Hotels, houses, lands
moving, trading, swapping hands.
It's Monopoly.

I hope you will stay
And have a most wonderful
time this splendid day.

Most frustrating thing
Landing on free Parking when
It's dry as a bone.

It was very long,
Even for monopoly
Ah, well, maybe not.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

My Hummus Recipe by Samuel Mahoney

 I have always been proud of my hummus. Even when i was a teenager. Then I deployed and the Chaldean guy i worked with always added this earthy pepper to it. I forget the name, but it is somewhat similar to paprika. Anyways, here is goes!

2 x 16ish oz cans garbonzos
4 Tbs tahini (1/4 cup)
4-5 Tbs lemon juice (1/4 cup +)
6 Tbs olive oil (3/8 cup)
1 Tbs minced garlic
1 Tbs cumin
1.5 Tbs paprika
2 tsp salt

Add to blender and blend thoroughly!

 Variations: I like to add parsley and chipotle pepper. The actual amounts of the garlic, cumin and paprika always change since i never really measure them. That is just a roundabout guess.

Next batch i plan on using cilantro instead of parsley and omit the paprika for more chipotle pepper. Reposted from Facebook

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Black bean and Sweet Potato soup


Okay, several times when I have been at home, I have talked about this delicious soup. Well, here is the recipe in its original measurements. Be warned, it is portioned for one person. 
I tend to double it so as to have leftovers.
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Soup
Estimated time: 25 minutes
One serving
Author’s note: Hearty, yet bursting with the fresh flavors of lime and cilantro, this is the perfect late autumn soup. I like it cold in the summer – make it the night before when you’re cooking something else and eat it cold for lunch or dinner the next day.

1 Tbsp oil
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 tsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp cayenne powder
1/2 cup sweet potato, peeled and diced (1/4 medium)
1/3 c cooked black beans (drained, if canned)
2/3 c water or broth
1/2 lime, juiced
1 Tbsp chopped cilantro

Saute the onion in the oil until nearly translucent. Add the garlic and spices and sauté for about a minute. Add the black beans and sweet potatoes, along with enough water or broth to cover. When the sweet potatoes are well-cooked, add enough lime juice to taste and garnish with cilantro. 

                          Product Highlight:
Gourmet Garden Cilantro
Since I have been cooking for myself, I don't tend to keep bunches of herbs; however, Wal-mart has some awesome chopped cilantro in a tube that tastes pretty much like fresh. They also have garlic, ginger, basil, chili pepper and lemongrass.
I love this stuff! 

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

New Year:

Ephesians 2:10 We are God's work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning he had meant us to live it.

Do you see yourself as God's work of art?

How do you see yourself living His good life this year?

Discussion anyone?