Rad

To 2025:

Hell, they even cover the devastating heaviness of MASS SHOOTINGS without censoring or watering anything down.

They've been doing this for YEARS, and it's ALWAYS handled with dignity, respect, seriousness, understanding, and love.

Or how about when someone is put into the foster care system because their home isn't safe anymore and their needs aren't being met?

Maybe some discussions about group therapy/getting help and support?

Hey look! Here's a segment about gender expression vs taught expectation, including unlearning harmful biases and what to do when you hurt someone on accident because you didn't know it was wrong!

Look! The topic of race and diversity! The importance of unity and equity!

They even also have a more allegorical take on discrimination and being looked down on for who you are, featuring Big Bird. The conflict is about how he's not being let into a club because the one bird running the club personally decided he didn't want someone like Big Bird there.

Big Bird goes out of his way to keep changing parts of himself in order to "prove" he can fit into this club if he just changed enough. The truth comes out though, and there's nothing he can do to gain the approval of that bird. He will never be good enough in his eyes, and Big Bird starts to hate himself. His real friends see this finally put their feet down, emphasizing that you should never change yourself just to fit into one singular narrow idea someone else has.

There's A LOT of different situations this can be an allegory for. Racism, sexism, homophobia, basically ANY form of exclusion is put on full blast in this 15 minute clip. Sesame Street can be both blunt and allegorical when approaching difficult topics, and it NEVER misses or looses the point.

It does an exceptional job in both styles of representation WITHOUT watering anything down. The more sanitized everything gets, the more radical Sesame Street is suddenly considered, hence why so many "particular groups" want it gone. Hmmm! I can only imagine why that could be, in this current political climate! (I'm being sarcastic)

When Sesame Street is suddenly labeled as "questionable" or "politically/agenda motivated" content...it says A LOT about where we currently are and who gets to decide what's "best" for kids or not. Don't fall for the censorship and topic-dodging excuses that are covered by the "But think of the children!!!" movement. Never fall for it, because you know which side you're on if you do.

Sesame Street proves kids can be taught and trusted with learning about these topics when it's handled with the right amount of understanding and care. It shows what all this "controversy" is all really about. What it's always been about, actually.

Comforting Cabbage Soup

1/2 cup olive oil

1 large cabbage (approximately 2lbs), chopped finely/shredded. (Napa or Savoy are best for this recipe but you can use any cabbage--just remove any tough leaves and the core.)

1 small onion, chopped fine (approximately a 1/2 cup) 

2 cloves garlic, chopped fine (approximately 2 tablespoons)

1 tablespoon white wine or white balsamic vinegar

3 cups of broth (any kind--chicken, vegetable or beef)

2/3rd cup uncooked orzo or rice

Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

1-2 tablespoons butter (optional)

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan, and a bit more for serving [do not substitute pre-grated, the texture is important]

chopped fresh parsley for serving (optional)

Heat the olive oil in a soup pot on medium, and add the onion, cooking until deep golden yellow. Lower heat slightly and add garlic, cooking until lightly golden as well. Add cabbage and coat completely in oil, stirring until it begins to wilt. Add salt, pepper and vinegar and then stir again to integrate these. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for at least 90 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is completely softened. [Note: if short on time, this can be done quicker at a higher temp if you stir constantly] Add a few tablespoons of water if the pot gets too low on liquid. Once cabbage is completely soft, golden, and resembles caramelized onions, add broth, bring heat back up to medium and bring to a boil.

Add orzo or rice and then lower to a simmer, covering and cooking for about 5-8 minutes for orzo, or 15-20 minutes for rice, until it is just tender, but still a bit firm--al dente. [You can also use leftover pre-cooked rice, just add it in here and let it simmer long enough to heat through] Turn heat off and adjust salt and if needed, then swirl in a bit of butter if you want a richer soup. Grate in parmesan and stir.

Here it is again. You might want to save it just in case an accident like that happens again

chapter 5 is coming out on yuri day...

#hello again martin and bosco!! sending you boys round for another go :)