CALLING ALL AVENGERS

juice

Caipirinha of various flavors: strawberry, passion fruit, and original.

Brazil’s National Cocktail in Vogue World Round

CAIPIRINHA IS THE NATIONAL DRINK OF

Brazil, made with cachaça liquor, lime and sugar. In Portuguese, it means “little country girl,” as it emerged from the countryside of São Paulo state. There are many stories retracing the origins of caipirinha. According to one interpretation, sailors adopted cachaça instead of rum upon arriving in Brazil. In order to ward against scurvy, a disease caused by a deficiency in vitamin C that particularly affected sailors, they drank citrus juices mixed with alcohol. This tropical cocktail is on the list of International Bartender Association’s official cocktails drink list. A caipirinha is flavorful and refreshing, perfect for the summer. Caipirinhas are ideal for the beach and are simple to make. GLEN SALAZAR

What is caipifruta?

There are many variations of the traditional caipirinha just like other classic cocktails from Latin America. The fruity variations are called caipifruta, which can include abacaxi (pineapple), maracujá (passion fruit), goiaba (guava), morango (strawberry), manga (mango), kiwi, milho verde (sweetcorn), or jabuticaba berries.

RECIPE // level easy

Level Easy Prep 3-5 minutes Serves 1

Ingredients

2 tablespoons of sugar 1 lime, cut into wedges ice cubes 2 ounces of cachaça (a liquor distilled from fresh sugarcane, made in Brazil) or white rum

Directions

Cut the lime into small wedges 2 Place the lime and sugar into the bottom of the glass and crush

Top with cachaça or white rum and stir well

Fill the glass with cubed ice

Garnish with a lime wheel

1 3 4 5

Take a Hike

The perfect getaway is closer than you think

DURING THE DARK DAYS OF

the Covid-19 pandemic, when we were all locked in endless days of isolation, it was good to get out of the house and simply walk.

Sure, we all wore masks and crossed the street whenever another human being was spotted (as if they were the Grim Reaper himself coming for you) but emerging from our self-inflicted quarantine prisons offered a scintilla of normalcy that was a tonic for the soul.

And then it offered even more.

As I went further afield, exploring trails, hiking among the vistas that existed long before the pandemic of the last century, and all plagues since time began, it was as if the trails were giving me a message: this too shall pass. Orange County has a hiking trail

for everyone

So if you’re looking for a few hours of stress relief, some fresh air, a break from Mario Kart, or a cheap date –– take a hike! From the mountains to the ocean, Orange County has a hiking trail for everyone.

To begin your treks, check out the Orange County Parks official site and The Hiking Guy online guide. You’ll be amazed at the myriad of paths just waiting for you. Happy trails. BEVER-

LY BRIDGES

Meet Your MATCHa

Oh so healthy and delicious

FROM HEALTH MAGAZINES TO your local boba shop, Matcha green tea has taken the world by storm. Aside from being delicious, it can also provide you with a steady, sustained boost of energy to last a whole day. I kickstart busy days with a Matcha Latte to prepare for the events that may lie ahead. This recipe call for Matcha Green Tea Powder, which can be easily found through online retailers as well as most health food markets. It’s easy to make the perfect Iced Matcha Latte at home with this a simple

recipe. ALYSSA GERVACIO

Ingredients

2 tsp. Matcha Green Tea Powder 2 tablespoons of hot water 1 tablespoons of honey or sugar ½ cup of milk ½ cup ice

Optional

Matcha Bowl Matcha Whisk Caramel Syrup

4

5

6 Directions

1 Scoop out 2 Teaspoons of your Matcha

Powder into a Matcha

Bowl or cup. 2 Pour 2 Tablespoons of hot water into your

Matcha Powder. 3 Mix the water and powder with a Matcha

Whisk, handheld milk frother, or a mixing tool of your choice to

make a paste. Quickly incorporate honey or sugar into the paste, melting it in. Pour milk into a glass and add as much ice as you’d like. I like tons of ice in my drink, so I usually top it off. Transfer the Matcha paste mixture into the glass of milk and ice. Mix and enjoy! Optional: Drizzle on some caramel syrup to get a sweeter Matcha Latte with a touch of caramel.

Let’s Talk Green

You can find two different grades of Matcha Powder, ceremonial and culinary. Ceremonial Matcha is typically meant to be consumed dissolved in water by itself, so the flavor is sweeter on its own.

Culinary Matcha is intended for use when mixed with other things. I use Culinary Matcha as much as I can. I grab an affordable bag of it online and use it for lattes where I can alter the taste to my liking.

Small Blessings

Finding refuge from relentless pain

By BEVERLY BRIDGES

As a teen, having your parents give you a serious talk about taking drugs is one thing. Giving that talk as an adult to your parents is another. What’s more, instead of guiding my folks away from drugs, I advocated for my mother to take one very specific drug: cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana. I had my reasons. My mom was riddled with arthritis, causing her spine to twist and collapse into her pelvis due to polio as a child. Combine this with a number of other ailments in someone of an advanced age and the result is pain. Lots of it.

According to the National Institutes of Health, standard operating procedure in severe medical cases like my Mom’s is for doctors to prescribe an opiate-based drug such as codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine.

I spent many hours taking my mom to doctors and watched as the men in white coats wrote out prescriptions as if that would solve all her problems. It didn’t. No one talks much about the possible adverse reactions of those drugs, which include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and respiratory depression. You’ll find that kind of information buried in the fine print. Not everyone experiences these side effects, and for some those drugs are a godsend, but it was different for Mom.

I couldn’t stand by helplessly as her suffering increased. That’s when I began searching for complimentary pain management solutions. I found Mom a great acupuncturist but the results fell short. It was time to do a little research on medical marijuana.

In the days before California legalized marijuana for recreational use in 2016 (it had been approved for medical use in the 1990s), you needed an exam performed by a doctor who would determine if you were qualified to receive medical marijuana. The doctor issued a certificate, enabling you to purchase the cannabis from an authorized seller, licensed by the state. The whole authorization process cost about $200. But getting Mom to agree to be examined as well as imbibing marijuana might prove to be a difficult sale.

My Mom and Dad grew up in the time of “Reefer Madness,” where marijuana use was equated with evil, depraved behavior. Even my grandmother warned Mom when she was a young woman against anyone offering her “funny cigarettes.” It wasn’t until Mom had teenagers of her own that she figured out what my grandmother meant. But I digress. The point is my folks thought marijuana was as bad as heroin or crack cocaine, to be avoided at all costs if you wanted to live.

My research proved that none of the widely held myths about marijuana were accurate. The biggest fiction is that it is a gateway drug that would lead to a devastating drug addiction. My Mom was up in years and already taking low doses containing an opioid so that wasn’t so much a concern, even if the myth was true. Another myth is that marijuana would lead to violent crime. It was hard for me to imagine Mom mugging someone with her walker (maybe a person in a wheelchair?) but knowing my parents, questions would certainly arise that I would need to answer. On this point, there are numerous studies on this issue. In a 2013 review of the evidence, the Rand Corp. concluded that “marijuana use does not induce violent crime.” A family member works for Rand (but not on this study), so I had that ace in the hole.

Then there was the issue of where I would buy the medical marijuana. At the time there were limited options, but I wanted something safe with research behind it, good quality control, and an informed staff to guide me through the myriad of options. After an online search,

I chose the Cornerstone Collective in Los Angeles. If you didn’t know they sold medical marijuana, you’d drive right past it. Security was tight. An armed guard stood sentry at the locked door. Inside you needed identification and your certificate of authorization from a doctor. Only then were you buzzed into the inner sanctum where first time customers were counseled on the myriad of options available.

Another issue I faced was that even if Mom agreed to take medical marijuana, how would I get it into her system? I couldn’t imagine her smoking a joint or vaping (her lungs couldn’t handle it, and it was a bad visual, anyway) so I looked into edibles. I was amazed at the variety of offerings. There were all sorts of cookies, chocolates, mints, gummies, candies, and more. Now this had real possibilities. My mother had a sweet tooth so I knew that mints for everyday use and chocolates for special occasions would appeal to her. I steeled myself for the talk with Mom and Dad. I had literature. I had illustrations. I had websites. With all my ducks in a row, I sat them down for a serious discussion. “Mom. Dad. Come and sit down. I need to talk to you about something serious.” Their brows furrowed. Their faces flush with concern. “I think we need to add something to Mom’s pain management regime.” Then I dropped the bomb. “Medical marijuana.” I was met by silence. Mom looked to Dad. Dad looked to Mom. Then they looked at me.With a shrug they said, “Okay.”I could not believe their reaction. That’s it? I thought. After all those lectures on the evils of marijuana and suddenly it’s OK? But I realized that with time attitudes change, especially when you’re in pain. At this point in Mom’s life, it was any port in a storm and medical marijuana offered her a refuge.

Surprisingly, her doctor was all for it, but added no insight or advice. That came from the folks at Cornerstone Collective. Mom actually enjoyed trying a variety of different products before we added Breez mints that were cannabis-infused to her drug regime. They eased her pain, enabling her to sleep well for the first time in years. Best of all, she suffered no side effects.

Mom went to her final reward a year and a half ago, three weeks to the day after my Dad died. I was by both of their sides when they passed away peacefully, profoundly sad but grateful for two lives well lived. What I think is really tragic is that there are so many people suffering needlessly in states that have not legalized marijuana, even for medical use. I hope and pray that action will be taken on the federal level to remedy this travesty. But I’m thankful for small blessings, like little mints that help you sleep with no side effects.

Heed the Words of Doctor Love From Outer Space!

Can a radio psychologist from the future answer questions? Read on

words & art

By BEVERLY BRIDGES

Set 300 years in the future, “Dr. Love From Outer Space!” chronicles the exploits of Dr. Nikki Love, a psychologist on Multiverse Radio 3000 who dispenses relationship advice to her millions of listeners throughout the multiverse. Based on the supply ship Argo-19 in the 12th dimension in the outer galaxies, Dr. Love is continually beset in problems with squabbling droids, alien callers in crisis, not to mention those crazy guys in engineering who are constantly playing practical jokes during her radio show. Then there’s her latest estranged husband, Max Duet, a former soldier of fortune now on the run, who entangles her into unimaginable peril.

This reporter was lucky enough to experience a once-ina-lifetime event when Dr. Love’s spaceship was inexplicably drawn into the high gravitational pull of a black star, slingshotting her craft around the sun long enough to be interviewed via a Zoom call. Here are the excerpts.

Wow! I can’t believe I’m talking to someone from 300 years in the future!

Hurry up. I don’t know how long this slingshot around the sun business is going to take to get me back to the twenty-fourth century. Frankly it’s making me a little dizzy.

How does someone become a broadcast psychologist in the future?

I like to think it’s my superior educational background: a PhD in psychology from Quaft University on planet Grog, a B.S. in Interspecies Studies from Tiberius State on space station Cilantro-9, and my beautician’s certificate from DeVry.

Tell your readers that there is no truth to the vicious rumor that I got my job because my first husband, the Captain of Communications for the Multiverse High Command, wanted to send me as far away from earth as possible.

You have a series of very successful books.

Over fifty and counting. All of them bestsellers. In the future you’ll find them in the ‘Advice and Self Help’ section of your intergalactic bookstore. However, a few retailers mistakenly place my books in their Humor section, thanks to those wacky pranksters in our ship’s Engineering department. So you might find my

books shelved between “Blingon Poddy Jokes” and “Droids Say the Darndest Things.”

What is your most successful book?

Hard to say. The numbers change on a daily basis. This week it’s “Doctor Love’s Guide to Getting Your Droid out of Your Marital Bed, Finding Forgiveness and Great Sex”. However, a perennial bestseller on Valentine’s Day is “Doctor Love’s Guide to Light Sabers in the Bedroom, How to Keep You and Your Marriage Alive Finding Forgiveness and Great Sex.”

I see that forgiveness and great sex are themes in your books.

It didn’t start out that way. Initially I focused on cold-blooded revenge and withholding affection. But I found that few people were interested in emotional or actual blackmail as they came out of an ugly second divorce, like I was. It’s a niche market, as they say. After my divorce finalized what interested me was having great sex.

Turns out that I really hit a nerve throughout the multiverse as billions of life forms were interested in great sex as well. Both my publisher and psychotherapist suggested adding the word “forgiveness” to the titles, and voilà! You have your bestselling book series focusing on forgiveness and great sex! Who knew?

In your podcasts from the future it seems like there’s friction between you and the men in Engineering, who like to play jokes on you during your show. Is there any one of them that you’d really like to vaporize with a space age weapon?

You’re probably referring to the head of Engineering and wise guy, Paddy O’Toole. When you’re light years away from home in this tin can of a supply spaceship, things can get a little tense among those sweaty, stinky engineers, some of whom are on their first space voyage away from their home galaxies. Things are craziest right before we get to the next planet’s port

of call. You have to pick your battles. That said, in my imagination I’ve vaporized Paddy O’Toole thousands of times. But don’t worry. O’Toole will come face to face with his karma in Season One of Dr. Love From Outer Space!

I’ve noticed that in the future droids play a big part in everyday life.

For sure. I couldn’t do my show without my producer and wing-man, Benno-5000. He’s literally saved my life more times than I can count. And to think I almost passed him over at the Droids Are Us warehouse sale because he wasn’t marked down. I hate paying full price anywhere in the galaxy. I have to say that Benno was the smartest purchase I ever made even if he is very territorial when it comes to other droids. I’ve had to break up more than one droid grudge match.

What is the secret to your success?

I like to think that my listeners sense that I really and truly care in making the multiverse a more loving place. Navigating inter-species relationships is always a challenge and those who call or write me get real world solutions to their problems --- no matter what world they’re in. Of course, some of the more jaded Dr. Love fans tune in to hear when things go wrong on the show, which is live. I’ve asked Multiverse Radio 4400 management to make it a delayed broadcast and edit out all the snafus, battles, explosions, arrests, fights and other incidents. But the top brass tells me that our listeners demand that we “keep it real.”

From your vantage point 300 years in the future, what advice can you give us?

Life is an adventure, full of fun, deceit, jokes, hidden agendas, twists, turns, forgiveness and, if you’re lucky, great sex. Uh oh, I think I’m finished slingshotting back into my century! Don’t forget to tune into my podcast, “Dr. Love From Outer Space!”

Doctor Love From Outer Space! premieres this fall on DoctorLoveSpace.com.

Melodie’s Top Picks

MELODIE BERGQUIST-TUTORI,

associate professor at Saddleback College who teaches the podcasting class, provides her latest recommendatoins.

TUNNEL 29 – BBC4 – 10 Episodes. Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who risked his life to dig a tunnel under the Berlin Wall in the 1960’s to help family, friends and strangers escape.

THIS LAND – by Crooked Media – 8 Episodes plus updates. An 1839 assassination of a Cherokee leader and a 1999 murder case – two crimes nearly two centuries apart provide the backbone to a 2020 Supreme Court decision that determined the fate of five tribes and nearly half the land in Oklahoma.

LAST SEEN – WBUR & Boston Globe – 10 Episodes. This podcast takes you into the biggest unsolved art heist in history. It happened over 18 years ago at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. 13 masterpieces worth over half a billion dollars are still missing. 99% INVISIBLE – From award winning producer Roman Mars – over 432 episodes. With over 150 million downloads, 99% Invisible is one of the most popular podcasts in the world. A weekly exploration of the process and power of design.

On the Record

Taking a deep dive into vinyl culture in the modern age

Vinyl records are more than just a trend. We see this being true as vinyl records have been a common collector’s item for decades. Music is a timeless subject, and it is only being proven more with the longevity of collecting vinyl records as a whole.

However, for something so costly and tedious, why is this so prevalent today?

Simply put, there’s no feeling that beats the routine of playing your favorite album on vinyl. Something is moving about holding an artist’s work in your hands. Take a look at the cover and the artwork that comes with it. Slip it out of the cover, line the record up with the spindle and place the needle. Listen to the crackle and let the music play. Collecting is something that involves a lot of time, care and money. Save up for a good quality record player and preserve the lives of your precious records. Store them correctly and care for them accordingly. Make sure to remember the fundamentals of caring for your records, but don’t forget to have fun while you’re at it.

In the age of digital music and streaming, why do we see a resurgence in physical records?

Collecting vinyl records is easier than ever. With access to online retailers and record shops all over California, the tradition has prevailed through the tribulations of digital media. Vinyl culture has proven to grow even further with the internet. Communities have formed over social media that connect collectors around the globe. This further proves the point that music is a beautiful and unique language

Tyler, the Creator’s 2017 album Flower Boy on vinyl

An assortment of vinyl records from names in music today that everyone can understand.

Artists are also keeping the tradition alive in their ways as well. Often, artists are releasing their vinyl records when releasing new music, going as far as putting out special, limited edition pressings. The novelty of these records can lie in different aspects. From unique colors and editions to vinyl exclusive bonus tracks, the tradition is being kept alive.

In the digital age, we have gotten so used to instant gratification and the urgency of technology. We live our lives on a clock, with deadlines and schedules to adhere to. Taking a step back to breathe and follow the process of playing your favorite vinyl record is something that evokes a sense of slowing down. Playing a vinyl record is something that is so artistically methodical. So, if this sounds like it’s your thing, do some simple research online. Check out your option and find a record player that works for you. Join some online forums for your favorite artists and learn more about exclusive releases. Even take a trip to your nearest record store and meet people who are interested in the same thing!

Vinyl culture in the modern age is alive and well. Take a step back in your busy life to decelerate and spin

some tunes! ALYSSA GERVACIO

Are you a Potterhead?

Take this quiz to learn how much you know about Harry Potter and the gang from the books and films

1. At which famous Theme Park in California can you find The Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

a. Disneyland b. Knotts Berry Farm c. California Adventure d. Universal Studios Hollywood

2. Who played the famous character Harry Potter in the movies?

a. Daniel Radcliffe b. Rupert Grint c. Darren Criss d. Emma Watson

3. In what year was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone released in the U.S.?

a. 2010 b. 2001 c. 1992 d. 1995

4. What’s the name of the problematic author of the Harry Potter books the movies are based on?

a. Walt Disney b. J.R.R. Tolkien c. C.S. Lewis d. J.K. Rowling

6. What is the full name of Dumbledore?

a. Albus Alex Dumbledore b. Albus Justin Dumbledore c. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore d. Albus Max Dumbledore

7. What house at Hogwarts does Harry Potter belongs to?

a. Goofy b. Merlin c. Gryffindor d. DiLaurentis

8. What creature(s) can a parselmouth communicate with?

a. Serpents and snakes b. Monkeys c. Whales d. Owls

9. Who is Fluffy?

a. A gigantic threeheaded cat b. A gigantic threeheaded dog c. A chocolate frog d. The Niffler

5. What are the four Hogwarts houses?

a. Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Pluto b. Merlin, Gandalf, Glinda, Dumbledore c. DiLaurentis, Hastings,

Montgomery, Fields d. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff,

Ravenclaw, Slytherin

10. Who is Ron’s spouse?

a. Harry Potter b. Lavender Brown c. Cormac McLaggen d. Hermione Granger

Answers

1: A, JUST KIDDING,

the answer is D obviously. Fun Fact: Although Universal got the rights to make an HP attraction in their theme parks, Warner Bros. produces the films.

3: C… IS NOT THE AN-

swer, you got it wrong! The answer is B: 2001. Fun Fact: The movie is called “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” in the U.K., also the name of the book.

4: D, UNFORTUNATELY.

Sad Fact: You probably heard this, but J.K. Rowling made some transphobic comments on Twitter and, for many fans, we have to separate the author from the books in order to enjoy them.

5: IT’S D. PLEASE TELL

me you didn’t pick A. Fun Fact: Each of the four Hogwarts Houses are named after the last name of its founder, like Godric Gryffindor.

2: OF COURSE THE

hot, handsome Daniel Radcliffe played Harry Potter. Fun Fact: Daniel and I, we both share the birthday day of July 23.

6. C IS THE ANSWER!

Fun Fact: Although is not mentioned in the books or the movies Dumbledore is supposed to be gay according to the author.

7: C, AGAIN!

Fun Fact: The emblematic animal of the house is a lion, and its colors are scarlet and gold.

8: A IS THE OBVIOUS

answer, my Potterheads! Fun Fact: Harry Potter is a parselmouth, the ability usually innate, but that’s not the case for Harry since Voldemort passed on that ability when he attacked him in infancy.

9: NOT THE NIFFLER

from Fantastic Beasts, though he looked fluffy. The answer is B, the three-headed dog. Fun Fact: He falls asleep to the sound of music.

10: D IS THE ANSWER.

Fun Fact: Ron’s full name is Ronald Bilius Weasley.

LUIS SALCEDO