Wildly civilized.
Sporty, intelligent and timelessly elegant, the E-Class All Terrain invites you to escape in total luxury.
Drive the 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE, an all-electric sedan with a thirst for power.
You Can Never Have Too Much Holiday Fun!
By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer
It seems every year the holidays pass by quicker and quicker, this year, with a late Thanksgiving being celebrated just two days before Dec. 1 it seems the holidays will be here and gone before we have a chance to bake all the Christmas cookies or finish decorating the tree.
Be sure to grab all the holiday fun you can, it only happens once a year.
The 29th Annual Winter Magic Lighted Boat Parade at Castaic Lake
Saturday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m.
Info castaiclake.com/wintermagic
Celebrate this special time of year with this annual Winter Magic holiday event at Castaic Lake’s Lower Lagoon. The event is hosted by the Friends of Castaic Lake in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. The Lighted Boat Parade will begin at sunset.
Enjoy visits with Santa, face painting, crafts table, music, games, food trucks and opportunity drawings. There will also be snow for children to play in, sleds not provided.
Donate an unwrapped $10 toy for Family Promise of SCV and receive three opportunity drawing tickets. Donate 1 can of unexpired food for the SCV Food Pantry and receive one opportunity drawing ticket.
Every child with a wristband will receive one complimentary hot dog, chips, and water.
L.A. Kings Holiday Ice at L.A. Live Nov. 29-Jan. 10
800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles 90015
Info www.lalive.com/la-kings-holiday-ice-la-live
Skate your way into the holiday season. The annual L.A. Kings Holiday Ice at L.A. Live is the perfect place to skate around a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.
Four sessions available daily.
Nov. 29-Dec. 15: 5-6:30 p.m., 7-8:30 p.m., 9-11:30 p.m., 11 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
Dec.16-Jan. 10: 4-5:30 p.m. 6-7:30 p.m., 8-:9:30 p.m., 10 p.m.-midnight.
General Admission tickets are only available for purchase on-site at the ice rink box office during hours of operation and cannot be purchased online.
Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square Now-Jan. 12
532 S Olive St., Los Angeles 90013
Info holidayicerinkdowntownla.com/
The hottest place to skate is the Holiday Ice Rink at Pershing Square in downtown L.A. Ice skating sessions are 60 minutes long and hours and times vary by day. General admission is $20, prices include skate rental. Special events include weekly DJ
Spotlight Nights and Learn to Curl sessions.
Holiday Road Calabasas
Nov. 29-Dec. 28
26800 Mulholland Hwy. Calabasas 91302
Info holidayroadusa.com
Enjoy the immersive Holiday Road event that thousands of Christmas lights, candy canes galore, elves and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Trek to the North Pole, see an Elf Village and wander down Gingerbread Lane. Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year in a festive winter wonderland. Admission: $34.99 and up.
12 Days of Christmas at The Queen Mary Dec. 12-23
The Queen Mary
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach 90802
Info www.queenmary.com/seasonal-events.htm
Each day during the 12 Days of Christmas celebration is filled with merry-making activities aboard the historic Queen Mary, like cookie decorating, gingerbread house building and stocking decorating, along with jingle-worthy performances, dance parties and photos with Santa.
To make each visit extra special, every day will feature a unique event, from the Lighting of the Stacks Ceremony to Krampus After Dark and a Snow Day with real snow.
General admission to The Queen Mary’s 12 Days of Christmas is just $25 per person, per day.
Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights, Holiday Party Dec. 13-14
1196 Portside Drive, Ventura 93001
Info www.venturaharborvillage.com
Gather in the Plaza to celebrate the enchanting Parade of Lights in the harbor. It’s a Friday and Saturday evening filled with festive cheer and unforgettable moments.
Friday, Dec. 13
Night Market Starting at 3:30 p.m. Shop curated vendors.
Parade of Lights Witness the magic of the season as decorated boats light up the harbor with a dazzling Parade of Lights starting at 6 p.m.
Fun Live music, beer garden, fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14
Parade of Lights 6 p.m.
Fun DJ and dancing, photos with Santa and other photo op stations, beer garden, grab a card from a Portside Ventura Harbor employee to “cash-in” at Crave Kofi Gelato Bar for one hot chocolate. Fireworks 8:30 p.m.
L.A. County Holiday Celebration Tuesday, Dec. 24, 3-6 p.m. Tickets are free.
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave. Los Angeles 90012
Info bit.ly/3YXIQGE
The 65th annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration offers a diverse lineup of 28 L.A.-based artists, including choral groups, dance troupes, music ensembles and new artistic genres this year, such as a circus act and a marionette performance.
If you can’t make it to The Music Center you can watch at home on PBS SoCal or stream on pbssocal.org.
Enjoy ice skating around a beautifully decorated Christmas tree at L.A Life during the annual L.A. Kings Holiday Ice. PHOTO L.A. LIVE
By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer
TThe Santa Clarita Wine-Tasting Scene …
he last decade has seen some dramatic changes in the SCV, including the closure of many popular wine bars, most notably Lee’s Wine Bistro, and the recent death of Yoon Soo Lee, one of the “godfathers” of the SCV wine scene.
However, familiar faces still are welcoming guests to enjoy a glass, as well as new and recent purveyors.
At Pulchella Winery, the main focus is on Rhone inspired varietals and blends (mainly Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Viognier) as well as Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Tempranillo and Tannat.
Steve Lemley and Nate Hasper founded Pulchella Winery with their first release in 2009.
Lemley and Hasper met in 2002 when the two were both hobbyist winemakers.
“We had probably each been making wine as a hobby for six or seven years before we met,” said Lemley. “We became good friends and as we shared our passion for wine, we found people were wanting to buy our wines, but we legally couldn’t sell it.”
They decided to move headlong into wine making and attended the viticulture program at the University of California, Davis. After graduation they started making wine commercially at a custom crush facility in Paso Robles.
The Pulchella Winery tasting room opened on Main Street in Old Town Newhall in 2010.
“After a couple of years, we realized that to make the wine we wanted to make we needed to have our own facility in the SCV,” Lemley said.
Pulchella Winery moved production to the Valencia Industrial Center in 2012.
The winery’s tasting room in Newhall does not serve food.
“But guests are invited to bring their own,” Lem-
ley said. “Many people bring in take out from the nearby talented chefs in Old Town Newhall and make a night it.”
The wine tasting experience at Pulchella features flights that rotate monthly.
“Nate and I sit down and taste the wine that are being released pick the wines we think will offer the best experience,” said Lemley. “We might offer a flight that is all Rhones or all Burgundies. We switch it up every month.”
A flight consists of four samples. Wines are also available by the glass or the bottle.
Lemley said Pulchella specializes in reds, with only a limited supply of white wine with two whites and one rose in production.
“Sometimes a white is on the flight and sometimes it is not,” he said. “We let people switch out the white with a red, or vice versa, if they want.”
Lemley said Pulchella now has a more extensive portfolio and offers 18 to 20 wines to choose from, with multiple vintages.
Currently Lemley is recommending the Pulchella 2021 Forager Red (Paso Robles).
Wine Enthusiast wrote “This blend of 60% Mourvèdre from Loma Seca and 40% Syrah from Briarwood offers aromas of plum, boysenberry, rose potpourri and anise on the nose. Awarded a 94-point rating.”
Lemley said he is excited to have seven of the last 10 wines released by Pulchella earn ratings of over 90 points from Wine Enthusiast.
Steve Lemley ( left) and Nate Hasper, owners of Pulchella Winery in Newhall. PHOTOS BY HABEBA MOSTAFA/ THE SIGNAL
Pagter Brothers Winery, owned by Sidney Pagter, is a boutique winery specializing in “hand crafted, super big, bold, beautiful, Rhone varietals.”
and Beyond
Not only are Lemley and Hasper busy with Pulchella Winery, they also have a winery consulting business with more than a dozen clients, said Lemley.
“It’s turned into something we never expected,” he said. “Which is not a bad thing at all.”
Double Trouble offers wine tastings offered by Hoi Polloi Winery owned by Doug Minnick. The premium wines from the Central Coast are “handmade with love.”
Taste high-scoring premium artisan wines from Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and Sonoma from two local wineries, Hoi Polloi Winery and Pagter Brothers Winery, in Old Town Newhall. Enjoy a spacious patio. Bring your own food or order in.
Pagter Brothers Winery, owned by Sidney Pagter, is a boutique winery specializing in “hand crafted, super big, bold, beautiful, Rhone varietals.”
Serving wine, beer and food Valencia’s newest wine bar is seeking to become a SCV gathering place. It held its grand opening on Sept. 29.
Kindred Spirits features the culinary expertise of popular SCV Executive Chef Sabina Fetter.
Fetter, who holds a Culinary Arts/Chef Training degree from the prestigious Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, and her culinary team have moved to Kindred Spirits after the closure of the Newhall Press Room in Old Town Newhall. Kindred Spirits is located in the space formerly home to Lee’s Wine Bistro.
The wine bar will feature Fetter’s food and pairing program which she has been able to build from the ground up.
Beyond
the SCV
Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room in Ventura offers seating is available indoors and on the outdoor patio overlooking the Ventura Harbor. The view from the patio makes for an excellent spot to enjoy a glass of wine, while catching all the boats and action of the harbor.
Tasting Flights: The Signature and Reserve Wine Tasting Flights offer visitors a flight of five individual Deep Sea and Conway wines to try.
Chocolate Pairings and Cheese Plates: Artisanal chocolates, and cured meats and cheeses handpicked to complement Deep Sea and Conway Wines.
San Antonio Winery, celebrating more than 100 years in Los Angeles, is the oldest and largest producing winery in L.A. County.
It provides a variety of wine tasting options for
guests including steward-led wine tastings on the patio at The 1917 Wine Bar & Bistro,
The vineyards are gone, replaced by homes and businesses but the winery still sits on its original location on Lamar Street. In the early 1960’s, Los Angeles’ Cultural Heritage Board designated the San Antonio Winery Cultural Monument Number 42.
Food and Wine
Urban Press Winery and Restaurant is nestled in an enchanting atmosphere, savor award-winning Sonoma County wines and enjoy fine dining or stop by for tasting flights.
Enjoy a curated wine-tasting experience for $25 where you can explore a selection of five wines, each telling its own story of the rich, local terroir. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a prior reservation enjoy a complimentary tasting of three Urban Press varietals.
Discover The Cave inside Ventura Wine Company. It is known as Ventura’s premier food & wine restaurant experience with some of the best selection of wines and competitive prices for retail purchases. The Cave offers 40 wines, as well as small plates.
Beyond Wine Tasting
Blend your own wine at The Blending Lab for a unique wine experience. Become your own winemaker. Take a 1.5 hour guided tasting where you explore and learn about three single varietal wines, before you experiment with blending to make your own wine blend to go. This class is intended for those who are curious about wine, want to be guided though the process and want to experiment. The Blending Lab also offers open labs where you can come and create with light guidance.
Malibu Wine and Nature Tours offers full-day tours that include ransportation, tasting rooms, lunch, scenic tour up the coast to Malibu’s wine
LOCATIONS
Sidney Pagter is the owner of Double Trouble Wine Room on Main Street in Newhall.
How Clinical Trials Help Fight Disease
Clinical trials are necessary for finding new ways of preventing, detecting or treating diseases, but often, limited participation creates challenges for meeting clinical trial goals. Despite decades of effort and strategies to identify and address barriers to recruiting and enrolling study participants, recruitment challenges persist, particularly among women, older adults and diverse patient populations.
“Potential study participants are reluctant to get involved for a variety of reasons, including the time commitment, lack of clarity regarding safeguards for their well-being and concerns about how their medical condition will be handled during the study,” said Alan Moss, MD, chief scientific officer with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, the leading nonprofit organization focused on both research and support of people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). “Taking part in a clinical trial gives patients an opportunity to access new therapies and can help shape future treatment, including how diseases are diagnosed, treated and even prevented.”
Learning more about the important role clinical trials play in health care may ultimately help you or someone you love find a new treatment or manage a condition, such as IBD, more effectively.
Importance of Clinical Trials
Finding a treatment that relieves patients’ symptoms and helps induce and maintain remission is important. However, these treatments wouldn’t be available without clinical trials. In fact, all U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medicines currently available on the market are the result of clinical trials and the patients who participated in them. When enrollment targets aren’t reached due to low patient participation, there may be delays in the drug approval process.
What You Should Know
There are plenty of reasons to consider participating in a clinical trial, especially if you’re looking for further options to treat a serious condition. Taking part in a clinical trial is a big step, so it’s important to be well-informed.
Safety Investigational treatments must be studied extensively before the FDA will approve them. Each trial follows thorough protocols to ensure the health and safety of its participants. Additionally, patients are followed continuously throughout a trial to monitor their health.
Eligibility Who can participate in a clinical trial depends greatly on the specific limits of the study. Each clinical trial has its own goals to achieve, which means different trials have different criteria for patients to meet in order to enroll. Some trials are for patients who have moderate to severe disease and others may seek patients with mild
disease. Other trials look for patients without any diagnosis. Prior to enrolling in a trial, a research coordinator will review your complete medical history to see if you meet the inclusion criteria.
Treatment When you decide to enroll in a clinical trial, you may have access to the study drug as a form of treatment. Typically, participants will not know if they are receiving the study drug during the trial. This helps reduce potential biases and ensures the fairness of the trial. However, all participants are monitored closely. If there is any change in your medical condition while participating in the study, the research staff will inform you immediately and discuss the situation.
Cost The majority of clinical trials are federally or privately funded, so there is typically no cost to participants. While federal law requires most health insurance plans to cover the majority of routine patient care costs associated with clinical trials, there are some costs you may incur, such as travel, gas, parking, child care and time away from work. Trial sponsors commonly cover these costs, as well as any non-routine patient care that isn’t covered by insurance. However, it’s a good idea to get a clear understanding of how the trial you’re considering would handle these expenses.
Leaving the study At any point you wish to drop
Iout of the trial, you can, and for any reason. In that case, it’s common for a research coordinator to ask you to complete a final visit and schedule follow-up visits, if needed, to ensure you do not experience any side effects.
How to Learn More
If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial, it’s important to go to trusted sources to learn more and ask questions. For example, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation can point you toward clinical trial opportunities. Your doctor’s office can also be a good source of information about local studies. If you’re hesitant about joining a trial involving a treatment but are eager to help, you might consider other types of research studies, such as prevention, diagnostic, screening or quality of life trials instead. Once you identify a clinical trial that interests you and you may be eligible for, contact the research coordinator to learn more. You’ll also want to discuss the study in greater detail with your doctor and talk to loved ones within your support system who may have questions or helpful insight to consider.
Visit crohnscolitisfoundation.org/clinical-trialscommunity to learn more about IBD clinical trials and find opportunities near you. (Family Features)
UNDERSTANDING IBD
nflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects nearly 1 in 100 people living in the United States, according to a study led by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. IBD is an umbrella term used to describe disorders that cause chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Symptoms include diarrhea, as well as abdominal pain, nausea, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue and, at times, rectal bleeding. No single test can confirm IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. There are currently no cures for IBD. Medication and managing your diet and nutrition are two of the most common treatment recommendations.
©ADOBE STOCK
FROM THE CITY MANAGER
Shop Local, Eat Local This Holiday Season
By Ken Striplin Santa Clarita City Manager
As the holiday season unfolds, it’s the ideal time to emphasize the importance of supporting our local businesses. By choosing to shop and dine within our community, you’re making a direct impact on our City’s economy. Every purchase helps create jobs, boost tax revenue and enhance the overall quality of life for all who call Santa Clarita their home.
Every purchase you make at a local business helps keep money within our community. Rather than benefiting outside businesses, these dollars circulate right here in Santa Clarita, allowing our local economy to flourish. This support enables our businesses to grow, hire more of our neighbors as employees and reinvest in the community. When local establishments thrive, this enables them to expand their services, create new opportunities and provide even more value to our residents and neighbors.
Shopping locally also generates vital tax revenue,
which plays an integral role in funding important public services. The sales tax from your holiday purchases helps support our City’s schools, maintains our public roads through the Road Rehab program and creates new amenities like the Valencia Community Center. This funding is crucial in ensuring that Santa Clarita continues to be a safe, welcoming and well-maintained place for everyone to enjoy.
For those looking to shop small this season, Santa Clarita offers a variety of unique boutiques where you can find one-of-a-kind gifts and holiday essentials. Head to Old Town Newhall for that small-town shopping atmosphere, from homemade self-care products to revitalized clothing, accessories and décor, you’ll be sure to find what you need. Don’t forget to visit the Valencia Town Center for an array of shops for all your holiday essentials. When planning meals and gatherings, I encourage you to consider our local restaurants. Santa Clarita is home to an impressive range of culinary experiences, offering everything from cozy family dinners to fine dining. By choosing to dine locally, you’re supporting our neighbors who are the chefs, servers and kitchen staff who work hard to create memorable meals and curate a welcoming
BEST IN CLASS SPECIALTY CARE
dining environment for all.
If you’re looking to learn more about Santa Clarita’s small businesses, tune into the awardwinning “Santa Clarita Spotlight” series on SCVTV. This ongoing collaboration between the City and SCVTV highlights the businesses that contribute to Santa Clarita’s economy, featuring both hidden gems and community favorites. Additionally, VisitSantaClarita.com is an excellent resource for discovering the many businesses throughout our City. It’s a valuable tool for residents and visitors alike, offering helpful information on where to shop, dine and explore.
Supporting our local businesses is more than an economic choice – it’s a commitment to our community’s well-being and future. By choosing to shop and dine locally, you’re preserving the unique character of Santa Clarita and contributing to a brighter, stronger community. This holiday season, let’s all make an impact by keeping our holiday spending close to home.
Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@ santaclarita.gov.
ENTERTAINMENT
Roeper’s Holiday Movie Preview Time for 2024
By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer
The Hollywood business model has changed drastically over the years, e.g., the narrowing of the gap between a movie’s theatrical release and its home video debut from six months to three months to 90 days, 45 days, 30 days, two weeks, even zero days. Still, some traditions hold true, to wit: Oscar Season. That period in late fall and early winter when there’s at least one new film every week that holds the potential for a best picture win or acting awards. Of course, there’s always room for the relatively lighter fare as well.
for granted, and she’s always seeking out unique material. I’d say “Nightbitch” qualifies, seeing as how it’s the story of a mother who just might be turning into a dog. Based on the 2012 novel of the same name, “Nightbitch” would also seem to have the perfect writer-director in Marielle Heller, who has demonstrated a unique touch for clever and offbeat adaptations, e.g., “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”
‘The Order’ (Dec. 6)
Sunday-Thursday, December 1-5, 2024
1 1 / 2 6 / 2 0 2 4
And that’s our cue for my annual Holiday Movie Preview, a mix of prestige titles and popcorn entertainment.
‘Nightbitch’ (Dec. 6)
Amy Adams is so versatile that we almost — I say almost — take her
Here’s a title that can be moved from the “highly anticipated” to “recommended in advance” column, as I recently gave this one a spin, and it’s an effectively chilling true-life thriller.
“The Order” recounts the FBI’s takedown of a white supremacist criminal cabal. Nicholas Hoult is suitably loathsome as terrorist leader Bob Mathews, Jude Law gives one of his best performances in recent years as a veteran FBI agent, and Marc Maron
M A R I A E Sun: 9:50 1:00 3:55 7:00; Mon to Thu: 1:00 3:55 7:00
Maria reimagines the legendar y soprano in her final days as the diva reckons with her identity and life
M OA N A 2 B Sun: 10:00 10:30 1:20 3:30 4:30 6:30 7:30; Mon to Thu: 1:20 3:30 4:30 6:30 7:30
Moana and Maui reunite three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers
B O N H O E F F E R: PA S TO R. S PY. A S S A S S I N. C Sun: 1:10 7:10; Mon to Thu: 7:10 PM
This is the true stor y of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a man who preached love while plotting the assassination of an evil tyrant
G L A D I ATO R I I E Sun: 9:45 12:45 4:00 7:20; Mon to Thu: 12:45 4:00 7:20
Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glor y of Rome to its people
W I C K E D B Sun: 9:40 1:00 3:55 7:10; Mon to Thu: 1:00 3:55 7:10
The untold stor y of the witches of Oz Elphaba, a defiant social outcast who has yet to discover her true power, and Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true hear t
H E L LO, LOV E, AG A I N 4:10 PM
Determined to reunite, Ethan and Joy strive to improve their lives
R E D O N E C Sun: 10:10 1:10 4:10 7:15; Mon: 1:10 4:10; Tue & Wed: 1:10 4:10 7:15; Thu: 1:10 PM
The Nor th Pole’s Head of Security must team up with the world’s most infamous bounty hunter in a globe -trotting, ac tion-packed mission to save Christmas
T H
B
PM
The Herdmans, absolutely the worst kids in the histor y of the world, take over their local church Pageant
A R E
and
is well cast as real-life talk show host Alan Berg.
‘September 5’ (Dec. 6)
“They’re all gone.” I still get chills when I remember ABC sportscaster Jim McKay’s somber and heartbreaking message in the early morning hours of Sept. 6, 1972, when he reported the tragic news that 11 Israeli Olympic athletes had been murdered. The historical drama “September 5” will combine dramatic re-creations with extensive use of archival footage, with Peter Sarsgaard playing legendary ABC sports and news executive Roone Arledge and Benjamin Walker as news anchor Peter Jennings. Whereas Steven Spielberg’s “Munich” told the story of the Mossad assassinations following the massacre, “September 5” will focus on the tension and drama in and around the control room as ABC covered the crisis in real time.
‘The Six Triple Eight’ (Dec. 6)
The prolific Tyler Perry is writer-director of this American war drama shining a well-deserved spotlight on the all-Black, all-female, 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in World War II. The all-star cast includes Kerry Washington, Oprah Winfrey and Susan Sarandon.
‘Carry-On’ (Dec. 13)
We love a high-concept thriller, and this Netflix actioner sounds like “Die Hard” meets “Red Eye.” Taron Egerton plays a young TSA officer who is blackmailed into allowing a potentially dangerous package onto a Christmas Day flight. What could possibly go right? Adding to the intrigue: the always terrific Jason Bateman has been cast as The Mysterious Traveler. You know these traveler guys are mysterious when they don’t even get a name.
‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ (Dec. 20)
The ultrarealistic style of the newer versions of “The Jungle Book” (2016) and “The Lion King” (2019), both directed by Jon Favreau, was equal parts jarring and impressive. Now comes “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which serves as prequel and sequel to the 2019 version of “The Lion King,” with Donald Glover, Beyonce Knowles-Carter and Seth Rogen reprising their voice roles, and Os-
car-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”) directing. Could be great, could be weird, might be both.
‘Nosferatu’ (Dec. 25)
Robert Eggers is the dark architect of “The Witch,” “The Lighthouse” and “The Northman,” and he would seem to have the necessary skill set to deliver a fantastically fresh (or should we say perfectly rotten) update of the iconic 1922 German film, still arguably the most terrifying take of all time on Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” This could be an instant gothic classic.
‘A Complete Unknown’ (Dec. 25)
How does it feeeeeeeeeel! Timothee Chalamet stars as Bob Dylan in a slice-of-career biopic concentrating on Dylan’s switch from acoustic to electrically amplified music in the mid-1960s.
‘Babygirl’ (Dec. 25)
It was just last June when Nicole Kidman played a widowed author who embarks on a relationship with a younger man (Zac Efron) in the romcom “A Family Affair.” Now comes “Babygirl,” with Nicole Kidman playing a CEO who embarks on a relationship with a younger man (Harris Dickinson) — but this one sounds like one of those fantastically lurid erotic thrillers from back in the day that always seemed to be starring Michael Douglas and/or Sharon Stone, e.g., “Fatal Attraction,” “Basic Instinct,” “Sliver” and “Disclosure.” Doing press for “Babygirl,” Kidman has claimed that filming certain scenes got so intense she had to stop and ask for a break because she was getting too worked up. Who knows if that’s true, but it’s proof Nicole Kidman knows how to market the hell out of a movie.
Copyright 2024 Chicago Sun-Times
Homemade Meals to Tackle Takeout Cravings
Many busy weeknights come down to one decision for frazzled families: cook at home or give in to takeout cravings. Instead of stressing over a decision, enjoy the best of both worlds and make Asian-inspired dishes from the comfort of your own kitchen.
Featuring a blend of chilled, freshly chopped vegetables; ready-to-eat, pre-cooked noodles; gourmet dressing sauce; and crispy toppings, Fresh Express Hot or Cold Salad and Noodle Meal Kits offer two meal options in every bag — hot or cold — so you can make your salad, your way. Available in Teriyaki, Asian Sweet Ginger and Korean Sesame flavors, they’re the perfect inspiration for making takeout-style dishes at home.
Consider this Marinated Teriyaki Steak with Teriyaki Noodle Salad recipe, which combines juicy steak with crisp vegetables and pre-cooked Udon noodles for the ultimate at-home comfort food in an effortless meal. For a quick and delicious solution that may just become a family go-to, these Teriyaki Tofu Bowls are jam-packed with flavor, noodles and fresh veggies.
These homemade favorites feature a delicious blend of broccoli, red and green cabbage, kale, shredded carrots, radish and green onions in Fresh Express’s Hot or Cold Teriyaki Salad and Noodle Meal Kit. The vegetable blend is tossed with precooked Udon noodles, white sesame seeds and crunchy wontons then finished with a gourmet teriyaki dressing sauce for familiar Asian flavor. Visit freshexpress.com/hot-or-cold to discover more than 300 fresh recipes and find a store near you.
Marinated Teriyaki Steak with Teriyaki Noodle Salad
Prep time 1 hour
Cook time 24 minutes
Servings 4
1/2 cup dark soy sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
1/2 cup unsalted chicken stock
1 pound flank steak
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 bag (16.9 ounces) Fresh Express Hot or Cold Teriyaki Salad and Noodle Meal Kit
In saucepan, add soy sauce, brown sugar, Sriracha sauce and chicken stock; bring to simmer while whisking. Simmer 4 minutes.
Cool mixture down until cool to touch, about 20 minutes.
Slice steak into thin strips and place in bowl. Pour marinade over steak and marinate for 1 hour.
In large pan over medium-high heat, stir-fry steak 2 minutes.
Remove steak from pan and allow to rest.
In same pan used for steak, add oil and cook hot or cold kit according to instructions on bag. Add steak back to pan and stir to incorporate.
Garnish with toppings from hot or cold kit and serve.
Teriyaki Tofu Bowls
Prep time 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings 4
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons white pepper
2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice
1/3 cup neutral oil
1 package (16 ounces) extra-firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 bag (16.9 ounces) Fresh Express Teriyaki Hot or Cold Salad and Noodle Meal Kit
In bowl, whisk vinegar, dark soy sauce, honey, ginger, garlic, white pepper and Chinese five-spice until combined.
Slowly pour oil into mixture while whisking vigorously. Place cut tofu in mixture and allow to sit 15 minutes.
Bring large saute pan to medium-high heat and place tofu in, turning when crust forms. When tofu is finished, set aside and prepare hot or cold salad and noodle meal kit.
Serve with tofu on top of hot or cold salad and noodle meal kit. (Family Features)
Marinated Teriyaki Steak with Teriyaki
Teriyaki Tofu Bowls
QPete Davidson looke5 d really healthy when he appeared in a sketch on “Saturday Night Live” recently. Did he have a bunch of his tattoos removed, or were they covered up with makeup?
— D.E.
AFormer “Saturday Night Live” cast member Pete Davidson used to have his torso and arms covered in tattoos but started having them removed about three years ago. He told Seth Meyers on his talk show in 2021 that he was starting the painstaking removal process so that he didn’t have to spend three hours in the makeup chair getting them covered during acting gigs.
As you may know, Davidson lost his father, a New York City firefighter,
BOOK REVIEW
in the 9/11 terrorist attack, and he’s always been very proactive with his mental health issues. He suffers from borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, and he recently finished a stint in rehab dealing with these issues. He put on some weight and looked healthier when he recently appeared in an “SNL” sketch on Nov. 2 with host John Mulaney. Next up for Davdison are the films “Wizards!” with Naomi Scott and Orlando Bloom and “The Pickup” with Eva Longoria and Eddie Murphy. He’ll also voice the role of Petey the
BookTrib’s Bites
Soul Masters: The Hunting Grounds
By K.R. Gastreich
On a hike through the forest, Mayela stumbles into a terrifying world where immortals hunt souls. To survive, she secures protection from a Soul Master. When he demands payment, Mayela fights back. But how can she fight the desire consuming her heart?
Every soul Nathan claims expands the power of his realm. In Mayela, he finds a rare gift that could guarantee his place among the Soul Masters. All he must do is secure her allegiance without losing his heart. And Nathan has no heart to lose. Or does he?
With eternity at stake, Mayela and Nathan ignite a transcendent passion that breaks all the rules. Among the Soul Masters, a malevolent force awakens. The final hunt is on…
Restaurant Excellence
By Marvin Alballi
Whether you’re establishing your
Cat in the upcoming animated movie “Dog Man,” based on the hit children’s book series.
QI’m enjoying “Doctor Odyssey” with Joshua Jackson. I was a huge fan of “Dawson’s Creek” when he was on it. What is James Van Der Beek up to lately?
— S.C.
AJames Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes and Michelle Williams became huge stars practically overnight when the teen drama series “Dawson’s Creek” began airing in 1998. All four have been acting steadily with varying degrees of fame and awards for their work.
In recent years, Van Der Beek starred in the Ryan Murphy series “Pose” and the animated series “Vampirina.” Next up for him is the Tubi original film “Sidelined: The QB and Me,” which is based on the hugely popular young adult novel “The QB Bad Boy and Me” by Tay Marley.
Van Der Beek, who is 47, recently shared that he’s been privately battling colorectal cancer but remains optimistic about his prognosis. In De-
first restaurant, launching another franchise, welcoming guests to a luxury hotel dining experience, or sitting comfortably in the city’s F&B concept, this book provides expert advice to take your business to the next level and better serve your new and loyal customers. No matter your skill level, this book will offer something to appeal, enlighten, and encourage.
Author Marvin Alballi has worked his way through the ranks to become an award-winning food-and-beverage executive managing franchise chains, celebrity-chef restaurants, independent establishments, and global hotel F&B operations. He has overseen ev-
cember, he’ll appear in the two-hour live special on Fox “The Real Full Monty,” with Taye Diggs, to help raise awareness of prostate, testicular and colorectal cancers.
QWhen is the new season of “Big Little Lies” coming back to HBO? Will all of the original stars be in it?
— L.L.
AThe prospect of a third season of “Big Little Lies” is very promising, but it’s still in the very early stages. Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon have both confirmed that the series is moving “fast and forward” once author Liane Moriarty delivers another novel on which the third season will be based.
Laura Dern, Zoe Kravitz and Shailene Woodley have all contacted Witherspoon about the status of the project, so it’s assumed that they’re eager to reprise their roles once a script is in place.
©2023 King Features Synd., Inc.
erything from mom-and-pop diners to fine dining.
This book presents valuable and practical advice with contributions from 28 respected food-service industry professionals, including several Michelin-starred chefs. These suggestions cover every essential topic: kitchen management, service and hospitality, training and development, design, marketing, cost management, operations, menus and interviews with top chefs and CEOs.
Sicilian Avengers (Books One and Two)
By Luigi Natoli
A thrilling Sicilian saga about the
legendary secret sect purported to be forerunners of the Mafia, translated into English for the first time in two volumes.
Emerging from the dark streets and subterranean caves of Palermo, the Beati Paoli, masked and hooded, mete out their own form of justice to counter the unfettered power and privilege wielded by the aristocracy. For the voiceless, weak, and oppressed, the Beati Paoli are defenders and heroes.
Reminiscent of a Dumas novel, this is a atmospheric fresco of early eighteenth-century Palermo. Blasco da Castiglione, a bold orphan adventurer, arrives on a quest to discover his origins and seek his destiny. But this D’Artagnan-esque hero gets caught in a murderous succession plot involving a powerful family.
In Book Two, the Beati Paoli’s unrelenting campaign to restore justice is compromised by an act of betrayal and a plot that threatens its very existence.
BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.
Pete Davidson (“Saturday Night Live”). PHOTO COURTESY PEACOCK
Alleviating the Burden in Treating Type 1 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease
While diabetes gets a lot of attention, people with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are frequently overlooked when drug companies develop new medications.
“People with T1D and chronic kidney disease, or CKD, face significantly higher risks of morbidity and mortality if they are unable to control their blood sugar levels,” said Steve Edelman, MD, an endocrinologist and the founder and director of Taking Control Of Your Diabetes, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating and motivating people living with diabetes. “They are challenged to do this relying solely on insulin, which is extremely difficult and is the principal therapy for people with T1D.”
An estimated 1.7 million adult Americans have T1D, with approximately 21%, or 360,000, also affected by CKD, according to the CDC National Diabetes Statistics Report 2024. Without effective glycemic control (managing blood sugar) and other important preventative measures, patients with T1D are at a 10 times higher risk of cardiovascular disease, a six-fold greater risk of progression to end-stage kidney disease, a four times greater risk of heart failure and a 2-5 times greater risk of all-cause mortality. Consider this information to better understand the challenges and risks of complications these patients face. Challenges with Current Treatments Impact Patients’ Ability to Reach Glycemic Goals
Diabetes management aims to reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, retinopathy, neuropathy and other complications, in part by improving glycemic control while minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia.
Currently, Americans with T1D have limited therapeutic options, relying almost exclusively on insulin. There are no oral agents to improve glycemia in adults with T1D. Despite advances in insulin therapy and glucose monitoring, most people with T1D do not meet glycemic control target levels with insulin alone. One measure of glycemic control is
a number known as A1C, which is a measure of glucose control over the past 2-3 months.
The goal is to help patients achieve the guideline-recommended target of an A1C below 7% and improve their time-in-range, which represents an established metric that translates into clinically meaningful benefits for patients.
Reaching Glycemic Goals Are Key to Reducing Risk of Further Complications
By achieving glycemic control, kidney function can be stabilized, longterm disease progression mitigated and the morbidity and mortality that the cardiorenal burden puts on patients with T1D and CKD reduced.
Today, it is estimated only 23% of people with T1D achieve an A1C of less than 7%, according to research from the American Diabetes Association, and about 50% have an A1C greater than 8%. Patients who do not achieve A1C targets remain at significantly greater risk of complications associated with their condition.
“Relying solely on insulin can negatively affect a patient’s glucose control and quality of life,” said Dr. Edelman. “Doctors and patients need an oral agent to improve glycemic control in people with T1D and CKD. Therefore, we need therapeutic options that improve glycemic control and reduce their risk of kid-
ney disease progression and cardiovascular comorbidities.”
Visit TCOYD.org to learn more
about living with T1D and advocating for additional therapeutic options. (Family Features)
Container Gardens
If you don’t have room for a garden, or only want to grow a few vegetables, planting in containers is the best way to go. Almost any vegetable can grow in a container and with a little care can produce abundantly. Here’s how to get started.
Tools and Materials
• Containers of various sizes
• Sterilized potting soil
• Shovel
• Trowel
• Drip or hose irrigation
• Fertilizer
It’s All In the Pot
When selecting a container, remember that bigger is better as far as ease of maintenance and size of harvest. Half whiskey or wine barrels or similar-sized pseudo terra-cotta containers are large enough to accommodate vegetables such as large tomatoes, eggplant, and squash, with room to spare for companion plantings of smaller choices such as carrots and lettuce. Five-gallon containers can hold dwarf tomatoes, peppers, beans, and many small leafy greens. A window box is even large enough to grow radishes and arugula.
And in the Soil
For proper drainage, containers need to have holes in the bottom. Also, use only sterilized potting soil. Garden soil may contain diseases and may not be well drained. Because you’re planting in such a small space, you’ll have to be very conscious of watering and fertilizing regularly. Water with drip irrigation or by hand
whenever the soil is dry 4 to 6 inches deep.
Fertilize every two weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer for vegetables, or add controlled-release fertilizer at planting time, supplemented with a water-soluble fertilizer when needed. For large containers, mulching with straw or bark conserves moisture.
Best Plant Combinations
Containers allow you to plant combinations that are both edible and attractive. For example, try creating a salad container with different colors of leaf lettuce, a bush cucumber, a dwarf patio-type tomato, and even herbs such as parsley. How about a tomato sauce barrel with a tomato plant in the center, herbs such as oregano and basil on the sides, and onions interplanted between the herbs? Or a root crop roundup container with beets, carrots, radishes, onions and parsnips in a foot-deep container?
Tips
• Choose bush varieties of large vegetables such as squash.
• Production may be less than with full-sized kinds, but plants will be much easier to care for.
• To save space, consider growing some plants up. Choose pole beans over bush beans, and trellis them along the back of a container. This leaves space in front to plant other vegetables. (Home Garden Seed Association)
t GuideHoliday
Creature Comforts for Overnight Holiday Guests
Overnight guests can make the holiday season feel that much more special. Spending extra time with loved ones is part and parcel of the holiday season for millions of individuals, and hosting overnight guests ensures hosts get quality time with friends and family members they may not see much of throughout the rest of the year.
Holiday hosts may want to go the extra mile for their overnight guests who traveled long distances to see them. With that in mind, hosts can provide these creature comforts to
make overnight guests feel right at home during their stay.
Charging dock Just about anyone who has traveled over the last two decades has forgotten to pack a phone charger or left one behind at one point or another. A charging dock on each guest room nightstand can ensure no such fate awaits hosts’ friends and family members.
Fresh bedding It’s customary to wash sheets after overnight guests leave so the next time loved ones are welcomed into a home the bedding is clean. But if it’s been awhile since See HOLIDAY GUESTS, page 18
Holiday Cruises
HOLIDAY GUESTS
Continued from page 15
you’ve hosted an overnight guest, wash the bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, covers, and, if necessary, comforters or duvets, prior to guests’ arrival. The scent of freshly washed bedding can set a welcoming tone that guests will appreciate.
Toiletries Stock up on extra toothbrushes and travel-sized accessories like mouthwash and hand sanitizer so guests who might have forgotten their own items don’t feel like they have to impose and ask for a ride to the
store to purchase new items. If kids are coming, be sure to purchase some spare kids’ size toothbrushes.
Privacy Privacy is perhaps the most significant creature comfort to offer overnight holiday guests. In homes with small children, hosts can check guest room door locks to ensure they still work and install replacements if they don’t. In addition, in homes where this is possible, designate one bathroom as “guests only” during their stay. Privacy also can extend to where guests spend their nights. If possible, pick a room away from the hustle and bustle of the house so
guests can get some quiet time and rest during their stay. If that’s not possible, hosts can make sure the holiday festivities quiet down at a certain hour each night so overnight guests can rest if they so desire.
Share your Wifi password Kids spend a lot of time on their phones and tablets. Parents may police those hours during school days, but during holiday breaks there may be more free reign. Hosts can alert their guests to the Wifi router name and password so that kids will be able to jump online without missing a beat.
Plan activities for all Children may feel left out if adults gather for drinks and chit-chat. Hosts can avoid such an outcome by organizing activities and engaging in conversations that everyone can be involved in. Game night, family movie sessions with snacks, or something similar can keep kids entertained.
Accommodate all kids Children are bound to have more fun when other kids are around. If possible, make room for as many kids as you can. The kids can camp out in the living
room or share a bedroom if space is limited. Creature comforts might be what adults are looking for, but the more kids the merrier applies to the youngsters.
Offer some comforts reminiscent of home Young children may be out of sorts sleeping away from their familiar spaces. Hosts can plan ahead and leave out some dolls, stuffed animals, a night light, or other creature comforts in spaces where kids will be sleeping.
Relax the rules Just as kids may have more freedom with using their devices, hosts can relax the rules of the house while guests are staying over. Let your own kids and your guests’ children stay up a little later and plan to offer a nightly dessert. Overnight stays are part of holiday travel, and there are many ways to make staying over more enjoyable for children.
Holiday hosts can take their offer of hospitality to the next level by offering their overnight guests some creature comforts that can make their stay that much more enjoyable. (MC)
Five Upgrades for Your Bath that Evoke the Joy of Water
As an essential element that nourishes and revitalizes, water plays a fundamental role in every beauty routine. From the droplets dancing on your scalp as they chase away lingering hints of slumber to creating the lather that cleans and rejuvenates your body, water is at the center of your daily life. Especially where you start your day: in the bathroom.
If you’re planning a bathroom renovation, create a refreshing oasis by celebrating the joy of water and the soothing function it brings. Transform your simple bathroom into a sanctuary filled with features that make it easy to enjoy the many ways water soothes your senses.
In the Shower
The shower is an obvious source of plenty of water-fueled relaxation. Shower heads with a selection of spray options let you adjust the pressure to fit your needs so you can opt for a quick cleanse or a more thera-
peutic experience with a calming rain effect. Other enhancements include a water-resistant bench and spacious shower shelves to hold a variety of products. Add in a touch of luxurious comfort by installing a heated towel rack to cap off the ideal shower experience.
At the Bathroom Vanity
When designing a practical space like the bathroom, it’s easy to overlook everyday features and focus instead on the bigger elements like the flooring or countertops. It’s these details that can make all the difference, however, and upgrading your bathroom sink faucet can take the retreat to a new level of beauty and functionality.
power to elevate everyday routines into something truly special,” said César Giraldo, founder and principal designer of César Giraldo Design. “GROHE’s elegant fittings and fixtures not only enhance the aesthetic of any space but also create a sanctuary where one can unwind and rejuvenate. Elevating your bathroom to a luxurious, spa-like retreat is about embracing the serene and revitalizing essence of water in its finest form.”
Mix in Nature
Borrowing inspiration from nature as you design your space allows you to introduce a variety of creative water features. You might select a soaking tub with a waterfall feature, a soothing standing fountain or a countertop fountain that provides tranquil water sounds and incorporates other natural elements like river rock. To further enhance your nature-inspired oasis, incorporate lush greenery and plenty of natural light.
In the Bathtub
A subtly elegant selection such as the Lineare Collection from GROHE makes a sophisticated statement that instantly elevates the look and feel of a premium bathroom space. The sleek design is defined by slender cylindrical shapes complemented by slim profiles on the lever handles and spouts. Other appealing features include an increased spout height for enhanced comfort and a 90-degree swivel angle for better accessibility and easier cleaning.
“As an interior designer, I believe the way we experience water has the
There are few things quite like soaking your cares away in a deep tub, especially in the comfort of your own home. The wisdom of keeping an eye on the details extends to the tub, where you can make a leisurely soak even more enticing. Take the faucet you use to fill your tub as an example - modern and sleek yet warm and tactile, GROHE Essence faucets are versatile choices for creating harmonious bathrooms that feel luxurious and inviting. Freestanding styles make for a perfect complement to freestanding tubs while the collection’s deck-mounted styles include features like a hand shower for effortless rinsing.
Add Calming Scents
Remember, a true personal sanctuary should soothe all the senses, so while you focus on more tactile and visual features, don’t overlook the power of smell. Enhancing your oasis with calming scents can help keep you grounded and relieve stress, and many appealing fragrances reflect the allure of the aquatics, like those that mimic the ocean or rainfall.
Find more ways to transform your bathroom into an oasis retreat at grohe.us. (Family Features)
What to Know About Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines
Colder weather brings a change in seasons and often an uptick in flu and COVID-19 cases. The viruses that cause COVID-19 and flu keep changing and infecting thousands of people each year, with older adults being most at risk. The vaccines are updated to provide protection against the viruses currently circulating in communities.
“Vaccines are the best way to prevent serious illness from flu and COVID-19,” said Dr. Nirav D. Shah, principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “People who get flu or COVID-19 after getting vaccinated are much less likely than those who did not get a vaccine to get very sick or go to the hospital.”
Here are answers to commonly asked questions about flu and COVID-19 vaccines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Risk Less. Do More. public education campaign.
Which older adults should get vaccinated?
The CDC says all people ages 6 months and older should get updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Adults ages 65 and older have the greatest risk of sickness or having to go to the hospital from infection. Getting these vaccines is important for older people who live in nursing homes or other places where a lot of people live together and viruses can spread easily.
When should older adults get vaccinated?
The best time to get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines is in September and October. If that’s not possible, then getting vaccinated later in the fall and winter can still help limit serious symptoms. Getting these vaccines early is not recommended given that immunity may start to wane just as respiratory viruses usually peak. Can older adults get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines together?
It is safe for older adults to get both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. For most people, it’s also simpler to get them during the same visit. Getting the vaccines in different arms is recommended.
Why should older adults get vaccinated?
Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself from serious sickness and death. Older adults have a higher risk of serious illness. As people grow older, their immune systems tend to weaken and older adults are more likely to have pre-existing health issues that may put them at higher risk. Most people who end up in the hospital for flu or COVID-19 are older adults. More than 95% of adults who went to the hospital for COVID-19 last year had not gotten the updated vaccine.
What should people who support older adults with their health care decisions know?
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines help people risk less severe illness and do more of what they enjoy. Yet many people are unaware of the benefits of these vaccines. That’s why it’s important that people talk with their older family members about getting flu and COVID-19 vaccines this season.
Talk to your doctor about the updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines as well as treatment options. You can also learn more at cdc.gov/RiskLessDoMore. (Family Features)
SOLUTIONS
Opinion
Unless otherwise stated, the views and opinions expressed are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of The Signal.
READER LETTERS
Blame Game on the Road
In almost 60 years of driving, I have never been in a car accident. Lucky. But I already know now that if I am, fingers will point in my direction, and I will be blamed. Why? Because I am a senior.
I walk hunched with a cane because of arthritis in one hip, and people let me go first and hold doors open for me. I tell Robin it is because many in our community are polite, and honor those with salt-and-pepper hair. She says it is because I look “pitiful.” Ha!
Just looking at my hair, facial wrinkles, and hunched shoulders is a giveaway. But with car insurance premiums going up with every dent, it is easy to point a finger. If they know you are a doctor, or own a home, they figure “deep pocket” and select one of the many lawyers now advertising on TV. Therefore, it is with great fear and trepidation I get behind the wheel.
But I have a solution that someone might want to pitch to “Shark Tank.” It could make you a millionaire!
Load your car with cameras and record all your travels to the Cloud. Tiny cameras are now technologically feasible and getting cheaper. All you need is your vehicle wired, or maybe Bluetooth.
When you get into your car, turn on the cameras that record what’s in front of you, behind you, on your sides, and the dashboard. Then, save the video to the Cloud and erase it if you make it home safely.
An electronics genius may develop a “black box” found on airplanes resistant to crashes and fires to safeguard the recording in case of an accident.
Nowadays, in our community, as it is seemingly everywhere else, we are in a hurry, speeding and zigzagging through traffic while tailgating slower drivers to the next red light.
Should I be in an accident, once the other driver looks at me, the response will be, “You were speeding,” “You cut me off,” “You ran a red light,” or “You were driving too close.” Yes, I could be at fault.
I’m asking anyone who reads this to get their entrepreneurial juices flowing and let me know when I can get my cameras installed. I know that if I were in a car accident, I would be blamed.
But rest assured, I will have a video!
The End of Humanity. So What?
Dr. Gene Dorio Saugus
Re: Gerald Staack, letters, Oct. 15, “A Global Extinction Event.” OMG, Mr. Staack. Have you nothing better to do but predict the end of humanity at its own hands (or at the hands of venture capitalists)?
Even if everything you said is the absolute truth, what of it? It’s not the end of the world, just the end of us as a species (someday, and maybe). As far as I’m concerned something like this should have happened a long time ago, and it nearly did but for that God who chickened out and told Noah how to build an ark.
Agent Smith said it best in the 1999 movie, “The Matrix”: “There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern (as humans). Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You’re a plague, and we … are the cure.”
Arthur Saginian Santa Clarita
ETHICALLY SPEAKING
Aging Beats Alternative
By David Hegg
Our society is obsessed with many things, but none more so than aging. I don’t think a day passes, but I hear someone complaining about the consequences of getting older. Once highly anticipated birthdays now seem like the enemy, and we do all we can to hold them at bay. But it is all for naught. Time marches on, and it seems to be trampling all over us.
We’re all growing older. Despite the frantic fight to dress, talk, act, and feel younger, there’s no denying the truth. We’re all growing older every day in multiple ways. But that’s not what we should be concentrating on. The real question is this: Are we growing better?
My friends know I collect aphorisms. One of my favorites is, “The older I get, the more I become like who I am.”
Think about it. When we start to care about what others think of us, we start the massive game of trying to fit in with the crowd around us, to be accepted and even applauded. Those who can put the current fads to good use, while those who can’t go the other way join the non-conformists. But in each case, we are at least partially motivated and influenced by what others think. And – face it! – it can be pretty fatiguing to be continually pushed into society’s mold.
But, at some point, we all realize the freedom to be who we are. We start dressing for comfort rather than for show. We start saying “no” to the stupid things folks around us think are cool. We lose our fear that someone might disagree with us, think we’re weird, or criticize our opinions and actions. We find the freedom to be who we are, which usually happens as we dip our toes into our fifth decade.
out they are nothing in themselves. They are shocked to find that, in reality, they are bland souls without depth or breadth. They have spent so much time pretending to be something else that they’ve forgotten to build their own character, amass their intellectual wealth, and build their solid core of ethical values and convictions. They’ve grown older but not better. They have added years but not wisdom. They can speak to the current fads and gossip but not to the fundamental yearnings of their souls.
We must escape society’s addiction to the myth that youth is king. To do this, we must crush the lie that value is found primarily in the physical rather than the spiritual. Our preoccupation with the vitality of youth obscures the reality that wisdom is much more important than beauty. This is clear from the natural progression of time, in which the first is lost and the second is gained in the same manner … little by little.
To stake your happiness on the ability to stay young is sheer folly. It is far better to understand that your life can be beautiful and satisfying and of great benefit to those around you, even as youth fades, so long as you realize the privilege it is to grow older and, at the same time, to grow better.
So, let’s accept the challenge of the inevitable. Growing older is a privilege that is not granted to everyone. Let’s quit worrying about aging since we can’t control it anyway. Let’s grow older while striving to grow better.
After all, it sure beats the alternative.
Submit a Letter to the Editor
Include name, address & phone. E-mail: letters@signalscv.com.
Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Signal, 25060 Avenue Stanford, Suite 141, Santa Clarita, CA 91355. Anonymous letters are not published.
As freeing as all this can be, that’s actually when the real problems start. Too many people escape public opinion’s clutches only to find
Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.
