Today is National Loving Day…

Date: June 12, 2022

Author: Bobbi Holmes

Today is the anniversary of the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision of Loving V Virginia, which struck down state laws forbidding interracial marriage.

Loving was the surname of the married couple challenging Virginia’s anti-interracial marriage law.

I remember a literature class I took in college where we read The Great Gatsby. The professor discussed the symbolism of character names. While Loving V Virginia was a factual event and not a work of fiction, Loving being forever attached to that ruling is probably what she was talking about.

Back in March, Senator Mike Braun from Indiana went public disagreeing with the ruling. He later back peddled, saying he wasn’t against interracial marriage, he just felt it was a state issue.

Wow, do I disagree with him 200%!

Why?

I believe the state should only make laws that protect the rights and safety of its citizens. The US Constitution is also there to protect the rights of the citizens—and there to step in if a state tries to infringe on those rights.

I can’t think of a single legit reason to make interracial marriage illegal. Not one. As long as it involves two consenting adults, then what possible reason could the state have in making such a law to forbid it?

Some people say the Constitution does not specifically mention interracial marriage. Perhaps the Constitution doesn’t, but during the founding of this country the Declaration of Independence made the bold assertion that we are entitled to the “pursuit of happiness.” While it never expressly mentions what types of pursuits are covered, I think most Americans would agree that being unable to marry the person you love would greatly hinder your pursuit of happiness.

Some people argue that social norms have a place in law making. They want a society that conforms to shared values. Well, since a recent Gallup poll showed 94% U.S. adults approve of marriage between Black and White people, that’s a moot point.

And unless that marriage hurts another person—such as forcing a child or unwilling adult to be one’s spouse—then I don’t understand why states should be allowed to pass such laws.

So, to politicians like Braun, please focus that how to make us safer and don’t attempt to needlessly hinder our unalienable rights.

Happy Loving Day!

To watch the January 6 hearings, or not?

Date: June 10, 2022

Author: Bobbi Holmes

Categories: Bobbi Ann Johnson Holmes

Comments: Leave a reply

This post is not political. It’s not about bashing those for or against Trump supporters.

This post is about being a responsible American. Americans who can legally vote have a duty to not just show up at the ballot box, but to be as informed as possible before casting any vote. Being misinformed when voting is not good for our country.

But how does one become informed? On social media, when two people from different sides of the political divide debate, it’s common for one or both to accuse the other of being misinformed because they watch fake news.

What is news? Is it a meme you saw on social media that you agree with?

Is it an anonymous poster that shares some titillating political tidbit that you find believable?

Is it what your favorite political commentator who shares your political views tells you?

Is it what the reporter tells you on the local news?

When I was studying journalism in high school and then in college, we were taught that a reporter should report just the facts as he or she knows it—not their opinions on the facts. That’s what a commentator does.

What the reporter tells you is only as good as his or her source—which goes to reason that you should probably discount what the anonymous poster says, as it’s impossible to evaluate the source.

If you want to become informed, you need to drill down to the original source. And even then, you must objectively evaluate that source, weighing it against other credible sources.

Learning the truth is difficult. But as Americans we have an opportunity to learn the truth about what happened on January 6—not just what your favorite commentator told us happened. We can do that by watching the hearings and see for ourselves what the witnesses (the sources) are telling us while under oath.

If those elected officials on the Jan 6 committee are being bias or unfair, see it for yourself. Watch the questions they ask and the facts they present. Listen to the answers given them by the witnesses. See it with your own eyes and ears. Don’t rely on the slanted view someone on the news tells you. This goes for either side of the political divide.

If someone fervently tells me not to watch it, I wonder, why? Why don’t they want me to watch it?

I was in college during the Watergate trials. At the time I was living at the home of my sister’s in-laws. Each day after school I would return to where I was staying and watch the Watergate hearing on TV with my brother-in-law’s grandmother, a loyal Republican.

Forget cheese cloth for straining yogurt…

Date: June 9, 2022

Author: Bobbi Holmes

Categories: Bobbi Ann Johnson Holmes

Comments: 2 Replies

Yogurt so thick it sticks to the spoon when held upside down.

Consider this a public service post for those out there planning to make homemade yogurt and intend to strain it to make Greek Yogurt.

If you Google straining yogurt, you’ll likely find a variety of blog posts telling you how to strain yogurt using cheese cloth. Or if you don’t have cheese cloth, using something like a colander. I have just one word for those methods, YUCK.

If you want more words, let me add messy and inconvenient.

I started making homemade yogurt over two years ago, and it has become one of my favorite things. I’ve probably already posted on it. I started out using my bread proofer, but then switched to the Instant Pot, because it is just so much easier.

After making the yogurt and chilling if for a few hours I like to strain it—and no, I don’t use cheese cloth, nor a regular colander. Remember, I just said I switched to the Instant Pot for making yogurt because it was so much easier—and for the same reason I use the gadget in the photo above.

It’s the Euro Cuisine Greek 2-Quart Yogurt Maker that I bought at Wayfair. It currently cost just under $42, but they have another one—same brand—that goes for around $25. Not sure what the difference is between the two. But I bought the more expensive one about 2 ½ years ago and love it.

Why buy this when cheese cloth is cheaper, and you might already have a colander? It’s easier and neater.

After my yogurt chills I fill the gadget with my yogurt, put the cover on it, and set it in the refrigerator. It serves as a strainer and yogurt carton. The whey goes to the bottom. The longer you leave it sit, the thicker it becomes. As you can see by the picture of the upside-down spoonful of homemade yogurt, it is pretty think. That spoonful in the picture tasted a little like cream cheese. I’ve also used it in recipes that calls for cream cheese.

But that is too thick, you say. Simply scoop your yogurt into a serving bowl, stir in a spoonful of whey or two, until you reach your ideal consistency.

The problem with the cheesecloth or colander option, you can’t just forget about the yogurt when it’s straining through cheese cloth—not to mention the clean-up, mess, and needing to transfer it to another container.

Yet, sometimes I transfer my strained yogurt and whey to glass jars, so I can add the rest of the yogurt to the strainer. Or, sometimes I simply wait until I’ve eaten what was in the strainer, until I add more.

So, if you decide homemade yogurt is for you—and you want to strain it to make Greek yogurt or cheese, then I recommend a gadget like this one. I believe it is well worth the money.

You’re welcome.