Today’s offering is Chocolate Covered Strawberries!
Ingredients
10-ounce package Ghirardelli Baking Chips Bittersweet, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate
2 pounds fresh strawberries stems attached
Instructions
Start by washing the strawberries and then drying them VERY well. It’s so important to dry the strawberries well because, as you may know, chocolate and water do not work well together! If the strawberries are the least bit wet the chocolate will not stick!
If desired, add a handful of toppings, like crushed nuts or coconut, onto their own small plates. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper.
Use a double boiler or microwave the chocolate for 30 second intervals, removing and stirring at each 30 second interval, until the chocolate has melted. Stir often, making sure not to burn the chocolate!
Holding a strawberry by the stem, dip into melted chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting the excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. At this point you may dip the strawberry in coconut or nuts (or leave it plain) and then place the strawberry on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries.
For a white chocolate drizzled strawberry, dip a fork in the melted white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.
Chill the strawberries until the chocolate sets, about 15 minutes.
ENJOY!
Sew Colorful 
Just The News: “Just days after President Donald Trump fired the U.S. Coast Guard commandant, investigators confirmed Wednesday the military branch left computer systems and sensitive data vulnerable to foreign adversaries and hackers in a cybersecurity blunder that also left Pentagon systems dangerously exposed.
The Homeland Security inspector general reported that the Coast Guard failed to followed required cybersecurity procedures for at least three of its computer systems that transmitted data to and from the Department of Defense Information Network and that as a result national security was placed at risk.
“The three systems we reviewed, and other similarly situated systems in the Coast Guard’s enterprise, are vulnerable to cybersecurity weaknesses and exposed to unassessed risks that could result in the unauthorized disclosure or compromise of sensitive Coast Guard information,” the federal watchdog warned in a report that included redactions for security information.
“Adversaries also could leverage these cybersecurity weaknesses to compromise the DODIN, placing DoD and Coast Guard personnel, assets, and the Nation at risk,” it added.
You can read the report here. OIG-25-15-Feb25-Redacted.pdf
Specifically, Inspector General investigators found that the Coast Guard “did not consistently implement the cybersecurity controls we reviewed to protect its systems operating on the DODIN in accordance with applicable cybersecurity requirements” by failing to:
Investigators noted that three of some vulnerabilities they uncovered on Coast Guard computers had been used by foreign adversaries to exploit computer systems in the past, illustrating the risk to Pentagon servers.
“The DHS’s Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency identified that adversaries have previously exploited 3 of 30 vulnerabilities we reviewed and may be able to cause immediate damage to systems containing the vulnerabilities and increase the risk to the DODIN,” it warned.
The report is the latest to highlight massive failures by federal agencies and military branches — including the Homeland Security Department’s own cybersecurity protection agency — to safe guard sensitive data despite growing hacking threats from Iran, China, Russia and other adversaries.
It also comes during a sensitive period of transition inside the Coast Guard. On his second day in office, Trump fired Commandant Linda Fagan, a four-star admiral and the first woman to lead a branch of the military. His administration reportedly evicted her from her government home a few days later. Officials said Fagan was fired over border security weaknesses and an “excessive focus” on diversity, equity and inclusion.
The inspector general report made clear the Coast Guard did not adequately focus on its cybersecurity obligations, noting Coast Guard protection policies “did not always align with DoD requirements” and that its Chief Information Officer “continued to operate those systems and 35 other Coast Guard systems without authorizations to operate.”
Security was so lax that investigators discovered that one computer server room’s automated entry control system “was not operating properly and” officials instead “issued keys for a lever door lock so that supervisors could access the server room door and disabled the magnetic lock .” The report even showed a picture of the loosely secured door.
Investigators also said they found a “critical‑severity vulnerability” on one Coast Guard computer system that required a classified warning to fix.
The Coast Guard said it agreed with most of the findings and has ordered corrective actions.”
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this is really alarming.
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Just The News: “President Donald Trump on Thursday imposed sweeping reciprocal tariffs via executive order, CNN reported.
Though they will not take immediate effect, they will play a crucial role in Trump’s efforts to deal with trade deficits and foster more favorable trade conditions for the U.S.
“THREE GREAT WEEKS, PERHAPS THE BEST EVER, BUT TODAY IS THE BIG ONE: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” he posted Thursday.
In recent weeks, Trump has used the threat of tariffs to secure concessions from Mexico and Canada on border security, promising to delay their implementation after both nations committed troops and funds to combat trafficking.”
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Finally! I have heat! It appears to have been a loose wire inside a 4″ bundle of wires. He is going to see about ordering a replacement just in case the whole bundle has to be replaced. Nice, young guy who lives here. I’ve also put in a call to the local guy – my usual appliance repairman – who sells & services Lennox furnaces. I know he won’t gouge me and the gas co. guy said he does install Lennox.
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oh that’s good news, right???
it’s blowing like crazy here. the snow is now intermittent, but the gusts are incredible.
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Just The News: “A federal judge on Thursday blocked parts of President Donald Trump’s two executive orders that limit transgender care, impacting healthcare facilities nationwide.
Trump signed two executive orders recently that impact transgender care for minors, including one that threatened to withhold federal funding to hospitals and other healthcare providers that do not stop providing gender-affirming treatments — including puberty blockers and hormone treatments — to transgender children and teens under the age of 19.
A group of transgender teens, their parents, and two organizations challenged the executive order by raising concern about the order’s impact on transgender youth. U.S. District Judge Brendan Hurson determined that the plaintiffs would likely prevail on the claims that the actions were done without authority and amount to illegal and unconstitutional discrimination.
“Stopping care in the middle of receiving it, any care, really, casts doubt on whether in fact the goals are to protect the recipients of the care,” Hurson said during a hearing on the matter, per The Hill.
The Justice Department urged the plaintiffs to wait for more guidance before moving forward with the case, but Hurson rejected the notion.
“When there’s smoke coming out of your house, you don’t know what room it’s in, but you don’t wait to call 911 until you know the exact location of the fire,” Hurson said. “These plaintiffs have received phone calls stopping their care.”
The new ruling means federal agencies are temporarily forbidden from withholding or conditioning funding for healthcare facilities because they provide gender-affirming care.”
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i am sick to death of judges stopping the president’s agenda.
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Troublemaker10
February 13, 2025 4:26 pm
Autism Capital 🧩
@AutismCapital
🚨REPORTER: “DOGE workers arrived at the IRS today. Do you expect to close the IRS?”
LUTNICK: “Some day.” 😂
Cont…
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My furnace is continuing to operate properly so far….however….I have found a much better option from someone I trust right here in town named Rich Alby! I adored his Dad, Dick – dapper older cowboy who really looked sharp when he was in his dancing clothes – Rich and his Dad replaced my water heater. I even thought at one time that he would be fun to date! I was disappointed when he died of lung cancer.
Rich also worked on my refrigerator. I had it in the back of my mind to call him and finally did after I discovered he is an authorized Lennox dealer. He is convinced he can keep my furnace going. The guy who was here today didn’t even go to college – Rich has 3 fricking degrees!!! He will now be my go-to w/my furnace and other appliances and I’m kicking Source Gas to the curb! Rich is also familiar with all the guys who work for Source Gas and he doesn’t think any of them are any good. In the meantime, I’ve got to start saving some $$$ just in case – looking at $5K or more!!!
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it’s great that there’s someone local you trust.
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I’m kicking myself now for not calling him sooner! He’s coming over tomorrow to look at it.
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EXCERPT: “NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace is one of a very few people who are seemingly unimpressed with rumors that President Donald Trump might return to the Dayton 500 this Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.
Trump previously served as grand marshal for the 2020 event. He commanded drivers to start their engines and took a ceremonial lap around the speedway in his armored limousine, leading the field before the green flag in a vehicle known as “the Beast.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued temporary flight restrictions for the 16th that strongly hinted Trump was heading back to Daytona. Everybody seems pretty jazzed about his appearance. Well, except for one man named Bubba.
Wallace, who just signed an extension with Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing in September, told reporters at the Daytona 500 media day that he “couldn’t care less” if Trump is there or not. “We’re here to race,” he added. “Not for the show.”
https://x.com/FoxNews/status/1889999869252637157
The friction between Bubba Wallace and the two-term president has been simmering for years. Wallace, who in 2021 became the first African-American driver to win a Cup Series race since Wendell Scott in 1963, generated a storm of controversy the previous season with his involvement in a Jussie Smollett-esque garage pull incident.
He adamantly promoted allegations that a “noose” had been placed in his garage. While Wallace didn’t report the alleged hate crime himself, he certainly played up reports that he had been the victim of a racially motivated attack. So convinced were his NASCAR peers that they participated in this virtue signaling….”
https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2025/02/13/nascars-bubba-wallace-sneers-at-thought-of-trump-possibly-attending-daytona-500-couldnt-care-less-n2185545
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Crescent Lake (China). Near the city of Dunhuang in Gansu Province, China
Bob looks pissed….
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awesome pictures!!
and you’re right about the cat!
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hope the giraffe is okay!!
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Reactor Core
Ancient Sumerian Hieroglyphic
Urban Street Domination Vehicle (USDV)
Mt. Shasta
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i like the nokia one! LOL
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Twitchy: “Welp, House Republicans just dumped a gallon or FIVE of gasoline on the USAID fire by sharing the receipts of so much more that taxpayers did NOT volunteer to pay for. It’s safe to say the Biden administration had an agenda and was just happy-dory spending our hard-earned tax money on things like vasectomies in Uganda while Americans live in poverty, some even homeless.
But hey, that LGBTQ narrative ain’t gonna pay for itself. From our sister site, Townhall:
According to the congressional committee’s findings, USAID spent:
Among other expenses, USAID used:
When Rubio said USAID’s priorities did not match the nation’s priorities, he wasn’t kidding. You guys pissed yet? We sure as Hell are.”
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ridiculous! like a kid who stole his mom’s credit card…
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“RFK Jr. praises commander-in-chief during swearing-in ceremony: ‘God sent me President Trump'”
JustTheNews, By Misty Severi, Published: February 13, 2025 4:42pm
ENTIRE ARTICLE: “Newly sworn in Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday praised President Donald Trump during his swearing-in ceremony, claiming God sent the president to him.
The Senate officially confirmed Kennedy to lead the Health and Human Services department earlier Thursday, in a 52-48 vote that was largely on party lines. He has vowed to “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) and is expected to bring transparency to the health industry.
Kennedy, who has largely promoted plans to end the chronic illness epidemic in the country, was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. His wife Cheryl Hines, Trump, and other members of Kennedy’s family also attended the ceremony.
“For 20 years I’m up every morning on my knees and praying that God would put me in a position where I can end the childhood chronic disease epidemic in this country,” Kennedy said in his remarks. “God sent me President Trump.”
Kennedy told Trump during his speech that he was “grateful” for the position, and doubled down on his belief that the president would be a game changer for the country. “I genuinely believe that you are a pivotal historical figure, and you are going to transform this country,” he said.
The ceremony occurred just before Trump signed an executive order establishing the creation of a “Make America Healthy Again commission,” which Kennedy will helm.”
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i hope he hits the ground running!
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Terminally ill patient gets last wish fulfilled to meet an elephant…
AA Zurich-based non-profit called Wunschambulanz (wish ambulance) fulfills the last wishes of terminally ill people, offering them free, personalized experiences. Founded in 2017 by Petar Sabovic and Nataša Stojanovic, the organization has helped over 500 people.
One such person is Katharina Abrach, a 71-year-old woman with a terminal lung disease. Her last wish was to see an elephant again, a creature she holds dear. The Wunschambulanz organized her visit to the Knie Children’s Zoo in Rapperswil, where she was able to meet and feed an elephant named Ceylon, fulfilling her dream.
The founders were inspired by personal experiences with dying family members, and their service continues to provide these meaningful moments for others. If you want to know more, here’s the article in German…”
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that’s awesome!
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Taken by Marianne Bergli on February 11, 2025 @ Kilpisjervi Findland
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“Powered Up By Truth”
Newsletter | February 13, 2025
“There’s a difference between words and action, and usually, political officials give us the former without the latter. But with Donald Trump, it’s different. His words take on a life of their own. When he speaks something out loud, it’s like a force of nature. His secret weapon, which isn’t at all secret, is his straight talk, speaking truths plainly.
When he spoke out against the trans agenda, his plain talk shifted the debate. We’ve all been saying for years that no sane society mutilates and sterilizes its children. It’s not just that he can implement a policy to support his declaration, there’s also the fact that when the President says something, it rips through the lies and restores reality.
When Trump threatens to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico if they don’t stop the flow of fentanyl killing hundreds of thousands of Americans each year, our northern and southern neighbors act. When he says he is going to move more than one million and a half Palestinians out of Gaza, the world adjusts to the new reality. Some will go kicking and screaming, for a while anyway, but they’ll have to adjust, because Trump’s plainly spoken plans re-shape the world.
Part of his power comes from his post. When the President of the United States says something, it has an authority all its own. It’s true that most commanders-in-chief have squandered that power with lies and empty talk, but not Trump. He knows that as the most powerful man in the world, with a massive military force and an economy that drives the world’s wealth, he has the ability to make the dearest promises — and most dire threats — come to pass at a moment’s notice. That’s real power.
And the current President draws his authority from another source as well: He faced down death.
In July, a sniper shot Trump, and with the bullet grazing his ear he dropped to the ground, then got back on his feet and told us to fight, fight, fight for our country. At that Butler, PA rally Trump nearly lost his life. A man whose courage under fire was tested in public before millions around the world speaks with understanding and wisdom about serious things, about matters of life and death. These two factors combined — an American president who has defeated death — are the source of Trump’s authority.
Anyone who’s trying to accomplish something big knows how important it is to speak it, say it out loud so it commits you to living up to your goal. Thoughts are powerful, but giving them structure and form, giving them voice makes them indelible. Powerful words can break things but they can also build things. And that’s what we’re seeing right now with Donald Trump — by speaking truth plainly and clearly, he’s restoring America.”
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I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.
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Good night! Hope your weather improves! Furnace still working perfectly, thankfully! Rich is coming over to look at it tomorrow.
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Good Night All!
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